APPENDIX.-B.
ABSTRACTS FROM THE DEPOSITIONS OF CROMWELL'S ADHE RENTS IN THE CITY OF CORK, TAKEN 1654. The following depositions,-taken at Cork, I transcribed some time ago from the Carte Papers, p1·eserved in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. These documents illustrate a period in the history of the City of Cork, concerning which hitherto very little has been known, inasmuch as all the local records of Cromwell's time have perished. The following description of the state of Ireland at this time is given by Ludlow :- "The kingdom being surveyed, and the value of acres being given, thA highest was estimated at 4s. the acre, and some only at one penny. Accordingly the soldiers drew lots for their several portions; and in this manner the whole for- feited lands were divided among the conquerors and adventurers of money. At the same time it was agreed that the Irish should be transplanted into Conaugbt, which so shattered them that they never made any head afterwards." Feb. 16th, 1654. -The examination of Coli. Richd. Townesend, aged 36, now resident in Castlehaven, English Protestant, at the declaring of Corke for the Parliament of England, on the 16 Oct., 1649, a prisoner in Raid Citty, being duly sworne, sayth, That about three days before the aforesaid declaring of Corke, Capt. Robert Mihyll came to this examinant's chambers where he was committed, and informed him that Coli. Sterling, then Governor of Corke, commanded him to acquaint this examinant that the Lord Inchiquin had ordered that Coli. J afford should be sent to Bandon bridge, and Coli. Warden to the forte of Corke, and this examinant to the forte of Kinsale the next morning, upon which tidings thia examinant with his parteuers were much troubled, and did believe their separation was with an intent t2 have them speedily executed, whereupon the said Capt. Mihyll perceiving some more than ordinary trouble in the said gentlemen, took _this examinant aside, and advised him to endeavour their continuance in the place where they were, and he did believe it would be much to their security, and thereupon engaged him in privacy, and acquainted him of an intention of several persons tQ secure the Citty and Forte of Corke and Castle of Shandon for the Parliament of England and the then Lord Lieu'. of Ireland. And this exami- nant fw:ther sayth that he well remembereth that the same nigh_t of the declaring, )le saw Coli. John J efford, Coli. William Warden, Coli. Charles Blunt, Lieut.-Cull• .;- ves, Lieut.-Coll. Thomas Dowridge, Coll John Hodder,* Capt. Rob'. • Tbia Colonel John Hodder had been one of the agenta of Sir Philip Perceval. He and his brother William acquired large properties, for which he and his nephew William after- warda .paased patenta under the Act of Settlement, and both ~~erved the offices of High Sheriff ~ the County and Mayor of the City of Cork. John died without iaaue, but Wil· ·- 145--2
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