A briefe representation of the sad and lamentable condition of that once flourishing town of Marlborough, in Wiltshire, as it hath been represented by severall letters from credible persons of that place to their friends in London.
      
       
         This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A77470 of text R211349 in the  English Short Title Catalog (Thomason 669.f.17[5]). Textual changes  and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more  computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life.  The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with  MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish.  This text has not been fully proofread 
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         EarlyPrint Project
         Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO
         2017
         A77470
         Wing B4643
         Thomason 669.f.17[5]
         ESTC R211349
         99870079
         99870079
         163255
         
           
            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
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         Early English books online.
      
       
         (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A77470)
         Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 163255)
         Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 246:669f17[5])
      
       
         
           
             A briefe representation of the sad and lamentable condition of that once flourishing town of Marlborough, in Wiltshire, as it hath been represented by severall letters from credible persons of that place to their friends in London.
             Bayly, Thomas, d. 1657?
             Keynes, John, 1625?-1697.
             Hammond, John, d. 1707.
             Keynton, Thomas.
          
           1 sheet ([1] p.)
           
             s.n.,
             [London :
             1653]
          
           
             Imprint from Wing.
             Composed of 4 letters written in April 1653 by Thomas Bayly, John Keynes, John Hammond, and Thomas Keynton.
             Reproduction of the original in the British Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
         eng
      
       
         
           Marlborough (England) -- History -- 17th century -- Early works to 1800.
           Great Britain -- History -- Commonwealth and Protectorate, 1649-1660 -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
       A77470  R211349  (Thomason 669.f.17[5]).  civilwar no A briefe representation of the sad and lamentable condition of that once flourishing town of Marlborough, in Wiltshire, as it hat been repre Bayly, Thomas 1653    1551 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 B  The  rate of 6 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the B category of texts with fewer than 10 defects per 10,000 words. 
        2008-07 TCP
        Assigned for keying and markup
      
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        Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images
      
        2009-01 Emma (Leeson) Huber
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        2009-01 Emma (Leeson) Huber
        Text and markup reviewed and edited
      
        2009-02 pfs
        Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
      
    
  
   
     
       
       
         A
         Briefe
         representation
         of
         the
         sad
         and
         lamentable
         condition
         of
         that
         once
         flourishing
         Town
         of
         MARLEBOROVGH
         ,
         
           In
           Wiltshire
           ,
           as
           it
           hath
           been
           represented
           by
           several
           letters
           from
           credible
           persons
           of
           that
           place
           to
           their
           Friends
           in
        
         LONDON
         .
      
       
         
           
             Maister
             Lawrence
             :
          
        
         
           I
           Doubt
           not
           but
           before
           you
           receive
           this
           letter
           ,
           you
           have
           heard
           the
           relation
           of
           our
           sad
           miseryes
           and
           afflictions
           ,
           which
           the
           Lord
           hath
           layed
           on
           us
           in
           the
           day
           of
           his
           fierce
           anger
           ,
           against
           
             Marleborough
             ;
          
           All
           the
           heart
           and
           principal
           parts
           of
           it
           layed
           in
           the
           dust
           ,
           to
           the
           utter
           undoing
           of
           a
           multitude
           of
           Families
           ,
           that
           now
           want
           bread
           .
           And
           I
           have
           had
           a
           great
           share
           in
           this
           sad
           afflicton
           ,
           my
           Houses
           being
           burnt
           down
           to
           the
           ground
           ,
           a
           good
           part
           of
           my
           wares
           plundered
           ,
           and
           lost
           ,
           and
           burnt
           my
           losse
           is
           very
           great
           ,
           yet
           it
           is
           a
           mercy
           wee
           escaped
           with
           our
           lives
           :
           the
           most
           furious
           fire
           that
           ever
           mortall
           creature
           saw
           .
           We
           were
           all
           in
           the
           dust
           within
           three
           or
           foure
           houres
           :
           if
           it
           had
           been
           in
           the
           night
           ,
           we
           could
           not
           have
           escaped
           with
           our
           lives
           ,
           
             but
             blessed
             be
             the
             name
             of
             the
             Lord
             ,
          
           he
           hath
           not
           utterly
           destroyed
           us
           ,
           as
           we
           deserve
           :
           we
           are
           thereby
           put
           out
           of
           our
           habitations
           and
           callings
           ,
           and
           if
           speedy
           reliese
           be
           not
           sent
           from
           the
           
