■WILIIAM AJTD HUE'S.

109

butchers, going on a market day to buy beasts at Thame, werestopped by a large gang, and compelled first to deliver their-moneybags, and then to drink King James’s health in brandy.*The thieves, however, to do them justice, showed, in theexercise of their calling, no decided preference for any politicalparty. Some of them fell in with Marlborough near SaintAlbans, and, notwithstanding his known hostility to the Courtand his recent imprisonment, compelled him to deliver up fivehundred guineas, which he doubtless never ceased to regret tothe last moment of his long career of prosperity and glory.**

When William, on his return from the Continent, learnedto what an extent these .outrages were carried, he expressedgreat indignation, and announced his resolution to put downthe malefactors with a strong hand. A veteran robber wasinduced to turn informer, and to lay before the King a list ofthe chief highwaymen, and a full account of their habits and oftheir favourite haunts. It was said that this list contained notless than eighty names.***’ Strong parties of cavalry were sentout to protect the roads; and this precaution, which ( would, inordinary circumstances, have excited much murmuring, seemsto have been generally approved. A fine regiment, now calledthe Second Dragoon Guards, which had distinguished itself inIreland by activity and success in the irregular war against theKapparees, was selected to guard several of the great avenuesof the capital. Blackheath, Barnet, Hounslow, became placesof arms.f In a few weeks the roads were as safe as usual. The

* Narcissus Luttrell’s Diary, Nov. 1692.

** Ibid. August 1692.

*** Hop to the Greffier of the States General, j—-— 369|. The Dutchdespatches of this year are filled with stories of robberies.

f Hop to the Greffier of the States General, 169|; Historical

Records of the Queen’s Bays, published by authority; Narcissus Luttrell’sDiary, Nov. 15.

CHAP.

XIX.

1U92.