Strange as it may appear, the awful nature of the calamity which
had overtaken the great city had by no means the subduing influence
upon the spirits of the lawless young roisterers of the streets
that might well have been expected. No doubt there were some
amongst these who were sobered by the misfortunes of their fellows,
and by the danger in which every person in the town now stood; but
it seemed as if the very imminence of the peril and the fearful
spread of the contagion exercised upon others a hardening
influence, and they became even more lawless and dissolute than
before. "Let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die," appeared to be
their motto, and they lived up to it only too well.
So whilst the churches were thronged with multitudes of pious or
terrified persons, assembled to pray to God for mercy, and to
listen to words of godly counsel or admonition; whilst the city
authorities were doing everything in their power to check the
course of the frightful contagion, and send needful relief to the
sufferers, and many devoted men and women were adventuring their
lives daily for the sake of others, the taverns were still filled
day by day and night by night with idle and dissolute young men,
tainted with all the vices of a vicious Court and an unbelieving
age--drinking, and making hideous mockery of the woes of their
townsmen, careless even when the gaps amid their own ranks showed
that the fell disease was busy amongst all classes and ranks.
Indeed, it was no unheard of thing for a man to fall stricken to
the ground in the midst of one of these revels; and although the
master of the house would hastily throw him out of the door as if
he had staggered forth drunk, yet it would ofttimes be the
distemper which had him in its fatal clutches, and the dead cart
would remove him upon its next gloomy round.
For now indeed the pestilence was spreading with a fearful
rapidity. The King, taking sudden alarm, after being careless and
callous for long, had removed with his Court to Oxford. The fiat
for the shutting up of all infected houses had gone forth, and was
being put in practice, greatly increasing the terror of the
citizens, albeit many of them recognized in it both wisdom and
foresight. Something plainly had to be done to check the spread of
the infection. And as there was no means of removing the sick from
their houses--there being but two or three pest houses in all
London--even should their friends be prompt to give notice, and
permit them to be borne away, the only alternative seemed to be to
shut them up within the doors of the house where they lay stricken;
and since they might already have infected all within it, condemn
these also to share the imprisonment. It was this that was the
hardship, and which caused so many to strive to evade the law by
every means in their power. It drove men mad with fear to think of
being shut up in an infected house with a person smitten with the
fell disease. Yet if the houses were not so closed, and guarded by
watchmen hired for the purpose, the sick in their delirium would
have constantly been getting out and running madly about the
streets, as indeed did sometimes happen, infecting every person
they met. Restraint of some sort was needful, and the closing of
the houses seemed the only way in which this could be accomplished.
It may be guessed what hard work all this entailed upon such of the
better sort of citizens as were willing to give themselves to the
business. James Harmer and his two elder sons, Reuben and Dan,
offered themselves to the Lord Mayor to act as examiners or
searchers, or in whatever capacity he might wish to employ them.
Dan should by this time have been at sea, but his ship being still
in the docks when the plague broke out remained yet unladed. None
from the infected city would purchase merchandise. The sailing
master had himself been smitten down, and Dan, together with quite
a number of sailors, was thrown out of employment.
Many of these poor fellows were glad to take service as watchmen of
infected houses, or even as bearers and buriers of the dead. At a
time when trade was at a standstill, and men feared alike to buy or
to sell, this perilous and lugubrious occupation was all that could
be obtained, and so there were always men to be found for the task
of watching the houses, though at other times it might have been
impossible to get enough.
Orders had been sent round the town that all cases of the distemper
were to be reported within a few hours of discovery to the examiner
of health, who then had the house shut up, supplied it with a day
and a night watchman (whose duty it was to wait on the inmates and
bring them all they needed), and had the door marked with the
ominous red cross and the motto of which mention has been made
before. Plague nurses were numerous, but too often these were women
of the worst character, bent rather upon plunder than desirous of
relieving the sufferers. Grim stories were told of their neglect
and rapacity. Yet amongst them were many devoted and excellent
women, and the physicians who bravely faced the terrors of the time
and remained at their post when others fled from the peril, deserve
all honour and praise; the more so that many amongst these died of
the infection, as indeed did numbers of the examiners and searchers
who likewise remained at their post to the end.
