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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, An Historical Narrative of the Great and
+Terrible Fire of London, Sept. 2nd 1666, by Gideon Harvey
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: An Historical Narrative of the Great and Terrible Fire of London, Sept. 2nd 1666
+
+
+Author: Gideon Harvey
+
+
+
+Release Date: September 20, 2011  [eBook #37489]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN HISTORICAL NARRATIVE OF THE
+GREAT AND TERRIBLE FIRE OF LONDON, SEPT. 2ND 1666***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Steven Gibbs, Linda Cantoni, and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net)
+
+
+
+Transcriber's note:
+
+      This e-book, a pamphlet by Gideon Harvey, was originally
+      published in 1769, and was prepared from a reprint in _The
+      Novels and Miscellaneous Works of Daniel De Foe_, vol. 5
+      (London: Henry G. Bohn, 1855), in which it complemented a
+      reprint of Defoe's _A Journal of the Plague Year_.
+
+      Archaic spellings have been retained as they appear in the
+      original, and obvious printer's errors have been corrected
+      without note.
+
+
+
+
+
+AN
+
+HISTORICAL NARRATIVE
+
+OF THE
+
+GREAT and TERRIBLE
+
+FIRE of LONDON,
+
+Sept. 2nd 1666
+
+
+
+
+HISTORICAL NARRATIVE
+
+OF
+
+THE FIRE OF LONDON.
+
+
+No sooner was the plague so abated in London that the inhabitants
+began to return to their habitations, than a most dreadful fire broke
+out in the city, and raged as if it had commission to devour
+everything that was in its way. On the second of September, 1666, this
+dismal fire broke out at a baker's shop in Pudding-lane by
+Fish-street, in the lower part of the city, near Thames-street, (among
+rotten wooden houses ready to take fire, and full of combustible
+goods) in Billingsgate-ward; which ward in a few hours was laid in
+ashes. It began in the dead of the night, and the darkness very much
+increased the confusion and horror of the surprising calamity: when it
+had made havoc of some houses, it rushed down the hill towards the
+bridge; crossed Thames-street, invaded St. Magnus church at the bridge
+foot, and though that church was so great, yet it was not a sufficient
+barricado against this merciless conqueror; but having scaled and
+taken this fort, it shot flames with so much the greater advantage
+into all places round about, and a great building of houses upon the
+bridge is quickly thrown down to the ground; there, being stayed in
+its course at the bridge, the fire marched back through the city
+again, and ran along, with great noise and violence, through
+Thames-street, westward, where, having such combustible matter to feed
+on, and such a fierce wind upon its back, it prevailed with little
+resistance, unto the astonishment of the beholders. The fire is soon
+taken notice of, though in the midst of the night: _Fire! Fire! Fire!_
+doth resound through the streets; many start out of their sleep, look
+out of their windows; some dress themselves, and run to the place. The
+citizens affrighted and amazed, delayed the use of timely remedies;
+and what added to the misfortune, was, the people neglecting their
+houses, and being so fatally set on the hasty removing of their goods,
+which were, notwithstanding, devoured by the nimble increase of the
+flames. A raging east wind fomented it to an incredible degree, and in
+a moment raised the fire from the bottoms to the tops of the houses,
+and scattered prodigious flakes in all places, which were mounted so
+vastly high in the air, as if heaven and earth were threatened with
+the same conflagration. The fury soon became insuperable against the
+arts of men and power of engines; and beside the dismal scenes of
+flames, ruin and desolation, there appeared the most killing sight in
+the distracted looks of the citizens, the wailings of miserable women,
+the cries of poor children, and decripid old people; with all the
+marks of confusion and despair. No man that had the sense of human
+miseries could unconcernedly behold the dismal ravage and destruction
+made in one of the noblest cities in the world.
+
+The lord mayor of the city comes with his officers; what a confusion
+there is!--counsel is taken away; and London, so famous for wisdom and
+dexterity, can now find neither brains nor hands to prevent its ruin:
+the decree was gone forth, London must now fall: and who can prevent
+it? No wonder, when so many pillars are removed, the building tumbles.
+The fire gets the mastery, and burns dreadfully, by the force of the
+wind; it spreads quickly; and goes on with such force and rage,
+overturning all so furiously, that the whole city is brought into
+jeopardy and desolation.
+
+    ----Fire commission'd by the winds,
+    Begins on sheds, but, rolling in a round,
+    On palaces returns.
+
+    DRYDEN.
+
+That night most of the Londoners had taken their last sleep in their
+houses; they little thought it would be so when they went into their
+beds: they did not in the least expect, that when the doors of their
+ears were unlocked, and the casements of their eyes were opened in the
+morning, to hear of such an enemy invading the city, and that they
+should see him with such fury enter the doors of their houses, break
+into every room, and look out at their windows with such a threatening
+countenance.
+
+That which made the ruin more dismal was, that it began on the Lord's
+Day morning; never was there the like Sabbath in London; some churches
+were in flames that day; God seemed to come down and preach himself in
+them, as he did in Sinai when the mount burned with fire; such warm
+preaching those churches never had: in other churches ministers were
+preaching their farewell sermons; and people were hearing with quaking
+and astonishment: instead of a holy rest which Christians had taken
+that day, there was a tumultuous hurrying about the streets towards
+the place that burned, and more tumultuous hurrying upon the spirits
+of those that sat still, and had only the notice of the ear, of the
+strange and quick spreading of the fire.
+
+Now the trained bands are up in arms, watching at every quarter for
+outlandishmen, because of the general fears and rumours that
+fire-balls were thrown into houses by several of them, to help on and
+provoke the too furious flames. Now goods are moved hastily from the
+lower parts of the city, and the body of the people begins to retire
+and draw upward. Yet some hopes were retained on the Sunday that the
+fire would be extinguished, especially by those who lived in remote
+parts; they could scarce imagine that the fire a mile off could reach
+their houses. All means to stop it proved ineffectual; the wind was so
+high, that flakes of fire and burning matter were carried across
+several streets, and spread the conflagration everywhere.
+
+But the evening draws on, and now the fire is more visible and
+dreadful; instead of the black curtains of the night which used to
+spread over the city, now the curtains are yellow; the smoke that
+arose from the burning part seemed like so much flame in the night,
+which being blown upon the other parts by the wind, the whole city, at
+some distance, seemed to be on fire. Now hopes begin to sink, and a
+general consternation seizeth upon the spirits of the people: little
+sleep is taken in London this night; some are at work to quench the
+fire, others endeavour to stop its course, by pulling down houses; but
+all to no purpose; if it be a little allayed, or put to a stand, in
+some places, it quickly recruits, and recovers its force: it leaps,
+and mounts, and makes the more furious onset, drives back all
+opposers, snatches the weapons out of their hands, seizes upon the
+water-houses and engines, and makes them unfit for service. Some are
+upon their knees in the night, pouring out tears before the Lord,
+interceding for poor London in the day of its calamity; yet none can
+prevail to reverse that doom, which is gone forth against the city,
+the fire hath received its commission, and all attempts to hinder it
+are in vain.
+
+Sunday night the fire had got as far as Garlick-hithe in
+Thames-street, and had crept up into Cannon-street, and levelled it
+with the ground, and still is making forward by the waterside, and
+upward to the brow of the hill on which the city was built.
+
+On Monday, Gracechurch-street is all in flames, with Lombard street on
+the left, and part of Fenchurch-street on the right, the fire working
+(though not so fast) against the wind that way: before it, were
+pleasant and stately houses; behind it, ruinous and desolate heaps.
+The burning then was in fashion of a bow; a dreadful bow it was! such
+as few eyes had ever seen before!
+
+Now the flames break in upon Cornhill, that large and spacious street,
+and quickly cross the way by the train of wood that lay in the streets
+untaken away, which had been pulled down from houses to prevent its
+spreading, and so they lick the whole streets as they go; they mount
+up to the tops of the highest houses, they descend down to the bottom
+of the lowest cellars; they march along both sides of the way, with
+such a roaring noise as never was heard in the city of London; no
+stately buildings so great as to resist their fury: the Royal Exchange
+itself, the glory of the merchants, is now invaded, and when once the
+fire was entered, how quickly did it run through the galleries,
+filling them with flames; then descending the stairs, compasseth the
+walks, giveth forth flaming vollies, and filleth the court with fire:
+by and bye down fall all the kings upon their faces, and the greatest
+part of the building upon them, (the founder's statue only remaining)
+with such a noise as was dreadful and astonishing.
+
+September the third, the Exchange was burnt, and in three days almost
+all the city within the walls: the people having none to conduct them
+right, could do nothing to resist it, but stand and see their houses
+burn without remedy; the engines being presently out of order and
+useless!
+
+Then! then! the city did shake indeed! and the inhabitants did
+tremble! they flew away in great amazement from their houses, lest the
+flames should devour them. Rattle! rattle! rattle! was the noise which
+the fire struck upon the ear round about, as if there had been a
+thousand iron chariots beating upon the stones; and if you turned your
+eyes to the opening of the streets where the fire was come, you might
+see in some places whole streets at once in flames, that issued forth
+as if they had been so many forges from the opposite windows, and
+which folding together united into one great volume throughout the
+whole street; and then you might see the houses tumble, tumble,
+tumble, from one end of the street to the other, with a great crash!
+leaving the foundations open to the view of the heavens.
+
+Now fearfulness and terror doth surprise all the citizens of London;
+men were in a miserable hurry, full of distraction and confusions;
+they had not the command of their own thoughts, to reflect and enquire
+what was fit and proper to be done. It would have grieved the heart of
+an unconcerned person, to see the rueful looks, the pale cheeks, the
+tears trickling down from the eyes (where the greatness of sorrow and
+amazement could give leave for such a vent) the smiting of the breast,
+the wringing of the hands; to hear the sighs and groans, the doleful
+and weeping speeches of the distressed citizens, when they were
+bringing forth their wives (some from their child-bed) and their
+little ones (some from their sick beds) out of their houses, and
+sending them into the fields, with their goods.--Now the hope of
+London is gone; their heart is sunk: Now there is a general remove in
+the city, and that in a greater hurry than before the plague; their
+goods being in greater danger by the fire, than their persons were by
+the pestilence. Scarcely are some returned, but they must remove
+again; and not as before; now, without any more hopes of ever
+returning and living in those houses any more. The streets were
+crowded with people and carts, to carry what goods they could get out;
+they who were most active and had most money to pay carriage at
+exorbitant prices, saved much, the rest lost almost all. Carts, drays,
+coaches, and horses, as many as could have entrance into the city were
+laden, and any money is given for help; five, ten, twenty, thirty
+pounds for a cart, to bear forth to the fields some choice things
+which were ready to be consumed; and some of the countrymen had the
+conscience to accept the prices which the citizens did offer in their
+extremity. Now casks of wine and oil, and other commodities, tumbled
+along, and the owners shove as much as they can toward the gates:
+every one became a porter to himself and scarcely a back, either of
+man or woman, but had a burden on it in the streets. It was very
+melancholy to see such throngs of poor citizens coming in and going
+forth from the unburnt parts, heavy loaden, with pieces of their
+goods, but more heavy loaden with grief and sorrow of heart; so that
+it is wonderful they did not quite sink down under their burdens.
