the king's interest in the villain end here; for he gave
him a pension of five hundred pounds a year, and admitted him to his
private friendship. Blood was therefore constantly at court, and made
one of that strange assembly of wits and profligates which surrounded
the throne. "No man," says Carte the historian, "was more assiduous
than he. If anyone had a business at court that stuck, he made his
application to Blood as the most industrious and successful solicitor;
and many gentlemen courted his acquaintance, as the Indians pray to
the devil, that he may not hurt them. He was perpetually in the royal
apartments, and affected particularly to be in the same room where the
Duke of Ormond was, to the indignation of all others, though neglected
and overlooked by his grace."

CHAPTER XI.

Terror falls upon the people.--Rumours of a plague.--A sign in the
heavens.--Flight from the capital.--Preparations against the dreaded
enemy.--Dr. Boghurst's testimony.--God's terrible voice in the
city.--Rules made by the lord mayor.--Massacre of animals.--O, dire
death!--Spread of the distemper.--Horrible sights.--State of the
deserted capital.--"Bring out your dead."--ashes to ashes.--Fires are
lighted.--Relief of the poor.--The mortality bills.

It came to pass during the fifth month of the year 1665, that a great
terror fell upon the city of London; even as a sombre cloud darkens the
midday sky. For it was whispered abroad a plague had come amongst the
people, fears of which had been entertained, and signs of which had been
obvious for some time. During the previous November a few persons had
fallen victims to this dreaded pestilence, but the weather being cold
and the atmosphere clear, it had made no progress till April. In that
month two men had died of this most foul disease; and in the first week
of May its victims numbered nine; and yet another fortnight and it had
hurried seventeen citizens to the grave.

Now the memory of their wickedness rising before them, dread took up its
abode in all men's hearts; for none knew but his day of reckoning was at
hand. And their consternation was greater when it was remembered that
in the third year of this century thirty-six thousand citizens of London
had died of the plague, while twenty-five years later it had swept away
thirty-five thousand; and eleven years after full ten thousand persons
perished of this same pestilence. Moreover, but two years previous,
a like sco