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