387 CHAPTER XI. THE NEW DISEASE AT CLAYDON. 'A time to die.' 1657-1658. A CERTAIN form of fever and ague, known during the time of the Civil War as 'the New Disease,' swept over several counties in 1657-8, carried off many familiar faces at Claydon and Hillesden, and united in a common death men who in life had long been foes and rivals. 1657 The summer had seen the establishment of Cromwell's second protectorate. 'Yesterday his Highness June 27, was in Westminster Hall,' writes an eyewitness,' with the Parl the La Mayor & Aldermen & the Judges, where he took an oath & was proclaimed Lord Protector of England, Scotland & Ireland, with three great shouts made by the soldiers & some few others. I was there & saw him in his King-like robes. came through the Hall in great state.'1 He Sir Ralph was once more engrossed in his building and planting, so much so indeed that Aunt Sherard writes: I am in May 14, som feres as you air sent to Jamaicos amongest the 1657 1 Roger Fleming in the Fleming MSS. Hist. MSS. Com. 1890, No. 319. Aug. 13, 1657 Aug. 27, 1657 Aug. 31, 1657 gold findors, but if you air within the compas of being hurd from, pray let me have the hapines of A line or tow from you.' The epidemic broke out in the Claydon villages at the close of a hot summer, and soon spread to the House. William Gape describes how people are flocking up to town from the country districts to avoid infection. Sir Ralph, on the contrary, who is away on a visit, hurries back to Claydon to do his best for the sick in the villages as soon as he hears of the outbreak. Mrs. Westerholt is ill, and one after another of Sir Ralph's servants and workmen are disabled. The Bay Mare is unable to fetch the bricks, she has been lent "to Roger Deely" to fetch a surgeon to his sonn, whose Heele is gangreaned.' 'I am sorry to heare Parson Aris is in any dainger,' writes Dr. Denton, ' I pray God fitt him and us for life and death. I long to heare of him. There is one dead of the plauge this weeke att White chappell.' The Rector's strength did not hold out for many days ; he died on August 29. The Doctor is heartily sorry for Honest Parson Aris. I doubt she will not live longe after. For all the little Peekes that were betweene you, I wish noe worse may succeed.' 'I am confident,' writes Penelope, Mrs Aris is a very sadd widdow, I pitty her with all my hart.' Sir Ralph desires to have the 2 Church Bookes, or any such publique papers or noates concerning the Church or Towne all papers concerning the Parsonage as letters & noates, and all papers or letters con cerning any differences betweene Mr Aris & me, 1711 registers, which he had written up so carefully, is at the burial of Thomas Faulkener formerly Dairyman May 9, & Servant to Mr Aris, Rector,' who had kept his master's memory green for more than fifty years. Ralph Roades, the truculent Parish Clerk, lived out the century, but his brother the Steward, Mr. Aris' doughty opponent and rival, was the next to be attacked by the fever. 1657 Sir Ralph writes to Lady Warwick: Madame, Sept. 17, I had not a servant to send to satisfie my selfe of the condition of your health, for all these parts have been sorely visited, and particularly this very Towne, in soe high a manner, that since I writ last to your Ladishipp, heere hath been 40 or 50 sick at a time, whereof the Parson, and 8, or 9 more are already dead, and at this hower many are dangerously sick, and still sicken dayly. I thanke God my selfe & sonne are well, but (excepting one) there is not a man servant in my house that hath not been very ill, and are yet soe weake, that I am forced to hier others to assist & tend them.' This description recalls our own household experiences of the influenza. Mrs. Sherard is in the same case: she herself hath gott this new disease, or a longe tertian or a Quarterne, be which it will, it handles her very severely, and there went 7 or 8 one day sick out of her house that came well in.' She herself writes: On my well dayes I macke A shift to creepe downe to diner and have a good stomack to my meaght, but I am faine to eaght but A litill.' Sir Roger's family had also drunk pretty deeply of that cup.' The Doctor considers that London is the healthiest place.' The same epidemic is mentioned by Lady Fanshawe,' as a very ill kind of fever of which many died, and it ran generally through all families;' she and her husband and her household fell sick of it: she ate neither flesh, nor fish, nor bread, but sage posset drink, & pancake or eggs, or now and then a turnip or carrot.' Lady Hobart had a more comfortable prescription. If you have a new dises in your toun pray have a car of yourself & goo to non of them; but drinck good ale for tis the gretis cordall that is : I live by the strenth of your malt.' Will Roades's illness ran its course, and the anxiety about him was increased by the fact that Dr. Denton was unable to be with him. The Doctor had been overworked all the autumn. I was at Malden, where there is a very sick house,' he wrote; 'Charles & Dick [Goode] both sick, but recovered and about the house; & yett last night I was sent for post [from his farm on the Fens] for that Charles had fainted away. W. Gape is now with him, & how he doth I know not. Ben Moorwood, who married his sister, I doubt will dye of this new disease, there's alsoe 1 Lady Fanshawe's Memoirs, p. 125. London, 1829. 10 sick att this time in Mr Harvey's house. It reigns generally, I pray God blesse us all & fitt us for life and death.' The Doctor went on to Thame Park to attend his 1657 1657 old friend Lady Wenman and a young Hobart, who was taken dangerously ill while on a visit to her. He wrote thence: 'I longe to heare how Will & Michaud & Sept. 19, Charles doe, and what you have done to them, certainly it is best to let Will bleede againe.' Two days later he writes: Hobart is fallen extreme ill (I feare Sept. 21, of the small poxe) whom I have vomited and blooded, & it's now my business to get a lodginge for him at Thame (soe fearfull are they here). I was designed for Boarstall this day by promise, & from thence to Lady Verner, & to Sir Arthur Hasilrigge, but I doubt I shall be able to doe neyther. I see noe daunger of Wm R: & if he had followed your advice by taking of a vomitt & if that had not done it, then to have beene blooded, I beleeved he had beene well ere this. It is the best thinge & the surest & quickest he can yett doe, therefore I pray lett him have one yett. 3 full spoonfulls of the vomitinge liquor in possett drinke will doe well, & he may abide 4 the same night when he goes to rest; let him take the weight of vids of Diascordium, the next day or the next but one, he be blooded in the arme about 20 ounces. Endorsed: W. Roade may open this letter if he will.' On the same day Sir Ralph wrote a long business letter to Roades. He had been to inquire after his sick daughter Miller, who rested much may |