第4章

Watchmen。

"Thattoeveryinfectedhousetherebeappointedtwowatchmen,oneforeveryday,andtheotherforthenight;andthatthesewatchmenhaveaspecialcarethatnopersongoinoroutofsuchinfectedhouseswhereoftheyhavethecharge,uponpainofseverepunishment。Andthesaidwatchmentodosuchfurtherofficesasthesickhouseshallneedandrequire:andifthewatchmanbesentuponanybusiness,tolockupthehouseandtakethekeywithhim;andthewatchmanbydaytoattenduntiltenoftheclockatnight,andthewatchmanbynightuntilsixinthemorning。

Searchers。

"Thattherebeaspecialcaretoappointwomensearchersineveryparish,suchasareofhonestreputation,andofthebestsortascanbegotinthiskind;andthesetobesworntomakeduesearchandtruereporttotheutmostoftheirknowledgewhetherthepersonswhosebodiestheyareappointedtosearchdodieoftheinfection,orofwhatotherdiseases,asnearastheycan。Andthatthephysicianswhoshallbeappointedforcureandpreventionoftheinfectiondocallbeforethemthesaidsearcherswhoare,orshallbe,appointedfortheseveralparishesundertheirrespectivecares,totheendtheymayconsiderwhethertheyarefitlyqualifiedforthatemployment,andchargethemfromtimetotimeastheyshallseecause,iftheyappeardefectiveintheirduties。

"Thatnosearcherduringthistimeofvisitationbepermittedtouseanypublicworkoremployment,orkeepanyshoporstall,orbeemployedasalaundress,orinanyothercommonemploymentwhatsoever。

Chirurgeons。

"Forbetterassistanceofthesearchers,forasmuchastherehathbeenheretoforegreatabuseinmisreportingthedisease,tothefurtherspreadingoftheinfection,itisthereforeorderedthattherebechosenandappointedableanddiscreetchirurgeons,besidesthosethatdoalreadybelongtothepest—house,amongstwhomthecityandLibertiestobequarteredastheplacesliemostaptandconvenient;andeveryofthesetohaveonequarterforhislimit;andthesaidchirurgeonsineveryoftheirlimitstojoinwiththesearchersfortheviewofthebody,totheendtheremaybeatruereportmadeofthedisease。

"Andfurther,thatthesaidchirurgeonsshallvisitandsearchsuch—

likepersonsasshalleithersendforthemorbenamedanddirecteduntothembytheexaminersofeveryparish,andinformthemselvesofthediseaseofthesaidparties。

"Andforasmuchasthesaidchirurgeonsaretobesequesteredfromallothercures,andkeptonlytothisdiseaseoftheinfection,itisorderedthateveryofthesaidchirurgeonsshallhavetwelve—penceabodysearchedbythem,tobepaidoutofthegoodsofthepartysearched,ifhebeable,orotherwisebytheparish。

Nurse—keepers。

"Ifanynurse—keepershallremoveherselfoutofanyinfectedhousebeforetwenty—eightdaysafterthedeceaseofanypersondyingoftheinfection,thehousetowhichthesaidnurse—keeperdothsoremoveherselfshallbeshutupuntilthesaidtwenty—eightdaysbeexpired。"

ORDERSCONCERNINGINFECTEDHOUSESANDPERSONSSICKOFTHEPLAGUE。

NoticetobegivenoftheSickness。

"Themasterofeveryhouse,assoonasanyoneinhishousecomplaineth,eitherofblotchorpurple,orswellinginanypartofhisbody,orfallethotherwisedangerouslysick,withoutapparentcauseofsomeotherdisease,shallgiveknowledgethereoftotheexaminerofhealthwithintwohoursafterthesaidsignshallappear。

SequestrationoftheSick。

"Assoonasanymanshallbefoundbythisexaminer,chirurgeon,orsearchertobesickoftheplague,heshallthesamenightbesequesteredinthesamehouse;andincasehebesosequestered,thenthoughheafterwardsdienot,thehousewhereinhesickenedshouldbeshutupforamonth,aftertheuseoftheduepreservativestakenbytherest。