+
+Monday night was a dreadful night! When the wings of the night had
+shadowed the light of the heavenly bodies, there was no darkness of
+night in London, for the fire shines now about with a fearful blaze,
+which yielded such light in the streets as it had been the sun at
+noon-day. The fire having wrought backward strangely against the wind
+to Billingsgate, &c., along Thames-street, eastward, runs up the hill
+to Tower-street; and having marched on from Gracechurch-street, maketh
+farther progress in Fenchurch-street; and having spread its rage
+beyond Queen-hithe in Thames-street, westward, mounts up from the
+waterside through Dowgate and Old Fish-street into Watling-street; but
+the great fury was in the broader streets; in the midst of the night
+it came into Cornhill, and laid it in the dust, and running along by
+the Stocks, there meets with another fire which came down
+Threadneedle-street, a little farther with another which came up
+Walbrook; a little farther with another which comes up Bucklersbury;
+and all these four meeting together, break into one of the corners of
+Cheapside, with such a dazzling glare, burning heat, and roaring
+noise, by the falling of so many houses together, that was very
+amazing! and though it was somewhat stopped in its swift course at
+Mercer's chapel, yet with great force, in a while it burns through it,
+and then with great rage proceedeth forward in Cheapside.
+
+On Tuesday, was the fire burning up the very bowels of London;
+Cheapside is all in a light fire in a few hours' time; many fires
+meeting there as in centre; from a Soper-lane, Bow-lane, Bread-street,
+Friday-street, and Old Change, the fire comes up almost together, and
+breaks furiously into the broad street, and most of that side the way
+was together in flames: a dreadful spectacle! and then, partly by the
+fire which came down from Mercer's chapel, partly by the fall of the
+houses cross the way, the other side is quickly kindled, and doth not
+stand long after it.
+
+Now the fire gets into Blackfriars, and so continues its course by the
+water, and makes up toward St. Paul's church on that side, and
+Cheapside fire besets the great building on this side; and the church,
+though all of stone outward, though naked of houses about it, and
+though so high above all buildings in the city, yet within awhile doth
+yield to the violent assaults of the all-conquering flames, and
+strangely takes fire at the top: now the lead melts and runs down, as
+if it had been snow before the sun; and the great beams and massy
+stones, with a hideous noise, fell on the pavement, and break through
+into Faith church underneath; and great flakes of stone scale and peel
+off strangely from the side of the walls: the conqueror having got
+this high fort, darts its flames round about; now Paternoster-row,
+Newgate-street, the Old Bailey, and Ludgate-hill, have submitted
+themselves to the devouring fire, which, with wonderful speed rush
+down the hill, into Fleet-street. Now Cheapside, fire marcheth along
+Ironmonger-lane, Old-jury, Laurence-lane, Milk-street, Wood-street,
+Gutter-lane, Foster-lane; now it comes along Lothbury, Cateaton-street,
+&c. From Newgate-street it assaults Christ church, conquers that great
+building, and burns through St. Martins-le-grand toward Aldersgate;
+and all so furiously as it would not leave a house standing.
+
+Terrible flakes of fire mount up to the sky, and the yellow smoke of
+London ascendeth up towards heaven like the smoke of a great furnace;
+a smoke so great as darkeneth the sun at noon-day; if at any time the
+sun peeped forth it looked red like blood: the cloud of smoke was so
+great, that travellers did ride at noon-day some miles together in the
+shadow thereof, though there were no other clouds beside to be seen in
+the sky.
+
+If Monday night was dreadful, Tuesday night was much more so, when far
+the greatest part of the city was consumed: many thousands, who, on
+Saturday had houses convenient in the city, both for themselves and to
+entertain others, have not where to lay their heads; and the fields
+are the only receptacle they can find for themselves and their few
+remaining goods: most of the late inhabitants lie all night in the
+open air, with no other canopy over them but that of the heavens. The
+fire is still making toward them, and threatening the suburbs. It was
+amazing to see how it had spread itself several miles in compass:
+among other things that night, the sight of Guildhall was a fearful
+spectacle, which stood the whole body of it together in view, for
+several hours after the fire had taken it, without flames (possibly
+because the timber was such solid oak) in a bright shining coal, as if
+it had been a palace of gold, or a great building of burnished brass.
+
+On Wednesday morning, when people expected the suburbs would be burnt
+as well as the city, and with speed were preparing their flight, as
+well as they could with their luggage, into the countries and
+neighbouring villages; then the Lord had pity upon poor London: the
+wind is hushed; the commission of the fire is withdrawing, and it
+burns so gently, even when it meets with no opposition, that it was
+not hard to be quenched, in many places, with a few hands; an angel
+came which had power over fire.[1] The citizens began to gather a
+little heart and encouragement in their endeavours to quench the fire.
+A check it had in Leadenhall by that great building: it had a stop in
+Bishopsgate-street, Fenchurch-street, Lime-street, Mark-lane, and
+toward the Tower; one means (under God) was the blowing up houses with
+gunpowder. It is stayed in Lothbury, Broad-street, and Coleman-street;
+toward the gates it burnt, but not with any great violence; at the
+Temple also it staid, and in Holborn, where it had got no great
+footing; and when once the fire was got under, it was kept under: and
+on Thursday, the flames were extinguished.
+
+[Footnote 1: Rev. xiv. 18.]
+
+Few could take much sleep for divers nights together, when the fire
+was burning in the streets, and burning down the houses, lest their
+persons should have been consumed with their substance and
+habitations. But on Wednesday night, when the people, late of London,
+now of the fields, hoped to get a little rest on the ground where they
+had spread their beds, a more dreadful fear falls upon them than they
+had before, through a rumour that the French were coming armed against
+them to cut their throats, and spoil them of what they had saved out
+of the fire: they were now naked, weak, and in ill condition to defend
+themselves; and the hearts, especially of the females, do quake and
+tremble, and are ready to die within them; yet many citizens having
+lost their houses, and almost all they had, are fired with rage and
+fury; and they began to stir up themselves like lions, or bears
+bereaved of their whelps. Now, arm! arm! arm! doth resound through the
+fields and suburbs with a great noise. We may guess the distress and
+perplexity of the people this night; but it was somewhat alleviated
+when the falseness of the alarm was discovered.
+
+Thus fell great London, that ancient and populous city! London! which
+was the queen city of the land; and as famous as most cities in the
+world! and yet how is London departed like smoke, and her glory laid
+in the dust! How is her destruction come, which no man thought of, and
+her desolation in a moment! How do the nations about gaze and wonder!
+How doth the whole land tremble at her fall! How do her citizens droop
+and hang down their heads, her women and virgins weep, and sit in the
+dust! Oh! the paleness that now sits upon the cheeks! the astonishment
+and confusion that covers the face, the dismal apprehensions that
+arise in the minds of most, concerning the dreadful consequences which
+are likely to be of this fall of London! How is the pride of London
+stained, her beauty spoiled; her arm broken, and her strength
+departed! her riches almost gone, and her treasures so much
+consumed!--every one is sensible of the stroke. Never was England in
+greater danger of being made a prey to a foreign power, than after
+the firing and fall of the city, which had the strength and treasure
+of the nation in it. How is London ceased, that rich, that joyous
+city! One corner, indeed, is left; but more than as many houses as
+were within the walls, are turned into ashes.
+
+The merchants now have left the Royal Exchange; the buyers and sellers
+have now forsaken the streets: Gracechurch-street, Cornhill,
+Cheapside, Newgate-market, and the like places, which used to have
+throngs of traffickers, now are become empty of inhabitants; and
+instead of the stately houses which stood there last summer, they lie
+this winter in ruinous heaps. The glory of London is fled away like a
+bird; the trade of London is shattered and broken to pieces: her
+delights also are vanished, and pleasant things laid waste: now there
+is no chanting to the sound of the viol, nor dancing to the sweet
+music of instruments; no drinking wine in bowls, and stretching upon
+beds of lust; no excess of wine and banqueting; no feasts in halls; no
+amorous looks and wanton dalliances; no rustling silks and costly
+dresses; these things at that place are at an end. The houses for
+God's worship (which formerly were bulwarks against fire, partly
+through the walls about them, partly through the fervent prayers
+within them) now are devoured by the flames; the habitations of many
+who truly feared God have not escaped: the fire makes no
+discrimination between the houses of the godly and the houses of the
+ungodly; they are all made of the same combustible matter, and are
+kindled, as bodies are infected, by one another.
+
+London was laid in ashes, and made a ruinous heap: it was a byword and
+a proverb, a gazing stock and an hissing and astonishment to all that
+passed by; it caused the ears of all to tingle that heard the rumour
+and report of what the righteous hand of God had brought upon her. A
+mighty city turned into ashes and rubbish, comparatively in a few
+hours; made a place fit for Zim and Okim to take up their abode in;
+the merciless element where it raged scarcely leaving a lintel for a
+cormorant or bittern to lodge in, or the remainder of a scorched
+window to sing in. A sad and terrible face was there in the ruinous
+parts of London: in the places where God had been served, nettles
+growing, owls screeching, thieves and cut-throats lurking. The voice
+of the Lord hath been crying, yea, roaring, in the city, of the
+dreadful judgments of plague and fire.
+
+There was suddenly and unexpectedly seen, a glorious city laid waste;
+the habitations turned into rubbish; estates destroyed; the produce
+and incomes of many years hard labour and careful industry all in a
+few moments swept away and consumed by devouring flames.--To have seen
+dear relations, faithful servants, even yourselves and families,
+reduced from plentiful, affluent, comfortable trade and fortune,
+over-night, to the extremest misery next morning! without an house to
+shelter, goods to accommodate, or settled course of trade to support.
+Many forced, in old age, to begin the world anew; and exposed to all
+the hardships and inconveniences of want and poverty.
+
+Should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my
+father's sepulchre, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed
+with fire?
+
+While the terrors occasioned by the conflagration remained in the
+minds of men, many eminent, learned, pious divines of the Church of
+England were more than ordinary diligent in the discharge of their
+holy function in this calamitous time; and many ministers who had not
+conformed, preached in the midst of the burning ruins, to a willing
+and attentive people: conventicles abounded in every part; it was
+thought hard to hinder men from worshipping God in any way they would,
+when there were no churches, nor ministers to look after them.
