A true RELATION OF A great Robbery committed near Andiver in Hampshire, UPON JOHN LLOYD, AND DAVID GWYN, The one of North-wales, the other of Southwales, coming up to LONDON.  
And how the Britons bravely encountered with twelve Thieves; killed six in the place, and wounded the rest: yet at last were Mastered, and robbed by the said Thieves.  
With divers strange Passages▪ and events concerning the same; which (being truly worth observation) were thought fit to put to public view for satisfaction of all their countrymen, friends, and acquaintance; and all others that desire to be truly informed touching the same.  
Cantabit vacuus coram latrone viator.  
LONDON, Printed for G. F. near York-house. 1648.   

To the Courteous Reader.  
Courteous Reader,  
A Thing may happen in a moment, which perhaps will not fall out again, in seven years; Though (I must confess) I am a stranger to the persons who are the subjects of the ensuing lines, and to their country, yet at the importunate solicitation, and information of many of my friends and Comrades of those parts, I undertook to publish what my weak Muse could perform herein; being ravished with the thought of the conceited subject, which merited a better vain than mine to give it a true varnish. Whatever you find dropped from my rude Language, excuse the weakness of my fancy, being more to please others that would have it so, than my own Genius; and perhaps may add a smile to thy countenance. I say no more, but Quod spero & placeo, (si placeo) tuum est. And so am gone.  
Democritus junior.   

In praise of my dear Friend, the Author hereof.  
My Friend,  

THy work I have perused, in which I find  
Matter most admirable to my mind.  
It is as musical as David's Lyre.  
Thy Muse I do adore, thy Muse admire.  
The Times restore thee thanks, for why?  
Here's matter to digest a Christmas Pie;  
Sufficient, and able to reimburse,  
What Jack or Taffie suffered by their Purse.   
I. Ho.   

A True Relation of the Robbing of two gallant Welshmen.  

