ouse in Howard-street in the Strand. Lord Mohnn and Hill, enraged
at this disappointment, resolved, since they were unsuccessful in one
part of their design, they would yet attempt another; and that night
vowed revenge against Mr. Mountford.

They went to the street where Mr. Mountford lived, and there lay in wait
for him: Old Mrs. Bracegirdle and another gentlewoman who had heard them
vow revenge against Mr. Mountford, sent to his house, to desire his wife
to let him know his danger, and to warn him not to come home that night,
but unluckily no messenger Mrs. Mountford sent was able to find him:
Captain Hill and lord Mohun paraded in the streets with their swords
drawn; and when the watch made enquiry into the cause of this, lord
Mohun answered, that he was a peer of the realm, and dared them to touch
him at their peril; the night-officers being intimidated at this threat,
left them unmolested, and went their rounds. Towards midnight Mr.
Mountford going home to his own house was saluted in a very friendly
manner, by lord Mohun; and as his lordship seemed to carry no marks of
resentment in his behaviour, he used the freedom to ask him, how he came
there at that time of night? to which his lordship replied, by asking if
he had not heard the affair of the woman? Mountford asked what woman? to
which he answered Mrs. Bracegirdle; I hope, says he, my lord, you do not
encourage Mr. Hill in his attempt upon Mrs. Bracegirdle; which however
is no concern of mine; when he uttered these words, Hill, behind
his back, gave him some desperate blows on his head, and before Mr.
Mountford had time to draw, and stand on his defence, he basely run him
thro' the body, and made his escape; the alarm of murder being given,
the constable seized lord Mohun, who upon hearing that Hill had escaped
expressed great satisfaction, and said he did not care if he were hanged
for him: When the evidences were examined at Hicks's-Hall, one Mr.
Bencroft, who attended Mr. Mountford, swore that Mr. Mountford declared
to him as a dying man, that while he was talking to lord Mohun, Hill
struck him, with his left hand, and with his right hand run him thro'
the body, before he had time to draw his sword.

Thus fell the unfortunate Mountford by the hand of an assassin, without
having given him any provocation; save that which his own jealousy had
raised, and which could not reasonably be imputed to Mountford as a
crime.

Lord Mohun, as we have already observed