the great fire of london samuel pepys diary

Poor Michell’s house, as far as the Old Swan, already burned that way, and the fire running further, that in a very little time it got as far as the Steeleyard, while I was there. So I down to the water-side, and there got a boat and through bridge, and there saw a lamentable fire. Magnus’s Church and most part of Fish-street already. So down, with my heart full of trouble, to the Lieutenant of the Tower, who tells me that it begun this morning in the King’s baker’s house in Pudding-lane, and that it hath burned St. Robinson’s little son going up with me and there I did see the houses at that end of the bridge all on fire, and an infinite great fire on this and the other side the end of the bridge which, among other people, did trouble me for poor little Michell and our Sarah on the bridge. So I made myself ready presently, and walked to the Tower, and there got up upon one of the high places, Sir J.

By and by Jane comes and tells me that she hears that above 300 houses have been burned down to-night by the fire we saw, and that it is now burning down all Fish-street, by London Bridge. So to my closett to set things to rights after yesterday’s cleaning. About seven rose again to dress myself, and there looked out at the window, and saw the fire not so much as it was and further off. So I rose and slipped on my nightgowne, and went to her window, and thought it to be on the backside of Marke-lane at the farthest but, being unused to such fires as followed, I thought it far enough off and so went to bed again and to sleep.

Some of our mayds sitting up late last night to get things ready against our feast to-day, Jane called us up about three in the morning, to tell us of a great fire they saw in the City.

The great fire of london samuel pepys diary