THe remnant of the British worth of old,  
Is by their* Bards to future ages told; 
W●lsh-P●ets.   
And that their Valour did out-blaze their same,  
None else but they deserved the martial Name.  
Even to this present time left as a Story,  
To sing their worth, their praise and glory.  
Muses stood mute-wise in admiration,  
At the deportment of that Nation;  
Admire we must, nor can we do no more,  
The like was never heard, since or before.  
OWEN great* TEWDYR, Prince of the Northern Pole, 
Prince of North-Wales.   
Virtue and Valour left he for his Dole.  
Prince* BRYCHAN swayed the Southern parts  
Rare in his worth, and skilful in all Arts. 
Prince of Brecknockshire.   
These Gallant prowess Princes of that soil,  
Endless hatred always got the broil  
Betwixt them, and the strife and jar,  
While lived, begot a constant war.  
The sequel leads my Muse to speak the praise,  
Of other two brave Gallants; I want but bays  
To crown their Worth and virtue store,  
An emblem, visible for evermore.  
They both descended from the royal Blood  
Of those heroic Princes that then stood  
So long, so gallant and so stout;  
Admired they were in all the World about.  
Red 
* The North-Wales man, and a crafty F●x.  Jack the one by name of tewdyrs' race,  
Fierce in his wrath, and fearful in his face,  
He dared, and durst with any one encounter;  
For him to run away, it were a wonder!  
Th' others descent from Brichan, far Nobler Blood  
Than any of the Tewdyrs, or the Flood,  
His Name as big as' looks are grim,  
Monstrum horrendum 
* A South-Wales man, who never was in London; he heard often of it, and thought it was no City, but a Monster upon earth.  DAVID GWYN.  
Upon a gloomy day not long since past  
Marching for London without his Breakfast,  
Mounted above reason with Pistols, Sword and all,  
But in their way they had a rotten fall.  
Resolved they were for London, there to try  
Their skill and Art with gallant Chivalry.  
The Gwyn to Court brave Ladies to his mind,  
A lass poor Taffie left his Purse behind.  
The blustering Flood, well trained in Cupid's school,  
Thought to make Taffie prove an arrant fool,  
Gave precepts to the youth for to embrace  
The Lady's favours, and obtain their grace,  
By learning first to cringe, and next to swive,  
So soon as they at London should arrive.  
But in the road these two Bilbonians met  
Twelve gallant Sparks, who bravely them beset:  
Tewdyr looks back, and spies their glittering Swords,  
The blade's curveting with big oaths and words.  
near Andiver in Hampshire, proved the day  
Dismal to none but to John Flood and I.  
Quoth Noble Taffie, resolved I am to die,  
If nothing else afford me remedy.  
I looked me back, and spied my Blades behind;  
Judge what a terror then struck in my mind!  
Oh the● said Jack to his young friend,  
Spur up thy horse, our lives are near an end.  
Horse, Horse, away, and let's us no longer stay,  
For they do vow and swear they will us stay,  
And rob us, which is worse than death;  
With this they ran till they were out of breath.  
Old Jack being better mounted, spurred away,  
Left Taffie and his* goat to go astray. 
The young man's horse not much bigger than a Welsh goat.   
And wanting aid, was then compelled to cry  
Help Plowmen now (I pray) or else I die.  
The heartless Clowns would not afford their aid  
To this poor Britain, sorely now afraid:  
And, wanting help, among the Thieves he fell;  
O what a doleful story it is to tell!  
He groaned and said, (Brave hearts) O give me breath,  
Delight not in an ancient Britain's death.  
All that I have is yours, so that you be  
Preservers of my life and liberty.  
Quoth they, true Britain, rouse, rouse up thy heart,  
Think not we'll aim to act a wicked part;  
'Tis not thy life nor blood will us content,  
Yield up thy purse, for that's our chiefest bent.  
To this replied poor Taffie, in a faint strain,  
Here is the store which doth with me remain;  
Content I am to part, so you will spare  
My life that's dear and then I do not care.  
Farewell the Purse with eight odd pounds in money,  
For want of which, I'll cease to court or coney.  
And after they bereaved this youth of all,  
They spurred and cried, and gave to John a call.  
John with his gallant Polimero steer,  
Scorned to turn back, but did them flout and jeer,  
Swore a big Oath that he would never yield,  
Resolved he was to die within the field;  
So long my horse, or self, can act it out,  
Let me alone, I'll put the Rogues to rout.  
Forth came his Sword, his Pistol charged, let fly,  
Routed the rebel's wing that Northward lie.  
In this same gallant action being two hours' space,  
Encountered with these Cutters face to face.  
At last his horse grew weak, his spirit fail,  
Such gallant soul who would not much bewail?  
Help, help (quoth he) to Taffie, villain come,  
Behold my case, I am fore're undone;  
Make Hue and cry, call for the ploughmen's aid,  
See now the Rogues begin to be dismayed.  
No help for John, who there along was left  
Amongst the rascal Thieves that him bereft  
Not only of his Cash but senses to,  
Drew down the high looks of his lofty brow;  
And (as himself relates) his horse did tire, 
This name he hath from Twedyr the Prince of North-wales, being he is from thence himself.   
Tumbled poor* Twedyr up to the ears in mire.  
When valiant John could them resist no more  
He yielded up his Purse and all his store,  
His Horse, his cloak, his Saddle, nay lost all!  
How now old Fox, could you not choose to fall?  
Crafty and cunning was this* Fox of old,  
He parted with his money, not his Gold; 
A Fox in respect of his subtlety, being a notable crafty man in all his dealings.   
Taffie lost all, the Gold he did conceal,  
What fool was Taffie he did it not reveal?  
With fainting hearts in this unhappy plight,  
Up to the Hill they went, and there did light,  
Condoling their mischance, and cursed the day  
That ever brought them to that cursed way.  
In this same sad condition both did strive  
To uphold their sinking spirits and alive  
Each other to preserve, with sweet and balsam tales,  
Like conquered Taffies newly come from Wales;  
Till this Metropolis they both should enter,  
And by some other Nobler way to venture  
Their fortune lost, and valour to regain.  
Assistance of friends they knew it was in vain  
To crave; to beg they were ashamed;  
To fall to rob, could they be justly blamed?  
Supported with vain hopes, at last they came  
To this brave Town to play their latter game.  
In this same conflict, both of them fell out,  
Which proved most coward, which most stout.  
Tewdyr began to swear and brag, that he  
Did then behave himself most gallantly;  
Killed six and more with his great Trojan hand,  
If Taffie durst (not fight) but only stand.  
Cursed be the womb which brought forth such an ass,  
That brought us both to such a sorry pass.  
Ye sons of Mars trust not a heartless Gay,  
Instead of fight he will but run away.  
Hold there my friend (quoth Noble Taffie)  
I cannot think on this, but I must laugh;  
You fight, you shit, what ailed your pocky nose,  
You ran away and durst not face your foes?  
The World can testify my valour and my skill,  
To fight and roar with any he that will.  
My proper person promised nothing less;  
Merit of worth, as all men by me guess.  
A Coward rascal that ne'er drew a Sword  
In anger all his life, take't on my word!  
I fought most gallantly, he spurred away,  
Left to the hazard of that gloomy day.  
Concluding this discourse, they did agree,  
To Westminster to go, there for to see  
If they could find the Blades that them did rob;  
Poor men for want they did both sigh and sob.  
Ne'er a man that wore a Sword, but they  
Like country Hobbies stared him in the eye.  
Often to Westminster they came in vain,  
As wise as fools they did return again.  
But on a morn Jack Tewdyr did behold  
One of the sparks that was so rash and bold  
As to demand his Purse, but truly he  
For want of Taffies' presence, had no certainty.  
The next day met with his Comradoe Gwyn,  
Told him the story; next he did begin  
His feature, face, and body to descry,  
His terrible looks and stern physiognomy.  
Which much amazed the youngster on my word,  
And struck him dumb to hear he had a Sword.  
Resolved they were to try another way,  
Whatever Fate or Fortune would gainsay.  
Brave Twedyr to the country doth retire,  
Relates his fate, and makes his friends admire  
At his escape, and what to him befell,  
Which for a Christmas tale serves for to tell.  
Some at him laugh, others great pity take;  
Some jeer and flout, some lamentation make,  
Some wish him well, but most did pray,  
This Vermin Twedyr might not live that day.  
The crafty Fox sits silent, let's them curse;  
Out of their Treasure he will cram his purse,  
He poles the country people with deal of ease,  
By colour of an Office, called Clerk of Peace.  
Taffie attorney is of great renown,  
Big in his country, but an arrant clown.  
His client's Cash was all that he did loose,  
I deem him for his pains a gagling Goose.  
His greatest aim was Ladies to salute,  
Whose vap'ring presence struck the young man mute;  
A country leg could make, and buss his hand,  
Rub up his nose, and like a Goblyn stand.  
And being no later than the other day  
Fortune did present him in his way  
With a rare purchase, had he but the wit,  
And money to, t'improve the best of it,  
Might have regained his credit and lost fame,  
Made himself rich and famous in his name.  
Wanting both wit and Cash, nay breeding to,  
Lost all his hopes, to his eternal woe.  
Thus (Gentle Reader) you have here at large  
The true Relation of the Britons charge  
Near Andiver the manner, time, and place  
Where they were robbed, and how with much disgrace.  
Which being the sum in the Frontispiece of the Book  
I promised to perform; pray view and look,  
And with impartial judgement give your Vote,  
Which proved the man, or which the goat.   — Nemo me impune lucessit. 
FINIS.