ROBERT POCOCK. 107 



Cruden, in his local History (since Pocock's 

 time), writing of this alarming mutiny, relates that 

 " affairs wore so very serious an aspect that the 

 delegates moored the fleet in two lines of battle to 

 be prepared for any attempt to coerce them, and to 

 demonstrate their determination to employ all the 

 means in their power to obtain their demands. By 

 this distribution of the fleet the Thames was blockaded 

 and no ship or vessel could pass without examination 

 and the permission of the delegates/' 



He mentions how " these proceedings created great 

 alarm, and necessarily engaged the attention of Par- 

 liament ; " adding that the " civil authorities and the 

 inhabitants of the town displayed the utmost energy 

 upon the occasion. George Arnold, Esq., mayor, 

 relying upon the aid of the inhabitants generally in 

 cases of emergency, provided for the preservation of 

 the peace ; and the utmost harmony was maintained 

 between the civil and military authorities during the 

 whole of the eventful period. " 



In the locality it is reputed that Parker, the ringleader, 

 was, after being hanged on board the 8 andwich man-of- 

 war, buried at Gravesend at a four wentway or cross- 

 road ; but it seems that he was buried at the Naval Yard, 

 Sheerness, and afterwards exhumed by his widow and 

 taken to Tower Hill, when, after some disturbances, his 

 body finally found sepulture in a vault at Whitechapel 

 Church. 



The River Thames was a main entrance for the 

 introduction of alien enemies, and in times of war 

 serious duties in this respect devolved upon the mayor 

 in connexion with the safety of the state. The fol- 

 lowing letter shows the nature of such duties : 