+Tabernacles, with all possible expedition, were everywhere raised for
+public worship till churches could be built. Among the established
+clergy were Dr. Tillotson, Dr. Stillingfleet, Dr. Whitcot, Dr. Horton,
+Dr. Patrick, Mr. White, Dr. Outram, Mr. Giffard, Mr. Nest, Mr.
+Meriton, and many others: divines of equal merit and moderation,
+ornaments of their sacred profession and the Established Church. Among
+the Presbyterians were Dr. Manton, Mr. Thomas Vincent, Mr. Wadsworth,
+Mr. Janeway, Mr. Thomas Doolittle, Mr. Annesley, Mr. Chester, Mr.
+Franklin, Mr. Grimes, Mr. Watson, Dr. Jacomb, Mr. Nathaniel Vincent,
+Mr. Turner, Mr. Griffiths, Mr. Brooks, Dr. Owen, Mr. Nye, Mr. Caryl,
+Dr. Goodwin, and Mr. Barker.
+
+The loss in goods and houses is scarcely to be valued, or even
+conceived. The loss of books was an exceeding great detriment, not to
+the owners only, but to learning in general. The library at
+Sion-college, and most private libraries in London, were burnt.
+
+The fire of London most of all endamaged the Company of Printers and
+Stationers, most of whose habitations, storehouses, shops, stocks, and
+books, were not only consumed, but their ashes and scorched leaves
+conveyed aloft, and dispersed by the winds to places above sixteen
+miles distant, to the great admiration of beholders!
+
+Notwithstanding the great losses by the fire, the devouring pestilence
+in the city the year preceding, and the chargeable war with the Dutch
+at that time depending, yet by the king's grace, the wisdom of the
+Parliament then sitting at Westminster, the diligence and activity of
+the lord mayor, aldermen, and commoners of the city, (who were
+likewise themselves the most considerable losers by the fatal
+accident) it was in the space of four or five years well nigh rebuilt.
+Divers churches, the stately Guildhall, many halls of companies, and
+other public edifices; all infinitely more uniform, more solid, and
+more magnificent than before; so that no city in Europe (scarcely in
+the universe) can stand in competition with it in many particulars.[2]
+
+[Footnote 2: Seymour's Survey, i. 70.]
+
+The fire of London ending at the east end of Tower-street, the extent
+of which came just to the dock on the west side of the Tower, there
+was nothing between the Tower-walls and it but the breadth of the
+dock, and a great many old timber houses which were built upon the
+banks of the dock, and in the outward bulwark of the Tower and
+Tower-ditch (which then was very foul) to the very wall of the Tower
+itself. Which old houses, if the fire had taken hold of, the Tower
+itself, and all the buildings within it, had in all probability been
+destroyed. But such was the lieutenant's care of the great charge
+committed to him, that to prevent future damage, a few weeks after, he
+caused all these old houses which stood between the Tower-dock and the
+Tower-wall, to be pulled down: and not only them, but all those which
+were built upon or near the Tower-ditch, from the bulwark-gate along
+both the Tower-hills, and so to the Iron-gate; and caused strong rails
+of oak to be set up upon the wharf where those houses stood which were
+about four hundred: so that by these means, not only the White-tower
+but the whole outward Tower-wall and the ditch round about the same,
+are all visible to passengers, and afford a very fine prospect.
+
+During the whole continuance of this unparalleled calamity, the king
+himself, roused from his pleasures, commiserated the care of the
+distressed, and acted like a true father of his people. In a
+manuscript from the secretary's office, we find these words, "All own
+the immediate hand of God, and bless the goodness and tender care of
+the king, who made the round of the fire usually twice every day, and,
+for many hours together, on horseback and on foot; gave orders for
+pursuing the work, by commands, threatenings, desires, example, and
+good store of money, which he himself distributed to the workers, out
+of an hundred pound bag which he carried with him for that purpose."
+At the same time, his royal highness, the Duke of York also, and many
+of the nobility, were as diligent as possible; they commended and
+encouraged the forward, assisted the miserable sufferers, and gave a
+most generous example to all, by the vigorous opposition they made
+against the devouring flames.
+
+The king and the duke, with the guards, were almost all the day on
+horseback, seeing to all that could be done, either for quenching the
+fire, or for carrying off persons or goods to the fields. The king was
+never observed to be so much struck with anything in his whole life.
+
+In the dreadful fire of London, the king and the duke did their utmost
+in person to extinguish it; and after it had been once mastered, and
+broke out again in the Temple, the duke watching there all night, put
+an effectual stop to it by blowing up houses.
+
+Afterward, when the multitudes of poor people were forced to lodge in
+the fields, or crowd themselves into poor huts and booths built with
+deal boards, his majesty was frequent in consulting all ways to
+relieve these wretches, as well by proclamations, as by his orders to
+the justices of the peace, to send provisions into Moorfields and
+other places; and moreover he sent them out of the Tower the warlike
+provisions which were there deposited for the seamen and soldiers, to
+keep them from starving in this extremity.
+
+At the same time he proclaimed a fast throughout England and Wales;
+and ordered that the distressed condition of the sufferers should be
+recommended to the charity of all well-disposed persons, upon that
+day, to be afterwards distributed by the hands of the lord mayor of
+London. Lastly, to shew his special care for the city's restoration,
+in council, wherein he first prohibited the hasty building any houses
+till care should be taken for its re-edification, so as might best
+secure it from the like fatal accident; for the encouragement of
+others, he promised to rebuild his Custom-house, and to enlarge it,
+for the benefit of the merchants and trade; which he performed at his
+own particular charge, and at the expense of ten thousand pounds.
+
+At the news of the fire of London all the good subjects of Ireland
+were seized with the utmost consternation upon that deplorable
+accident in compassion to the sufferers, the lord-lieutenant (the Duke
+of Ormond) set on foot a subscription for their relief, which rose to
+a higher value than could be expected in so distressed a country,
+where there was not money to circulate for the common necessities of
+the people, or to pay the public taxes: therefore, the subscription
+was made in beeves, thirty thousand of which were sent to London.[3]
+
+[Footnote 3: Carte Ormd. i. 329.]
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+_Extract from the Speech of Sir Edward Turner, Speaker of the
+Honourable House of Commons, at the Prorogation of the Parliament,
+February, 8, 1667._
+
+We must for ever with humility acknowledge the justice of God in
+punishing the whole nation in the late conflagration in London. We
+know they were not the greatest sinners on whom the tower of Siloam
+fell; and doubtless all our sins did contribute to the filling up that
+measure, which being full, drew down the wrath of God upon our city;
+but it very much reviveth us to behold the miraculous blessing of God
+upon your Majesty's endeavours for the preservation of that part of
+the city which is left. We hope God will direct your royal heart, and
+this fortunate island, in a few days to lay a foundation-stone in the
+rebuilding of that royal city; the beauty and praise whereof shall
+fill the whole earth. For the encouragement of this noble work we have
+prepared several bills; one for the establishing a judicatory for the
+speedy determining all actions and causes of action that may arise
+between landlords and tenants upon this sad accident. Though I
+persuade myself no Englishman would be exempted from making some
+offering to carry on the pious undertaking, yet the exemplary charity
+of your majesty's twelve reverend judges is fit with honour to be
+mentioned before your majesty: they are willing to spend all their
+sand that doth not run out in your majesty's immediate service, in
+dispensing justice in their several courts to your people, in hearing
+and determining the controversies that may arise upon old agreements,
+and making new rules between owners and tenants, for their mutual
+agreement in this glorious action. We have likewise prepared a bill
+for the regularity of the new buildings, that they may be raised with
+more conveniency, beauty, and security than they had before: some
+streets we have ordered to be opened and enlarged, and many
+obstructions to be removed; but all with your majesty's approbation.
+This, we conceive, cannot be done with justice, unless a compensation
+be given to those that shall be losers; we have, therefore laid an
+imposition of twelve pence upon every chaldron, and every ton of coals
+that shall be brought into the port of London for ten years, the
+better to enable the Lord Mayor and aldermen to recompense those
+persons whose ground shall be taken from them.
+
+Rome was not built in a day: nor can we in the close of this session
+finish the rules for the dividing the parishes, rebuilding of the
+churches, and the ornamental parts of the city, that we intended;
+these things must rest till another session: but we know your majesty
+in the meantime will take them into your princely consideration, and
+make it your care that the houses of God, and your royal chamber, be
+decently and conveniently restored.
+
+The fire of London had exercised the wits and inventions of many
+heads, and especially put several ingenious persons on contriving and
+setting up offices for insuring of houses from fire; since which many
+of those offices are framed.
+
+All persons were indefatigably industrious in the great work of
+rebuilding; and when all provisions were made for the city's
+resurrection, the famous Sir Jonas Moore first of all produced the
+beautiful Fleet-street, according to the appointed model; and from
+that beginning the city grew so hastily toward a general perfection,
+that within the compass of a few years it far transcended its former
+splendour.
+
+In the meantime, Gresham College was converted into an exchange, and
+in the apartments the public business of the city was transacted,
+instead of Guildhall.
+
+To the same place, Alderman Backwell, a noted banker, removed from
+Lombard-street. Alderman Meynell, and divers other bankers of
+Lombard-street were preserved in their estates, and settled in and
+about Broad-street.
+
+The Royal Society being driven out from Gresham College, Henry Howard,
+brother to the Duke of Norfolk, late Earl Marshal of England, invited
+that noble body to hold their meetings at Arundel House, where he
+assigned them very convenient rooms, and, on New Year's day, being
+himself a member of that society, he very generously presented them
+and their successors with a fair library of books; being the whole
+Norfolkian library, with permission of changing such books as were not
+proper for their collection.
+
+Sir Robert Viner, a very great banker, providentially removed all his
+concerns twenty-four hours before the furious fire entered
+Lombard-street, and settled in the African-house, which was then kept
+near the middle of Broad-street, till such time as he built that noble
+structure in Lombard-street, now used for the General Post Office,
+which was purchased by King Charles the Second for that purpose. The
+neatly wrought conduit in the Stocks market-place, at the west end of
+Lombard-street (the spot on which the Lord Mayor's Mansion House is
+since erected) whereon was placed a large statue of King Charles the
+Second on horseback, trampling upon an enemy, was set up at the sole
+cost and charges of that worthy citizen and alderman, Sir Robert
+Viner, knight and baronet.[4]
+
+[Footnote 4: Of this clumsy piece of sculpture we have the following
+account from Maitland's Survey, page 1,049:--"It is impossible to quit
+this place without taking notice of the equestrian statue raised here
+in honour of Charles II.; a thing in itself so exceedingly ridiculous
+and absurd, that it is in no one's power to look upon it without
+reflecting on the tastes of those who set it up. But when we enquire
+into the history of it, the farce improves upon our hands, and what
+was before contemptible, grows entertaining. This statue was
+originally made for John Sobieski, King of Poland, but, by some
+accident was left upon the workman's hands. About the same time the
+city was loyal enough to pay their devoirs to King Charles immediately
+upon his restoration; and finding this statue ready made to their
+hands, resolved to do it in the cheapest way, and convert the Polander
+into a Briton, and the Turk underneath into Oliver Cromwell, to make
+their compliment complete: and the turban upon the last mentioned
+figure is an undeniable proof of the truth of the story."]
