were bound to assist in removing to a distance as speedily as possible the infectious remains. But they could scarcely obtain a hearing. Fifty orators were ready from among the crowd to overbear them, and to assert in no gentle terms that they (the authorities) would not have acted as they had done if the deceased had been one of their own relations or order. They did not care a straw (so they said) about the danger, which could not be greater from a poor person's corpse than from a rich one's; they would allow no burying in a strange ground – that might be depended on; and therefore the authorities, if they were wise, would lose no time in preparing a grave in the churchyard, and ordering the funeral to take place there.
Things continued in this way for several hours. No actual violence had occurred, but there was great excitement. The woman still lay unburied. The magistrates did not choose to rescind or modify their decree and the populace still declared that the funeral, as decreed, should not take place. Evening had come, and it was considered most important that the interment should take place at once. I should mention that the police force of the little borough was very meagre, and quite unable to cope with such a mob as was filling the streets.
At this conjuncture whispers were passed about that troops had been demanded from the nearest garrison town, and that a couple of regiments would be present before morning to enforce the magistrates' orders. There is some reason, however, to doubt the truth of these whispers, because the conduct of the authorities showed that they had by no means lost faith in themselves as yet. They announced that the state of the town
was so unruly that it was necessary for them to retire once more to their hall to consult as to what the next move must be. They begged that while they should be deliberating, the people would consider the great danger in which the whole town was placed by this mutiny, and the scandal incurred by persisting in it.
It was observed by the more reasonable of those who were mixed in the assembly, that the crowd, when thus left to itself by the magistrates, became of a sudden somewhat calmer. It had no longer champions of the law to wrangle with it, so the fire declined from lack of fuel: and it did not appear to have any clear ideas of action; it was only an obstructive mob without leaders – indeed everybody capable of taking a lead was on the side of the law. So, although the aspect of things had not changed much, there seemed to be a general disposition to wait and see what the authorities would do next.
As I have heard the tale told, the town council, when it reassembled in guild-hall, did not exhibit the helplessness which it is customary to expect from civic bodies when called upon to deal with unwonted difficulties. There were one or two burgesses who wiped their heads, said the responsibility was very serious indeed, and hinted that it would be better to let the people have their way. A small section followed a fiery little man with red hair who was all for gunpowder. "Have troops here," counselled this section, "with the least possible delay. Read the Riot Act. After that, if any offer opposition to the law, let the military deal with 'em." But the mayor and his deputy, supported by the town-clerk, offered advice which was not begotten
