A mild winter, with a few intense flurries of snow allowed people to pass their time more actively than usual, and only one Sunday's services were disrupted by a blizzard. Given that the enforced idleness of most winters ferments ill humours and devil-inspired fantasies such conditions are to be welcomed as hard work clears the mind of such vapours. Even so Ursell Neumann, a sweeper at the Westgate church, was lured into fallacy and preached from the church steps a heretical sermon claiming that by good works alone can the grace and favour of the Lord be won, when all know that we are justified by Faith alone and not our own works or deservings. Wherefor she appeared before the Council of Faith and found guilty of both Heresy and preaching without a certificate. Her sentence, to lose her position, and thus being without means of support to be granted a place in the Poorhouse where she will find little opportunity to indulge vanities of intellect above her station and education, being engaged in virtuous labour at all lawful hours.
February brings more usual troubles from the foetid depths of sinner's minds to the harsh and cleansing light of day, when Anke Bergman is arrested after making fantastic allegations against her employer, Gustav Volger (in his more creditable guise of Master Tailor). In view of the persecutions of the Volger family in the recent past, and the fact that Bergmann had been instrumental in securing the arrest of Andreas Fisher the Church treated her allegations with some caution, rightly as it would appear when she was found to be possessed of a particularly stubborn spirit even the best preachers are unable to drive forth.
April the 11th 1640, a Wednesday, sees a new departure in style, when Beren Gerhardt, Henryk Wolff, and Gustav Volger all depart town atop horses in an ostentatious and obnoxious display of wealth. They return a fortnight later, with drawn and tired faces, bearing the marks of hard travel, and without Wolff's war-trained horse which had only arrived a few weeks before from the inner lands. So annoyed are they by this loss to the denizens beyond the horizon that the strongest band of their fellows, comprising almost all the active venturers, sets out to extract vengeance if repeated snatches of overheard conversations are to be believed. The seriousness of their intent was attested by the sight of Kurt Schneider, with a pack beast devoted to carrying his very own wall gun, such as defends the town in the hands of the Town Guard. They leave on the 30th of April.
In the early morning of Saturday 5th May, New Jerusalem burns to the ground.
In the early morning of Saturday the 5th of May, the cry of 'Fire!' is raised somewhere within the warren of the Wallside. Initially small, it is fanned by the strong north-easterly wind, and windblown sparks find easy lodging in surrounding roofs of the Wallside, which are mostly of wooden construction and tinderlike after a month of dry weather. Though bucket chains form rapidly they continually retreat as fresh outbreaks threaten to cut them off. Efforts are disrupted by ever growing crowds of refugees pushing through the narrow, winding streets caring nothing for the firefighters efforts, intent on saving only their own miserable lives, jostling bucketeers, and spilling their loads as often as not so not one half of that water drawn reaches the flames.
As it becomes apparent that the fire is beyond control in the Wallside the council gather in the Council House to discuss measures to be taken. Attending them are the Captains of the Calvinist and Town Guards, and Master Gunner Felix van der Lubbe who advocated blowing down buildings across the path of the fire to make a firebreak ("Blow it out, don't piss on it"), and allowing the fire to burn out unopposed within it, while fighting any further outbreaks outwith this boundary. Discussion continues long, as various firebreak lines are discussed and opposed by those with properties within the proposed demolition line.
Debate is cut short by the sudden announcement that the hall is in danger of being cut off by a new outbreak of fire spreading in the Westgate. This, and the sight of the collapse of the Calvinist Guard barracks in a great cloud of flame as the original conflagration reaches the edge of the Temple Court causes the meeting to disperse hurriedly; the council to attempt to save themselves and their property, to varying degrees of success; Captain Brunner of the Calvinists to see to his men; Capt Pfifer and Master Gunner van der Lubbe with purposeful mien to the Town Guard barracks and Powderstore respectively. Two hours after the first alarm was given, the recall of the Town Guard is signalled, and without their discipline and supervision on the bucket chains firefighting efforts grind to a halt, though their effect by this time was negligeable as well after well was drawn dry, and a solid wall of fire blocked the North Gate and easy access to the river by the drays carrying barrels of water to the remaining fighters.
