The Dolocher by European P. Douglas Read Free Book Online

‘heroics’ the agitated weavers had gone further than before in the rioting and many people were injured and scarred by their liberal blade strokes. A gentleman of the upper classes was pulled from his carriage and dragged through the grime at the side of the road by a group of these men and he was brought to the Liberties where they stripped him naked, painted his body with warm tar and took turns applying feathers to him.
    When Alderman James arrived with the soldiers, the man was in a delirious state and was wandering around as though insane. The weavers were nearby fighting with other business owners and James ordered the soldiers to fire a volley of powder at the group in the hope of ending the violence but this behaviour was perceived as leniency and an unwillingness to shoot at them for real and the weavers began to hurl stones at the soldiers. James ordered live shot to be used for a second volley, but the soldiers fired above the heads of the rioters and were again met with boos and a barrage of stones. James ordered another live shot volley and this time as the men aimed above the heads of the rioters he used his staff to lower the barrels of the soldiers who then discharged into the crowd killing some and wounding others. This had the desired effect, and the rioters fled in all directions to escape.
    James knew why he had done what he did that day; there was no other choice, he had to maintain order and that was the only recourse left to him that day, but he felt terrible about it even as he was lowering the barrel of the first soldier's musket. And it had gotten worse every day since then. His friends and peers think of this as a heroic act and one that saved much worse rioting in the long run and they never seemed to fail to remind him of it no matter how many years had passed since that day.
    Alderman James had wanted to do something to make up for what he had done ever since and it was only when it was pointed out to him by the mayor himself that James had become very lenient in his disbursement of punishments for crimes in his district that he had for the sake of his career to start harsher punishments in line with the other Aldermen and magistrates. The only visible symbol of regret he showed was that he had all his clothes (as much a practicable) made from wool by local weavers, but he alone was not going to revive that dying industry.
    There was a knock of the door.
    “Enter,” he said without enthusiasm. A man of about five feet ten inches entered in fine clothes with a glistening scabbard holding his sword, the handle of which was adorned with some jewels of azure colour.
    “Mr Edwards!” James said in surprise
    “Something has happened in the Liberties,” Edwards said seriously. James stood up; he was about the same height as this man, but he was a much meatier figure with thick shoulders and neck against Edwards’ more refined and thin shape. Both had the same colour almost black hair. James poured a drink and handed it to Edwards without asking if he wanted one and beckoned for him to sit down.
    “What is it Mr. Edwards?”
    “Two nights ago there was an attack on one of the guards over at Newgate,” Edwards said.
    “Yes I know, some men roughed him up trying to secure the release of their friend. Drunken idiots,” James said.
    “That is what I had heard originally myself Alderman,” Edwards said with a sly smile cloying his face.
    “And now you have heard something different?”
    “Very different.” There was a silence.
    “Don’t go silent on me Mr. Edwards! What did you hear?” The Alderman said in exasperation. Edwards smiled still more, and James knew that it was something good he had. He paused and studied the man’s face for clues to what he wanted. “What will it cost me this time?”
    “Not a thing,” Edwards replied practically beaming now.
    “Then what?”
    “Well, maybe you can make sure that there are no soldiers in the vicinity of Hell on Sunday night next,”