+
+The excise office was kept in Southampton-fields, near Southampton
+(now Bedford House.)
+
+The General Post Office was moved to the Two Black Pillars, in
+Bridges-street, Covent Garden.
+
+The affairs of the Custom House were transacted in Mark-lane, at a
+house called Lord Bayning's, till the Custom House was rebuilt in a
+much more magnificent, uniform, and commodious manner, by King Charles
+the Second, which cost him L10,000.
+
+The office for hearth money was kept near Billeter-lane, in
+Leadenhall-street.
+
+The king's great wardrobe, together with the fair dwelling houses of
+the master and officers, near Puddle Wharf, being consumed, that
+office has since been kept in York House-buildings.
+
+The buildings of Doctor's Commons, in the Parish of St. Bennet, Paul's
+Wharf, near St. Paul's, being entirely consumed by the dreadful fire,
+their offices were held at Exeter House, in the Strand, until the year
+1672, when they returned to their former place, rebuilt in a very
+splendid and convenient manner, at the proper cost and charges of the
+said doctors.
+
+The college of physicians had purchased a house and ground at the end
+of Amen-street, whereon the famous Dr. Harvey, at his proper charge,
+did erect a magnificent structure, both for a library, and a public
+hall; this goodly edifice could not escape the fury of the dreadful
+fire; and the ground being but a lease-hold, the fellows purchased a
+fair piece of ground in Warwick-lane, whereon they have erected a very
+magnificent edifice, with a noble apartment for the containing an
+excellent library, given them partly by the Marquis of Dorchester, but
+chiefly by that eminent professor, Sir Theodore Mayerne, knight.
+
+The former burse (or Royal Exchange) began to be erected in the year
+1566, just one hundred years before it was burnt, at the cost and
+charge of that noble merchant, Sir Thomas Gresham. It was built of
+brick, and yet was the most splendid burse then in Europe.
+
+It is now rebuilt within and without, of excellent stone, with such
+curious and admirable architecture, especially for a front, a high
+turret or steeple, wherein are an harmonious chime of twelve bells,
+and for arch-work, that it surpasses all other burses. It is built
+quadrangular, with a large court wherein the merchants may assemble,
+and the greatest part, in case of rain or hot sunshine, may be
+sheltered in side galleries or porticos. The whole fabric cost fifty
+thousand pounds, whereof one-half was disbursed by the Chamber of
+London, or corporation of the city, and the other half by the Company
+of Mercers.
+
+Before the dreadful fire, there were all around the quadrangle of this
+Royal Exchange the statues of the sovereign princes, since what was
+called the Norman Conquest, and by the care and cost of the city
+companies most of those niches were again filled with the like curious
+statues, in marble or alabaster.
+
+St. Paul's Cathedral was new building at the time of the fire, the
+stone work almost finished; but, it is now rebuilt with greater
+solidity, magnificence and splendour, by the most renowned architect,
+Sir Christopher Wren.
+
+Not far from the college of Doctor's Commons stood the College of
+Heralds, in an ancient house called Derby House, being built by Thomas
+Stanly, Earl of Derby, who married Margaret, Countess of Richmond,
+mother of King Henry the Seventh, where their records were preserved.
+This college was burnt down, but the books and records were preserved,
+and placed, by the king's appointment, at the lower end of the Court
+of Requests.
+
+Since the late dreadful fire this college has been handsomely rebuilt,
+upon St. Bennet's-hill, near Doctor's Commons, where their library is
+now kept. The house of St. Bartholomew's Hospital escaped the fury of
+the great fire, but most of the estates belonging to it were consumed.
+
+The companies' halls were rebuilt, all at the charges of each
+fraternity, with great magnificence; being so many noble structures or
+palaces, with gallant frontispieces, stately courts, spacious rooms.
+The halls, especially, from which the whole are named, are not only
+ample enough to feast all the livery in each company, some to the
+number of three or four hundred, but many of them are fit to receive a
+crowned head with all its nobles--those of each of the twelve
+companies especially. The Company of Mercers, beside their hall, have
+a sumptuous and spacious chapel for divine service.
+
+Those city gates which were burnt down, as Ludgate and Newgate, were
+rebuilt with great solidity and magnificence.
+
+The attempt to make Fleet brook or ditch navigable to Holborn Bridge,
+was a mighty chargeable and beautiful work, and though it did not
+fully answer the designed purpose, it was remarkable for the curious
+stone bridges over it, and the many huge vaults on each side thereof,
+to treasure up Newcastle coals for the use of the poor.
+
+The whole damage sustained by the fire is almost inconceivable and
+incredible; but the following method of computation hath been taken,
+to form some sort of gross estimate; and at the time was accounted
+very moderate:--
+
+  Thirteen thousand two hundred houses, one with      }
+  another, at twenty-five pounds rent, at the low     }     3,960,000
+  rate of twelve years' purchase                      }
+
+  Eighty-seven parish churches, at eight thousand     }       696,000
+  pounds each[5]                                      }
+
+  Six consecrated chapels, at two thousand            }        12,000
+  pounds each                                         }
+
+  The Royal Exchange                                           50,000
+
+  The Custom House                                             10,000
+
+  Fifty-two halls of companies, most of which were    }
+  magnificent structures and palaces, at fifteen      }        78,000
+  hundred pounds each                                 }
+
+  Three city gates, at three thousand pounds each               9,000
+
+  Jail of Newgate                                              15,000
+
+  Four stone bridges                                            6,000
+
+  Sessions House                                                7,000
+
+  Guildhall, with the courts and offices belonging to it       40,000
+
+  Blackwell Hall                                                3,000
+
+  Bridewell                                                     5,000
+
+  Poultry Compter                                               5,000
+
+  Wood Street Compter                                           3,000
+
+  Toward rebuilding St. Paul's Church, which, at      }
+  that time, was new building; the stonework being    }     2,000,000
+  almost finished                                     }
+
+  Wares, household stuff, monies, and moveable goods  }     2,000,000
+  lost and spoiled                                    }
+
+  Hire of porters, carts, waggons, barges, boats, &c.,}
+  for removing wares, household stuff, &c., during    }       200,000
+  the fire, and some small time after                 }
+
+  Printed books and papers in shops and warehouses            150,000
+
+  Wine, tobacco, sugar, plums, &c., of which the city }     1,500,000
+  was at that time very full                          }
+
+  Cutting a navigable river to Holborn Bridge                  27,000
+
+  The Monument                                                 14,500
+                                                           __________
+
+                                                          L10,730,500
+
+[Footnote 5: The certificate says, eighty-nine parish Churches; but
+see the Act of Parliament and inscription on the monument.]
+
+Besides melioration money paid to several proprietors who had their
+ground taken away, for the making of wharves, enlarging the old, or
+making new streets, market places, &c.
+
+The fire spread itself, beside breadth, from almost Tower-hill, to St.
+Dunstan's church in Fleet-street. After it had burnt almost three days
+and three nights, some seamen taught the people to blow up some of the
+next houses with gunpowder; which stopped the fire: so that, contrary
+to the inscription on the Monument, there were human counsels in the
+stopping of the fire. It stopped at Holborn Bridge, at St. Sepulchre's
+church, when the church was burnt, in Aldgate and Cripplegate, and
+other places on the wall; in Austin Friars, the Dutch church stopped
+it, and escaped. It stopped in Bishopsgate-street, in Leadenhall-street,
+in the midst of Fenchurch-street, and near the Tower. Alderman
+Jefferies lost tobacco to the value of twenty thousand pounds.
+
+
+_Extract from the certificates of the Surveyors appointed to survey
+the ruins._
+
+The fire began September 2nd, 1666, at Mr. Farryner's, a baker, in
+Pudding-lane, between one and two in the morning, and continued
+burning till the 6th; did overrun three hundred and seventy-three
+acres, within the walls. Eighty-nine parish churches, besides chapels
+burnt. Eleven parishes, within the walls standing. Houses burnt,
+thirteen thousand and two hundred.
+
+  JONAS MOORE,  }
+  RALPH GATRIX, } Surveyors.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The superstition and zeal of those times made canonization much
+cheaper in a Protestant than a Popish Church. A vehement preacher was
+a chief saint among the godly, and a few warm expressions were
+esteemed little less than prophecies.
+
+In the dedication to the Rev. Mr. Reeves's sermon, preached 1655, are
+the following queries:--
+
+"Can sin and the city's safety, can impenitency and impunity stand
+long together? Fear you not some plague? Some coal blown with the
+breath of the Almighty, that may sparkle and kindle, and burn you to
+such cinders, that not a wall or pillar may be left to testify the
+rememberance of a city?"
+
+The same gentleman says:[6] "Your looking-glasses will be snatched
+away, your mirrors cracked, your diamonds shivered in pieces; this
+goodly city all in shreds. Ye may seek for a pillar or threshold of
+your ancient dwellings, but not find one. All your spacious mansions
+and sumptuous monuments are then gone. Not a porch, pavement, ceiling,
+staircase, turret, lantern, bench, screen, pane of a window, post,
+nail, stone, or dust of your former houses to be seen. No, with
+wringing hands you may ask, where are those sweet places where we
+traded, feasted, slept? where we lived like masters, and shone like
+morning stars? No, the houses are fallen, and the householders dropped
+with them. We have nothing but naked streets, naked fields for
+shelter; not so much as a chamber to couch down our children or
+repose our own members, when we are spent or afflicted with sickness.
+Woe unto us! our sins have pulled down our houses, shaken down our
+city. We are the most harbourless people in the world; like foreigners
+rather than natives; yea, rather like beasts than men. Foxes have
+holes and fowls have nests, but we have neither holes or nests: our
+sins have deprived us of couch and covert. We should be glad if an
+hospital would receive us, dens or caves shelter us. The bleak air and
+cold ground are our only shades and refuges. But, alas! this is but
+the misery of the stonework, of arches, roofs, &c."
+
+[Footnote 6: London's Remembrancer, page 33,--ten years before the
+fire.]
+
+The following paragraph is taken from Mr. Rosewell's causes and cures
+of the pestilence, printed at London, in the year of the great plague
+1665--a year before the fire of London.
