The examination (with document cover) of Edward Taylor, at Hurley, Berkshire, 9 September 1666. Catalogue ref: SP 29/171 f11.
This is a very interesting document found in the State Papers, where it is dated on its cover as 9 September 1666. The testimony it seems was made a month later in October, a month after the Great fire of London. However, Taylor in his testimony, also says he acted in October and says: ‘this was the first beginning of the firing of London’. To add further to this question, it seems subsequently an archivist has pencilled on the document cover itself: ‘September 9, 1666, Criminal local history or London?’.
Could there be an error in recording the month in the testimony itself, or was this a later case of arson? It would be interesting to know more.
- According to his statement, in which places did Edward Taylor throw fireballs?
- Who else was throwing fire balls?
- What are the issues with Edward’s story that ‘this was the first beginning of the firing of London’?
- How does this fit with the story of Thomas Farriner and his bakery in Pudding Lane?
- Why do you think Edward Taylor threw fireballs in London?
Transcript
[Cover]
Note added in pencil: September 9, 1666, Criminal local history, or London?
9 September. Hurley
Examination of Taylor
(a Boy of 10 years old) by the Lord Lovelace.
Confesseth that his father (of Yorke Street) & J Taylor a Dutch Baker fired the House in Pudding Lane.
…
Berks
The examination of Edward Taylor, a boy aged about ten years taken at Hurley the 9th of October in the 18th year of the Reign of our sovereign Lord King Charles the 2nd, 1666 before John Lord Lovelace, Baron of Hurley viz.
The Examined saith hee is the son of John Taylor living in York Street, Covent Garden, who was employed by John Taylor a Dutchman & baker there & is brother to this examined’s father. And that this Examined was with his father and his uncle John Taylor in Pudding Lane near London Bridge upon Saturday night the second day of this instant [of the current month] October, where they found a glass window open, presently after they took two fire balls made of gunpowder & brimstone and fired them. & then did fling them into the said windows & fired the house, but whose it was this Examined knows not. And this was the first beginning of the firing of London. And from Pudding Lane this Examined’s father and uncle with two or three others went into Thames Street & Fleet Street & cast into several houses the like balls ready fired, and after they went to the Old Exchange & did the like, and soe went on doing such mischief two or three nights & days one after another. And that there were diverse
Frenchmen, Dutchmen, women & boys did goe about the city with fireballs for that purpose. And that his uncle hired his father & gave him seven pounds to undertake this firing. And also hee saith that he went to Acton with his father & mother where they fired a great house, but knows not the name of any of them that were with them, nor the Gentleman’s name that lived in it. But if hee saw any of them that did act with his father & his uncle hee should know them. His Mother goeth under the name of Mary Swan, & goeth in a black silk suit & black hood. And that his father was with a black suit and cloak. This boy lived with Mr. Whiting an apothecary in Walbrook about two years and since about three weeks ago he went from him & stayed with his father until he was taken, but where his Mother is he knoweth not, but saith he hath a house in Epsom & more he saith not.
Signed Lovelace
Simplified transcript
[Cover]
Note added in pencil: September 9, 1666, Criminal, local history or London?
9 September. Hurley [in Berkshire]
Examination of [Edward] Taylor
(a boy of 10 years old) by the Lord Lovelace.
Confessed that his father (of Yorke Street) and J. Taylor, his uncle, a Dutch Baker, threw fireballs into the house in Pudding Lane.
…
Berkshire
The examination of Edward Taylor, a boy aged about ten years taken at Hurley the 9th of October in the 18th year of the Reign of our sovereign Lord King Charles the 2nd, 1666 before John Lord Lovelace, Baron of Hurley.
Edward says he is the son of John Taylor living in York Street, Covent Garden. He was employed by John Taylor, a Dutchman and baker there and is brother to the father of the examined. [Edward] was with his father and his uncle John Taylor, in Pudding Lane near London Bridge upon Saturday night the second day of this October, where they found a glass window open, presently after they took two fire balls made of gunpowder & brimstone and lit them and threw them into the windows and burnt the house, but whose it was, Edward knows not. And this was start of the firing of London. And from Pudding Lane Edward’s father and uncle with two or three others went into Thames Street & Fleet Street & cast into several houses the burning fireballs balls. Then they went to the Old Exchange & did the same thing and so went on doing such mischief two or three nights and days one after another.
There were also various Frenchmen, Dutchmen, women, and boys who went about the city with fireballs for that purpose. His uncle had hired his father and given him seven pounds to do this firing. Edward also said he went to Acton with his father and mother where they fired a great house but does not know the name of any of them that were with them, nor the gentleman’s name that lived in the house. But if he saw any of those with his father and his uncle, he would recognise them. His mother went under the name of Mary Swan and wore a black silk suit and black hood. His father wore with a black suit and cloak. This boy lived with Mr. Whiting. an apothecary in Walbrook for about two years until about three weeks ago when he went to stay with his father until he was arrested. He does not know where his mother is but said he has a house in Epsom and said nothing else.
Signed Lovelace