Great Fire of London

Overview

The century from the accession of Elizabethi in 1558to Great Fire of 1666 was one of the most tambulent in London's history. London was a divided metropolis: home to pleasa eseelers who focked to Shakespeares plays and evaneeilical Puritans who wished to bum the theatres dowm. But it was also acente of trade with a network starting to each around the aidbe The population trebled and suburbs sprang up amound the City walls. Times were changing from mediemalto modem. In 1643 London saw the Civil Wars most momentous enent the execution of King Charles L More troubles were to come. In 1665 plagueraged through the killing some 7000 people a week. Then London suffered its most cataclysmic disaster, the Great Fine of 1666. London] is the great beehive of Christendom. 'she swarms with people of all ages, matures, 'sexes, callings... she seems to be a glutton, "for she desires always to be full"

Civil War

1642-1651 Between 1642 and 1651 the country was ravaged by civil war. Royal power collapsed and 80,000 people were killed. The conflict had complex causes, but at its centre was the authority of the crown. Charles I believed that kings were divinely appointed to rule. Parliament asserted their right to govern. The king's lavish lifestyle was also a factor, an affront to the growing tide of Puritan zeal. London sided with Parliament, and in 1642 charles fled the capital for Oxford. To safeguard London from Royalist attacks, citizens built 23 forts and 18 miles of trenches. The city's militia were mobilised. The king did not return to London until his trial for treason and in January 1649 he was executed on a scaffold set up in Whitehall. Many of our citizens, who seemed very forward and willing at the first to march upon some pretences and fair excuses returned home again hiring others to go in their room Henry Fostec a Sergeant in the London Trained Bands 1643