One half of the town being ablaze, the council scattered beyond recall and most of the populace fled to the safety of the fields, van der Lubbe oversees the Town Guardsmen positioning the major part of the Powderstore's stock in trade about the perimeter of the Southgate district, and its detonation at his command rather than at the whim of the flames ("Better a firecracker here now than a volcano later"). As the barrels do their work squads of guardsmen gather able bodied refugees into teams to clear the debris and damp it down.
The Master Gunner's experience tells, and the fire is successfully contained to four fifths of the town. Such was the intensity, fanned by the winds, that the fire is burned out by early morning, when the winds drop, their evil done, to leave the remains of the town and the fields choking in a pall of dust, ash and smoke from the smoldering remains.
People stand about red-eyed with fatigue and smoke unable to grasp the magnitude of the disaster, or drop and sleep in the fields, or wander hopeless and helpless looking for missing relatives, or poke about the edge of the ashes seeking some trace of the proud homes that stood only hours before. In the black plain of devastation only the Temple (being newly built all of stone and favoured of the Lord) and the compound of the Merchant Trader Gerbier who kept the gates closed and guarded against those demanding access to the well within which was used solely for the preservation of the Gerbier fortune.
Few notice the arrival of the party of explorers that had set out a few days previously, those ahorse galloping those afoot running as fast as armour permits, to seek news of families and businesses. As one of the only fit, armed and unexhausted force in town they are quickly impressed by van der Lubbe, whose experience in the wars stands him in good stead in the emergency, being both less affected by the destruction, and knowledgeable in the necessary steps to take in the aftermath.
The mounted group guard the entrances to the town (relying mainly on the authority of a man on horseback, with armour and weapons about him) to prevent looting, or more likely people further injuring themselves in the still hot ashes, until Town and Calvinist guards have recovered from their exertions of the night sufficiently to once more fulfill their duties. Meanwhile others seek out the surviving councilors who are brought to an emergency meeting in the Town barracks where van der Lubbe persuades them to raise the militia (to which every able bodied person in town belongs) with himself as Captain General, with authority over all matters of the recovery, he being more experienced in such things (as witness the night's events) than any other in the town. The councilors being disinclined to argue in their state of shock and exhaustion agree to this and sign a proclamation granting Master Gunner (as he prefers to keep that title) van der Lubbe the required authority until the end of the harvest, in September, when the situation is to be reviewed.
Also at this time people gather themselves to counting the casualties. In all some three to four hundred people are found to be missing, many, it is thought, dying heroically whilst fighting the fire, and as many dying whilst trying to rescue their goods and property which they will no doubt find somewhat encumbering when called to justify their actions at Judgement. The Town Guard suffered relatively lightly though many of them were in the thick of the firefighting, losing 16 men out of over 120, while of the Calvinist Guard 13 guardsmen out of forty gave their lives to save their charges from hellfire come to earth. Of notable persons casualties include two councilors, Martin Hoffman (Merchant) and Luther Pfifer (Tailor) both Guild representatives, and Preacher Heinz Stein of the Westgate. Several entire business families are gone; Wiskemann (New Temple Foundry); Breughel (Bakers), Krause (Armourers), Brecht (Lawyer), Leibnitz (Cookhouse) all of the Marketplace district; Goring (Smith) Riverside; Muller (cobbler) Merchantile. Also several small and medium Landholders, and numberless lesser families.
Losses apart, the problems faced by the town are many. While there is no shelter within the town, people perforce live in the barns v and fields. With the burning, much of the town's foodstocks are destroyed, with people heedlessly, and unavoidably, trampling the crops in the fields where they are living. Along with the food much of the wealth of the town is also destroyed, letters of credit burned, specie buried or even melted, all rendering it difficult to buy in food from outside. Letters of credit might be issued by the town on the prospect of the harvest, which people are even now eating or trampling, and may not have time to take more than the living necessity in September whilst rebuilding living quarters to withstand the weather of autumn and winter.
Some might despair in the face of these problems. The Master Gunner organises. He lays his plans before the council three days after the fire, on Tuesday the 8th. Christian Fischer the fencing master and comrade-in-arms of past years, and Beren Gerhardt the adventurer and onetime innkeeper, are made Captains of Militia, with other persons as Sergeants to assist them.
