第7章

andwedidthisforsometime;butasIhadnotlaidinastoreofprovisionforsucharetreat,itwasimpossiblethatwecouldkeepwithindoorsentirely。However,Iattempted,thoughitwassoverylate,todosomethingtowardsit;andfirst,asIhadconveniencebothforbrewingandbaking,Iwentandboughttwosacksofmeal,andforseveralweeks,havinganoven,webakedallourownbread;alsoI

boughtmalt,andbrewedasmuchbeerasallthecasksIhadwouldhold,andwhichseemedenoughtoservemyhouseforfiveorsixweeks;alsoIlaidinaquantityofsaltbutterandCheshirecheese;butIhadnoflesh—meat,andtheplagueragedsoviolentlyamongthebutchersandslaughter—housesontheothersideofourstreet,wheretheyareknowntodwellingreatnumbers,thatitwasnotadvisablesomuchastogooverthestreetamongthem。

AndhereImustobserveagain,thatthisnecessityofgoingoutofourhousestobuyprovisionswasinagreatmeasuretheruinofthewholecity,forthepeoplecatchedthedistemperontheseoccasionsoneofanother,andeventheprovisionsthemselveswereoftentainted;

atleastIhavegreatreasontobelieveso;andthereforeIcannotsaywithsatisfactionwhatIknowisrepeatedwithgreatassurance,thatthemarket—peopleandsuchasbroughtprovisionstotownwereneverinfected。IamcertainthebutchersofWhitechappel,wherethegreatestpartoftheflesh—meatwaskilled,weredreadfullyvisited,andthatatleasttosuchadegreethatfewoftheirshopswerekeptopen,andthosethatremainedofthemkilledtheirmeatatMileEndandthatway,andbroughtittomarketuponhorses。

However,thepoorpeoplecouldnotlayupprovisions,andtherewasanecessitythattheymustgotomarkettobuy,andotherstosendservantsortheirchildren;andasthiswasanecessitywhichreneweditselfdaily,itbroughtabundanceofunsoundpeopletothemarkets,andagreatmanythatwentthithersoundbroughtdeathhomewiththem。

Itistruepeopleusedallpossibleprecaution。Whenanyoneboughtajointofmeatinthemarkettheywouldnottakeitoffthebutcher"shand,buttookitoffthehooksthemselves。Ontheotherhand,thebutcherwouldnottouchthemoney,buthaveitputintoapotfullofvinegar,whichhekeptforthatpurpose。Thebuyercarriedalwayssmallmoneytomakeupanyoddsum,thattheymighttakenochange。

Theycarriedbottlesofscentsandperfumesintheirhands,andallthemeansthatcouldbeusedwereused,butthenthepoorcouldnotdoeventhesethings,andtheywentatallhazards。

Innumerabledismalstoriesweheardeverydayonthisveryaccount。

Sometimesamanorwomandroppeddowndeadintheverymarkets,formanypeoplethathadtheplagueuponthemknewnothingofittilltheinwardgangrenehadaffectedtheirvitals,andtheydiedinafewmoments。Thiscausedthatmanydiedfrequentlyinthatmannerinthestreetssuddenly,withoutanywarning;othersperhapshadtimetogotothenextbulkorstall,ortoanydoor—porch,andjustsitdownanddie,asIhavesaidbefore。

Theseobjectsweresofrequentinthestreetsthatwhentheplaguecametobeveryragingononeside,therewasscarceanypassingbythestreetsbutthatseveraldeadbodieswouldbelyinghereandthereupontheground。Ontheotherhand,itisobservablethatthoughatfirstthepeoplewouldstopastheywentalongandcalltotheneighbourstocomeoutonsuchanoccasion,yetafterwardnonoticewastakenofthem;butthatifatanytimewefoundacorpselying,goacrossthewayandnotcomenearit;or,ifinanarrowlaneorpassage,gobackagainandseeksomeotherwaytogoonthebusinesswewereupon;andinthosecasesthecorpsewasalwayslefttilltheofficershadnoticetocomeandtakethemaway,ortillnight,whenthebearersattendingthedead—cartwouldtakethemupandcarrythemaway。Nordidthoseundauntedcreatureswhoperformedtheseofficesfailtosearchtheirpockets,andsometimesstripofftheirclothesiftheywerewelldressed,assometimestheywere,andcarryoffwhattheycouldget。

