Middlesex (to wit)

The Information of John Nutkins< no role > Servant to
Mr. Spratwell Mealman of Saint John Street in the County of
Middlesex Taken upon Oath before Us [..] Nathaniel Conant< no role > Joseph
Girdler< no role > & Joseph Faikney< no role > Esquires three of his Majestys Justices of the peace for the said County this 15th
day of May 1784.

Who being upon Oath saith that he lodged at the house of the prisoner
Thomas Peirse< no role > situate in Saint John Street in the parish of Saint
Sepulchre in the County of Middlesex that this Informant occupied
the front Room on the first Floor over the prisoners Shop and that
about three of the Clock in the Morning of Tuesday the fourth day of May
instant this Informants Wife waked him and asked him if there was not
a strong smell of Smoke and upon this Informants perceiving the same
he immediately ran to the Stairs leading to the Shop and through the
Joints of the shutters which inclosed the Shop this Informant saw the
Shop was on Fire whereupon this Informant instantly ran up Stairs
and called to the prisoner who lay in the Garrett to come down and
save his Goods or he would be ruinedthat the prisoner came down
Stairs and said to this Informant "make no alarm and make yourself
"easy it is only something a miss with any Kiln I can set all to rights
"presently" or Words to that effect and the prisoner put his Hands upon
this Informants Shoulders at the same time to put him back in the Room
and pulled the Door to And this Informant further saith that
the prisoner after having been down to the Shop said he must run up
for the Keys which he did and as he returned this Informant asked
the prisoner if he could assist him to which the prisoner replied "No
"I can do it all myself for God's Sake be easy" or to that effect and again
desired this Informant to make no AlarmThat the said Thomas Peirse< no role >
returned up stairs from the Shop in a few seconds and called to the Lodgers
to escape as fast as possible or they would be burnt: whereupon this Informant
together with this Wife and Child and the Lodgers on the second Floor
all got out of the House down [..] the Stair Case and escaped out
at a back Doorthe [..] stair Case and Shop being at the