MRP: London Fire, 1666

London Fire, 1666

Editorial history

24/01/12, CSG: Created page

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Overview

This page is a research notes page, rather than a finished product. It captures references in Sir George Oxenden's correspondence to the London fire of 1666.

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Economic consequences of the fire

Sir John Lewis, London merchant and ironmonger, fellow part owner of the Loyal Merchant with Sir George Oxenden. His county residence was at Ledstone Hall, West Yorkshire:

[December 20th, 1666] y:e sad disolation of y:e late merciless fire brought me to towne to look after my pticular Concernmen:ts, & dispose of my house w:tch providence had spared from soe great a Consumaton & am now by fowle weather forced to keepe my Christmas in London, & not w:th my family more y:n my wife, who came heither to y:e buriall of her mother

Nicholas Buckeridge, London merchant and former factor in Persia, detailed the progress of the fire:

[December 26th, 1666] the most lamentable relation is yet to come; for on y:e 2:d 7:ber hapned in London neare the bridge in An Ally by Thams Street A most rageing fire To begin in a Bakers house a bout 2 A Clock in the Morning whether by designe or accid:t yet doubtfull though one be Executed for it, but it soo pleased God in Justice to punish us for our Sinns, that by reason of the Closenesse of the houses & violence of the wind it rann & spread it selfe soo farr, that it was not to be mastered, untill it had burned downe 94 Parishes & Churches both to windward & to Leeward, and hath consumed all by the River side from the Tower to the Temple, and there is left onely w:thin the walles pt of Fanchurch Street, all Leaden Hall Street Bishopsgate Street, and what betweene Algate and Bishopsgate, with a little by the Walls to Moorgate, the fier lasted 3 dayes & Nights and was Not then quenched with out much labor & Industrie, wherein the King and Duke of Yorkes presence and Assistance was Exceeding Usefull and pleaseing to the people, I leave you to Imagine in what A deplorable condition the devouring fire have left us; for our losse is not to be accounted, nor our distractions Expressed

James Oxenden, Sir George Oxenden's young nephew, wrote from the family home of Deane in East Kent. He described the people fleeing the City, with laps full of paper, children in their arms, and bed ridden fathers on their backs. He doubted the popular theory that the French were behind the fire:

w:cth fury y:e fire preyd upon y:e Citty, & how a strong wind (w:ch they say) blew in all points) did advance y:e flames, into w:t Confusion y:e frighted people were running by & downe halfe distracted & dispairing of quenching y:e mersiless (flames; some w:th their Laps full of papers, others of Jewells others w:th Children in their armes, & otheres their bedred Farthers upon their backs each striving to save their dearest Objects from y:e devouring Tyrant ffire w:ch at last by an unusuall & unheard of remedy, was subdewed, & y:t w:th one would thinke should incresse y:e Conflagration, was y:e meanes of its XXXXtion, there was no way of mastering it but by its own weapons, ffire against ffire was aply’d & a great numb: of houses were blown up w:th Gunpowder before y:e fflames, w:ch at last by making a vast separation at y:e Temple put a period to their fury, & now o:e mighty Citty y:t was o:e Glory & y:e whole worlds Envy, for XXXX & Traffic, lys ?fured in its own Ruins there being scarce a six pt: standing (with in ye walls) w:ch is not reduced to Ashes, some think it a plott of y:e Romanitts, others a wicked contrivance of y:e King of ffrance, others accidentall, & y:e hand of God; it were tedious to tell yo:w y:t many frivolous storyes w:ch run abroad, but certaine it is a frenchman hath been executed for Confessing himselfe and Actor in this fflaming Tragedy, whome yett some would have to be a Lunatick, The poore XXXXX among y:e wchis consumed not razing to ?stand since its support was gone & now proves a ?Rogue or funerall pile for its ancient Patroness, whose memory though she be dead will religiously survive in y:e hearts of her Hononourers"

