royalty restored-第34章
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e next block of buildings； so that its circumvention was regarded as almost an impossibility。
During Monday the flames attacked Cornhill； and then commenced to demolish the Royal Exchange。 Having once made an entrance in this stately building it revelled in triumph； climbing up the walls； roaring along the courts and galleries； and sending through the broken windows volleys of smoke and showers of sparks； which threatened to suffocate and consume those who approached。 Then the roof fell with a mighty crash； which seemed for a time to subdue the powerful conflagration； the walls cracked； parted； and fell； statues of kings and queens were flung from their niches； and in a couple of hours this building； which had been the pride and glory of British Merchants； was a blackened ruin。
The citizens were now in a state of despair。 Upwards of ten thousand houses were in a blaze； the fire extending； according to Evelyn； two miles in length and one in breadth； and the smoke reaching near fifty miles in length。 Mansions； churches； hospitals； halls； and schools crumbled into dust as if at blighting touch of some most potent and diabolical magician。 Quite hopeless now of quenching the flames； bewildered by loss； and overcome by terror； the citizens； abandoning themselves to despair； made no further effort to conquer this inappeasable fire； but crying aloud in their distraction； behaved as those who had lost their wits。 The king and the Duke of York； who on Sunday had viewed the conflagration from the Thames； now alarmed at prospect of the whole capital being laid waste； rode into the city； and by their presence； coolness and example roused the people to fresh exertions。 Accordingly； citizens and soldiers worked with renewed energy and courage； whilst his majesty and his brother； the courtiers and the lord mayor； mixed freely with the crowd； commanding and directing them in their labours。
But now a new terror rose up amongst the citizens； for news spread that the Dutch and Frenchwith whom England was then at warand moreover the papists； whom the people then abhorred； had conspired to destroy the capital。 And the suddenness with which the flames had appeared in various places； and the rapidity with which they spread； leading the distracted inhabitants to favour this report； a strong desire for immediate revenge took possession of their hearts。
Accordingly all foreigners were laid hold of； kicked； beaten； and abused by infuriated mobs； from which they were rescued only to be flung into prison。 And this conduct was speedily extended to the catholics； even when such were known to be faithful and well… approved good citizens。 For though at first it spread as a rumour； it was now received as a certainty that they； in obedience to the wily and most wicked Jesuits； had determined to lay waste an heretical city。 Nor were there wanting many ready to bear witness they had seen these dreaded papists fling fire… balls into houses of honest citizens； and depart triumphing in their fiendish deeds。 So that when they ventured abroad they were beset by great multitudes； and their lives were imperilled。 And news of this distraction； which so forcibly swayed the people； reaching the king； he speedily despatched the members of his privy council to several quarters of the city； that in person they might guard such of his subjects as stood in danger。
Lord Hollis and Lord Ashley were assigned Newgate Market and the streets that lie around； as parts where they were to station themselves。 And it happened that riding near the former place they saw a vast number of people gathered together； shouting with great violence； and badly using one who stood in their midst。 Whereon they hastened towards the spot and found the ill…treated man to be of foreign aspect。 Neither had he hat； cloak； nor sword； his face was covered with blood； his jerkin was torn in pieces； and his person was bedaubed by mud。 And on examination it was found he was unable to speak the English tongue； but Lord Hollis； entering into conversation with him in the French language； ascertained that he was a servant of the Portuguese ambassador； and knew not of what he was accused； or why he had been maltreated。
Hereon a citizen of good standing pressed forward and alleged he had truly seen this man put his hand in his pocket and throw a fire…ball into a shop； upon which the house immediately took flame； whereon； being on the other side of the street； he called aloud that the people might stop this abominable villain。 Then the citizens had seized upon him； taking away his sword； and used him according to their will。 My Lord Hollis explaining this to the foreigner； he was overcome by amazement at the charge； and when asked what he had thrown into the house； made answer he had not flung anything。 But he remembered well； whilst walking in the street； he saw a piece of bread upon the ground； which he； as was the custom in his country took up。 Afterwards he laid it upon a shelf in a neighbouring house； which being close by； my Lords Hollis and Ashley； followed by a dense crowd； conducted him thither； and found the bread laid upon a board as he had stated。 It was noted the next house but one was on fire； and on inquiry it was ascertained that the worthy citizen； seeing a foreigner place something inside a shop without tarrying； and immediately after perceiving a dwelling in flames； which in his haste he took to be the same； he had charged the man with commission of this foul deed。 But even though many were convinced of his innocence； my Lord Hollis concluded the stranger's life would be in safer keeping if he were committed to prison； which was accordingly done。