             Nation
             ,
          
           it
           will
           be
           a
           ruinous
           place
           and
           destitute
           of
           Trade
           ,
           and
           a
           monument
           to
           posteritie
           ,
           that
           once
           there
           was
           a
           flourishing
           Town
           ,
           which
           now
           mournes
           in
           silence
           .
           I
           hope
           the
           City
           will
           have
           a
           compassionate
           eye
           ,
           and
           lend
           us
           their
           helpe
           .
           I
           am
           so
           tyred
           out
           with
           watching
           ,
           &c.
           that
           I
           can
           scarce
           write
           sense
           unto
           you
           .
           I
           pray
           let
           your
           uncle
           
             Strange
          
           and
           other
           Friends
           partake
           of
           this
           sad
           Newes
           .
           With
           my
           kind
           respect
           to
           your selfe
           and
           Mrs.
           
             Lawrence
          
           I
           remain
        
         
           
             Yours
             ,
             
               Thomas
               Bayly
               .
            
          
           
             Marleborough
             ,
             
               
                 April
              
               the
               30.
               1653.
               
            
          
        
      
       
         
           
             Mr.
             
               Scattergood
               :
            
          
        
         
           FRiend
           ,
           had
           I
           leasure
           and
           strength
           ,
           I
           should
           tell
           you
           the
           saddest
           storie
           that
           I
           think
           you
           ever
           heard
           ,
           of
           a
           Town
           no
           bigger
           then
           
             Marleborough
             ,
          
           where
           in
           three
           hours
           time
           were
           consumed
           at
           least
           two
           hundred
           and
           fifty
           houses
           ,
           and
           all
           those
           the
           chiefest
           ,
           not
           one
           Shopkeepers
           house
           standing
           ,
           not
           scarce
           one
           sufficient
           mans
           ,
           except
           Mr.
           
           Majors
           ,
           and
           that
           was
           entered
           upon
           by
           the
           fire
           ,
           but
           God
           made
           me
           an
           instrument
           to
           save
           it
           ;
           and
           in
           probability
           ,
           by
           so
           doing
           the
           most
           part
           of
           the
           poor
           houses
           now
           left
           :
           all
           the
           other
           lying
           in
           the
           dust
           .
           My
           loss
           is
           about
           2000
           pounds
           ,
           1100
           in
           houses
           ,
           300
           quarter
           of
           mault
           ,
           100
           l.
           in
           wood
           ,
           besides
           housholdstuff
           ,
           some
           goods
           ,
           and
           money
           ,
           and
           goods
           lent
           to
           severall
           men
           that
           were
           sufficient
           before
           this
           sad
           calamity
           ,
           but
           now
           are
           not
           able
           to
           pay
           four
           pence
           .
           But
           all
           this
           troubleth
           me
           not
           so
           much
           as
           that
           many
           honest
           and
           sufficient
           Tradesmen
           have
           not
           money
           to
           buy
           bread
           ;
           though
           I
           praise
           God
           ,
           I
           have
           ;
           and
           divers
           friends
           in
           and
           about
           the
           Town
           would
           entertaine
           me
           :
           but
           I
           blesse
           God
           ,
           I
           am
           not
           yet
           brought
           so
           low
           ,
           and
           I
           trust
           that
           no
           man
           shall
           lose
           four
           pence
           by
           me
           ,
           neither
           shall
           they
           so
           long
           as
           I
           have
           three
           pence
           left
           .
           I
           have
           gotten
           two
           rooms
           to
           make
           a
           shop
           of
           ,
           in
           the
           most
           convenient
           house
           ,
           though
           a
           thatched
           one
           .
           We
           have
           sent
           three
           friends
           to
           the
           Generall
           ,
           and
           I
           hope
           every
           good
           man
           will
           be
           put
           forward
           by
           all
           that
           have
           heard
           of
           the
           once
           flourishing
           condition
           of
           
             Marleborough
             ,
          
           that
           it
           may
           be
           built
           again
           :
           If
           not
           ,
           we
           are
           all
           utterly
           undone
           for
           ever
           both
           for
           Trade
           and
           Lodging
           ,
           for
           we
           have
           not
           one
           Inne
           left
           standing
           in
           the
           Town
           .
           The
           Lord
           keep
           you
           ,
           and
           your
           true
           loving
           friend
           to
           his
           poor
           power
           .
        
