Windows melted in their
frames, pillars fell to the ground, ironwork bent as wax; nay,
the very pavements around glowed so that neither man nor horse
dared tread upon them. And the flames, gradually gaining ground,
danced fantastically up and down the scaffolding, and covered the
edifice as with one blaze; whilst inside transom beams were
snapped asunder, rafters fell with destruction, and the fire
roaring through chapels and aisles as in a great furnace, could
be heard afar. And that which had been a Christian shrine was
now, a smoking ruin.
Raging onward in their fierce career, the flames darted towards
such buildings in the neighbourhood as had been previously
untouched, so that Paternoster Row, Newgate Street, the Old
Bailey and Ludgate Hill were soon in course of destruction. And
from the latter spot the conflagration, urged by the wind,
rapidly rushed onwards towards Fleet Street. On the other hand,
it extended from Cheapside to Ironmongers' Lane, Old Jewry,
Lawrence Lane, Milk Street, Wood Street, Gutter Lane, and Foster
Lane; and again spreading from Newgate Street, it surrounded and
destroyed Christ Church, burned through St. Martin's-le-Grand
towards Aldgate, and threatened to continue its triumphant march
to the suburbs.
For several miles nothing but raging fire and smoking ruins was
visible, for desolation had descended on the city. It was now
feared the flames would reach the Palace of Whitehall, and extend
towards Westminster Abbey, a consideration which caused much
alarm to his majesty, who prized the sacred fane exceedingly.
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