A Source-Book of English Social HistoryJones, M. E. Monckton (Mary Evelyn Monckton)
History
A Source-Book of English Social History
Jones, M. E. Monckton (Mary Evelyn Monckton)
Great Britain -- Economic conditions; Great Britain -- Social conditions
On recognising my voice, full of alarm, they sprang up from their beds,
and half naked, and clad only in their night-clothes, the instant they
heard the fire in the cloisters, rushed forth through all the windows
of the Dormitory, and fell to the ground with dreadful force; many were
wounded and severely shaken by the severity of the fall, and shocking
to relate, some had their limbs broken. The flames, however, in the
meanwhile, growing stronger and stronger, and continually sending
forth flakes from the church in the direction of the Refectory, first
communicated with the Chapter house, then they caught the Dormitory,
and after that the Refectory, and at the same instant the Ambulatory,
which was near the Infirmary. After this they extended their ravages
with a sudden outburst, to the whole of the Infirmary, with all the
adjoining offices. All the brethren flying for refuge to the spot where
I stood in the court, on seeing most of them half-naked, I attempted
to regain my chamber, in order to distribute the clothes which I had
there, among such as I saw stand in the greatest need thereof; but so
great was the heat that had taken possession of all the approaches
to the Hall, and so vast were the torrents of molten lead that were
pouring down in every direction, that it rendered it impossible for
even the boldest of the young men to effect an entrance.... (p. 199).
At this moment, the tower of the Church falling on its south side I was
so stunned by the crash, that I fell to the ground half dead and in a
swoon. Being raised by my brethren and carried to our porter’s room,
I was scarcely able, until morning, to recover my right senses or my
usual strength....
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account