38 MARRIAGE OF PEGGY PENN [CHAP. IV

In January 1667 they dined with Mr and Mrs Pepys, evidently a dinner in honour of Peggy's engagement :

" January 4.—Comes our company to dinner, Lord Brouncker and his lady, Sir W. and Lady Pen, Peg, and her servant Mr Lowther, and we made merry. Mr Lowther a pretty gentleman, and too good for Peg.”ı

Peggy was married on February 15 very quietly, only a few friends and relations of both sides being present. Pepys gives us his usual sarcastic remarks, which he indulged in whenever the Penn family were in question.

“ February.-Borrowed many things from my kitchen for dressing the dinner. The wedding being private, because it is just before Lent, and so in vain to make new clothes till Easter, that they might see the fashions as they are like to be in summer, which is reason good enough.”

1665] AWFUL CONFLAGRATION

35 devotion. The air was so hot and inflamed that

1665] AWFUL CONFLAGRATION

35 devotion. The air was so hot and inflamed that no one dared approach too near, and the dense clouds of smoke, which could be seen for fifty miles round, almost stifled the luckless workers, and gradually hid the flames from sight, leaving the wretched crowds in almost total darkness, while their cries were drowned by the noise and crackling of the flames, followed by the dull thud of falling buildings. “God grant mine eyes may never behold the like again,” writes Mr Evelyn of Wotten.

The melting lead from St Paul's dome ran down the street in a molten stream, till the pavements glowed like furnaces; it was like hell let loose among people worn and weak by illness, who at this fresh calamity must have felt as if they had indeed been deserted by Divine Providence. Nor was the fire confined to the city alone, it spread to Whitehall, causing wild confusion at court. Northward the flames pursued their way to Moorfields and Holborn; an area of five or six square miles was the scene of desolation. Though the dwelling-houses were mainly of wood, the churches and fine buildings were built of stone, and the heat had cracked huge blocks, and rent great pillars of porticos. The pavements were split open as if by an earthquake, and through it all a flying populace carrying bundles and valuables, and

38

MARRIAGE OF PEGGY PENN [CHAP. IV

In January 1667 they dined with Mr and Mrs Pepys, evidently a dinner in honour of Peggy's engagement :

" January 4.—Comes our company to dinner, Lord Brouncker and his lady, Sir W. and Lady Pen, Peg, and her servant Mr Lowther, and we made merry. Mr Lowther a pretty gentleman, and too good for Peg.” 1

Peggy was married on February 15 very quietly, only a few friends and relations of both sides being present. Pepys gives us his usual sarcastic remarks, which he indulged in whenever the Penn family were in question.

“ February.—Borrowed many things from my kitchen for dressing the dinner. The wedding being private, because it is just before Lent, and so in vain to make new clothes till Easter, that they might see the fashions as they are like to be in summer, which is reason good enough.”;