FIve Hundred and Eighty Years since, in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand Eighty Five, and the Twentieth of William the First, called the Conqueror, there hapned a dreadfull, and very Great Fire in LONDON, which devoured not onely Houses, but Churches, all the way from Ludgate to Aldgate, not sparing that Matchless Fabrick, the Church of St. Paul. In the same Year ensued a great Famine, with a Lamentable Mortality of Men and Cattel.

In the Year One Thousand Ninety Eight, Five Hundred Sixty Seven Years since, and in the Eleventh Year of William the Second, called Rufus, for the space of fifteen dayes, great Flames of Fire were in several Places, and at sundry times seen, to the great Amazement of the Spectators.

In the Time of Henry the First, which was in the Year One Thousand One Hundred, Five Hundred Sixty Two Years agoe, the Earth on a suddain discharged it self of horrid Flames, which by the Art of Man, could not be suppressed. Soon after Chichester, with the Principal Monastry was Burnt to the Ground. Immediately after that, from West-Cheap to Aldgate in London, a Long Tract of Buildings was consumed by the mercilesse Element of Fire; and least it should be charged with any partiality, Worcester, Rochester, Win­chester, Glocester, Bathe, Lincoln, Peter-borough, with other Places, did share in the like Calamity of their Metropolis.

In the Seventh Year of King Henry the Second, One Thousand One Hun­dred Sixty One, about Four Hundred Seventy Eight Years since, at Osythes, in Essex, was seen a very Great Fiery Dragon, which in its motion Burned severall Houses, if we dare credit Sir Richard Baker in his Chronicle. In the same Year, almost the whole City of Canterbury was Burnt down. On the Twenty Fourth of his Reign, the City of YORK was Burnt. In his Eight and Twentieth Year, Barnwell near Cambridge, with the Priory was Burnt: not long after Chichester was Totally consumed by Fire. In the same Kings Reign, in the Year One Thousand One Hundred Eighty Eight, the Town of Beverly was Burnt, with St. John's Church.

One Thousand One Hundred Eighty Nine, in the Time of Richard the First, Four Hundred Sixty Eight Years since, Mawling in Kent, with the Nun­nery, was destroyed by Fire.

In the Reign of Henry the Third, One Thousand Two Hundred and Six­teen, Three Hundred Ninety Five Years since, a great part of the City of Can­terbury, with the Church of St. Mildred was Burnt. Also the Town of New-Castle upon Tine was Burnt, with the Bridge.

In the One and Twentieth of Edward the First, and in the Year, One Thou­sand Two Hundred Ninety and Three, Three Hundred and Sixty Years sinc [...] a Great Part of the Town of Cambridge, with the Church of our Lady was Buried in Ashes by an irresistable Fire. In his Twenty Seventh Year, his Pa­lace at Westminster, with the Monastry adjoyning, were consumed by Fire.

In the Seventh Year of Henry the Fourth, One Thousand Four Hundred and Six, Two Hundred Fifty Four Years since, Reyston in Hartford-shire was To­tally Burnt.

In the Fifth Year of Henry the Fifth, One Thousand Four Hundred and Eighteen, Two Hundred Forty Five Years since, a great part of the City of Norwich was Burnt.

In the Third Year of Edward the Fourth, One Thousand Four Hundred Fifty Three, One Hundred Eighty Four Years since, York Minster, and the Steeple of Christs Church in Norwich was Burnt.

In the Year, One Thousand Four Hundred Eighty Five, a great Fire hapned in Bread-Street London, which consumed the Street, with three or four more adjoyning.

In the Fifteenth of Henry the Seventh, in the Year One Thousand Five Hundred, One Hundred and Fifty Nine Years since, the Town of Babram in Norfolk was utterly consumed by Fire.

One Thousand Five Hundred Forty Eight, in the Second Year of Edward the Sixth, about One Hundred and Thirteen Years since, St. Ann's Chur [...] within Aldersgate was Burnt.

One Thousand Five Hundred Sixty One, in the Third Year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, Sixty Five Years since, the Spire of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, being sive Hundred and Twenty foot from rhe Ground, and Two Hundred and Sixty from the square Steeple where it was placed, and was made of Wooden Materials, but covered with Lead; was by Lightning Burnt down, together with the Roofs of that Large Church, within the space of five hours, which Roofs were soon after Re-edified, but not the Spire.

In the Sixth of King James, being in the Year One Thousand Six Hundred and Eight, a Malt-House in the Town of St. Edmonds-Bury, being by casu­alty set on fire, continued burning till it had consumed One Hundred and Sixty Houses.

In the Year One Thousand Six Hundred and Thirteen, on the Seventh of August, the Town of Dorchester, was totally Ruined by fire; beginning in the House of a Tallow Chandler, destroying all the Houses, except a few near the Church, and all their Wares and Goods, to the value of Two Hundred Thou­sand Pounds, yet not a Man or Woman Perished.

In the same Year, Two Play-Houses, that of the Globe on the Bank-side, and the Fortune Play-House near Golden-Lane, were both burnt to the ground; The first, by discharging a piece of Ordnance, and the latter, by a Candle.

In the Year One Thousand Six Hundred and Fourteen, the Town of Strat­ford upon Avon was burned.

In One Thousand Six Hundred Thirty and Three, and in the Eighth Year of King Charles the First, that blessed Martyr; A Fire brake out on London Bridge, by which most of the Houses that were built upon it (which when they were all standing, made up a very Beautifull Street) were burnt down to the ground.

I shall omit to speak of Fires which have hapned since; as the blowing up f several Houses, and Persons by Gun-power in Tower-Street; The firing of everal Houses in Thread-needle-Street, Fleet-Street, and Fleet-Bridge: But if my Eyes (delug'd in tears, to think on this last Unparalel'd Conflagration) will assist me, I will give a brief Account thereof.

On Sunday Morning between one and two of the Clock, it being the Second of September, One Thousand Six Hundred Sixty Six, this much talkt of, and Prodigious Year, a Fire brake out in a Bakers House in Pudding-Lane, which had by Twelve at Noon, so strengthned its Force, by too too many unhappy advantages; As drought of the Season, rotten Houses, Pitch, Tar, Oyle, with other Combustible Matter, that all Endeavours prov'd ineffectual in the Ob­struction of its irresistable Power. It ran with that impetuosity (dilating it self) that soon New-Fish-Street, the Bridge, and a great part of Thames Street were all in flames; The People all amazed, and despairing, to put a stop to its fury, gave it leave to act its Tyranny, which it did almost Universally through the Whole City. This Sacrilegious fire, as it had no mercy on Private Houses, so it took no pity on Churches, Hospitalls, Halls, the Exchange; nay St. Pauls must once more be made a burning Sacrifice to its fury. But I must desist, since this sires true Description, will take up more room, then the narrow limits of a Sheet, nay more.