The Present State of London, Treatise · Chapter 5 · Section 3 · Part 25 – Part 26
An Hiſtorical Account of the moſt Memorable Wars, Tumults, Fires, Epidemical Diſeaſes, Rarities, Accidents, &c. that have happened in the City of London: Briefly abſtracted from Ancient and Modern Writers.
BBcauſe it may be no leſs Profitable, more Recreative, and leſs Tedious, to deliver what is to be treated of in this Chapter, rather in a Miſcellaneous Method, then otherwiſe, we ſhall not tie our ſelves to obſerve a ſtrict Pedigree and Succeſſion of Time, reſpecting theſe things as they lie in order to each other, but yet we ſhall omit no Account that we find recorded of the reſpective Seaſons when they happened; keeping exactly to the Senſe of Hiſtory, and ſupplying the Shortneſs of one by the Fulneſs of another; paring off Superfluities, and fitting it with Language ſuitable to our Times, not with reſpect to Elegancy, but Plainneſs.
Under the term of Wars, Tumults, &c. we include all Popular or Military Diſorders, in which the City was any way concern'd. And in order to that, I will note by way of Preface▪ ſome few of the Martial Services perform'd by the City in Ancient Times.
The firſt Paſſage I ſhall produce, ſhall be out of Polydore Virgil, Printed at Baſil, 1534. 147 years ago. He ſaith thus:—Hoc … ſucceſſ… Danus ferocior effectus, Londinum, quo … Etheldredum ſe recepiſſe m…tu… cauſa aggrediendum …ſtituit Itaque, &c. Which in Engliſh is to this ſence: The Dane being grown more fierce by the ſucceſs of his Affairs, reſolved to make his Approaches to London, where he underſtood that Ethelred had retired; having therefore prepared all things neceſſary for his Expedition, he proceeds to beleaguer the City, and begirt it round; by this perillous Attempt either to terrifie the Enemy, or try their Strength and Courage: On the other ſide, the Citizens, although ſomewhat fearing the effect of ſo great a Storm, yet conſidering that upon their caſe depended the General Fate of their Countrey, and that this was the Principal City, defended themſelves bravely; ſome ſally out, and others annoy the Beſiegers from the Walls, every one in all places ſtriving to excel others in Bravery of Courage, and Gallantry of Action: At laſt, though the Danes gave many ſtout and ſharp Aſſaults, yet the Valiant Londoners in Defence of their King, notwithſtanding the peril of ſuch an Enterprize, gather into a Body, and ſet open the Gates, and ran upon the Enemy with great Fury and Courage. But the Dane, whilſt he encourages his men, and was ſtriving to compleat the Victory, which he thought he was almoſt in poſſeſſion of, is incompaſſed and beſet on all ſides, and his men ſlain in great numbers, yet he breaks out through his Enemies Weapons, and with the reſidue of his before huge, but now Routed Army, (marching night and day) arrives at Bath in two days &c. So far he. This happened almoſt ſixty years? before the Conqueſt, in the days of Ethelred, King Sweyne being then King of Denmark.
After the death of this Sweyne, his Son Canutus, afterwards King of England, beſieged London both by Land and Water, but after much dangerous labour, judging it impregnable by the obſtinate Valour of the Defendants, he departed, but returned with greater Forces the ſame year, and beſieged the City again; but the Citizens behaved themſelves ſo gallantly, and deſtroyed ſo many of his Souldiers, that he was forced to betake himſelf to a ſhameful flight.
In the diſſention between King Edward the Co… feſſor, and his Father-in-law Earl Godwyn, (which was the mightieſt Subject within this Realm) the Earl with great Army came to London, yet was by the Citizens reſiſted, till by means of the Nobility they were reconciled.
Seventy years after the Conqueſt, Maud the Empreſs made War upon King Stephen for the Right of the Crown, and had taken his Perſon Priſoner, but by the Strength of the Londoners and Kentiſh-men, ſhe was routed at Wincheſter, and her Brother Robert Earl of Gloceſter was taken, in exchange for whom King Stephen was delivered.
