A true and perfect NARRATIVE OF The late dreadful fire which happened at Bridge-Town in the Barbadoss, April 18. 1668. As the same was communicated in two Letters from Mr. John Bushel, and Mr. Francis Bond, two Eminent Merchants there, to Mr. Edward Bushel Citizen and Merchant of London. Containing the beginning, progress, and event of that dreadful fire; with the estimation of the loss accrueing thereby, as it was delivered to his Majesty by several Eminent Merchants concerned in that Loss.  
Licenced According to Order.  
LONDON. Printed by Peter Lillicrap, Living in Clerkenwell Close.   

An abstract of a Letter from Mr. John Bushel, and Mr. Francis Bond two Eminent Merchants in the Barbadoss, to Mr. Edward Bushel Citizen and Merchant of London; concerning the late dreadful Fire, which happened at Bridge Town, the chief place in that Island April 18th 1668.  
SIR.  
THis Vessels sudden departure, and our amazing distraction gives us time to write to you, only 2 or three lines, but upon the most dismal and afflicting occasion that ever offered itself from these parts; for on Saturday evening last, being the eighteenth of this instant month, there happened a most dreadful Fire in our Town, which in the space of two or three hours' time, burnt and consumed almost all the whole buildings thereof, save only a very few houses to the great astonishment of all those who were either concerned in the loss, or spectators thereof.  
Divine Providence so ordered it, that our house was one of the first sacrifices to the flames, whether it begun in our or our Neighbour's house we know not; and help could none be there expected, it being next door to the public Magazine of the Island, which sometime after blew up, with great terror and damage; we having scare time in the mean space to save our Books and Papers of concern (together with our lives) from the merciless rage of that devouring fire, and dreadful stroke of the powder which killed many with its violent stroke.  
The Lord sanctify this affliction unto us, and cause us with deep and serious contrition, to be sensible of his severe displeasure, which hath been revealed against us, and others of this Nation.  
Yours SIR. Barbadoes April the 20th 1668.  
The abstract of another Letter sent from the aforesaid Persons to Mr. Edward Bushel dated April the 27th 1668.  
SIR,  
WE shall now (as having more time and leisure) give you a particular account of the sad calamity which befell on Satrurday the 18 instant, mentioned in my last: that day we were at home busy, writing most part of the day, and at Evening about five of the clock, (our house being washed and books and papers laid aside, being our usual practice in order to a timely retirement for the Sabbath; we two walked out as far as Exchange-place, leaving three or four of our servants at home, but we had not been gone little above the space of a quarter of an hour, till we were alarumed with an out cry of a fire, which was said to be either in our, or our Neighbour's Garret. James Costin was then in our counting house receiving of money, yet so ignorant of the mishap that he knew nothing thereof, till he was made sensible of it, by the people's running up stairs, who discovered the garret all on fire: nor can he give any account by what means or when it happened, that which is much suspected and most probable, is that it was either done by a little Negro, who lighted the Candle for them to tell the Money, and might go up with the same into the Garret, or else that it might be kindled by some spark accidentally falling from some of the Neighbours Chimneys, but of which we cannot yet absolutely determine,  
But we upon our return, finding the Fire past recovery hasted to secure what was most considerable, and what in such a sudden exigency we could carry away, not daring to stay any long time, the Fire prevailing so dreadfully upon our House, and it being next to the Magazine of the Island, which had in it about 170 barrels of powder, which set such an amazement, and struck such a terror upon the hearts of most people, that they durst not attempt to give that assistance, which otherwise would have been done and performed, and might have prevented (in all probability) a great part of this devastation.  
So that by what hath been demonstrated, we must ascribe the cause of the Fire prevailing so far, to be the cause of the Magazine, which being in the middle of the Town, was a terror to every man for lending his assistance to the quenching of the flames, well knowing that when the Fire came to the powder so near adjacent, it would cause such a blow as would destroy all near unto it: and indeed it is a miracle of mercy (that upon so little warning) it did not destroy many hundreds of people, which either by covetuosness of saving their goods, or impotency, stayed behind, as it was likely to have done, had the powder been in a low room, and not above, and questionless had it met with any opposition it might have caused a very great Earthquake (which Islands of this Nature are much subject unto) and so by consequence, reason induces me to believe, that very few in or near the Town had escaped alive. But God whose mercies are infinite here demonstrated it unto us, and mingled pity with his Judgements, in not punishing to the full measure of our deserts.  
This blow so dispersed the Fire, and shattered all the houses, that the whole Town became presently a prey to its flames, it being supposed there is no less than 800 houses consumed in this terrible conflagration, with a very great value of goods, the Town being very rich in Commodities, of which very little was saved, most off those goods being too cumberous as to admit of a sudden removal.  
Sir this is a short but true account from your faithful Friends. J. B. F. B. Barabdoes April 27. 1668.  
This Bridge Town was the chiefest place in all the Barbadoss, both for richness in Commodities, and numerousness in inhabitants; there were above Twenty able Merchants living in the same, who drove a great Trade in Tobacco, Sugar, Ginger, Indigo, etc. The losses that accrued by this great and sudden conflagration, amounted to above four Hundred thousand pound, as hath been since estimated, and and by some able knowing Merchants delivered in unto his Majesty.  
This Country of Barbadoes lies on the North East of St. Vincent, in the Latitude of 13 degrees and 20 minutes, it is of an Oval form, 17 or 18 miles in compass. The soil in show is like that of England, but far more fruitful; on the East side thrusting out itself with points and angles, which yield some Bays, but full of Quicksands, and unsafe for shipping; on the South furnished with a large and commodious Harbour; not very well provided of for Fruits or cattle till made a Colony of the English, who have brought thither from their ow● Country, Swine and Kine, Oranges and the like from others, The chief Commodities thereof, are (as we have said) Tobacco, Sugar, Ginger, Indigo, etc. Of which they furnish other Country's yearly in great abundance.  
This Plantation is said to be worth all the rest which are made by the English, who are the sole Colony in the Island, and have prospered very much, until this unhappy accident before recited.  
FINIS.