AiringtheStuff。

"Forsequestrationofthegoodsandstuffoftheinfection,theirbeddingandapparelandhangingsofchambersmustbewellairedwithfireandsuchperfumesasarerequisitewithintheinfectedhousebeforetheybetakenagaintouse。Thistobedonebytheappointmentofanexaminer。

ShuttingupoftheHouse。

"Ifanypersonshallhavevisitedanymanknowntobeinfectedoftheplague,orenteredwillinglyintoanyknowninfectedhouse,beingnotallowed,thehousewhereinheinhabitethshallbeshutupforcertaindaysbytheexaminer"sdirection。

NonetoberemovedoutofinfectedHouses,but,&C。

"Item,thatnoneberemovedoutofthehousewherehefallethsickoftheinfectionintoanyotherhouseinthecity（exceptitbetothepest—

houseoratent,oruntosomesuchhousewhichtheownerofthesaidvisitedhouseholdethinhisownhandsandoccupiethbyhisownservants）;andsoassecuritybegiventotheparishwhithersuchremoveismade,thattheattendanceandchargeaboutthesaidvisitedpersonsshallbeobservedandchargedinalltheparticularitiesbeforeexpressed,withoutanycostofthatparishtowhichanysuchremoveshallhappentobemade,andthisremovetobedonebynight。Anditshallbelawfultoanypersonthathathtwohousestoremoveeitherhissoundorhisinfectedpeopletohissparehouseathischoice,soas,ifhesendawayfirsthissound,henotaftersendthitherhissick,noragainuntothesickthesound;andthatthesamewhichhesendethbeforoneweekattheleastshutupandsecludedfromcompany,forfearofsomeinfectionatthefirstnotappearing。

BurialoftheDead。

"Thattheburialofthedeadbythisvisitationbeatmostconvenienthours,alwayseitherbeforesun—risingoraftersun—setting,withtheprivityofthechurchwardensorconstable,andnototherwise;andthatnoneighboursnorfriendsbesufferedtoaccompanythecorpsetochurch,ortoenterthehousevisited,uponpainofhavinghishouseshutuporbeimprisoned。

"Andthatnocorpsedyingofinfectionshallbeburied,orremaininanychurchintimeofcommonprayer,sermon,orlecture。Andthatnochildrenbesufferedattimeofburialofanycorpseinanychurch,churchyard,orburying—placetocomenearthecorpse,coffin,orgrave。

Andthatallthegravesshallbeatleastsixfeetdeep。

"Andfurther,allpublicassembliesatotherburialsaretobeforeborneduringthecontinuanceofthisvisitation。

NoinfectedStufftobeuttered。

"Thatnoclothes,stuff,bedding,orgarmentsbesufferedtobecarriedorconveyedoutofanyinfectedhouses,andthatthecriersandcarriersabroadofbeddingoroldappareltobesoldorpawnedbeutterlyprohibitedandrestrained,andnobrokersofbeddingoroldapparelbepermittedtomakeanyoutwardshow,orhangforthontheirstalls,shop—boards,orwindows,towardsanystreet,lane,commonway,orpassage,anyoldbeddingorappareltobesold,uponpainofimprisonment。Andifanybrokerorotherpersonshallbuyanybedding,apparel,orotherstuffoutofanyinfectedhousewithintwomonthsaftertheinfectionhathbeenthere,hishouseshallbeshutupasinfected,andsoshallcontinueshutuptwentydaysattheleast。

