History of the Company. 107 



their property, which nearly all lay within the 

 area of the Fire, they were temporarily deprived 

 of their immediate source of income. The Fire 

 raged from the 2nd to the 6th September, and on 

 the 25th of that month the Court met at Christ's 

 Hospital, and, after viewing the ruins of the Hall, 

 ordered — 



"That Mr. Braithwaite forthwith employ some 

 labourers or workmen to digg up the bricks, and take 

 up all such lead and iron as belongeth to the Hall, and 

 to secure them in the vaulte lately belonging to the 

 Mermayde Tavern, and make up the same w"' bricks to 

 preserve the same." 



At the same meeting it was ordered — 



" That the Wardens shall sell all the Companye's 

 plate (except the two cupps given by Alderman Dash- 

 wood and Mr. Fisher), and convert it into money, to 

 helpe to pay the Companye's debtes." 



Two Assistants were ordered to " go downe 

 into Kent " to try and dispose of the Company's 

 estates near Maidstone. The Wardens were like- 

 wise ordered to " make sale of all the iron, pewter, 

 lead, and linnen that shalbe found in the mines of 

 the late fire." Indeed, so hard were the Com- 

 pany now pressed, that they were compelled to 

 dispense with the services of their under-beadle, 

 and porter, and even to discharge a number 

 of their pensioners. The next assembly of the 

 Court was held at the house of an Assistant, 

 Mr. Pease, at Bishopsgate. On the 30th October 

 we have the following record : — 