In the year 1383, (but Polidore Virgil ſays Anno 1581.) about 4 R. II. and 298 years ago, there fell out an Accident which created much diſturbance in the Kingdom, and particularly in London, occaſioned (as I find Recorded in ſeveral Chronicles) through the Rudeneſs of a Poll-money Collector, who coming into the houſe of one John Tyler at Deptford in Kent, demanded of his Wife Poll-money for her Husband, her Self, their Servants, and Daughter; the Woman alledges, that the Daughter was not of Age to pay: The rude Fellow ſaid he would try that, and by force immodeſtly turns up her Coats, (having in ſeveral places, as was reported, uſed the ſame trial) the Mother makes an Out-cry, and Neighbours run in; her Husband being at work hard by, and hearing the noiſe, comes in with his Lathing-Staff in his hand (for he was a Tyler) with which (after he had reaſoned a while with the Collector, who gave him provoking Language, and ſtrook at him) he knock'd his Brains out; and making his Appeal to the People, who were apt to receive any occaſion of Tumult, he ſo incenſed them, with the help of a Factious Clergy-man, one John Ball, that the Commons from divers parts drew together; and whether beginning in Kent or Eſſex, they drew into their Faction the Commons of Suſſex, Hertfordſhire, Cambridgeſhire, Suffolk, Norfolk, and other Shires, and apprehending all Paſſengers, made them ſwear to be true to K. Richard, and never to receive any King that ſhould be called John, which they did, for the Envy they bore to John Duke of Lancaſter. Thus their Number ſtill increaſed, that by that time they were come ſo far as Black-Heath, they were eſteemed to be One hundred thouſand. They took upon them to cut off the Heads of all that profeſſed the Law, Juſtices of the Peace, the Countrey Jarors, and any perſon that they thought to be learned; eſpecially if they found any to have Pen and Ink, they pull'd off his Hood, and with one voice cry'd, Hale him out, and cut off his Head; and it was immediately done.
They reſolved to burn all Court-Rolls and Records, with all old Monuments. Their Chaplain, John Ball, a wicked Prieſt, adviſed them to deſtroy all the Nobility and Clergy, ſo that there ſhould be no Biſhop in England but one Archbiſhop, which ſhould be himſelf; and that there ſhould not be above two Religious perſons in one houſe, but that their Poſſeſſions ſhould be divided among the Laity, for which Doctrine they held him as a Prophet. The King was at this time at Windſor, but removed, in all haſte to the Tower of London, to whom repaired the Archbiſhop of Canterbury Chancellor, the Biſhop of London, the Prior of St. John Treaſurer, the Earls of Buckingham, Kent, Arundel, Warwick, Suffolk, Oxford, and Salisbury, and others of the Nobility and Gentlemen, to the number of 600. The Commons of Eſſex came on the other part of the River Thames. From Black-Heath the Kentiſh Rebels came to Southwark, and broke open the Priſons of the Marſhalſea, and the Kings-Bench, with other Priſons, and let out the Priſoners. The Eſſex Rebels ſpoiled the Archbiſhop's houſe at Lambeth, and burnt all the Goods, with the Books, Regiſters, and Remembrances of the Chancery, with ſeveral other Outrages. Then they came to London over the Bridge, and ſent for one Richard Lyon a grave Citizen, who had been Tyler's Maſter, and ſtruck off his Head, carrying it upon a Pole in Triumph before them. The next day they came to the Savoy, the Duke of Lancaſter's Houſe, which they ſet on Fire, burning all the rich Furniture, breaking in pieces Plate and Jewels, to an extraordinary value, and then throwing them into the Thames, ſaying, They were men of Juſtice, and would not, like Robbers, enrich themſelves with any mans Goods. And when one of their Fellows was ſeen to convey a fair piece of Plate into his boſom, they took him, and threw him and that into the Fire. Thirty two of them were got into the Dukes Wine-Cellar, where they ſtay'd Drinking ſo long that they were not able to come out in time, but were ſhut in with Wood and Stones that immur'd up the Door; they were heard to cry ſeven days after, and then periſhed.
From the Savoy they went to the Temple, where they burnt the Lawyers Lodgings, with their Books and Writings and all they could lay hands on. They broke up the Fleet Priſon, and let the Priſoners go where they would. The like they did at Newgate; and made a moſt dreadful havock up and down. The houſe of St. Johns by Smithfield they ſet on fire, ſo that it burnt ſeven days together.