         
           
             John
             Keynes
             .
          
           
             Marleborough
             ,
             
               The
               last
               of
               
                 April
                 ,
              
               1653.
               
            
          
        
      
       
         
           
             Mr.
             
               Eglesfield
               ,
            
          
        
         
           YOurs
           received
           ,
           I
           am
           to
           unfold
           a
           sad
           businesse
           to
           you
           which
           hapned
           on
           Thursday
           last
           ,
           I
           being
           at
           the
           
             Devises
             .
          
           It
           pleased
           God
           to
           lay
           his
           heavy
           hand
           by
           fire
           on
           
             Marleboroough
             ,
          
           which
           hath
           burned
           down
           our
           dwelling
           houses
           ,
           (
           I
           have
           but
           very
           little
           saved
           ,
           not
           above
           eight
           pounds
           worth
           of
           all
           my
           goods
           and
           Books
           )
           so
           that
           we
           that
           are
           in
           the
           Town
           have
           no
           habitations
           ,
           scarce
           any
           thing
           left
           but
           our
           lives
           ,
           all
           burned
           ;
           the
           children
           crying
           to
           go
           home
           ,
           and
           I
           tell
           them
           we
           have
           none
           to
           go
           to
           .
           S.
           
             Maries
          
           Church
           ,
           with
           the
           Market
           house
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           chief
           houses
           in
           the
           Town
           on
           both
           sides
           of
           the
           high
           Street
           burned
           to
           dust
           :
           three
           hundred
           families
           at
           least
           out
           of
           doors
           .
           I
           do
           not
           know
           well
           what
           course
           to
           take
           for
           the
           present
           .
           Pray
           tell
           Mr.
           
             Sparks
          
           of
           this
           .
           The
           losse
           is
           unspeakable
           ,
           all
           being
           on
           fire
           in
           an
           instant
           of
           Time
           .
           I
           rest
           your
           loving
           friend
        
         
           
             John
             Hammond
             .
          
           
             Marleborough
             .
             
               
                 April
                 .
              
               the
               30.
               1653.
               
            
          
        
      
       
         
           
             Mrs.
             
               Manning
               ,
            
          
        
         
           ON
           Thursday
           last
           there
           hapned
           in
           our
           town
           a
           great
           and
           lamentable
           fire
           ,
           which
           did
           burn
           down
           and
           consume
           all
           the
           eminent
           parts
           of
           the
           Town
           .
           The
           fire
           did
           begin
           almost
           at
           S.
           
             Peters
          
           Church
           ,
           at
           
             Francis
             Freemans
          
           house
           ,
           a
           Tanner
           ,
           on
           the
           south
           side
           of
           the
           high
           street
           ,
           and
           did
           burn
           down
           both
           sides
           of
           the
           way
           :
           not
           one
           house
           escaped
           .
           It
           burnt
           the
           Town-hall
           ,
           the
           Market-place
           ,
           and
           four
           or
           five
           tunne
           of
           Cheese
           in
           it
           ;
           also
           S.
           
             Maries
          
           Church
           ,
           and
           the
           chiefest
           part
           of
           S.
           
             Maries
          
           Parish
           is
           burnt
           .
           The
           like
           fire
           was
           scarce
           ever
           seen
           by
           any
           man
           in
           
             England
             ,
          
           it
           is
           thought
           there
           are
           between
           three
           or
           four
           hundred
           houses
           burnt
           :
           the
           loss
           cannot
           be
           conceived
           as
           yet
           :
           all
           the
           shops
           and
           Innes
           in
           the
           Town
           are
           burnt
           to
           the
           ground
           .
           It
           hath
           pleased
           God
           to
           spare
           our
           house
           ,
           (
           yet
           we
           had
           a
           great
           loss
           )
           which
           we
           acknowledge
           his
           great
           mercy
           to
           us
           in
           sparing
           us
           .
           It
           is
           a
           great
           and
           sore
           affliction
           ;
           I
           pray
           God
           it
           may
           be
           sanctified
           to
           us
           ,
           that
           so
           we
           may
           have
           cause
           to
           say
           ,
           It
           was
           good
           for
           us
           that
           we
           were
           afflicted
           .
        
