TAKE HEED IN TIME
Marlborough Fire 28th April 1653

Take heed in time,
or
A Briefe Relation of many Harmes which have of late been done by fire in Marlborough and in other places.
This copy was drawne up and printed, on purpose for the World to take notice of, and to be carefull to prevent the danger of Fire

A briefe description of the towne of MARLBOROUGH
And the Harmes that were there done upon Thursday the 28th of Aprill,
this present year, 1653.

The famous and flourishing Town of Marlborough in Wiltshire had of late two faire Parish Churches, one Called by the name of St. Peters, and the other Church called by the name of St. Maries: There wae likewise many faire Streets and stately Buildings, especially one gallant Street, called the High Street, in which they kept their Markets, which Markets consisted of all kind of necessarie povisions which was brought in far and near by the Country people. And indeed it was a gallant place both for Corn, Butter, Cheese, and other such like provisions as any was in all the Country:
The street wherein the Market was kept, is supposed to be in length and breadth full as large as cheape=side, and on both sides had many goodly shops well filled with rich and costly commodities, Silks and Tafety, Cloath, and Lace, Linnen and Woolen, Gold and Silver, no braver Wares can be had or bought in London, then was to be had in the famous Towne of Marlborough.
At the upper end of the market=place was a gallant Building called the Town=hall, wherein the Magistrates sat and held the Sessions of the Peace at appointed times: There were many faire Inns, Taverns, and Victualing houses to entertain Carriers, and Travellers, and such which had ocassion to make use of them, for it stood upon the Roade betwirt London and Bristol: and to be very breife it was a towne of very good Orders and Government.
And thus having told you the situation of the Town, I shall, with Gods leave, though with a greived heart, declare unto you the manner of the ruine and destruction of the same.

Here followeth a breif and true Relation,
as near as it can be gathered, of the harmes that were done by fire in the
Town of Marlborough in Wiltshire, Aprill 28. 1653

On Thursday the 28 of April in the house of one Mr. Freeman a Tanner, as some of his servants were imployed with drying of Bark, the Bark took fire so suddenly, that it quickly did much harm, the house standing on the South side of the street, towards the West end of the Towne neare unto St. Peters Church, the fire prevailed so much that it took hold of the dwelling house, and so running a crosse the street from one side to the other, it came to be of such force, and vehemency that the like was never seene in England before, by the report of some of them that were eye witnesses of that sad object.
It burned on both sides of the street, all the Inns, Tavernes, Gentlemens houses, Shop keepers houses, Grocers, Mercers, Habberdashers, all manner of Tradesmen that were inhabitants in that street, lost both houses and Goods by means of that consuming fire. Yet that was not all, it burned downe the Market house,  and run into St. Maries Parish, and burned the Church and many dwelling houses in that Parish, so that in St Peters Parish, and St Maries Parish, it is verified, that at least three hundred families were dispossessed of their habitations, all which was done in the space of three or foure houres,
For when the fire had fastened on one of the houses where were Piles of Wood and faggots in their backsides, it flamed and burned so strongly that all that ever could be done could not quench the fire, until it had devoured and burnt to ashess, all these places which I have here named.
Yet that is not all, for it was not the houses that were burned alone, but also the Goods   that were in them, there was Brass and Pewter, Gold and Silver melted,the value whereof cannot bee made knowne, there was Silkes and Taffety Woollen and Linner cloth and many other rich commodities consumed to ashes.
There was four or five tun of Cheese which was laid in store in the Market house consumed to nothing.
And to be brief, every man that dwelt in the Town is sensible of the misery that happened but no man can tell the value of what was lost.
And thus was the statly flourishing Town of Marlborough consumed with fire on a sudden.
It would make a heart drop tears of blood that had but heard the dolefull cryes and heavy moanes that past between men and their Wives, Parents and Children.The Wife crying out to the husband, O dear husband what will become of us and our Children; The husband answering the Wife we are all undone, I know not what to doe,
The Children crying for bread, the Parents had none to give them, nor so much as a house to put their heads in, nor a bed to lay their wearied limbs upon.
And thus were the poore made poorer, and some of the richest became as poor as the poorest.
And now are they all in a sad condition, the Lord in his mercy send them comfort.   Little did they that had plenty in the morning thinke that they should be made destitute and desolate before night.  Wherefore I desire that all good Christians would both looke upon their afflictions and lay it to heart, and with all possible and speedy meanes that may be done, helpe to releive their wants.
Gods Word and a good conscience sayes, that hee that hath two Coats ought to give one to him that hath none.  If it be so, I trust that the good people, and well disposed Christians, that have plenty, wil with the eyes of compassion, and bountifull hearts reflect upon our distressed friends of Marlborough.
It is an old saying that one cannot help a great many, but a great many may help one: So I would have it to be, that all the Cities and Shires in England, may forthwith lend their assistance to relieve the distressed people of Marlborough, and to doe by them as they themselves would be done by if the case were their own.
One thing concerning Marlborough we have great cause to give the Lord praise for, and that is this, although there were so many houses burnt, and so much goods and treasure consumed with scorching fire, yet there were not many people destroyed, only those which shall here after be spoken of.
There were foure Dutch men which laboured and took pains and did their best endeavours to quench the fire, of which two of them were killed outright, and the other two are since dead of their wounds.   Of others there were none but a Post boy that lost his life, and a Taylors wife burned to death in her owne house, and as for francis freeman the Tanner, at whose house at first the fire began, it is said that he profest himself to be Christ.  I pray God that hee may take heed in time.