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

Оглавление

Ainsworth William Harrison. Old Saint Paul's: A Tale of the Plague and the Fire

BOOK THE FIRST. APRIL, 1665

I. THE GROCER OF WOOD-STREET AND HIS FAMILY

II. THE COFFIN-MAKER

III. THE GAMESTER AND THE BULLY

IV. THE INTERVIEW

V. THE POMANDER-BOX

VI. THE LIBERTINE PUNISHED

VII. THE PLAGUE NURSE

VIII. THE MOSAICAL RODS

IX. THE MINIATURE

X. THE DUEL

BOOK THE SECOND. MAY, 1665

I. PROGRESS OF THE PESTILENCE

II. IN WHAT MANNER THE GROCER VICTUALLED HIS HOUSE

III. THE QUACK DOCTORS

IV. THE TWO WATCHMEN

V. THE BLIND PIPER AND HIS DAUGHTER

VI. OLD LONDON FROM OLD SAINT PAUL'S

VII. PAUL'S WALK

VIII. THE AMULET

IX. HOW LEONARD WAS CURED OF THE PLAGUE

X. THE PEST-HOUSE IN FINSBURY FIELDS

XI. HOW THE GROCER SHUT UP HIS HOUSE

BOOK THE THIRD. JUNE, 1665

I. THE IMPRISONED FAMILY

II. HOW FIRES WERE LIGHTED IN THE STREETS

III. THE DANCE OF DEATH

IV. THE PLAGUE-PIT

V. HOW SAINT PATHOS WAS USED AS A PEST-HOUSE

VI. THE DEPARTURE

VII. THE JOURNEY

VIII. ASHDOWN LODGE

IX. KINGSTON LISLE

BOOK THE FOURTH. SEPTEMBER, 1665

I. THE PLAGUE AT ITS HEIGHT

II. THE SECOND PLAGUE-PIT

III. THE HOUSE IN NICHOLAS-LANE

IV. THE TRIALS OF AMABEL

V. THE MARRIAGE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

VI. THE CERTIFICATE

BOOK THE FIFTH. DECEMBER, 1665

I. THE DECLINE OF THE PLAGUE

II. THE MIDNIGHT MEETING

BOOK THE SIXTH. SEPTEMBER, 1666

I. THE FIRE-HALL

II. THE FIRST NIGHT OF THE FIRE

III. PROGRESS OF THE FIRE

IV. LEONARD'S INTERVIEW WITH THE KING

V. HOW LEONARD SAVED THE KING'S LIFE

VI. HOW THE GROCER'S HOUSE WAS BURNT

VII. THE BURNING OF SAINT PAUL'S

VIII. HOW LEONARD RESCUED THE LADY ISABELLA

IX. WHAT BEFEL CHOWLES AND JUDITH IN THE VAULTS OF SAINT FAITH'S

X. CONCLUSION

Отрывок из книги

One night, at the latter end of April, 1665, the family of a citizen of London carrying on an extensive business as a grocer in Wood-street, Cheapside, were assembled, according to custom, at prayer. The grocer's name was Stephen Bloundel. His family consisted of his wife, three sons, and two daughters. He had, moreover, an apprentice; an elderly female serving as cook; her son, a young man about five-and-twenty, filling the place of porter to the shop and general assistant; and a kitchen-maid. The whole household attended; for the worthy grocer, being a strict observer of his religious duties, as well as a rigid disciplinarian in other respects, suffered no one to be absent, on any plea whatever, except indisposition, from morning and evening devotions; and these were always performed at stated times. In fact, the establishment was conducted with the regularity of clockwork, it being the aim of its master not to pass a single hour of the day unprofitably.

The ordinary prayers gone through, Stephen Bloundel offered up along and fervent supplication to the Most High for protection against the devouring pestilence with which the city was then scourged. He acknowledged that this terrible visitation had been justly brought upon it by the wickedness of its inhabitants; that they deserved their doom, dreadful though it was; that, like the dwellers in Jerusalem before it was given up to ruin and desolation, they "had mocked the messengers of God and despised His word;" that in the language of the prophet, "they had refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears that they should not hear; yea, had made their heart like an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law and the words which the Lord of Hosts had sent in his spirit by the former prophets." He admitted that great sins require great chastisement, and that the sins of London were enormous; that it was filled with strifes, seditions, heresies, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and every kind of abomination; that the ordinances of God were neglected, and all manner of vice openly practised; that, despite repeated warnings and afflictions less grievous than the present, these vicious practices had been persisted in. All this he humbly acknowledged. But he implored a gracious Providence, in consideration of his few faithful servants, to spare the others yet a little longer, and give them a last chance of repentance and amendment; or, if this could not be, and their utter extirpation was inevitable, that the habitations of the devout might be exempted from the general destruction—might be places of refuge, as Zoar was to Lot. He concluded by earnestly exhorting those around him to keep constant watch upon themselves; not to murmur at God's dealings and dispensations; but so to comport themselves, that "they might be able to stand in the day of wrath, in the day of death, and in the day of judgment." The exhortation produced a powerful effect upon its hearers, and they arose, some with serious, others with terrified looks.

.....

"What ails you?" pursued Bottesham, gazing at him through his spectacles. "You look strong and hearty."

"So I am, learned sir," replied Blaize, bowing to the ground; "but understanding from Mr. Parkhurst that you have an infallible remedy against the plague, I would gladly procure it from you, as, if I should be attacked, I may not have an opportunity of consulting you."

.....