         
           
             Thomas
             Keynton
             .
          
           
             Marleborough
             ,
             
               
                 Aprill
              
               the
               30.
               1653.
               
            
          
        
      
       
         
           A
           more
           particular
           and
           full
           relation
           of
           the
           beginning
           of
           this
           wofull
           fire
           ,
           and
           manner
           of
           Gods
           dealing
           with
           that
           poor
           and
           distressed
           Town
           in
           it
           ,
           you
           may
           expect
           hereafter
           ,
           onely
           this
           for
           the
           present
           ,
           as
           it
           hath
           been
           related
           ,
           is
           as
           followeth
           .
        
         
           IT
           pleased
           God
           that
           on
           Thursday
           the
           28.
           of
           April
           1653.
           in
           the
           out-housing
           of
           one
           
             Francis
             Freeman
          
           a
           
             Tanner
             ,
          
           almost
           at
           the
           West-end
           of
           the
           High-street
           ,
           near
           St.
           
           
             Peters
             Church
             ,
          
           on
           the
           south
           side
           ,
           his
           people
           being
           drying
           of
           
             Barke
             ,
          
           it
           took
           fire
           about
           7
           or
           8
           of
           the
           clock
           in
           the
           morning
           ,
           and
           they
           endeavoured
           to
           put
           it
           out
           :
           the
           Neighbours
           espying
           of
           it
           profered
           their
           helpe
           ,
           which
           was
           refused
           ,
           
             Mr.
             
             Freeman
          
           himself
           being
           (
           as
           it
           is
           said
           )
           from
           home
           .
           At
           last
           it
           prevailed
           so
           much
           that
           it
           took
           hold
           of
           the
           dwelling
           house
           ,
           and
           grew
           so
           violent
           on
           a
           suddain
           ,
           that
           within
           a
           short
           space
           the
           fire
           by
           the
           hand
           of
           God
           was
           carryed
           from
           this
           side
           of
           the
           street
           to
           the
           other
           side
           on
           the
           North
           of
           at
           :
           So
           that
           it
           took
           hold
           of
           some
           thatched
           houses
           ,
           and
           the
           stacks
           of
           wood
           in
           their
           backside
           ,
           and
           so
           suddenly
           ran
           along
           the
           whole
           length
           of
           the
           Town
           Eastward
           ,
           and
           totally
           consumed
           the
           street
           on
           both
           sides
           ,
           in
           three
           or
           four
           houres
           space
           ,
           as
           is
           before
           related
           .
        
         
           This
           ancient
           market
           Town
           being
           so
           remarkable
           a
           place
           ,
           for
           trade
           and
           commerce
           both
           with
           the
           Cities
           of
           
             London
          
           and
           
             Bristol
             ,
          
           and
           also
           serving
           for
           a
           Magazine
           and
           Store-house
           for
           all
           the
           Inland
           Counties
           near
           adjacent
           ,
           and
           of
           so
           great
           consequence
           generally
           to
           all
           people
           who
           have
           any
           relation
           in
           those
           parts
           ,
           it
           is
           hoped
           that
           all
           the
           true
           and
           sincere-hearted
           people
           of
           this
           Nation
           will
           seriously
           consider
           the
           wofull
           calamities
           and
           sad
           afflictions
           of
           those
           their
           Christian
           brethren
           and
           countreymen
           ,
           so
           as
           that
           they
           may
           neglect
           no
           time
           nor
           opportunity
           to
           move
           all
           their
           friends
           and
           such
           as
           are
           in
           power
           ,
           to
           administer
           such
           relief
           as
           they
           are
           able
           in
           this
           dark
           ,
           day
           of
           their
           lamentable
           visitation
           ,
           towards
           the
           reedifying
           of
           that
           deplo●able
           place
           ;
           not
           knowing
           whose
           turn
           it
           may
           be
           next
           to
           implore
           the
           help
           of
           others
           upon
           the
           like
           occasion
           :
           from
           which
           good
           Lord
           deliver
           us
           all
           .