Capt. Gerhardt takes charge of the commissary, organising food distribution, wagons for clearance operations out and building materials into town. Captain Fischer organises defence for, the powderstore being too depleted to supply a full charge for every guardsman's musket, those in the fields cannot rely on volleys from the towers to drive off lurking demonic presences in the air, but must be taught how to defend themselves with the weapons to hand while guns are reserved for the guards of the work parties logging the northern forest (lair of many abominations and imps as witness some of the trophies brought back on previous occasions by parties venturing to do battle with the forces of Satan in this stronghold of his). All private guns with loads are obliged to be carried at any time the owner passes anywhere in the open. For the construction of shelter a rigid control of who can build what is instituted, because of the bottlenecks in supplies of building materials and access to sites. Van der Lubbe takes the attitude that all should be under cover within the safety of the town walls as soon as possible, and certainly before "fat-gutted merchants have themselves built palaces while the crops go to ruin for lack of attention".
This does not endear the Master Gunner or the Militia to those who saved enough of their wealth to be in a position to consider themselves important enough to warrant priority in this matter, and even less pleased are the trades and guilds who might reasonably have expected to benefit from this priority, when they find themselves called to service in the militia bringing their skills to bear for the good of the town rather than their pockets, an unfamiliar feeling for many. However he keeps to this line, overcoming all objections by negotiation, persuasion, and naked force in extreme cases.
As time goes on speculation as to the causes of the fire, and its irresistible progress, begins to pass about. What seems certain is that though several people were granted premonitions by the Lord of the forthcoming disaster, in dreams of fire and foreboding, the Church to whom such dreams were reported for interpretation, chose to save the announcement and warning for the services of Sunday the 6th, that proper sermons might be prepared and preached to greater effect. In fact the only group that acted promptly on the warning was the party gone into the wild land to fight the Devil in his fortress. Included was Luther Brock. He dreamed a dream, and as a result they cut short their assault on darkness's minions (despite, v they implied, some successes that would well have been followed up) to bring warning to the town. Regrettably they were only a few hours too late.
To turn to causes however. The Church sees the fire as a warning of what is in store in the life to come, should more diligence not be exercised in rooting out Limbs of Satan in the midst of the town. Others blame secret hoards of powder about the town, spreading and scattering the fire by their explosion. Which some connect with another point of view which says that the wrath that was visited upon the town was as punishment for interfering with things beyond the lawful bounds - and such meddlers are known to posses many guns and much powder, as Councillor Neuman pointed out, often of an unstable and dangerous condition. Another set of rumours points out how the Calvinist Guard suffered one casualty in four, a far greater proportion than the Town guard, and that their barracks was a relatively early casualty itself - surely surprising for such a body of fearless fighters for the Lord's cause whom he might be expected to protect from the ravages of Hellfire. In rebuttal to stories of powder explosions it is pointed out to be common knowledge that when the so-called meddlers depart the town it is immediately safer as nigh on half the powderstore goes with them, especially with the size of the departure just before the fire, some fifteen men, women and beasts. And could not the motive of any who oppose the destruction of the devil's works wherever they are found be ripe for investigation...
Idle speculations of these sorts pass to and fro over the weeks after the fire, till the average person knows not which way to turn. None have time to mount an official investigation, and van der Lubbe is of the opinion that the fire was exactly what it seemed to be: a small fire in the Wallside fanned into a large fire by the wind because of insufficient precautions and hesitations in dealing with it as severely as it necessitated. Again not an attitude likely to induce a strong feeling of affection in certain sections of the community, but the Church has its own problems at this time.
