the

IN THE SPRING OF 1655, THERE IS AN

OUTBREAK‡ OF THE PLAGUE‡ IN LONDON.
THE ILLNESS EVENTUALLY KILLS MORE and the
THAN ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE.
OVER THE SUMMER, KING CHARLES II
AND OTHER WEALTHY PEOPLE FROM
LONDON ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRYSIDE.
PEOPLE FEAR THAT THE ILLNESS WILL
SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE NATION.
IN THE NORTH, SOME CLOTH FROM
LONDON ARRIVES IN THE VILLAGE OF
EYAM (EEM). THE CLOTH CARRIES FLEAS
THAT SPREAD THE PLAGUE. SOON, MANY
VILLAGERS BECOME ILL AND DIE.
ONE YEAR LATER, THE VILLAGERS
START TO FEEL HOPELESS AS MORE
AND MORE PEOPLE DIE. THE FATE OF
NORTHERN ENGLAND DEPENDS ON A
YOUNG REVEREND NAMED WILLIAM
MOMPESSON. REVEREND MOMPESSON
IS NEW TO THE VILLAGE, AND IS NOT
TRUSTED BY MANY OF THE VILLAGERS.
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at Levels W, Z, and Z1.

‡ OUTBREAK – THE SUDDEN

SPREAD OF AN ILLNESS
‡ PLAGUE – AN ILLNESS
THAT SPREADS QUICKLY
AND CAUSES MANY DEATHS

Written by John Rousselle

Illustrated by James Nathaniel
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 the
FORGIVE ME,
MY DEAR.

and the

JUNE 12, 1666

EYAM, DERBYSHIRE,
ENGLAND

BY THE TIME CATHERINE MOMPESSON BECAME A VICTIM

OF THE PLAGUE, THE WORST WAS OVER. BY NOVEMBER, EYAM
WAS FREE OF THE ILLNESS. CUTTING OFF MOVEMENT
IN AND OUT OF THE VILLAGE HAD SUCCESSFULLY KEPT Written by John Rousselle
THE PLAGUE FROM SPREADING TO TOWNS NEARBY.
DURING THE OUTBREAK, 260 OUT OF NEARLY 700 VILLAGERS Illustrated by James Nathaniel
IN EYAM DIED. THEIR SACRIFICE MOST LIKELY SAVED
THOUSANDS OF OTHERS ACROSS NORTHERN ENGLAND. www.readinga-z.com
WILLIAM MOMPESSON AND THOMAS STANLEY BOTH
SURVIVED THE PLAGUE. WILLIAM SPENT THE NEXT THREE
YEARS HELPING TO REBUILD THE VILLAGE.
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12
 TODAY, WE BURY OUR BROTHERS
JONATHAN AND ANTHONY, AND OUR
SISTER ANNE, WHOSE SOULS HAVE
BEEN TAKEN BY THE LORD.

OH WELL.
MAYBE IT WAS
JUST THE SCENT PERHAPS.
OF WILDFLOWERS
IN THE WIND.

THE NEXT DAY . . .

TODAY, WE BURY MY
DEAR WIFE, CATHERINE,
WHOSE SOUL WAS TAKEN
BY THE LORD.

AT LEAST THEY HAD A NICE

FUNERAL SERVICE. I FEEL SO SAD
FOR THE THORNLEYS. THEY LOST BOTH
CHILDREN IN ONE DAY—AND POOR
MR. SKIDMORE LOST HIS WIFE.

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The Village and the Plague | Graphic Book
LATER THAT DAY . . .

. . . AND THEN
SHE DIED. THERE WAS WHAT CAN ANYONE
NOTHING I COULD DO DO? ONLY THE LORD
FOR HER. CAN HELP US NOW.

WHEN FEWER PEOPLE DIED OVER

THE WINTER, I HOPED THAT THE PLAGUE
WAS ENDING. IT’S CLEAR NOW THAT I
WAS WRONG. MAYBE YOU SHOULD TAKE THE
CHILDREN TO YORKSHIRE FOR AWHILE
WHERE IT’S SAFE.

YES, WE SHOULD SEND

THE CHILDREN TO STAY WITH
MY COUSIN, BUT I WANT
TO STAY AND HELP.
ARE YOU SURE, MY
DEAR? IT WOULD BE
A GREAT RISK.
DO YOU SMELL ABSOLUTELY. I WON’T
THAT? LEAVE YOU TO HANDLE THIS
ALONE, WILLIAM.