NoPersontobeconveyedoutofanyinfectedHouse。

"Ifanypersonvisiteddofortune,bynegligentlookingunto,orbyanyothermeans,tocomeorbeconveyedfromaplaceinfectedtoanyotherplace,theparishfromwhencesuchpartyhathcomeorbeenconveyed,uponnoticethereofgiven,shallattheirchargecausethesaidpartysovisitedandescapedtobecarriedandbroughtbackagainbynight,andthepartiesinthiscaseoffendingtobepunishedatthedirectionofthealdermanoftheward,andthehouseofthereceiverofsuchvisitedpersontobeshutupfortwentydays。

EveryvisitedHousetobemarked。

"Thateveryhousevisitedbemarkedwitharedcrossofafootlonginthemiddleofthedoor,evidenttobeseen,andwiththeseusualprintedwords,thatistosay,"Lord,havemercyuponus,"tobesetcloseoverthesamecross,theretocontinueuntillawfulopeningofthesamehouse。

EveryvisitedHousetobewatched。

"Thattheconstablesseeeveryhouseshutup,andtobeattendedwithwatchmen,whichmaykeepthemin,andministernecessariesuntothemattheirowncharges,iftheybeable,oratthecommoncharge,iftheyareunable;theshuttinguptobeforthespaceoffourweeksafterallbewhole。

"Thatpreciseordertobetakenthatthesearchers,chirurgeons,keepers,andburiersarenottopassthestreetswithoutholdingaredrodorwandofthreefeetinlengthintheirhands,openandevidenttobeseen,andarenottogointoanyotherhousethanintotheirown,orintothatwhereuntotheyaredirectedorsentfor;buttoforbearandabstainfromcompany,especiallywhentheyhavebeenlatelyusedinanysuchbusinessorattendance。

Inmates。

"Thatwhereseveralinmate,—careinoneandthesamehouse,andanypersoninthathousehappenstobeinfected,nootherpersonorfamilyofsuchhouseshallbesufferedtoremovehimorthemselveswithoutacertificatefromtheexaminersofhealthofthatparish;orindefaultthereof,thehousewhitherheortheysoremoveshallbeshutupasincaseofvisitation。

Hackney—Coaches。

"Thatcarebetakenofhackney—coachmen,thattheymaynot（assomeofthemhavebeenobservedtodoaftercarryingofinfectedpersonstothepest—houseandotherplaces）beadmittedtocommonusetilltheircoachesbewellaired,andhavestoodunemployedbythespaceoffiveorsixdaysaftersuchservice。"

ORDERSFORCLEANSINGANDKEEPINGOFTHESTREETSSWEET。

TheStreetstobekeptClean。

"First,itisthoughtnecessary,andsoordered,thateveryhouseholderdocausethestreettobedailypreparedbeforehisdoor,andsotokeepitcleansweptalltheweeklong。

ThatRakerstakeitfromouttheHouses。

"Thatthesweepingandfilthofhousesbedailycarriedawaybytherakers,andthattherakershallgivenoticeofhiscomingbytheblowingofahorn,ashithertohathbeendone。

LaystallstobemadefarofffromtheCity。

"Thatthelaystallsberemovedasfarasmaybeoutofthecityandcommonpassages,andthatnonightmanorotherbesufferedtoemptyavaultintoanygardennearaboutthecity。

CaretobehadofunwholesomeFishorFlesh,andofmustyCorn。

"Thatspecialcarebetakenthatnostinkingfish,orunwholesomeflesh,ormustycorn,orothercorruptfruitsofwhatsortsoever,besufferedtobesoldaboutthecity,oranypartofthesame。

"Thatthebrewersandtippling—houseshelookeduntoformustyandunwholesomecasks。

"Thatnohogs,dogs,orcats,ortamepigeons,orconies,besufferedtobekeptwithinanypartofthecity,oranyswinetobeorstrayinthestreetsorlanes,butthatsuchswinebeimpoundedbythebeadleoranyotherofficer,andtheownerpunishedaccordingtoActofCommonCouncil,andthatthedogsbekilledbythedog—killersappointedforthatpurpose。"

