Gods terrible voice in the city of London wherein you have the narration of…

But on Wednesday-night, when the people late of London, now of the fields, hoped to get a little rest on the ground, where they had spread their beds, a more dreadful fear fell upon them then they had before, through a rumour that the French were coming armed against them to cut their throats, and spoil them of what they had saved out of the Fire; they were now naked and weak, and in ill condition to defend themselves, and the hearts, especially of the females, do quake and tremble, and are ready to dye within them; yet many Citizens having lost their houses, and almost all that they had, are fired with rage and fury; and they begin ⟨p. 30⟩to stir up themselves like Lyons, or like Bears bereaved of their whelps, and now Arm, Arm, Arm, doth resound the Fields and Suburbs with a dreadful voice. We may guess at the distress and perplexity of the people this night, which was something alleviated when the falseness of the Alarm was perceived.

But on Wednesday-night, when the people late of London, now of the fields, hoped to get a little rest on the ground, where they had spread their beds, a more dreadful fear fell upon them then they had before, through a rumour that the French were coming armed against them to cut their throats, and spoil them of what they had saved out of the Fire; they were now naked and weak, and in ill condition to defend themselves, and the hearts, especially of the females, do quake and tremble, and are ready to dye within them; yet many Citizens having lost their houses, and almost all that they had, are fired with rage and fury; and they begin ⟨p. 30⟩to stir up themselves like Lyons, or like Bears bereaved of their whelps, and now Arm, Arm, Arm, doth resound the Fields and Suburbs with a dreadful voice. We may guess at the distress and perplexity of the people this night, which was something aleviated when the falseness of the Alarm was perceived.

Thus fell great London, that ancient City! that populous City! London, which was the Queen City of the Land, and as famous as most Cities in the World; none so famous for the Gospel and zealous profession of the reformed Religion. And yet how is London departed like smoke, and her glory laid in the dust? how is her destruction come, which no man thought of, and her desolation in a moment? how do the Nations about gaze and wonder? how doth the whole Land tremble at the noise of her fall? how do her Citizens droop and hang down their heads? her Women and Virgins weep, and sit in the dust? Oh the paleness that now sits upon the cheeks! the astonishment and confusion that covers the face, the dismal apprehensions that arise in the minds of most concerning the dreadful consequences which are likely to be of this fall of London? How is the pride of London stained, and beauty spoiled! her arm broken and strength departed? her riches almost gone, and treasures so much consumed? The head now is sick, and the whole body faint; the heart is wounded, and every other part is sensible of its stroke; never was England in greater danger of being made a prey to a foreign power, then since the firing and fall of this City, which had the strength and treasure of the Nation in it. How is London ceased, that rich City! that joyous City! one corner indeed is left, but more then as many houses as were within the walls, are turned into ashes.