I Cannot excuſe my ſelf of acquainting you with a very late attempt of Firing our Town of Barnet, which though but a little one was not beneath the Malice of our known Averſaries, as your great and famous City neither was, nor is above it. And though God hath fruſtrated their deſign, yet the Eviction of it with ſo much Evidence, will be of no ſmall uſe to ſtop the Mouths of thoſe, who decry the belief of all ſuch Attempts as ungrounded; the true Narrative is as follows. On Thurſday October 16 at Night, about one of the Clock, the Miſtreſs of one of the Houſes attempted to be Fired, as ſhe lay in her Bed, after a little ſlumber, awakned, and ſuppoſed ſhe ſmelled a ſmoke ſo unuſual, as filled her with ſuſpicion of Fire to be in ſome place of the Houſe. Upon this occaſion, ſome of the Family were raiſed to make a ſearch; but all places being ſearched where ſuch a thing might be expected, nothing was found that could be the leaſt occaſion of ſuſpicion: But the ſmoke and the ſtench of it increaſing, confirmed the ſuſpition ſo, that they thought fit to awaken their next Neighbour, and oblige him to ſearch his Houſe, and eſpecially his Cellar, where he ſometimes dried Tobacco, and from whence they ſuppoſed the ſmell of the Fire came. But after the ſtricteſt Examination, nothing could be found that might give any ſatisfaction of the place where it was, though the ſymptoms of Fire ſo much increaſed, as made it beyond doubt that they were in danger. At length one going into a Shop next the Street, where never any Fire uſed to be made, obſerved that in a corner about two or three foot from the Street, the ſmell was hotteſt, and an apparent token that the Fire was not far off. Upon this, divers Neighbours being gathered together for their Aſſiſtance, both in the ſearch, and if there ſhould be further occaſion, for the quenching of it; ſome of them brake down the Wall near to the Ground, which was of Wainſcot and other Boards. No ſooner was this done, but the Neſt was diſcovered, and there they found a Fire kindled ſo far, that it had burnt a conſiderable part of the Timber next adjoyning, and within a few inches of the Deal-boards: But raking the place (which was as you ſhall hear ſo unuſual, and ſo unfit a place for Fire, except upon an induſtrious Plot for Miſchief) they found a conſiderable quantity of Combuſtible Matter amaſſed together, partly burnt to Aſhes, and partly unconſumed: But there having been much Water thrown upon it, they could not well diſcern what it was, but that the ground of it was Charcoal; and that all Circumſtances conſidered, it was beyond all diſpute diſpoſed there to fire the whole Town; which Circumſtances I ſhall exactly and faithfully relate, that not only a due Concluſion, but alſo a due improvement may be made of it.

There is in Barnet a row of Houſes, ſtriking down from the Church to the Market-place, which divides the two great Streets, and is ſo poſited, that being Fired, it would be hard for either ſide of the Town to eſcape it. In this Row, two of the moſt conſiderable Houſes were ſo disjoyned (having each of them their proper Walls) that betwixt the Walls there was a Vacancy, but no larger at the entrance than would admit with ſome difficulty of a Man's Arm to be thruſt in. Here it was (and as I ſaid before, about two or three foot from the Street) that the Fire, and the Combuſtible Matter was found, which was as far inward as an Arm could reach from the Street ſide: But from within the Houſes there was no Paſſage to it; nor had there been any Fire in the foreſaid Cellar, many Months before. Upon the report of this, many Gentlemen, and others, repaired to the place next Day to ſatisfie themſelves of the truth of the Matter related: And upon the moſt ſtrict Examination of all particulars, there were not any (though moſt averſe from the belief of ſuch deſigned, and wicked Practices) but were fully convinced that it was an induſtrious Attempt to conſume the Town to Aſhes.

Sir, I ſhould not have given you the trouble of theſe Lines, but from the ſenſe of our duty to acknowledg the good Hand of God upon us, in ſo remarkable a Deliverance: And although the ſucceſs of this Miſchievous Deſign might have rendred our Narrative more affecting, and deplorable: Yet as the watchful Eye of God over us to the preventing of the ſad effects, is to us the greater Mercy; ſo the wretched Contrivance, of more wretched Authors, is not unworthy of your ſpecial notice. You have in this Evidence ſufficient to poſſeſs you, that the ſame Spirits which produced thoſe many and dreadful Conflagrations, is not yet dead, nor aſleep; but attempting all manner of Ways to promote their Helliſh Intereſts, founded on the Ruines of all whom they are pleaſed to call Hereticks. And that all Proteſtants however diſtinguiſhed, are equally obnoxious to their Cruelties, is no matter of diſpute with Men of a mean Intelligence. I cannot paſs by one circumſtance of our Danger without a Remark. The two Houſes betwixt which this Fire was kindled, were inhabited, the one of them by a ſtrict obſerver of the preſent Rites of the Church of England; the other by a Diſſenter: But both of them Perſons of a ſober Life, and a general good Reputation. But this is no matter of Conſideration with our common Adverſaries the Papiſts (upon whom we may confidently, without uncharitableneſs, charge the Fact) the Sacrifice of one, and t'other; yea, one and all is moſt grateful to them. It is rather my Wiſh than my Hope, that ſuch Minute Attempts upon ſuch inconſiderable places as Barnet, ſhould confine their Malice, or that the diſappointment ſhould diſcourage them from far greater. It is high time for all to be awakened, and you Citizens of London eſpecially, who, as you are looked on as the greateſt Let to their Intereſt, ſo you are the greateſt Object of their Hatred and Conſpiracies. But as hitherto, the Lord hath in a wonderful manner, in diſpite of all Powers and Policies (befriending them) detected, and prevented their Miſchievous Devices: So let us, as our Duty and Intereſt, ſtir up our ſelves to lay hold on Him by the Prayer of Faith, and a holy Chriſtian Life, that he may yet be Omniſcient, and Almighty for us, and againſt all thoſe that riſe up againſt us. We are Beſotted, if ſuch Inſtances keep not alive the apprehenſions of our Enemies Guilt, and our own Dangers. Let us not be wanting to our ſelves, and God will be All-ſufficient.

There were three Perſons ſtrangers ſuſpected of this Fact, who came to a ſmall Inn in the Town requiring Lodging, but although they were promiſed Entertainment, they departed before Bed-time, and it is not known that they lodged that Night any where in the Town; but three ſuch like Perſons were ſeen ſculking not long before the Fire brake out, but not after. And for our parts we keep no Watch, to Examine and Apprehend ſuch Perſons, it may be we may now learn by our Danger, to be at the Charge of ſome better means for our Security. Farewell.