een in my study in that part
of the house till above half an hour after ten. Then I locked
the doors of that part of the house where my wheat and other
corn lay, and went to bed.

The servants had not been in bed a quarter of an hour when the
fire began. My wife being near her time, and very weak, I lay
in the next chamber. A little after eleven I heard "Fire!"
cried in the street, next to which I lay. If I had been in my
own chamber, as usual, we had all been lost. I threw myself out
of bed, got on my waistcoat and nightgown, and looked out of
window; saw the reflection of the flame, but knew not where it
was; ran to my wife's chamber with one stocking on and my
breeches in my hand; would have broken open the door, which was
bolted within, but could not. My two eldest children were with
her. They rose, and ran towards the staircase, to raise the
rest of the house. There I saw it was my own house, all in a
light blaze, and nothing but a door between the flame and the
staircase.

I ran back to my wife, who by this time had got out of bed,
naked, and opened the door. I bade her fly for her life.
We had a little silver and some gold--about 20 pounds.
She would have stayed for it, but I pushed her out; got her and
my two eldest children downstairs (where two of the servant were
now got), and asked for the keys. They knew nothing of them.
I ran upstairs and found them, came down, and opened the street
door. The thatch was fallen in all on fire. The north-east
wind drove all the sheets of flame in my face, as if
reverberated in a lamp. I got twice to the step and was drove
down again. I ran to the garden door and opened it. The fire
there was more moderate. I bade them all follow, but found only
two with me, and the maid with another in her arms that cannot
go; but all naked. I ran with them to an outhouse in the
garden, out of the reach of the flames; put the least in the
other's lap; and not finding my wife follow me, ran back into
the house to seek her, but could not find her. The servants and
two of the children were got out at the window. In the kitchen
I found my eldest daughter, naked, and asked her for her mother.
She could not tell me where she was. I took her up and carried
her to the rest in the garden; ca