It will therefore be well understood that good Master Harmer and
his sons had no light time of it, and ran no small personal risk in
their endeavours to serve their fellow citizens in this crisis.
Although the pestilence had not as yet broken out in this part of
the town with the virulence that it had shown elsewhere, still
there were fresh cases rumoured day by day; and it often appeared
that when one case in a street was reported, there had been many
others there before of which no notice had been given, and that
perhaps half a dozen houses were infected, and must be forthwith
shut up. At first neglectful persons were brought before the
Magistrates; but soon these persons became too numerous, and the
Magistrates too busy to hear their excuses. An example was made of
one or another, to show that the laws must be kept; but Newgate
itself becoming infected by the disease, it was not thought fit to
send any malefactor there except for some heinous offence.
Dan joined the force of the constables, and day by day had exciting
tales to tell about determined persons who had escaped from
infected houses either by tricking or overpowering the watchman.
All sorts of clever shifts were made to enable families where
perhaps only one lay sick to escape from the house, leaving the
sick person sometimes quite alone, or sometimes in charge of a
nurse. Dan said it was heartrending to hear the cries and
lamentations of miserable creatures pleading to be let out,
convinced that it was certain death to them to remain shut up with
the sick. Yet, since they might likely be themselves already
infected, it was the greater peril and cruelty to let them forth;
and he had ghastly tales to tell of the visitation of certain
houses, where the watchmen reported that nothing had been asked for
for long, and where, when the house was entered by searchers or
constables, every person within was found either dead or dying.
The precautions duly observed by the Harmer family had hitherto
proved efficacious, and though the father and his sons going about
their daily duties came into contact with infected persons
frequently, yet, by the use of the disinfectants recommended by the
College of Physicians, and by a close and careful attention to
their directions, they went unscathed in the midst of much peril,
and brought no ill to those at home when they returned thither for
needful rest and refreshment. Janet had had a slight attack of
illness, but there were no absolute symptoms of the distemper with
it. Her father was of opinion that it might possibly be a very mild
form of the disease, but the doctor called in thought not, and so
their house escaped being shut up, and after a prudent interval
Janet came down and took her place in the family as before. Mother
and daughters worked together for the relief of the sick poor,
making and sending out innumerable dainties in the way of broth,
possets, and light puddings, which were gratefully received by poor
folks in shut-up houses, who, although fed and cared for at the
public expense when not able to provide for themselves, were
grateful indeed for these small boons, and felt themselves not
quite so forlorn and wretched when receiving tokens of goodwill
from even an unknown source.
The harmony, tranquillity, and goodwill that reigned in this
household, even in the midst of so much that was terrible, was a
great contrast to the anguish, terror, and ceaseless recriminations
which made the Masons' abode a veritable purgatory for its luckless
inhabitants. As the news of the spreading contagion reached her, so
did Madam's terror and horror increase. As her husband had said
long since, she sat in rooms with closed windows and drawn
curtains, burned fires large enough to roast an ox, and half
poisoned herself with the drugs she daily swallowed, and which she
would have forced upon her whole household had they not rebelled
against being thus sickened. As a natural consequence of her folly
and ungovernable fears, Madam was never well, and was for ever
discovering some new symptom which threw her into an ecstasy of
terror. She would wake in the night screaming out in uncontrollable
fear that she had gotten the plague--that she felt a burning tumour
here or there upon her person--that she was sinking away into a
deadly swoon, or that something fatal was befalling her. By day she
would fall into like passions of fear, call out to her daughter to
send for every physician whose name she had heard, and upbraid and
revile her in the most unmeasured terms if the poor girl ventured
to hint that the doctors were beginning to be tired of coming to
listen to what always proved imaginary terrors.
The only times when husband or daughter enjoyed any peace was when
Frederick chose to make his appearance at home. On these occasions
his mother would summon him to her presence, although in mortal
fear lest he should bring infection with him, and make him tell her
all the most frightful stories which he had picked up about the
awful spread of the disease, about the iniquities and abominations
practised by nurses and buriers, of which last there was plenty of
gossip (although probably much was set down in malice and much
exaggerated) and all the prognostications of superstitious or
profane persons as to the course the pestilence was going to take.
