The Quare Family Boys Adventure

By Barry R Edwards

In 1666, The Great Fire of London raged from the 2nd of September and for a very long time.

King Charles II joined with people trying to quell the fire filling the leather buckets with water. Samuel Pepys, Clerk of the Privy Seal wrote in his diary about the fire.

Gunpowder was used to make a firebreak to ease the fire but nothing helped as the houses were made of wood.

The Quare Family Saga is a story of the family when the fire began. The sons of Mr Quare were suddenly into a life of intrigue and a sense of awareness they had not ever felt or had such adventures before.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Jan 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9781728382739

Book preview

© 2019 Barry R Edwards. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse  12/18/2018

ISBN: 978-1-7283-8274-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-7283-8273-9 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Dedication

To my wife Eileen Brotzman who encouraged me and became my soulmate.

To my new daughter, Stephanie Sinders.

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London September

2nd 1666

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Chapter One

The great fire of London began in the Kings bakery at about two am on the 2nd of September, burning out of control for five days. The Quare family were just one of many hundreds of families who were left homeless on that fateful night. The fate of the family was in the hands of their grandfather, who was not the most reliable person at that time.

Edward Quare was the eldest child, at fourteen he was almost a man. He stood on the embankment starring at the fire as it engulfed London. If granddad did this he’s on his own, he said to his sister Anne, thirteen, and younger brother Charles, eleven.

Strangely, no one was panicking. But there it was; North London, their home, just a mass of flames, and no one seemed to be trying to put the fire out. Come on, said Edward, let’s find mum and dad.

The family home had been a hovel at the rear of a baker’s shop, and talk on the embankment was of how and where the fire started. Someone mentioned a baker’s shop. Again, Edward thought of granddad, his pipe was never out of his mouth, even when he slept.

Dad was probably thinking the same. That’s when granddad William arrived, pipe in mouth and smoking like a chimney. We need to cross the river said William.

Now why didn’t we think of that, asked mother Jill, perhaps we could walk over the bridge, or swim for it?" William glanced along to the bridge and saw hundreds of people trying to force their way onto it, mostly without success.

A boat would be a help he said, as if they could just magic one up from nowhere. Edward looked at Anne and Charles, then told his parents to stay put and wait. In seconds, the three children had vanished into the crowds of fleeing Londoners.

Now what! Asked dad, as if we don’t have enough to worry about, without them running off to God knows where. Mum hugged Beth, the youngest at 8, and never far from mother.

Mum said nothing, she’d learnt long ago to trust her children as far as she could see them, and hope for the best. So far it had worked out quite well, all things considered. So why should this night be any different.

Dad wasn’t so sure, the last thing he could remember was being rudely woken by mum when she screamed fire in his ear, nearly deafening him. It must have been granddad he said, he must have started it with his pipe.

Hush said mum, if anyone hears you they’ll string all of us up right here. Dad went silent. The flames were getting closer by the minute. Suddenly, mum was on her feet and telling dad the children were back, and they had a boat. Mum dreaded to think how they got it.

Rich people were offering high prices to anyone who could get them across the river. Granddad was first down the steps to the boat and climbed in, move it boy he shouted, don’t just sit there.

That was granddad all over, only caring about himself. Edward ignored him as he sat with the oars ready. Dad thought it best not to ask questions at this time. It’s a very nice boat said mum, perhaps we could get more people in with us.

No time for that said Edward, as he started rowing. With dad on the other oar, they headed straight out to the middle of the river. Crashing into other boats as they forced their way through the mass of craft now assembled on the Thames.

Anne asked why they had to take granddad with them. Granddad said he has a friend on the south side, a friend we may be able to stay with, at least until you lot decide what to do next, he said. Mum and Anne thought back to all his so-called friends, and wondered if they wanted to meet another one.

When the boat reached the south bank, the family were out and scrambling up the mud-covered bank as fast as they could go. All except Edward, he stayed with the boat looking around at the crowds of people watching the fire.

When he caught up with the family, he was smiling like the cat who got the cream. Dad, mum, Beth and Anne kept as near to William as they could, not trusting him to leave them stranded. Charles waited for Edward, and saw the reason for the smile.

Behind Edward was a horse, of sorts, not a race horse, nor one to write home about, but a horse all the same. And behind the horse was a clapped out old cart.

Things the family had never had before this night, they’d never had a boat either, so it was turning out to be quite a strange night. At the top of the bank granddad looked at the buildings, then along the road, trying to get his bearings. This way he shouted to the family, and quickly marched off along the track, heading east.