I DON’T
SMELL ANYTHING.
WHAT IS IT?
THERE
IS A STRANGE
SWEETNESS IN
THE AIR.

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The Village and the Plague | Graphic Book
 OUR NEIGHBORS WON’T BE
HAPPY WHEN THEY HEAR WE’VE
SENT OUR CHILDREN AWAY.
STILL, SO MANY OF THE VILLAGE
LEADERS HAVE LEFT. THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE STILL HERE WILL NEED YOU TO
LEAD THEM THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT
TIME. WHAT WILL YOU DO?
4 9
THE VILLAGERS ARE
ALREADY SUSPICIOUS OF I AM WILLING TO SACRIFICE
ME FOR TAKING REVEREND MY LIFE FOR THIS. WITH THE
STANLEY’S PLACE. LORD’S HELP, WE WILL ENDURE
THIS PLAGUE TOGETHER.
AUGUST 22, 1666
YOU MUST STAY
STRONG, MRS. KEMPE.
OTHERS HAVE SURVIVED
THE ILLNESS. MAYBE
YOU WILL, TOO.
I WILL HAVE TO GO
ASK FOR HELP FROM THE
ONE MAN THEY MIGHT
LISTEN TO.
DON’T BOTHER,
CATHERINE. MY FAMILY
ARE ALL DEAD, AND SOON
I WILL BE, TOO. THANK
YOU, MY DEAR. YOU HAVE
BEEN AN ANGEL IN MY
TIME OF NEED.
The Village and the Plague | Graphic Book
 AT THE EDGE OF
THE VILLAGE . . .
BUT WHERE WILL WE
GET OUR FOOD IF THE
VILLAGE IS CUT OFF? REVEREND MOMPESSON?
I NEVER EXPECTED TO SEE
YOU HERE AFTER YOU TOOK
OVER MY CHURCH.

THE EARL OF
DEVONSHIRE HAS
OFFERED TO SEND FOOD I’M SORRY TO BOTHER YOU,
AND SUPPLIES TO US REVEREND STANLEY. I KNOW WE
EVERY WEEK FOR AS AREN’T FRIENDS, BUT I’VE COME
LONG AS WE NEED. TO ASK FOR YOUR HELP.
WE’LL TRADE WITH
THE OUTSIDE WORLD BY
LEAVING CLEAN COINS AT IT SEEMS WE WERE WRONG
THE EDGE OF TOWN. TO THINK THAT THE PLAGUE HAD
ENDED. SO FAR THE ILLNESS HASN’T
SPREAD BEYOND THE VILLAGE, BUT
IF IT DOES, THOUSANDS OF
MORE PEOPLE WILL DIE. WE MUST DO EVERYTHING
WE CAN TO KEEP THAT FROM
IF YOU AGREE TO STAY AND RISK HAPPENING, NO MATTER
DEATH, I PROMISE TO STAY WITH YOU. WHAT HAPPENS TO US.
I’LL DO EVERYTHING TO HELP THOSE
WHO ARE SUFFERING . . .

. . . AND CATHERINE
WILL KEEP HELPING THE
SICK AS SHE HAS BEEN
ALL THIS TIME.

YOU SHOULD COME

INSIDE SO WE CAN TALK
PRIVATELY.

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The Village and the Plague | Graphic Book
 JUNE 24, 1666
NOW THEN, . . . THAT IS WHY WE MUST
WHAT DO YOU CUT THE VILLAGE OFF FROM
SUGGEST? YOU CAN’T
THE OUTSIDE WORLD UNTIL FORCE US TO
THE PLAGUE IS GONE. STAY HERE!

WE MUST NOT
ALLOW ANYONE IN WHAT?
OR OUT OF THE
VILLAGE.

WE’LL DIE!

MANY PEOPLE IN THE

VILLAGE WANT TO RUN TO I THINK YOU’RE
THE COUNTRYSIDE TO ESCAPE RIGHT. THEY MIGHT, YOU ARE RIGHT. IF WE STAY,
THIS TERRIBLE ILLNESS. HOWEVER, LISTEN MORE OF US WILL DIE. BUT IF WE
I DON’T THINK THEY’LL TO YOU. DON’T STOP IT HERE, THE PLAGUE
LISTEN TO YOU. WILL SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE
LAND. OUR SACRIFICE MAY SAVE
THOUSANDS OF OTHERS.

FRIENDS, REVEREND
MOMPESSON IS RIGHT.
IT IS THE ONLY WAY.

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The Village and the Plague | Graphic Book