The following are particulars of the chief publications issued in connection with this frost:--
A large copper-plate, entitled “A Map of the River Thames, merrily call’d Blanket Fair, as it was frozen in the memorable year 1683-4, describing the booths, footpaths, coaches, sledges, bull-baiting, and other remarks upon that famous river.” Dedicated to Sir Henry Hulse, Knt., and Lord Mayor, by James Moxon, the engraver.
“A wonderfull Fair, or a Fair of Wonders; being new and true illustration and description of the several things acted and done on the river of Thames in the time of the terrible frost, which began about the beginning of Dec., 1683, and continued till Feb. 4, and held on with such violence, that men and beasts, coaches and sledges, went common thereon. There was also a street of booths from the Temple to Southwark, where was sold all sorts of goods; likewise bull-baiting and an ox roasted whole, and many other things, as the map and description do plainly show.” Engraved and printed on a sheet, 1684.
A small copper-plate representation of Frost Fair, with the figure of Erra Pater in the foreground. At the top, are the words, “Erra Pater’s Prophesy, or Frost Faire in 1683,” and underneath, the following lines:
“Old Erra Pater, or his rambling ghost, Prognosticating of this long strong frost, Some ages past, said yᵗ yᵉ ice-bound Thames, Shou’d prove a theatre for sports and games; Her watry green be turn’d into a bare, For men a citty seem, for booths a faire; And now the straggling sprite is once more come To visit mortalls and foretel their doom. When maids grow modest, yᵉ dissenting crew Become all loyal, the falsehearted true, Then you may probably, and not till then, Expect in England such a frost again.”
_Printed for James Norris, at the King’s Armes, without Temple Barr._
Timbs, in his “Curiosities of London,” records a great frost, lasting from 20th December to 6th February. Pools were frozen eighteen inches thick, and the Thames ice was covered with streets of shops, bull-baiting, shows and tricks; hackney coaches plied on the ice-roads, and a coach with six horses was driven from Whitehall almost to London Bridge; yet in two days all the ice disappeared.