SO much does Barbarous Inhumanity abound in this most wicked Age, that Outrages grows frequent, that no man is affured of his safety, Cruelties, being Acted for Diversi­on and Murthers made a sport of, to please the Fancies of such Desperadoes as in their high flown Bravery, would make or at least shew themselves dreadful to the World by being dy'd in Blood of Innocents and bedewing of the Earth with Widdows and Orphans Tears; but sure it is Heavens Indignation will not he silent ever, but wrath Divine break forth in fearful Ruine on the Guilty Heads of such who take delight to injure and destroy their fellow-Creatures, whom God has stamped with the same Image, and indued with Souls Rational, and perhaps superiour [Page 2] in worth, unto those whose Envy their goodness has provoked to destroy them; how many Murthers have of late Allarrumed this affrighted Land and Bloodsheds, as well in this great Metropo­lis, as in its Suburbs, and divers other places. How many have fell by wicked impious hands, when they least suspected Death, without giving the least provocations; and not only so, but day­ly Affronts are thrown in the Face of Authority by such whom nought but bailful mischiefs please; whom steaming slaughter only can delight, whilst Violences are their Dayly Exercise, for such Iniquities the Land Mourns, against such it was that the Souls under the Altar cried aloud to their Eternal Maker, How long O Lord God, Holy, Just and Righteous will it be e're thou avenge us on those that dwell upon the Earth; and as the Prophet again complaineth, their hands are full of Violence, for certain it is no Crime cries louder before the Throne of the just God of all the Earth for Vengeance then causelesly shedding Mans Blood and defacing the Image of himself that he has Created to serve him, but that Persons nobly Born, and of high Extract should disgrace and disparage the Name of true Nobility by such dege­nerate Barbarities, is much more to be admired since all Heroick Souls (and such should espeeially lodg in noble Breasts) natu­rally have an antipathy against unmanly Actions, detesting horrid Murthers and Assaults most foul, still giving Respect to such whose Offices and places by the institution of the Laws demand no less, but much more against Night-Revelling, and grand De­baucheries, the which too many of this Age are prone unto as may more particularly be observed in this last exploit, which now must be the Subject of our Narration, the which is related in its horrid Circumstances as followeth. Phillip Earl of Pem­brook and Mountgomery, with several other of his Retinue, having been abroad at Dinner at a person of Qualities on Wednesday being the 18th of this instant August 1680. where drinking till it was late, and then as it is said being somewhat High flown with Wine, they returned homewards in a Hackney-Coach, till at last crossing over Turnham-Green, they were stopped by the Watch belonging to the Parish of Chiswick, the Constable of the said Watch being then with one Mr. Smeethe a Gentleman belong­ing to the Court, and one Mr. Halfpenny another Constable of the said Parish, who just came from London with the former Con­stable, and went to drink at the Cock and half-Moon, who up­on [Page 3] notice of a Coach being stopped, came out of the House, and coming close up to the side of it, demanded who the persons were, and whether they were designed, not knowing it to be my Lord of Pembrook, nor that they had such dangerous persons to deal withal; but being sharply answered, they made the like Return, whereupon, as it is creditably related, his Lordship open­ing the other side of the Coach, came out and whilest the Par­ties beforementioned were talking to the rest, not dreaming of such a Fate, he came upon them unawares, and with his Sword run Smeethe first into the Belly quite through, the Weapon pas­sing out, and then wheeling about, made at Halfpenny, and with a pass run him quite through the Body, in on one side, and out of the other; and afterwards through the Rist, so furious was he to Destruction bent; and had done greater Mischief, had nor Mr. Smeethe feeling himself wounded, cried out I will not be thus killed like a Dog, and thereupon caught a Staff out of one of the Watchmens hands, he having none before, and with the same Knocked his Lordship down, who then began to cry for Quarter, upon which his Servants came and fell upon him to save him from Blows, which Smeethe seeing, said, My Lord you have given me my Deaths-wound, and I could kill you now, having you thus at my Mercy, if I pleased, but that I scorn so foul and base a Deed and thereupon seised him as his Prisoner, whilst the rest of his Re­tinue which were about six in number were obliged to submit; se­veral of the Watchmen having broke their Staves in defending themselves and making a stout Resistance, after his Lordship was taken he was by the Order of the Constable of the Watch con­veyed to the Cock and Half-Moon, strongly Guarded, for upon the Brunt of the Skirmish all the people in the Green were Al­larumed, where they after he was dilarm'd put him into a Chamber and the Constable went in and discoursed with his Lordship of the heinousness of the Affront and Violence he had done to the Kings Watch, at which he seemed little concerned.

During the Uproar and Tumult, a person of Quallity as it is said came by, who understanding what the Cause of it was, and how his Lordship was taken, went to visit him, and after a long Con­ference with the Constable of the Watch, his Lordship was suf­fered to depart unknown to most of the Company; they being given to understand that he was Asleep, and that none must di­sturb him, &c. This exploit was done about twelve of the [Page 4] Clock in the Evening, and after his Lordship was let go, which was about one, it is said he made all speed for London, he being gon the Wounded men were looked after, and Chirurgions im­mediately sent for, who no sooner came, but found the Wounds to be Mortal, one viz. Halfpenney having bled so excessively that he fainted away; and the other, viz. Smeethe in a short time afterwards died, he being a Man of a considerable Estate, and so stout that it is believed, had be not been surprised at una­wares, and unarmed as he was, none could have wronged him either with Sword or Staff; and a person so far from offering an abuse to any, that he abhor'd the Company of such as he knew to be Guilty of the same Mr. Halfpenny being carried home, the Chirurgions upon sight of his Wound durst not Venture to search the Wound to any deepness, for fear that his Lungs should be pierced, or some other his of Vital parts; so that they dispair of his ever Reconvering, and look every day that he will die; there was likewise a third person hurt, viz. a poor Fellow who was lately discharged from a Farmers Service of that place, but his Wounds were but slight. On Fryday the Crovvner and his J [...] ­ry sate upon the deceased; but could not agree in giving in their Verdict.