1I Do the more confidently publish this history, because I was an eye-witness of many of the things therein related, and heard, from the mouth of such as were present at the sermon, the other things. For, upon the first hearing of the destruction of so many persons as by that Down-fall lost their lives, our Constables forthwith caused the gates of our Precinct (it being enclosed about with walls and gates) to be shut, and raised a strong guard from among the Inhabitants, to keep the house where this accident fell out, and to prevent tumult about it. Thus through the favour of the Constables and Watch, who were all my neighbours, I had the more free and quiet access, to view the dead bodies, and to inform myself in all the material circumstances of that accident: and that I did so much the rather, because the Bishop of London (that then was) sent to me to inform my self thoroughly of the whole business, and send him a narration thereof under my hand: whereupon I did not only ⟨p. 394⟩view matters my self, but caused Carpenters to search the timber, to take the scantlings thereof, and to measure the rooms. I was also present with the Coroner, and his Inquest, at their examining of all circumstances about the business. And where my Lords Grace of Canterbury sent to me, to come to him, and to bring with me the best evidence I could, I got the Foreman and others of the Jury, and four persons that were present at the sermon, and fell down with the multitude, but by Gods providence escaped death, and one that stood without the door in hearing, but fell not: all these I got to go with me to Lambeth, where I heard the witness which they gave to my Lords Grace about the matter. One that fell with the rest and escaped death, was Mr. Gee, a Preacher, of Lancashire: two other were a son and servant of a Citizen in Pater-noster Row. The other also were men of good understanding, able to conceive what they saw and heard, and to relate what they conceived.
1I Do the more confidently publish this history, because I was an eye-witnesse of many of the things therein related, and heard, from the mouth of such as were present at the sermon, the other things. For, upon the first hearing of the destruction of so many persons as by that Downe-fall lost their lives, our Constables forthwith caused the gates of our Precinct (it being enclosed about with walls and gates) to be shut, and raised a strong guard from among the Inhabitants, to keepe the house where this accident fell out, and to prevent tumult about it. Thus thorow the favour of the Constables and Watch, who were all my neighbours, I had the more free and quiet accesse, to view the dead bodies, and to ensorme myselfe in all the materiall circumstances of that accident: and that I did somuch the rather, because the Bishop of London (that then was) sēt to me to inform my self thorowly of the whole businesse, and send him a narration thereof under my hand: whereupon I did not onely ⟨p. 394⟩view matters my selfe, but caused Carpenters to search the timber, to take the scantlings thereof, and to measure the roomes. I was also present with the Coroner, and his Inquest, at their examining of all circumstances about the businesse. And where my Lords Grace of Canterbury sent to me, to come to him, and to bring with me the best evidence I could, I got the Foreman and others of the Iury, and four persons that were present at the sermon, and fell downe with the multitude, but by Gods providence escaped death, and one that stood without the doore in hearing, but fell not: all these I got to go with me to Lambith, where I heard the witnesse which they gave to my Lords Grace about the matter. One that fell with the rest and escaped death, was Mr. Gee, a Preacher, of Lankashire: two other were a sonne and servant of a Citizen in Pater-noster Row. The other also were men of good understanding, able to conceive what they saw and heard, and to relate what they conceived.
- 1An Dom 1623
