Old Saint Paul's A Tale of the Plague and the Fire

gh his heart was torn with anguish, and acting with the utmost calmness, he forbade his wife to approach the sufferer, and desired h

ife, disputed his authority, and, falling on her knees, besought him, with tears in her ey

were put to rest, and the door was locked upon them, she was to return to the kitchen and prepare a posset-drink of can

was wholly incapable of rendering any help-he conveyed his son to the adjoining room, on the ground floor, where there was a

ed by the College of Physicians, Bloundel was at no loss how to act, but, rubbing the part affected with a stimulat

Josyna, who used all the expedition she could, a moisture broke out upon the youth's skin, and appeared to relieve him so much, that,

had recently acquired considerable reputation for his skilful treatment of those attacked by the plague, and who (it may be incidentally mentioned) afterwards gave to the medical world a curious account of the ravages of the disorder, as well as of his own professional experiences d

rmined to let the affair take its course. On his way to the shop, he entered a small room occupied by Blaize, and found him seated near a table, with his hands upon his knees, and his eyes fixed upon the ground, looking the very image of despair. The atmosphere

yourself, I perceive," obser

of anti-pestilential decoction; half as much of Sir Theodore Mayerne's electuary; and a large dose of orvietan. Do you call that poisoning myself? I call it taking proper precaution, and would recommend you

our fault," returned Leonard, scarcely able to refrain fro

anded Blaize, in alarm. "

doctor," rep

hen worse?" rej

lth that the house is infected, I may be detained a few minutes longer than I anticipate. Keep the street-door locked; I will fasten t

ize. "You say that the house is infecte

rehend them. At last, losing all patience, Leonard cried in a menacing tone, "If you do not attend to me, I will cudgel you within a

nd cudgel, he directed Blaize to lock the door after him, cautioning him, for the third time, not to admit any one except the doctor. "If I fin

. It's a dreadful thing to be imprisoned for a month, for that's the time appointed by the Lord Mayor. Only a week ago I passed several houses in Holborn, shut up on accoun

ving information, we shall all be sent to Newgate, while poor Stephen will be taken to the pest-house. Besid

rgotten that. Let me go with you, dear

" rejoined Leonard, reproachfully. "Out, cowardly hound! I am ashamed of you. Shake off your fears,

ts next victim in this house. But you are right-I cannot desert my kind master, nor my old mother. Farewe

the very thing you are anxious to avoid. As many people have died from fear as from any other cause. One word before I

ook of surprise, "But do you expect an

d you," rejoined Leonard, opening

o guard against infection? There's wormwood, woodsorrel, masterwort, zedoary, and angelica; and lastly, there is a little bottle of the

e lingered for a moment while it was locked, he heard Blaize say to himsel

ld not distinguish the garb of the person-that side of the street being in the shade-and stung by jealousy, he immediately started in pursuit. The fugitive struck down Lad-lane, and run on ti

cried, drawing his sword. "Would you r

ws for you, Mr. Maurice Wyvil. You will not see Ama

altered tone, and dropping the point

f towards Cheapside. Before reaching the end of Lawrence-lane, however, he half-repented his conduct, and ha

still not without some pretensions to architectural beauty. In form it was hexagonal, and composed of three tiers, rising from one another like the divisions of a telescope, each angle being supported by a pillar surmounted by a statue, while the intervening niches were filled up with sculptures, intended to represent some of the sovereigns of England. The structure wa

s, and roamed the streets at night, denouncing doom to the city. He was a tall gaunt man, with long jet-black hair hanging in disordered masses over his shoulders. His eyes were large and black, and blazed with insane lustre, and his looks were so wild and terrific, that it required no great stretch of imagination to con

famine, and by the pestilence.' Again, in the words of the prophet Amos, the Lord saith unto YOU by my mouth, 'I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt, yet have you not returned unto me. Therefore, will I do this unto thee, O Israel; and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God?' Do you hear this, O sinners? God will proceed against you in the

their windows to listen to him, "Awake! sinners, awake'-the plague is at your doors!-the grave yawns for you!-awake, and repen

who might suddenly arouse their slumbering inmates to despair and death. His thoughts took another turn as he entered the precincts of Saint Paul's, and surveyed the venerable and majestic fabric before him. His eyes rested upon its innumerable crocketed pinnacles, its buttresses, its bat

l I take Amabel with me there? Alas! I doubt it. If I

spire, it may be remarked, was twice destroyed by lightning; first in February, 1444, and subsequently in June, 1561, when it was entirely burnt down, and never rebuilt. Passing the Convocation House, which then stood at on

or Hodges was at home, stated that he had gone out, about half an hour ago, to attend Mr. Fisher, a proc

nd," said Leonard, "and mus

u may probably meet with him. Mr. Fisher's house is the last but two

as I can. But if your master should pass me on the road, beseech him

of Little Britain and entered Duck-lane. He was now in a quarter fearfully assailed by the pestilence. Most of the houses had the fatal sign upon their doors-a red cross, of a foot long, with the p

of a bell, followed by a hoarse voice, crying, "Bring out your dead-bring out your dead!" he then perceived that a large, strangely-shaped cart stopped up the further end of the passage, and heard a window open, and a voice

open hearse, and of the same sombre colour, relieved by fantastical designs, painted in white, emblematic of the pestilence, was drawn by a horse of the large black Flanders breed, and decorated with funeral trappings. To Leonard's inexpressible horror, the cart agai

s he spoke, and exhibiting features so hideous, and stamped with such a revolting expre

way old Mike Norboroug

claimed Chowles, with an atrocious laugh.