Buttoreturntothemarkets。Thebutcherstookthatcarethatifanypersondiedinthemarkettheyhadtheofficersalwaysatbandtotakethemupuponhand—barrowsandcarrythemtothenextchurchyard;

andthiswassofrequentthatsuchwerenotenteredintheweeklybill,"Founddeadinthestreetsorfields",asisthecasenow,buttheywentintothegeneralarticlesofthegreatdistemper。

Butnowthefuryofthedistemperincreasedtosuchadegreethateventhemarketswerebutverythinlyfurnishedwithprovisionsorfrequentedwithbuyerscomparedtowhattheywerebefore;andtheLordMayorcausedthecountrypeoplewhobroughtprovisionstobestoppedinthestreetsleadingintothetown,andtositdowntherewiththeirgoods,wheretheysoldwhattheybrought,andwentimmediatelyaway;andthisencouragedthecountrypeoplegreatly—todoso,fortheysoldtheirprovisionsattheveryentrancesintothetown,andeveninthefields,asparticularlyinthefieldsbeyondWhitechappel,inSpittlefields;alsoinStGeorge"sFieldsinSouthwark,inBunhillFields,andinagreatfieldcalledWood"sClose,nearIslington。

ThithertheLordMayor,aldermen,andmagistratessenttheirofficersandservantstobuyfortheirfamilies,themselveskeepingwithindoorsasmuchaspossible,andthelikedidmanyotherpeople;andafterthismethodwastakenthecountrypeoplecamewithgreatcheerfulness,andbroughtprovisionsofallsorts,andveryseldomgotanyharm,which,Isuppose,addedalsotothatreportoftheirbeingmiraculouslypreserved。

Asformylittlefamily,havingthus,asIhavesaid,laidinastoreofbread,butter,cheese,andbeer,Itookmyfriendandphysician"sadvice,andlockedmyselfup,andmyfamily,andresolvedtosufferthehardshipoflivingafewmonthswithoutflesh—meat,ratherthantopurchaseitatthehazardofourlives。

ButthoughIconfinedmyfamily,Icouldnotprevailuponmyunsatisfiedcuriositytostaywithinentirelymyself;andthoughI

generallycamefrightedandterrifiedhome,vetIcouldnotrestrain;

onlythatindeedIdidnotdoitsofrequentlyasatfirst。

Ihadsomelittleobligations,indeed,uponmetogotomybrother"shouse,whichwasinColemanStreetparishandwhichhehadlefttomycare,andIwentatfirsteveryday,butafterwardsonlyonceortwiceaweek。

InthesewalksIhadmanydismalscenesbeforemyeyes,asparticularlyofpersonsfallingdeadinthestreets,terribleshrieksandscreechingsofwomen,who,intheiragonies,wouldthrowopentheirchamberwindowsandcryoutinadismal,surprisingmanner。Itisimpossibletodescribethevarietyofposturesinwhichthepassionsofthepoorpeoplewouldexpressthemselves。

PassingthroughTokenhouseYard,inLothbury,ofasuddenacasementviolentlyopenedjustovermyhead,andawomangavethreefrightfulscreeches,andthencried,"Oh！death,death,death！"inamostinimitabletone,andwhichstruckmewithhorrorandachillnessinmyveryblood。Therewasnobodytobeseeninthewholestreet,neitherdidanyotherwindowopen。forpeoplehadnocuriositynowinanycase,norcouldanybodyhelponeanother,soIwentontopassintoBellAlley。

