the wind carries it into the City； so as we know not by the water…side what it do there。 River full of lighters and boats taking in goods； and good goods swimming in the water； and only I observed that hardly one lighter or boat in three that had the goods of a house in； but there was a pair of Virginalls ＇A sort of spinett； so called （according to Johnson） from young women playing upon it。＇ in it。 Having seen as much as I could now； I away to White Hall by appointment； and there walked to St。 James's Park； and there met my wife and Creed and Wood and his wife； and walked to my boat； and there upon the water again； and to the fire up and down； it still encreasing； and the wind great。 So near the fire as we could for smoke； and all over the Thames； with one's faces in the wind； you were almost burned with a shower of fire…drops。 This is very true： so as houses were burned by these drops and flakes of fire； three or four； nay； five or six houses； one from another。 When we could endure no more upon the water； we to a little ale…house on the Bankside； over against the Three Cranes； and there staid till it was dark almost； and saw the fire grow； and as it grew darker； appeared more and more； and in corners and upon steeples； and between churches and houses； as far as we could see up the hill of the City； in a most horrid malicious bloody flame； not like the fine flame of an ordinary fire。 Barbary and her husband away before us。 We staid till； it being darkish； we saw the fire as only one entire arch of fire from this to the other side the bridge； and in a bow up the hill for an arch of above a mile long： it made me weep to see it。 The churches； houses； and all on fire； and flaming at once； and a horrid noise the flames made； and the cracking houses at their ruine。 So home with a sad heart； and there find every body discoursing and lamenting the fire； and poor Tom Hater come with some few of his goods saved out of his house； which was burned upon Fish…street Hill。 I invited him to lie at my house； and did receive his goods； but was deceived in his lying there； the news coming every moment of the growth of the fire； so as we were forced to begin to pack up our own goods； and prepare for their removal； and did by moonshine （it being brave dry and moonshine and warm weather） carry much of my goods into the garden； and Mr。 Hater and I did remove my money and iron chests into my cellar； as thinking that the safest place。 And got my bags of gold into my office； ready to carry away； and my chief papers of accounts also there； and my tallies into a box by themselves。 So great was our fear； as Sir W。 Batten hath carts come out of the country to fetch away his goods this night。 We did put Mr。 Hater； poor man； to bed a little； but he got but very little rest； so much noise being in my house； taking down of goods。
3rd。 About four o'clock in the morning； my Lady Batten sent me a cart to carry away all my money； and plate； and best things； to Sir W。 Rider's at Bednall…greene。 Which I did； riding myself in my night gown； in the cart； and； Lord！ to see how the streets and the highways are crowded with people running and riding； and getting of carts at any rate to fetch away things。 I find Sir W。 Rider tired with being called up all night； and receiving things from several friends。 His house full of goods； and much of Sir W。 Batten's and Sir W。 Pen's； I am eased at my heart to have my treasure so well secured。 Then home； and with much ado to find a way； nor any sleep all this night to me nor my poor wife。 Then all this day she and I； and all my people labouring to get away the rest of our things； and did get Mr。 Tooker to get me a lighter to take them in； and we did carry them （myself some） over Tower Hill； which was by this time full of people's goods； bringing their goods thither； and down to the lighter； which lay at the next quay； above the Tower Dock。 And here was my neighbour's wife； Mrs。 ； with her pretty child； and some few of her things； which I did willingly give way to be saved with mine； but there was no passing with any thing through the postern the crowd was so great。 The Duke of York come this day by the office； and spoke to us； and did ride with his guard up and down the City to keep all quiet； （he being now General； and having the care of all）。 This day； Mercer being not at home； but against her mistress's order gone to her mother's； and my wife going thither to speak with W。 Hewer； beat her there； and was angry； and her mother saying that she was not a 'prentice girl； to ask leave every time she goes abroad； my wife with good reason was angry； and when she come home bid her be gone again。 