of the houses of parliament and upon the
houses and chapels of the foreign ministers. This motion was agreed
to, and the peers returned home in safety to their mansions. Late
that night, however, or early on Sunday morning, a mob assembled in
Moor-fields, where they did much mischief to the Catholics living in
that neighbourhood: a Popish chapel and several houses were pulled down.
The military were called out, but as the mob knew that they did not
dare fire without the command of the civil power, they were by no
means disturbed by their presence. They still continued their work of
destruction, while thieves and pick-pockets looked about for plunder.
Nothing was done on the Monday for preventing mischief, except the
issuing of a proclamation by a privy-council, offering a reward of L500
for those persons who had been concerned in destroying the Sardinian and
Bavarian chapels; and the mob, grown bold by impunity, continued their
devastations. One party stripped the house of Sir George Saville, in
Leicester-fields, of its furniture, and made a bonfire of it before the
door; another party regaled Lord George Gordon with a bonfire made of
materials brought from Catholic chapels and houses in Moorfields, which
they burnt before his house in Welbec-street; a third party went
to Virginia-lane, Wapping; and a fourth to Nightingale-lane, East
Smithfield, where they severally destroyed the Catholic chapels, and
committed other outrages. That night London was in the hands of the
mob, and fires were seen on every hand; while property to a large
amount changed owners. On Tuesday, which was the day appointed for the
consideration of the petition, the mob again concentrated before the
houses of parliament. Westminster-hall and the avenues to the house
were lined with military, horse and foot; but even this precaution was
insufficient to protect the members who were bold enough to attend to
their parliamentary duty from insult and outrage. Lord Sandwich was
dragged from his carriage, which was broken to pieces, and would have
been killed if he had not been rescued by a magistrate, at the head of
a small party of light-horse. At this time most of the rabble had oaken
sticks in their hands, as well as blue cockades in their hats; and some
had even banners, on which were inscribed their watchword, "No Popery!"
This was also chalked on the carriages of all the lords and members
as they went down to the house. An attempt was made to disperse