A JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR

第1章

Part1

beingobservationsormemorialsofthemostremarkableoccurrences,aswellpublicasprivate,whichhappenedinLondonduringthelastgreatvisitationin1665。

WrittenbyaCitizenwhocontinuedallthewhileinLondon。

NevermadepublicbeforeItwasaboutthebeginningofSeptember,1664,thatI,amongtherestofmyneighbours,heardinordinarydiscoursethattheplaguewasreturnedagaininHolland;forithadbeenveryviolentthere,andparticularlyatAmsterdamandRotterdam,intheyear1663,whither,theysay,itwasbrought,somesaidfromItaly,othersfromtheLevant,amongsomegoodswhichwerebroughthomebytheirTurkeyfleet;

otherssaiditwasbroughtfromCandia;othersfromCyprus。Itmatterednotfromwhenceitcame;butallagreeditwascomeintoHollandagain。

Wehadnosuchthingasprintednewspapersinthosedaystospreadrumoursandreportsofthings,andtoimprovethembytheinventionofmen,asIhavelivedtoseepractisedsince。Butsuchthingsastheseweregatheredfromthelettersofmerchantsandotherswhocorrespondedabroad,andfromthemwashandedaboutbywordofmouthonly;sothatthingsdidnotspreadinstantlyoverthewholenation,astheydonow。ButitseemsthattheGovernmenthadatrueaccountofit,andseveralcouncilswereheldaboutwaystopreventitscomingover;butallwaskeptveryprivate。Henceitwasthatthisrumourdiedoffagain,andpeoplebegantoforgetitasathingwewereverylittleconcernedin,andthatwehopedwasnottrue;tillthelatterendofNovemberorthebeginningofDecember1664whentwomen,saidtobeFrenchmen,diedoftheplagueinLongAcre,orratherattheupperendofDruryLane。Thefamilytheywereinendeavouredtoconcealitasmuchaspossible,butasithadgottensomeventinthediscourseoftheneighbourhood,theSecretariesofStategotknowledgeofit;andconcerningthemselvestoinquireaboutit,inordertobecertainofthetruth,twophysiciansandasurgeonwereorderedtogotothehouseandmakeinspection。Thistheydid;andfindingevidenttokensofthesicknessuponboththebodiesthatweredead,theygavetheiropinionspubliclythattheydiedoftheplague。

Whereuponitwasgivenintotheparishclerk,andhealsoreturnedthemtotheHall;anditwasprintedintheweeklybillofmortalityintheusualmanner,thus—

Plague,2。Parishesinfected,1。

Thepeopleshowedagreatconcernatthis,andbegantobealarmedalloverthetown,andthemore,becauseinthelastweekinDecember1664anothermandiedinthesamehouse,andofthesamedistemper。

Andthenwewereeasyagainforaboutsixweeks,whennonehavingdiedwithanymarksofinfection,itwassaidthedistemperwasgone;

butafterthat,Ithinkitwasaboutthe12thofFebruary,anotherdiedinanotherhouse,butinthesameparishandinthesamemanner。

Thisturnedthepeople"seyesprettymuchtowardsthatendofthetown,andtheweeklybillsshowinganincreaseofburialsinStGiles"sparishmorethanusual,itbegantobesuspectedthattheplaguewasamongthepeopleatthatendofthetown,andthatmanyhaddiedofit,thoughtheyhadtakencaretokeepitasmuchfromtheknowledgeofthepublicaspossible。Thispossessedtheheadsofthepeopleverymuch,andfewcaredtogothroughDruryLane,ortheotherstreetssuspected,unlesstheyhadextraordinarybusinessthatobligedthemtoitThisincreaseofthebillsstoodthus:theusualnumberofburialsinaweek,intheparishesofStGiles—in—the—FieldsandStAndrew"s,Holborn,werefromtwelvetoseventeenornineteeneach,fewmoreorless;butfromthetimethattheplaguefirstbeganinStGiles"sparish,itwasobservedthattheordinaryburialsincreasedinnumberconsiderably。Forexample:—

