On Sunday the 19 of this Instant Novemb. 1682 a dreadful Fire broke out in Cinnamon-street in VVapping, near to Sir Ri­chard VVarrens, the manner according to the best Information is thus,

A Master of a Ship Living in the Street aforesaid, and having some Friends with him that same day, Fires were made in the Chambers, perhaps bigger then or­dinary, [Page 2] but nothing was perceived till about nine in the Even­ing, when a Child about eight years of Age, perceiving an extraordinary smoke, dryed out Fire, which alarumed seve­ral of the Neighbours, so that they came out of their Houses, but perceiving no such thing at first, blamed the Child, but it persisting therein, directed them to the House, when o­pening the Door they perceived the great Beam into which the Gyses are Tennanted on Fire, and then called upon the People, who were in such a consternation [the Floor up one pair of Stairs being on Fire] that they came running down, some of them without their Cloaths, and before they could return to fetch them or take out any thing considerable of their Goods, the whole Structure was in a Flame, first kind­led as some think by Timber layed from the Floor into the Chimney, and yet 'tis greatly doubted whether the Maid of the House be not Burnt.

The Flame having got the Mastery and driven by th [...] severity of the Wind, which was excessive high, and but little Water to be got, it raged exceedingly, destroying all be­fore it on either side the way, and that so suddainly, running through two or three Houses at once, that the Neighbouring Inhabitants in a hurry and amazement, were not capable of securing half their Goods, and some none at all, thus the Flames Triumphing as it were over those Antient Buildings, drove on for the space of an hour and a half e're any Engines could come in, and the Streets being so narrow, and the Fire following so fast, many of them proved unserviceable, yet great was the Industry of the Ingeneirs, insomuch that they Laboured incessantly, though to no great advantage, Water being at that time exceeding scarce.

After about 100 Houses were consumed Powder being brought by Water, orders were given for blowing up, which accordingly was performed, and six Houses immediately Le­velled, but there being no place to put the Timber, and the Fire coming fast on the fury of the Wind, drove it with such Vehemency, that burning through the Ruins, it catched the Houses on the other side, and then raged as fearful as at first, even to the River side, from whence the Ships weighed Anchor, and stood to the other Shore, but in such confusion, that by cutting their Halsers, and runing foul of each other much damage was sustained, some of them that lay nearest the Shore had their Shrouds Fired, though by the Industry of [Page 3] the Sailers, they were soon extinguished, and one amongst the rest was near Perishing, being Fired in her fore Castle, by a Flake or Sheet of Flame, She lying near upon Ground, but being Towed off it was extinguished, and she preserved, yet 'tis said amongst the rest that hastily came on board, two tum­bled into the River and there one of them Perished.

Whilst the Wind was South by East, the Fire not only went with it, but likewise as it were crept under it, laying waste Lanes and Allys, and a Grocers House chancing to have Gun-Powder in it, either left through forgetfulness or suddain sur­prize, blew up, and falling suddainly, overwhelmed several in the Ruins, then several other Houses being blown up pur­posely, the Seamen and others drew the Timber to the Water­side, and threw it into the Thames, so that the River Floated with Timber, even till the Water in many places was scarce discernable.

Thus it continued to the greatest Terrror of the Inhabitants, who every where Fled before it, filling the Fields with their Goods, which through hast, and the little Regard that was had in taking them down or in pieces were Vastly spoiled, about one in the Morning, several of the Guards came and brought Pow­der and other necessarys, so that by the great Industry of those that Laboured to extinguish it, it was well hoped it would have been brought under, but the Wind shifting its quarter, Blew harder then before, and several People having been Kil­led by the unexpected fall of Timber, Chimneys, and peices of Walls, those that had it in hand grew fearful, so that for some time, the narrowness of the Streets contributing thereto, it went on uncontrouled, especially towards Shadwell, and Burnt down all or most of the New-Building that were Burnt in the great Fire about five or six years since, as likewise Cranes, Ware-houses, and Store-houses; great were the quantitys of Tobacco and Brandy that were destroyed, Wood-yards in abundance likewise consumed, no Carts being to be got, and by reason the Tyde fell Low, all meanes by sending the Boards and Timber away by Water were cut off, so that by Eight in the Morning six or seven hundred Houses were Judged to be Burnt, besides about twenty Blown up, and many more pul­led Down, nor were the Water men retained by the Insurers less active then the rest, even to the indangering their Lives, Especially about preserving those Houses that were insured of which there were a considerable Number.

[Page 4] When it came to the place called Wapping-Wall; many were of the opinion it would have stayed, but contrary to ex­pectation it Burnt fiercer than before, running along with such speed that it entring sometimes four Houses together, took both sides of the way, and cleared with it all the Allys, when some endeavouring to pull down a VVall that it might damp the Fire, it fell on three or four and Buried them in the Ruins, and another House being on Fire, some People ventured in as tis supposed to pilfer, but the House suddenly was Beaten down by the fall of a stock of Chimnies, but how many pe­rished therein remains uncertain though some there were.

Thus huving consumed the greatest part of Wapping, with the adjoyning Streets, Allys, Yards, Courts, VVharfs, and the like, it entered Shadwell, not at all abating its fury, and there taking both sides the way made lamentable destruction, Burn­ing all about the Dock, and destroyed a Lighter that lay on Ground, consuming many stately Buildings; there again Blow­ing up was used as opportunity afforded and effectually, that it was stopped from going to the Left, yet kept its course as fierce as ever, Burning at three of the Clock most extream­ly, when again two Sea-men standing too long upon a House that was on Fire underneath it fell, and one of them with it, but the other caught hold of a Beam that came from the next House: Lamentable was it to behold, the poor People Crying up and down for the loss of their Goods and Habitations; many Hundreds that Yesterday were well seated, and Goods about them, this day turned out to seek a place to repose in, on the other hand VVomen Lamenting the loss of their Husbands Killed in endeavouring to extinguish the merciless Flames, and so continued Burning the space of Twenty hours, in which time tis Judged, as near as can be computed, Houses and Goods to an inestimable Value was Burnt, besides about Forty Persons Killed.