After this they came to the Tower, where the King was then lodged: And though he had, at that time, 600 armed Men, and 600 Archers about him, yet he durſt not but ſuffer them to enter, where they abuſed the King's Mother in a rude manner, offering to kiſs her, &c. that ſhe fell into a Swoon. And finding in the place Simon Theobald Archbiſhop of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor, and Sir Robert Hale Prior of St. John and Lord Treaſurer, and one Richard a Carmelite Monk the King's Confeſſor, theſe they led to Tower-hill, and there moſt cruelly cut off their heads, as they ſerved divers others.
Indeed Polidore Virgil writes, That the Rebels were not at all in the Tower, but that the King ſent theſe three men to appeaſe them, hoping that they would not offer to abuſe ſuch eminent Clergy-men: For (ſaith he) Si vulgus it a concitatus turrem expugnaſſet, non eos utique tres duntaxat, uti credere par est, ſed & Regem & relquos ommes, quos imprimis ad ſupplicium petebat, interfeciſſet; that is, If the enraged Common People had taken the Tower by force, they would, in all probability, deſtroy not only thoſe three, but the King alſo, and all the reſt, whom firſt of all they demanded to be deliver'd to them …or puniſhment.
They drew Thirteen Flemings out of Auſtin-Fryers, and Beheaded them in the Streets. Seventeen more out of another Church. And Thirty two out of the Vintry, and ſeveral out of their own, or others, whom they Beheaded; yet after all theſe barbarous and bloody Outrages, the King proclaimed Pardon to all ſuch as would lay down Arms, and go quietly home; which the Eſſex men did, but the Kentiſh men continued ſtill with their Captain Wat-Tyler of Maidſtone, a crafty Fellow, of an acute wit, but very graceleſs; Polidore Virgil ſays, He was Manibus promptus, ac Conſiliis praeceps, of a ready hand, and haſty or precipitate in counſel. To this Ringleader of Miſchief, the King ſent Sir John Newton, to underſtand what his meaning was; Wat Tyler was offended, becauſe he came on Horſe-back, telling him, It became him to alight from his Horſe in his preſence, and therewith drew out his Dagger to ſtrike him. The King perceiving this Noble Knight to be in danger, to qualifie the ſeverity of Wat for a time, commanded Sir John to alight, which did not pacifie, but made Wat the more inſolent, and would have the King's Sword, which Sir John carried, offering again to aſſault him. But the Lord Mayor of London, William Walworth, with other Perſons of Quality, being juſt come, affirm'd it to be an unheard-of Indignity, and a moſt intolerable Diſgrace, if the King ſhould ſuffer ſo Noble a Knight to be baſely murdered in his preſence. Upon which the King commanded the Lord Mayor to arreſt him, who did it to purpoſe; for being a man of an invincible Courage, and a brave Mind, he regarded not the hazard that probably would follow, his attacking that Darling, and Leader of a Rude, Numerous, and Rebellious Rabble, but prefer'd his Duty to his King and Countrey, and the Generoſity of reſcuing an abuſed Gentleman, even before life. I inſert this, as a Remark due to this brave and memorable Action, which deſerves never to be forgotten.
The Mayor immediately rides up to Wat, and Arreſts him with ſuch a ſalutation of his Mace on his head, that he tumbles him down, and then he was by ſome of the King's Servants (ſome ſay, by John Cavendiſh Eſq) run through in ſeveral places, many perſons encompaſſing him, ſo as that he could not be ſeen by his Plebeian Army, and then caus'd his dead Body to be drawn into St. Bartholomews Hoſpital. But the Commons perceiving it, they cry'd, Their Captain was ſlain, and animated each other to revenge: Upon which the King, though not above 15 years of age, was ſo Couragious as to ride up to them, telling them, That now their Leader was dead, he would be their Leader himſelf; and if they would follow him into the Fields, they ſhould have whatſoever they deſired.
In the mean time the Lord Mayor, Walworth, with one Servant, Rides ſpeedily into the City, and raiſed One thouſand armed Men, where meeting Sir Robert Knolls, a Citizen, by accident, got him to be their Leader, who coming into the Field where the Rebels were, ſo daunted them, that throwing down their weapons, they cry'd for mercy: ſo that it was a wonderful thing to ſee how ſuddenly Fear overtook Preſumption, and how quickly terms of the moſt ſervile Submiſſion, ſucceeded their inſolent Brags, viz. That they had the King's life in their power, &c. and what elſe they would do.
