"I sent news of my brother, William Farriner." "He was on His Majesty's ship, the Charity." "He has a wife and a son." "She needs to know, sir." "Unfortunately, I..." "I do not have good news." "I bid you goodnight, mistress." "Thomas." "~ Who's that?" "~ Oh, he's just someone from church." "Your Majesty." "How did you get in here?" "Let me guess." "You're a Catholic." "I assumed I'd at least be safe in my own palace." "~ It has been taken care of." "~ If you would agree to help me it would make it easier to believe that you've not been drawn into Hanford's treacherous web." "You see, he arrived back this morning with a Spanish soldier named Romero..." "Thank you." ".. and there's every chance that he intends to make an attempt on the King's life." "I wish to be informed of everything that happens inside that house." "Hannah!" "~ Hannah." "~ There was a fire." "We've lost everything." "Tom!" "Tom!" "Tom!" "Get out of your houses!" "Bring water!" "We need to get out." "The fire's spreading." "~ How can it have got this far?" "~ Where's your mother, David?" "Come on, girls, quickly!" "Sarah?" "~ Mother!" "~ Sarah!" "Mother!" "~ Mother!" "~ Sarah!" "Sarah!" "~ David!" "~ Where is she?" "She'll have gone to get help, come on." "What if Mother's in there?" "She'll be out here somewhere, David." "Now, come on, we have to move!" "We'll get a boat to safety." "Hannah!" "David." "Come on!" "Run, Hannah, run!" "~ Mother!" "~ Sarah!" "~ Mother!" "~ Sarah!" "Sarah!" "Sarah!" "Sarah!" "Sarah!" "Maybe she's headed to the river." "Come on, let's go." "~ Sarah!" "~ Mother!" "Hey!" "Hey!" "Uncle Thomas, I can't go in there without Mother." "Let's just get Hannah and Mary safe and then I'll find her." "Hey!" "Hey!" "Room for a few little ones?" "David, David!" "Stay together." "Wait." "Hey!" "~ Hey, there's a queue!" "~ I know." "Can you help us?" "~ Where do you want to go?" "West, up river." "Somewhere I can get my children to safety." "~ That's gonna cost you ha'pence." "~ That's double the fare." "~ That's the market, my friend. ~ I don't have a penny to my name." "My house burnt down." "~ Do I look like I'm interested in charity?" "~ I have three children, please." "~ Well, you're not alone in that." "~ For common decency, please." "I ain't got none." "~ Where do you want to go?" "~ Fleet Street." "Ha'pence." "Get in, here, down the back." "It's all right, it's all right." "We'll go another way." "We'll go north out of the city and look for your mother before we leave." "I promise, I'll find her." "Let's go." "Down the back, down the back, down the back." "At least tell me what it is I'm supposed to have done." "What is this?" "Special treatment." "~ Mother!" "~ Sarah?" "Mother!" "Your mother's friend, that gentleman, where does he live?" "I don't know." "Why would Mother go there anyway?" "Perhaps she thought it might be safer." "Can't remember?" "It's all right." "We've got to leave!" "As soon as we're safe." "Let's stick together and get out of the city." "As soon as we're safe, I'll find her, I promise." "David?" "~ David!" "~ Come away!" "It's too late!" "David!" "Do you recognise this man, Mr Carter?" "No." "I admit he's not looking his best." "He is an assassin who tried to kill the King and he once worked for your employer, the Duke of Hanford." "I swear, sir, I've never seen him before." "I'm only a footman, sir." "We know that the Duke told his wife a month ago that he was to travel to London," ""to make an attempt on the King"." "I need to know how... and where... ~ and when. ~ Yes, sir, I'll tell you anything I can, sir." "~ What did Romero and the Duke speak of on the journey?" "~ I never heard him utter a word." "I thought it strange." "The Spaniard, he has a box he carries with him all the time, this size, red." "~ Do you know what's in it?" "~ No." "But the Duke of Hanford, he said they must guard the box or people would be made to pay for it." "What else?" "I heard His Grace talking to his wife about what they would need to do to rebuild." "Rebuild what?" "He didn't say, sir." "There he is, there he is." "Over here, sir, please!" "~ Sir?" "~ Please, sir." "Just a piece of bread." "~ Over here." "~ We haven't eaten for days." "~ Please." "~ Your Majesty." "On second thoughts, I'm not really in the mood." "~ Charles?" "~ I've changed my mind." "Please, Your Majesty." "Help us, don't let us go hungry." "Charles?" "Charles?" "~ Charles!" "What is it?" "~ Did you not see the crowd at the gates?" "Any one of them could have been an assassin." "Did you not feel their hostility?" "Charles, they are nothing but paupers." "Look at me!" "We are not our father." "These are not his circumstances and this is not his city." "That's easy for you to say." "It's not your head that will be rolling along Whitehall." "Listen to me, we are not him." "We make our own fate." "Do you actually believe that?" "Yes." "Shouldn't we go back for David, Father?" "We can't just leave him." "~ Of course I will." "I just need to get you to safety first." "~ Thieves!" "Thieves!" "Thieves!" "Stop them!" "We need to go north, towards Cheapside, out of the city." "Come on." "Good day to you, madam." "This is your doing." "No, Mistress Farriner, it was yours." "I gave you a civil opportunity to meet me at the Star Inn to discuss matters." "~ But my son, he... ~ I do not have time for game playing." "The King's life depends on it." "So you say." "Perhaps if you had told me the truth from the start, instead of inventing Edward Wickes..." "And allow you to warn Lord Hanford that we were observing him?" "I think not." "Now that you've had time to calm yourself, I trust you will see sense." "Hanford's visitor carries a box with him at all times." "It's red and about so big." "I need you to get it for me." "How am I supposed to do that?" "I'm sure you'll find a way." "You have the confidence of your employer, after all." "And that is why I cannot do it." "It would be a betrayal of his trust." "You people." "You always stick together." "You know that's not mine." "I'm sure, given time, more idolatrous fripperies will come to light." "Do you really live in a world where people may not be loyal to each other out of kindness or affection..." ".. blind to their faith?" "I live in a world where I do what I have to do to preserve the life of the King and thus order in this land." "I'm sure you can remember the alternative." "No." "You serve yourself." "You have wanted to meet me at the inn before last night, haven't you, "Edward"?" "But perhaps you lacked the courage to ask, unclothed of your disguise?" "Do you really have to hide your true self to entertain the idea of being liked?" "Throw her in the general cell." "Let them treat her like the whore she is." "Gaoler!" "Put her in with the others." "There's a fire." "I was trying to work out which way it's been spreading." "Ruth mentioned it before I went to bed." "Is it still burning?" "Looks like Cannon Street or thereabouts." "I was thinking that, unless you have other matters to attend to, you may like to come to the yards with me this morning." "If you wouldn't find it too tedious, of course." "I shouldn't find it at all tedious." "Carry on, if you want a dose of the clap so bad it'll make your prick wither and drop off." "Never!" "Who next?" "~ I thought we were going to have to wait all morning. ~ There's a fortune to be made today, Mr Pepys." "Revelling in the misfortune of others doesn't seem Christian, Wilson." "~ It's human nature, Mr Pepys. ~ You'll get your regular fare out of us and no more." "Look, the poor people." "Dear God!" "I'll wager neither God nor his unfortunate Son had anything to do with this." "As for the foreigners and their Catholic friends, on the other hand..." "Do you see that?" "Samuel, it's burning back east against the wind." "Is anyone even trying to put it out?" "~ Drop me at Whitehall and then take my wife back home. ~ Samuel. ~ And put your back into it." "I must warn the King." "Good morning, Your Majesty." "Good morning." "Did you know they have decided to bar me from council?" "There is some concern about your faith, but I thought you would be pleased." "I'd be delighted not to have to listen to two hours of hot air and obfuscation." "I know I will never have your love, but your respect would make me happier than I am." "Perhaps it would have been different if I could have given you an heir." "I'll have the decision reversed." "Tell Hyde you must always attend council." "Thank you." "Your Majesty?" "My apologies." "Samuel Pepys." "For God's sake, Pepys, I haven't gone mad just yet." "The