The time was around five o’clock in the morning, the fire had started about two, or so mum had been told. For all she knew it might have been ten o’clock at night. Anyway, she was tired and wet, dad’s rowing was not good, he splashed the boat so much Charles asked if it might be drier in the river, and was promptly clipped round the ear.

It was hard work walking along the track, forcing their way through the crowds going to the river. At the end of the track William stopped and turned to the family, right you lot, I don’t expect my friend to take you in for more than a night, maybe two, at the most.

I think one night will be more than enough said Anne, if this friend is anything like all your other friend’s granddad. That’s fine by me said William, but just so’s you all know, you best make plans to move on very soon. Don’t worry Granddad said Charles, we have a horse and cart now, so we can go whenever we like.

Dad and mum looked at each other for a moment and then at Charles. The look of shock on their faces even surprised Anne, she knew nothing about the horse and cart, but wasn’t really surprised to hear about it.

As dad was trying to find the right words to ask about the horse and cart, and finding it very difficult to even speak, mum told him to wait till later, when he was calmer. Anne couldn’t think of a time when father had ever been calm.

The family followed closely behind granddad as he walked quickly along a road, now deserted by all but the drunks and vagabonds who frequented the local inns and ale houses in that part of the south bank. When granddad stopped, without warning, he was trampled underfoot, knocked to the ground by mum and dad.

Granddad got up and cursed them, then said for them to wait in the rear yard of an Inn they were outside of. Don’t move and I’ll try and talk my friend into letting you sleep in the barn or stable tonight.

Then he was gone, hopefully into the same Inn said Anne, who had never trusted granddad since he tried to sell her to a sailor when she was ten years old.

Dad looked around at the yard, it was big, with a barn the size of the grand house. Next to it was the stable, that too was big, compared to any dad had ever been close to. The yard was made of cobbles and felt good to stand on after the muddy river bank and the track to the inn.

Then he caught sight of the horse and cart. Dad went hot, then cold, could this be the day he’s hanged for stealing a horse he thought, and the only answer he could come up with was; YES.

He ushered everyone into the stable and closed the door, then peered through a gap to check that no one was out there, and realised the horse was still there for all to see. Edward pushed passed dad to unhitch the horse from the cart, he knew father wouldn’t know where to start.

Can we hide the cart too asked dad, no dad said Edward, it’s all legal, so why hide any of it? Dad wasn’t convinced though, best be safe he said, closing the stable door as Edward squeezed inside. So! Said Mum, looking at the three eldest children, explain the horse and cart, and no lies mind you. And the boat too, said dad.

What boat asked Charles? Anne and Edward smiled as mum and dad stared at each other. He has a point mother, said Anne, we don’t have a boat.

Not now agreed mum, but that doesn’t go the same for a horse and cart, does it? Charles quickly moved behind Edward, knowing he could be getting a heavy hand round his ears any moment. Do you want the long answer or the short answer asked Edward?

Mum and dad looked at their children, the look of angelic innocence on their faces, butter wouldn’t melt, said dad, under his breath. Never mind said mum, what we don’t know we won’t worry about.

Whether that went for dad too, was another matter. Anyway, Edward was pleased there wouldn’t be any more awkward questions about the boat, or the horse and cart, he hated lying to his parents, even if he did have to almost every day. The family decided to settle down and rest as they waited for granddad to call them.

At least an hour had passed since arriving at the inn, and still no sign of granddad. No one spoke at this time, they worried about both granddad and his so-called friend. Also, would someone chase them out of the stable and into the strange world that was the south side of the Thames, South London itself.

Mum and Beth had dozed off in minutes, dad couldn’t keep still and walked around the stable while Anne, Edward and Charles whispered softly in a corner.

Dad tried to listen to them but thought better of it when he heard what he thought was the word Law, wanting nothing to do with that side of life. Suddenly the stable door was flung open, mum screamed, Beth screamed, and dad almost had a heart attack. The other children turned to see what all the commotion was about.

Standing in the door way, and almost blocking it completely, stood the fattest person any of the family had ever seen. At that moment, no one could be sure if it was a man or a woman. We spend most of our life starving and here’s a person eating everything in sight, said Edward to Anne and Charles.

The family stared at the apparition, well! This is them, said granddad, as if to say they weren’t of any importance. This is Belle he said to the family.

The name Belle suggested a woman, but Charles whispered to Anne that he wouldn’t take any bets on that. Belle moved into the stable and with her arms spread wide, she advanced on dad.