Sarah Wainman, former maid to Sir George Oxenden's sister and London agent, Elizabeth Dallison, wrote of her need to move home due to Lamberth due to the destruction of her home near Ludgate Hill:

[January 5th, 1666/67] S:r y:e old Corner being Consumed by fire w:th the greatest part of y:e Citty, M:rs Priren [Prizen?] & her family are gon to live at Lambeth & I remain w:th her fo y:e present

Ann Master, one of Sir George Oxenden's sisters, wrote to him from Langdon, East Kent. She blamed the scurilous French for starting the fire:

[January 15th, 1666/67] The Lord hath soore afflicted this poore nation this last yeares w:th grievous Judgm:ts y:e Plague & warr & burning of y:e City of London w:ch is a generall Judgm:t too all pts & people it makes such a damp in trade & is felt very much in o:e Country, I supposs yo:e have a full acco:tt from good hands, I can only say w:t I have heard & y:t was burnt from London bridge to temple barr & lies all in a confused case , I am of y:e beleife it was purposly set on fire by scurilos french it was believed by y:e most for they are a mallisious people

Edward Master, New College, Oxford trained doctor of civil law, nephew of Sir George Oxenden:

[February 26th, 1666/67] I shall for bare to recount any newes to you either publique or private, being well assured that you will have it from abler pens and persons, that are sonere y:e stage of Affayres, whereas my Concerne is so farr distant from London; that I am beholding to my ffreinds there to send mee an acco:tt of all ?oassagis thence, but for the the future I am resolved not to bee so much a stranger to London; and to that end I am procuring my selfe some Accomodations with my Bretheren in ye Advocats yt: were heretofore at Doctors Commons; but are now removed to Exeter House in the Strand, their former Lodgings being consumed by the fire

Humphrey Gyffrad, former London merchant, now Keeper of the Poultry Counter. His home, possessions, and prized cabinet of curiosities, had been destroyed, as had the Poulty Counter:

y:e plague hath weakned us, y:e late dredfull fire hath ruined many much damaged most , & consumed to ashes o:e grand metropolis, y:e generall supporture; & succour:e of both king & kingdom in all straits & exignecies, y:e great boddy o:e seamen are by sufferance gone & but late by tradeing voyages to smirna west Indias & other long voyages, most of o:e greatest ships yet in y:e dockes, & tis well if o:e ?lesser be fitted, stored & mand fitt for service by midsom:e moone, w:t thinke yo:w now, & not take y:e encrease of all sins & ?XXXiresin, will it be lessy:n a miracle to fight a boate; soe many soe potent enmies, confederated & joind, or will it be easier feizable to outwit, or over[XXXX] such united heads, in a treatie against their knowme interest, but this is not to trouble yo:w tis onely y:e weake opinions of an inconsiderable pson, to apt to jelousies & fearr who looks into & knowes littell of y:e world, lesse of y:e polliticks,

& now I am to hearten yo:w w:th y:e [XX]lazed confidences of a more knowing partie, whoe tell for trueth, y:t at Court they are merry frollick & please’d, y:t all y:e designes & plotts of o:e Enemies are well understood & counter plotted, & y:t a peace is not only like to be, but is agreed & y:t theis Comiss:res are onely sent over to conferme it, in modo & forma, & this & more to their knowledg, this is affirmatine positive; mine meer supposition, ayer, words, & pray God in heaven conferme it by his power & goodness, That o:e Noble brave King & kingdome may flourish in a lasting peace & prosperity, the East India trade, & all be advanced to y:e height of yo:e Ambition shipps of Golde flow in daylie from Affrica, silver from America, silks from Italie, ?sackes from Canaries, Clarets from ffrance, suger from Portugall, etc from etc, & nothing from Holland, y:t o:e Byshops & Priests may sing te Deums, pray to God in y:e language of y:e Church & all y:e people ?flock & agree in volleys of Gloria Patri:s, & Amens.