+
+"Is it not of the Lord that the people shall labour in the very fire,
+and weary themselves for vanity? It is of the Lord, surely! It comes
+to pass, by the secret counsel of God, that these houses and cities
+which they build, shall either come to be consumed by fire; or else,
+the people shall weary themselves in vain, for vanity to no purpose;
+seeing it comes so soon to be destroyed and ruinated, what they
+build."
+
+
+
+
+SECTION II.
+
+ACCOUNT OF THE FIRE OF LONDON, PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY, FROM THE
+"LONDON GAZETTE."
+
+
+Sept. 2.--About two o'clock this morning, a sudden and lamentable fire
+broke out in this city; beginning not far from Thames-street, near
+London Bridge, which continues still with great violence, and hath
+already burnt down to the ground many houses thereabouts: which said
+accident affected his Majesty with that tenderness and compassion,
+that he was pleased to go himself in person, with his royal highness,
+to give orders that all possible means should be used for quenching
+the fire, or stopping its further spreading: in which care the right
+honourable the Earl of Craven was sent by his Majesty, to be more
+particularly assisting to the Lord Mayor and magistrates; and several
+companies of his guards sent into the city, to be helpful in what
+means they could in so great a calamity.
+
+Whitehall, Sept. 8.--The ordinary course of this paper being
+interrupted by a sad and lamentable accident of fire, lately happened
+in the city of London, it hath been thought fit to satisfy the minds
+of so many of his Majesty's good subjects who must needs be concerned
+for the issue of so great an accident, to give this short but true
+account of it.
+
+On the 2nd inst., at one o'clock in the morning, there happened to
+break out a sad and deplorable fire in Pudding-lane, New Fish-street,
+which falling out at that hour of the night and, in a quarter of the
+town so close built with wooden pitched houses, spread itself so far
+before day, and with such distraction to the inhabitants and
+neighbours, that care was not taken for the timely preventing the
+further diffusion of it, by pulling down houses, as ought to have
+been; so that the lamentable fire in a short time became too big to be
+mastered by any engines, or working near it. It fell out most
+unhappily too, that a violent easterly wind fomented it, and kept it
+burning all that day, and the night following, spreading itself up to
+Gracechurch-street, and downward from Cannon-street to the water side,
+as far as the Three Cranes in the Vintry.
+
+The people in all parts about it were distracted by the vastness of
+it, and their particular care was to carry away their goods. Many
+attempts were made to prevent the spreading of it by pulling down
+houses, and making great intervals; but all in vain, the fire seizing
+upon the timber and rubbish, and so continuing itself, even through
+those places, and raging in a bright flame all Monday and Tuesday,
+notwithstanding his Majesty's own, and his royal highness's
+indefatigable and personal pains to apply all possible means to
+prevent it; calling upon and helping the people with their guards, and
+a great number of nobility and gentry unweariedly assisting therein,
+for which they were requited with a thousand blessings from the poor
+distressed people. By the favour of God the wind slackened a little on
+Tuesday night, and the flames meeting with brick buildings at the
+Temple, by little and little it was observed to lose its force on that
+side, so that on Wednesday morning we began to hope well, and his
+royal highness never departing nor slackening his personal care,
+wrought so well that day, assisted in some parts by the lords of the
+council before and behind it, that a stop was put to it at the Temple
+Church; near Holborn Bridge; Pye Corner; Aldersgate; Cripplegate; near
+the lower end of Coleman-street; at the end of Basinghall-street;
+by the Postern at the upper end of Bishopsgate-street; and
+Leadenhall-street; at the Standard, in Cornhill; at the church in
+Fenchurch-street; near Clothworkers' Hall in Mincing-lane; in the
+middle of Mark-lane; and at the Tower-dock.
+
+On Thursday, by the blessing of God, it was wholly beat down and
+extinguished. But so as that evening it burst out afresh at the
+Temple, by the falling of some sparks (as is supposed, upon a pile of
+wooden buildings); but his royal highness, who watched there the whole
+night in person, by the great labour and diligence used, and
+especially by applying powder to blow up the houses about it, before
+day, happily mastered it.
+
+Divers strangers, Dutch and French, were, during the fire,
+apprehended, upon suspicion that they contributed maliciously to it,
+who are all imprisoned, and informations prepared to make severe
+inquisition hereupon by my Lord Chief Justice Keeling, assisted by
+some of the Lords of the privy council, and some principal members of
+the city: notwithstanding which suspicions, the manner of the burning
+all along in a train, and so blown forward in all its ways by strong
+winds, makes us conclude the whole was an effect of an unhappy chance,
+or to speak better, the heavy hand of God upon us, for our sins,
+shewing us the terror of his judgment, in thus raising the fire, and
+immediately after, his miraculous and never enough to be acknowledged
+mercy, in putting a stop to it when we were in the last despair, and
+that all attempts for the quenching it, however industriously pursued,
+seemed insufficient. His Majesty then sat hourly in council, and ever
+since hath continued making rounds about the city, in all parts of it
+where the danger and mischief was greatest, till this morning that he
+hath sent his Grace the Duke of Albemarle, whom he hath called for to
+assist him in this great occasion: to put his happy and successful
+hand to the finishing this memorable deliverance.
+
+About the Tower, the seasonable orders given for pulling down houses
+to secure the magazines of powder, was most especially successful,
+that part being up the wind; notwithstanding which, it came almost to
+the very gates of it, so as, by the early provision, the several
+stores of war lodged in the Tower were entirely saved; and we have
+hitherto this infinite cause particularly to give God thanks that the
+fire did not happen in any of those places where his Majesty's naval
+stores are kept; so as though it hath pleased God to visit us with his
+own hand, he hath not, by disfurnishing us with the means of carrying
+on the war, subjected us to our enemies.
+
+It must be observed, that this fire happened at a part of the town,
+where, though the commodities were not very rich, yet they were so
+bulky that they could not be removed, so that the inhabitants of that
+part where it first began, have sustained very great loss; but, by the
+best inquiry we can make, the other parts of the town, where the
+commodities were of greater value, took the alarm so early, that they
+saved most of their goods of value, which possibly may have diminished
+the loss; though some think, that if the whole industry of the
+inhabitants had been applied to the stopping of the fire, and not to
+the saving their particular goods, the success might have been much
+better; not only to the public, but to many of them in their own
+particulars.
+
+Through this sad accident it is easy to be imagined how many persons
+were necessitated to remove themselves and goods into the open fields,
+where they were forced to continue some time, which could not but work
+compassion in the beholders; but his Majesty's care was most signal on
+this occasion, who, besides his personal pains, was frequent in
+consulting all ways for relieving those distressed persons, which
+produced so good effect, as well by his Majesty's proclamations and
+orders issued to the neighbouring justices of the peace, to encourage
+the sending provisions into the markets, which are publicly known, as
+by other directions, that when his Majesty, fearing lest other orders
+might not yet have been sufficient, had commanded the victualler of
+his navy to send bread into Moorfields for the relief of the poor,
+which, for the more speedy supply, he sent in biscuit out of the sea
+stores; it was found that the market had been already so well supplied
+that the people, being unaccustomed to that kind of bread, declined
+it, and so it was returned in great part to his Majesty's stores
+again, without any use made of it.
+
+And we cannot but observe, to the confusion of all his Majesty's
+enemies, who endeavoured to persuade the world abroad of great parties
+and disaffection at home, against his Majesty's government, that a
+greater instance of the affections of this city could never be given,
+than hath now been given in this sad and most deplorable accident,
+when, if at any time, disorder might have been expected, from the
+losses, distractions, and almost desperation of some persons in their
+private fortunes--thousands of people not having habitations to cover
+them. And yet all this time it hath been so far from any appearance of
+designs or attempts against his Majesty's government, that his Majesty
+and his royal brother, out of their care to stop and prevent the fire,
+exposing frequently their persons, with very small attendants, in all
+parts of the town, sometimes even to be intermixed with those who
+laboured in the business; yet, nevertheless, there hath not been
+observed so much as a murmuring word to fall from any; but, on the
+contrary, even those persons whose losses render their conditions most
+desperate, and to be fit objects of others' prayers, beholding those
+frequent instances of his Majesty's care of his people, forgot their
+own misery, and filled the streets with their prayers for his Majesty,
+whose trouble they seemed to compassionate before their own.
+
+Whitehall, Sept. 12.--His Majesty, in a religious sense of God's heavy
+hand upon this kingdom, in the late dreadful fire happened in the city
+of London, hath been pleased to order that the tenth of October next,
+be observed as a general and solemn fast throughout England, Wales,
+&c.; and that the distresses of those who have more particularly
+suffered in that calamity be on that day most effectually recommended
+to the charity of all well-disposed Christians, in the respective
+churches and chapels of this kingdom, to be afterward, by the hands of
+the Lord Mayor of the city of London, distributed for the relief of
+such as shall be found most to need it.
+
+Whitehall, Sept. 15.--His Majesty pursuing, with a gracious
+impatience, his pious care for the speedy restoration of his city of
+London, was pleased to pass, the twelfth instant, his declaration, in
+council to his city of London upon that subject, full of that princely
+tenderness and affection which he is pleased on all occasions to
+express for that, his beloved city.
+
+In the first place, upon the desires of the lord mayor and court of
+aldermen, he is pleased to prohibit the hasty building of any edifice,
+till such speedy care be taken for the re-edification of the city as
+may best secure it from the like accidents, and raise it to a greater
+beauty and comeliness than formerly it had; the lord mayor and
+aldermen being required to pull down what shall, contrary to this
+prohibition be erected, and return the names of such refractory
+persons to his Majesty and his council, to be proceeded against
+according to their deserts.
+
+That any considerable number of men addressing themselves to the court
+of aldermen, and manifesting in what places their ground lies upon
+which they intend to build, shall in short time receive such order and
+direction that they shall have no cause to complain.
+
+That no person erect any house or building, but of brick or stone,
+that they be encouraged to practise the good husbandry of strongly
+arching their cellars, by which divers persons have received notable
+benefit in the late fire.
+
+That Fleet-street, Cheapside, Cornhill, and all other eminent streets,
+be of a breadth to prevent the mischief one side may receive from the
+other by fire; that no streets, especially near the water be so narrow
+as to make the passages uneasy or inconvenient; nor any allies or
+lanes erected, but upon necessity, for which there shall be published
+rules and particular orders.
+
+That a fair quay and wharf be left on all the river side, no houses to
+be erected, but at a distance declared by the rules. That none of
+those houses next the river be inhabited by brewers, dyers, or
+sugar-bakers, who by their continual smokes contribute much to the
+unhealthiness of the adjacent places; but that such places be allotted
+them by the lord mayor and court of aldermen, as may be convenient for
+them, without prejudice of the neighbourhood.
