Newspaper Transcripts
Some Selected Reports from the London Gazette
From Monday, Septemb.3. to Monday, Septemb.10. 1666
White-Hall, Sept 8.
THE ordinary course of this Paper having been interrupted by a Sad and Lamentable Accident of Fire lately hapned in the City of London : It hath been thought fit for satisfying the minds of so many of His Majesties good Subjects, who must[?] needs be concerned for the Issue of so great an Accident, to give this shorn, but true Accompt of it.
On the Second Instant at of the Clock in the Morning, there hapned to break out a Sad & Deplorable Fire, in Pudding-Lane near 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 it self 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 this 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 it self up to Grace-Church-street, and downwards from Cannon-street to the Water-side as far as the Three Cranes[?} in the Viany[?]
The People in all parts about it distracted by the vastness of it, and their particular care to carry away their Goods, may 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 it self, even through those spaces, and raging in a bright Flame all Monday and Tuesday, notwithstanding His Majesties own, and His Royal Highness's indefatigable and personal pains to apply all possible remedies 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 dispairing or slackning his Personal Care, wrought so well that day, assisted in some parts by the Lords of the Councel before and behind it, that a stop was put to it at the Temple-Church, neer Holborn-Bridge, Pie-Corner, Aldersgate, Cripple-gate, neer the lower end of Coleman-street, at the end of Basing-Hall-street, by the Postern, at the upper end of Bishopsgate street, and Leaden-Hall-street, at the Standard in Cornhill, at the Church in Fan-Church-street, neer Clothworkers-hall in Mincing-Lane, at 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 unhappily burst out again afresh at the Temple, by the falling of some sparks (as is supposed) upon a Pile of Woodden Buildings, but his Royal Highness, who watched there that whole night in Person, by the great Labours and Diligence used, and especially by applying Powder to blow up the Houses about it, before day most happily mastered it.
Divers Strangers, Dutch and French, were, during the Fire apprehended, upon suspicion that they contributed mischievously to it, who are all imprisoned, and Informations prepared to make a severe Inquisition thereupon 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, that manner of the burning all along in a Train, and so blown forwards in all its way 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 terrour of his Judgement 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 Councel, 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 of this memorable Deliverance.
About the Tower, the seasonable Orders given for plucking down Houses to secure the Magazine of Powder, was more especially successful, that part being up the Wind, notwithstanding which, it came almost to the very Gates of it, so as by this early provision, the severall Stores of War lodged in the Tower were entirely saved: And we have further this infinite cause particularly to give God thanks that the fire did not happen in any of those places where his Majesties 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 one the War, subjected us to our Enemies.
It must be observed, That this Fire happened in a part of the Town, where though the Commodities were not very rich, yet they were so bulky, that they could not well be removed, so that the Inhabitants of that part where it first began have sustained very great loss, But by the best Enquiry 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 of the whole industry of the inhabitants had been applied in stopping the Fire, and not to the saving of their particular Goods, the success might have been much better, not only to the Publick, but to many of them in their own Particulars.
Through this sad Accident it is easie 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 Majesties Care was most Signal in this occasion, who, besides his Personal Pains, was frequent in Consulting all ways for relieving those distressed persons, which produced so good effects, aswell by His Majesties Proclaimations, and the Order issued to the Neighbour Justices of the Peace to encourage the sending of Provisions to the Markets, which are publickly known, as by other Directions, that when His Majesty, fearing lest others Orders might not yet have been sufficient, had Commanded the Victualler of his Navy to send Bread into Moor-Fields for the relief of the Poor, which for the more speedy supply, he sent in Bisket out of the Sea Stores; it was found that the Markets 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 Majesties Stores again, without any use made of it.
And we cannot but observe, to the confutation[?] of all his Majesties enemies, who endeavour to perswade the world abroad of great parties and dis-affection at home against his Majesties Government; That a greater instance of the affections of this City, could never be giving then hath been now given in this sad and deplorable Accident, when if at any time disorder might have been expected from the losses, distraction, and almost desperation of some persons in their private fortunes, thousands of people not having had habitations to cover them. And yet in all this time it hath been so far from any appearance of designs or attempts against his Majesties Government, that his Majesty and his Royal Brother, out of their care to stop and prevent the fire, frequently exposing their persons with a very small attendance in all parts of the Town, sometimes even to be intermixed with those who laboured in the businesse, 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 rendered their conditions most desperate, and to be fit objects for others prayer, beholding those frequent instances of his Majesties 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.
Edenburg [?], Aug. 29. Scarce a day passes wherein some Prizes are not brought in by our Privateers, amongst the rest, one of them of six Guns, has lately seised on a very rich Prize laden with Spices, bound for Denmark, and in her (as 'tis said) a Natural Son of the King of Denmark
Southwold Sept. 2. A French Vessel called the Hope of Quelleboius[?] laden with 1750 firkins of Butter, and 400 Pigs of Lead, was put ashoar about a league to the southward of this Town, and split in pieces, but the Goods are most of them saved and preserved for the Owners, it being one of shore vessels that brought over Lord Douglas's Regiment, and was permitted to lade home.