On the other ſide 'twas as ſtrange, to ſee how quickly Boldneſs ſurprized Fear in thoſe about the King; for a little before, they trembled at the ſight of the Rebels, but now they are mad to be at them, which the King would not ſuffer, but commanded the Charter they had demanded to be ſcaled, and delivered to them, becauſe theſe Commotions might have the ſpeedier End, for the Commons in other places, were not yet quiet, and the King thought it more prudent rather to pacifie, than provoke them. The Rabble being diſperſed, the King called for the Mayor, and Knighted him in the Field, as alſo five Aldermen his Brethren, viz. Nicholas Brember, John Philpot, Robert Lawnd, John Standiſh, Nicholas Twyford, and Adam Francis. Some affirm, that the Dagger was added to the City Arms for this Reaſon, but Antiquaries make out, that this Coat, with the Sword of St. Paul (not a Dagger) belonged to the City long before this hapned.
The Mayor of London, after this, ſate in Judgment upon Offenders, where many were found Guilty, and were Executed; amongſt others, Jack Straw, John Kirby, Alane Tredder, and John Sterling, who gloried that he ſlew the Archbiſhop. Sir Robert Treſilian, the Chief Juſtice, was appointed to ſit in Judgment againſt the Offenders, before whom above 1500 were found Guilty, and in ſeveral places put to Death, amongſt whom was John Ball the Prieſt, their Incendiary. And thus ended that dangerous Rebellion.
About the Year 1450. 29 H. 6. there was another Inſurrection in Kent, headed by one Jack Cade, who ſtiled himſelf John Mortimer, Captain Mend-all. He marches with a ſmall, but well-order'd Number to Black-Heath, where he lay about a Month, exerciſing his Men, and in the mean time preſents ſeveral Complaints to the King and Parliament of various Grievances and Oppreſſions, but they were judged too inſolent, and therefore rejected. The Privy Council ſollicit the King to ſuppreſs this Rebellion by force of Arms, who thereupon draws his Army to Greenwich, and appointed divers Lords to aſſail the Rebels; but the Lords could get no Followers to fight againſt them, who ſought only for reformation of Abuſes, and for puniſhment of ſuch Traytors as the Lord Say, the King's Chamberlain was. Whereupon the Lord Say was committed to the Tower, the King and Queen retire to London, from thence, within two days, the King (being now 15000 ſtrong) marches in perſon towards Captain Mend-all, who, politickly, withdraws his Forces to Sevenoke-wood: Upon notice whereof, the King retireth again to London, but the Queen, longing for diſpatch, ſends the two Staffords, Sir Humphrey and William, with many Hotſpurs in the Court, to follow the Rebels, who were ſoon cooled; for they found Captain Mend-all in good order ready to receive them, and in the firſt Encounter ſlew Sir Humphrey, and afterwards his Brother, with many others, and put all the reſt to flight.
The King's Forces being at Black-Heath, could neither by Threats not Intreaties be gotten to reſcue them, but rather wiſhed the Queen and her Favourites in the Staffords Caſe, or that the Duke of York were in England to aid his Couſin Mortimer, (now firſt acknowledged to be of his Kindred) and many of them ſtole away to the Rebels, whoſe Number from …ſſex and Surrey daily increaſed, whom yet thei… Captain reſtrained from all outrageous actions, … with them to Black-Heath, where the King's Army lay the Night before, but now was fallen down to Greenwich.
Then was the Archbiſhop of Canterbury and the Dake of Buckingham ſent to expoſtulate with the Rebels about their Demands; to whom Jack Cade gave very good language, but ſaid directly, That he would yield to no Ceſſation of Arms, unleſs the King in perſon would hear the Grievances of his Subjects, and paſs his Princely Word for the Reformation of their Wrongs.
This Reſolution of his being made known to the King, who had no aſſurance of his own Soldiers, made him march preſently to Killingworth Caſtle in Warwickshire, which he fortified. Cade marches to Southwark, commanding his men to commit no Outrage, and not to wrong any perſon, which they obey'd.
