[?] Porters
[?] fami-
[?]
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THose that a story sad will heare.
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With due attention bend an eare
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Alas the subject is too true,
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The which I will declare to you.
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In famous London City faire,
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Which is the flower of England rare,
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The sudden accident befell,
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The which in briefe I mean to tel,
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From sudden death Lord set us free,
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But as God will so things must be.
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The first Friday of this new yeare,
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This wofull chance did happen there.
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The fourth day of January,
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When powder smoak made dim the Skie,
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Neer to the Tower in Tower-street.
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Death many wofull soules did greet,
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And snatcht them suddenly away,
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They had not space to God to pray,
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From sudden death, etc,
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Neer Barken Church the truth to tell,
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Late did one Mr. Porter dwell.
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Which Powder, Match, and Bullet sold,
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But with those things they were to bold:
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That which he got his living by,
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Destroyed him and his family
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His shop, his goods, his house also,
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Mercilesse Powder up did blow.
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But by what chance no one doth know
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But God which doth all wonders show.
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Many houses that joyned neer.
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Were blowed up, and consum'd by fire,
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The husbands, wives, and family,
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Tasted of this same Tragedy,
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The husbands could not helpe their wives
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Nor mothers save their childrens lives,
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The Sister could not helpe the brother.
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One friend could not releive another,
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From sudden death Lord set us free,
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But as God will so things must be.
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It was a wofull sight to see,
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The Joynts and limbs in peeces flee,
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Rent by the force of Powder strong,
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Whole families both old and young,
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Heads from their bodies parted were,
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Armes, thighes, and legs the fire did teare,
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Mangling the corps in such a sort,
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Which grieves my heart for to report,
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From sudden death, etc.
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Babes out of mothers wombes were torn,
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Before they were by Nature borne,
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And children sucking at the brest,
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Tasted of this disastrous feast.
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Mothers and children in their prime
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Were blow'd up at that dangerous time
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Powder being fired, 'tis so strong,
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It takes away both old and young,
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From sudden death Lord set us free,
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But as God will so things must be.
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The Second Part, T[?]
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SOme passengers walking the street,
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With this sad accident did meet,
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And some in shops a buying ware
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In this mischance receiv'd a share
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Some that in beds full sicke did lye,
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Were then blown up immediately
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The sick, the lame, the old also,
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Received all a deadly blow,
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From sudden death Lord set us free
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But as God will so things must bee,
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The Lyon Tavern, and the Rose,
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Were likewise partners in their woes
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And many guests that in them were,
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Tasted of that most wofull cheer,
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Some being at supper supt their last,
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Being blow'd up in that dangerous blast,
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And some in beds that sleeping lay
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Near wakt for to behold next day,
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From sudden death, etc.
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Now note one wonder of the Lord
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Which I to you will hear record
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A childe being in its cradle plast
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Was blowd up in that dangerous blast
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But by the helpe of Heavens power,
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The cradle fell on a Church tower
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In it the child most sweetly lay,
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This is a wonder strange and true,
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To show what our good God can do.
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Many to quench the fire came,
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And drawd poor Christians from the same,
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Which under bricks and rubbish were,
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And timber which did flame with fire,
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Being drawn out in that sad wise,
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With broken armes; and legs, and thighes:
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Some being halfe dead, some dead outright
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Which may the hearts of Christians fright.
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The fire and powder scorcht them so,
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That they as black as Inke did show.
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Of many actions I have heard,
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But none to this may be compar'd,
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Blacke Fryers fell most suddenly,
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Where many wofull soules did die
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On London Bridge a sudden fire
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Consum[']d much building and much ware.
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And Bristoll bridge not long agoe
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Was likewise partner in such woe,
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But this in Towerstreet with wo
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No Chronicle the like doth show.
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There is a Proverbe wise and grave
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Fire and water no mercy have.
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Then keep them still at your command,
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For if they get the upper hand,
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No mercy in them can be found,
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Fire will burn, water will drownd:
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But Lord we humbly thee desire,
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Send us no more then need require.
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From sudden death Lord set us free
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But as God will so things must be.
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O Lord with teares we come to thee,
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Thinking our turns the next may be,
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Yet Lord we humbly to thee pray
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Take us not suddenly away,
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But make our stony hearts relent,
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And give us space for to repent,
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That we may be prepared all
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When thou for us shalt please to call,
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So to conclude, Lord we desire,
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Keep us from sudden flames of fire.
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The houses backward from the street
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in an Alley called Priests-Alley which
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was quite blown up were these.
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The houses of
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Matthew Neeve
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James Gizard
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Nicholas Mabb
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James Roberts
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Mary Fillett
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John Barsto
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William Higley
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Mris. Harrison a
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Ministers widdow
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Edward Tapp
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John Lasher.
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The houses that were scattered and part
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beaten down, so that the Inhabitants
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could not keep possession, or dwell in
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the said houses, but were forced to seek
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other habitations; were,
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The houses of,
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John Norcot
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John Cox
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John Sadler
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Widdow Boole
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William Stone
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Robert Garrett
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Evan Davis
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John Lewis
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Arth. Tipper
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Thomas Pinfold
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Mr. Higgins
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Abraham Durance
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Widdow Pitts
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Widdow Madox
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Widdow Foster
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George Gunnis
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Hen. Warden
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Widdow Povill
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Widdow Brookes
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Widdow Carter
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Francis Hunt
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Rich. Jackson
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John Courtesse
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Michael Baskaby
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Rich. Emry
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Henry Price.
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Besides those that were blown up and con-
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sumed in this sad accident, were blown
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up many strangers that are not here named.
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