He froze to the spot, if he was lucky he wouldn’t wet himself with fear of being crushed. Edward, Anne and Charles stayed back behind the old horse, if this mountain of a woman wants to hug people, it’s best to let others be near her, not them. She had a laugh as big as she was too.

It seemed strange to Edward that with all the terrible things going on over the river, London burning, people dying, perhaps, and yet here, on the south side, people were carrying on as if nothing was happening.

But that wasn’t so strange really, after all, how often Edward had ever thought about anyone else. He spent his life just as most people in his world, and had done since time began, thinking how to survive to the next day, and glad of it. And making sure his family survived too.

With the introductions over, Edward, Anne and Charles merely nodded to the woman then followed at a safe distance into the rear door of the inn. The room was very large and bright, compared to most Inns any of the children had been in, and to Charles’s delight, it smelt of food, hot food, cooking on the big stove in the corner.

Mum looked round to check on Charles, let loose he would surely devour every morsel he could lay his dirty little hands on. Anne had thought the same, and had a strong hold on him from the moment they entered the room. It’s not that Charles is greedy, well! No more than any boy his age, but anyone who knows him will tell you, Charles has a worm, maybe two. And the smells in that room could set off any boy’s hunger.

Even Anne was licking her lips. Belle suggested the family sit at the very long table in the middle of the room. Charles sat between mum and Anne, if he did anything to make either of them ashamed of him he would be severely dealt with.

Dad behaved as he always did, very nervously. Beth was almost under Jill’s skirt, this big woman frightened her with her booming voice and loud laugh. What seemed to the family to be half a cow was placed on table?

Help ya selves boomed Belle. Edward took a plate from a pile on the table, then a knife and proceeded to carve a large slice of meat. Anne quickly followed his lead and then there was what could only be called a free for all.

Even dad managed to get into the fight for the last remnants of the beef. Belle was still laughing as she left them to get on with the meal. A very big jug of ale in the centre of the table was fast running low as mum, dad, Edward and Anne washed down the best meal they’d ever had.

An hour later and granddad was still not with them that was a bonus, as far the family were concerned. But that wouldn’t last much longer, after all he did take them there, to a safe place to spend at least one night, they hoped.

When Belle returned to the back room she had granddad with her. He looked different to when they last saw him in the stable. What exactly Edward couldn’t say. Maybe it’s his face said Anne, it was cleaner than usual, so perhaps a wash had been forced on him, not a year too soon.

Dad didn’t smile at him, he was not happy at that moment, what with being forced out of their home, having to cross the river in a stolen boat (no matter what Edward might say) and then being part owner of a stolen horse and cart, what more could happen to him.

Belle asked if they’d all been fed well enough. Charles kept silent on seeing his mother’s hand raised ready to slap him down. Yes, thank you said Anne, very well indeed.

Mum agreed and asked how the family could pay for the food. Belle looked surprised, don’t be daft she said, William’s paying for everything while you’re here. You could’ve heard a pin drop, granddad almost had a heart attack.

Even Beth smiled on hearing this, nothing before had made the family so happy, not that mum and dad could remember.

Just how granddad was going to pay no one would guess, not even granddad, but it was certain that Belle knew something the rest of them didn’t, and wouldn’t want to know.

There was quite a racket going on in the next room, the main part of the Inn, loud laughter and the sounds of tankards being slammed down on the tables. So far, Belle hadn’t mentioned the fire over the river, Edward couldn’t get it out of his mind, and he was sure the rest of the family felt the same.

Their home was no more than a dirty little hovel, but it was their hovel, and had been for most of the children’s life, a place where even Anne felt safe. The future may not be as safe as what they all knew before this night, and as Edward sat thinking about it, even he was a little worried.

Anne was the kind of girl who wanted to be rich, of the gentry, but instead was poor as a pauper, as were the rest of the family. But she still acted at times as if she was better than the rest of the family, and everyone she knew.

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Chapter Two

Three hours had passed since the family arrived at the Inn, hours that had simply flown by, as far as Edward was concerned. It was time to step back and think, something he hadn’t been able to do until now. The noise alone was more than he remembered back in their hovel. In the back yard, it was much quieter and deserted except for the chickens.

Edward climbed up onto the cart, his cart, he felt proud now, as he remembered back to the river crossing, the boat was only loaned to them, by a man who had a secret, a bad secret that the children knew. Blackmail isn’t a nice word, but it does tell the truth in this case.

Anyway, as far as the horse and cart go that was legal and above board. A