ORDERSCONCERNINGLOOSEPERSONSANDIDLE

ASSEMBLIES。

Beggars。

"Forasmuchasnothingismorecomplainedofthanthemultitudeofroguesandwanderingbeggarsthatswarmineveryplaceaboutthecity,beingagreatcauseofthespreadingoftheinfection,andwillnotbeavoided,notwithstandinganyordersthathavebeengiventothecontrary:Itisthereforenowordered,thatsuchconstables,andotherswhomthismattermayanywayconcern,takespecialcarethatnowanderingbeggarsbesufferedinthestreetsofthiscityinanyfashionormannerwhatsoever,uponthepenaltyprovidedbythelaw,tobedulyandseverelyexecuteduponthem。

Plays。

"Thatallplays,bear—baitings,games,singingofballads,buckler—

play,orsuch—likecausesofassembliesofpeoplebeutterlyprohibited,andthepartiesoffendingseverelypunishedbyeveryaldermaninhisward。

Feastingprohibited。

"Thatallpublicfeasting,andparticularlybythecompaniesofthiscity,anddinnersattaverns,ale—houses,andotherplacesofcommonentertainment,beforbornetillfurtherorderandallowance;andthatthemoneytherebysparedbepreservedandemployedforthebenefitandreliefofthepoorvisitedwiththeinfection。

Tippling—houses。

"Thatdisorderlytipplingintaverns,ale—houses,coffee—houses,andcellarsbeseverelylookedunto,asthecommonsinofthistimeandgreatestoccasionofdispersingtheplague。Andthatnocompanyorpersonbesufferedtoremainorcomeintoanytavern,ale—house,orcoffee—housetodrinkafternineoftheclockintheevening,accordingtotheancientlawandcustomofthiscity,uponthepenaltiesordainedinthatbehalf。

"Andforthebetterexecutionoftheseorders,andsuchotherrulesanddirectionsas,uponfurtherconsideration,shallbefoundneedful:

Itisorderedandenjoinedthatthealdermen,deputies,andcommoncouncilmenshallmeettogetherweekly,once,twice,thriceoroftener（ascauseshallrequire）,atsomeonegeneralplaceaccustomedintheirrespectivewards（beingclearfrominfectionoftheplague）,toconsulthowthesaidordersmaybedulyputinexecution;notintendingthatanydwellinginornearplacesinfectedshallcometothesaidmeetingwhiletheircomingmaybedoubtful。Andthesaidaldermen,anddeputies,andcommoncouncilmenintheirseveralwardsmayputinexecutionanyothergoodordersthatbythemattheirsaidmeetingsshallbeconceivedanddevisedforpreservationofhisMajesty"ssubjectsfromtheinfection。

"SIRJOHNLAWRENCE,LordMayor。

SIRGEORGEWATERMAN

SIRCHARLESDoE,Sheriffs。"

IneednotsaythattheseordersextendedonlytosuchplacesaswerewithintheLordMayor"sjurisdiction,soitisrequisitetoobservethatthejusticesofPeacewithinthoseparishesandplacesaswerecalledtheHamletsandout—partstookthesamemethod。AsIremember,theordersforshuttingupofhousesdidnottakePlacesosoononourside,because,asIsaidbefore,theplaguedidnotreachtotheseeasternpartsofthetownatleast,norbegintobeveryviolent,tillthebeginningofAugust。Forexample,thewholebillfromthe11thtothe18thofJulywas1761,yettherediedbut71oftheplagueinallthoseparisheswecalltheTowerHamlets,andtheywereasfollows:—

ThenextweekAndtothe1stwasthus:ofAug。thus:

Aldgate143465

Stepney335876

Whitechappel214879

StKatherine,Tower244

Trinity,Minories114

—————————

71145228

Itwasindeedcomingonamain,fortheburialsthatsameweekwereinthenextadjoiningparishesthus:—

ThenextweekprodigiouslyTothe1stofincreased,as:Aug。thus:

