[?]e pitty, to all people that shall heare of it in
[?]ull fire that hapned on London-Bridge, the 11.
To the tune of, Aime not too high.
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IT grieves my heart to write such heavy newes,
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As in my story afterward ensues;
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I would to God it never had beene so,
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But 'tis too true, the Lord above doth know.
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O, here begins my heavy tale of woe,
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The which will force salt teares from eyes to flow,
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I thinke there cannot be a heart so hard,
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But to my subject will have some regard.
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O, [l]onely London, thou that art the flower,
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On which the Lord his blessing still doth shower;
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Alas I doe lament the heavy losse,
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The which many a thousand pound hath cost.
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O London-bridge, that place of beauty faire,
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The world againe the like cannot compare:
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What heavy fortune now there is befell,
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Alacke, alas, it grieves me for to tell.
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How shall I write to give you all content?
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Nay, I must write that which will cause lament,
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Unto a heart that is as hard as steele,
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Yet sure he needes must come compassion feele.
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On Munday night, the eleventh of February,
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A fire hapned, of which none was wary;
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Hapned, said I? alas, it is too true,
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As it is knowne, howsoever first it grew.
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Some say, 'twas through a Maidens negligence,
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But that Ile leave for other to dispence,
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I would not speake more than what I doe know,
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For feare that some offence there [?]ow[?]
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But certaine 'tis, there's many houses burned,
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The fire could not stented be, nor turned,
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Untill it had consum'd them every one,
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Third part the bridge from that place where't begun
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Hard by Saint Magnus, first it did begin,
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Whenas good folkes their beds were sleeping in,
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Then some arising starting all with feare,
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Whenas they saw they were beset with fire.
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Some cryed ou[t f]ire, fire, being afraid,
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Yet very few could doe them any aide,
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They could not come to doe them any good,
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Because the houses over water stood.
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Indeed the cryes were grievous to be heard,
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The women were so wonderfully skar'd,
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The children shaking, to their friends did say,
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Good Father and Mother, pray let's goe away.
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Alas, poore soules, they well might be afraid,
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Being likely to be burn'd if they had staid,
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The fire it did still encrease so fast,
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That they much goods into the Thames did cast.
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It flamed aloft and fire did still encrease,
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Use all the meanes they could, it would not cease,
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Untill it had consumde both sides oth'way,
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Neere forty dwelling houses, as some say.
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You may imagine of the wondrous losse.
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Besides the money that the buildings cost,
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For surely those that on the bridge doe dwell,
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Were men which did in riches much excell.
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The second part. To the same tune.
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AS I have read the Chronicle of Stowe,
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One thousand one hundred thirty sixe yeeres agoe
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The Bridge then being builded all of wood,
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Was burned every sticke and stake as't stood.
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And many people then was burned too,
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Because out of the fire they could not goe,
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O Lord I wish the like may nere be knowne,
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As this prospect, for which all sigh and groane,
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At that same time was burnd aboundance more,
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The fire then the City ran halfe ore,
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From London-stone to Aldgate, and to Pauls,
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It did consume goods, timber, worke, and walls.
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Let me intreat both old and young to pray,
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For to defend's from such sudden decay,
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I thinke the veriest tyrannizing heart,
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This same t'have seen, wold make him feel some smart.
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Alas, my masters, say twere your owne case,
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Or thinke yourselves had been in that same place,
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It would have put you in a dangerous feare,
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Besides still after, sorrow, griefe and care.
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O Lord, methinkes, I heare the cryes and groanes,
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That many of them made with heavy moanes,
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O helpe, O helpe, they all aloud did cry,
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Whilst fire burned and flames aloft did flye.
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The Husband bade the Wife she should not feare,
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Although his eyes did shead full many a teare,
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Yet would he give her comfort in her woe,
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But how to helpe themselves they did not know.
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O [?]ow[?]
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To thinke [?]
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Methinke[?]
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To thinke[?]
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Alas, they [?]
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Being [?]
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Tis v[?]
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Altho[?]
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You [?]
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Wh[?]
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Then[?]
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To h[?]
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