NOthing doth sooner take the hearts and mouths of the people then same, especial­ly when it is popular, & report is of such a diffusive nature that it ever gathers in its flying: wherefore that I many clip the wing of false report, & extend & adde fea­thers to the wing of Truth, and that I may disgorge the bitternesse of falshood, where it is already sucke in, and infuse and settle in that mind the sweetnesse of truth, and take of all present misdeemings and misprissoners, and prent future, in and amongst the people concerning the aforesaid riot, I thought good to im­ploy [Page 2]some endeavours truly to anatomize the whole body of their Monster, and to publish and set it forth to the view of such as are de­sirous to be truly informed therein.

Vpon the said 21. day of March last, as I and my family were repairing home from the afternoone Sermon at Shoreditch Church, we unexpectedly mett with a great confluence of people congregated at and before the doore of the Ship Alehouse, neere the six Windmills in Moore-fields, in so much that the com­mon high way and passage was much obstructed by the throung, which was occasioned by the apprehension of severall persons that were found tipling in the said Alehouse; by the High Constable and other Officers of Shoreditch; who upon their entrance in, and apprehen­ding of the tiplers, whereby them opposed and repelled, and the doores were shut upon them; yet neverthelesse, the Officers maintained their Guard about the house, expecting the com­ming forth of the Company that were with­in, untill such time as I came by, who perceiving the multitude of people, immedi­ately wished the High Constable and the rest, to desist and depart for that time, and one­ly to take an Accompt of their names that were drinking there; yet for all that, the High Constable did charge two Carmen, be­ing then and there present to aide and assist him [Page 3]in the fetching out of the offendours that were in the Alehouse, and they affronting and abu­sing the High Constable, and peremptorily re­fusing to obey his charge (the effendours in the interim making there escape) were forthwith taken hold of and (with no small hurt, and detriment to the officers) were brought before me, which Officers were pursued by an unruly and unreasonable crew; who forthwith (upon the bringing in of the two (Carmen) complotted and contrived the assaulting, and demolishing of my wals and House, without any the least instigation or demerrit of mine; and did causlesly, and vio­lently throw Stones, and Brickbats at the Win­dowes of my House. Whereupon I gave present Order to the Officers, to discharge the two Car­men convented before me; who accordingly did forthwith conduct them out at the Gate, they themselves openly Proclaiming, and Declaring un­to them all, that the Justice had freely inlarged them.

Yet neverthelesse the inveterate malice, and barbarous violence of the rude multitude, could not in the least man­ner be appeased; but still they persisted to break down the Wall, and Windowes of my house: And then and not til then: some freinds of mine that were within the house, did advise to discharge some small haile shot out at the Windows; thinking therby to disperse the tumult (where­upon it was generally bruted abroad that there were foure or five killed, which hath since bin found, and evidently made known to be most untrue, some of them having since benne seene and spoken with by divers in the City; onely [Page 4]having received some small hurt upon some part of their body) but still they coutinued their onset, and invesion more and more upon the house, until such time as they had made themselves forcible p [...]ssessors thereof. Where they mercilesly ransaked, and took away divers goods with them; and forced the people of the house, and others that were with them to fly for their lives, and leave the house, and goods to their mercilesse piety.

And forasmuch as there are divers scandalous un­truths fomented, and spread abroad, that the City Apprentices were the cheife actors in this tragedie; I have solemnly, and primarily ingaged my selfe, to put in Print this Relation, somewhat to vindicate their aspersion herein; my own conscience bearing me witnes, and I experimentally knowing by the discovery, and examination of such as are apprehen­ded, and in durance, that the City Apprentices had the least hand in this high offence, (onely some few that were provoaked, and set on by the multitude) and I shall indeavour for the generall satisfaction of all men to give you a just accompt of the quallity of the cheife of the offenders; who (as it hath since ap­peared aswell by severall Informations upon oath of diverse as were then present, as by some of their own examinations, and confessions) were idle, loose, and prophane livers masterlesse men, and such as have bin out in the Warts, and House-keepers that have spent and consumed their fortunes in sinfull and it religious courses, and such as have neither the feare of God nor man before their eyes; And these and [Page 5]such as these were the principall Ring-leaders, abet­ters, and maintainers of the said tumultuous riot.

Thus in discharge of my solemne ingagement, and for the fully satisfying of the misinformed, I have endeavoured faithfully to impart my reall know­ledge concerning the premisses, confidently assuring the inquisitive Reader, that he may build upon the truth of this Relation; and what other soever he hath already entertained, that he decline as false and erroneous. Desiring him with my selfe, and all o­ther well affected people alwaies to pray for, Study and maintaine the establishment of the Lawes of the Realme, the Majestracy and Civill Govern­ment of this Kingdome, and the happy Union, Peace, and tranquility of the same.