The fall and funeral of Northampton, in an elegy late published in Latin, by the Reverend Dr. S. Ford ; since, made English, with some variation, and enlarged, by F.A. ... a sad spectator of that frightful scene. Ford, Simon, 1619?-1699. 1677 Approx. 24 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 9 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2009-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A39912 Wing F1486 ESTC R38879 18183581 ocm 18183581 106943 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A39912) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 106943) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1123:27) The fall and funeral of Northampton, in an elegy late published in Latin, by the Reverend Dr. S. Ford ; since, made English, with some variation, and enlarged, by F.A. ... a sad spectator of that frightful scene. Ford, Simon, 1619?-1699. F. A. [4], 12 p. Printed for John Wright, and are to be sold by William Cockrain ..., London : 1677. Reproduction of original in the British Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Elegiac poetry, English. 2006-11 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-11 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-01 Celeste Ng Sampled and proofread 2007-04 Apex CoVantage Rekeyed and resubmitted 2009-01 Mona Logarbo Sampled and proofread 2009-01 Mona Logarbo Text and markup reviewed and edited 2009-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE FALL and FUNERAL OF NORTHAMPTON , IN AN ELEGY , Late Published in Latin , By the Reverend Dr. S. FORD . Since , made English , With some Variation , and Enlarged . By F. A. M. A. A sad Spectator of that Frightful SCENE . Nec verbum verbo curabit reddere fidus Interpres . — LONDON : Printed for John Wright , and are to be Sold by William Cockrain , Book-seller in Northampton . 1677. TO The Honourable and Right Worshipful THE KNIGHTS and GENTLEMEN COMMISSIONERS and TRUSTEES , Appointed by The late ACT of PARLIAMENT FOR RE-BUILDING THE TOWN OF NORTHAMPTON , This Iliad of our Miseries ( as in a Nut-shell ) is presumed to be Dedicated , As to the more Immediate Raisers up of our Foundations , Repairers of our Breaches , and Restorers of Paths to dwell in , upon Record . And in behalf of all Concerned ( as some poor Acknowledgement of our due Thankfulness ) Humbly presented you , by one ( Most Honoured Sirs , ) The humblest of your Servants , F. A. THE FALL and FUNERAL OF NORTHAMPTON . NIne Zodiacks now , and more , the sloaping Sun About the wheeling Heavens had run , Since London's fatal Dooms-day , when , by Flame , As Sodom and Gomorrha She became . 'T was the same Month , in which Astraea bright , With equal ballance , weighs out Day , and Night . The second Dawn , to London , sprung her bane ; Northampton's twenty'th Noon , the same : When a weak lambent Flame , at first began The Wisp , was grasped in a span : Spans over all , soon , from the farthest West To North , and South , and utmost East . Such was Elijah's hand-breadth Cloud , of yore , Which spann'd the whole Horizon o're ; That , on a Sun-burnt Earth , refreshing , showrs ; This , flaming Fury on us pours . Despise not then a Straw ; the poorest thing Can swift Destruction on thee bring ; Dust was a Plague to the proud Pharian King. But to return ; 'T is fit the Story be Transmitted to Posterity . A Cottage poor there stood , at farthest West To poor a Covert , and a Nest ; Thatch'd over head , and Thatch'd o' th floor , With Straw and Litter , to the door ; A Barn , a Stable , or a Hog-stye , whether ? Barn , Stable , Hogs-stye , all-together . A Wisp with Embers , from a Neighbour fetch'd , Blazing in hand , the Litter catch'd . The Wind impetuous , at West-Nor-West ; The Door stood to the Wind , full breast . 