The Burning of London, Part 3 · Meditation 18
MEDITATION. XVIII. Upon the Gates and Priſons of London, that were burnt.
COncerning thoſe, that uſe an after care, and provide too late, our Proverb is, That when the Steed is ſtolen, they ſhut the Stable door: but the fire, when it had ſtollen the Steed, I mean deſtroyed the City, ſlung open the Gates, or rather demoliſhed and ruinated ſeverall of them. (Gates without a City being as inſignificant, and to as little purpoſe, as a City without Gates is unſafe.) Yet had thoſe Gates been ſtanding, which are not (I mean in ſtrength and perfection) it might have carried a good Omen and Preſage with it, as if they had been left to encloſe and ſecure a City, which ſhould afterwards be built (though there were ſcarcely any for them to ſecure at preſent;) but we truſt through divine goodneſs, the ſame thing will be done (but with more charge) without that Omen. No man can tell where deſtruction will begin or where it will make an end, for that ſometimes it makes an end, where uſually it begins. Deſtruction uſually aſſaults the Gates of a City firſt, and then the City it ſelf; the loſs of the Gates doth generally prove the loſing of the City: but, in this caſe, the loſing of the City firſt, proved the loſs of the Gates at laſt: The fire went out of the City by the Gates, but it came not in that way. There are famous Gates for Death and Miſery to enter in by, which are all we look at, generally; and, if they be but ſhut, we think our ſelves ſecure; (alaſs! but too ſecure are we in one ſenſe, for thinking ſo,) ſith Death and Miſery have ſo many ſecret in-lets which we know not of; and can make a way, where they ſcarce find any. We thought, if London had been deſtroyed, (as now it is,) it muſt have been by ſome powerful enemy, viſibly entring in at its Gates; but, little did we think of what one ſpake in another caſe; That, there was foreign, ſome ſuch inviſible evils, or enemies within us, as were ſufficient to deſtroy it in this faſhien: Alaſs! When can we conclude our ſelves ſafe in this World?
Beſides that great Ornament which thoſe ſtately Gates, that were burnt, added to the City, and the great Defence which they afforded thereunto, (as to enemies from without,) Were they not alſo very ſerviceable, as they were the fitteſt places, in reference to their impregnable ſtrength, whereof to make Goales and Priſons; (neither are there any Houſes more neceſſary than they,) ſo long as there are many lewd People, whom no other places but ſuch can keep within compaſs; for whom Priſons are as needful, as Chimneys are for fire: which, ſet at liberty, would put all into a ſlame: But now came an unexpected Goal-delivery, better to many poor Priſoners, than they looked for: but, to Capital-Offenders not ſo good, as it is like, they did hope it would have proved. When notorious Felons heard of this, probably they did hope, it would break open the doors of their ſeveral Priſons, and ſet them free: but, all they got by it, was, only a Newer Newgate, or to be removed from one Goal to another: But, poor Men, that were in for Debt only, as in Lud-gate, &c. poſsibly they were in a pannick-fear they ſhould have been burnt in the Priſons where they were, not knowing how to make an eſcape: But, if I miſtake not, they were releaſed in the time of the fire, which had left but room enough for Offenders of a higher nature: So was the Proverb verified, that, It is an ill-Wind that blowes no body any good: So was the Fire more merciful to them than their Creditors: ſo were their fears converted into joy. Is it not worth mentioning, How that Cannibal-fire did firſt roaſt, and then devour thoſe Quarters of human fleſh, which upon thoſe Gates were expoſed to the Fowls of the Air; robbing them of their prey, and burying them in the duſt much ſooner than was expected: Now may it be ſaid, That the Gates of London, as of old, That the Gates of Sion did mourn. VVe little thought the time had been ſo near, when the Security of London ſhould not conſiſt ſo much in its Gates and VValls, (I ſay, its Security, as from a forraign Enemy: for, Nullus ad amiſſas ibit opes,) as in its un-enviable Ruins and Pove…ty.