About nine o'clock
While Leonard stood stupefied and confounded at what had occurred , and Isabella , uttering a loud cry , threw herself upon the body and tried to stanch the wound -- two men , with halberds in their hands rushed forward , and seizing Thirlby , cried , `` We arrest you as a murderer ! '' Thirlby , who seemed utterly overcome by surprise and horror , offered no resistance . At this juncture Leonard felt his arm seized by a bystander -- he did not know whom -- and scarcely conscious of what was taking place , suffered himself to be dragged from the scene . About nine o'clock on the night of Saturday , the second of September , 1666 -- and rather more than nine months after the incidents last related , -- three men took their way from Smithfield to Islington . They proceeded at a swift pace and in silence , until , having mounted the steep hill on which the suburb in question is situated , they halted at a short distance from the high walls surrounding the great water-works formed by the New-River-head . The night was dark , but free from cloud , in consequence of a strong easterly wind which prevailed at the time . `` It is dark in London now , '' observed one of the three persons to his companions as he cast his eye in the direction of the great city , that lay buried in gloom beneath them ; `` but there will be light enough soon . ''