Lament for a lost lover

We awaited the outcome with trepidation. All day long we heard the explosions. The men came home, their garments and even their faces blackened with their exertions. But there was an air of triumph about them. They had halted the great fire of London, and now, they prophesied, it would only be a matter of time before they had put it out.

The nightmare was over, but the damage was enormous. Four hundred streets had been completely destroyed with about thirteen thousand houses An area of four hundred and thirty-six acres had been devastated.

We had suffered four days of calamity and during that time eighty eight churches had been destroyed, including St Paul’s Cathedral The City gates and Guildhall, the Exchange and the Customs House had also gone, and the value of the lost property was over seven million pounds There was only one matter for rejoicing In spite of this colossal destruction, only six people had lost their lives.

The fire was discussed interminably around dinner tables “The King,” said Carleton, “surprised his people though I guessed he would behave as he did People are inclined to think that because he has a keen wit and likes to use it, because he has an appreciation of beauty and a love of pleasure, he is incapable of being serious Now they realize their mistake None worked as hard as he did “

“It was an inspiration to us all,” agreed Geoffrey, “to see him, sleeves rolled up, his face blackened by smoke, giving orders as to where the gunpowder should be laid “

“And he was merry with it,” said my father-in-law “A man,” put in Uncle Toby, “who would meet any disaster with a merry quip which puts heart into us all “ He raised his goblet “A health unto His Majesty “

And we all drank it and someone started the ballad which was being sung throughout the country.

“Here’s a health unto his Majesty

With a fal, la, la, la, la, la, la

Confusion to his enemies

With a fal, la, la, la, la, la, la

And who will not drink his health

I wish him neither wit nor wealth

Nor yet a rope to hang himself

With a fal, la, la, la, la, la, la “

And we all joined in, thanking God that, in spite of the plague and the fire which He had seen fit to bring upon us, there was not one of us who would have gone back to the Puritan way of life All of us were with the King in spite of his growing reputation for profligacy. There was rejoicing in the streets. The fire was over, and if many had lost the homes they had known for years, there were now promises to rebuild London, a different city, with wider streets where the sun and air could reach the lower rooms of houses, proper gutters where the drainage could run away and not harbour rats and give out noisome smells.

Carleton said: “This fire could well be a blessing in disguise. Christopher Wren is going to build a fine cathedral in place of old St. Paul’s. He has designs for other buildings. The King is excited by them. He showed me some of them today.” And in spite of the terrible problems created first by the plague and then by the fire which had followed so closely, there was optimism in the air. Then this was tinged with suspicions and doubts.

Someone had caused the fire. Who? That was the question everyone was asking.

It was not long before a scapegoat was found.

There was whispering in the streets that it was the Papists. Of course it was. Had they not destroyed eighty-eight churches-the great cathedral among them? They wanted to destroy the Protestants just as they had on St. Bartholomew’s Eve in France nearly a hundred years ago. The method was different. That was all. People were marching through the streets, demanding the arrest and execution of Papists.

“The King will not allow that,” was the comment in our house. “He’s all for tolerance.”

“And some say,” said Uncle Toby, “that he flirts with the Catholic faith.”

“Flirting with the ladies is more to his choice, I’d say,” said Carleton quickly. “And if I were you, Uncle Toby, I would not repeat such comments. They might be ill construed.”

The King did set up an enquiry for the Privy Council and House of Commons to undertake, and it was a relief to have it proved that there was no foundation in the accusations, Those days of terror had their effect on us, at least that was what I tell myself, but perhaps I am trying to make some excuse for what happened almost immediately afterwards.