FromDecember27toJanuary3{StGiles"s16

{StAndrew"s17

"January3""10{StGiles"s12

{StAndrew"s25

"January10""17{StGiles"s18

{StAndrew"s28

"January17""24{StGiles"s23

{StAndrew"s16

"January24""31{StGiles"s24

{StAndrew"s15

"January30"February7{StGiles"s21

{StAndrew"s23

"February7""14{StGiles"s24

Whereofoneoftheplague。

ThelikeincreaseofthebillswasobservedintheparishesofStBride"s,adjoiningononesideofHolbornparish,andintheparishofStJames,Clerkenwell,adjoiningontheothersideofHolborn;inbothwhichparishestheusualnumbersthatdiedweeklywerefromfourtosixoreight,whereasatthattimetheywereincreasedasfollows:—

FromDecember20toDecember27{StBride"s0

{StJames"s8

December27toJanuary3{StBride"s6

{StJames"s9

"January3""10{StBride"s11

{StJames"s7

"January10""17{StBride"s12

{StJames"s9

"January17""24{StBride"s9

{StJames"s15

"January24""31{StBride"s8

{StJames"s12

"January31"February7{StBride"s13

{StJames"s5

"February7""14{StBride"s12

{StJames"s6

Besidesthis,itwasobservedwithgreatuneasinessbythepeoplethattheweeklybillsingeneralincreasedverymuchduringtheseweeks,althoughitwasatatimeoftheyearwhenusuallythebillsareverymoderate。

Theusualnumberofburialswithinthebillsofmortalityforaweekwasfromabout240orthereaboutsto300。Thelastwasesteemedaprettyhighbill;butafterthiswefoundthebillssuccessivelyincreasingasfollows:—

Buried。Increased。

Decemberthe20thtothe27th291……

"27th"3rdJanuary34958

Januarythe3rd"10th"39445

"10th"17th"41521

"17th"24th"47459

Thislastbillwasreallyfrightful,beingahighernumberthanhadbeenknowntohavebeenburiedinoneweeksincetheprecedingvisitationof1656。

However,allthiswentoffagain,andtheweatherprovingcold,andthefrost,whichbeganinDecember,stillcontinuingverysevereeventillneartheendofFebruary,attendedwithsharpthoughmoderatewinds,thebillsdecreasedagain,andthecitygrewhealthy,andeverybodybegantolookuponthedangerasgoodasover;onlythatstilltheburialsinStGiles"scontinuedhigh。FromthebeginningofAprilespeciallytheystoodattwenty—fiveeachweek,tilltheweekfromthe18thtothe25th,whentherewasburiedinStGiles"sparishthirty,whereoftwooftheplagueandeightofthespotted—fever,whichwaslookeduponasthesamething;likewisethenumberthatdiedofthespotted—feverinthewholeincreased,beingeighttheweekbefore,andtwelvetheweekabove—named。

Thisalarmedusallagain,andterribleapprehensionswereamongthepeople,especiallytheweatherbeingnowchangedandgrowingwarm,andthesummerbeingathand。However,thenextweekthereseemedtobesomehopesagain;thebillswerelow,thenumberofthedeadinallwasbut388,therewasnoneoftheplague,andbutfourofthespotted—fever。

Butthefollowingweekitreturnedagain,andthedistemperwasspreadintotwoorthreeotherparishes,viz。,StAndrew"s,Holborn;StClementDanes;and,tothegreatafflictionofthecity,onediedwithinthewalls,intheparishofStMaryWoolchurch,thatistosay,inBearbinderLane,nearStocksMarket;inalltherewerenineoftheplagueandsix。ofthespotted—fever。Itwas,however,uponinquiryfoundthatthisFrenchmanwhodiedinBearbinderLanewasonewho,havinglivedinLongAcre,neartheinfectedhouses,hadremovedforfearofthedistemper,notknowingthathewasalreadyinfected。

