A True and Particular RELATION Of the FIRE which happened in the Castle of DUBLIN in IRELAND.
THere is no place so secure, nor person so careful, that are not subject to the contingencies that daily attend on humane Affairs, especially such as happen by Fire, when that powerful Enemy gets the mastery. Troy, that resisted the war-like Foe for 10 years, could not withstand the Fire so many hours, nor all its (Titular) Deities defend it from the Flames. We have had many fatal examples of late years in England, especially in London; nor has the Royal Palace, nay hardly His Majesties own Bed-Chamber, escaped, notwith­standing the vigilance of the Guards, and the more peculiar hand of Providence over Him. His Excellency the Earl of Arran, a Gent. of approved Trust and Loyalty, His Majesties De­puty in the Kingdom of Ireland, resided in the Castle of Dublin; where on the 7th. instant there happen'd such a Fire as almost totally consum'd the Castle, &c. a true Relation whereof take as followeth:

Dublin, April the 7th. 1684.

SIR,

THis morning, about half an hour after One of the clock, broke out a most dreadful Fire in the Castle, which is thought to have begun in the Lord Deputies Dressing-room, by the Beam of the Room go­ing under the Room; which taking fire, became immediately so outragious, that my Lord himself was in great danger of being destroyed: In fine, (though, God be thanked, not one person is hurt, yet) it has consum'd all the new Brick-buildings, (viz.) the Queens Drawing-Room, my Lord's own Appartment, and the Ladies Appartments; wherein my Lady Dutchess has received very considerable loss, to the value of several thousand pounds, in rich Furniture, &c. It has likewise destroy'd the Chappel, the King's Draw­ing-room, the Presence, and the great Dining-room; so that that Row is quite burnt, from the great Door and Stairs of the Castle Eastward, to the very corner of the Wall. As for the other Row, the long Gallery, my Lords Closet, the Secretaries Office, and all the other Offices below, with the Lodg­ings over them, (viz. where the young Lady lay) are all blown up. The Conflagration was so fierce and devouring, that there is nothing of the Castle left (within its walls) but the Hall, Kitchen and Cellar; that is as to the Palace: the out-Lodgings (such as they are) are still standing, tho'd defaced.

You may, by this sad Relation, easily imagine the splender of our Court; but the consternation of the people cannot well be thought; for the Tower of the Magazine, (which has in it at least 2000 Barrels of Powder) was greatly endanger'd, the Fire coming within 20 yards of it; which, as it would have destroy'd half the Town, so questionless many thousands of the Inhabi­tants must inevitably have perished.

Amidst the horrour and alarm of Drums beating, Trumpet sounding, and People running about distracted they knew not whither, in the dead of the night, I (your Friend and Servant) knowing my Service could be but small, and that I should but add one to the Crowd, with what expedition I could, got me ready, and away with my Coach to the Strand; where, from half an hour after Two, till the Fire was quite out, (which was full three hours after) did I tow'r it all alone, out of the reach or danger of the Fire.

My Lord Deputy is remov'd to White-Fryars, where he remains till Chappel-Isard be in order, where he will then reside, he having sustained no small share in this loss. All the Papers both of his Closet, and the Secretaries Office under him, were saved before that Appartment was blown up. I am, SIR,

Yours, &c. B. R.

ANOTHER RELATION Of the aforesaid Dreadful FIRE.

Dublin, Apr. 7.
SIR,

A Sad Accident happened here about Two of the clock this morning, by Fire that took in the Castle, next Chamber to my Lord Deputies. It was first perceived blazing through the windows by a Souldier, which ran and beat up his Excellency, who had only time to get out of the Room in his shirt. This happened in the Earl of Essex's Buildings, which consumed all to the great Dining-room; the great Magazine of Powder (containing two or three thousand Barrels) lying in the Tower next the back-gate, to which the Fire was making; but the diligence of his Excellency gave order to blow up the long Gallery, and the Buildings belonging to it; for had the Fire got thither, it would unavoidably have burned the Tower of the Magazine, which ('tis sup­posed) would have destroyed most of the City, and could not kill less than thousands of people: but the blowing up of those Buildings put a stop to all the Fire, tho' that Palace now lies in Rubbish and Ashes.

The particular losses cannot yet be known, tho' (praised be God) we do not yet hear any one Soul hath perished in this dismal Accident. I have seen several Gentlemen of my acquantance, who (having Lodgings in the Castle,) have lost all but their Lives. I do assure you this is a true account, and as particular as I could then attain to: In the interim, I pray take it not amiss from him who his

Your loving Friend, and humble Servant, W. C.

Printed by Nath. Thompson, at the Entrance into the Old-Spring­Garden near Charing-Cross, 1684.

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