The True Report
of the burning of the Steeple
and Church of Paul's
in London.
_Jeremiah_ xviii. [7, 8.]
I will speak suddenly against a Nation, or against a Kingdom,
to pluck it up, and to root it out, and destroy it. But if that
Nation against whom I have pronounced, turn from their
wickedness; I will repent of the plague that I
thought to bring upon them.
Imprinted at London, at the
West end of Paul's Church, at
the sign of the _Hedgehog_,
by William Seres.
_Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum.
Anno 1561, the 10th of June._
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_The True Report of the burning of the
Steeple and Church of
Paul's in London._
ON Wednesday, being the 4th day of June in the year of our Lord 1561
(and in the 3rd year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady ELIZABETH,
by the Grace of God, Queen of England France and Ireland, Defender
of the Faith, &c.), between one and two of the clock at afternoon,
was seen a marvellous great fiery lightning; and immediately ensued
a most terrible hideous crack of thunder, such as seldom hath been
heard; and that, by estimation of sense, directly over the city of
London. At which instant, the corner of a turret of the Steeple of
St Martin's Church within Lud Gate was torn; and divers great stones
casten down; and a hole broken through the roof and timber of the
said Church by the fall of the same stones.
For divers persons (in time of the said tempest, being on the river
of Thames; and others being in the fields near adjoining to the city)
affirmed that they saw a long and spear-pointed flame of fire, as
it were, run through the top of the broche [_or spire_] or shaft of
Paul's Steeple; from the East, westward. And some of the parish of St
Martin's, then being in the street, did feel a marvellous strong air
or whirlwind, with a smell like brimstone, coming from Paul's Church;
and withal heard a rush of the stones which fell from their Steeple
into the Church.
Between four and five of the clock, a smoke was espied by divers to
break out under the bowl of the said shaft of Paul's; and namely
[_particularly_] by PETER JOHNSON, Principal Registrar to the Bishop
of LONDON; who immediately brought word to the Bishop's House.
But, suddenly after, as it were in a moment, the flame brake forth in
a circle, like a garland, round about the broche, about two yards,
to the estimation of sight, under the bowl of the said shaft; and
increased in such wise that, within a quarter of an hour, or little
more, the Cross and the Eagle on the top fell down upon the South
cross Ile [_Aisle_].
* * * * *
The Lord Mayor being sent for, and his Bretheren [the Aldermen], came
with all speed possible; and had a short consultation, as in such a
case might be, with the Bishop of LONDON and others, for the best way
of remedy. And thither came also [Sir NICHOLAS BACON] the Lord Keeper
of the Great Seal, and [WILLIAM PAULET, Marquis of WINCHESTER] the
Lord Treasurer: who, by their wisdom and authority, directed as good
order as in so great confusion could possibly be.
* * * * *
Some there were, pretending experience in wars, that counselled the
remnant of the Steeple to be shot down with cannons; which counsel
was not liked, as most perilous both for the dispersing [of] the
fire, and [the] destruction of houses and people.
Others (perceiving the Steeple to be past all recovery; considering
the hugeness of the fire, and the dropping of the lead) thought best
to get ladders, and scale the Church; and with axes to hew down a
space of the roof of the Church to stay the fire, at the least to
save some part of the said Church: which was concluded [_decided
upon_]. But before the ladders and buckets could be brought, and
things put in any order (and especially because the Church was of
such height that they could not scale it, and no sufficient number
of axes could be had: the labourers also being troubled with the
multitude of idle gazers); the most part of the highest roof of the
Church was on fire.
First, the fall of the Cross and Eagle fired the South cross Ile
[_Aisle_]; which Ile was first consumed. The beams and brands of the
Steeple fell down on every side, and fired the other three parts:
that is to say, the Chancel or Quire, the North Ile, and the body of
the Church. So that, in one hour's space, the broche [_or spire_] of
the Steeple was burnt down to the battlements; and the most part of
the highest roof of the Church likewise consumed.
* * * * *
The state of the Steeple and Church seeming both desperate; my Lord
Mayor was advised, by one Master WINTER of the Admiralty [_i.e.
Admiral Sir WILLIAM WINTER_], to convert the most part of his care
and provision to preserve the Bishop's Palace adjoining to the
north-west end of the Church; lest from that House, being large, the
fire might spread to the streets adjoining. Whereupon the ladders,
buckets, and labourers were commanded thither; and, by great labour
and diligence, a piece of the roof of the North Ile was cut down, and
the fire so stayed: and, by much water, that part quenched; and the
said Bishop's House preserved.
* * * * *
It pleased GOD also, at the same time, both to turn, and calm, the
wind: which afore was vehement; and continued still high and great in
other parts without the city.
There were above 500 persons that laboured in carrying and filling
water, &c. Divers substantial citizens took pains as if they had been
labourers; so did also divers and sundry Gentlemen, whose names were
not known to the Writer hereof: but amongst others, the said Master
WINTER, and one Master STRANGUISH, did both take notable pains in
their own persons; and also much directed and encouraged others, and
that not without great danger to themselves.