ThiswasthebeginningofMay,yettheweatherwastemperate,variable,andcoolenough,andpeoplehadstillsomehopes。Thatwhichencouragedthemwasthatthecitywashealthy:thewholeninety—sevenparishesburiedbutfifty—four,andwebegantohopethat,asitwaschieflyamongthepeopleatthatendofthetown,itmightgonofarther;andtherather,becausethenextweek,whichwasfromthe9thofMaytothe16th,therediedbutthree,ofwhichnotonewithinthewholecityorliberties;andStAndrew"sburiedbutfifteen,whichwasverylow。"TistrueStGiles"sburiedtwo—and—thirty,butstill,astherewasbutoneoftheplague,peoplebegantobeeasy。Thewholebillalsowasverylow,fortheweekbeforethebillwasbut347,andtheweekabovementionedbut343。Wecontinuedinthesehopesforafewdays,butitwasbutforafew,forthepeoplewerenomoretobedeceivedthus;theysearchedthehousesandfoundthattheplaguewasreallyspreadeveryway,andthatmanydiedofiteveryday。Sothatnowallourextenuationsabated,anditwasnomoretobeconcealed;

nay,itquicklyappearedthattheinfectionhadspreaditselfbeyondallhopesofabatement。thatintheparishofStGilesitwasgottenintoseveralstreets,andseveralfamilieslayallsicktogether;and,accordingly,intheweeklybillforthenextweekthethingbegantoshowitself。Therewasindeedbutfourteensetdownoftheplague,butthiswasallknaveryandcollusion,forinStGiles"sparishtheyburiedfortyinall,whereofitwascertainmostofthemdiedoftheplague,thoughtheyweresetdownofotherdistempers;andthoughthenumberofalltheburialswerenotincreasedabovethirty—two,andthewholebillbeingbut385,yettherewasfourteenofthespotted—

fever,aswellasfourteenoftheplague;andwetookitforgranteduponthewholethattherewerefiftydiedthatweekoftheplague。

Thenextbillwasfromthe23rdofMaytothe30th,whenthenumberoftheplaguewasseventeen。ButtheburialsinStGiles"swerefifty—three—afrightfulnumber！—ofwhomtheysetdownbutnineoftheplague;butonanexaminationmorestrictlybythejusticesofpeace,andattheLordMayor"srequest,itwasfoundthereweretwentymorewhowerereallydeadoftheplagueinthatparish,buthadbeensetdownofthespotted—feverorotherdistempers,besidesothersconcealed。

Butthoseweretriflingthingstowhatfollowedimmediatelyafter;

fornowtheweathersetinhot,andfromthefirstweekinJunetheinfectionspreadinadreadfulmanner,andthebillsrosehigh;thearticlesofthefever,spotted—fever,andteethbegantoswell;forallthatcouldconcealtheirdistempersdidit,topreventtheirneighboursshunningandrefusingtoconversewiththem,andalsotopreventauthorityshuttinguptheirhouses;which,thoughitwasnotyetpractised,yetwasthreatened,andpeoplewereextremelyterrifiedatthethoughtsofit。

ThesecondweekinJune,theparishofStGiles,wherestilltheweightoftheinfectionlay,buried120,whereofthoughthebillssaidbutsixty—eightoftheplague,everybodysaidtherehadbeen100atleast,calculatingitfromtheusualnumberoffuneralsinthatparish,asabove。

Tillthisweekthecitycontinuedfree,therehavingneveranydied,exceptthatoneFrenchmanwhomImentionedbefore,withinthewholeninety—sevenparishes。Nowtherediedfourwithinthecity,oneinWoodStreet,oneinFenchurchStreet,andtwoinCrookedLane。

