Deposition of Valentin Payne
- Reference: MS 837, fols 019r-020v
- County: Down
- Date: 9/8/1642
- Type: Dublin Original
- Nature of Deposition: Captivity, Military Action, Robbery
- How to Cite
fol. 19r
22
The examynation of Captayne Valentin Pyne of Strangford taken before Sir Robert Meredith Knight one of his maiesties honorable pryvie Councell the ixth of August 1642
whoe being duly sworne one the holly evangelist saith that hee being Chosen att a generall meeting att Ballie by the Chefest gentlemen of the sayd Barrony to gather the strength of the said Barrony to withstand the Rebells att which tyme the Gentry did allow pay for two hundred men, which with the Lord Cromwells troope and the ffoote Company then lying in the towne of downe together with the Valenteres of the said Barrony this deponent then thought to be an able number to defend the towne of downe and this deponent in Nouember last being in the fyld and trayning his men and mustering of them hee found himselfe to bee a boue six hundred men strongne and Reasonable well armed: the Lord viccount Clan boy sent Lyftenant Collonell Hamelton with other experienced soldiers to Vew the said musters, whoe very well approued of the disiplyn and mad a fare Relation thereof and as this deponent was leading forth on the fyld the said Sir James Montgomery knight mett with this deponent and desyred to haue a Vew of the said muster and prayed this deponent to draw his men in fyld agayn which this deponent yelded Vnto and after this deponent had discharged his said Companyes for that present tyme the said Sir James delt with Captayne Vaghen, Captayne Bingley and Captayne Wardlaw three Captaynes whoe had Comands of fyfties and in the Cuntrys pay without the provition of knowledge of this deponent to be of his Regiment and they entertayned Captayne Richard west to be a Captayne and to Rayse that Company out of the aforesaid number: and did promys the aforesaid Captaynes as it was Reported to this deponent [
fol. 19v
and tooke the Carrs & horses from the townesmen of downe and wold not permitt them to Carry a way their goods as many of the sayd townesmen grieuestly Complyned to this deponent and this deponent hearing that the said Sir James was to leaue the said towne he prayed the Lord Viccount Claneboy to send som of his Regyment to defend the said towne: which his Lordshipp did endeuer to doe but the Rebells haveing Intelligence of the said Sir James his deserting and lying nearer then his Lordshipp{
Rob Meredith
fol. 20r
fol. 20v
Captayne Payne
Robert Meredith