'T is not the Dust , that doth Affliction bring ; Nor from the Ground doth Trouble spring ! Heaven's Bellows blew the Fire , the mounted Flame To the House-top , confirms the same . Not twenty Engineers , with all their Art , So swift Confusion could impart ! Hope was , at first , resistance might be made , A cheap , and easie conquest had : And , to that end , came marching up , in Bands , Troops of Auxiliary Hands . But O! — The Foe too potent was , and strong , To be controlled by a throng . The Wind too , with Auxiliary blast Augments his fury , and his haste ! As angry Heaven , with fell-raging fire , Both seem'd against Us to conspire ; So , to r'encounter the Vulcanian Might , Seem'd , against Heaven too , to fight . The Foe in Triumph rides , upon the wings Of Zephyrus , and Lightning flings ; That seizes all the neighbouring Thatch , and where It lights , it quickly levels there : Each flake of Straw enflam'd , enflames the Skyes , Flame , gendring Flame , still centuplyes . Insatiable Monster ! nothing will Thy rav'nous , hungry Maw , fulfill ! The more thou gorgest , still the more dost crave ; Thy Belly Hell ; thy Throat a Grave ! Thy Potentiality so great , so fierce , As to calcine the Universe ! Thatch'd Houses , to the Flames are now a Sport , Of Pow'r to scale the strongest Fort ! The underlings , of Covert all made bare ; The loftier , next , assayled are . Nor Arch , nor Buttress , nor Stone-wa ll can fence The Structure from its insolence ! Here , tumbles down a Chimney ; there , a Wall ; Then , the whole Fabrick , Roof and all . The spattering Stones , in flakes , about the place , And Slats , spit Wild-fire in the face . Beams , Tracings , Rafters tumble in , and Floor ; Flames vomiting through every Door . Each House of Stone a burning Oven , red , With it's own Furniture is fed . Who with devouring Fire can longer dwell ? There to abide , would be an Hell ! Confusion such : the Eye not onely , here Is fill'd with Horrour , but the Ear ! Noise from one quarter , accented with Moans ▪ Re-Echoes to anothers Groans ; An Howling from a second ; from a third Heart-piercing Cryes , and Shrieks are heard ! All Ears , the ratling Desolation fills , As a great Crashing from the Hills ! The Foe the Field has won ; — No Place for Fight Is left us now ; — nor yet for Flight . By Ambuscade of Fire upon the Ground , And Ruins , quite Beleaguer'd round . Some weak Efforts , howe're ; Before we 'll yield ; He shall , by Inches , win the Field . Help here : — a Ladder quickly : — yonder 's Hook : — O : — quickly , quickly : — Sirs , for God-sake look : The Fire has here but new now took . Some Buckets there : — What are you Stocks , or Stone ! — Some Water , quickly , — or the House is gone ! What! — the Pumps burnt ! — No Water any where ! — Go stave the Hogs-heads ; — fetch up Pails of Beer ! Dash , — dash ; — O quickly ; — more ; — more yet ; — one here ! — ( I charge you stand your Ground ) — another there ! Five Pounds ( good fellows ) here , as a Reward , To stand your Centry sure , and keep strict Guard. One stout Commander , thus , has baffl'd more Th' insulting Foe , than others , twenty score . Another cryes : — Help here ! — another , There ! — Another ; — and another ! — Where , — O where , A fifth replyes ; — Sure thou art blind : Another ! — He quickly choak'd , and blinded is with Smother . One , Hoarse with Bawling ; Deaf with t' others Noise , Has lost his Hearing , with his Voice . Distracted each , by dissonant Command , Cannot the other understand . Babel of old , as in a Scene , you see Here present , by an Autopsie ! Confusion , Discrepancy , Tumult , Throng , — A Kindness to the Foe ; to Them a Wrong : Each thwarting other , in the course they take , The fury of the Flame to slake . Retreat they must ; — or Death , or sudden Flight ! 