e house," replied Mother Malmayns; "or you may car

, besides, I want to get home. I expect friends at supper. Good-night, Mother Malmayns. You kno

rther parley ensued,-Leonard did not tarry to hear w

dismay, that Doctor Hodges had been gone more than a quarter of an hour. "He was too late," said the man. "Poor Mr. Fisher had breathed hi

aimed Leonard, "I have

back to his h

at home," returned the

to attend a

the apprentice. "Why, no one is ther

plague," replied the watchman. "I have told you all

from which two small coffins were brought. Hurrying past the vehicle, he remarked that its load was fearfully increased, but that the coffin-maker and his companion had left it. Another minute had not elapse

g unanswered, he repeated it, and a wicket was then opened by a grey-headed verger, with a lantern in his hand, who at first was very angry at being disturbed;

od man,-a charitable man," he continued, "and attends the poor for nothing. He is now with Matthew Malmayns, the sexton, who was ta

h was uneven, many of the flags having been removed, and the verger often

cal effect of the moonlight upon its magnificent avenue of pillars; the massive shafts on the lef

ike many a proud human being, has known better days. It has seen sad changes in my time, for I recollect i

us rose-window, Leonard followed his conductor through a small doorway on the left of the southern transept, and descending a flight of stone steps, entered

observed the verger, "and above

stopped before the entrance of a small chapel, once dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, but now devoted to a less sacred purpose. As they advanced, Leonard observed a pile of dried skul

pointing to one at the lower end of the chamber, "

a single blanket, lay a wretch, whose groans and struggles proclaimed the anguish he endured. A lamp was burning on the floor, and threw a sickly light upon the agonized countenance of the sufferer. He was a middle-aged man, with features naturally harsh, but which now, contracted by pain

ad just operated upon the sufferer, and he was in the act of wiping it on a cloth. As Leonard entered the vault, the doctor observed to the attendants of the sick man, "He will recover. The tumour has discharg

to the doctor's injunctions, and

tor Hodges: "I am surprised not to se

e plague has raged so dreadfully, she has gone out as a n

lmayns by the coffin-maker, and had no doubt that she was the sexton's wife. His entrance having been so noiseles

will go with you instantly, young man. I have a great regard for your master-a very great regard. There is not a better man living. The poor la

quitting it, the doctor drew a small flask of c

. You must let us out of the south door, friend," he added to the verger, "for I shall be obliged to step home f

place since poor Stephen's seizure. The doctor strongly expressed his approval of what had been done, and observed, "It co

to the delay, and kept up his part in the conversation promoted by his companion. The doctor, who was an extremely kind-hearted man, and appeared to have a great regard for the grocer, made many inquiries as to his family, and spoke in terms of t

octor; "all is going on as well as possibl

, on which a shaded lamp was placed, and writing out a prescription, desired his servant to get it made up at a neighbouring apothecary's, and to take it, with a coupl

," he said: "it is a sure pre

, a few pots of ointment, one or two phials, and a case of sur

t call upon Chowles, the coffin-maker. It will not d

ant on the dead-cart, and he had no doubt he was the person in questi

thoroughfare, the doctor stopped before a shop, bearing on its immense projecting sign the representation of a

at home," observed Leonard: "for I saw him

in-maker's business is now carried on in the night time," he added, with a si

g man in a carpenter's dress, with a hammer in his hand. On seeing who it was, this person exhibite

evidently considerably embarrassed. "He is just come

om, in which three or four other men were at wo

nner room. Just as he reached the door, a burst of loud laughter, evidently proceeding from a

F THE

he Plague a

a friend-no

nd coffers a

r I grow the

lague! Drin

r years, may i

nhood and t

kind of the sco

ill sell-so

lague! Drin

of which were crowded with coffins, piled to the very ceiling, sat about a dozen personages, with pipes in their mouths, and flasks and glasses before them. Their seats were coffins, and their table was a coffin s

hroat was long and scraggy, and supported a head unrivalled for ugliness. His nose had been broken in his youth, and was almost compressed flat with his face. His few remaining teeth were yellow and discoloured with large gaps between them. His eyes were bright, and set in deep cavernous recesse

urse, Mother Malmayns; and Leonard thought her, if possible, more villainous-looking than her companions. She was a rough, raw-boned woman, with sandy hair and light brows,

gave him some directions, and, turning to the nurse, informed her of her husband's condition, and ordered her to

the way towards Saint Paul's, proceeded at a brisk pace along Paternoster-row with the apprentic

" exclaimed the porter. "Our master began

turned Doctor Hodges; "b

understand," replied Blaize

rejoined Hodges. "L

the way," returned th

dside of his son. He was delighted with their appearance, but looked inquisitively at his apprentice for some explanation of his long absence. This Hodges imm

xclaimed Bloundel,

s family separate. To this Bloundel readily agreed. The doctor's next inquiries were, whether notice had been given to the Examiner of He

s the shop, when he observed a figure on the back stairs. Qui

*