Southwarkwasentirelyfree,havingnotoneyetdiedonthatsideofthewater。

IlivedwithoutAldgate,aboutmidwaybetweenAldgateChurchandWhitechappelBars,onthelefthandornorthsideofthestreet;andasthedistemperhadnotreachedtothatsideofthecity,ourneighbourhoodcontinuedveryeasy。Butattheotherendofthetowntheirconsternationwasverygreat:andtherichersortofpeople,especiallythenobilityandgentryfromthewestpartofthecity,throngedoutoftownwiththeirfamiliesandservantsinanunusualmanner;andthiswasmoreparticularlyseeninWhitechappel;thatistosay,theBroadStreetwhereIlived;indeed,nothingwastobeseenbutwaggonsandcarts,withgoods,women,servants,children,&c。;

coachesfilledwithpeopleofthebettersortandhorsemenattendingthem,andallhurryingaway;thenemptywaggonsandcartsappeared,andsparehorseswithservants,who,itwasapparent,werereturningorsentfromthecountriestofetchmorepeople;besidesinnumerablenumbersofmenonhorseback,somealone,otherswithservants,and,generallyspeaking,allloadedwithbaggageandfittedoutfortravelling,asanyonemightperceivebytheirappearance。

Thiswasaveryterribleandmelancholythingtosee,andasitwasasightwhichIcouldnotbutlookonfrommorningtonight（forindeedtherewasnothingelseofmomenttobeseen）,itfilledmewithveryseriousthoughtsofthemiserythatwascominguponthecity,andtheunhappyconditionofthosethatwouldbeleftinit。

ThishurryofthepeoplewassuchforsomeweeksthattherewasnogettingattheLordMayor"sdoorwithoutexceedingdifficulty;thereweresuchpressingandcrowdingtheretogetpassesandcertificatesofhealthforsuchastravelledabroad,forwithoutthesetherewasnobeingadmittedtopassthroughthetownsupontheroad,ortolodgeinanyinn。Now,astherehadnonediedinthecityforallthistime,myLordMayorgavecertificatesofhealthwithoutanydifficultytoallthosewholivedintheninety—sevenparishes,andtothosewithinthelibertiestooforawhile。

Thishurry,Isay,continuedsomeweeks,thatistosay,allthemonthofMayandJune,andthemorebecauseitwasrumouredthatanorderoftheGovernmentwastobeissuedouttoplaceturnpikesandbarriersontheroadtopreventpeopletravelling,andthatthetownsontheroadwouldnotsufferpeoplefromLondontopassforfearofbringingtheinfectionalongwiththem,thoughneitheroftheserumourshadanyfoundationbutintheimagination,especiallyat—first。

Inowbegantoconsiderseriouslywithmyselfconcerningmyowncase,andhowIshoulddisposeofmyself;thatistosay,whetherI

shouldresolvetostayinLondonorshutupmyhouseandflee,asmanyofmyneighboursdid。Ihavesetthisparticulardownsofully,becauseIknownotbutitmaybeofmomenttothosewhocomeafterme,iftheycometobebroughttothesamedistress,andtothesamemannerofmakingtheirchoice;andthereforeIdesirethisaccountmaypasswiththemratherforadirectiontothemselvestoactbythanahistoryofmyactings,seeingitmaynotheofonefarthingvaluetothemtonotewhatbecameofme。

Ihadtwoimportantthingsbeforeme:theonewasthecarryingonmybusinessandshop,whichwasconsiderable,andinwhichwasembarkedallmyeffectsintheworld;andtheotherwasthepreservationofmylifeinsodismalacalamityasIsawapparentlywascominguponthewholecity,andwhich,howevergreatitwas,myfearsperhaps,aswellasotherpeople"s,representedtobemuchgreaterthanitcouldbe。

Thefirstconsiderationwasofgreatmomenttome;mytradewasasaddler,andasmydealingswerechieflynotbyashoporchancetrade,butamongthemerchantstradingtotheEnglishcoloniesinAmerica,somyeffectslayverymuchinthehandsofsuch。Iwasasingleman,"tistrue,butIhadafamilyofservantswhomIkeptatmybusiness;hadahouse,shop,andwarehousesfilledwithgoods;and,inshort,toleavethemallasthingsinsuchacasemustbeleft（thatistosay,withoutanyoverseerorpersonfittobetrustedwiththem）,hadbeentohazardthelossnotonlyofmytrade,butofmygoods,andindeedofallIhadintheworld。