StLeonard"s,Shoreditch6484110

StBotolph"s,Bishopsgate65105116

StGiles"s,Cripplegate213421554

—————————

342610780

Thisshuttingupofhouseswasatfirstcountedaverycruelandunchristianmethod,andthepoorpeoplesoconfinedmadebitterlamentations。ComplaintsoftheseverityofitwerealsodailybroughttomyLordMayor,ofhousescauselessly（andsomemaliciously）shutup。Icannotsay;butuponinquirymanythatcomplainedsoloudlywerefoundinaconditiontobecontinued;andothersagain,inspectionbeingmadeuponthesickperson,andthesicknessnotappearinginfectious,orifuncertain,yetonhisbeingcontenttobecarriedtothepest—house,werereleased。

Itistruethatthelockingupthedoorsofpeople"shouses,andsettingawatchmantherenightanddaytopreventtheirstirringoutoranycomingtothem,whenperhapsthesoundpeopleinthefamilymighthaveescapediftheyhadbeenremovedfromthesick,lookedveryhardandcruel;andmanypeopleperishedinthesemiserableconfinementswhich,"tisreasonabletobelieve,wouldnothavebeendistemperediftheyhadhadliberty,thoughtheplaguewasinthehouse;atwhichthepeoplewereveryclamorousanduneasyatfirst,andseveralviolenceswerecommittedandinjuriesofferedtothemenwhoweresettowatchthehousessoshutup;alsoseveralpeoplebrokeoutbyforceinmanyplaces,asIshallobserveby—and—by。Butitwasapublicgoodthatjustifiedtheprivatemischief,andtherewasnoobtainingtheleastmitigationbyanyapplicationtomagistratesorgovernmentatthattime,atleastnotthatIheardof。Thisputthepeopleuponallmannerofstratageminorder,ifpossible,togetout;

anditwouldfillalittlevolumetosetdowntheartsusedbythepeopleofsuchhousestoshuttheeyesofthewatchmenwhowereemployed,todeceivethem,andtoescapeorbreakoutfromthem,inwhichfrequentscufflesandsomemischiefhappened;ofwhichbyitself。

AsIwentalongHoundsditchonemorningabouteighto"clocktherewasagreatnoise。Itistrue,indeed,therewasnotmuchcrowd,becausepeoplewerenotveryfreetogathertogether,ortostaylongtogetherwhentheywerethere;nordidIstaylongthere。Buttheoutcrywasloudenoughtopromptmycuriosity,andIcalledtoonethatlookedoutofawindow,andaskedwhatwasthematter。

Awatchman,itseems,hadbeenemployedtokeephispostatthedoorofahousewhichwasinfected,orsaidtobeinfected,andwasshutup。Hehadbeenthereallnightfortwonightstogether,ashetoldhisstory,andtheday—watchmanhadbeenthereoneday,andwasnowcometorelievehim。Allthiswhilenonoisehadbeenheardinthehouse,nolighthadbeenseen;theycalledfornothing,senthimofnoerrands,whichusedtobethechiefbusinessofthewatchmen;neitherhadtheygivenhimanydisturbance,ashesaid,fromtheMondayafternoon,whenheheardgreatcryingandscreaminginthehouse,which,ashesupposed,wasoccasionedbysomeofthefamilydyingjustatthattime。Itseems,thenightbefore,thedead—cart,asitwascalled,hadbeenstoppedthere,andaservant—maidhadbeenbroughtdowntothedoordead,andtheburiersorbearers,astheywerecalled,putherintothecart,wraptonlyinagreenrug,andcarriedheraway。