truth is, everyone else indulges me, so I indulge myself." "Most regrettable." "What is it, Pepys?" "Majesty, you may have heard that there's a fire in the city." "Not an uncommon occurrence." "You may not have been told that it is dangerously powerful." "The bridge is already lost." "The city is dry as tinder and the fire is strong enough to burn back even against the wind." "It has got to Fish Street Hill, but who knows how far it will reach if it is not checked?" "~ And what do you suggest I do about it?" "~ I think it would be wise to survey what efforts are being made to prevent its spread and to be seen to do so." "Some of Mr Pepys's Parmesan." "There's not much else." "I thought you'd be out." "I suppose he couldn't really take me to the palace." "~ Mr Pepys is at the palace, ma'am?" "~ Are you surprised?" "I shouldn't be shocked to hear that Samuel had danced a jig on the moon, if it would bring him advancement." "But in case I am invited, we must be prepared." "You can take a message to Signor Alfredo." "I may as well improve another empty hour by perfecting my French gavotte." "You may stay for the lesson, if you like." "Mother?" "Mother!" "Mother!" "So the fire's still spreading?" "I believe so, sir, yes." "Mayor Bludworth has yet to get it under control." "What is it Hanford thinks he will have to rebuild, do you suppose?" "Society?" "The state?" "Or the capital city?" "I'm not following you, sir." "We need to know about this fire." "Details." "How it started and why." "I'm going to take a look." "Speak to your sources." "We need answers today." "Thank you." "I'm Sarah Farriner." "Vincent." "What brings you to these fine surroundings?" "~ King's men." "~ Will anyone come looking?" "I hope so." "I don't know." "Do you have a husband?" "Yes, but..." "He's away." "His brother may come." "Tom will realise I've gone, he and my son." "They'll ask everyone on the street." "Perhaps someone saw me being taken." "~ Will you..." "Will you help me get a message to them?" "~ Do you have money?" "I have nothing." "Then forget it." "So what are the rumours?" "Who started this?" "I heard it's a Catholic plot." "They say the Precious Man is in the city, my lord." "~ The Precious Man is a myth. ~ They say he's a papist, after revolution, my lord." "He's every demented fear the masses fall prey to." "I want facts." "I heard the fire started in a bakery over on Pudding Lane." "What do you know of the baker?" "His brother's wife's always up there, they say he's in love with her." "She works for that papist on... .. over on Fleet Street, my lord." "What's his name..." "Hatfield?" "~ Hanford." "~ That's the one, my lord." "There, good man." "Thank you, my lord." "Mr Wickes!" "~ David?" "~ Mr Wickes." "Have you seen Mother?" "She shouldn't be out here, and neither should you." "Come with me." "Keep moving, keep moving!" "The fire's right behind us." "Come on!" "~ Move!" "~ The street's blocked!" "We can't!" "~ A cart's turned over." "~ Turn back." "~ Turn back!" "~ We can't go back!" "You're the baker, aren't you?" "Just trying to get through like everyone else." "~ You're Farriner, from Pudding Lane." "~ I think you've made a mistake." "It's the baker from Pudding Lane!" "It's the man who started it!" "~ Get off me!" "~ Leave my children alone!" "What harm have they done to you?" "~ Do you know what we've lost because of you, baker?" "~ That building's coming down!" "There's no room!" "I can't breathe!" "Get the children up!" "Get the children up!" "Father, hold me!" "Help me." "You're safe." "John?" "John Hobbs!" "Thanks to God." "I thought all our ends had come!" "Where you headed?" "Out of the city." "People say there's a gathering at Moorfields." "It's safe there." "It's too far for the fire to reach." "All right." "It was my fault." "What?" "Of course it wasn't." "You know it was." "I said I'd check the ovens and I forgot." "No, no, no." "It was nobody's fault." "It was an accident." "No more, no less." "Come here." "We are aware of the fire, sir, of course we are." "But is it not a matter for the Mayor?" "The Mayor is a bumbling incompetent, everyone knows that." "Especially me, as I'm the one who appointed him." "At Lord Ashley's request, I might add." "But a fire in the streets of London is surely not our concern, sir?" "That