A DISCOVERY Of many, great, and Bloudy ROBERIES: COMMITTED OF LATE BY DISSOLVTE AND Evill affected TROOPERS.
Jn severall places of this Kingdome, but chiefly about the City of London.
Since the late disbanding of the Army in the North.
With a Relation of the Times, Places, and Persons, on on whom these Roberies were committed.
WHEREIN Is inserted the Description of a bloudy Combate, fought betweene 9 Troopers and 6 Butchers, meeting on the High-way, and what ensued. With divers other Out-rages, and Abuses, acted by them within this City.
Printed at London for Iohn Thomas, 1641.
A Relation of divers Robberies of late committed by divers ill-affected Troopers, both in the Country, and neare the City of London.
IOyfull newes it is to all good men, that a general peace is concluded betweene England and Scotland, warlike weapons are laid aside, and each embrace the other in amity and unity; which newes cannot be more joyfull then profitable, generally I mean. But some particular wrongs & injuries are acted by those, whose thoughts are bent upon nothing but mischiefe, their actions being governed by the malice of the Divell, some I say, prove themselves Rebels to peace, they having no forrain Nation to make known their valour, or fight against. They to keepe themselves in action, most basely pillage their owne Country-men; as if they had left them onely to gather goods, and to provide means, against their comming home againe, which proclaims them Traytors to vertue and goodnesse: and if they looke not to it speedily, it will be their owne ruine.
Complaints flye abroad every where, no man almost dares trust himselfe to the high wayes, for feare lest he lose his purse, or his life, which is dearer. I have some such actions to declare, as will cause some laughter, but more sorrow.
The Robery which was said to be committed in the North, Knowles being the Ring-leader, I omit, it being divulged already, although not perfectly, but as I understand, the Author, or Poet, hath foolishly recanted his Relation, with a tongue thou best: but politike Taylor is resolved to prove his recantation more false then his relation: he had better bin then in his fool [...] Coat, acting Iack-pudding, then to have been partaker in that robbery. But I leave him, and proceed to my owne relation, of some roberies, lately committed by Troopers since their disbanding.
At Kingstone upon Hull 5 Troopers met with 7 Clothiers, whose purses were cramb'd with such Angels, as they adored, the troopers did set upon them with their Pistols charg'd in one hand, and their swords ready drawne in the other: the Clothiers were not so well armed; wherefore for safeguard of their lives, they yeelded their purses, the summe of all which money came to about 400 pounds, which weight of money made the troopers light-hearted: but it continued not long, for 5 of the Clothiers kept aloofe off, marking whither they would goe, whilst the two went for Pistols; which when they had got, they being well horsed, pursued the troopers, and overtooke them, which the troopers perceiving, were amazed: because not long before for joy of their purchase, they had discharged their Pistols, wheresore without any resistance, they returned the Clothiers their moneyes againe, who gave them ten pound a man for their horses, and so they departed.
At Barwick, one Iohn Hawkins a trooper, and an Irish man met with 6 Maids, & rob'd them all? but of what, their Maidenheads.
In Cambridgeshire 14 Troopers travelling from Yorkeshire, made a resolution to receive pay of the next company they met withall, which were a company of Farmers comming from Cambridge, whom they gagged, lest they should cry out, they took their moneyes and cloathes, bound them hand & foot, and then being naked, not having so much as a shirt on, they tyed them to trees, and so left them, and as yet cannot be found out, the losse of the money grieved the Farmers not so much, as the cold lodging they had that night.
How nine troopers set upon sixe butchers.
SIxe butchers travelling towards the North to buy cattell, one of them said, what if a company of Troopers should now meet with us? the rest answered, they cared not if they did, they had not rid above one mile further, but 9 Troopers met with them indeed, who told the Butchers they must have some money, they answered, they must get it first, whereupon the Troopers rid at them with their swords drawne, the butchers they resisted them very valiantly, insomuch that the troopers retreated, whereupon the butchers tooke courage, and renewed their blowes, the Troopers thought they had set upon 6 Divels, they were so bastinadoed by them, Men were wounded on both sides: but the butchers so well behaved themselves, that the troopes were forced to trust to the swiftnesse of their horses, which one stout butcher perceiving, being vext they would fight no more, with all his might he threw his sword at a troopers horses legs and almost cut of one off his legs, nor was he contented then, being so much moved, but a lighting from his horse, and snatching up his sword againe, he pursued them, and cut and mangled three of them so much, that they fell from their horses, is men being void of breath, the other 6 rid into the wood, or else he vowed (by the helpe of God) to have done the like for them all, his name was Thomas Ashley: who although he were in many places wounded, he regarded it not, but went forward, untill they all came to their Journeyes end, and then were their wounds dressed: and since, I heare well recovered.
