[Sir William Coventry wrote to Lord Arlington on the evening of this day, “The Duke of York fears the want of workmen and tools to-morrow morning, and wishes the deputy lieutenants and justices of peace to summon the workmen with tools to be there by break of day.  In some churches and chapels are great hooks for pulling down houses, which should be brought ready upon the place to-night against the morning” ("Calendar of State Papers,” 1666-66, p. 95).]

Here meeting, with Captain Cocke, I in his coach, which he lent me, and Creed with me to Paul’s, and there walked along Watlingstreet, as well as I could, every creature coming away loaden with goods to save, and here and there sicke people carried away in beds.  Extraordinary good goods carried in carts and on backs.  At last met my Lord Mayor in Canningstreet, like a man spent, with a handkercher about his neck.  To the King’s message he cried, like a fainting woman, “Lord! what can I do?  I am spent:  people will not obey me.  I have been pulling down houses; but the fire overtakes us faster than we can do it.”  That he needed no more soldiers; and that, for himself, he must go and refresh himself, having been up all night.  So he left me, and I him, and walked home, seeing people all almost distracted, and no manner of means used to quench the fire.  The houses, too, so very thick thereabouts, and full of matter for burning, as pitch and tarr, in Thames-street; and warehouses of oyle, and wines, and brandy, and other things.  Here I saw Mr. Isaake Houblon, the handsome man, prettily dressed and dirty, at his door at Dowgate, receiving some of his brothers’ things, whose houses were on fire; and, as he says, have been removed twice already; and he doubts (as it soon proved) that they must be in a little time removed from his house also, which was a sad consideration.  And to see the churches all filling with goods by people who themselves should have been quietly there at this time.  By this time it was about twelve o’clock; and so home, and there find my guests, which was Mr. Wood and his wife Barbary Sheldon, and also Mr. Moons:  she mighty fine, and her husband; for aught I see, a likely man.  But Mr. Moone’s design and mine, which was to look over my closett and please him with the sight thereof, which he hath long desired, was wholly disappointed; for we were in great trouble and disturbance at this fire, not knowing what to think of it.  However, we had an extraordinary good dinner, and as merry, as at this time we could be.  While at dinner Mrs. Batelier come to enquire after Mr. Woolfe and Stanes (who, it seems, are related to them), whose houses in Fish-street are all burned; and they in a sad condition.  She would not stay in the fright.  Soon as dined, I and Moone away, and walked, through the City, the streets full of nothing but people and horses and carts loaden with goods, ready to run over one another, and, removing goods from one burned house to another.  They now removing out of Canning-streets (which received goods in the morning) into Lumbard-streets, and further;