JustinBellAlley,ontherighthandofthepassage,therewasamoreterriblecrythanthat,thoughitwasnotsodirectedoutatthewindow;

butthewholefamilywasinaterriblefright,andIcouldhearwomenandchildrenrunscreamingabouttheroomslikedistracted,whenagarret—windowopenedandsomebodyfromawindowontheothersidethealleycalledandasked,"Whatisthematter？"uponwhich,fromthefirstwindow,itwasanswered,"OhLord,myoldmasterhashangedhimself！"Theotheraskedagain,"Ishequitedead？"andthefirstanswered,"Ay,ay,quitedead;quitedeadandcold！"Thispersonwasamerchantandadeputyalderman,andveryrich。Icarenottomentionthename,thoughIknewhisnametoo,butthatwouldbeanhardshiptothefamily,whichisnowflourishingagain。

Butthisisbutone;itisscarcecrediblewhatdreadfulcaseshappenedinparticularfamilieseveryday。Peopleintherageofthedistemper,orinthetormentoftheirswellings,whichwasindeedintolerable,runningoutoftheirowngovernment,ravinganddistracted,andoftentimeslayingviolenthandsuponthemselves,throwingthemselvesoutattheirwindows,shootingthemselves。,;,&c。;mothersmurderingtheirownchildrenintheirlunacy,somedyingofmeregriefasapassion,someofmerefrightandsurprisewithoutanyinfectionatall,othersfrightedintoidiotismandfoolishdistractions,someintodespairandlunacy,othersintomelancholymadness。

Thepainoftheswellingwasinparticularveryviolent,andtosomeintolerable;thephysiciansandsurgeonsmaybesaidtohavetorturedmanypoorcreatureseventodeath。Theswellingsinsomegrewhard,andtheyappliedviolentdrawing—plaistersorpoulticestobreakthem,andifthesedidnotdotheycutandscarifiedtheminaterriblemanner。Insomethoseswellingsweremadehardpartlybytheforceofthedistemperandpartlybytheirbeingtooviolentlydrawn,andweresohardthatnoinstrumentcouldcutthem,andthentheyburntthemwithcaustics,sothatmanydiedravingmadwiththetorment,andsomeintheveryoperation。Inthesedistresses,some,forwantofhelptoholdthemdownintheirbeds,ortolooktothem,laidhandsuponthemselvesasabove。Somebrokeoutintothestreets,perhapsnaked,andwouldrundirectlydowntotheriveriftheywerenotstoppedbythewatchmanorotherofficers,andplungethemselvesintothewaterwherevertheyfoundit。

Itoftenpiercedmyverysoultohearthegroansandcriesofthosewhowerethustormented,butofthetwothiswascountedthemostpromisingparticularinthewholeinfection,foriftheseswellingscouldbebroughttoahead,andtobreakandrun,or,asthesurgeonscallit,todigest,thepatientgenerallyrecovered;whereasthosewho,likethegentlewoman"sdaughter,werestruckwithdeathatthebeginning,andhadthetokenscomeoutuponthem,oftenwentaboutindifferenteasytillalittlebeforetheydied,andsometillthemomenttheydroppeddown,asinapoplexiesandepilepsiesisoftenthecase。

Suchwouldbetakensuddenlyverysick,andwouldruntoabenchorbulk,oranyconvenientplacethatoffereditself,ortotheirownhousesifpossible,asImentionedbefore,andtheresitdown,growfaint,anddie。Thiskindofdyingwasmuchthesameasitwaswiththosewhodieofcommonmortifications,whodieswooning,and,asitwere,goawayinadream。Suchasdiedthushadverylittlenoticeoftheirbeinginfectedatalltillthegangrenewasspreadthroughtheirwholebody;norcouldphysiciansthemselvesknowcertainlyhowitwaswiththemtilltheyopenedtheirbreastsorotherpartsoftheirbodyandsawthetokens。

Wehadatthistimeagreatmanyfrightfulstoriestoldusofnursesandwatchmenwholookedafterthedyingpeople;thatistosay,hirednurseswhoattendedinfectedpeople,usingthembarbarously,starvingthem,smotheringthem,orbyotherwickedmeanshasteningtheirend,thatistosay,murderingofthem;andwatchmen,beingsettoguardhousesthatwereshutupwhentherehasbeenbutonepersonleft,andperhapsthatonelyingsick,thattheyhavebrokeinandmurderedthatbody,andimmediatelythrownthemoutintothedead—cart！Andsotheyhavegonescarcecoldtothegrave。

