So NEWTOWN TO MONTGOMERY. 



Lord Herbcri was alfo remarkable for agility hi 

 all bodily exercifes ; in running, leaping, wreflling, 

 and fencing, he had few equals ; and he was un- 

 commonly expert in the management of his horfe, 

 and in fighting duels on horfeback. He records the 

 following inftance of having faved his life when the 

 advantage was greatly againfl him. — Sir John Ayres, 

 imagining that lord Herbert had improper con- 

 nexions with his wife, made feveral attempts to 

 affaflinate him. He was pafTmg Whitehall on horfe- 

 back, with only two fervants, when fir John, and 

 four men, fet upon him at once. In an early part 

 of the encounter his fword was broken within afoot 

 of the hilt, and his horfe was fo much wounded, that 

 he attempted to ahght. At that moment fir John 

 ruilied up, and from the horfe ftarting againfl him, 

 lord Herbert was thrown off: one of his feet hung 

 in the ftirrup, and in this fituation, with only a 

 broken fword in his hand, he had to defend himfelf. 

 Sir John Ayres made feveral attempts to ftab him^ 

 all of which he parried with the utmofl dexterity, 

 and, feizing a favourable moment, caught the knight 

 by tlie legs, and brought him to the ground. One 

 of his fervants now freed his foot from the ftirrup, 

 he got up, and with the poor remains of his weapon, 

 put himfelf into a pofture of defence. He allowed 

 fir John to rife, and two friends taking part with his 

 two fervants againft his adverfary's four adherents, 

 he at length with his broken fword completely dif- 

 armed the knight, and beat oft' the other afiailants. 



In 



