royalty restored-第63节
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ock。 Once more the glitter of steel flashed through the air； a groan arose from the crowd； and Lord Stafford's head was severed from his body。
A reaction now set in； and gained strength daily。 The remaining peers were in due time liberated； the blood of innocent victims was no longer shed； and the Duke of York was recalled。 Such was the end of the popish plot； which； says Archdeacon Eachard； 〃after the strictest and coolest examinations； and after a full length of time； the government could find very little foundation to support so vast a fabrick； besides downright swearing and assurance； not a gun； sword； nor dagger； not a flask of powder or dark lanthorn； to effect this strange villainy； and with the exception of Coleman's writings； not one slip of an original letter of commission among those great numbers alledged to uphold the reputation of the discoveries。〃
Concerning those through whose malice such disturbance was wrought； and so much blood shed； a few words may be added。 Within twelve months of Lord Stafford's execution； Shaftesbury was charged with high treason； but escaping condemnation； fled from further molestation to Holland； where； after a residence of six weeks； he died。 Tonge departed this life in 1680； unbenefited by the monstrous plot he had so skilfully devised； and in the same year Bedlow was carried to the grave after an illness of four days。 Oates survived to meet a share of the ignominy and punishment due to his crimes。 After a residence of three years in Whitehall； he was driven out of the palace on account of 〃certain misdemeanors laid to his charge；〃 and deprived of his salary。 Two years later； in May； 1683； he was accused of calling the Duke of York a traitor； and using scandalous words towards his royal highness。 Upon hearing of the case the jury fined him one hundred thousand pounds。 Unable to pay the sum； he was cast into prison； where he remained six years； until liberated in the reign of William and Mary； His punishment was not； however； at an end。 At the Michaelmas term of 1684 he was accused of having wilfully perjured himself at the late trials。 As he pleaded not guilty； his case was appointed to be heard at the King's Bench Court。 His trial did not take place until May； 1685； on which occasion the lord chief justice； in summing up the evidence； declared； 〃There does not remain the slightest doubt that Oates is the blackest and most perjured villain on the face of the earth。〃
After a quarter of an hour's absence from court； the jury returned a verdict of guilty； and sentence was pronounced against him。 He was stripped of his canonical habit； forced to walk through all the courts of Westminster Hall proclaiming his crimes； to stand an hour on the pillory opposite Westminster Hall gate on Monday； an hour on the pillory at the Royal Exchange on Tuesday； and on Wednesday he was tied to a cart and whipt at the hands of the common hangman from Aldgate to Newgate； in the presence； says Eachard； 〃of innumerable spectators； who had a more than ordinary curiosity to see the sight。〃
CHAPTER XIX。
London under Charles II。Condition and appearance of the thoroughfares。Coffee is first drunk in the capital。Taverns and their frequenters。The city by night。Wicked people do creep about。Companies of young gentlemen。The Duke of Monmouth kills a beadle。Sir Charles Sedley's frolic。Stately houses of the nobility。St。 James's Park。Amusement of the town。At Bartholomew Fair。Bull； bear； and dog fights。Some quaint sports。
During the first six years of the merry monarch's reign； London town； east of Temple Bar； consisted of narrow and tortuous streets of quaintly gabled houses； pitched roofed and plaster fronted。 Scarce four years had passed after the devastating fire which laid this portion of the capital in ashes； when a new and stately city rose upon the ruins of the old。 Thoroughfares lying close by the Thames； which were wont to suffer from inundations； were raised； those which from limited breadth had caused inconvenience and bred pestilence were made wide； warehouses and dwellings of solid brick and carved stone； with doors； window… frames； and breastsummers of stout oak； replaced irregular though not unpicturesque habitations； whilst the halls of companies； eminent taverns； and abodes of great merchants； were now built 〃with fair courtyards before them； and pleasant gardens behind them； and fair spacious rooms and galleries in them； little inferior to some princes' palaces。〃 Moreover； churches designed by the genius of Christopher Wren； adorned with spires； steeples； and minarets； intersected the capital at all points。