IhadanelderbrotheratthesametimeinLondon,andnotmanyyearsbeforecomeoverfromPortugal:andadvisingwithhim,hisanswerwasinthreewords,thesamethatwasgiveninanothercasequitedifferent,viz。,"Master,savethyself。"Inaword,hewasformyretiringintothecountry,asheresolvedtodohimselfwithhisfamily;

tellingmewhathehad,itseems,heardabroad,thatthebestpreparationfortheplaguewastorunawayfromit。Astomyargumentoflosingmytrade,mygoods,ordebts,hequiteconfutedme。HetoldmethesamethingwhichIarguedformystaying,viz。,thatIwouldtrustGodwithmysafetyandhealth,wasthestrongestrepulsetomypretensionsoflosingmytradeandmygoods;"for",sayshe,"isitnotasreasonablethatyoushouldtrustGodwiththechanceorriskoflosingyourtrade,asthatyoushouldstayinsoeminentapointofdanger,andtrustHimwithyourlife？"

IcouldnotarguethatIwasinanystraitastoaplacewheretogo,havingseveralfriendsandrelationsinNorthamptonshire,whenceourfamilyfirstcamefrom;andparticularly,IhadanonlysisterinLincolnshire,verywillingtoreceiveandentertainme。

Mybrother,whohadalreadysenthiswifeandtwochildrenintoBedfordshire,andresolvedtofollowthem,pressedmygoingveryearnestly;andIhadonceresolvedtocomplywithhisdesires,butatthattimecouldgetnohorse;forthoughitistrueallthepeopledidnotgooutofthecityofLondon,yetImayventuretosaythatinamannerallthehorsesdid;fortherewashardlyahorsetobeboughtorhiredinthewholecityforsomeweeks。OnceIresolvedtotravelonfootwithoneservant,and,asmanydid,lieatnoinn,butcarryasoldier"stentwithus,andsolieinthefields,theweatherbeingverywarm,andnodangerfromtakingcold。Isay,asmanydid,becauseseveraldidsoatlast,especiallythosewhohadbeeninthearmiesinthewarwhichhadnotbeenmanyyearspast;andImustneedssaythat,speakingofsecondcauses,hadmostofthepeoplethattravelleddoneso,theplaguehadnotbeencarriedintosomanycountrytownsandhousesasitwas,tothegreatdamage,andindeedtotheruin,ofabundanceofpeople。

Butthenmyservant,whomIhadintendedtotakedownwithme,deceivedme;andbeingfrightedattheincreaseofthedistemper,andnotknowingwhenIshouldgo,hetookothermeasures,andleftme,soIwasputoffforthattime;and,onewayorother,Ialwaysfoundthattoappointtogoawaywasalwayscrossedbysomeaccidentorother,soastodisappointandputitoffagain;andthisbringsinastorywhichotherwisemightbethoughtaneedlessdigression,viz。,aboutthesedisappointmentsbeingfromHeaven。

ImentionthisstoryalsoasthebestmethodIcanadviseanypersontotakeinsuchacase,especiallyifhebeonethatmakesconscienceofhisduty,andwouldbedirectedwhattodoinit,namely,thatheshouldkeephiseyeupontheparticularprovidenceswhichoccuratthattime,andlookuponthemcomplexly,astheyregardoneanother,andasalltogetherregardthequestionbeforehim:andthen,Ithink,hemaysafelytakethemforintimationsfromHeavenofwhatishisunquestioneddutytodoinsuchacase;Imeanastogoingawayfromorstayingintheplacewherewedwell,whenvisitedwithaninfectiousdistemper。