+
+That the lord mayor and court of aldermen cause an exact survey to be
+made of the ruins, that it may appear to whom the houses and ground
+did belong, what term the occupiers were possessed of, what rents were
+paid, and to whom the reversions and inheritances did appertain, for
+the satisfying all interests, that no man's right be sacrificed to the
+public convenience. After which a plot and model shall be framed of
+the whole building, which no doubt may so well please all persons, as
+to induce them willingly to conform to such rules and orders as shall
+be agreed to.
+
+His majesty likewise recommends the speedy building some of those many
+churches which have been burnt, to the charity and magnanimity of
+well-disposed persons, whom he will direct and assist in the model,
+and by his bounty encourage all other ways that shall be desired.
+
+And to encourage the work by his example, his majesty will use all
+expedition to rebuild the Custom House, and enlarge it for the more
+convenience of the merchants, in the place where it formerly stood:
+and upon all his own lands, will part with any thing of his own right
+and benefit, for the advancement of the public benefit and beauty of
+the city; and remit to all persons who shall erect any new buildings,
+according to this his gracious declaration, all duties arising from
+hearth-money for the space of seven years; as by the declaration
+itself more at large appears.
+
+Whitehall, Sep. 18. This day was presented to his Majesty, by his
+highness the Duke of York, Edmundbury Godfrey, Esq.; one of his
+Majesty's justices of the peace for the county of Middlesex, and city
+and liberty of Westminster, who, after the public thanks and
+acknowledgment of his eminent services done in helping to suppress the
+late fire in the city and liberty of London, received the honour of
+knighthood.
+
+Whitehall, Sep. 29. This day, by warrant from his Majesty's principal
+secretaries of state, the person of Valentine Knight was committed to
+the custody of one of his Majesty's messengers in ordinary, for having
+presumed to publish in print certain propositions for rebuilding the
+city of London, with considerable advantages to his Majesty's revenue
+by it, as if his Majesty would draw a benefit to himself from so
+public a calamity of his people of which his Majesty is known to have
+so deep sense, that he is pleased to seek rather by all means to give
+them ease under it.
+
+Westminster, Sep. 28. This day the House of Commons resolved, that the
+humble thanks of the house should be given his Majesty for his great
+care and endeavour to prevent the burning of the city.
+
+Leghorn, Oct. 18. The merchants here, in consideration of the losses
+sustained in London, by the late fire, have out of their charity,
+raised near 300_l._ towards their relief, which they intend speedily
+to return, to be distributed as his Majesty pleases.
+
+London, Oct. 29. This day Sir William Bolton, lord mayor for the year
+ensuing, went in his coach to Westminster, attended by his brethren
+the aldermen, the sheriffs, and other eminent citizens in their
+coaches, where he was sworn with the usual ceremonies.
+
+Whitehall, Oct. 30. Sir Jonas Moore, with some other proprietors of
+houses lately demolished by the fire, in Fleet-street, having prayed
+liberty to rebuild the same, according to such model, form and
+scantling as should be set them by the committee appointed by his
+Majesty for the advancement of that great work, (to which they offered
+with all willingness to submit and conform themselves); it was this
+day ordered by his Majesty in council, that the said proprietors shall
+have their liberty to re-edify their buildings accordingly.
+
+By Stat. 19 and 20 Car. 2, any three or more of the judges were
+authorised to hear and determine all differences between landlords and
+tenants, or occupiers of buildings or other things by the fire
+demolished. They were, without the formalities of courts of law or
+equity, upon the inquisition or verdict of jurors, testimonies of
+witnesses upon oath, examination of persons interested, or otherwise,
+to determine all differences: they were, in complaints, to issue out
+notes of time and place for the parties' attendance, and proceed to
+make orders: their determinations were final, without appeal, writ of
+error, or reversal. Their orders were to be obeyed by all persons, and
+binding to representatives for ever. The judgments and determinations
+were recorded in a book by them signed: which book is placed and
+intrusted in the custody of the lord mayor and aldermen for the time
+being, to remain as a perpetual and lasting record. The judges were
+not to take any fee or reward, directly or indirectly, for any thing
+they did by virtue of that act. All differences not being determined,
+the act was continued in force till Sept. 29, 1672.
+
+In gratitude to the memory of these judges, the city caused their
+pictures, in full proportion in their scarlet robes, to be set up in
+the Guildhall, with their names underneath, viz.
+
+  Sir Heneage Finch,
+  Sir Orlando Bridgman,
+  Sir Matthew Hale,
+  Sir Richard Rainsford,
+  Sir Edward Turner,
+  Sir Thomas Tyrril,
+  Sir John Archer,
+  Sir William Morton,
+  Sir Robert Atkins,
+  Sir Samuel Brown,
+  Sir Edward Atkins,
+  Sir John Vaughan,
+  Sir John North,
+  Sir Thomas Twisden,
+  Sir Christopher Turner,
+  Sir William Wyld,
+  Sir Hugh Windham,
+  Sir William Ellys,
+  Sir Edward Thurland,
+  Sir Timothy Lyttleton,
+  Sir John Kelynge,
+  Sir William Windham.
+
+The city rose out of its ashes after the dreadful fire, as it was
+first built, not presently, by building continued streets, in any one
+part, but first here a house and there a house, to which others by
+degrees were joined; till, at last, single houses were united into
+whole streets; whole streets into one beautiful city; not merely, as
+before, a great and magnificent city, for in a short time it not only
+excelled itself, but any other city in the whole world that comes near
+it, either in largeness, or number of inhabitants.
+
+The beginning of the year 1670, the city of London was rebuilt, with
+more space and splendour than had been before seen in England. The
+act for rebuilding it was drawn by Sir Matthew Hale, with so true
+judgment and foresight, that the whole city was raised out of its
+ashes without any suits of law; which if that bill had not prevented
+them, would have brought a second charge on the city, not much less
+than the fire itself had been. And upon that, to the amazement of all
+Europe, London was, in four years' time, rebuilt with so much beauty
+and magnificence, that they who saw it in both states, before and
+after the fire, could not reflect on it, without wondering where the
+wealth could be found to bear so vast a loss as was made by the fire,
+and so prodigious an expense as was laid out in the rebuilding. This
+good and great work was very much forwarded by Sir William Turner,
+lord mayor, 1669. He was so much honoured and beloved, that at the end
+of the year they chose him again; but he refused it, as being an
+unusual thing.
+
+Whatever the unfortunate citizens of London suffered by this dreadful
+fire, it is manifest, that a greater blessing could not have happened
+for the good of posterity; for, instead of very narrow, crooked, and
+incommodious streets, dark, irregular and ill-contrived wooden houses,
+with their several stories jutting out, or hanging over each other,
+whereby the circulation of the air was obstructed, noisome vapours
+harboured, and verminious, pestilential atoms nourished, as is
+manifest, by the city not being clear of the plague for twenty-five
+years before, and only free from contagion three years in above
+seventy; enlarging of the streets, and modern way of building, there
+is such a free circulation of sweet air through the streets, that
+offensive vapours are expelled, and the city freed from pestilential
+symptoms: so that it may now justly be averred that there is no place
+in the kingdom where the inhabitants enjoy a better state of health,
+or live to a greater age, than the citizens of London.
+
+
+
+
+SECTION III.
+
+VARIOUS OPINIONS CONCERNING THE CAUSES OF THE GREAT FIRE.
+
+
+Whether the fire came casually, or on design, remains still a secret:
+though the general opinion might be that it was casual, yet there were
+presumptions on the other side of a very odd nature. Great calamities
+naturally produce various conjectures; men seldom considering, that
+the most stupendous effects often proceed from the most minute causes,
+or most remote accidents. People failed not to give a scope to their
+imagination, and to form guesses concerning the causes and authors of
+this afflicting and astonishing misfortune.
+
+The king in his speech calls it "God's judgment;" the pious and
+religious, and at first all other men, generally and naturally
+ascribed it to the just vengeance of Heaven, on a city where vice and
+immorality reigned so openly and shamefully, and which had not been
+sufficiently humbled by the raging pestilence of the foregoing year.
+
+Sir Edward Turner, speaker of the House of Commons, at presenting
+bills for the royal assent, says, "We must for ever with humility,
+acknowledge the justice of God in punishing this whole nation by the
+late dreadful conflagration of London."
+
+The act of common-council for rebuilding, says, "The fire was by all
+justly resented as a most sad and dismal judgment of Heaven."
+
+But time soon produced abundance of suspicions and variety of opinions
+concerning the means and instruments made use of.
+
+There were some so bold as even to suspect the king. Those reports,
+and Oates's and Bedloe's narratives, are suppositions too monstrous,
+and the evidence too wretchedly mean to deserve consideration.
+
+The citizens were not well satisfied with the Duke of York's
+behaviour: they thought him a little too gay and negligent for such an
+occasion; that his look and air discovered the pleasure he took in
+that dreadful spectacle; on which account, a jealousy that he was
+concerned in it was spread with great industry, but with very little
+appearance of truth.
+
+Some suspected it was an insidious way of the Dutch and French making
+war upon the English; their two fleets being then nearest to a
+conjunction. What increased the suspicion was, that some criminals
+that suffered were said to be under the direction of a committee at
+London, and received orders from another council in Holland.
+
+Not long before the fire, the French sent the governor of Chousey in a
+small boat with a letter to Major-General Lambert, then prisoner in
+Guernsey, to offer him terms to contrive the delivery of that island
+to them.
+
+Divers strangers, both French and Dutch, were apprehended, upon
+suspicion, imprisoned, and strictly examined. It was said, a Dutch boy
+of ten years old, confessed, that his father, his uncle, and himself,
+had thrown fire-balls into the house where the fire began, through a
+window which stood open.
+
+The English fleet had some time before landed on the Vly, an island
+near the Texel, and burnt it; upon which some came to De Wit, and
+offered, in revenge, if they were but assisted, to set London on fire;
+but he rejected the [villanous] proposal; and thought no more on it
+till he heard the city was burnt.
+
+The fire which laid so great part of London in ashes, gave a fresh
+occasion to the enemies of the republicans to charge them with being
+the malicious authors thereof; because the fire happened to break out
+the third of September, a day esteemed fortunate to the republicans,
+on account of the victories of Dunbar and Worcester, obtained by
+Oliver Cromwell, when general of the armies of the commonwealth of
+England.
+
+In the April before, some commonwealth men were found in a plot, and
+hanged; and at their execution confessed, that they had been
+requested, to assist in a design of firing London on the second of
+September.
+
+At the trial of the conspirators at the Old Bailey, it appeared, a
+design was laid to surprise the town and fire the city; the third of
+September was pitched on for the attempt, as being found by Lilly's
+almanack, and a scheme erected for that purpose, to be a lucky day.
+The third of September was a day auspicious and full of expectation
+from one party, but at this time ominous and direful to the nation.
