358

HIST0K5T ON ENGLAND.

chap, pull down bridges, and to throw up barricades: but soon the-qjjj— excitement went down. In many districts those who had beenso foully imposed upon learned with delight, alloyed byshame, that there was not a single Popish soldier within aweek’s march. There were places, indeed, where somestragglingbands of Irish made their appearance and demandedfood: but it can scarcely be imputed to them as a crime thatthey did not choose to die of hunger; and there is no evidencethat they committed any wanton outrage. In truth they weremuch less numerous than was commonly supposed; and theirspirit was cowed by finding themselves left on a sudden with-out leaders or provisions, in the midst of a mighty populationwhich felt towards them as men feel towards a drove ofwolves. Of all the subjects of James none had more reasonto execrate him than these unfortunate members of his churchand defender? of his throne.*

It is honourable to the English character that, notwith-standing the aversion with which the Roman Catholic religionand the Irish race were then regarded, notwithstanding theanarchy which was the effect of the flight of James, notwith-standing the artful machinations which were employed toscare the multitude into cruelty, no atrocious crime was per-petrated at this conjuncture. Much property, indeed, was de-stroyed and carried away. The houses of many Roman Catholicgentlemen were attacked. Parks were ravaged. Deer wereslain and stolen. Some venerable specimens of the domesticarchitecture of the middle ages bear to this day the marks ofpopular violence. The roads were in many places made im-passable by a self-appointed police, which stopped every travel-ler till he proved that he was not a Papist. The Thames wasinfested by a set of pirates who, under pretence of searchingfor arms or delinquents, rummaged every boat that passed.Obnoxious persons were insulted and hustled. Many personswho were not obnoxious were glad to ransom their persons and

* Citters, Dec. R. 1688; Lutlrell’s Diary; Ellis Correspondence;Oldmixon, 161.; Speke’s Secret History of Ihe Revolution; Clarke’s Lifeof James, ii. 251.; Eachard’s History of the Revolution; History of theDesertion.