I saw this following extract quoted in wikipaedia today and it tickled my funny bone. I am an enormous fan of Samual Pepys, who I considered to be both well informed and sometimes, very funny. He reminds me somewhat of Alan Clark - that bonne viver of 1980s politics.
In this short passage, Pepys outlines a novel strategy for saving things from the path of the Fire of London - and he states what is trying to save from the ravages of the inferno. Enjoy!
Sir W. Pen and I to Tower-streete, and there met the fire burning three or four doors beyond Mr. Howell's, whose goods, poor man, his trayes, and dishes, shovells, &c., were flung all along Tower-street in the kennels, and people working therewith from one end to the other; the fire coming on in that narrow streete, on both sides, with infinite fury. Sir W. Batten not knowing how to remove his wine, did dig a pit in the garden, and laid it in there; and I took the opportunity of laying all the papers of my office that I could not otherwise dispose of. And in the evening Sir W. Pen and I did dig another, and put our wine in it; and I my Parmazan cheese, as well as my wine and some other things.
— Diary of Samuel Pepys, Tuesday, 4 September 1666.
