xl INTRODUCTION 



truth that it is always the busiest men who can spare most 

 time for matters lying outside of their special grooves of work. 

 Thus in September, 1665, he drew up a scheme for erecting 

 an infirmary at Chatham, in which he was supported by his 

 friend Pepys, then a high official in the Navy Department 

 and like himself a shrewd man of business and method, and 

 therefore finding time for other than purely routine official 

 work ; while in August, 1666, he entreated the Lord 

 Chancellor l to visite the Hospital of the Savoy, and reduce 

 it (after ye greate abuse that had been continu'd) to its 

 original institution for ye benefit of the poore, which he 

 promis'd to do. ' 



But nothing came from either of these schemes, for on 

 2nd. Sept. 'this fatal night about ten, began the deplorable fire 

 neere Fish Streete in London. ' It raged by day and by 

 night, ' (if I may call that night which was light as day for 

 10 miles round about, after a dreadful manner). ' Nothing 

 could be done to stay its progress, and the citizens were 

 awe-stricken and paralyzed by fear. c The conflagration was 

 so universal, and the people so astonish'd, that from the 

 beginning, I know not by what despondency or fate, they 

 hardly stirr'd to quench it, so that there was nothing heard 

 or scene but crying out and lamentation, running about like 

 distracted creatures without at all attempting to save even 

 their goods ; such a strange consternation there was upon 

 them, so as it burned both in breadth and length, the 

 churches, publics halls, Exchange, hospitals, monuments, 

 and ornaments, leaping after a prodigious manner, from 

 house to house and streete to streete, at great distances one 

 from ye other ; for ye heate with a long set of faire and warm 

 weather had even ignited the aire and prepar'd the materials 

 to conceive the fire, which devour'd after an incredible 

 manner houses, furniture, and every thing. Here we saw 

 the Thames cover'd with goods floating, all the barges and 

 boats laden with what some had time and courage to save, as, 

 on ye other, ye carts etc., carrying out to the fields, which for 

 many miles were strew'd with moveables of all sorts, and 

 tents erecting to shelter both people and what goods they 

 could get away. Oh the miserable and calamitous spectacle ! 

 such as happly the world had not scene since the foundation 



