Читать книгу Cherry & Violet: A Tale of the Great Plague онлайн

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Now, though I cannot, of course, remember Anything of the Fire, I have a perfect Recollection of the next notable Occurrence among us, of the Double Tide, which happened in my eighth Year; and how the River, after lying as still as a Stone for more than an Hour, suddenly came foaming up from Greenwich, roaring, boiling, and splashing to that Degree that it was Horror to look upon. And my Father, after contemplating the Prodigy along with all the rest, exclaimed, “Well, Friends! you may say what you will; but I, though not a superstitious Man, think Something will come of it.” And did not Something come of it ... or, at any Rate, after it? and were not we, that had previously been sleeping on the still Waters of a settled Government, horribly overwhelmed with a Tide of Rebellion, Anarchy, and Republicanism?

The Year before the Double Tide, there had been much Talk in my Father’s Shop, about the Earl of Strafford being given over to the Black Rod, which I, being of such tender Years, could not well make out, but it seemed to carry an ill Sound with it. After that, he was taken to his Trial; and passed from his Prison in the Tower to Westminster, under our Bridge. We looked forth of our Windows, and discerned him plainly in one of the Barges, guarded by Soldiers with Partizans; and there was much Yelling and Hooting as he went through the Arch, which I for my Part was sorry for, he was so handsome and personable a Gentleman. The People, however, were much incensed against him; and, about three Months after the Double Tide, there was what I may call a Double Tide of ’Prentices and tumultuous Citizens, to the Number of about six Thousand, (my Cousin, Mark Blenkinsop, being among them,) who assembled themselves in an intimidating Manner at Westminster, many of them armed with Swords and Staves, and demanded Lord Strafford’s Death of the Peers as they went to the House.