An Epistle NARRATIVE OF THE Barbarous Assault and illegal ARREST of Freder. Turvill, Esquire: By Sixteen Bailiffs, with the death of one of their Followers.  
To a Gentleman in the Country from a Friend of both newly arrived from beyond Sea, that accidentally was an eyewitness of all Passages.  Quod genus hoc hominum? Quaeve hunc tam barbara morem Permittit Patria? Virg. lib. 1. Aened. 
London, Printed, 1660.   

An Epistle Narrative of the Barbarous Assault and Illegal Arrest of Frederick Turvill, Esq by Sixteen Bailiffs, with the death of one of their followers.  
Dear N.  
AFter so long absence from thee, and what I was willinglier to part with, in the unstable state I left it, my Country; thou mayest perhaps rather look for an account of my travails into Foreign Nations; stuffed with some of Mandivels' lies, than a homely Narrative of any Domestic accident. But a sad mischance rolating to a dear friend of ours commands my Pen, and forces me to assure thee, I have not any where abroad amongst people civilised by Law, or Religion, been an eyewitness of an action more Barbarous, yet authorised and licenced by a pretended legality, than what the second day of my residence in London, presented to my view. It made me, I confess, sadly fancy, that where Gentlemen of Noble extraction were so much abused by base people, under the Cloak of law; all those Regicides were not extinct that pretended by law to cut off the head of all laws their King.  
It was on the 17th. of this current, that from a Balcone of my lodging in Covent garden, I beheld the Plazzoes comparing them (ut parva magnis) to that of St Mark at Venice, or the Portici di Bologna, when at a distance, I took particular notice of two Gentlemen walking together, whom by. the comeliness of their deportment, and studied negligence of a manly gate, I concluded, improved travellers I was, I must need say, pleasing myself with this reflection, that as there is no Monkey more ridiculous in my eyes, than an English monsieur, who crossed the Seas for fashion more than design, and made it his some months study to wag his head and heels, as lightly as his Feathers, or swear in an affected passion à Je reniege dieu! So our Nation may, in this regard, thank and excuse its late misfortunes, that the unconstant changes of Government, and constant persecution of the loyal party hath forced so many gallant spirits to quit their Native home, who by wise reflection on the Manners, Natures, Policies, and Governments, of other States and Kingdoms, have improved themselves to such a height of Wisdom and Gallantry, hat we need not yield to any Nation in Europe, as before in Military, so now in Politic and Civil affairs. These were my thoughts relating to the two Gentlemen, who had but one Footman attending on them, when behold! on a sudden they were surrounded by a cluster of rude but stirred, fellows; with swords drawn, hangers and other weapons, as if they intended a murder. One of them making at the foremost of the Gentlemen) whom I could not yet discern to be our dear and noble friend. Mr. Frederick Turvill) was by him several times bid to stand off upon his peril; but he forcing in, gave not our friend leave to draw his sword, though he had his hand on it, who having a long leaguer Cloak thrown round his left shoulder, could not presently draw; wherefore quitting his sword, he whipped out a Dagger, presented the point, not offering to stab, or thrust at him, but rather retiring some paces backward towards the wall in the posture of a Legal defence; but the Fellow (whose name was Gerard) pressing still on, and endeavouring to close, ran himself upon the Dagger, which passed into his breast, and he forthwith fell to the ground Another of the Crew in the very instant caught hold of Mr. Turvills right hand, to avoid whose hold, he changed his Dagger to the left, and with it struck him that held him: Now three more of the company made at the defendant with their hangers, and after some blows closed with him, but could not wrest from him the Priniard, with which, though held, he put off two passes made a his body which ran through the sleeve of his shi●t and doublet. Gerard in this interim, still alive to revenge, arose again, and making at him, cried out: Thou Rogue, God damn me, thou hast killed me! but by a push was turned again upon his back. It was worthily observable, that our noble friend being as you know, but of a moderate size, and very neatly timbered, yet, as unconcerned in danger, in the vehemency of his Passion, uniting all his spirits, could not be worsted by all these burly, strong and boisterous fellows; two of whom I could plainly discern, he threw with apparent ease to the ground, whilst others hung upon his arms and shoulders. There it was to be seen, how much a clear and neat strength born on by an active resolution, and an undaunted courage, can prevail against the boisterous fury of a lubberly rout, whose souls are duller and heavier than their louty bodies, and would leave a doubt of their final Resurrection, were there not a severer Judge to condemn them to hell, than they find here to condemn their bodies to a Gallows. My quill is too slow to