SAD NEWS from the County of KENT, (VIZ) Showing how 40. Armed, Resolute, Desperate Fellows plundered Sir NICHOLAS CRISPS House, after they had set a watch over his Servants, at Twelve a clock at night, July the 18. 1657. and carried them to the waterside to be transported to Dunkirk.  
With Sir Nicholas Crispe his escape from them upon terms.  
Sent in a Letter by young Mr. crisp of DOVER to his Kinsman in London, Mr. Kathern, who desired the truth might be published to prevent misinformation.  
London, Printed for Richard Harper in Smithfield near to the Hospital-Gate. 1657.   

SAD NEWS from the County of KENT. Sent in a Letter by young Mr. crisp of Dover, to his Kinsman in London.  
IN that famous and fertile Soil of Kent, a near neighbour to the City of London, and a handmaid to furnish her with all Commodities which she in a plentiful manner is possessed withal.  
In the Isle of Tennet, a house called by the name of Queax, about eight miles from Dover lived a worthy Knight, and a good Benefactor to the poor, famous for his acts of piety and Charity, and therefore the more envied and wronged, as by the abominable outrage, and violent actions committed upon his house, himself, and his goods, the like hath not been for such a bold desperate design scarce committed in our Age, unless though formerly in the late King's days the Turkish Pirates set in Cornwall a part of their Mahometan Seamen, and did for two or three Families sweep them all away, children sucking at their mother's breasts, and forced them into their Ships to Sea with them, robbing and plundering their houses of Goods, and their fields of . Now here I present you with a Letter written from a worthy Gentleman at Dover, near allied and kin to the worthy Sir Nicholas Crispe, the house going by the name of Queax; about eight mile from Dover, and hath a creek of water from the Sea, which useth to ebb and flow with the tide, and of this creek these merciless men (villians I may say) made use, in a shallop, to the number of forty resolute renegadoes, entered Sir Nicholas Crispe his house, breaking open the doors, setting a watch over the servants urging the fearful maid servant, else to deprive her of life presently, if she would not bring them to Sir Nicholas his Chamber, and his aged Uncles, for the fearful Maid not knowing their intents brings them to the two Chamber doors where the Gentlemen going to take their natural rest without the least thought of any mischief to any; but by a desperate deboist company of land Pirates I am sure notorious Robbers, Sir Nicholas had his house plundered, himself amazed, and person surprised, with the aged Gentleman his Uncle, whom they have forced to Bridges in Flanders, and by way of entreaty upon a Parley did release Sir Nicholas, but upon condicon, that he should send 1000 pound for the old Gentleman his release, else he to be detained there prisoner at Dunkirk, which cannot be but a great grief to that worthy Gentlewoman high Lady and the rest of his friends; this old Gentleman that's carried away being missed for his charitable relieving of many poor already: Oh let every honest heart desire of the Lord that these either foreign or do mestick Thiefs and Robbers may be found out, for the report of people is general, that they, or some of them must formerly know the house or way unto it very well.  
And therefore, Oh discontented party, leave off the use of such abhorred actions, which are in the sight of God and good men an abbomination; Gods command is thou shalt not steal: The Levitical Law saith he that stealeth shall restore four fold. Many theives on earth Rob themselves of the joys of Heaven: Many well in good health this day, to morrow sick, the third day in the grave; oh ●areless Christian what is the glory of this World, but a flower that continueth for a little season? and than vanisheth away, where there is no remembrance where his place was; therefore grant us all grace to live so here, to keep ourselves unspotted from the world, that we may work out our salvation with fear and trembling, and by the alone merits, death, and passion of our Crucified Lord Jesus, attain to that eternal Kingdom which is endless, that he hath purchased to all them that love him. Amen.  
Hereafter followeth a Copy of a Letter sent from M. Crispe the younger from Dover, which is 8. miles from Sir Nic. Crisps house called Queax, which is about a mile or more distant from any Town in Kent.  
