A True and Exact ACCOUNT OF THE ROBBING OF King WILLIAM's Coaches AT KENSINTON, On Friday Night last, being the 18th of this instant August.  
We have had frequent Accounts of Robberies of late committed near London, and elsewhere, and some of which not without most horrible murders to boot: Notwithstanding so many Assizes there are in the year, and the strictness of the Law, made and provided against such Vermin, still they rather augment than decrease, and are grown to that degree of Boldness, that they spare none, even from the Prince to the Peasant; the Defect whereof being Chiefly owing to our Senators, in not taking due Care by finding Ways and Means to Employ all the Poor and idle Persons of this Kingdom, in some lawful Employments, whereby they may get an honest Livelihood: Which His Majesty was graciously pleased most earr●stly to urge to Both Houses of Parliament, at the beginning of the last Sessions. And 'tis generally taken notice of, that when they come to meet with Justice, they readily make their Reply, That Penury and Want was the Cause of their committing such Thefts and Outrages, and some again imply it for want of Trade. But to come to the Account of this late Robbery, committed at His Majesty's Royal Stables at Kensinton; 'Tis as follows.  
HIs Majesty's Stables not being often frequented by the Coachmen and other Servants belonging thereunto, by reason of His Majesty's Absence; But on Friday Morning last being the 18th instant, Mr. clerk, having occasion for some Things that were in the Stable, sent a Messenger to fetch them, where he found three of the King's Coaches, and all Appurtenances thereto belonging, safe and secure, and accordingly left them; But on Friday Night last, an attempt was made by some evil disposed Persons, to break into the said Stables, which they effected in the following manner. The Stable having strong leaved Doors, above which are fixed strong Iron Bars very thick, the Felons( with a Knife or some other Instrument) cut a Hole in a Dealboard, somewhat above the Door sideward, through which, as it is supposed, by the help of a Hook, they pulled back the boult; the next Coach to the Door happening to be a fine French Coach lined with Green, and rich Fringes, being a Present made to the Right Honourable the Earl of Portland, when he went over ambassador Extraordinary from His britannic Majesty, was pillaged of all the Linings, Fringes and Cushions; the next was a fine Coach lined with Crimson, which they also ript off from the Top and sides, leaving only the Cushions, tumbled out of the Coach. 'Tis supposed the occasion of their surprise, was by by a sick Child, which in the Room was calling to his Mother, and next answering, Coming; and she owns she heard a Rumbling in the Stable, but did not imagine but it was done by those that belonged to it, and so took no further Notice. But there was a third Coach, being the King's Stage-Coach, exceeding the former two in Value, which was not touched, by reason, 'tis believed, they suspected the Woman would give notice. But 'tis generally believed among those of the household, that their Chief Aim was to rob the King's Best Coach, which was presented to His Majesty by their High and Mightinesses the States of Holland, they conjecturing That to be among the rest, which would have proved a very Considerable Booty; but the Fine Coach was singled to an adjoining Room, which was divided by a Partition; and had they attempted the latter Coach door, which had but slight Glass-Windows over it, they would have found a more fecible Entrance than the former, but as Fortune favoured, missed it. 'Tis to be observed that these Rogues made use of a Method very seldom Practised by Common House-breakers; For they took care to fling all the Chips behind the door within, proposing to themselves, that the Stables would not be visited by the Servants in no short time, and had brought along with them some House-Plaister, of the same Colour with That the doors had been washed with; and as it is to be seen, had with their Fingers washed over the Fraction they had made for Entrance, thereby conjecturing that it might so happen in a small space of time, the Loss of the Goods would be imputed to the Coachmen. But it happily fell out, that one of the Servants went to the Stable last Saturday Morning, and found the Coaches robbed; whereupon a strict Enquiry was made among the Soldiers, who stood sentry, whether they had seen any one approach near the Stables? To which an inferior Officer answered, That they might as well have been robbed in the day-time, for they were seldom looked to of late, which sounded like a very frivolous Excuse; for day and night there are Guards conti●●ally standing on every side, especially in the night, the Gates being shut, 'tis next to an impossibility for any one to come in without their knowledge; wherefore it is peremptority believed it was connived at amongst themselves.  
The Loss is computed to be upwards the value of 30 l. and 'tis humbly presumed, that whosoever takes care to stop such Goods, if they come to be offered to Sale, will be well rewarded; they being left in Charge of the Lady Overkerk, who is lately gone to Holland.  

licenced According to Order.    

LONDON: Printed for A. Bank● in Chancery-Lane. 1699.