“The rabble by shouting and noise having increased their numbers to several thousands, they began with Sir Patrick Johnston, who was one of the treaters, and the year before had been Lord Provost.  First they assaulted his lodging with stones and sticks, and curses not a few.  But his windows being too high they came up the stairs to his door, and fell to work at it with sledges or great hammers.  And had they broke it open in their first fury, he had, without doubt, been torn to pieces without mercy; and this only because he was a treater in the Commission to England, for, before that, no man was so well beloved as he, over the whole city.

“His lady, in the utmost despair with this fright, came to the window, with two candles in her hand, that she might be known; and cried out, for God’s sake to call the guards.  An honest Apothecary in the town, who knew her voice, and saw the distress she was in, and to whom the family, under God, is obliged for their deliverance, ran immediately down to the town guard.  But they would not stir without the Lord Provost’s order.  But that being soon obtained, one Captain Richardson, who commanded, taking about thirty men with him, marched bravely up to them; and making his way with great resolution through the crowd, they flying, but throwing stones and hallooing at him, and his men.  He seized the foot of the stair case; and then boldly went up, cleared the stair, and took six of the rabble in the very act, and so delivered the gentleman and his family.

“But this did not put a stop to the general tumult, though it delivered this particular family.  For the rabble, by this time, were prodigiously increased, and went roving up and down the town, breaking the windows of the Members of Parliament and insulting them in their coaches in the streets.  They put out all the lights that they might not be discovered.  And the author of this had one great stone thrown at him for but looking out of a window.  For they suffered nobody to look out, especially with any lights, lest they should know faces, and inform against them afterwards.

“By this time it was about eight or nine o’clock at night, and now they were absolute masters of the city.  And it was reported they were going to shut up all the ports.* The Lord Commissioner being informed of that, sent a party of the foot guards, and took possession of the Netherbow, which is a gate in the middle of the High Street, as Temple Bar between the City of London and the Court.

Gates in the City Wall.

“The city was now in a terrible fright, and everybody was under concern for their friends.  The rabble went raving about the streets till midnight, frequently beating drums, raising more people.  When my Lord Commissioner being informed, there were a thousand of the seamen and rabble come up from Leith; and apprehending if it were suffered to go on, it might come to a dangerous head, and be out of his power to suppress, he sent for the Lord Provost, and demanded that the guards should march into the city.