Up to this time, none of the civic authorities having arrived, several persons set off to give information of the calamity to the lord mayor (Sir Thomas Bludworth), and the other magistrates.  A small party of the watch were on the spot, but they were unable to render any effectual assistance.  As the conflagration advanced, those occupying houses in its track quitted them, and left their goods a prey to the numerous plunderers, who were now gathered together pursuing their vocation like unhallowed beings amid the raging element.  The whole presented a scene of the wildest alarm, confusion, and license.  Vociferations, oaths, shrieks, and outcries of every description stunned the ear.  Night was turned into day.  The awful roaring of the flames was ever and anon broken by the thundering fall of some heavy roof.  Flakes of fire were scattered far and wide by the driving wind, carrying destruction wherever they alighted, and spreading the conflagration on all sides, till it seemed like a vast wedge of fire driven into the heart of the city.  And thus it went on, swallowing up all before it, like an insatiate monster, and roaring for very joy.  Meanwhile, the incendiaries had met, as concerted, near the foot of the bridge, and all except Philip Grant seemed to rejoice in the progress of the conflagration.  Chowles made some comment upon his moody looks and silence, and whispered in his ear, “You have now an opportunity of retrieving your fortune, and may make yourself richer than your son.  Take my advice, and do not let it pass.”

“Away, tempter!” cried Grant—­“I have lighted a fire within my breast which never will be quenched.”

“Poh, poh!” rejoined Judith; “do not turn faint-hearted now.”

“The fire rages fiercely,” cried Solomon Eagle, gazing at the vast sheet of flame overtopping the buildings near them, “but we must keep it alive.  Take the remainder of the fire-balls, Hubert, and cast them into some of the old houses in Crooked-lane.”

Hubert prepared to obey.  “I will go with you, and point out the best spots,” said Chowles.  “Our next place of rendezvous must be the vaults beneath Saint Faith’s.”

“Agreed!” exclaimed the others.  And they again separated, Hubert and Chowles to kindle fresh fires, and Grant to watch the conflagration at a distance.  As to Solomon Eagle, he rushed towards the scene of destruction, and forcing himself into the midst of the crowd, mounted a post, crying in a loud voice: 

“I told you a second judgment would come upon you on account of your iniquities, and you now find that I avouched the truth.  The Lord himself hath come to preach to you, as he did in the fiery mount of Sinai, and a terrible exhortation it shall be, and one ye shall not easily forget.  This fire shall not be quenched till the whole city is laid prostrate.  Ye doubted my words when I told you of the plague; ye laughed at me and scoffed me; but ye became believers in the end, and now conviction is forced upon you a second time.  You will vainly attempt to save your dwellings.  It is the Lord’s will they should be destroyed, and man’s efforts to avert the judgment will be ineffectual!”