GREAT NEWS From Hertford-Shire. Being a particular Account of a Late ENGAGEMENT Between A New Gang of Highwaymen, And several of The Country People, near Barnet: WITH A True Relation of the Killing Three of the Countrymen, and several Horses; and of their Committing two great Robberies near Hertford. As also, of the Countries Pursuing them, and the manner of the Rogues escape that Day. Likewise the Taking one of them since, that is supposed to be the Chief, and of his Commitment to Goal.  Licenced according to Order. 
HErtford-Shire and the adjacent Counties, having for some time passed been Infested with the Robberies of several New Highwaymen, on Saturday the 14 Instant, being Marker-Day at Hertford, about the Hours of Six and Seven in the Morning of the said Day, four of this Gang, all well Mounted and Armed, set upon three Men that were going to Hertford Market, in a Lane called London-Lane, being the direct Road to the Town; from these People they took away about the Value of Twenty Pounds in Money, etc. Within an hour after this, they had the Impudence to set upon two other Countrymen in a narrow Lane that leads between Cheston and North-hall Common, just by a small Cottage House: while they were rifling one of the Countrymen, the other quitted his Horse, and made to the Cottage, where he conveyed 6 l. of the Money he had with him, leaving himself only 40 s. the Rogues soon entered the House after him; and, after they had taken taken the 40 s. they miserably beat and abused the Countryman for running away, they took away from the former of them, the value of 10 l. in Money; then they run both the countrymen's Horses through, to prevent their being Pursued, and made the best of their way over North-hall Common, towards St. Alban's; but, by this time, the Persons that they first Robbed, had raised the Country, and were in Pursuit of them; and, in a Lane between Sir Thomas Pope Blunt's and Barnet, the Countrymen got up with the Robbers; at which time, the latter made a stand (their Horses being satiegued) and placing themselves in a breast, they pulled out about Seven pair of Pocket-Pistols each, and stuck them round their broad Waste-Belts, putting one in each Hand, and then bid the Country defiance, declaring they would never yield as long as their Powder and Bullet lasted, and that they would live and die by each other; which Resolutions so startled the Countrymen (notwithstanding they were much superior in number) that they retired into a Farmers-yard near adjacent, from which place the Rogues dared them out, and, soon after, made into the Yard after them; which the Countrymen perceiving, all that were on Foot run into the House, and others quitted their Horses and left them, only Four or Five bravely stood it, and opposed them; among which were Sir Thomas Pope Blunt's Cook, and a Farmer, Two as Stout Men as any in the Country, but both of them were soon Killed: The Robbers received the Cooks first Fire, from which one of them (as he said) was shot in the Leg, and then one of the Rogues ride up close to him, and shot him Dead, they had shot several times at the Farmer and mist him, during which time he had knocked one of them from his Horse, but another of them soon came to his Assistance, and shot the Farmer Dead, by a wound in the Head, the other three made into the House as soon as they saw the Cook drop, after this the Highway Men stayed near half an hour, changing two of their Horses, for two of the Country men's that they liked better, changing the Saddles and Bridles, etc.  
After which they shot and stabbed six of the Countrymen's Horses, and their own two they left in the Yard, to prevent being further pursued, and so marched off taking their way a cross the Country, towards Uxbridge and Harrow on the Hill, but the Country about being more Alarmed, and fresh Horses coming in; they were still pursued, one of the pursuers being better mounted then the rest, and over-riding his companions, the Rogue took the advantage, and in a Lane leading to Wale common, shot him dead; They passed within two Miles of Uxbridge, where was Quartered a Troop of Horse, that were going for Flanders, who took the Alarm and were ready mounted, the Officers offering the Town, that if they would engage to make good, whatever Horses should happen to be either killed or spoiled, the Troop should disperse themselves in parties, and pursue the Highway Men, but the Town refused: From near Harrow they walked their Horses a Foot pace, defying the Countrymen all along as they went, and so over one of the Hounslow-Heaths, near which place they met a Gentleman very well mounted, whose Horse they took away and left their own, which they ran through; Night coming on, they took the advantage of it, and got clear away, Riding through Kingston Town, and so in Surry; and since by all the Intelligence Major Richardson can get, they made the best of their way towards West Chester, and so for Ireland; the said Major useing all diligence imaginable to take them, having sent to most parts of England.  
Since this Robbery, one Witnal a Butcher whose Wife kept an Inn in that Country, and a Noted High-way-Man, has been taken and secured in Northampton Goal, who is generally thought to be one of the Four concerned in the Robbery abovesaid, upon which Major Richardson sent two persons from Newgate to view him.   

LONDON, Printed for Ed. Golding, in the Old Bailie, 1691: