The present state of London: or, Memorials comprehending a full and succinct account of the ancient and modern state thereof. By Tho. De-Laune, Gent

An Historical Account of the most Me∣morable Wars, Tumults, Fires, Epi∣demical Diseases, Rarities, Acci∣dents, &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, ra∣ther in a Miscellaneous Method, then other∣wise, we shall not tie our selves to observe a strict Pe∣digree 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 in∣clude 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 fero∣cior effectus, Londinum, quo 〈…〉〈…〉 Etheldredum se recepisse m••tu•• causa aggrediendum ••••••stituit Itaque, &c. Which in English is to this sence: The Dane be∣ing grown more fierce by the success of his Affairs, resolved to make his Approaches to London, where he

understood that Ethelred had retired; having there∣fore 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 brave∣ly; 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 Acti∣on: 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, af∣terwards 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 de∣stroyed 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 re∣conciled.

Seventy years after the Conquest, Maud the Em∣press 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, de∣manded of his Wife Poll-money for her Husband, her Self, their Servants, and Daughter; the Woman al∣ledges, 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 Mo∣ther 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 incen∣sed 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, Nor∣folk, and other Shires, and apprehending all Passen∣gers,

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 No∣bility 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 Do∣ctrine 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 Sa∣lisbury, 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 Pri∣soners. The Essex Rebels spoiled the Archbishop's house at Lambeth, and burnt all the Goods, with the Books, Registers, and Remembrances of the Chan∣cery, 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 Rob∣bers, 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 Car∣melite 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 ex∣pugnasset, non eos utique tres duntaxat, uti credere par est, sed & Regem & relquos ommes, quos impri∣mis 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 o∣thers, whom they Beheaded; yet after all these bar∣barous 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, offer∣ing again to assault him. But the Lord Mayor of Lon∣don, William Walworth, with other Persons of Qua∣lity, 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 ha∣zard that probably would follow, his attacking that Darling, and Leader of a Rude, Numerous, and Re∣bellious 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 Re∣mark due to this brave and memorable Action, which deserves never to be forgotten.

The Mayor immediately rides up to Wat, and Ar∣rests 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 Ca∣vendish 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 re∣venge: 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 whatso∣ever 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 won∣derful thing to see how suddenly Fear overtook Pre∣sumption, 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 Twy∣ford, and Adam Francis. Some affirm, that the Dag∣ger 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 Judg∣ment upon Offenders, where many were found Guil∣ty, 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 Rebel∣lion.

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 Com∣plaints to the King and Parliament of various Grie∣vances and Oppressions, but they were judged too in∣solent, and therefore rejected. The Privy Council sollicit the King to suppress this Rebellion by force of Arms, who thereupon draws his Army to Green∣wich, 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, politick∣ly, withdraws his Forces to Sevenoke-wood: Upon no∣tice whereof, the King retireth again to London, but the Queen, longing for dispatch, sends the two Staf∣fords, Sir Humphrey and William, with many Hot∣spurs 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 Favou∣rites 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 fal∣len 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 Lon∣don. 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 fur∣nished 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 Disor∣ders against his Proclamation, fined Persons at plea∣sure, 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 be∣yond 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 after∣wards 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 quar∣tered, 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 Car∣penter of London, bought two Pidgeons in Cheap∣side, and as he was about to pay for them, a French∣man snatcht them out of his hand, saying, They were no meat for a Carpenter. This begat a Con∣test, 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 Rio∣ters

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 Cle∣mency got him much Love.

To describe all the particular tumultuous Disor∣ders of Apprentices, and others, would swell this Ma∣nual 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 at∣tempted 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 re∣leased their Friends; of which the Lord Mayor be∣ing 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 increa∣sed 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 onely, but the Gentle∣men 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 commit∣ted. 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 Ter∣miner was issued out, and about a Fortnight after the Malefactors were Arraigned at the Guildhall of Lon∣don, 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 hap∣ning 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 con∣sumed by a great Fire, to the Number of 42 Hou∣ses, with a great part of the Wares, Goods, and rich Furniture in them, before eight a Clock next Morn∣ing, 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 con∣sumed, together with the greatest part of the City,— This Fire is recorded to begin at the entry of 〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

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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 de∣stroyed. To repair which, Queen Elizabeth imme∣diately 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 par∣ticular account of that Dreadful FIRE in Anno 1666, which laid the City in Ashes, and did (almost) in∣credible mischief.

The City of LONDON within the Walls is seat∣ed 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 Cu∣stom-House, most of the stately Halls of Companies, whereof the whole Damage is (almost) incredible.

It was observed, as judicious Stationers compu∣ted, 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 Jeffe∣ry, 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 ano∣ther 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 Compa∣nies, the several principal City-Gates, with other publick Edifices and Colledges, may be well valued a∣bove 2000000 l. The Wares, Houshold-Goods, Mo∣neys 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 rec∣koned 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 (be∣ing the Lords-Day) and lasted till Thursday follow∣ing, 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 extraordina∣ry, (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 pe∣ruse every Days progress,—let him peruse Mr. Vin∣cent's excellent Book, Intituled, Gods terrible Voice to the City, Printed, 1671, page 46.

Who were the Authors, Contrivers and Promo∣ters of this prodigious Conflagration, may be read at large in Capt. William Bedloes Narrative of it, Print∣ed 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,