ON the 22d of this Instant September, about Two of the Clock in the Morning a Light, more than ordinary, was espied in a Stationer's Shop in the Rules over against the King's-Bench Prison in Southwark; which increasing more and more, gave a Suspicion to the Watch, and Others, that it could be no Candle: But whil'st they were Intentive to consider it, they pla [...]nly perceived the House was on Fire; proceeding thereupon to give Notice to the Family, and sorce the Doors, In hopes to quench it before it could get any Head, but their Endeavors proved ineffectual▪ for no sooner it got Air, but bursting out at the Windows, it raged with such vehemency, that all which could be done, was the saving of the Peoples Lives. When having consumed that House, with the Goods▪ and Furniture, it took hold of the next; and so making its progress on the West-side of Southwark, where Booths for Shows are placed in the Fair-time, notwithstanding extraordinary showres of Rain had fallen before, it caught hold of the Deal boards, and fi [...]ed the Booth called Parker's Booth, and so the adjoining Timber; which falling to the Eastward, fired the other side of the Street. And both at once bei [...]g in a Flame, not only much hindred People from passing with their Goods, but increased the Consternation: For the Build­ings being Timber for the most part, and generally old, with many intricate Alleys running backward, the Flame, driven on by the Wind, raged extremely, notwithstanding Endeavors that were used on all Hands to suppress it. Whereupon, lest the other Booths taking Fire, should assist it in its progress, they were ordered to be pulled down, and, accordingly, many of them were overthrown, and the Boards and Rafters removed, when about Three of the Clock part of the King's-Bench Prison took Fire, which caused a great Cry amongst the Prisoners; and such as had their Lodging in the Fore­part of the Prison were removed backwards: But 'tis credibly re­ported, during the Consternation, two or three of them made their Escapes amongst the Crowd.

The Engines being by this time brought, and a great number off Hands employed, only the Front of the Common Side of the Prison received Damage, yet the Fire on both sides the way not only spread in the Front North and South, but with great Vehemency burnt backward; so that the Inns, known by the Signs of the Falcon, and the Half-Moon, were flaming both at once, the quantities of Hay and Straw causing them to blaze in a terrible manner, and sheets of Flame broke off, and carried by the▪ Wind scorched, and much endangered the Houses at a very considerable distance, so that Powder being brought, Order was given for the blowing up such Houses as stood most convenient to give the Fire a Check which was accordingly done, and the Pipes cut to supply the Buckets and En­gins, many of the Soldiers Quartering thereabouts using Indifatiga­ble Industry; not only in Suppressing the Fire, but in helping the distressed People who seemed every where to be in a Hurry and Con­fusion to carry off their Goods: For the Terror of the Rageing Ele­ment was such, that it seem'd to Threaten at a great distance, which caused the People accordingly to make a timely preparation for a Removal; but by blowing up, and the Interposition of some strong Brick houses whose Walls stopped the Flame; about Four of the Clock it began to Abate, and so by degrees the Fuel on which it fed being Consumed, and the Wind slacking, between Five and Six of the Clock it was brought under, and a Stop put to its further Progress.

In this Lamentable Fire which lasted about Four Hours, between. Fourscore and a Hundred Houses are Reckoned to be Burnt and blown up, Besides a great many Shattered and Defaced, the loss of Goods of divers kinds is held to Amount to an Extraordinary Value, seve­ral Families by reason of the Swiftness of the Fires Progress having no time to Remove, Especially any thing Considerable. How it be­gan whether by the Carelesness of a Candle, or otherways, Remains doubtful Reports and Conjecturals being various: As likewise doth the Burning of the Child in the House where it first began, said to be left in the Cradle through hast and forgetfulness.

That which is observable is, That there was one Man, who was heard to be liberal in his Tongue, above all others, in speaking suspicious and re­flecting Words; whereupon he was presently seized, and brought before Mr. Justice Evans, and upon Examination was found to be a Roman Catholick having Crucifixes, Beads, and other Trinkets about him, and therefore was committed Prisoner to the Marshalsea.