.. Then began the crye of fier to be spread
through the whole towne man, woman and childe ran amazedly up and
down the streetes, calling for water, so fearfully, as if death's
trumpet had sounded a command of present destruction. The fier began
between the hours of two and three in the afternoone, the wind
blowing very strong, and increased so mightily that, in a very short
space, the most part of the town, was tiered, which burned so
extreamely, the weather being hot, and the houses dry, that help of
man grew almost past ... The reason the fier at the first prevailed
above the strength of man was that it unfortunately happened in the
time of harvest, when people were most busied in the reaping of their
corne, and the towne most emptyest, but when this burnying Beacon of
ruyne gave the harvestmen light into the field, little booted it to
them to stay, but in more than reasonable hast poasted they homeward,
not only for the safeguard of their goods and houses, but for the
preservation of their wives and children, more dearer than all
temporall estate or worldly abundance. In like manner the
inhabitantes of the neighbouring townes and villages, at the fearful
sight of the red blazing element, ran in multitudes to assist them,
proffering the dear venture of their lives to oppresse the rigour of
the fier, but all too late they came, and to small purpose showed
they their willing minds, for almost every streete was filled with
flame, every place burning beyond help and recovery.
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