+The city was burnt at the time projected and prognosticated, which
+gave a strong suspicion, though not a proof, of the authors and
+promoters of it.
+
+The Dutch were pressed by the commonwealth men to invade England, and
+were assured of powerful assistance, and hopes of a general
+insurrection, but they would not venture in so hazardous a design.
+
+Though several persons were imprisoned, it was not possible to
+discover, or prove, that the house where this dreadful calamity began,
+was fired on purpose. Whether it was wilful or accidental was a long
+time a party dispute.
+
+The great talk at that time was, who were the burners of the city?
+some said it was contrived and carried on by a conspiracy of the
+Papists and Jesuits, which was afterward offered to be made appear in
+the popish plot. And there came in so many testimonies to prove that
+it was the plotted weapon of the papists, as caused the parliament to
+appoint a committee to enquire into it, and receive informations.
+
+By the dreadful fire in 1666, multitudes of people lost their estates,
+goods and merchandizes; and many families, once in flourishing
+circumstances, were reduced to beggary. From the inscription on the
+plinth of the lower pedestal of the Monument, it appears that the
+Papists were the authors of this fire; the Parliament being of this
+persuasion, addressed the king to issue a proclamation, requiring all
+Popish Priests and Jesuits to depart the kingdom within a month; and
+appointed a committee, who received evidence of some Papists, who were
+seen throwing fire-balls into houses, and of others who had materials
+for it in their pockets. This sad disaster produced some kind of
+liberty to the Non-conformists.
+
+A sudden and dreadful massacre of the Protestants was feared; and the
+suspicion confirmed by particular kinds of knives found after the fire
+in barrels.
+
+Several evidences were given to the committee that men were seen in
+several parts of the city casting fire-balls into houses; some that
+were brought to the guard of soldiers, and to the Duke of York, but
+were never heard of afterwards. Some weeks after, Sir Robert Brooks,
+chairman of the committee, went to France, and as he was ferried over
+a river, was drowned, with a kinsman of his, and the business drowned
+with him.[7]
+
+[Footnote 7: Oldmison, i. 547.]
+
+Oates, in his narrative, says: The dreadful fire in 1666 was
+principally managed by Strange, the provincial of the Jesuits, in
+which the society employed eighty or eighty-six men, and spent seven
+hundred fire balls; and over all their vast expense, they were
+fourteen thousand pounds gainers by the plunder; among which was a box
+of jewels consisting of a thousand carats of diamonds. He farther
+learned, that the fire in Southwark, in 1676, was brought about by the
+like means; and though in that they were at the expense of a thousand
+pounds, they made shift to get two thousand clear into their own
+pockets.[8]
+
+[Footnote 8: Rapin, ii. 690.]
+
+Mr. Echard was told by an eminent prelate, that Dr. Grant, a Papist,
+was strongly suspected, who having a share in the waterworks,
+contrived, as is believed, to stop up the pipes the night before the
+fire broke out, so that it was many hours before any water could be
+got after the usual manner.
+
+Dr. Lloyd, afterward bishop of Worcester, told Dr. Burnet, that one
+Grant, a Papist, had sometime before applied himself to Lloyd, who had
+great interest with the Countess of Clarendon, (who had a large estate
+in the new river, which is brought from Ware to London) and said he
+could raise that estate considerably if she would make him a trustee
+for her. His schemes were probable, and he was made one of the board
+that governed that matter; and by that he had a right to come as
+often as he pleased to view their works at Islington. He went thither
+the Saturday before the fire broke out, and called for the key of the
+place where the heads of the pipes were, and turned all the cocks,
+which were then open, and stopped the water, and went away, and
+carried the keys with him. When the fire broke out next morning, they
+opened the pipes in the streets to find water, but there was none.
+Some hours were lost in sending to Islington, where the doors were to
+be broke open, and the cocks turned; and it was long before the water
+got from Islington. Grant denied that he turned the cocks; but the
+officer of the works affirmed that he had, according to order, set
+them all a-running, and that no person had got the keys from him but
+Grant; who confessed he had carried away the keys, but did it without
+design.
+
+When we consider, several depositions were made after the fire, of its
+breaking out in several different places at the same time, and that
+one man confessed his setting fire to the houses where it began, when
+he was executed for it: when we remember Bishop Lloyd's testimony
+concerning Grant, we cannot easily be convinced that it was entirely
+accidental.
+
+Bishop Kennet gives the following account: There was but one man tried
+at the Old Bailey for being the incendiary, who was convicted by his
+own confession, and executed for it. His name was Roger[9] Hubert, a
+French Huguenot[10] of Rohan, in Normandy. Some people shammed away
+this confession, and said he was _non compos mentis_; and had a mind,
+it seems, to assume the glory of being hanged for the greatest
+villain. Others say he was sober and penitent; and being, after
+conviction, carried through the ruins to shew where he put fire, he
+himself directed through the ashes and rubbish, and pointed at the
+spot where the first burning house stood.
+
+[Footnote 9: Robert, according to Rapin.]
+
+[Footnote 10: Bishop Burnet and some others say he was a Papist.]
+
+The fire was generally charged on the Papists; one Hubert, a a
+Frenchman, who was seized in Essex as he was flying to France,
+confessed he had begun the conflagration. He was blindfolded, and
+purposely conducted to wrong places, where he told them it was not the
+spot where he began the flames; but when he was brought to the right,
+he confessed that was the place where he threw the fire-ball into the
+baker's house, the place where the fatal fire began, which he
+persisted in to the last moments of his execution. He was hanged upon
+no other evidence: though his broken account made some believe him
+melancholy mad.[11]
+
+[Footnote 11: Burnet, Abr., 120.]
+
+But Oates several years afterwards informed the world the execrable
+deed was performed by a knot of eighty jesuits, friars, and priests,
+of several nations.[12]
+
+[Footnote 12: Howell, Impartial History of James II., i. 9.]
+
+After all examinations there was but one man tried for being the
+incendiary, who confessing the fact, was executed for it: this was
+Robert Hubert, a French Hugenot, of Rohan, in Normandy, a person
+falsely said to be a Papist, but really a sort of lunatic, who by mere
+accident was brought into England just before the breaking out of the
+fire, but not landed till two days after, as appeared by the evidence
+of Laurence Peterson, the master of the ship who had him on board.[13]
+
+[Footnote 13: Echard, i. 169.]
+
+It was soon after complained of, that Hubert was not sufficiently
+examined who set him to work, and who joined with him. And Mr. Hawles,
+in his remarks upon Fitzharris's trial is bold to say, that the
+Commons resolving to examine Hubert upon that matter next day, Hubert
+was hanged before the house sat, so could tell no farther tales.
+
+Lord Russell and Sir Henry Capel observed to the House of Commons
+(1680) that those that were taken in carrying on that wicked act, were
+generally discharged without trial.
+
+In 1679, the House of Commons were suddenly alarmed with an
+information of a fresh design of the Papists to burn London a second
+time. The house of one Bird, in Fetter-lane, being set on fire, his
+servant Elizabeth Oxly, was suspected of firing it wilfully, and sent
+to prison. She confessed the fact, and declared she had been employed
+to do it by one Stubbs, a Papist, who had promised her five pounds.
+Stubbs being taken up, confessed he persuaded her to do it, and that
+Father Giffard, his confessor, put him upon it; telling him it was no
+sin to burn all the houses of heretics. He added he had frequent
+conferences on this affair with Giffard and two Irishmen. Stubbs and
+the maid declared, the Papists were to make an insurrection, and
+expected an army of sixty thousand men from France. It was generally
+inferred from this incident, that it was not Giffard's fault (nor that
+of his party), that the city of London was not burnt, as in the year
+1666; and confirmed those in their opinion who thought that general
+conflagration was the contrivance and work of the Papists.
+
+The hand of man was made use of in the beginning and carrying on of
+this fire. The beginning of the fire at such a time when there had
+been so much hot weather which had dried the houses, and made them the
+more fit for fuel; the beginning of it in such a place, where there
+were so many timber houses, and the shops filled with so much
+combustible matter; and the beginning of it just when the wind did
+blow so fiercely upon that corner toward the rest of the city, which
+then was like tinder to the sparks; this doth smell of a popish
+design, hatched in the same nest with the gunpowder plot. The world
+sufficiently knows how correspondent this is to popish principles and
+practices; they might, without any scruple of their kinds of
+conscience, burn an heretical city, as they count it, into ashes: for
+beside the dispensations they can have from his holiness (rather his
+wickedness) it is not unlikely but they count such an action as this
+meritorious.
+
+Lord Chancellor (Earl of Nottingham) in his speech in giving judgment
+against Lord Viscount Stafford, said, "Who can doubt any longer that
+London was burnt by Papists?" though there was not one word in the
+whole trial relating to it.
+
+The inscription on the plinth of the lower pedestal of the Monument
+has given an opportunity to the Reverend Mr. Crookshanks to say, it
+appears that the Papists were the authors of the fire, and that the
+Parliament being of the same persuasion, addressed the king.
+
+The inscription is in English:
+
+"This pillar was set up in perpetual remembrance of the most dreadful
+burning of this protestant city, begun and carried on by the treachery
+and malice of the popish faction, in the beginning of September, in
+the year of our Lord 1666. In order to the carrying on their horrid
+plot for extirpating the protestant religion and old English liberty,
+and introducing popery and slavery."[14]
+
+[Footnote 14: Old. Hist. of the Church of Scotland, i. 207.
+[Transcriber's Note: The marker for this footnote is missing in the
+original; its location has been guessed.]]
+
+This inscription was erased by King James upon his succession to the
+crown; but reinscribed presently after the revolution, in such deep
+characters as are not easily to be blotted out.
+
+The latter part of the inscription on the north side (_Sed furor
+papisticus, qui tam dira patravit, nondum restinguitur_) containing an
+offensive truth, was erased at King James's accession, and reinscribed
+soon after the revolution.
+
+Mr. Pope differs much in his opinion concerning these inscriptions,
+when he says--
+
+    Where London's column, pointing at the skies,
+    Like a tall bully, rears its head, and lies.
+
+It seems wonderful (says the author of the Craftsman) that the plague
+was not as peremptorily imputed to the Papists as the fire.[15]
+
+[Footnote 15: Seymour, i. 454. [Transcriber's Note: The marker for
+this footnote is missing in the original; its location has been
+guessed.]]
+
+There was a general suspicion of incendiaries laying combustible stuff
+in many places, having observed several houses to be on fire at the
+same time: but we are told, God with his great bellows did blow upon
+it, and made it spread quickly, and horrible flakes of fire mounted to
+the skies.
+
+There was a strange concurrence of several natural causes which
+occasioned the fire so vigorously to spread and increase.