Nor can I tell yo:w as others may be will, y:t tis likely o:e Cittie will be speedillie rebuilt, confidence & words contribute little, tis true y:e King Plim:t & Cittie have beene very intentive, & designed things as well as can be in order to it, but he y:t will Considers all Circomstances, cannnot but know y:e Vastness of y:e devastation, y:e numb: of houses halls Churches, y:t it will require noe small time to disroubish it, to separate, & ascertaine to each proprietor his demands & ground, to his satisfaction; to judge & resolve y:e intrigues of grand land lords, tenn:ts, & subtenn:ts; so as to proportion each his just sheare in y:e loss, & towards y:e rebuilding, to set out y:e due widening of y:e streets as ordered for Grandour, safety, & convenience,

& most are in y:e mind; y:te require quantities of timber, brick, stone, & other materialls, are not easily or soone to begotten, & prepare, twill require an infinet number of workmen, Carpinters bricklayers, stonecuters, smiths, glaziers, plumers, plaisterers, & other handycrafts men, & labourers, & all meterials & workemen will be very scarce, & exceeding deere mainye ruined, most impoverisht, mony very scarce, trade little, & yet war, & how or how soone it will, it can be rebuilt, I humbly referr to yo:selfe to judge,

& besides buildings, is not to be imagined how infinitely y:e fire consumed wares, household goods, monys, accounts, Jewells, & all things to an incredible vallue, beyond expectations, or feare, men were amazed, ?h[azed], infatuated, & first careless, w:th expectations of a quenching, before it came neere y:m some came to pilfer & steale, others to helpe & were weried out, others to see & stare on, till at last all thought it unconquerable, & best to shift for y:mselves & save w:t they could of their owne, carts not to be had but at expensive rates, 5:ll – 10:8; 50: ll a load, & y:e poores prest, forced a way by y:e commands or bribes of y:e grandees, & y:e x[ith] [?], y:e streets pestered & clogd up soe as to be unpassible, either w:th carts, packs, howshold goods, men, woen; Children; yo:w may Judge,

y:e fire began on satterday night & consumed not o:e dwellings in y:e poultrey till monday yett I saved but one cartload & a little by hand carage of all ye goods in my howse & ye prison, burnt: 26 bedstieds beds bedinge & sheats w:ch in y:e Country, a great pt of my howshold goods, my whole Closet of rarities, w:ch were very many & of a good vallue, being good & of all sorts, stones, shells meddalls pictures prints & w:t not, naturall & artificiall, my beloved books in three studdies to y:e vallue of 300:ll cost more, & none of all this saved, when packt up, for want to begett reflections in us for w:t;

from where, to w:t ends all this, & I wish we did sitt to purpose; see o:e sins trewly, repent of y:m heartily & amend sincerely resolve & doe; live a more Godly life w:thout offence to God, to men, or scandal & certainty to o:selves, families & kingdome, y:t God might once againe bless us, w:th peace prosperity, & hono:e; to be loved or feard, but in w:t kings reigne, Ime sorry I cannot divine

Thomas Fox, London merchant, wrote with reports of severe fianncial losses of a number of merchants on the exchange, with further casualties expected:

[April 10th, 1667] Times are here very badd occationed pty by these unhappy warrs, & partly by a dreadfull fire, w:ch began in Pudding layne sep:t 1:th Sunday morning 2 a Clock & Continued till Wensday y:e 4:th at night w:ch burnt & consumed in howses goods & Merchandize attending y:e best Calculations at least : 7500000: [could be 150000, but less likely] here are six: kn:ts, & Aldermen marcht of y:e Change sence Christmass & severall otheres eminent Marchts (as reported) besides more very much feard to followe

Sir William Ryder noted that many of Sir George Oxenden's friends had suffered losses, and that goods Oxenden had sent had been destroyed in an English East India Company warehouse:

[April 16th, 1667] I have alredy advised yo:w of y:e sad fire w:ch hapned in y:e Cittie began y:e 2nd 7ber last where most of yo:e friends have been sufferers w:th M:rs Terells goods w:ch yo:w sent being detained y:e Comp:a warhouse were Consumed so y:t she & others must have patience

Henry Chowne, London merchant, whose son was in the East Indies with Sir George Oxenden:

[April 20th, 1667] it is supposed a peace will be, we had brought y:e Dutch upon their kneews before y:s time, if y:e maior of London had not been burnt y:e last septemb: upon a high easterly winde, y:e fire began ?intemstreet, neare biilings gate, blessed be God y:e Company suffered but little by this greate conflagration, some suposes y:e fire began not by accident y:e Cittie is to be rebuilt by an act of parlim:t w:th briff [?] in a uniforme way, & narrow strets, to be made broad, & to take of all impedim:ts in y:e rebuilding of it, all differences are to be desided betweene landlords & tennants, by y:e 12 Judges, or any five of y:m, w:th out any expense

Anne Master, one of Sir George Oxenden's elder sisters, who had two nephews with Sir George Oxenden in the East Indies:

[April 20th, 1667] England hath suffered very grevously this last yeare, by plague fire and sowurd, this evuooll warr being not yet ended which Makes great want of trade, and Exsessive taxing y:e Subiects. We hope the Lord willnot allwayes afflict, but in the midst of Judgements remember us, & show mercy at last and lett y:e swete showers of his blessings destill (upon us; and shine forth to our Comforts

Samuel Barnardiston, London merchant, noted the poor conditions for trade, and low diamond prices:

these are to accumpany y:e ship Charles who was as yo:w will understand first designed for y:e Coast & tis very doubtfull whether may not be y:e sole ship y:e Comp:a may this yeare send for India, o:e Nation is now at everylow Condition in poynt of trade; late pestilence, dredfull fire & present warr hath extremely Impoverished a many, tis hardly Credable w:t an alteration these Judgment of y:e allmightyes have made a mongst us, y:e greate dangers y:t merchants now run at sea y:e little satisfaction of expectations when goods arrrive welll, makes me resolve to doe lite in trade, untill I see an alteration, I did some time since sell my diamonds you sent me p:y Royall Charles, to good profitt though not answereable to former times

Colonel Richard Oxinden, Sir George Oxenden's cousin, who had been with him in Surat in the late 1650s:

[October 1st, 1667] since ye Dredfull fireing of ye sinfull Citty of London, her old inhabitance are scattered up & downe, I am at present w:th my Cozon Perimoure ye ?Master at Lambeth here is allso yo:s & yo:e never to be forgotten Sister Dallysons old faithfull servant Sarah Waynman who desires to have her most humble service presented to you

Sir Henry Oxenden, Sir George Oxenden's brother, writing from XXX:

[November, 1667] My Sisters Jewells (by reason of y:e late fire & warr, w:th Jjane [?Hane] made a vast [best?] numb [sum?] of xxx, poore & most people thrifty) lie still dead upon o:r hands, & ar so like to do yet a whille, unless we would sell y:m to vast lose by this meanes her debts increase to great greife, The Citizens wives w:ch (as M:r Dunker7 saith) hath been ?y:d ?littlest buyers are now grown poore, & live upon their owne Jewells & plate, y:e Jewes are y:e theife [cheife?] Chapmen, but they are all for rough diamonds, I wish none may ?read my lre but y:e selfe, not y:e Copier if possible

Thomas Freeman, ?London merchant, writing from London:

I may thank my Cozen Warde y:t I had not my returns severall years past for hee write me himselfe y:t if he would have given yo:w under his hand to serve yo: worp: from XX my exertions he might a had ye mony to invest it into ye same yt is come now praised be God, our great plague & Warrs & ye fireing of our City hath caused Diamonds to be in very little esteem there will bee but a small matter got by y:m, by shipps next ?March I shall be able to say more

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