is not what Mr Pepys thinks." "Sir, that quarter has lately been infested by the plague, so one could argue it would be no bad thing to clear it out." "A purge of the poor, you mean?" "What the Chancellor means, your Majesty, is that there is no reason to fear a major threat to life any more than in any other fire." "And the clear-out of a plague-infested area could have significant long-term benefits." "We could insist, for example, that it be rebuilt in brick and stone, as you have so long desired." "What does the Duke of York think?" "If your Mr Pepys is right, then a first-hand assessment would be a wise precaution." "An inspection would be most unwise, sir." "The mob may be angry, feelings running high." "And the Queen?" "She doubts many members of the mob can swim, so surely His Majesty will be safe on the river?" "Pudding Lane." "The north end of London Bridge, though the break in the middle stopped it crossing the river to Southwark." "Fish Street Hill." "Almost to Cannon Street in the north." "If it is a plot, sir, it's hard to understand why they'd start in Pudding Lane." "They may have been relying on the wind." "It will spread fast, perhaps as far west as Coldharbour by the morning." "I'm going back to Newgate." "It seems Mr Pepys was right, was he not, Lord Hyde?" "Where is the rescue effort?" "Perhaps we should go ashore, sir." "See how far it has spread inland." "To insert ourselves into the matter seems to me an unnecessary risk." "Someone needs to tell Bludworth to pull his bloody finger out." "I can go, sir." "Yes, very well." "Make sure you tell him that it is my order that he assembles teams of men" "~ to clear significant ground to stop the spread of this fire. ~ Majesty... with the greatest respect, the Mayor will never agree to that without some assurance from us that we will compensate those whose houses are pulled down." "Then we shall give it." "That is simply impossible!" "We don't have sufficient funds even to contemplate such a measure." "Instruct him to do it." "Am I allowed to ask what brought you here?" "I came home and found my wife in bed with a squinty-eyed glover, so I killed him." "Is that what you wanted to hear?" "They're gonna hang me for it in the morning." "And I don't want to discuss my life story before they do." "You were a sailor." "What makes you say that?" "The anchor carved inside your wrist." "Sailors drink too much and do stupid things." "I know." "My husband is one." "Well, then, you know what we're like." "Good in a fight, but not for much else." "Sounds about right." "Where is he now?" "He was on the Charity in the Battle of Lowestoft." "The Charity went down." "I know." "But they say that some men were picked up." "Nobody was picked up." "I was at Lowestoft." "I was on the helm of the Prince Rupert." "We didn't pick up anyone from the Charity." "~ It's the devil's work." "~ That seems somewhat improbable." "~ But look..." "~ Calm yourself, man!" "The King has seen the scale of the fire and believes more radical action is required." "~ I've been trying all day to..." "~ Nobody wishes to attach any criticism to you, Mayor." "But you need to assemble a large party of men, break out the grappling hooks in earnest and pull down enough houses to create a gap..." "The King will compensate the householders?" "~ Yes, I have it from his own lips." "~ It is not quite as simple as that." "The King would certainly like to compensate householders." "~ But he cannot be held..." "~ He gave a direct order!" "To the best of my knowledge, you are not an officer of the court." "In the unlikely event that you become one, you will quickly learn the King sometimes needs to be protected from promises he cannot keep." "~ Tell me." "~ Lord Hyde's idea as a distraction from the fire." "I believe mock weddings are all the rage in Paris." "Miss Stewart was married several times whilst she was there." "Perhaps they intend to invite you on the honeymoon." "All this while my city burns." "A charming idea and I thank you all for your imagination and effort, but I do not feel well this evening and must retire early." "You held on to hope for long enough." "I had to... .. for my son's sake." "It must have been tough... .. a woman in this city, bringing up a boy alone." "We haven't been