The next morning he marches to London-bridge, and ſo into the City by London-ſtone, where he ſtruck his Sword, ſaying, Now is Mortimer Lord of London. He then commands all Lombards, Merchant-Strangers, Genoeſes, Venetians, Florentines, and others, to ſend him 12 Harneſſes complete, 24 Brigandines, 12 Battle-Axes, 12 Glaves, ſix Horſes completely furniſhed with Saddles and Bridles, &c. and 1000 Marks ready money, or he would cut off the Heads of as many of them as he could catch: All which was immediately ſent him.
The next day he cauſes the Lord Say's Head to be cut off in Cheapſide, as alſo his Son-in-laws, Sir James Cromer, High-Sheriff of Kent, uext day he cauſes ſome of his Fellows to be Executed for ſome Diſorders againſt his Proclamation, fined Perſons at pleaſure, and beheaded others. But the Citizens finding his Inſolency to increaſe intolerably, with a ſelect Party encounter them on the Bridge, through whom Cade ſorced his paſſage, and fired ſeveral Houſes. In this Bickering ſeveral perſons were ſlain, and in a little time the Citizens, by the aid of freſh Supplies, recover'd the Bridge again, and drove the Rebels beyond a place, then called the Stoop in Southwark Cade ſet all Priſoners in the Priſons there at Liberty, as well Felons as Debtors. But the generality of the Rebels grew weary, ſo that upon notice of the King's Proclamation, and aſſurance of Pardon, they dropt away to their ſeveral Habitations. Cade afterwards attempting to raiſe New Troubles, was (becauſe he reſiſted when he was to be apprehended) kill'd by one Mr. Alexander Eden, a Kentiſh Gentleman, his Body was brought to London, where he was quartered, and his Head ſet upon London-bridge. Of 800 of theſe Rebels that were found Guilty, eight only were Executed.
The Story of Evil-May-Day, Anno 1517, 9 H. 8. is ſo remarkable, that old men, formerly, were wont to reckon their Age from that day. The occaſion was briefly thus. Several Artificers of Foreign Parts repaired to London, which diſguſted the multitude, who complaiued, That their Selling of Wares, and Exerciſing of Handicrafts, impoveriſhed the Kings own Subjects, and were born out of England, and that they had offered many great Inſolencies and Wrongs to the Engliſh, particularly one Williamſon, a Carpenter of London, bought two Pidgeons in Cheapſide, and as he was about to pay for them, a Frenchman ſnatcht them out of his hand, ſaying, They were no meat for a Carpenter. This begat a Conteſt, and by the French Ambaſſador's means, who aggravated the matter, the Carpenter was impriſon'd, &c. Theſe, and ſuch like Inſolencies, provoked one John Lincoln to draw them up in Form of a Bill, and perſuaded Dr. Beale on Eaſter Tueſday, at the Spittle to read it openly in the Pulpit, which occaſion'd theſe Foreigners to be very ſeverely handled, and oftentimes knockt down in the ſtreets.
At laſt, one Evening, many Prentices and others aſſembling, rifled ſome Strangers houſes, and much miſchief was like to be done, but by the care of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, &c, many of ehe Rioters were committed to Priſon, whereof Lincoln, and twelve others, were hanged; 400 more in their Shirts bound with Ropes, and Halters about their Necks, were carried to VVeſtminſter, but crying Mercy, Mercy, were all pardoned by the King, which Clemency got him much Love.
To deſcribe all the particular tumultuous Diſorders of Apprentices, and others, would ſwell this Manual too much; and I would rather they ſhould be forgotten, than any more be brought into Example, and therefore, at preſent, they are omitted.