Of a Coach that was rob'd neere Islington.
The Troopers have not all reformed themselves since they came from the North, although some few have; for some of them play their prancks now in and about London: for nigh the Cake-house towards Islington, it being a dark night, fourteen troopers met a Coach, in which were 3 or 4 Gentlewomen, & a gentleman, having bin at a wedding, they knockt the Coachman out of the box, and then got up to the Coach to the Gentlewomen, and took all their money out of their pockets, their rings from their fingers, their handkerchers from their necks, their hats from their heads, and from each of them their best petticoates, and from the Gentleman a plush cloak, a golden belt and Rapier, and took care withall that he carryed not home too much money with him, they took from them in all, as much as came to sixscore pounds, and then bid the Coachman got up into his box againe.
Another coach comming from Warford to London, wherin was a Countesse, and some other Ladies, was stayed in the high-way before the Sun was set, by 3 troopers, who pillaged, and took all their money, rings, and Jewels that were about them, and let them goe.
A Gentleman that lived in Buckingham shire, comming to London late at night, met a company of troopers neere Islington; who set upon him, and took his money being in a cloak bag behind him, wherein was a 100 pounds, and they took his horse also from him, which he valued at 30 pounds.
A Captaine living in Covent-garden, was lately rob'd of 14 l. by 8 troopers, neere the corner of Hide-park, who I heare since are taken, and lye now in the Gate-house.
At the corner of Hide-park since, was a Ladies coach rob'd by a company of troopers, who tooke what money and rings they had about them.
One Master Hackney at the Mearemaid in Cheapside, and two others, comming lately from Islington, being after day [Page]light was shutting met 4 or 5 troopers, who tooke their cloaks and hats, and what moneyes they found about them.
One Mr. Meredith being on Sunday night the 3 of October in Vhite-crosse street, going to his lodging at Bun-hill, neare to the sixe Windmils, met with 3 fellowes in bufcoats, who seeing of him, bid him stand, putting their rapiers to his throat, at that time he had received 11 pounds for rent, which they bid him deliver, or else he should lose his life, which he did according to their demand, with which they were not contented, but took also his cloake, and thirty shillings more; which he had in another purse: and also his watch, and beat him very much, which caused him to goe back to the watch, who presently pursued them: three they tooke upon suspition; but as yet they are not sure they are the theeves.
Vpon munday night being the fourth of October, seven Troopers met with Sir Robert Mansfield beyond Kentstreet in Southwark and set upon him and his men; and over-comming them, took away fourteen pounds: it being noysed abroad, they were hard pursued: they seeing, resolutely drew their swords; which one goodman Dyar perceiving, rusht in amongst them, whom they wounded in the arme and hand: notwithstanding the theeves fled and got away, and are not yet to be heard of.
Many more noteable robberies have bin put upon troopers, of all which I dare not, nor cannot say they are guilty, but one more remarkeable Exploit I have to relate.
A Company of them gathered themselves neare Clarkenwell, one of which had got a Constables staffe, the rest Halberts, like watchmen, & when they met with any, they must come before the Constable, and he must examine them; and after examination, they must by no means, if they had cloaks, carry them away with them, or money in their pockets. The Constable (because the times were dangerous, and many Knaves abroad) must keepe it for them, faining a place where [Page]in the morning they should enquire for them; but as yet the Constables house could never be found. Very many this Yeare have beene so cheated. But now the watch is broke up, some of the Bill-men being at this time, as is reported, in the white Lyon Prison, the Constable is fled, but J hope shortly that he and all his Complices, if they leave not these lewd courses, the penalty of the law will leave them at the Gallowes, where I shall leave them.