alone." "We've had Tom." "~ He a sailor too?" "~ Tom?" "God, no." "No, he's... he's more the home type." "He's a baker." "Tom's parents left them both the bakery." "But Will wasn't interested." "Not enough excitement." "And the place wasn't exactly a roaring success." "So Tom took it on alone." "Now he's Conduct of the King's Bakehouse." "He supplies the navy." "Your husband's dead." "The way I see it, you got a chance to live." "Take it." "~ I don't reckon there's any cause for hope on the other side." "~ Sarah Farriner?" "Do whatever you need to do to get out of this hole." "~ Signor Alfredo?" "~ He said he was looking for Mr Pepys, ma'am." "I'm afraid he's not here." "What is it you want with my husband?" "Perhaps I can be of assistance." "I looked for him at the navy yards." "He's promised me work, ma'am." "I wondered if..." "I can do anything, I'd be happy to... ~ Anything at all." "~ I see." "~ What's your name?" "~ It's Bagwell, ma'am." "~ Did you use to work at the yards?" "~ No." "But I'm happy to turn my hand to anything." "How do you know my husband?" "Mr Pepys knows my wife." "How does Mr Pepys know your wife?" "I think you had better leave, Mr Bagwell." "Tell me about the fire, Mistress Farriner." "The fire?" "London is burning, as you most certainly know." "The fire started in your brother-in-law's bakery." "Yes." "A terrible accident." "A fire in the poorest quarter of the city, on the hottest night of the year." "Chaos, panic, confusion." "What better time to strike against the King?" "No, Tom would never do that." "You are in serious trouble, Sarah." "My profession has taught me to have a suspicious mind and I do not like what I see." "You will have to prove to me where your loyalties really lie." "Find that box and bring it to me." "No, I cannot." "Let me focus your thoughts." "~ David!" "~ Mother!" "~ David!" "David!" "~ Mother!" "~ David..." "~ Mother!" "Please!" "Please, Lord Denton." "Please don't harm my boy." "~ You know what I require." "~ I'll do it." "I'll do it, whatever you want." "Just as long as you let me speak with my boy." "Just for a moment." "~ Can we have dinner when we get there?" "~ We're here." "This is Moorfields." "Hey." "Come here." "Come here." "David!" "~ Did they hurt you?" "~ No." "~ Why aren't you with Uncle Thomas?" "~ I came looking for you." "I saw Mr Wickes by the river and... ~ Why are we here?" "~ Mr Wickes just needs me to do something for him." "And then we'll be free to go." "~ It's all right, David." "~ Mother!" "Mother, Mother!" "~ Mother!" "~ Lord Denton, please don't hurt him." "Calm yourself." "I will take care of him." "But don't fail me." "Lord Denton?" "You are a good man, sir." "Thank you." "In nomine Patris, et Filii et Spiritus Sancti." "In nomine Patris, et Filii et Spiritus Sancti." "Amen." "In nomine Patris, et Filii et Spiritus Sancti." "Amen." "Tomorrow, then." "We are agreed." "I'll make certain my brother is there." "Hannah?" "Hannah?" "~ What is it?" "~ I have to go back." "~ No, you can't!" "~ Keep your voice down, you'll wake your sister." "Auntie Sarah thinks David is with us." "Now, I have to try to find him." "~ You don't even know where he is." "~ He'll be looking for his mother." "I'll try her employer's house, I'll look there." "~ What about us?" "~ You'll be safe, Hannah." "His father's dead, it doesn't mean we have to lose ours too." "Uncle Will isn't dead." "Mr Pepys gave me a letter, he's deserted." "He's in the Colonies." "He's left them." "We're all they have." "They need us now more than ever." "What's happening?" "I have to go and try and find David and Auntie Sarah." "~ We'll be all right." "~ I'll be as fast as I can." "Don't go." "I have to." "And I'm sorry." "You do what your sister says, all right?" "You stay here and you stay safe and stay together." "And I'll be back before you know it." "All right." "Sarah, where did you get to?" "~ Tom, you - ~ Mr Farriner." "~ You were with him." "~ Shall I take him?" "~ David is in Newgate." "~ What?" "They're holding him there." "Get him, Tom." "It's gonna burn." "You." "Go." "It won't work." "I'll make it quick." "He won't serve a purpose dying here." "Surely it is better to act today, than to wish we had done so tomorrow." "We will seize the moment." "What time do we reach Ludgate?"