much violence: when the Fire was entered, how quickly did it run round the galleries, filling them with flames: then descending the stairs, compasseth the walks, giving forth flaming vollies, and filling the court with sheets of fire by and by, the Kings fell all down upon their faces, and the greatest part of the building after them, (the Founder's Statue only remaining) with such a noise as was dreadful and astonishing.”

The Rev. Samuel Rolle, another spectator of the Great Fire, gives the following curious account of this edifice, in his "Meditations on the Burning of London."

"What a princely foundation was that Royal Exchange! and of how great use? Was not that the centre in which those lines met that were drawn from all parts of Europe? rich Merchants, I mean, and other eminent tradesmen, and great dealers, not only English, but Spanish, French, Dutch, Portugueze, Danes, Swedes! Was not the place a little epitome, or rather Representative of all Europe (if not of the greatest part of the trading World) renewed every day at such a time, and for so many hours? As London was the glory of England, so was the Royal Exchange one of the greatest glories and ornaments of London. There were the statues of the Kings and Queens of England set up, as in the most conspicuous and honourable place; as well receiving lustre from the place where they stood, as giving lustre to it.

"How full of riches was that Royal Exchange! Rich men in the midst of it, rich goods both above and beneath! There men walk'd upon the top of a wealthy mine; considering what Eastern Treasures, costly spices, and such like things, were laid up in the bowels (I

mean the cellars) of that place. As for the upper part of it, was it not the great storehouse whence the nobility and gentry of England were furnished with most of those costly things, wherewith they did adorn either their closets or themselves? Here, if any where, might a man have seen the glory of the World in a moment; as the Devil shewed to Christ from a high mountain. What artificial thing could entertain the senses and fantasies of men, that was not there to be had? Such was the delight that many Gallants took in that Magazine of all curious varieties, that they could almost have dwelt there; going from Shop to Shop, like Bees from flowers to flowers; if they had but had a Fountain of Money that could not have been drawn dry! I doubt not but a Mahometan, who never expects other than sensible delights, would gladly have accepted of that place and the treasures of it, for his Heaven, and have thought there were none like it! The sins of the lower part, (where Merchants met to discourse their affairs) we may suspect to have been craft and covetousnesse; over-reaching and going beyond one another. And were there not other kinds of sins which did abound in the upper region of that Exchange, which, like so many comets, or blazing stars, did portende, or threaten the destruction of it? Oh the pride and prodigality that was there to be seen! How few could be charitable that were so expensive as many were in that place! And how much of that which was there expended, might well have been put to charitable uses? How unlikely was it that they should be humble, who were so curious and phantastical, as the things that were there bought, shewed them to be! They that wrought for that place, had as need of as good a phantasie for metamorphosis in habits, as Ovid

had in other things, that they might please customers so insatiable after novelties.

"Though there was in that place an Insurance-Office, which undertook for those ships and goods that were hazarded at Sea, either by boisterous winds or dangerous enemies; yet could it not secure itself, when sin, like Sampson, took hold of the pillars of it, and went about to pull it down. What quick work can Sin and Fire make! How did that strong building vanish of a sudden, as if it had been but an apparition! How quickly was it taken down, as if it had been but a sleight tent, the cords whereof are presently loosened, and the stakes soon removed. So fell that noble Structure, undermined by craft and covetousnesse, and overladen with pride and prodigality:―and great was the fall thereof.'

On the 2d of November, after the fire, as appears by the books of the Mercers' Company, "Mr. Hooke, Mr. Mills, and Mr. Jerman, the City Surveyors, were requested to prepare an estimate for rebuilding the Royal Exchange." In February 1666-7, the joint Committee of the Corporation and the Mercers' Company directed the ground to be cleared, and agreed to petition the King for an order to obtain Portland Stone. In April," the Committee, being aware of the great burthen of business lying upon Mr. Mills for the City, at that time, and considering that Mr. Edward Jerman was the most able known artist besides him, that this City then had, unanimously, "made choice of Jerman" to assist the Committee in the agreeing for, ordering, and directing of that work." On the 3rd of May, that "artist," as he is called in the Mercers' books, having applied for instructions, the Committee