YT is not vnknowne to many, and chiefly to English Marchants that the Towne of Te­uerton, in Deuon-shire, about Ten myles on this side Exceter, was the chiefe Mar­ket for Cloth, that is in all the West parts of England: pleasantlye situate vppon the cleere running Ryuer of Exe: garnished with manye costlye and goodly buildinges, inhabited with diuers rich and weal­thy Marchants: and so well peopled, as no other Towne (of the same bignesse) in all those quarters, could compare there­with: And by reasō of y^e Market kept therin euery Monday for Cloth, and other commodities, it was greatly frequented of all the countrey people neere adioyning, especially of Clo­thiers and such other persons as had any dealinges therein: where they were sure of sale, and to haue present money for their commodities were it neuer so much, where alwayes be­fore dinner, they had their Coyne truely payde, which was no small benefit to all the poore men of the West partes, as Weauers, and Tuckers and such like. But such is the mu­tabillite of fortune, and the vncertaintie of our mortall state: that no man can make assurance of that hee hath, nor war­rant his owne welfare one minute of an hower, as by this fol­lowing example, and many other the like is manifest: For we may bee well assured, that the Third daye of Aprill last, when the rich Inhabitants of Teuerton rose in the morning: Nay, when they were in the Market at Noone, they little thought that before night their wealth should haue been tur­ned into such want: but now behold a thing more wonderfull: he which at one a clocke was worth fiue Thousand Pound, & [Page]as the Prophet saith, drunke his wine in bowles of fine Sil­uer plate, had not by two a Clocke so much as a woodden dish left to eate his meate in, nor a house to couer his sorrowfull head, neyther did thys happen to one man alone, but to many other, being neyther in danger of the crueltie of warrs, nor on the Seas, where they might feare the furie of waters.

But when they thought themselues secure, and farre from any imynent perrill, in prime of the bright day, not whē their Towne was emptie, but when their streetes swarmed with store of people, not when they were a sleepe or naked in their b [...]ds, when they could not shift for themselues: but when they were awake, apparelled and fit for any businesse; Lo then (I say) sodenly, as it were in a twinkling of an eye, came that great griefe vppon them, which turn'd their wealth to miserable want, & their riches to vnlookt-for pouertie: and how was that? mary sir by Fyer.

But no fier from Heauen, no vnquenchable fier, such as worthily fell on the sinfull Citie of Sodome and Gomora: but a sillie flash of fier, blazing forth of a frying pan, the circum­stance whereof I will briefly shew you.

The fier first began at the West end of the Towne, on the fardest side of the sayde faire Riuer, about one a clocke in the after noone, in the very prime, and chiefe of the Market, whē people were most busiest in the sale of their commodities. For there was dwelling in a little lowe thatched house a poore beggerly woman, who hadde got a companion fit for her pur­pose, I meane an other woman of the like condicion. And they together went to bake pan-cakes with strawe: for their abillitie and prouision was so good, that there was no wood in the house to doe it. And as they were busie about their cooke­rie, sodenly the fier got into the Pan, which also caught pre­sent hould on the strawe lying hard by, by meanes whereof the house being very low, was by the high blaze of the strawe fiered in the verye roofe, whych by the force of an extreame [Page]high wind which blew strongly in y^e West, kindled with such vehemencie, that their was no help for the same, the fier wher­of tooke hould of a certaine bay-house neere adioyning, and from thence it passe to the Towne milles. The winde blo­wing still fiercely did driue the fier into the Towne, & by this meanes in lesse then halfe an hower the whole Towne was set on fier, and after burnt: except the Church & Court-house, which sometime belonged to the Earle of Deuon-shire.

But marke what followed: men would haue thought, that vpon a Market day, when euery street was so well replenishe with people, frō all parts, there had been help enough quick­ly to haue quencht the flambe thereof, hauing also the commo­ditie of a ryuer neere adioyning: But yt came not so to passe: for they had neyther bookes, nor buckets fit for such seruice, which all other wise and discreete Citizens doe politiequely prouide against such casualties, which might haue been a meanes of their preseruation.

