It is the Lord's will they should be destroyed, and man's efforts to avert the judgment will be ineffectual!" While the majority listened to him with fear and trembling, and regarded him as a prophet, a few took the opposite view of the question, and coupling his appearance with the sudden outbreak of the fire, were disposed to regard him as an incendiary.

They therefore cried out--"He has set fire to our houses.

Down with him! down with him!" Other voices joined in the outcry, and an attempt was made to carry the menace into effect; but a strong party rallied round the enthusiast, who derided the attempts of his opponents.

Planting himself on the steps of Saint Margaret's Church, he continued to pour forth exhortations to the crowd, until he was driven into the interior of the pile by the fast-approaching flames.

The whole body of the church was filled with poor wretches who had sought refuge within it, having brought with them such of their goods as they were able to carry off.