* * * * *
In the evening, came the Lord CLINTON, [the] Lord Admiral, from the
Court at Greenwich; whom the Queen's Majesty (as soon as the rage
of the fire was espied by Her Majesty and others in the Court, of
the pitiful inclination and love that her gracious Highness did bear
both to the said Church and the city) sent to assist my Lord Mayor,
for the suppressing of the fire: who, with his wisdom authority and
diligent travail, did very much good therein.
About ten of the clock, the fierceness of the fire was past, the
timber being fallen and lying burning upon the vaults of stone; the
vaults yet (GOD be thanked!) standing unperished. So as only the
timber of the whole Church was consumed, and the lead molten: saving
the most part of the two low Iles of the Quire, and a piece of the
North Ile, and another small piece of the South Ile in the body of
the Church.
Notwithstanding all which, it pleased the merciful GOD, in his wrath,
to remember his mercy; and to enclose the harm of this most fierce
and terrible fire within the walls of this one Church: not extending
any part of his wrath in this fire upon the rest of the city, which
to all reason and sense of man was subject to utter destruction. For
in the whole city, without the Church, no stick was kindled surely.
Notwithstanding that, in divers parts and streets, and within the
houses both adjoining and of a good distance, as in Fleet Street
and Newgate Market, by the violence of the fire, burning coals of
great bigness fell down almost as thick as hailstones; and flaws of
lead were blown abroad into the gardens without the city, like flaws
of snow in breadth: without hurt (GOD be thanked!) to any house or
person.
* * * * *
Many fond talks go abroad of the original cause of this. Some say,
It was negligence of plumbers: whereas, by due examination, it is
proved that no plumbers or other workmen laboured in the Church for
six months before. Others suspect that it was done by some wicked
practice of wild fire or gunpowder: but no just suspicions thereof,
by any examination, can be found hitherto. Some suspect Conjurors and
Sorcerers, whereof there is also no great likelihood: and if it had
been wrought that way; yet could not the Devil have done it without
GOD's permission, and to some purpose of his unsearchable judgments,
as appeareth in the story of JOB.
* * * * *
The true cause, as it seemeth, was the tempest, by GOD's sufferance.
For it cannot be otherwise gathered, but that, at the said great
and terrible thunderclap, when St Martin's Steeple was torn, the
lightning (which by natural order smiteth the highest) did first
smite the top of Paul's Steeple; and entering in at the small holes,
which have always remained open for building scaffolds to the works,
and finding the timber very old and dry, did kindle the same: and so
the fire increasing, grew to a flame, and wrought the effect which
followed; most terrible then to behold, and now most lamentable to
look upon.
* * * * *
On Sunday following, being the 8th day of June [1561], the reverend
[Father] in GOD [JAMES PILKINGTON] Bishop of DURHAM, at St Paul's
Cross, made a learned and fruitful Sermon; exhorting the auditory to
a general repentance, and namely [_especially_] to humble obedience
to the laws and Superior Powers, which virtue is much decayed in
these our days: seeming to have intelligence from the Queen's
Highness, that Her Majesty intendeth more severity of laws shall be
executed against persons disobedient, as well in causes of Religion
as Civil; to the great rejoicing of his auditors.
He exhorted also his audience to take this as a general warning to
the whole realm, and namely [_especially_] to the city of London, of
some greater plague to follow if amendment of life in all [e]states
did not ensue. He much reproved those persons which would assign the
cause of this wrath of GOD to any particular [e]state of men; or
that were diligent to look into other men's lives, and could see no
faults in themselves: but wished that every man would descend into
himself and say with DAVID, _Ego sum qui peccavi_. "I am he that hath
sinned." And so forth to that effect, very godly.
He also not only reproved the profanation of the said Church
of Paul's, of long time heretofore abused [_in Paul's Walk_] by
walking, jangling, brawling, fighting, bargaining, &c., namely
[_particularly_] in Sermon and Service time: but also answered by
the way to the objections of such evil-tongued persons which do
impute this token of GOD's deserved ire to alteration, or rather,
Reformation of Religion; declaring out of ancient records and
histories the like, yea, and greater matters, [that] had befallen in
the time of superstition and ignorance.
For, in the 1st year of King STEPHEN [1135-6 A.D.] not only the said
Church of Paul's was burnt: but also a great part of the city: that
is to say, from London Bridge to St Clement's [Church] without Temple
Bar, was by fire consumed.
And in the days of King HENRY VI., the Steeple of Paul's was also
fired by lightning: although it was then stayed by diligence of the
citizens; the fire being then, by likelihood, not so fierce.
Many other such like common calamities he rehearsed, which happened
in other countries, both nigh to this realm and far off, where the
Church of Rome hath most authority. And therefore [he] concluded
the surest way to be, that every man should judge examine and amend
himself; and embrace believe and truly follow the Word of GOD; and
earnestly to pray to GOD to turn away from us his deserved wrath
and indignation; whereof this his terrible work is a most certain
warning, if we repent not unfeignedly.
The which GOD grant may come to pass in all estates and degrees,
to the glory of His name, and to our endless comfort in CHRIST our
Saviour. Amen.
GOD save the Queen.
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