Notwithstanding, it is sayd that the chiefe of the towne had often been in hand, to make such prouision: but neuer brought it to effect, for howsoeuer it was well motioned, it was ill re­membred, the want whereof they now felt to their great sorrow and cost: for whether it were couetousnesse, or necligence, or both: which in these dayes is the cause of great euill, it is cer­taine they were destitute of such engines, the misse whereof when they found, then all too late they bewailed their appro­ned follie: which was vndoubtedly Gods iust Iudgement for their iniquities: by the which let all other Townes take ex­ample.

Whereby we may gather, it is not in mans power to pre­uent with strength of hād, the least plague which y^e Lord doth purpose to bring on any place. For you shall vnderstand that all that day the wind being at West-South-west, & blowing extreame hard, the power thereof was so great, high, and ve­hement, that it inforest the kindled flambe to rise most fierce­ly [Page]beating the same toward the Towne in most outragious sort; so that, by the time the people with all expedition hadd gathered vnto that place to quench the furie thereof, beholde ere they wist the fier had taken hould in the Principall place of the Towne, and by that time they came backe againe and got thither, they perceaued other houses to burne in like ma­ner: so that while manye were busie in helping their neigh­bours, their owne houses was in as ill a case.

Then began the crie to grow most grieuous in euery part of the Towne, the mighty winde still increasing the furie of the inraged fier: here stoode one man crying for help, there a­nother, another, and another: wringing their hands and ma­king great lamentation: more and more the number increa­sed, insomuch that the people were so amazed, they knew not which way to turne, nor where the most neede was.

The fier increased so fast, grew so vehement, and spread so far, that at last there was about 400 houses on fier at once, so that euery man was glad to shift for himselfe, and so nere as he could to saue his awne life, but all in vaine, for he which e­uen now rested in hope, his house shoulde escape the daunger, in the turning of a hand, had all on fier about his cares, the winde beating the flambe in their faces: all which came still so sodenly, that there was no remedy to be had for the same.

Most dreadfull was the noyse which was then hearde in e­uery corner and street of the Towne, women pitiously scree­king, maydens bitterly crying, and children roaring out of measure, the mother running to saue her children, the husband for the wife, neighbor, calling for neighbor, friend, for friend, while they were beaten out of the towne with raging flames of fier. For so extreame, and outragious did the fier passe from house to house, there was no loking to saue their goods: no way to preserue them from destruction, for all the Cloth in the market, wares in their shops, goods and houshold stuffe, money, plate, apparell and bedding, yea all was burnt and [Page]nothing sau'd: and which is more to bee lamented, diuers townsmen did hazard themselues so farr within the daunger of the fier, to saue some part of their goodes, that they neuer returned backe againe, but were there most pitiously burned to death, and consumed to ashes: Diuers of them being of the best men in the Towne: Many children and other feeble per­sons was burnt in the houses, yea horses and other Cattell in stables and backe places, with all their corne and victuall.

Among the rest there was an old blinde man burnt, named Nicholas Hartnell whom his friendes hadd brought foorth of his bed, & layde him for his better saftie in the Market house, but while they were making shift for themselues in some other sort, before they could returne againe, the poore man was by fier turned into ashes:

There was in like manner one Lawd and his wife, which were founde lying in the streete arme in arme burnt to death, but not quite consumed: At what time there was found ly­ing betweene them fiue Pound in Gold, with the which as it seemed they sought to flie away: But being smothered by the smoke and and fiers flame, they hadde their passage wofullye stayed: there was found the sculles and bones of many more.

Likewise one Beeres wife a woman of good reputatiō, was burnt in y^e street: And also one widow Prouse before she could get out of her owne doores suffred the like tormenting death.

Then well apayd was that man, that had y^e benefit to kepe himselfe and his familie from danger: so that for the hast they made to get away into the fieldes, they ouerthrewe and tum­bled downe one another in their passage forth.

