S58 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1804 



Cution : but I never aymed at any 

 such thing, such thoughte being none 



of my companions. And besides 



I had often received strict commands 

 of my father, upon his blessing sent 

 me by divers friends, to carry my- 

 self temperately, and beware of har- 

 bouring any vindictive resolutions, 

 or revcnget'ull thoughte ; and thus I 

 lived for a space in discoutente ; 

 when I thought it high time to be- 

 thinke myself of some likelie course 

 to end these my troubles. I beheld 

 my lather a prisoner for my sake, 

 and thereby his estate weakened, 

 thrcatning ruine to myself and the 

 rest of his children ; I saw the hide- 

 ous apprehcnsoii of a perpetual 1 im- 

 prisonment if Iwere apprehended; 

 I found ray foe fierce, violent, and 

 implacable (as I tliought) being 

 backed, and presuming upon the 

 authority of great ones, now made 

 mine adversaries : What should I 

 doe ? my f j ther by scverall messages 

 had ailvised my conformitic to the 

 decree ; and though, as a father, he 

 Mas loath to be the executioner, and 

 usher his son himself to punishment, 

 yet had he acquainted the lords with 

 my rctorne. I oft resolved to obey 

 his commands, and submit myself : 

 But then I thought I was for ever 

 lost, and likely to be immured dur- 

 ing my life ; reason persuading me 

 that mine enemies would be less 

 tractable to any fair conclusion, 

 ■whenever they had their wills, and 

 me fast, having shewed themselves 

 so implacable while I was at libertie. 

 Here then I summoned my best 

 thoughte to counsell, from whence 

 resulted this conclusion: — That an 

 interview with sir Tho. Pelham, and 

 some motions made by myself for a 

 reconciliation", would worke with 

 him iuore than all former fruitless 

 passages of my frends had done : 



And with this resolution I rode 

 downe to my father's house, ac- 

 quainting no man therewith but my 

 brother Herbert Lunsford, and that 

 but the same morning when I at- 

 tempted it : He dissuaded me all he 

 could ; but hopes of good success 

 that way had so fully possessed me, 

 that I neglected his counsell. And 

 so upon Sunday the 4th of August 

 I waited the opportunity of sir Tho. 

 Pelham's retorne from church, be- 

 ing accompanied with one only man, 

 both of us armed with swords and 

 pistols, not at all acquainting him 

 with my intent, only asking him 

 whether, if there were occasion, he , 

 would draw his sword with me. 

 The reason why we were so armed, 

 and of my question to him, was, 

 that if I should findc sir Tho. Pel- 

 ham attempt to apprehend mc, ra- 

 ther than to give ear to my propo- 

 sition, I might the easier free 

 myself from the danger. Hi- . 

 therto I had no cause to suspefct 

 that sir Tho. Pelham was so strong 

 guarded or armed ; but hoped mine 

 accesse would have been easier, not 

 carrying along w ith me any thoughte 

 to offer him any violence at all. 

 But when I had espied four of his 

 scrvantcs (one of them with a drawn 

 sword), followe the coach, I then 

 thought it no wisdom to approach 

 nearer naked, but drew my swordc 

 without any other meaning then to 

 defend myself; and so endeavoured 

 to get speech with sir Tho. Pelham; 

 which if he enterteyned, I hoped all 

 would be well; or if he refused, 

 that then he would have suffered me 

 to retreate. But I had no. sooner 

 shewed myself, but I was saluted by 

 his discharging into my left side with 

 a pistoll bullet, and assaulted by the 

 rest with their naked swords, which 

 dangers made me hasten the more, 



towards.' 