This new； handsome； and populous city presented an animated； ever changing； and merry scene。 From 〃the high street which is called the Strand；〃 far eastwards； great painted signs； emblazoned with heraldic arms； or ornamented with pictures of grotesque birds and animals； swung above shop…doors and taverns。 Stalls laden with wares of every description； 〃set out with decorations as valuable as those of the stage；〃 extended into the thoroughfares。 In the new Exchange； built by the worshipful company of mercers at a cost of eight thousand pounds； and adorned by a fair statue of King Charles II。 in the habit of a Roman emperor； were galleries containing rows of very rich shops； displaying manufactures and ornaments of rare description； served by young men known as apprentices； and likewise by comely wenches。
At corners and nooks of streets； under eaves of churches and great buildings； and other places of shelter； sat followers of various trades and vendors of divers commodities； each in the place which had become his from daily association and long habit。 These good people； together with keepers of stalls and shops； extolled their wares in deafening shouts； snatches of song； shouts of laughter； and the clang of pewter vessels came in bursts of discord from open tavern doors； women discoursed with or abused each other； according to their temper and inclination as they leaned from the jutting small…paned windows and open balconies of their homesteads； hackney coaches or 〃hell carts；〃 as they drove by； cast filth and refuse lying in kennels upon the clothes of passengers； the carriers of sedan…chairs deposited their burthens to fight for right of way in narrow passages and round crowded corners。
Through the busy concourse flowing up and down the thoroughfares from dawn to dusk； street…criers took their way； bearing wares upon their heads in wicker baskets； before them on broad trays； or slung upon their backs in goodly packs。 And as they passed； their voices rose above the general din； calling 〃Fair lemons and oranges； oranges and citrons！〃 〃Cherries； sweet cherries； ripe and red！〃 〃New flounders and great plaice； buy my dish of great eels！〃 〃Rosemary and sweet briar； who'll buy my lavender？〃 〃Fresh cheese and cream！〃 〃Lily…white vinegar！〃 〃Dainty sausages！〃 which calls； being frequently intoned to staves of melody； fell with pleasant sounds upon the ear。 ＇These hawkers so seriously interfered with legitimate traders； that in 1694 they were forbidden to sell any goods or merchandise in any public place within the city or liberties； except in open markets and fairs； on penalty of forty shillings for each offence； both to buyers and sellers。＇ Moreover； to these divers sights and sounds were added ballad singers； who piped ditties upon topics of the day； quacks who sold nostrums and magic potions； dancers who performed on tight…ropes； wandering musicians； fire…eaters of great renown； exhibitors of dancing dolls； and such like itinerants 〃as make show of motions and strange sights；〃 all of whom were obliged to have and to hold 〃a license in red and black letters； under the hand and seal of Thomas Killigrew； Esq。； master of the revels to his sacred majesty Charles II。〃
Adown the Strand； Fleet Street； and in that part of the city adjoining the Exchange； coffee…houses abounded in great numbers。 Coffee； which in this reign became a favourite beverage； was introduced into London a couple of years before the restoration。 It had； however； been brought into England at a much earlier period。 John Evelyn； in the year 1638； speaks of it being drunk at Oxford； where there came to his college 〃one Nathaniel Conoposis out of Greece； from Cyrill the patriarch of Constantinople； who； returning many years after； was made Bishop of Smyrna。〃 Twelve good years later； a coffee…house was opened at Oxford by one Jacobs； a Jew； where this beverage was imbibed 〃by some who delighted in novelty。〃 It was； however； according to Oldys the antiquarian； untasted in the capital till a Turkey merchant named Edwards brought to London a Ragusan youth named Pasqua Rosee； who prepared this drink for him daily。 The eagerness to taste the strange beverage drawing too much company to his board； Edwards allowed the lad； together with a servant of his son…in…law； to sell it publicly； whence coffee was first sold in St。 Michael's Alley in Cornhill by Pasqua Rosee； 〃at the sign of his own head；〃 about the year 1658。
Though coffee…drinkers first met with much ridicule from wits about town； and writers of broadsheet ballads； the beverage became gradually popular； and houses for its sale quickly multiplie
