Title: Ireland
in the Seventeenth Century or The Irish Massacres of 1641-2, their Causes
and Results. Illustrated by Extracts from the unpublished State Papers, the
unpublished MSS in the Bodleian Library, Lambeth Library, and the Library
of the Royal Dublin Society relating to the Plantations of 1610-39; a Selection
from the unpublished Depositions relating to the Massacres, with fac-similes;
and the Reports of the Trials in the High Court of Justice in 1652-4, from
the unpublished MSS in Trinity College, Dublin. By Mary Hickson. With a Preface
by J. A. Froude, M.A. Volume II., 1 in the Seventeenth
and Eighteenth Centuries. By
C. E. Johnston, 1884, London, 315-316
Date: 1 December
1628
Place: Dublin
DEC. 1, 1628. PRESENT, LORD CHANCELLOR, LORD CHIEF JUSTICE, LORD ARCHBISHOP OF DUBLIN, SIR ARTHUR SAVAGE.
Tenth Deponent. Ludowick Ponten, gentleman, being duly sworn and examined saith, that in the beginning of the last term he was going down St. Patrick Street, and that one Lysagh Duffe McMelaghlin, standing within a shop, called the said Lodowick by his name and asked an alms of him. The said Lodowick answered and told him that he did not think he wanted any alms by reason he was very fat in flesh, and well clothed, whereupon Lysagh said that he thanked the Lord Deputy for his clothes, for they were given him by the Lord Deputy, and a better thing. The said Lodowick then answered that he was happy that the Deputy was so well-affected towards him to give him the like. Then the said Lysagh said that the cause why he had that reward was for accusing Phelim MacPheagh and his sons for the relieving of Murrogh Baccagh. The said Lodowick said it was well done of him so to do if he might with truth accuse them. Then the said Lysagh said that he could not accuse them justly of anything, but that he belied them to save his own life, he being formerly condemned for the stealing of a horse: and also said that every man that he was acquainted withal was beholding unto him for not accusing them with the like lies, and said that there was no man that was in his case but would do the like to save his own life: and withal that he would rather do it because Luke Birne, Bedmond McPheagh’s son, presented against him the last assizes for stealing a horse. And at another time the said Lodowick, standing at Sergeant Gatlin’s door waiting for Mr. Francis Sandford’s coming out of the office, this Lysagh Duffe passing by, he wearing of a mantle, the said Lodowick asked him where he had that mantle, and he answered that he borrowed that mantle, and said that the Lord Deputy bought a blue mantle for him that cost ten shillings. Whereupon the said Lodowick said that he (Lisagh) was beholding to the Lord Deputy. Then Lisagh said that the Lord Deputy promised him to release his brother that was committed for Murrogh Baccagh’s cause, for the service that he, the said Lysagh, did in accusing Phelim MacPheagh and his sons, and then the said Lysagh went away.1
Further the said Lodowic saith, that Sir James FitzPierse FitzGerald told him several times that Walter Reogh, and Phelim MacPheagh, and Redmond MacPheagh burned his (Sir James’) father and mother.
Further the said Lodowick saith, he knoweth William Pluke, one that was in the Grand Jury finding the indictments against Phelim MacPheagh and his sons, to be servant in livery to Sir Henry Bollings.
Further the said Lodowick saith, that he knoweth John FitzGerald, one that was in the Grand Jury, to be a dependant on the undertakers in the Ranelaghs, and a sergeant inlooking to their woods, and now dwelling in the plantation.
LUDOWICK PONTEN
1 Compare Phelim’s account of Lysagh Duffe at p. 310.