With the lack of premises in which to hold services, and the dispersal of people from their parishes to random shelters in the barns and fields about town, attendance rates drop noticeably at services. With no attendance books, and difficulties noting all those entering a pasture reserved for service the short handed Calvinist Guard have difficulty bringing charges of absence against anyone. Their investigations are hampered by lack of numbers - for many of the surviving guardsmen are engaged on guard duties in the forest. Being undoubtedly godly and strong fighters in the cause of righteousness, they are given the privilege of forming the outer screen of guards to the logging parties, being best fitted to resist the demons and like of the forest wastes, despite their lack of material equipment (much of which was destroyed in their barracks) their faith is as a mighty fortress. By the end of May the condition of the people of the town is much improved, both by the arrival of several scheduled merchant trains (one of which bears a load of sulphur for powder making, which comes as a great relief to the defenders of the town, who have been seriously concerned by the state of the powderstore should any major threat manifest itself - fortunately demonic incursions by air or land have been few since the fire), and by the good weather that has allowed clearing operations to be completed and not put too great a test on the shelters in the fields. v While most are engaged in some aspect of the rebuilding a few have other concerns. A party of merchants and bodyguards set out to nearby towns with letters of credit and authority drawn on the Town Council, to buy essential supplies. A small party of Elijah Richter, Lotte Luuk and Ragnar Fischer, all of whom are practitioners of the ancient bows they obtained while exploring the deserted lands to the east, set out on a regular basis to improve the town's food supply by hunting in the forest without, they point out, the expenditure of valuable powder or calling attention to themselves by the sound of shots. Their foresight in having mastered these peculiar weapons is much praised by the commissary and landholders for whom the extension of the town's supplies is to be welcomed.
Also leaving town, after discussions of a confidential nature with the Master Gunner, is a mounted patrol comprising Militia Sergeant Henryk Wolff, Axel Grossenmist, and Kurt Schneider who head out early in June. They return, stony-faced, within the week to more, longer and even more confidential discussions with van der Lubbe. June passes in rebuilding, as does early July. At the council meeting on July 8th observers are co-opted onto the council to take the places of those councilors lost in the fire. While the observers (Gustav Volger, for the tailors, and various merchant traders for themselves) have speaking rights they do not vote, being unelected. These appointments meet with some opposition from certain councilors who feel that only elected representatives should be allowed to speak, but it is pointed out that there is little time to hold such elections in the near future, and that in view of the special circumstances it would be best for the Council to be sure of the feelings of all on matters under consideration.
On Wednesday, 18th July, a sustained outbreak of firing from the guards in the woods causes much concern, especially when they are seen to withdraw to positions just short of the trees, apparently readying themselves to repel an assault. After a short period they withdraw further, to the bridge over the River Jordan, recall all field workers on the far bank and prepare earthen fortifications about the bridge. At much the same time a body of men marches in formation out of the woods to join them, these being recognised as the Calvinist Guards who formed the outer skirmish line in the forest. It is announced that evening that Demonic forces attacked the woodcutting parties, seized and carried off three Calvinist guardsmen to an unknown fate. The Town Guards then withdrew to cover the retreat of the woodcutters, finding themselves at a disadvantage fighting in the woods to such an extent that stories of assault by gunfire pass about until it is determined that shot casualties must have been fired upon by their own comrades in the confusion. The Calvinists, being more lightly equipped set out in pursuit of their own. At this point Sgt. Wolff, Observer Volger and Kurt Schneider rode up, and after discussions with the commanding Town Guard sergeant ordered the withdraw to the bridge to ensure the safety of the town, then followed the Calvinists into the forest, whom they persuaded that mounted men experienced in the ways of the Wicked One in the wilds were better able to recover the missing men while the Calvinists skills were more needed and better suited to the defence of the town. They then set off to pursue the enemy to its lair.
These three were gone a total of six days, returning late on Tuesday 24th, bearing the bodies of Calvinist Guardsmen Drebbel, Kruger, and Wolff. They report to an emergency meeting of the council. They had lost the trail of the attackers and searched for several days before rediscovering it, and the bodies. Rather than then pursuing and meting out vengeance upon the abominations which had done this foul deed, they returned that the honourable dead should receive a christian burial in sanctified ground, a decision to be applauded, though its necessity to be regretted. When questioned as to the likelihood of further attack they explain that the type of abomination responsible is rare in this region of the forest, and that none were seen during their searches, which corresponds with the testimony of the primitive hunting party which was in the woods at the time of the seizures but saw nothing to suggest any large groups in permanent habitation in the area. A certain tension is noted in the meeting between Councillor Neumann and Observer Volger, during exchanges on this subject.
Rather more tension was to become evident in the town over the next few days.