Icannotsaybutthatsomesuchmurderswerecommitted,andI

thinktwoweresenttoprisonforit,butdiedbeforetheycouldbetried;andIhaveheardthatthreeothers,atseveraltimes,wereexcusedformurdersofthatkind;butImustsayIbelievenothingofitsbeingsocommonacrimeassomehavesincebeenpleasedtosay,nordiditseemtobesorationalwherethepeoplewerebroughtsolowasnottobeabletohelpthemselves,forsuchseldomrecovered,andtherewasnotemptationtocommitamurder,atleastnoneequaltothefact,wheretheyweresurepersonswoulddieinsoshortatime,andcouldnotlive。

ThattherewereagreatmanyrobberiesandwickedpracticescommittedeveninthisdreadfultimeIdonotdeny。Thepowerofavaricewassostronginsomethattheywouldrunanyhazardtostealandtoplunder;andparticularlyinhouseswhereallthefamiliesorinhabitantshavebeendeadandcarriedout,theywouldbreakinatallhazards,andwithoutregardtothedangerofinfection,takeeventheclothesoffthedeadbodiesandthebed—clothesfromotherswheretheylaydead。

This,Isuppose,mustbethecaseofafamilyinHoundsditch,whereamanandhisdaughter,therestofthefamilybeing,asIsuppose,carriedawaybeforebythedead—cart,werefoundstarknaked,oneinonechamberandoneinanother,lyingdeadonthefloor,andtheclothesofthebeds,fromwhence"tissupposedtheywererolledoffbythieves,stolenandcarriedquiteaway。

Itisindeedtobeobservedthatthewomenwereinallthiscalamitythemostrash,fearless,anddesperatecreatures,andastherewerevastnumbersthatwentaboutasnursestotendthosethatweresick,theycommittedagreatmanypettythieveriesinthehouseswheretheywereemployed;andsomeofthemwerepubliclywhippedforit,whenperhapstheyoughtrathertohavebeenhangedforexamples,fornumbersofhouseswererobbedontheseoccasions,tillatlengththeparishofficersweresenttorecommendnursestothesick,andalwaystookanaccountwhomitwastheysent,soasthattheymightcallthemtoaccountifthehousehadbeenabusedwheretheywereplaced。

Buttheserobberiesextendedchieflytowearing—clothes,linen,andwhatringsormoneytheycouldcomeatwhenthepersondiedwhowasundertheircare,butnottoageneralplunderofthehouses;andI

couldgiveyouanaccountofoneofthesenurses,who,severalyearsafter,beingonherdeathbed,confessedwiththeutmosthorrortherobberiesshehadcommittedatthetimeofherbeinganurse,andbywhichshehadenrichedherselftoagreatdegree。Butasformurders,Idonotfindthattherewaseveranyproofofthefactsinthemannerasithasbeenreported,exceptasabove。

Theydidtellme,indeed,ofanurseinoneplacethatlaidawetclothuponthefaceofadyingpatientwhomshetended,andsoputanendtohislife,whowasjustexpiringbefore;andanotherthatsmotheredayoungwomanshewaslookingtowhenshewasinafaintingfit,andwouldhavecometoherself;somethatkilledthembygivingthemonething,someanother,andsomestarvedthembygivingthemnothingatall。Butthesestorieshadtwomarksofsuspicionthatalwaysattendedthem,whichcausedmealwaystoslightthemandtolookonthemasmerestoriesthatpeoplecontinuallyfrightedoneanotherwith。First,thatwhereveritwasthatweheardit,theyalwaysplacedthesceneatthefartherendofthetown,oppositeormostremotefromwhereyouweretohearit。IfyouhearditinWhitechappel,ithadhappenedatStGiles"s,oratWestminster,orHolborn,orthatendofthetown。Ifyouheardofitatthatendofthetown,thenitwasdoneinWhitechappel,ortheMinories,oraboutCripplegateparish。Ifyouheardofitinthecity,why,thenithappenedinSouthwark;andifyouheardofitinSouthwark,thenitwasdoneinthecity,andthelike。

