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Algernon Percy； in some few of the city wards； the burgesses
turned out； and without making a very fierce show； looked brave
enough。 Some hundreds of stout gentlemen threw themselves；
armed to the teeth； into the halls of the different companies；
double…locked and bolted all the gates； and dared the rioters
（among themselves） to come on at their peril。 These arrangements
being all made simultaneously； or nearly so； were completed by
the time it got dark； and then the streets were comparatively clear；
and were guarded at all the great corners and chief avenues by the
troops： while parties of the officers rode up and down in all
directions； ordering chance stragglers home； and admonishing the
residents to keep within their houses； and； if any firing ensued； not
to approach the windows。 More chains were drawn across such of
the thoroughfares as were of a nature to favour the approach of a
great crowd； and at each of these points a considerable force was
stationed。 All these precautions having been taken； and it being
now quite dark； those in command awaited the result in some
anxiety： and not without a hope that such vigilant demonstrations
might of themselves dishearten the populace； and prevent any
new outrages。
But in this reckoning they were cruelly mistaken； for in half an
hour； or less； as though the setting in of night had been their
preconcerted signal； the rioters having previously； in small parties；
prevented the lighting of the street lamps； rose like a great sea；
and that in so many places at once； and with such inconceivable
fury； that those who had the direction of the troops knew not； at
first； where to turn or what to do。 One after another； new fires
blazed up in every quarter of the town； as though it were the
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intention of the insurgents to wrap the city in a circle of flames；
which； contracting by degrees； should burn the whole to ashes； the
crowd swarmed and roared in every street； and none but rioters
and soldiers being out of doors； it seemed to the latter as if all
London were arrayed against them； and they stood alone against
the town。
In two hours； six…and…thirty fires were raging—six…and…thirty
great conflagrations： among them the Borough Clink in Tooley
Street； the King’s Bench； the Fleet； and the New Bridewell。 In
almost every street； there was a battle； and in every quarter the
muskets of the troops were heard above the shouts and tumult of
the mob。 The firing began in the Poultry； where the chain was
drawn across the road； where nearly a score of people were killed
on the first discharge。 Their bodies having been hastily carried
into St Mildred’s Church by the soldiers； the latter fired again； and
following fast upon the crowd； who began to give way when they
saw the execution that was done； formed across Cheapside； and
charged them at the point of the bayonet。
The streets were now a dreadful spectacle。 The shouts of the
rabble； the shrieks of women； the cries of the wounded； and the
constant firing； formed a deafening and an awful accompaniment
to the sights which every corner presented。 Wherever the road
was obstructed by the chains； there the fighting and the loss of life
were greatest； but there was hot work and bloodshed in almost
every leading thoroughfare。
At Holborn Bridge； and on Holborn Hill； the confusion was
greater than in any other part； for the crowd that poured out of the
city in two great streams； one by Ludgate Hill； and one by
Newgate Street； united at that spot； and formed a mass so dense；
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that at every volley the people seemed to fall in heaps。 At this
place a large detachment of soldiery were posted； who fired； now
up Fleet Market； now up Holborn； now up Snow Hill—constantly
raking the streets in each direction。 At this place too； several large
fires were burning； so that all the terrors of that terrible night
seemed to be concentrated in one spot。
Full twenty times； the rioters； headed by one man who wielded
an axe in his right hand； and bestrode a brewer’s horse of great
size and strength； caparisoned with fetters taken out of Newgate；
which clanked and jingled as he went； made an attempt to force a
passage at this point； and fire the vintner’s house。 Full twenty
times they were repulsed with loss of life； and still came back
again； and though the fellow at their head was marked and singled
out by all； and was a conspicuous object as the only rioter on
horseback； not a man could hit him。 So surely as the smoke
cleared away； so surely there was he； calling hoarsely to his
companions； brandishing his axe above his head； and dashing on
as though he bore a charmed life； and was proof against ball and
powder。
This man was Hugh； and in every part of the riot； he was seen。
He headed two attacks upon the Bank； helped to break open the
Toll…houses on Blackfriars Bridge； and cast the money into the
street： fired two of the prisons with his own hand： was here； and
there； and everywhere—always foremost—always active—striking
at the soldiers； cheering on the crowd； making his horse’s iron
music heard through all the yell and uproar： but never hurt or
stopped。 Turn him at one place； and he made a new struggle in
another； force him to retreat at this point； and he advanced on
that； directly。 Driven from Holborn for the twentieth time； he rode
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at the head of a great crowd straight upon Saint Paul’s； attacked a
guard of soldiers who kept watch over a body of prisoners within
the iron railings； forced them to retreat； rescued the men they had
in custody； and with this accession to his party； came back again；
mad with liquor and excitement； and hallooing them on like a
demon。
It would have been no easy task for the most careful rider to sit
a horse in the midst of such a throng and tumult； but though this
madman rolled upon his back （he had no saddle） like a boat upon
the sea； he never for an instant lost his seat； or failed to guide him
where he would。 Through the very thickest of the press； over dead
bodies and burning fragments； now on the pavement； now in the
road； now riding up a flight of steps to make himself the more
conspicuous to his party； and now forcing a passage through a
mass of human beings； so closely squeezed together that it seemed
as if the edge of a knife would scarcely part them；—on he went； as
though he could surmount all obstacles by the mere exercise of his
will。 And perhaps his not being shot was in some degree
attributable to this very circumstance； for his extreme audacity；
and the conviction that he must be one of those to whom the
proclamation referred； inspired the soldiers with a desire to take
him alive； and diverted many an aim which otherwise might have
been more near the mark。
The vintner and Mr Haredale； unable to sit quietly listening to
the noise without seeing what went on； had climbed to the roof of
the house； and hiding behind a stack of chimneys； were looking
cautiously down into the street； almost hoping that after so many
repulses the rioters would be foiled； when a great shout
proclaimed that a parry were coming round the other way； and the
Charles D