Itcameverywarmlyintomymindonemorning,asIwasmusingonthisparticularthing,thatasnothingattendeduswithoutthedirectionorpermissionofDivinePower,sothesedisappointmentsmusthavesomethinginthemextraordinary;andIoughttoconsiderwhetheritdidnotevidentlypointout,orintimatetome,thatitwasthewillofHeavenIshouldnotgo。Itimmediatelyfollowedinmythoughts,thatifitreallywasfromGodthatIshouldstay,Hewasableeffectuallytopreservemeinthemidstofallthedeathanddangerthatwouldsurroundme;andthatifIattemptedtosecuremyselfbyfleeingfrommyhabitation,andactedcontrarytotheseintimations,whichIbelievetobeDivine,itwasakindofflyingfromGod,andthatHecouldcauseHisjusticetoovertakemewhenandwhereHethoughtfit。

Thesethoughtsquiteturnedmyresolutionsagain,andwhenIcametodiscoursewithmybrotheragainItoldhimthatIinclinedtostayandtakemylotinthatstationinwhichGodhadplacedme,andthatitseemedtobemademoreespeciallymyduty,ontheaccountofwhatIhavesaid。

Mybrother,thoughaveryreligiousmanhimself,laughedatallI

hadsuggestedaboutitsbeinganintimationfromHeaven,andtoldmeseveralstoriesofsuchfoolhardypeople,ashecalledthem,asIwas;

thatIoughtindeedtosubmittoitasaworkofHeavenifIhadbeenanywaydisabledbydistempersordiseases,andthatthennotbeingabletogo,IoughttoacquiesceinthedirectionofHim,who,havingbeenmyMaker,hadanundisputedrightofsovereigntyindisposingofme,andthatthentherehadbeennodifficultytodeterminewhichwasthecallofHisprovidenceandwhichwasnot;butthatIshouldtakeitasanintimationfromHeaventhatIshouldnotgooutoftown,onlybecauseIcouldnothireahorsetogo,ormyfellowwasrunawaythatwastoattendme,wasridiculous,sinceatthetimeIhadmyhealthandlimbs,andotherservants,andmightwitheasetraveladayortwoonfoot,andhavingagoodcertificateofbeinginperfecthealth,mighteitherhireahorseortakepostontheroad,asIthoughtfit。

ThenheproceededtotellmeofthemischievousconsequenceswhichattendedthepresumptionoftheTurksandMahometansinAsiaandinotherplaceswherehehadbeen（formybrother,beingamerchant,wasafewyearsbefore,asIhavealreadyobserved,returnedfromabroad,cominglastfromLisbon）,andhow,presumingupontheirprofessedpredestinatingnotions,andofeveryman"sendbeingpredeterminedandunalterablybeforehanddecreed,theywouldgounconcernedintoinfectedplacesandconversewithinfectedpersons,bywhichmeanstheydiedattherateoftenorfifteenthousandaweek,whereastheEuropeansorChristianmerchants,whokeptthemselvesretiredandreserved,generallyescapedthecontagion。

Upontheseargumentsmybrotherchangedmyresolutionsagain,andIbegantoresolvetogo,andaccordinglymadeallthingsready;

for,inshort,theinfectionincreasedroundme,andthebillswererisentoalmostsevenhundredaweek,andmybrothertoldmehewouldventuretostaynolonger。Idesiredhimtoletmeconsiderofitbuttillthenextday,andIwouldresolve:andasIhadalreadypreparedeverythingaswellasIcouldastoMYbusiness,andwhomtoentrustmyaffairswith,Ihadlittletodobuttoresolve。

Iwenthomethateveninggreatlyoppressedinmymind,irresolute,andnotknowingwhattodo。Ihadsettheeveningwholly—aparttoconsiderseriouslyaboutit,andwasallalone;foralreadypeoplehad,asitwerebyageneralconsent,takenupthecustomofnotgoingoutofdoorsaftersunset;thereasonsIshallhaveoccasiontosaymoreofby—and—by。