Eagerly did she listen to all of these stories, which Frederick
took care should be very well spiced, as it was at once his
amusement to frighten his mother and spite his sister; for Gertrude
in private implored him not to continue to alarm their mother with
his frightful tales, and also begged him for his own sake to
relinquish his evil habits of intemperance, which at such a time as
this might lead to fatal results.
The good-for-nothing youth only mocked at her, and derided his
father when he gave him the same warning. He had become perfectly
unmanageable and reckless, and nothing that he heard or saw about
him produced any impression. Although taverns and ale houses were
closely watched, and ordered to close at nine o'clock, and the
gatherings of idle and profligate youths of whatever condition of
life sternly reprobated and forbidden by the authorities, yet these
worthies found means of evading or defying the regulations, and
their revels continued as before, so that Frederick was seldom
thoroughly sober, and more reckless and careless even than of old.
In vain his father strove to bring him to a better mind; in vain he
warned him of the peril of his ways and the danger to his health of
such constant excesses. Frederick only laughed insolently;
whereupon the Master Builder, who had but just come from his
neighbour's house, and was struck afresh with the contrast
presented by the two homes, asked him if he knew how Reuben Harmer
was passing his time, and made a few bitter comparisons between his
son and those of his neighbour.
This was perhaps unfortunate, for Frederick, like most men of his
type, was both vain and spiteful. The mention of the Harmers put
him instantly in mind of his grudge against Reuben and his
suddenly-aroused admiration for rosy-cheeked Dorcas, both of which
matters had been put out of his head by recent events. He had
discovered also that Reuben generally accompanied his sister home
from Lady Scrope's house in the evening, so that it had not been
safe to pursue his attempted gallantries towards the maid. But as
he heard his father's strictures upon his conduct, coupled with
laudations of his old rival Reuben, a gleam of malice shone in his
eyes, and he at once made up his mind to contrive and carry out a
project which had been vaguely floating in his brain for some time,
and which might be the more easily arranged now that the town was
in a state of confusion and distress, and the streets were often so
empty and deserted.
In that age of vicious licence, it seemed nothing but an excellent
joke to Frederick and his boon companions to waylay a pretty city
maiden returning to her home from her daily duties. Frederick meant
no harm to the girl; but he had been piqued by the way in which his
compliments and kisses had been received, and above all he was
desirous to do a despite to Reuben, whose rebukes still rankled in
his heart, though he had quickly forgotten his good offices on the
occasion of his escapade before Lady Scrope's door. Moreover, he
owed that notable old woman a grudge likewise, and thought he could
pay off scores all round by making away with pretty Dorcas, at any
rate for a while. So he and his comrades laid their plans with what
they thought great skill, resolved that they should be carried out
upon the first favourable opportunity.
For a while Dorcas had been rather nervous of leaving the house in
Allhallowes unless Reuben was waiting for her. But as she had seen
no more of the gallant who had accosted her, and as it was said on
all hands that these had left London in hundreds, she had taken
courage of late, and had bidden her brother not incommode himself
on her account, if it were difficult for him to be her escort home.
Of late he had oftentimes been kept away by pressure of other
duties. Sometimes Dan had come in his stead. Sometimes she had
walked back alone and unmolested. Persons avoided each other in the
streets now, and hurried by with averted glances. Although upon her
homeward route, which was but short, she had as yet no infected
houses to pass, she always hastened along half afraid to look about
her. But her father's good counsel and his daily prayers for his
household so helped her to keep up heart, that she had not yet been
frightened from her occupation, although her mistress always
declared on parting in the evening that she never expected to see
her back in the morning.
"If the plague does not get you, some coward terror will. Never
mind; I can do without you, child. I never looked for you to have
kept so long at your post. All the rest have fled long since."
Which was true indeed, only Dorcas and the old couple who lived in
the house still continuing their duties. Fear of the pestilence had
driven away the other servants, and they had sought safety on the
other side of the water, where it was still believed infection
would not spread.