accompany the active performances of our noble friend, who being now overpowr'd more by their weight then their motions and almost pressed to the ground, overturned two of them in a dark cellar, and fell with them, 'tis true; but you may easily imagine the nobler element would be still uppermost: there, I suppose he lost his weapon, who would have caught at lightning, to dart in their faces, and himself in the dark, but not his courage. And here I must not omit to tell how bravely the other Gentleman behaved himself all this while, who with his Sword, kept the other twelve in play, being only seconded by Mr. Turvills' man, who unadvisedly not keeping close to him, was disarmed, which the gallant person perceiving, and not seeing his friend any more, retiring a step or two, plucked out a Pistol, at which the Baylisss drew back, and gave him opportunity to make an honourable retreat. Thus was noble Turvill arrested and carried over to the Rose Tavern, before either I or any other Gentlemen knew him, much less came in to rescue him, all this being done in less time than you can read it. He was there confined to a Chamber, all the Baylisss standing about him with drawn swords, six of them being wounded, wheere he saw Gerard sprawling on the ground, lie Cursing and Swearing, and charging his fellows to impute his death to our Friend, till he spewed out his revengeful soul no doubt to hell, whether it was carried by a bloody Oath, and imprecation; He left these villain's heirs of his revenge, for they proved so fatihfull executers to his damnable Will, that they still thirst after his blood, although it be certainly proved, they had no Warrant at that time against Mr. Turvill, and credibly reported, that they missing their aim in executing another Arrest, resolved amongst themselves to serve it on the first Gentleman they met, and by consequence, gave occasion to their followers death, who was no Bailiff himself; yet they added Robbery to their Roguery, and picked Mr: Turvills pockets under pretence of searching for Pistols. What horrid abuse is this of the Law, that a nest of rogues let fly where and at whom they will, should attempt not only an Arrest without Warrant a robbery instead of an arrest, but venture at the life of a Person of quality, whose life ought to be as dear to his Country, as it concerns the Nation, that all such rascals should be hanged. Quod genus hoc hominum? aut quae tam barbara morem Permittit Patria? 'tis grown now to that height of barbarousness, that neither Streets, nor Houses, nor Courts of Justice, scarce Churches themselves are free from these Vermin, and but one day in the week exempt from their attempts: Were it not safer for most of our Gallants in Town, that have courage to enter at a breach in the face of an enemy and the mouth of a Cannon, to travail amongst Bears and Wolves, where their defence were justifiable and honourable, then to walk our streets (where every man ought to have public freedom) under the sight of these Monsters that watch at every door, and start out of every hole, with forged right to warrant their mischief? may they not at every turn cry out, Per insidias iter est, formasque jerarum?  
After these legal Thiefs had robbed Mr. Turvill, not thinking themselves defensible in their baseness, nor daring to trust their own cowardliness any more in the open streets amongst Gentlemen and honest people, that had all their mouths full of Mr. Turvills' defence, and praise of his civility, gallantry, valour, and worth. They called the Constable to their assistance, brought forth our friend, to conduct him to Justice Blake; multitudes they were, and I cannot devise how it came to pass, that, we could not possibly get together above two or three Gentlemen in all that time to rescue him, though all the people generally spoke high his praise. Two there were, whose gallantry shall always be by me admired, for they performed against the multitude, as much as could be done by men, till in dispute my friend's man, made his escape, after whom they crying; stop the murderer! We supposing our Friend had been disengaged, made good and safe our own retreat. But soon after to our excessive grief, I understood, he was brought before Justice Blake, from whom I could no ways expect any civility for a Gentleman, though his wife be a Gentlewoman of good extraction, and much civility. He is said to be of principles destructive to all Titles of Honour, and one who was more like to favour his equals, then give respect to his betters.  
Dearest N. O may those happy and glorious days hasten upon us with golden wings, which we hope for by the means of this free ensuing Parliament, wherein a Crown may be restored to majesty, Titles to Nobility, Honour to Worth and Gallantry, Subjection, Quietness, respect and loyal Obedience be found in Subjects, and a perfect Reformation of all Abuses, Cheats, Trepans taken from the Law, and insolence from the under rout of People. Let us in the interim comfort ourselves with these loyal hopes, and let me live no longer, if I live to see any one hair of noble Turvills' head to perish for this Gallant, Noble and Just Defence of his worthy Person.  
Thine N.