Library — 1666
Relacion nueva, y verdadera del formidable incendio, que ha sucedido en 12. de Setiembre, de este presente año, en la gran ciudad de Londres
This account of the Great Fire of London was published in Valencia, Spain, in 1666. Interestingly, given the anti-Catholic prejudice in London at the time, this account tells the story of the fire from a Catholic viewpoint (Spain being a Catholic country). It says the fire was a judgement from God on London as a Protestant city and in punishment for the killing of Catholic martyrs. The destruction of St Paul's Cathedral was due to the saint's anger that the 'false religion' (Protestantism) was being preached there.
The text also says that the fire was finally stopped at the Catholic chapel at the Queen's residence, Somerset House, on the Strand. This was a sign from God to demonstrate the true faith. In fact, the fire was halted at the Temple and never reached as far west as Somerset House. The report's estimates of the damage are exaggerated: 140 churches and 55,000 homes destroyed, 8,000 people dead and £100 million in costs. The real totals were 87 churches and 13,200 homes destroyed, fewer than ten people recorded as dying and around £10 million worth of damage to property and goods.
- Category:
- Library
- Object ID:
- 42.39/34
- Object name:
- Relacion nueva, y verdadera del formidable incendio, que ha sucedido en 12. de Setiembre, de este presente año, en la gran ciudad de Londres
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- Cipres, Franciso
- Related people:
- —
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- 1666
- Material:
- paper
- Measurements/duration:
- H 280 mm, W 190 mm, T 4 mm (closed), W 380 mm (open)
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Credit:
- —
- Copyright holder:
- digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
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