"I will come back in the morning. My father bids us all do our
duty, and sets us the example, madam," said Dorcas, as she prepared
to take her departure.
It was a dark evening for the time of year; heavy thunderclouds
were hanging low in the sky and obscuring the light. The air was
oppressive, and seemed charged with noxious vapours. Part of this
was due to the cloud of smoke wafted along from one of the great
fires kept burning with the object of dispelling infection. But
Dorcas shivered as she stepped out into the empty street, and
looked this way and that, hoping to see one of her brothers. But
nobody was in sight and she had just descended the steps and was
turning towards her home when out from a neighbouring porch there
swaggered a very fine young gallant, who made an instant rush
towards her, with words of welcome and endearment on his lips.
In a moment Dorcas recognized him not only as the gallant who had
addressed her once before, but also as Frederick Mason, her
brothers' old playfellow, of whom such evil things were spoken now
by all their neighbours on the bridge.
Uttering a little cry of terror, the girl darted back, turned, and
commenced running like a hunted hare in the opposite direction,
careless where she went or what she did provided she only escaped
from the address and advances of her pursuer. But fleet as were her
own steps, those in pursuit seemed fleeter. She heard her tormentor
coming after her, calling her by name and entreating for a hearing.
She knew that he was gaining upon her and must soon catch her up.
She was in a lonely street where not a single passerby seemed to be
stirring. She looked wildly round for some way of escape, and just
at that moment saw a man come round a corner and fit a key into the
door of one of the houses.
Without pausing to think, Dorcas made a rush towards him, and so
soon as the door was opened she dashed within the house, and fled
up the staircase--fled she knew not whither--uttering breathless,
frightened cries, whilst all the time she knew that her pursuer was
close behind, and heard his voice mingled with angry cries of
remonstrance from the man they had left below.
Suddenly a door close to Dorcas opened, and a new terror was
revealed to her horror-stricken gaze. A gaunt, tall figure, wrapped
in a long white garment that looked like grave clothes, sprang out
into the stairway with a shriek that was like nothing human. Dorcas
sank, almost fainting with terror, to the ground; but the
spectre--for such it seemed to her--paid no heed to her, but sprang
upon her pursuer, who had at that moment come up, and the next
moment had his arms wound about him in a bearlike embrace, whilst
all the time he was laughing an awful laugh. Then lifting the
unfortunate young man off his feet with a strength that was almost
superhuman, he bore him rapidly down the stairs and rushed out with
him into the street.
All this happened in so brief a moment of time that Dorcas had not
even time to regain her feet, or to utter the scream of terror
which came to her lips. But as she found breath to utter her cry,
another door opened and a scared face looked out, whilst a woman's
voice asked in lamentable accents:
"What do you here, maiden? What has happened to bring any person
into this shut-up house? Child, child, how didst thou obtain
entrance here? The plague is in this house, and we are straitly
shut up!"
Before Dorcas could answer for fright and the confusion of her
faculties, a pale-faced watchman came hurrying up the stairs.
"Where is the maid?" he asked, and then seeing Dorcas he grasped
her by the wrist and cried, "Unless you wish to be shut up for a
month, come away instantly. This is a stricken house. What
possessed you to seek shelter here? Better anything than that.
"As for your son, mistress, he is fled forth into the street; I
could not hinder him. We are undone if the constable comes. But if
we can get him back again ere that, all may be well. I will let you
forth to lead him hither if he will listen to your voice."
From the room whence the sick man had appeared a frightened face
looked forth, and a half-tipsy old crone whimpered out:
"The fault was none of mine. I had but just dropped asleep for a
moment. But when a man has the strength of ten what can one poor
old woman do?"
Without paying any heed to this creature, the watchman and the
mother of the plague-stricken man, together with Dorcas, who
hurriedly told her tale as they moved, ran down the dark staircase
and out into the street. There, a little way off, was the tall
spectre-like figure, still hugging in bearlike embrace the hapless
Frederick, and dancing the while a most weird and fantastic dance,
chanting some awful words which none could rightly catch, but the
burden of which was, "The dance of death! the dance of death! None
who dances here with me will dance with any other!"