Thewatchmanhadknockedatthedoor,itseems,whenheheardthatnoiseandcrying,asabove,andnobodyansweredagreatwhile;

butatlastonelookedoutandsaidwithanangry,quicktone,andyetakindofcryingvoice,oravoiceofonethatwascrying,"Whatd"yewant,thatyemakesuchaknocking？"Heanswered,"Iamthewatchman！Howdoyoudo？Whatisthematter？"Thepersonanswered,"Whatisthattoyou？Stopthedead—cart。"This,itseems,wasaboutoneo"clock。Soonafter,asthefellowsaid,hestoppedthedead—cart,andthenknockedagain,butnobodyanswered。Hecontinuedknocking,andthebellmancalledoutseveraltimes,"Bringoutyourdead";butnobodyanswered,tillthemanthatdrovethecart,beingcalledtootherhouses,wouldstaynolonger,anddroveaway。

Thewatchmanknewnotwhattomakeofallthis,soheletthemalonetillthemorning—manorday—watchman,astheycalledhim,cametorelievehim。Givinghimanaccountoftheparticulars,theyknockedatthedooragreatwhile,butnobodyanswered;andtheyobservedthatthewindoworcasementatwhichthepersonhadlookedoutwhohadansweredbeforecontinuedopen,beinguptwopairofstairs。

Uponthisthetwomen,tosatisfytheircuriosity,gotalongladder,andoneofthemwentuptothewindowandlookedintotheroom,wherehesawawomanlyingdeaduponthefloorinadismalmanner,havingnoclothesonherbuthershift。Butthoughhecalledaloud,andputtinginhislongstaff,knockedhardonthefloor,yetnobodystirredoranswered;neithercouldhehearanynoiseinthehouse。

Hecamedownagainuponthis,andacquaintedhisfellow,whowentupalso;andfindingitjustso,theyresolvedtoacquainteithertheLordMayororsomeothermagistrateofit,butdidnotoffertogoinatthewindow。Themagistrate,itseems,upontheinformationofthetwomen,orderedthehousetobebrokeopen,aconstableandotherpersonsbeingappointedtobepresent,thatnothingmightbeplundered;andaccordinglyitwassodone,whennobodywasfoundinthehousebutthatyoungwoman,whohavingbeeninfectedandpastrecovery,theresthadlefthertodiebyherself,andwereeveryonegone,havingfoundsomewaytodeludethewatchman,andtogetopenthedoor,orgetoutatsomeback—door,oroverthetopsofthehouses,sothatheknewnothingofit;andastothosecriesandshriekswhichheheard,itwassupposedtheywerethepassionatecriesofthefamilyatthebitterparting,which,tobesure,itwastothemall,thisbeingthesistertothemistressofthefamily。Themanofthehouse,hiswife,severalchildren,andservants,beingallgoneandfled,whethersickorsound,thatIcouldneverlearn;nor,indeed,didI

makemuchinquiryafterit。

Manysuchescapesweremadeoutofinfectedhouses,asparticularlywhenthewatchmanwassentofsomeerrand;foritwashisbusinesstogoofanyerrandthatthefamilysenthimof;thatistosay,fornecessaries,suchasfoodandphysic;tofetchphysicians,iftheywouldcome,orsurgeons,ornurses,ortoorderthedead—cart,andthelike;butwiththiscondition,too,thatwhenhewenthewastolockuptheouterdoorofthehouseandtakethekeyawaywithhim,Toevadethis,andcheatthewatchmen,peoplegottwoorthreekeysmadetotheirlocks,ortheyfoundwaystounscrewthelockssuchaswerescrewedon,andsotakeoffthelock,beingintheinsideofthehouse,andwhiletheysentawaythewatchmantothemarket,tothebakehouse,orforonetrifleoranother,openthedoorandgooutasoftenastheypleased。Butthisbeingfoundout,theofficersafterwardshadorderstopadlockupthedoorsontheoutside,andplaceboltsonthemastheythoughtfit。

Atanotherhouse,asIwasinformed,inthestreetnextwithinAldgate,awholefamilywasshutupandlockedinbecausethemaid—

servantwastakensick。ThemasterofthehousehadcomplainedbyhisfriendstothenextaldermanandtotheLordMayor,andhadconsentedtohavethemaidcarriedtothepest—house,butwasrefused;