A Sad and True Relation of a great fire or two.
The most terrible and dangerous fire began in the house of Mr. George Delaun, an Hamborough Merchant in Lothberry, neer the Royal Exchange in Cornhil, Where Master Delaun and his Wife being big with Child, Daughter to Sir Thomas Allen of Finchly▪ Mr. Gilbert, a Merchant, two Maid servants, and a Nurse and her Husband, were all burned to ashes in the merciless flames of fire.
To the Tune of, Fortune my Foe, or Aim not too High.
GIve thanks, rejoyce all, you that are secure,
No man doth know how long life may indure
Regard dear hearts, at the truth the authour aims,
Concerning those that suffer in fiery flames.
On Friday night in the month of last December,
Might peirce a stony heart for to remember,
The sad mis [...]ap concerning George Delaun,
And of his friends that he did entertain.
This George Delaun of whom I do relate,
A Hamborough Merchant a man of great estate,
He and his Wife for recreation sake,
Till eleven at night their pleasures they did take▪
Then did they all prepare for rest,
Master and Mistris and all the welcome guest,
And then being in bed so well and w [...]rm,
Sleep closed their eyes & they thought no one harm
But well a day it fils my heart with wo,
For Timber and Fagots lay in the Seller be late,
Some sparks of fire did light into the same,
Ther Wood and Oyl's soon of a burning flame.
Then did these fiery flames presently,
Brake into the low rooms most vehemently
Then to the steling this vehement flame
Made passage wide and broad still as it came.
Most vehemently it burned then upright,
And fired all along where it did light,
Less then three hours taking the building round▪
These buildings brave they all fell to the ground.
The people too, likewise they perished,
Were burnd to death as they did lye in Bed,
Their Spirits to him that gave them is returnd,
And their Bodies are to Dust and ashes burnd.
A Gentle Woman that was there that Day,
Desired all night she was to stay,
But she refused, well it went on her side,
Or else in fiery flames she had sure died.
How the fire was first espyed.
It was a womans chance the truth to tell,
Did sit up late with a Child that was not well,
Hearing a cracking, to seek she did begin,
For fear some Villains had been breaking in▪
The second part to the same Tune.
THen she lookt out at window presently,
And then a mighty light she did espy,
In discontent it made her to admire,
As if an hundred Candles were on fire.
In the Merchants lower Rooms she espied,
The Violent flames and then aloud she cryed
Fire, Fire, and being in dread and fear,
And then the Coffee man he did her hear.
And then the Coffee man immediately,
Looking out at window heard a doleful cry,
Lord have mercy on us, we are all undun,
We know not how these miseries to s [...]un.
These were the words as some do well remember,
About two in the Morn, the 27. of December,
But before four the fire did decay,
And burnd these stately buildings clean away.
O this fire it was so fearful hot,
Like a Furnace or Refining Pot,
But God he raised instruments in the way,
To make this vehement fire then obey.
They did so lustily water bring in,
Into the fire then they did it fling,
And with long hooks the fierceness to allay,
Or thousands more it would have brought to decay.
Mr. Terils House and others neer danger lay,
Even by these fiery flames to melt away,
With wet to quench they many ways contrive,
To save their goods, their houses and their lives.
That in Shore-ditch likewise we may deplore,
Three houses burnt with their substance and store,
Two or three people that fire did destroy,
Some of their limbs in the Rubbish after lay.
But now let us Remember Lothbury,
And of the sad mischance and misery,
Where George Delaun, was burned to the ground.
And four lumps of flesh was after found.
About the bigness of a mans hand were they,
As black as a Coal, and a skul or two their lay;
O little did they think over night being merry▪
That before morn in fiery flames to fry.
All you that are Masters of a family,
Govern well your house and fear the God on high,
For when to sleep that we do close our eyes,
The Lord doth know whither ever we shall rise.
London, Printed for E. Andrews at the White-lyon neer Py-corner.