es of that capital,
a servant-man rode up, in visible terror, to his post-chaise, in which
were Mr. Lowther and himself, and besought them to hear his dreadful
tale. The gentlemen stopt, and he told them, that his master, who was an
Englishman, and his friend of the same nation, had been but a little
while before attacked, and forced out of the road in their post-chaise,
as he doubted not, to be murdered, by no less than seven armed horsemen;
and he pointed to a hill, at distance, called Mont Matre, behind which
they were, at that moment, perpetrating their bloody purpose. He had
just before, he said, addressed himself to two other gentlemen, and their
retinue, who drove on the faster for it.

The servant's great coat was open; and Sir Charles observing his livery,
asked him, If he were not a servant of Sir Hargrave Pollexfen? and was
answered in the affirmative.

There are, it seems, trees planted on each side the road from St. Denis
to Paris, but which, as France is an open and uninclosed country, would
not, but for the hill, have hindered the seeing a great way off, the
scuffling of so many men on horseback. There is also a ditch on either
hand; but places left for owners to come at their grounds, with their
carts, and other carriages. Sir Charles ordered the post boy to drive to
one of those passages; saying, He could not forgive himself, if he did
not endeavour to save Sir Hargrave, and his friend, whose name the man
told him was Merceda.

His own servants were three in number, besides one of Mr. Lowther. My
brother made Mr. Lowther's servant dismount; and, getting himself on his
horse, ordered the others to follow him. He begged Mr. Lowther to
continue in the chaise, bidding the dismounted servant stay, and attend
his master, and galloped away towards the hill. His ears were soon
pierced with the cries of the poor wretches; and presently he saw two men
on horseback holding the horses of four others, who had under them the
two gentlemen, struggling, groaning, and crying out for mercy.

Sir Charles, who was a good way a-head of his servants, calling out to
spare the gentlemen, and bending his course to relieve the prostrate
sufferers, two of the four quitted their prey, and mounting, joined the
other two horsemen, and advanced to meet him, with a shew of supporting
the two men on foot in their violence; who continued laying on the
wretches, with the but-ends of their whips, unmercifully.

As the assailants offe