'T is daring , against Heaven to fight . But ah ! — the hideous Moans , Laments , and Cryes , From every Ward that do arise ! — Hither and thither ; — to and fro they run , As Wights distracted ; — clean undone ! Fear to their feet adds wings ; — but whither then To flee , they know not , — woful Men ! All Avenues block'd up ; — from fire to fire , And flame to flame , they must retire . Whether they stand their ground ; or whether flee ; Nor here , nor there , from danger free . The Women , with Heart-piercing Groans , and Shrieks , Beating their Breasts ; beating their Cheeks ! Children , in their shrill Accents , to their Mother , Shrieking in Consort , each with other ! And some are so astonish'd with the Blow , Of this their huge down-bearing Woe , Tongue-ty'd with Grief ; to tell each others Wrong , Their Eyes usurp the Office of the Tongue . They cannot weep , alas ! they cannot moan ; Like Niobe , are turn'd to stone ! Or like Lot's wife , when she beheld the wrack Of her dear Sodom , looking back ! Strange property of Flame ! — Stone to calcine ; Flesh to transform , to Stone and Brine ! Transformed so to Statues view them here , By pale astonishment , and fear ! Smelling of Fire each one ; and sing'd with heat ; Squalid their Cheeks with dust and sweat ! Hair stairing ; red swollen Eyes ; with gastly Look ; Blasted by Lightning ; Thunder-strook ! Offer at words ; then stop , and groan , as if Their Tongues congealed were , and stiff ! Unfetter'd yet remain both Feet , and Hands , From those stiff Adamantine Bands : Self-preservation , and Instinct will shew The Offices , these have to do : Their Hands , to rescue Luggage , what they might ; Their Feet , to rescue them , by flight . All in a hurry , loaded on his Back , Is each one , shifting with his Pack . No Arms are empty ; and no Shoulders light ; Yet feel not of their Load the weight . What vacant room , in any place , they spye , Thither , in hast , with Goods they hye ; There lodge them : — Back again ; — but then , as fast , The rapid Flame prevents their hast . Then empty handed , back ; to guard the same Few Goods , were ravish'd from the flame . Care to secure that little , did betray Their value , to the Thief a Prey . Goods any where , at random hurl'd , in hast , A Rescue from the Fires wast ; And Goods deliver'd out to unknown hands , Of any one , there next that stands ; These , too , were ample Spoils to villain Thief , Pretending kindness , for Relief . O! — may such Vultures fret , with gripes within , Of their own self-revenging sin ! May 't prove a Rape , ( snatch'd , as from Altar . Blest ) With glowing Coals , to fire their Nest ! Streets pyl'd with Goods ; and straight those Pyles became Fewel , to their own Fun'ral Flame . A spacious Church there stood , on middle ground , With noblest Streets encompass'd round : This their Asylum ; hither all do carry Their choicest things , for sanctuary : Rich Wares ; and richer Books ; and Treasure ( sure ) Would here , or no where , be secure . But loe ! from Horns o' th' Altar they are snatch'd , By Sacrilegious Fire attach'd ! Things Sacred , things Profane , are all become , To th' greedy Flames , an Hecatomb ! O! — pray not , then , to Saints ! — O! never swerve ! All Saints themselves could not preserve ! This goodly Fabrick , as a thing forelorn , In pensive widow-hood doth mourn ! Like Sheep dispers'd , and scatter'd here , and there , Her frequent solemn Meetings are Frequented , in her yet remaining Towers , By Screech-Owls hoarse , at mid-night hours ! There leave her still ( no help , alas ! ) we must , Down-sunk , and bury'd in her dust . Turn we from hence , and see the neighbouring Pyles , Flaming about , in Ranks and Files : If Desolation , thus , Gods House infest , What better Quarter may be given the rest ? Then ( to make short ) Northampton all , in view , But one great Bon-fire doth shew . Now in this general Wrack , 't were strange , if some , As Pitchers , came not broken home . — Home , did I call 't ? — Alas ! — nor House , nor Home , Nor Harbour standing , where to come ! The Havock such ! the very Plot not known , But yesterday it stood upon ! Yet , Skin for Skin : midst all their Losses , they Their Lives had given them , for a Prey . This Mercy , ' midst of Judgment , granted thee ; Better no House to be in , than not be . When stripp'd of all , whilst living ; whilst a man ; Th' art still a Cosmopolitan ! Children , some few , shiftless to make Retreat ; Pass'd through this burning Tophet's Heat . Blest Innocents ! by Baptism Fire , Your Guardian Angels meant to mount you higher , Above this Dung-hill Earth , and Mire ! Your