IntheretirementofthiseveningIendeavouredtoresolve,first,whatwasmydutytodo,andIstatedtheargumentswithwhichmybrotherhadpressedmetogointothecountry,andIset,againstthemthestrongimpressionswhichIhadonmymindforstaying;thevisiblecallIseemedtohavefromtheparticularcircumstanceofmycalling,andthecareduefrommeforthepreservationofmyeffects,whichwere,asImightsay,myestate;alsotheintimationswhichIthoughtI

hadfromHeaven,thattomesignifiedakindofdirectiontoventure;

anditoccurredtomethatifIhadwhatImightcalladirectiontostay,IoughttosupposeitcontainedapromiseofbeingpreservedifIobeyed。

Thislayclosetome,andmymindseemedmoreandmoreencouragedtostaythanever,andsupportedwithasecretsatisfactionthatIshouldbekept。Addtothis,that,turningovertheBiblewhichlaybeforeme,andwhilemythoughtsweremorethanordinarilyseriousuponthequestion,Icriedout,"Well,Iknownotwhattodo;

Lord,directmeI"andthelike;andatthatjunctureIhappenedtostopturningoverthebookatthegistPsalm,andcastingmyeyeonthesecondverse,Ireadontotheseventhverseexclusive,andafterthatincludedthetenth,asfollows:"IwillsayoftheLord,Heismyrefugeandmyfortress:myGod,inHimwillItrust。SurelyHeshalldelivertheefromthesnareofthefowler,andfromthenoisomepestilence。

HeshallcovertheewithHisfeathers,andunderHiswingsshaltthoutrust:Histruthshallbethyshieldandbuckler。Thoushaltnotbeafraidfortheterrorbynight;norforthearrowthatfliethbyday;norforthepestilencethatwalkethindarkness;norforthedestructionthatwastethatnoonday。Athousandshallfallatthyside,andtenthousandatthyrighthand;butitshallnotcomenighthee。Onlywiththineeyesshaltthoubeholdandseetherewardofthewicked。

BecausethouhastmadetheLord,whichismyrefuge,eventhemostHigh,thyhabitation;thereshallnoevilbefallthee,neithershallanyplaguecomenighthydwelling,"&C。

IscarceneedtellthereaderthatfromthatmomentIresolvedthatI

wouldstayinthetown,andcastingmyselfentirelyuponthegoodnessandprotectionoftheAlmighty,wouldnotseekanyothershelterwhatever;andthat,asmytimeswereinHishands,Hewasasabletokeepmeinatimeoftheinfectionasinatimeofhealth;andifHedidnotthinkfittodeliverme,stillIwasinHishands,anditwasmeetHeshoulddowithmeasshouldseemgoodtoHim。

WiththisresolutionIwenttobed;andIwasfurtherconfirmedinitthenextdaybythewomanbeingtakenillwithwhomIhadintendedtoentrustmyhouseandallmyaffairs。ButIhadafurtherobligationlaidonmeonthesameside,forthenextdayIfoundmyselfverymuchoutoforderalso,sothatifIwouldhavegoneaway,Icouldnot,"andIcontinuedillthreeorfourdays,andthisentirelydeterminedmystay;soItookmyleaveofmybrother,whowentawaytoDorking,inSurrey,andafterwardsfetchedaroundfartherintoBuckinghamshireorBedfordshire,toaretreathehadfoundoutthereforhisfamily。

Itwasaveryilltimetobesickin,forifanyonecomplained,itwasimmediatelysaidhehadtheplague;andthoughIhadindeednosymptomofthatdistemper,yetbeingveryill,bothinmyheadandinmystomach,IwasnotwithoutapprehensionthatIreallywasinfected;butinaboutthreedaysIgrewbetter;thethirdnightIrestedwell,sweatedalittle,andwasmuchrefreshed。Theapprehensionsofitsbeingtheinfectionwentalsoquiteawaywithmyillness,andI

wentaboutmybusinessasusual。

Thesethings,however,putoffallmythoughtsofgoingintothecountry;andmybrotheralsobeinggone,Ihadnomoredebateeitherwithhimorwithmyselfonthatsubject。