Page:An English Garner Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (Volume 1 1877).pdf/111

 them, for whilst some fetch water in leather buckets, other some cast on the water, some climb the houses, and some with hooks pull them down; some again attend and keep watch without, riding about the fields: so that, by this means, there lacketh neither help within, neither safeguard without. But the like is not used here in England: for when any such thing happeneth, there is no public sign or token given; but the outcry of the neighbours doth stir up all the others to help. There is no public or civil order in doing of things, neither any division of labour: but every man, running headlong together, catcheth whatsoever cometh next to hand to quench the fire.]

This sound of fire being heard in the church, first of them that stood outermost next to the church door; so increased and went from one to another: that at length it came unto the ears of the Doctors, and at last to the Preacher himself. Who, as soon as they heard the matter, being amazed with sudden fear, and marvelling what the matter should mean; began to look up into the top of the church, and to behold the walls. The residue seeing them look up, looked up also. Then began they, in the midst of the audience, to cry out with a loud voice, "Fire! fire!" "Where?" saith one; "Where?" saith another. "In the church!" saith one. The mention of the church was scarcely pronounced, when, as in one moment, there was a common cry amongst them, "The church is on fire! The church is set on fire by heretics!" &c. And, albeit no man did see any fire at all; yet, forasmuch as all men cried out so, every man thought it true that they heard. Then was there such fear, concourse and tumult of people through the whole church, that it cannot be declared in words, as it was indeed.

And as in a great fire (where fire is indeed), we see many times how one little spark giveth matter of a mighty flame, setting whole stacks and piles a burning: so here, upon a small occasion of one man's word, kindled first a general cry, then a strong opinion running in every man's head within the church, thinking the church to be on fire; where no fire was at all. Thus it pleased Almighty GOD to delude these deluders: that is, that these great Doctors and wise men of the schools, who think themselves so wise in GOD's matters as though they could not err; should see, by their