Domestic fiction; England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction; Family -- England -- Fiction
Since the bells were ringing, and it was understood that the Bishop was
actually going to dare the peril, Griff and others of the defenders
decided that it was better to attend the service and fill up the nave so
as to hinder outrage. He said it was a most strange and wonderful
service. Chants and Psalms and Lessons and prayers going on their course
as usual, but every now and then in the pauses of the organ, a howl or
yell of the voice of the multitude would break on the ear through the
thick walls. Griff listened and hoped for a volley of musketry. He was
not tender-hearted! But none came, and by the time the service was over,
the mob had been greatly reinforced and had broken into the prisons, set
them on fire, and released the prisoners. They were mustering on College
Green for an attack on the palace. Griff aided in guarding the entrance
to the cloisters till the Bishop and his family had had time to drive
away to Almondsbury, four miles off, and then the rush became so strong
that they had to give way. There was another great struggle at the door
of the palace, but it was forced open with a crowbar, while shouts rang
out ‘No King and no Bishops!’ A fire was made in the dining-room with
chairs and tables, and live coals were put into the beds, while the
plunder went on.
Griff meantime had made his way to the party headed by the magistrates,
and accompanied by the dragoons, and the mob began to flee; but Colonel
Brereton had given strict orders that the soldiers should not fire, and
the plunderers rallied, made a fire in the Chapter House, and burnt the
whole of the library, shouting with the maddest triumph.
They next attacked the Cathedral, intending to burn that likewise, but
two brave gentlemen, Mr. Ralph and Mr. Linne, succeeded in saving this
last outrage, at the head of the better affected.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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