And so she went away； which troubled me； but yet less than it would； because of the condition we are in； in fear of coming in a little time to being less able to keep one in her quality。 At night lay down a little upon a quilt of W。 Hewer's； in the office； all my own things being packed up or gone； and after me my poor wife did the like； we having fed upon the remains of yesterday's dinner； having no fire nor dishes； nor any opportunity of dressing any thing。 》》 4th。 Up by break of day； to get away the remainder of my things； which I did by a lighter at the Iron gate： and my hands so full； that it was the afternoon before we could get them all away。 Sir W。 Pen and I to the Tower…street； and there met the fire burning three or four doors beyond Mr。 Howell's； whose goods； poor man； his trayes； and dishes； shovells； &c。； were flung all along Tower…street in the kennels； and people working therewith from one end to the other； the fire coming on in that narrow street； on both sides； with infinite fury。 Sir W。 Batten not knowing how to remove his wine； did dig a pit in the garden； and laid it in there； and I took the opportunity of laying all the papers of my office that I could not otherwise dispose of and in the evening Sir W。 Pen and I did dig another； and put our wine in it； and I my parmazan cheese； as well as my wine and some other things。 The Duke of York was at the office this day； at Sir W。 Pen's； but I happened not to be within。 This afternoon； sitting melancholy with Sir W。 Pen in our garden； and thinking of the certain burning of this office； without extraordinary means； I did propose for the sending up of all our workmen from the Woolwich and Deptford yards； （none whereof yet appeared；） and to write to Sir W。 Coventry to have the Duke of York's permission to pull down houses； rather than lose this office； which would much hinder the King's business。 So Sir W。 Pen went down this night； in order to the sending them up to…morrow morning； and I wrote to Sir W。 Coventry about the business； but received no answer。 ＇A copy of this letter； preserved among the Pepys MSS。 in the author's own hand…writing； is subjoined： Sir；The fire is now very neere us as well on Tower Streete as Fanchurch Street side； and we little hope of our escape but by that remedy； to ye want whereof we doe certainly owe ye loss of ye City； namely； ye pulling down of houses； in ye way of ye fire。 This way Sir W。 Pen and myself have so far concluded upon ye practising； that he is gone to Woolwich and Deptford to supply himself with men and necessarys in order to the doeing thereof； in case at his returne our condition be not bettered and that he meets with his R。Hs。 approbation； which I have thus undertaken to learn of you； Pray please to let me have this night （at whatever hour it is） what his R。 Hs。 directions are in this particular； Sir J。 Minnes and Sir W。 Batten having left； us； we cannot add； though we are well assured of their； as well as all ye neighbourhood's concurrence。 Sir W。Coventry； Yr obedient Servnt； Septr。 4； 1666。 S。P。＇ This night Mrs。 Turner （who； poor woman； was removing her goods all this day； good goods into the garden； and knows not how to dispose of them） and her husband supped with my wife and me at night； in the office； upon a shoulder of mutton from the cook's； without any napkin； or any thing； in a sad manner； but were merry。 Only now and then； walking into the garden； saw how horribly the sky looks； all on a fire in the night； was enough to put us out of our wits； and； indeed； it was extremely dreadfull； for it looks just as if it was at us； and the whole heaven on fire。 I after supper walked in the dark down to Tower…street； and there saw it all on fire； at the Trinity House on that side； and the Dolphin Tavern on this side； which was very near us； and the fire with extraordinary vehemence。 Now begins the practice of blowing up of houses in Tower…street； those next the Tower； which at first did frighten people more than any thing； but it stopped the fire where it was done； it bringing down the houses to the ground in the same places they stood； and then it was easy to quench what little fire was in it； though it kindled nothing almost。 W。Hewer this day went to see how his mother did； and comes late home； telling us how he hath been forced to remove her to Islington； her house in Pye…corner being burned； so that the fire is got so far that way； and to the Old Bayly； and was running down to Fleet…street； and Paul's is burned； and all Cheepside。 I wrote to my father th