+
+There was a great supineness and negligence in the people of the house
+where it began: it began between one and two o'clock after midnight,
+when all were in a dead sleep: on a Saturday night, when many of the
+eminent citizens, merchants, and others, were retired into the
+country, and left servants to look to their city houses: it happened
+in the long vacation, at a time of year when many wealthy citizens are
+wont to be in the country at fairs, or getting in debts, and making up
+accounts with their chapmen.
+
+The houses where it began were mostly built of timber, and those very
+old: the closeness and narrowness of the streets did much facilitate
+the progress of the fire, and prevented the bringing in engines. The
+wares and commodities stowed and vended in those parts were most
+combustible of any other, as oil, pitch, tar, cordage, hemp, flax,
+rosin, wax, butter, cheese, wine, brandy, sugar, and such like.
+
+The warmth of the preceding season had so dried the timber, that it
+was never more apt to take fire; and an easterly wind (which is the
+driest of all) had blown for several days together before, and at that
+time very strongly.
+
+The unexpected failing of the water from the New River; the engine at
+London-bridge called the Thames water-tower was out of order, and in a
+few hours was itself burnt down, so that the pipes which conveyed the
+water from thence through the streets, were soon empty.
+
+Beside, there was an unusual negligence at first, and a confidence of
+easily quenching it, and of its stopping at several places afterward;
+which at last turned into confusion, consternation, and despair;
+people choosing rather by flight to save their goods, than by a
+vigorous opposition to save their own houses and the whole city.
+
+Thus a small spark, from an unknown cause, for want of timely care,
+increased to such a flame, that nothing could extinguish, which laid
+waste the greatest part of the city in three days' time.
+
+The king in his speech to the parliament, says, "God be thanked for
+our meeting together in this place: little time hath passed since we
+were almost in despair of having this place left to meet in. You see
+the dismal ruins the fire hath made: and nothing but a miracle of
+God's mercy could have preserved what is left from the same
+destruction."
+
+When the presumptions of the city's being burnt by design came to be
+laid before a committee of the House of Commons, they were found of no
+weight: and the many stories, published at that time with great
+assurance, were declared void of credibility.[16]
+
+[Footnote 16: Echard, iii. 168. [Transcriber's Note: The marker for
+this footnote is missing in the original; its location has been
+guessed.]]
+
+After all, it may perhaps be queried, whether the foregoing rumours
+and examinations, though incongruous with each other, may not afford
+some colour to a whisper, that the government itself was not without
+some ground of suspicion of having been the secret cause of the
+conflagration; to afford an opportunity of restoring the capital of
+the nation, in a manner more secure from future contagion, more
+generally wholesome for the inhabitants, more safe from fires, and
+more beautiful on the whole, from the united effect of all these
+salutary purposes. Such, however, has been the result of that
+temporary disaster, whether accidental or not; and if intended, a more
+pardonable instance of doing evil that good may come of it, cannot
+perhaps be produced.[17]
+
+[Footnote 17: Burnet, Abr. 121. [Transcriber's Note: The marker for
+this footnote is missing in the original; its location has been
+guessed.]]
+
+
+
+
+SECTION IV.
+
+OF THE MONUMENT.
+
+
+The Act of Parliament 19 and 20 Car. II., enacts, that--The better to
+preserve the memory of this dreadful visitation, a column or pillar of
+brass or stone be erected on, or as near unto the place where the fire
+unhappily began, as conveniently may be; in perpetual remembrance
+thereof: with such inscription thereon as the lord mayor and court of
+aldermen shall direct.
+
+In obedience to which act, the fine piece of architecture, called The
+Monument, was erected, at the expense of fourteen thousand five
+hundred pounds; it is the design of the great Sir Christopher Wren,
+and undoubtedly the finest modern column in the world, and in some
+respects may vie with the most famous of antiquity, being twenty-four
+feet higher than Trajan's pillar at Rome. It is of the Doric order,
+fluted; its altitude, two hundred and two feet from the ground;
+greatest diameter of the body fifteen feet; the ground bounded by the
+plinth or lower part of the pedestal, twenty-eight feet square; and
+the pedestal is in altitude forty feet; all of Portland stone. Within,
+is a large staircase of black marble, containing three hundred and
+forty-five steps, ten inches and a half broad, and six inches risers;
+a balcony within thirty-two feet from the top, whereon is a spacious
+and curious gilded flame, very suitable to the intent of the whole
+column.
+
+On the front or west side of the die of the pedestal of this
+magnificent column is finely carved a curious emblem of this tragical
+scene, by the masterly hand of Mr. Gabriel Cibber. The eleven
+principal figures are in alto, the rest in basso relievo.
+
+At the north end of the plain the city is represented in flames, and
+the inhabitants in consternation, their arms extended upward, crying
+for succour. A little nearer the horizon, the arms, cap of
+maintenance, and other ensigns of the city's grandeur, partly buried
+under the ruins. On the ruins, lies the figure of a woman crowned with
+a castle, her breasts pregnant, and in her hand a sword; representing
+the strong, plentiful, and well-governed city of London in distress.
+The king is represented on a place ascended to by three steps,
+providing by his power and prudence for the comfort of his citizens
+and ornament of his city. On the steps stand three women: 1. Liberty,
+having in her right hand a hat, wherein the word Liberty, denoting the
+freedom or liberty given those who engaged three years in the work. 2.
+Ichnographia, with rule and compasses in one hand, and a scroll in the
+other; near her, the emblem of Industry, a beehive. 3. Imagination,
+holding the emblem of Invention. All which intimate, that the speedy
+re-erection of the city was principally owing to liberty, imagination,
+contrivance, art, and industry. There is the figure of time raising
+the woman in distress, and Providence with a winged hand containing an
+eye, promising peace and plenty, by pointing to those two figures in
+the clouds. Behind the king, the work is going forward. Under the
+king's feet appears Envy enraged at the prospect of success, and
+blowing flames out of his mouth. The figure of a lion, with one
+fore-foot tied up, and the muzzle of a cannon, denote this deplorable
+misfortune to have happened in time of war; and Mars, with a chaplet
+in his hand, is an emblem of approaching peace. Round the cornice are
+noble enrichments of trophy work, sword, the king's arms, cap of
+maintenance, &c., at the angles, four very large dragons, the
+supporters of the city arms.
+
+On this column of perpetual remembrance the lord mayor and court of
+aldermen have ordered inscriptions to be cut in Latin:
+
+That on the north side, describes the desolation of the city in ashes;
+and is thus translated:
+
+In the year of Christ 1666, the second day of September, eastward from
+hence at the distance of two hundred and two feet, (the height of this
+column) about midnight, a most terrible fire broke out, which, driven
+by a high wind, not only wasted the adjacent parts, but also places
+very remote, with incredible noise and fury: it consumed eighty-nine
+churches, the city gates, Guildhall, many public structures,
+hospitals, schools, libraries, a vast number of stately edifices,
+thirteen thousand two hundred dwelling houses, four hundred streets;
+of twenty-six wards, it entirely consumed fifteen, and left eight
+others shattered and half burnt; the ruins of the city were four
+hundred and thirty-six acres, from the Tower by the Thames side to the
+Temple church, and from the north-east gate of the city wall to
+Holborn-bridge: to the estates and fortunes of the citizens it was
+merciless, but to their lives very favourable[18]; that it might in
+all things resemble the last conflagration of the world.
+
+[Footnote 18: It was a very miraculous circumstance, amidst all this
+destruction and public confusion, no person was known either to be
+burnt, or trodden to death in the streets.]
+
+The destruction was sudden, for in a small space of time, the same
+city, was seen most flourishing, and reduced to nothing.
+
+Three days after, when this fatal fire had baffled all human councils
+and endeavours, in the opinions of all, as it were by the will of
+heaven, it stopped, and on every side was extinguished.
+
+The south side describes the glorious restoration of the city, and has
+been thus translated:--
+
+Charles the Second, son of Charles the Martyr, King of Great Britain,
+France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, a most gracious prince,
+commiserating the deplorable state of things, while the ruins were
+yet smoking, provided for the comfort of his citizens, and the
+ornament of his city; remitted their taxes, and referred the petitions
+of the magistrates and inhabitants to the parliament, who immediately
+passed an act, that public buildings should be restored to greater
+beauty with public money, to be raised by an imposition on coals; that
+churches, and the cathedral of St. Paul's, should be rebuilt from
+their foundations with all magnificence; that bridges, gates, and
+prisons should be made new; the sewers cleansed; the streets made
+straight and regular; such as were steep, levelled, and those too
+narrow, made wider; markets and shambles removed to separate places.
+They also enacted, that every house should be built with party walls,
+and all in front raised of equal height, and those walls all of square
+stone or brick; and that no man should delay beyond the space of seven
+years. Moreover, care was taken by law to prevent all suits about
+their bounds. Also, anniversary prayers were enjoined;[19] and to
+perpetuate the memory hereof to posterity, they caused this column to
+be erected. The work was carried on with diligence, and London is
+restored; but whether with greater speed or beauty may be made a
+question. Three years' time saw that finished which was supposed to be
+the business of an age.
+
+[Footnote 19: By statute 19 and 20, Car. II., it is enacted, That the
+citizens of London, and their successors for the time to come, may
+retain the memory of so sad a desolation, and reflect seriously on the
+manifold iniquities, which are the unhappy causes of such judgments:
+be it therefore enacted, that the second day of September (unless the
+same happen to be Sunday, and if so, then the next day following) be
+yearly for ever hereafter observed as a day of fasting and humiliation
+within the said city and liberties thereof, to implore the mercy of
+Almighty God upon the said city; to make devout prayers and
+supplications unto him, to divert the like calamity for the time to
+come.]
+
+The east side, over the door, has an inscription, thus Englished:
+
+This pillar was begun, Sir Richard Ford, knight, being lord mayor of
+London, in the year 1671: carried on in the mayoralties of Sir George
+Waterman, knight; Sir Robert Hanson, knight; Sir William Hooker,
+knight; Sir Robert Viner, knight; Sir Joseph Sheldon, knight; and
+finished, Sir Thomas Davis, knight, being lord mayor, in the year
+1677.
+
+The inscription on the plinth of the lower pedestal is in page 245.
+
+On a stone in front of the house built on the spot where the fire
+began, there was (very lately) the following inscription:
+
+"Here, by the permission of Heaven, hell broke loose on this
+protestant city, from the malicious hearts of barbarous Papists, by
+the hand of their agent, Hubert, who confessed, and on the ruins of
+this place declared his fact, for which he was hanged, viz.:--That he
+here began the dreadful fire, which is described and perpetuated on
+and by the neighbouring pillar. Erected 1680, in the mayorality of Sir
+Patience Ward, knight."
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN HISTORICAL NARRATIVE OF THE GREAT
+AND TERRIBLE FIRE OF LONDON, SEPT. 2ND 1666***
+
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