The Tyles by the beate of the fier, flew cracking from the houses, like as it had been a company of wel-charged Mus­kets ratling against some sconce: And againe to heare the houses cracke, and the burned tymber fall down with might and maine, made the verye hearts of the people to shake for feare. When in short space after, they sawe whole hou­ses [Page]tumbling to the grounde, after they had a while stood tot­tering too and fro with the mighty blastes of the South-west winde.

At what time it was hard to say, whether their sorrow, or feare was greatest, when they behelde their goodes burnt to ashes and hearde the thundering noyse of the falling houses, which caus'd y^e firme earth to quake and tremble vnder theyr feete.

Truely whosoeuer doth enter into consideration hereof, must needes acknowledge, their case to be most lamentable, and their sorrowe vnspeakeable, during the time of this terrible fier: the rage whereof lasted not aboue one hower and a halfe, and yet in that small space, had it burnt to ashes, (as I sayd before) aboue the number of Foure Hundred houses: most of them belonging to the wealthiest men in the Towne, with all the goods that were in them, so that al the substantiall towns­men, were constrained to lye in the fieldes with their wofull wiues & children, and to lodge themselues on the cold ground, that in the morning had choyce of beds to goe vnto: such was their sodaine wracke, and hard fortune.

Therefore it is a vaine thing to trust in the vncertaintie of worldlye riches which being gotten with trauell, and kepte with care, is notwithstanding sone lost, being in hazard of a Thousand dangers. And therfore most happy and blessed are they, which according to the counsaile of the holy Ghost, doe lay vp their treasure in Heauen, where it can perish by no per­rill, that can happen, but doth euer remayne safe in the sure keeping of the Lord God of hoastes.

Before the fier was fully ended, and diligent search made there was founde lacking as it is verye credibly reported an Hundred persons or there-about, of the which number (as I haue alredy mentioned) diuers were found dead in y^e streets, shoppes and houses, I meane in the place where shopps, and houses late before stoode.

The residue of the wofull people remaining yet aliue being ouer, burdened with extredme sorrow, runs vp and downe the fieldes like distraught and framick men, being driuen (as be­fore is mentioned) to shroud themselues vnder trees & hedges, lying on the bare grounde: moreouer they are so greatlye di­strest for lacke of food, that they seeme to each manns sighte more liker Spirits and Ghostes then liuing creatures: Like­wise it is by wise men verilye thought that the losses of thys Towne, wil not be recouered againe, vnder Three or Foure hundred Thousand Poundes.

But you shall vnderstande, that notwithstanding all the force of this consuming fier, there is yet some Twenty hou­ses preserued, the dwellings of poore and sillie men: And cer­taine almes houses, which is a most rare and strange thinge: For as diuers Marchants of this Citie is creadibly certified by letters, that the fier inuiornd those sillie Cottages on eue­ry side, burning other houses to the ground which stood about them, and yet had they no hurt at all.

Surely if wee shoulde enter into consideration hereof, we could not chuse but confesse, that this was the onely worke of God, to make his power manifest to men, as hee did in dely­uering the Three children out of the fierie furnace, euen so did be preserue those poore persons with their houses and goodes, for some speciall cause best knowne to himselfe according to that holy canticle sung by the blessed Virgin Marie: he hath filled the hungry with good thinges, but the rich he sent em­tie away.

It is said of some y^t this was a iust punishmēt of god brought vpon that Towne, for their vnmercifulnesse, & small regard of the poore, which were dayly seene to dye and perish in their streetes for lacke of reliefe: poore Lazarus laye vnregarded at the rich mans gate, and could not get one little morsell of meate to cherish his hungry heart: therfore (if it were so) yt was the iust iudgement of God, that they which through coue­tousnesse [Page]would not part from any thinge, should sodenly lose all: For there was not so much as one peece of Timber left, of all those Foure Hundred houses, but all were consumed to ashes, except some fewe chimneys, and stone walles whych are monuments of the Townes ruine.