In the Year 1629. 5 Car. 1. about the month of July, there hapned a great Fray in Fleet-ſtreet, upon the Reſcue of one Captain Bellingham, an Officer in the Expedition to the Iſle of Rhee, which was attempted by ſome Students in the Temple, wherein ſome were hurt, and ſome carried to Priſon; but this drew together many of the Gentlemen to reſcue the Priſoner, who made a Barricade againſt St. Dunſtans Church, and beat back the Sheriffs Officers, and releaſed their Friends; of which the Lord Mayor being inform'd, he and the Sheriffs, with ſome of the Trained-B…nds, came thither to keep the Peace, and diſperſe the Cauſers of the Tumult who were increaſed by that time to the Number of 500, and armed with Swords and Piſtols. The Lord Mayor made Proclamation That on pain of Rebe…lion they ſhould diſſolve themſelves but prevail'd not. He then try'd other means, and the Soldiers fired their Mu…que… … them Charged wit… Powder onelyonly, but the Gentlemen provoked at this, ſhot Bullets, and very furiouſly attaqued the Trained-Bands, killed five outright, and wounded near One hundred; yet the City Soldiers were ſo reinforced, that in the end the Gentlemen were ſubdued, and one Aſhhurſt and Stamford, two Captains, with ſome others, were taken and committed. The King was much offended at the Uproar, and immediately ſent for the Lord Chief-Juſtice, by whoſe advice a ſpecial Commiſſion of Oyer and Terminer was iſſued out, and about a Fortnight after the Malefactors were Arraigned at the Guildhall of London, and Aſhhurſt and Stamford being found guilty of Murder, were Condemned and Executed at Tyburn. Much more may be ſaid of theſe Tumults, but for neceſſary Reaſons it is reſerved to another place.
In the Relation of FIRES we ſhall only give a brief account of the moſt remarkable.
In the time of King H. 1. All the Buildings from Cheapſide to Aldgate, which was a large Tract, was conſumed by a dreadful Fire. Some of the Fires on London-Bridge we have already mentioned.—In the Year 1212, on the 10th of July, at night, there hapning a great Fire in Southwark, a great Multitude of People going over the Bridge to ſee it, or help to quench it; on a ſudden by blowing of the South Wind, the North part of the Bridge was ſet on fire, upon which the People on the Bridge would have returned, but could not; and it hapned that while they lingred too long, the South end of the Bridge took ſire alſo, ſo that the People thronging between the two Fires, expected nothing but preſent Death. Then there came to aid them ſeveral Ships and Veſ…els, into which the Multitude ſo un adviſedly ruſhed, that the Veſſels were thereby ſunk, or were overſet; … that by Fire and Water, there periſhed above 3000 perſons. In the Year 1633, about Midnight, … third part of the Houſes on the Bridge were conſumed by a great Fire, to the Number of 42 Houſes, with a great part of the Wares, Goods, and rich Furniture in them, before eight a Clock next Morning, and the Fire remained glowing and burning for a Week after in their Vaults and Cellars. Many Fires there were that damaged St. Pauls-Church, In the Conquerors time, Anno 1087, it was quite conſumed, together with the greateſt part of the City,— This Fire is recorded to begin at the entry of duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page the Weſt-gate, and conſumed the East-gate.
June the 4th, 1561, between three and four in the afternoon, the great Spire of the Steeple of St. Paul's was fired by Lightning, which broke forth two or three yards beneath the foot of the Croſs, and from thence it burnt downward, ſo that in four hours the Steeple with all the Roof of the Church was deſtroyed. To repair which, Queen Elizabeth immediately gave 1000 Marks, and a Warrant for 1000 Loads of Timber to be taken out of her Woods, or elſewhere, &c.
In the 27 E. 1. The Palace at Weſtminſter and the Monaſtery adjoyning were conſumed with fire. It would be endleſs to give a particular account of all the Fires by which this famous City ſuffered from time to time, eſpecially of late years, which being ſo freſh in Memory, and ſo fully ſet forth in Narratives, I ſhall at preſent for bear to tranſcribe; as the Fires at Waping, Limehouſe, Shadwell, the Temple, the great Fire that lately hapned in Southwark, Wedneſday night the 8th of this inſtant June, the former great Fire that conſumed ſeveral 100 Houſes in the ſaid Borough, but are now very gallantly rebuilt, &c. And for an Inſtance of all, we will give a brief and particular account of that Dreadful FIRE in Anno 1666, which laid the City in Aſhes, and did (almoſt) incredible miſchief.
The City of LONDON within the Walls is ſeated upon abont 460 Acres of Ground, whereon was bilt about 15000 Houſes, the Fire deſtroyed 373 Acres within the Walls of the City, and 63 Acres 3 Roods without the Walls; There were burnt 13200 Houſes, 87 Pariſh-Churches, ſix Chappels, moſt of the principal publick Edifices, as the great Cathedral, the great Guild-Hall, the Royal-Exchange, the Cuſtom-Houſe, moſt of the ſtately Halls of Companies, whereof the whole Damage is (almoſt) incredible.
