A Sad and Lamentable ACCOUNT OF THE Dreadful FIRE That happened on the Fourteenth of this Instant April, 1690. IN THE MEUSE NEAR WHITE-HALL. WITH The Circumstances that attended that Amazing Conflagration, the Damage sustained thereby, and how it was happily Extinguished; with other Matters Relating thereto, &c. 17. April .1690.  
NOtwithstanding the many fatal Consequences of carelessness and Negligence, by which most Dreadful Fires are occasioned, to the loss of many Lives, and the ruin of whole Families; yet we see they are not of Force to caution People to be more careful, though their own Lives are at Stake, and the Fortunes, if not Lives of their Neighbours, as has too fatally been proved; but amongst other Instances, we give you here one Dreadful and Amazing.  
It so happened, that on the fourteenth of April, 1690. Some Persons being abroad late near Charing-Cross, espying in a Coffee-house a more than usual Light, supposed at first it might only be Candles, but that increasing, they found themselves mistaken, and that it could be no less than a Fire, and thereupon Alarmed the People, and the Watches taking the Alarm, did the like on their Stands, so that the Streets and Yards became full of People; yet not so soon, but that the Raging Element had gotten the Mastery, and fastening on the upper Timber, the Roof instantly falling, began to blaze terribly, and before the Engines could come up, it had caught hold of another House; all that the People could do, being to save their Lives,[ some of them through surprise, Fear and Amazement, in a manner naked,] and all People, though at a great Distance, perceiving how the Fire got Mastery, fell to Removing, every one endeavouring to save what they could; for the Houses in those parts being many of them Old Buildings, gave them Apprehensions of a larger Progress than through Providence this Fire made; however though the Engines played vigorously, and the Soldiers especially, signalized themselves extremely well in helping to extinguish it, it still raged on and proceeded to an adjacent Pile of Buildings, though several People were advantageously planted to secure them by continual casting on Water; but the Fire assisted by the Dryness of the Season, derided their indefatigable Endeavours.  
The Meuse where the King's Principal Stables are, being on the Back-side of the Place where this Fire was, all hands were used to prevent its encroaching on that Side, and the Horses were removed in great hast and hurry, to prevent the Danger that threatened them; but this was not done without great Damage, for the Fire now having burnt violently for the Space of two Hours, began to spread itself that way, giving more and more Apprehensions of Danger. But by this time many Engines being brought, and a great Multitude of hands assisting, it began by degrees to lessen; and the Fury abated, being stopped in its Progress by a vacancy, by which it was brought under, so that the fear of its dreadful Effects began to lessen, which had not only alarmed the Inhabitants adjacent, but put the Court into some Consternation.  
The Damage sustained by this Fire is very considerable, for by its surprising hastiness in its Progress, those whose Houses are consumed and demolished, especially a great part of them, had not the leisure to carry off their Goods, or at least any considerable Quantity of them, so that some who could count themselves well settled, and considerably Rich some hours before, now found themselves outed of all. The Houses and Goods burnt are held to be worth about Ten Thousand Pounds: The Meuse Gate-house is sunk in the flamme, and other Apartments.  
Divers Persons are missing, and render it doubtful whether they have escaped perishing in the Flames, or are overwhelmed by the fall of the ruins.  
This deplorable Accident has raised a general Compassion for the poor Sufferers, for whose Relief, Care no doubt will be taken, especially such on whom it has been so considerable, that without a great Providence they are rendered incapable of recovering their former Figures in the World.   

licenced and Entred according to Order.   

ADVERTISEMENT.  
THere is this day published a new Play, entitled The late Revolution, or the Happy Change, a Tragi-Comedy, as it was acted throughout the English Dominions in the year 1688. Written by a Person of Quality, Sold by Richard Baldwin in the Old-Baily.  
London, Printed for E. Smith, 1690.