The Burning of London, Part 3 · Meditation 40
MEDITATION XL. Upon the ſpoiling of Conduits and other Aqueducts, by this Fire.
ME-thinks the ſeveral Conduits that were in London, ſtood like ſo many little (but ſtrong) Forts, to confront and give check, to that great enemy, Fire, if any occaſion ſhould be. There, me-thinks the water was, as it were, intrenched and ingarriſoned. The ſeveral Pipes and Vehicles of water, that were within thoſe Conduits, all of them charged with water, till, by the turning of the Cocks, they were diſcharged again; were, as ſo many Souldiers within thoſe Forts, with their Muſquets charged, and ready to be diſcharged upon the drawing of their ſeveral Cocks, to keep and defend thoſe places. And look how Enemies are wont to deal with thoſe Caſtles, which they take to be impregnable, and diſpair of ever getting by ſtorm, viz. to attempt the ſtarving of them by a cloſe Siege, intercepting all proviſion of Victuals from coming at them; ſo went the fire to work with thoſe little Caſtles of ſtone, which were not eaſie for it to burn down (witneſs their ſtanding to this day); ſpoiled them or almoſt ſpoiled them it hath for preſent, by cutting off thoſe ſupplies of water, which had wont to ſlow to them, melting thoſe leaden Channels, in which the water had wont to be conveyed to them, and thereby, as it were, ſtarving thoſe Garriſons, which they could not take by ſtorm.
What the Scripture ſpeaks of the Land of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord deſtroyed Sodom, even as the Garden of the Lord, like the Land of Egypt (made fruitful by the River Nilus); the ſame might have been ſaid of London before this fire, It was watered like Paradiſe its ſelf: yea, whereas Paradiſe had but one River, (though it parted into four heads, Gen. 2.10.) London had two at leaſt, deviding its ſelf, or rather devided into many branches, and diſperſing its ſelf ſeveral wayes. For, beſides the noble River of Thames, gliding not only by the ſides, but thorow the bowels of London, there was another, called the New-River, brought from Hartfordſhire thither, by the induſtry and ingenuity of that worthy and never to be forgotten Knight, Sir Hugh Middleton, the ſpring of whoſe deſerved fame is ſuch, as the late Fire its ſelf (though the dreadfulleſt of all that we have known) hath not, nor will not be able to dry up; but continue it will, a Fountain of praiſe and honour, bubling up to all poſterity.
As nature, by Veins and Arteries, ſome great, ſome ſmall, placed up and down all parts of the Body, miniſtreth blood and nouriſhment to every member thereof, and part of each member; ſo was that wholſome Water, which was as neceſſary for the good of London, as blood is for the life and health of the body, conveyed by Pipes, wooden or metalline, as by ſo many veins into all parts of that famous City. If water were, as we may call it, the blood of London, then were its ſeveral Conduits, as it were, the Liver and Spleen of that City (which are reckoned as the Fountains of blood in humane bodies) for that the great Trunks of veins conveying blood about the body, are ſeated there, as great Roots fixed in the Earth, ſhooting out their branches divers and ſundry wayes. But alas! how were thoſe Livers inflamed, and how unfit have they been ſince to do their wonted Office? What pity it is, to ſee thoſe breaſts of London (for ſo I may alſo call them) almoſt dryed up: and the poor Citizens mean time ſo loth as they are, to be weaned from their former place. They were lovely ſtreams indeed, which did refreſh that noble City, one of which was alwayes at work, pouring out its ſelf when the reſt lay ſtill.
As if the Fire had been angry with the poor old Tankard-bearers, both Men and Women, for propagating that Element which was contrary to it; and carrying it upon their ſhoulders as it were in State and Triumph; it hath even deſtroyed their Trade, and threatned to make them periſh by fire, who had wont to live by water. Seeing there are few or none to ſuck thoſe Breaſts at this day, the matter is not ſo great; if they be almoſt empty and dry at preſent, may they but ſill again, and their Milk be renewed, ſo ſoon as the honeſt Citizens ſhall come again to their former ſcituations. O Lord, that it might be thy good pleaſure to let London be firſt reſtor'd, and ever after preſerved from Fire; and when once reſtored, let it be as plentifully and commodiouſly ſupplied with water as ever it was formerly: Make it once again as the Paradiſe of God; but never ſuffer any deſtroying Serpent any more to come there.