Parents , here below , you sorrowing sought ; Got once to Heaven , they 'l find you out . This too , shall add some Glory to your Name : Your Fates , together both ; and both the same : Yours , and your native Cities Fun'ral Flame ! An after-clap of Ruins then befel , Renews our Sorrows here to tell ! Vain Man ! ( you 'l say : ) when , by one suddain blast , Of rushing Wind , three were in pieces dasht ! Lighter than Wind , and Vanity , O then , Remember still : — that we are men . But , ( to return ) all else with Life retire , Though most , as Brands , snatch'd out o' th Fire ! And thus retir'd , though they in safety be , Yet , jealous of their fafety , flee . The fearful Hare , thus , having gain'd the start Of th' eager Hound , in every part , For shelter , to some Covert , swift doth bear ; No Covert , yet , can shelter her from fear . Such , also , is the bleeding Quarries dread , From Faulcon's gripes when rescued . As they , by little , and by little , came Once to themselves ; and fears grew tame ; Their flight restrained somewhat ; and the rage Of head-strong Passions to asswage : Their Piety directs them now , to mind , Where they their absent Friends might find . How to retrive , and bring again to light , Those sad remains of fire and flight . Dispers'd , and shuffl'd multitudes among , Each calls on other , in the throng . Here , here , cryes one ; — another , here am I ; yet cannot one another spy . Those , whom their distant voices cannot reach , Ask all , they meet with , each of each . The Wife : — O , my dear Husband ! where is he ? The Husband : — my poor Wife , — where 's she ? Dear Mother : — O — where , where are you ? — where 's my Brother ? O , — my sweet Children ! — cryes the Mother ! So , when by rav'ning Wolf the scatter'd Fold , All o're the Champain , you behold ; — The bleating Ews their Sucklings ; bleating Rams . Rally their Ews , and bleating Lambs , Till , by alternate bleatings , each to either , All re-unite , and flock together . Yet , different here : — for multitudes were fled , Whether alive ( who knows ? ) or dead ? Of whom , before , no tidings could be heard , Few , here and there , by chance appear'd . Those few , are met with , on the self-same ground , Are rather stumbl'd on , than found . For why ? to every hospitable Farm , The wandring Exiles thither swarm , No Town , nor Village neer , that night , was free , From Pilgrims , and heart-melting Sympathy . — There leave we them , in safety full of cares , And tossings on their Beds , and fears . Yet let 's be civil too , before we start , And pay our shot ; at least in part : Kind-hearted Christian , worthy , noble Friends ! We would , but cannot make amends : Your great obliging Love , and Favours such , We ne're can value them too much ! To harbour the distress'd ; — to furnish Bread. To th' hungry , and half-famished ! To send us in Provisions every way ; Load us with kindness , day by day ! Consult , contrive , assist , with Head and Hands , And Heart , and Purse ! — O — these are Bands , That must oblige ! — may Heaven and Earth , repend Like blessings on you , — to your end ! Never may Fire invade you ; — may it be Your Servant ( always ) — not your Enemy ! May peace ; and happiness , and safety fall Thick — thick , upon your Tabernacles all ! Thus taking leave ; We 'l back again to know How fare the other amidst all their wo. Retir'd ; — the labouring Moon does disappear , By charms as ravish'd from her Sphear ! A Sable Veil of Black 's about her Head ; In Clouds of Smoak enveloped ! 