Inthenextplace,ofwhatpartsoeveryouheardthestory,theparticularswerealwaysthesame,especiallythatoflayingawetdoublecloutonadyingman"sface,andthatofsmotheringayounggentlewoman;sothatitwasapparent,atleasttomyjudgement,thattherewasmoreoftalethanoftruthinthosethings。

However,Icannotsaybutithadsomeeffectuponthepeople,andparticularlythat,asIsaidbefore,theygrewmorecautiouswhomtheytookintotheirhouses,andwhomtheytrustedtheirliveswith,andhadthemalwaysrecommendediftheycould;andwheretheycouldnotfindsuch,fortheywerenotveryplenty,theyappliedtotheparishofficers。

Buthereagainthemiseryofthattimelayuponthepoorwho,beinginfected,hadneitherfoodorphysic,neitherphysicianorapothecarytoassistthem,ornursetoattendthem。Manyofthosediedcallingforhelp,andevenforsustenance,outattheirwindowsinamostmiserableanddeplorablemanner;butitmustbeaddedthatwheneverthecasesofsuchpersonsorfamilieswererepresentedtomyLordMayortheyalwayswererelieved。

Itistrue,insomehouseswherethepeoplewerenotverypoor,yetwheretheyhadsentperhapstheirwivesandchildrenaway,andiftheyhadanyservantstheyhadbeendismissed;—Isayitistruethattosavetheexpenses,manysuchastheseshutthemselvesin,andnothavinghelp,diedalone。

Aneighbourandacquaintanceofmine,havingsomemoneyowingtohimfromashopkeeperinWhitecrossStreetorthereabouts,senthisapprentice,ayouthabouteighteenyearsofage,toendeavourtogetthemoney。Hecametothedoor,andfindingitshut,knockedprettyhard;and,ashethought,heardsomebodyanswerwithin,butwasnotsure,sohewaited,andaftersomestayknockedagain,andthenathirdtime,whenheheardsomebodycomingdownstairs。

Atlengththemanofthehousecametothedoor;hehadonhisbreechesordrawers,andayellowflannelwaistcoat,nostockings,apairofslipped—shoes,awhitecaponhishead,and,astheyoungmansaid,"deathinhisface"。

Whenheopenedthedoor,sayshe,"Whatdoyoudisturbmethusfor？"

Theboy,thoughalittlesurprised,replied,"Icomefromsuchaone,andmymastersentmeforthemoneywhichhesaysyouknowof。""Verywell,child,"returnsthelivingghost;"callasyougobyatCripplegateChurch,andbidthemringthebell";andwiththesewordsshutthedooragain,andwentupagain,anddiedthesameday;nay,perhapsthesamehour。Thistheyoungmantoldmehimself,andI

havereasontobelieveit。Thiswaswhiletheplaguewasnotcometoaheight。IthinkitwasinJune,towardsthelatterendofthemonth;itmustbebeforethedead—cartscameabout,andwhiletheyusedtheceremonyofringingthebellforthedead,whichwasoverforcertain,inthatparishatleast,beforethemonthofJuly,forbythe25thofJulytheredied550andupwardsinaweek,andthentheycouldnomoreburyinform,richorpoor。

Ihavementionedabovethatnotwithstandingthisdreadfulcalamity,yetthenumbersofthieveswereabroaduponalloccasions,wheretheyhadfoundanyprey,andthattheseweregenerallywomen。ItwasonemorningaboutelevenO"clock,Ihadwalkedouttomybrother"shouseinColemanStreetparish,asIoftendid,toseethatallwassafe。

Mybrother"shousehadalittlecourtbeforeit,andabrickwallandagateinit,andwithinthatseveralwarehouseswherehisgoodsofseveralsortslay。Ithappenedthatinoneofthesewarehouseswereseveralpacksofwomen"shigh—crownedhats,whichcameoutofthecountryandwere,asIsuppose,forexportation:whither,Iknownot。