It was obſerved, as judicious Stationers computed, that in that one Commodity of Books was loſt 150000 l. and the loſs in other cumberſome Goods, as Wines, Tobacco, Sugars, Plumbs. &c. was extra ordinary, inſomuch that one Perſon, Sir Robert Jeffery, Alderman, now living, loſt of Tobacco to the value of 20000 l.
It hath been computed by an Ingenious perſon, that the 13200 Houſes burnt, valued one with another at no more than 25 l. yearly Rent, and at the low rate of 12 years purchaſe, will amount to 3900000 l. Sterlin. The 87 Churches, the ſpacious Cathedral of St. Pauls, the 6 Chappels, the Exchange, Custom-Houſe, Guild-Hall, the magnificent Halls of Companies, the ſeveral principal City-Gates, with other publick Edifices and Colledges, may be well valued above 2000000 l. The Wares, Houſhold-Goods, Moneys loſt, and ſpoiled by the Fire, or pilfered away by thoſe wicked wretches that made their gain of the Common Calamity, may modeſtly be computed above 2000000 l. The Money ſpent on a General removing of Goods, during the Fire, and bringing them back afterwards, in the hire of Boats, Carts, and Porters, may be reckoned at leaſt 2000000 l. the Total whereof 9900000 l. Sterlin.
This Dreadful FIRE began upon the Second of September, at two of the Clock in the Morning (being the Lords-Day) and laſted till Thurſday following, being the ſixth of the ſame Month, it brok… out in Pudding-lane, near London-Bridge, at one Fariner, a Baker's Houſe, and ſpread it ſelf, beſides breadth, from almoſt Tower-hill to St. Dunſtans-Church, near Temple-Bar, in Fleet-ſtreet.
The Conſternation of all perſons was extraordinary, (and no Wonder) for, that Raging and Maſterleſs Element did more miſchief in a matter of four days …ime, than three or four Armies unreſiſted could ha… eaſily done in twice the time.
Some Men were forced to pay 5 l. 10 l. 20 l. 30 l. for a Cart to carry away into the Field ſome choice Goods; and certainly they had little Conſcience that exacted ſo much. He that would more largely peruſe every Days progreſs,—let him peruſe Mr. Vincent's excellent Book, Intituled, Gods terrible Voice to the City, Printed, 1671, page 46.
Who were the Authors, Contrivers and Promoters of this prodigious Conflagration, may be read at large in Capt. William Bedloes Narrative of it, Printed Anno 1679. to which I am forced to refer my Reader, only ſhall tranſcribe a few things, which he particularly advertiſes the Citizens to take notice of,
Firſt, The Ways taken by Papiſts to begin and promote FIRES.
1. BY Fire-Balls put in with Poles or otherwiſe through holes, or open places into Houſes; as at Mr. Fariner's Houſe, which began the great Fire.
2. By hard Fire-Balls thrown through Glaſs-Windows, as at the Smiths in Black-Fryars.
3. By flinging the ſaid Balls, or other Combuſtible matter fired, into Cellars, through the Bars on Grates, where they are left without Shutters, as a… the Oly-mans in Southwark.
4. By firing their own Lodgings, as the Frenchman did in Shoo-lane, in the time of the great Fire and likewiſe the two Peters near Saffron-hill.
5. By hiring Cellars in dangerous places, …illing them with Combuſtibles, and then firing them, which (Mr. Bedlow ſays) was a courſe they much adviſe him to.
6. By firing Hay-lofts, as in Smithfield.
7. By ſtrangers feigning Eirands, as in the Temple.
8. By untyling Houſes, breaking Windows, &c. and there putting in their Combuſtibles.
9. By getting into empty Houſes and ſetting them on fire, as in Budge-row, 1670.
10 By creeping into Back-yards, and firing ſtacks of Bavins, Reed, &c. as at Lime-Houſe.
11. By going into Victualling-Houſes and leaving behind them Trains for firing, as at the Cooks in Fetter-lane, and in Southwark.
12. By Con…ederate Servants, as lately at the Attorneys in the ſame Lane.