Directed to his Kinsman and loving friend, Mr. Kathern, Porter of Ludgate.  
Supersciption.  
For my loving Cousin Clement Kathern's, Porter of Ludgate, at his house in Cradle-Alley, London.  
Cousin Kathern's,  
MY kind love remembered unto you and my Cousin your good wife; I know you have heard of that sad news from Queax, the manner thus; Upon the 18. of July last passed there came about 40. men well armed with Carbine, Pistol and Sword, and Pole-ax every man there, it is thought they came from Dunkirk, thus coming to the house they quickly broke the lock of the outward gate, so entering into the outward court, they secured all the servants lay without doors, then came to the dwelling house and knocked very loud, one ask who was there, being about 12 a clock at night, they told him they must come in, and the party that spoke to them being but new laid down in his , before he could come down with four blows at the hall door, with a two-hand Sledg the door gave way, and entered the hall before him, secured him and the rest of the servants immediately that lay within the house, than caused the maid to show them my Uncle's Chamber and Sir Nicholases, when they were entered there, they told them they wanted money, and that they knew they well could supply their want, which was done after three hours' time in the Plundering the house, and had what they could get, they then told my Uncle and Sir Nicholas, that they must go along with them, and to that purpose carried the Coachman to put horses in the Coach to carry their Plunder, and Uncle, and Sir Nicholas to the waterside, and upon the way they had a Parley with Sir Nicholas about leaving him behind, it was agreed immediately that he engaging to pay to them 1000 pound in 28. day's time at Bridges to one they named; then he should be free to come home again, which was done: So Sir Nicholas returned home again, but my old Uncle they have inhumanely carried away in his old age, and as yet we hear not any one word of the least thereof how he doth or where he is.  
Thomas Smith the Butcher, went voluntarily along with him, I could not well sooner give you this account, for we knew not the certain truth of things till my Father came home about the middle of last week. My Father, wife, and self present our kind love unto you: I am sure if he return not speedliy we shall want him dearly, for he is very good to my aged parents. In haste with thanks for all your favour I remain.  
Dover, 27. July, 1657. Your affectionate Kinsman, to command, Henry Crispe.  
I pray at your leisure convey this Letter unto my Father-in-Law's Lodging.  
TO conclude, Consider likewise what sad effects and prodigious abortives this sinful Nation hath produced of late years by war, yet are we not bettered, but like Iron put into the water out of the fire, to be hardened for the Judgements of God hath hardened ourhearts, in our fullness of bread and comtempt of his Word, every one following his own fancy in matters of Religion, so much, that we have almost lost that ancient Protestant Religion, which so many Martyrs' blood did seal and confirm, whom our Ancestors so highly advanced, but now so much slghted and contemned that many do hate the name of Protestant.  
Now great God, since it hath pleased thy holy Name in mercy to sheathe the devouring sword from the 3 Nations England, Scotland, and Ireland, and that we have the Enjoyment of peace again, let them fall by the sword that would any way seek to introduce it again in our days to this Nation, now we may praise the Lord that we are not troubled with burning of Towns, Plundering of Houses, pitcht-Battells, nor flying fightings, though unhapyly a worthy, a godly, and noble Knight hath lately been struck with a terrible blow of it.  
As tending to the danger of his life, the surprisal of his near and dear kinsman, the loss of his goods, the frights of the good Lady, the fear and danger the poor servants sustained when they could not help themselves, nor their Mr. himself, no not, but all let open to the height of their intended domination and destruction, this being the effect of War, the fruit it (produceth, at the best) but beggary. This disign of their wretched act sure must be begot by some who hath been free of the use of theft or Plunder, and will assuredly obtain his reward at the Gallows, else die desperately by the sword, as the Famous Thief of late hath done, Hind, that had as many cuts on's head, face, and arms, as many more as he had fingers and toes twice over, yet the Gallows was ordained his end as deservedly.   
FINIS.