Meanwhile the fire continued； and on Monday night and Tuesday raged with increasing violence。 The very heart of the city was now eaten into by this insatiable monster： Soper Lane； Bread Street； Friday Street； Old Change； and Cheapside being in one blaze。 It was indeed a spectacle to fill all beholding it with consternation； but that which followed was yet more terrible； for already St。 Paul's Cathedral was doomed to destruction。
Threatened on one side by the flames devastating Cheapside； and on the other from those creeping steadily up from Blackfriars to this great centre； it was now impossible to save the venerable church； which Evelyn terms 〃one of the most ancient pieces of early Christian piety in the world。〃 Seen by this fierce light； and overhung by a crimson sky； every curve of its dark outline； every stone of its pillars and abutments； every column of its incomparable portico； stood clearly defined； so that never had it looked so stately and magnificent； so vast and majestic； as now when beheld for the last time。
Too speedily the fire advanced； watched by sorrowful eyes； but even before it had reached the scaffolding now surrounding the building； the vaulted roof； ignited by showers of sparks； burst into flames。 Then followed a scene unspeakably grand； yet melancholy beyond all telling。 In a few moments a pale yellow light had crept along the parapets； sending faint clouds of smoke upwards； as if more forcibly marking the course of destruction。 Then came the crackling； hissing sounds of timber yielding to the fire； and soon a great sheet of lead which covered the roof； and was said to measure six acres； melting by degrees； down came on every side a terrible rain of liquid fire that seamed and burned the ground； and carried destruction with it in its swift course towards the Thames。
And now； by reason of the fearful heat； great projections of Portland stone； cornices； and capitals of columns； flew off before the fire had time to reach them。 Windows melted in their frames； pillars fell to the ground； ironwork bent as wax； nay； the very pavements around glowed so that neither man nor horse dared tread upon them。 And the flames； gradually gaining ground； danced fantastically up and down the scaffolding； and covered the edifice as with one blaze； whilst inside transom beams were snapped asunder； rafters fell with destruction； and the fire roaring through chapels and aisles as in a great furnace； could be heard afar。 And that which had been a Christian shrine was now； a smoking ruin。
Raging onward in their fierce career； the flames darted towards such buildings in the neighbourhood as had been previously untouched； so that Paternoster Row； Newgate Street； the Old Bailey and Ludgate Hill were soon in course of destruction。 And from the latter spot the conflagration； urged by the wind； rapidly rushed onwards towards Fleet Street。 On the other hand； it extended from Cheapside to Ironmongers' Lane； Old Jewry； Lawrence Lane； Milk Street； Wood Street； Gutter Lane； and Foster Lane； and again spreading from Newgate Street； it surrounded and destroyed Christ Church； burned through St。 Martin's…le…Grand towards Aldgate； and threatened to continue its triumphant march to the suburbs。
For several miles nothing but raging fire and smoking ruins was visible； for desolation had descended on the city。 It was now feared the flames would reach the Palace of Whitehall； and extend towards Westminster Abbey； a consideration which caused much alarm to his majesty； who prized the sacred fane exceedingly。 And now the king was determined the orders he had already issued should be obeyed； and that houses standing in direct path of the fire should be demolished by gunpowder； so that； a greater gap being effected than any previously made by pulling them down； the conflagration might have no further material wherewith to strengthen and feed its further progress。
This plan； Evelyn states； had been proposed by some stout seamen early enough to have saved nearly the whole city； 〃but this some tenacious and avaricious men； aldermen； etc。； would not permit； because their houses would have been the first。〃 Now； however； this remedy was tried； and with greater despatch； because the fire threatened the Tower and the powder magazine it contained。 And if the flames once reached this； London Bridge would assuredly be destroyed； the vessels in the river torn and sunk； and incalculable damage to life and property effected。
Accordingly Tower Street； which had already become ignited； was； under supervision of the king； blown up in part； and the fire happily brought to an end by this means in that part of the town。 Moreover； on Wednesday morning the east wind； which had continued high from Sunday night； now subsided； so that the flames lost much of their vehemence； and by means of explosions were more easily mastered at Leadenhall and in Holborn； and likewise at the Temple； to which places they had spread during Wednesday and Thursday。
During these latter days； the king and the Duke of York betrayed great vigilance； and laboured with vast activity； the latter especially； riding from post to post； by his example inciting those whose courage had deserted them； and by his determination overcoming destruction。 On Thursday the dread conflagration； after raging for five consecutive days and nights； was at length conquered。
On Friday morning the sun rose like a ball of crimson fire above a scene of blackness； ruin； and desolation。 Whole streets were levelled to the ground； piles of charred stones marked where stately churches had stood； smoke ro
