XV. Copy of a Letter to Sir Robert Atkyns, Knight of the Bath, Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer, and Speaker of the House of Lords, in the Reign of King William, from his brother Sir Edward Atkyns, who was also Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer. Written from London during the Fire 1666, to his Brother at Sapperton, his residence in Gloucestershire. Communicated by the Rev. Stephen Weston, B.D. F.R.S.

Extract

I received your letter, and shall give you the best account I can of our late sad fire, tho' it is scarcely possible for any man fully to describe it. It began at a Bakers house in Puddinglane, near Thames Street, on Sunday morning, about two or three of the clock; and burnt doune several houses, but could not be quencht, in regard it was a narrow place where y^e engines could not play, & y^e Lord Maior did not thinke fit to pull doune any houses to prevent y^e further spreading of y^e fire.