Whereby it is come to passe, that those rich Marchantes, that earst scornd to grace a poore mās house with his presēce, is nowe glade to request their fauour for the worst corner in their Cottage, where they may remaine in this thier misery: which may bee a good warning for all other men of the lyke abillitie, how they contemne and dispise the poore members of Christ houlding them in disdaine, whom God hath opprest with pouertie.

O famous London, thou that flowest in wealth, and aboun­dest in Riches: Thou which art the chiefe Lady-cittie of this Land, whose fame soundeth through al Christian Kingdoms, cast thy cleere eyes on this ruinous Towne: consider her fall, and pitie her distresse, learne by her calamitie to loke into thy selfe, examine thy conscience and see whether thou hast deser­ued the like plague or no: giue thou example of true contrici­on, and as thou art chiefe in glorie, bee thou chiefe in grace, that god may long and many yeares vphould thy prosperous estate,

Yea let all the goodly Cities and Townes, which beau­tifies the Westerne plat of this florishing Iland, looke vpon their woefull Sister Teuerton, who lately did braue it wyth the best, and thought her selfe nothing inferior to the fayrest: But now she sittes clad in mournfull weeds, hauing her faire heade couered with pale ashes, her brauery conuerted to beg­gerie, her glory to disgrace, and all her mirth into moane: so that their is nothing seen but lamentation and complaint. Oh Teuerton well may thy friendes crie ouer thee (as sometime greate Kinges did ouer Babilon) saying, alas alas for that [Page]proper Towne of Teuerton, that wealthie and rich Towne, for at one hower is thy Iudgment come: thy Marchants may now weepe and morne, for no man buyeth ware in thee anye more.

Consider this thou faire Cittie of Exceter, thou which art next neighbor to this distressed Town, which hast (as it were) the smoke of her fier, yet before thy face, and her lamentati­ons tynging lowde in thy cares; pitte her heauie happe, that knowest not what miserie hanges ouer thy owne head.

And let me speake to thee, thou Towne of Plymouth, whose stately buildinges ouer-peareth the hilles, easting their pro­spects vpon the mounting waues: take warning by Teuerton and turne thy many vices into vertues, least God turne from thee his great and mighty blessinges.

Sinne is the cause of many sorrowes: and vngoblinesse y^e ground-worke of all intollerable griefe: yet if wee shoulde thinke, that the people of Teuerton were the greatest trans­gressors, because they haue suffered the greatest punishment, of any towne in the West: we should think much amisse: For as our Sauoiour Christ said vnto the Iewes, suppose not that those on whome the Tower of Silo fell, were greater sinners then the rest, but except you repent, you shall likewise perish. So say I to you and al other Cities and Towns in England, thinke not that the Inhabitants of Teuerton did surpasse all other in wickednesse, because they exceede all other in woe: but it hath pleased God to punish thē for your instruction, that behoulding their fall you may feare to offende, and learne by their miserie, your owne speedy amendment. For what is he which passeth by this Towne, and [...]a [...]st knew the florishing state thereof, seeing now her lamentable spoile: but many bee prouoked to crie with Ieremie, and saye of Teuerton, as hee spoke of Ierusalem: Alas [...]e, how desolate sitteth this towne, that sometime was full of people? how is shee become lyke a widowe, sorow full, heauie, and comfortlesse, which lately was [Page]had in good regard, and famous among all her familiers: she weepeth sore in the night, & her teares run downe her cheeks in great abundance.

But it is easie for al men to say this: to shake their heades, and crie alack alack: But a hard matter to make benefit ther­of, and to be warned by their neighbors harmes: Notwith­standing let all distressed people know, that whosoeuer fayth­fully trusteth in God, shall neuer be forsaken: well may they sustaine sorrow, but they shall not be left in miserie.

The Lord that brought them low, can rayse them againe a­loft, as it is manifest by Iobes affliction. Therefore God graunt wee may take patiently those Fatherly corrections which he layeth vpon vs: knowing that all the miseries of this life, is not worthy of the least ioye, which is prepared in Heauen for the souns of men: Vn­to the which place Christ Iesus bring vs, that by his blood so deerely bought vs. Amen.