IwassurprisedthatwhenIcamenearmybrother"sdoor,whichwasinaplacetheycalledSwanAlley,Imetthreeorfourwomenwithhigh—crownedhatsontheirheads;and,asIrememberedafterwards,one,ifnotmore,hadsomehatslikewiseintheirhands;butasIdidnotseethemcomeoutatmybrother"sdoor,andnotknowingthatmybrotherhadanysuchgoodsinhiswarehouse,Ididnotoffertosayanythingtothem,butwentacrossthewaytoshunmeetingthem,aswasusualtodoatthattime,forfearoftheplague。ButwhenIcamenearertothegateImetanotherwomanwithmorehatscomeoutofthegate。"Whatbusiness,mistress,"saidI,"haveyouhadthere？"

"Therearemorepeoplethere,"saidshe;"Ihavehadnomorebusinesstherethanthey。"Iwashastytogettothegatethen,andsaidnomoretoher,bywhichmeansshegotaway。ButjustasIcametothegate,Isawtwomorecomingacrosstheyardtocomeoutwithhatsalsoontheirheadsandundertheirarms,atwhichIthrewthegatetobehindme,whichhavingaspringlockfasteneditself;andturningtothewomen,"Forsooth,"saidI,"whatareyoudoinghere？"andseizeduponthehats,andtookthemfromthem。Oneofthem,who,Iconfess,didnotlooklikeathief—"Indeed,"saysshe,"wearewrong,butweweretoldtheyweregoodsthathadnoowner。Bepleasedtotakethemagain;andlookyonder,therearemoresuchcustomersaswe。"Shecriedandlookedpitifully,soItookthehatsfromherandopenedthegate,andbadethembegone,forIpitiedthewomenindeed;butwhenIlookedtowardsthewarehouse,asshedirected,thereweresixorsevenmore,allwomen,fittingthemselveswithhatsasunconcernedandquietasiftheyhadbeenatahatter"sshopbuyingfortheirmoney。

Iwassurprised,notatthesightofsomanythievesonly,butatthecircumstancesIwasin;beingnowtothrustmyselfinamongsomanypeople,whoforsomeweekshadbeensoshyofmyselfthatifImetanybodyinthestreetIwouldcrossthewayfromthem。

Theywereequallysurprised,thoughonanotheraccount。Theyalltoldmetheywereneighbours,thattheyhadheardanyonemighttakethem,thattheywerenobody"sgoods,andthelike。Italkedbigtothematfirst,wentbacktothegateandtookoutthekey,sothattheywereallmyprisoners,threatenedtolockthemallintothewarehouse,andgoandfetchmyLordMayor"sofficersforthem。

Theybeggedheartily,protestedtheyfoundthegateopen,andthewarehousedooropen;andthatithadnodoubtbeenbrokenopenbysomewhoexpectedtofindgoodsofgreatervalue:whichindeedwasreasonabletobelieve,becausethelockwasbroke,andapadlockthathungtothedoorontheoutsidealsoloose,andnotabundanceofthehatscarriedaway。

AtlengthIconsideredthatthiswasnotatimetobecruelandrigorous;andbesidesthat,itwouldnecessarilyobligemetogomuchabout,tohaveseveralpeoplecometome,andIgotoseveralwhosecircumstancesofhealthIknewnothingof;andthatevenatthistimetheplaguewassohighasthattheredied4000aweek;sothatinshowingmyresentment,oreveninseekingjusticeformybrother"sgoods,Imightlosemyownlife;soIcontentedmyselfwithtakingthenamesandplaceswheresomeofthemlived,whowerereallyinhabitantsintheneighbourhood,andthreateningthatmybrothershouldcallthemtoanaccountforitwhenhereturnedtohishabitation。

ThenItalkedalittleuponanotherfootwiththem,andaskedthemhowtheycoulddosuchthingsastheseinatimeofsuchgeneralcalamity,and,asitwere,inthefaceofGod"smostdreadfuljudgements,whentheplaguewasattheirverydoors,and,itmaybe,intheirveryhouses,andtheydidnotknowbutthatthedead—cartmightstopattheirdoorsinafewhourstocarrythemtotheirgraves。

