The start of something bad
During the late summer of 1666, London was an emotional and physical wreck. Based on the past decades of political and religious upheaval the return of the protestant Charles II guaranteed that suspicion lingered around republicans and Catholics alike. At the time the country was at war with
the French and Dutch which left many people paranoid with foreigners or strangers.
Fires in London were common some unavoidable, the main reason was because of the capital's largely timber construction but prior years warned the destruction of London by fire. Daniel Baker in 1559 had predicted London'sdownfall by 'a consuming fire'. Charles had warned the lord mayor of London in April 1665 of the danger caused by overhanging timber houses and the narrowstreets. To make matters worse a long, hot summer had left London dry and drought had depleted London's water resources.
The Londoners greatest fear was not the fire but the plague that had killed over 68,000 people in the last two years. Even though Charles II had returned London still remained unsafe, with death carts still common. The strong East wing had worried most inhabitants. This mixed with the dry, dusty air was known to carry the plague. It would also combine with the fire and take lives.
the French and Dutch which left many people paranoid with foreigners or strangers.
Fires in London were common some unavoidable, the main reason was because of the capital's largely timber construction but prior years warned the destruction of London by fire. Daniel Baker in 1559 had predicted London'sdownfall by 'a consuming fire'. Charles had warned the lord mayor of London in April 1665 of the danger caused by overhanging timber houses and the narrowstreets. To make matters worse a long, hot summer had left London dry and drought had depleted London's water resources.
The Londoners greatest fear was not the fire but the plague that had killed over 68,000 people in the last two years. Even though Charles II had returned London still remained unsafe, with death carts still common. The strong East wing had worried most inhabitants. This mixed with the dry, dusty air was known to carry the plague. It would also combine with the fire and take lives.