'T might seem , as if , amated at the sight , Swooning , she dy'd away her Light ! The Light we had , was Flame , to see our Way ; And that ; a counterfeited Day ! The Coast was clear ; th' Inhabitants were fled ; But none ( you may suppose ) to Bed. Some in the bordering Fields , Church-yard , or Close , Back-lanes , or Orchards take repose . Scorching and broyling in hot Fire , but new , Now wet and shivering in cold Dew . Or else , in quest of Friends , that missing were , Wandering the Coasts about , in fear . Distressed Friends : be not dismay'd for all These hard mis-fortunes you befall ! Chear-up , nor give your black despair the scope ; So long as Life remains there 's hope ! The time will come ( though I no Prophet be ) Ere long you better days shall see : You have a gracious God , a gracious King : Mercy from both and bounty spring God and the King your Friends , the Countreys all Shall stand your Friends in general . O! — pay we then , to both , here , every where , All due Allegiance , and fear . Night-shades do vanish ; — new sprung day is born From eye-lids of the purple morn . Who is not now on fire to walk the round , Of the new desolated ground ? ( 'T is a kind of pleasing horrour to look back , When landed safe upon the Wrack . ) Here you behold a frightful Solitude , VVhere late the sacred Temple stood . Thence to the spacious Market turn your Eyes ; There the whole ruin'd Checquer lies ! The Drapery next in heaps of Rubbish down ; The second Beauty of the Town . A third , which from th' adjacent Bridge takes name , Laid level with the ground , by Flame ! St. Gyles to East ; — with spacious Abington , Streets , hand in hand , lye over-thrown ! Then that , which forward North , along doth roam , She 's her own Sepulcher become ! That next an ancient Colledge , long had grac'd , VVith Ruins utterly defac'd ! The Gold-Street , by Antiphrasis so nam'd , VVith all her Fellows , was enflam'd ! The Horse-frequented Market , all destroy'd ! The fatal Street , St. Maries void : Fatal to all ; there 't was , the Fire began , VVhich all the others over-ran . We 'l name no more , though Ruins more we sound , Many , in walking of the round . Imagin , now , you saw , before your Eye , A Lyon seised on his Prey : No rescue , till full gorg'd , and glutted , here Two Legs lye scatter'd ; there , an Ear. Such the proportion is , 'twixt what the Fire Devour'd ; and what was left intire ! Thus fell Northampton ; Darling once to Fame ! A Victim , now , to angry Flame . Great London onely , Tow'ring in the Skyes , Could her great Ruins equalize ! There yet remains ( lov'd City ) to reherse Thy Epitaph , in mournful Verse . Epitaphium . WAy-faring Traveler , who e're thou be : Hold on thy wonted Road , and see A Spectacle ; which ( sure ) thy thoughts will raise To chilling Horrour , and Amaze ! Northampton here , Entomb'd in her own Dust And Ashes lyes : — thy Emblem just : Thou brave and frolick , shortly , in thy Urn , To Dust and Ashes , thus , shalt turn . She , at noon day , in health , and happy plight , Straight , clouded with a gloomy night ! Lament her Fall ; — with sobs , and flowing Eyes , Come celebrate her Obsequies . Fair Albion , Queen Regent of our Strand , many fair Daughters doth command ; She , one the fair'st , and lovely'st in the throng Of Sister Citys , all this Isle among . Where Silver Avon doth her Flood combine , In Wedlock tye , with Crystal Nine , She , in the midst ; — they all , as in a Ring , About her round encirculing : Fam'd See of Peterborough ; Vppingham ; Huntington ; Bedford ; Buckingham ; With Warwick ; Woster ; Lichfeild ; Coventre ; Leicester next ; &c ae . Name them we may not , here , for want of room , ( Compendium , best , befits a Tomb. ) Onely , give leave to say : — These , neighbouring all , With hundreds more , lament her Fall ! Fruitful her Soyl ; delightful was her Seat , — In Hill , and Champain , Mead , and Rivolet ; Healthful her Air , — three Elements conspire In one , to bless her ; — all , but Fire : This works her speedy Ruin ; — and with dread , Show'rs Flames , and Vengeance on her head ! Ah , merciless , dear Element , might she , Most truly , now , complain of thee ! But ah ! — she is not : see both here , and there , Her shatter'd Reliques , every where ! Embalm we then , with an officious Verse , And pious Tears , her dolorous Herse ! Combine her Ashes ; recollect her Dust ; Them to her Urn commit , in Trust ! Who knows , but she , ere long , a Phoenix , may , Spring from those Ashes , bright as day ? Thy Votes , with ours , O — still and still renew , Kind Passenger ; And so — A dieu . The END .