Plymouth, Sept. 2. Yesterday arrived here 7 O Tenders [?] laden with Salt, &c. from Robelle, from whence they came the 16. of August last, and report the D. de Beaufort was still then there with his Fleet of about 42 sayl, great and small, Men of war, and Fire-ships, whereof 3 Dutch; and were making all the preparations they could for the Sea, but their going out was uncertain.
Pendennis[?], Sept.3. On Friday morning arrived here La Signoria de la Gratis[?], Venetian Vessel, hired by Mr. Abraham Walwyn Merchant, who laded Currents and Oyle at Zint and Gallipoli, and were bound for London; by the way the Venetians, Maltesians, and other Italians, with whom she was mann'd, design'd the destruction of the Merchant and those belonging to them, intending afterwards to carry off the Ship with its fraight; and in the execution of their purpose had fallen upon the Merchant, whom they wounded in several places, and had undoubtedly killd him, but that Captain Lucy, in the Victory, a Privateer, came by providence to its rescue, and seising their principals, secured them from further attempts.
Weymouth, Sept.3. On the first instant, a small French Vessel with Ballast, taken by one of our Frigots, was sent in hither, and by the way ran on ground in the storm, but by the assistance of several persons she got off, being robb'd whilst she lay there of all her Rigging, Sayles, and Tackle.
Dublin. Aug 28. On the 15. instant, his Grace, the Lord Lieutenant, came safe to Kilkenny, intending from thence to visit all the most considerable places in Munster. The Lord Chancellor is well recovered, and was yesterday abroad, and intends speedily to follow. All Countries are in very good order, the Toryes no more heard of, and the Militiaes[?] generally setled in a very good posture.
Nor.i.h, Septemb. 5. The account of our Bill of Mortality for the last week, runs thus; buried all Diseases 163. Whereof of the Plague 147. Besides at the Pesthouse 12.
Portsmouth, Septemb. 7 Yesterday his Grace the Lord General parted hence for London, leaving the Fleet refitted after their late storm : and ready to put to Sea again with the first fair wind.
NOTICE is hereby given, That Sir Robert Viner is now setled in the African house neer the middle of Broad-street London, where he intends to manage his affairs (as formerly in Lumbardstreet) having by the good providence of God been entirely preserved by a timely and safe removal of all his concerns, almost twenty four hours before the furious Fire entered Lumbardstreet.
Also Alderman Meynell, and Alderman Backwell, with divers others of Lumbardstreet, being likewise preserved in their Estates, do intend to settle in a few days in or near Broadstreet.
THE general Post-Office is for the present held at the two Black Pillars in Bridges-street, over against the Fleece-Tavern in Covent Garden, till a more convenient place can be found in London.
Royal Charles in St.Helens Road, Sept.2. On the 30th past, by six in the morning our Fleet weighted anchor, at Sole-Bay, but it proving a calm, and the tide against us, we were forced to come again to an Anchor, before we had made a league of way, and so rid that day without farther intelligence of the Enemy.
The 31.by 7. in the morning we were under sayl, and stood a Course towards the Long sand-head, till about 11. at noon, when off Balsey Cliffe we discovered the Enemy bearing S. and by E. whereupon we steered S.E being assured by our Pilots to be clear of the Galloper, but yet we past not so well, but that this Ship struck upon the sand, but was so fortunate as to get off again without prejudice : Which stop brought us into better order to steer after the Enemy, with the White Squadron in the Van, and Blew in the Rear, till 12. at night, keeping the Wind, at which time we guest the Dutch were tacked, seeing them neer us, and some of our stern-most ships and the Enemy firing, which made us tack also, and stand to the Northwards.
Sept.1. We saw the Vice-Admiral of the Blew to the Leeward with some few ships, and finding the Dutch were gone away from us toward Calais, we stood a Course after them, and found some of them newly Anchored, and others standing in, but at our approach, they got all under sail, and stood for Bullogne Road, haling in close to the shoar, being sure to weather us, if we past the Point, the Wind then E. by N. and E.N.E. as much as we could carry our top sails half mast high : Whereupon we lay by, short of the place, till all our Fleet came up; but then the storm growing greater, and having no hopes, by reason of the ill weather, of attempting farther upon the Enemy, who durst not adventure out of the shelter of the shoar, it was found best to lay by, and bring the Fleet together, and the next day to betake ourselves to St.Helens Bay, the place appointed for our Rendezvous, as the most proper station to hinder the enemies conjunction with the French, we are ready with the first fair Winds to seek out the Enemy.
In the storm two of our ships struck the Riprap-sands, viz. the Andrew and the Happy Return, but got off well again; The rest of our Fleet in good condition. What loss the Enemy sustained by the storm we know not, onely we are assured, they were forced to blow up one of their greatest ships; another Flag-ship wholly disabled, was seen driving before the wind; and that several others of them were much damnified and disabled : and of the rest, four we could see run upon the Sands, and with great difficulty got off again.
Dover, 8. Sept. This afternoon the Dutch Fleet weighed from Bullen Road, and are now standing towards their own Coast.
London, Printed by Tho. Newcomb. 1666.