"For Heaven's sake release him from that embrace!" cried the
mother, who knew that her son was smitten to death. "If all be true
that the maid hath said, he is not fit to die, and that embrace is
a deadly one!--O my son, my son! come back, come back!
"Mercy on us, here is the watch! We are undone!"
Indeed the trampling of many hasty feet announced the arrival of a
number of persons upon the scene. It seemed like enough to be the
constables or the watch; but the moment the newcomers appeared
round the corner, Dorcas, uttering a little shriek of joy and
relief, threw herself upon the foremost man, who was in fact none
other than Reuben himself--Reuben, followed closely by his brother
Dan, and they by several young roisterers, the boon companions of
Frederick.
It had chanced that almost as soon as Dorcas had run from Lady
Scrope's door, hotly pursued by Frederick, her brothers had come up
to fetch her thence. It was also part of that worthy's plan that
they should hear she had been carried off, though not by himself.
His half-tipsy comrades, therefore, who had come to see the sport,
immediately informed the young men that the maid had been pursued
by a Scourer in such and such a direction; and so quickly had the
brothers pursued the flying footsteps of the pair--guided by the
footmarks in the dusty and untrodden streets--that they had come
upon this strange and ghastly scene almost at its commencement, and
in a moment their practised eyes took in what had happened.
The open door marked with the ominous red cross, the troubled face
of the watchman, the ghastly apparition of the delirious
plague-stricken man, the horror depicted in the face of the
mother--all this told a tale of its own. Scenes of a like kind were
now growing common enough in the city; but this was more terrible
to the young men from the fact that the face of the unhappy and
half-fainting Frederick was known to them and that they understood
the awful peril into which this adventure had thrown him. They knew
the strength of delirious patients, and the peril of contagion in
their touch. To attempt to loosen that bearlike clasp might be
death to any who attempted it.
Reuben looked about him, still holding his sister in his arms as
though to keep her away from the peril; and Dan, who had taken one
step forward towards the sheeted spectre, paused and muttered
between his teeth:
"The hound! he has but got his deserts!"
"True," said Reuben, for he was certain now that it had been
Frederick who was Dorcas's pursuer; "yet we must not leave him
thus. He will be strangled or choked by the pestilential smell if
we cannot get him away. Take Dorcas, Dan. Let me see if I can do
aught with him."
But even as Reuben spoke, and Dorcas clung closer than ever to him
in fear that he was about to adventure himself into greater peril,
the delirious man suddenly flung Frederick from him, so that he
fell upon the pavement almost as one dead; and then, with a hideous
shriek that rang in their ears for long, fled back to the house as
rapidly as he had left it, and fell down dead a few moments later
upon the bed from which he had so lately risen.
That fact they learned only the next day. For the moment it was
enough that the patient was safely within doors again, and that the
watchman could make fast the door. The roisterers had fled at the
first sight of the plague-stricken man with their hapless leader in
his embrace, and now the darkening street contained only the
prostrate figure on the pavement, the two brothers, and the
white-faced Dorcas, who felt like to die of fear and horror.
As chance or Providence would have it, up at that very moment came
the Master Builder himself, and seeing his son in such a plight,
shook his head gravely, thinking him drunk in the gutter. But
Reuben went up and told all the tale, as far as he knew or guessed
it, and Dorcas having confirmed the same more by gestures than
words, the unhappy father smote his brow, and cried in a voice of
lamentation:
"Alas that I should have such a son! O unhappy, miserable youth!
what will be thy doom now?"
At this cry Frederick moved, and got slowly upon his feet. He had
been stunned by the violence of his fall, and for the first moment
believed himself drunk, and caught at his father's arm for support.
"Have a care, sir," said Reuben, in a low voice; "he may be
infected already by the contact."
But the Master Builder only uttered a deep sigh like a groan, as he
answered, "I fear me he is infected by a distemper worse then the
plague. I thank you, lads, for your kindly thoughts towards him and
towards me, but I must e'en take this business into mine own hands.
Get you away, and take your sister with you. It is not well for
maids to be abroad in a city where such things can happen. Lord,
indeed have mercy upon us!"