Icouldnotperceivethatmydiscoursemademuchimpressionuponthemallthatwhile,tillithappenedthattherecametwomenoftheneighbourhood,hearingofthedisturbance,andknowingmybrother,fortheyhadbeenbothdependentsuponhisfamily,andtheycametomyassistance。Thesebeing,asIsaid,neighbours,presentlyknewthreeofthewomenandtoldmewhotheywereandwheretheylived;

anditseemstheyhadgivenmeatrueaccountofthemselvesbefore。

Thisbringsthesetwomentoafurtherremembrance。ThenameofonewasJohnHayward,whowasatthattimeundersextonoftheparishofStStephen,ColemanStreet。Byundersextonwasunderstoodatthattimegravediggerandbearerofthedead。Thismancarried,orassistedtocarry,allthedeadtotheirgraveswhichwereburiedinthatlargeparish,andwhowerecarriedinform;andafterthatformofburyingwasstopped,wentwiththedead—cartandthebelltofetchthedeadbodiesfromthehouseswheretheylay,andfetchedmanyofthemoutofthechambersandhouses;fortheparishwas,andisstill,remarkableparticularly,abovealltheparishesinLondon,foragreatnumberofalleysandthoroughfares,verylong,intowhichnocartscouldcome,andwheretheywereobligedtogoandfetchthebodiesaverylongway;whichalleysnowremaintowitnessit,suchasWhite"sAlley,CrossKeyCourt,SwanAlley,BellAlley,WhiteHorseAlley,andmanymore。Heretheywentwithakindofhand—

barrowandlaidthedeadbodiesonit,andcarriedthemouttothecarts;whichworkheperformedandneverhadthedistemperatall,butlivedabouttwentyyearsafterit,andwassextonoftheparishtothetimeofhisdeath。Hiswifeatthesametimewasanursetoinfectedpeople,andtendedmanythatdiedintheparish,beingforherhonestyrecommendedbytheparishofficers;yetsheneverwasinfectedneither。

Heneverusedanypreservativeagainsttheinfection,otherthanholdinggarlicandrueinhismouth,andsmokingtobacco。ThisIalsohadfromhisownmouth。Andhiswife"sremedywaswashingherheadinvinegarandsprinklingherhead—clothessowithvinegarastokeepthemalwaysmoist,andifthesmellofanyofthoseshewaitedonwasmorethanordinaryoffensive,shesnuffedvinegaruphernoseandsprinkledvinegaruponherhead—clothes,andheldahandkerchiefwettedwithvinegartohermouth。

Itmustbeconfessedthatthoughtheplaguewaschieflyamongthepoor,yetwerethepoorthemostventurousandfearlessofit,andwentabouttheiremploymentwithasortofbrutalcourage;Imustcallitso,foritwasfoundedneitheronreligionnorprudence;scarcedidtheyuseanycaution,butranintoanybusinesswhichtheycouldgetemploymentin,thoughitwasthemosthazardous。Suchwasthatoftendingthesick,watchinghousesshutup,carryinginfectedpersonstothepest—house,and,whichwasstillworse,carryingthedeadawaytotheirgraves。

ItwasunderthisJohnHayward"scare,andwithinhisbounds,thatthestoryofthepiper,withwhichpeoplehavemadethemselvessomerry,happened,andheassuredmethatitwastrue。Itissaidthatitwasablindpiper;but,asJohntoldme,thefellowwasnotblind,butanignorant,weak,poorman,andusuallywalkedhisroundsaboutteno"clockatnightandwentpipingalongfromdoortodoor,andthepeopleusuallytookhiminatpublic—houseswheretheyknewhim,andwouldgivehimdrinkandvictuals,andsometimesfarthings;andheinreturnwouldpipeandsingandtalksimply,whichdivertedthepeople;andthushelived。ItwasbutaverybadtimeforthisdiversionwhilethingswereasIhavetold,yetthepoorfellowwentaboutasusual,butwasalmoststarved;andwhenanybodyaskedhowhedidhewouldanswer,thedeadcarthadnottakenhimyet,butthattheyhadpromisedtocallforhimnextweek。