第8章

Ithappenedonenightthatthispoorfellow,whethersomebodyhadgivenhimtoomuchdrinkorno—JohnHaywardsaidhehadnotdrinkinhishouse,butthattheyhadgivenhimalittlemorevictualsthanordinaryatapublic—houseinColemanStreet—andthepoorfellow,havingnotusuallyhadabellyfulforperhapsnotagoodwhile,waslaidallalonguponthetopofabulkorstall,andfastasleep,atadoorinthestreetnearLondonWall,towardsCripplegate—,andthatuponthesamebulkorstallthepeopleofsomehouse,inthealleyofwhichthehousewasacorner,hearingabellwhichtheyalwaysrangbeforethecartcame,hadlaidabodyreallydeadoftheplaguejustbyhim,thinking,too,thatthispoorfellowhadbeenadeadbody,astheotherwas,andlaidtherebysomeoftheneighbours。

Accordingly,whenJohnHaywardwithhisbellandthecartcamealong,findingtwodeadbodieslieuponthestall,theytookthemupwiththeinstrumenttheyusedandthrewthemintothecart,and,allthiswhilethepipersleptsoundly。

Fromhencetheypassedalongandtookinotherdeadbodies,till,ashonestJohnHaywardtoldme,theyalmostburiedhimaliveinthecart;yetallthiswhilehesleptsoundly。Atlengththecartcametotheplacewherethebodiesweretobethrownintotheground,which,asI

doremember,wasatMountMill;andasthecartusuallystoppedsometimebeforetheywerereadytoshootoutthemelancholyloadtheyhadinit,assoonasthecartstoppedthefellowawakedandstruggledalittletogethisheadoutfromamongthedeadbodies,when,raisinghimselfupinthecart,hecalledout,"Hey！whereamI？"

Thisfrightedthefellowthatattendedaboutthework;butaftersomepauseJohnHayward,recoveringhimself,said,"Lord,blessus！

There"ssomebodyinthecartnotquitedead！"Soanothercalledtohimandsaid,"Whoareyou？"Thefellowanswered,"Iamthepoorpiper。

WhereamI？""Whereareyou？"saysHayward。"Why,youareinthedead—cart,andwearegoingtoburyyou。""ButIan"tdeadthough,amI？"saysthepiper,whichmadethemlaughalittlethough,asJohnsaid,theywereheartilyfrightedatfirst;sotheyhelpedthepoorfellowdown,andhewentabouthisbusiness。

Iknowthestorygoeshesetuphispipesinthecartandfrightedthebearersandotherssothattheyranaway;butJohnHaywarddidnottellthestoryso,norsayanythingofhispipingatall;butthathewasapoorpiper,andthathewascarriedawayasaboveIamfullysatisfiedofthetruthof。

Itistobenotedherethatthedead—cartsinthecitywerenotconfinedtoparticularparishes,butonecartwentthroughseveralparishes,accordingasthenumberofdeadpresented;norweretheytiedtocarrythedeadtotheirrespectiveparishes,butmanyofthedeadtakenupinthecitywerecarriedtotheburying—groundintheout—partsforwantofroom。

Ihavealreadymentionedthesurprisethatthisjudgementwasatfirstamongthepeople。Imustbeallowedtogivesomeofmyobservationsonthemoreseriousandreligiouspart。Surelynevercity,atleastofthisbulkandmagnitude,wastakeninaconditionsoperfectlyunpreparedforsuchadreadfulvisitation,whetherIamtospeakofthecivilpreparationsorreligious。Theywere,indeed,asiftheyhadhadnowarning,noexpectation,noapprehensions,andconsequentlytheleastprovisionimaginablewasmadeforitinapublicway。Forexample,theLordMayorandsheriffshadmadenoprovisionasmagistratesfortheregulationswhichweretobeobserved。Theyhadgoneintonomeasuresforreliefofthepoor。Thecitizenshadnopublicmagazinesorstorehousesforcornormealforthesubsistenceofthepoor,whichiftheyhadprovidedthemselves,asinsuchcasesisdoneabroad,manymiserablefamilieswhowerenowreducedtotheutmostdistresswouldhavebeenrelieved,andthatinabettermannerthannowcouldbedone。

Thestockofthecity"smoneyIcansaybutlittleto。TheChamberofLondonwassaidtobeexceedinglyrich,anditmaybeconcludedthattheywereso,bythevastofmoneyissuedfromthenceintherebuildingthepublicedificesafterthefireofLondon,andinbuildingnewworks,suchas,forthefirstpart,theGuildhall,BlackwellHall,partofLeadenhall,halftheExchange,theSessionHouse,theCompter,theprisonsofLudgate,Newgate,&c。,severalofthewharfsandstairsandlanding—placesontheriver;allwhichwereeitherburneddownordamagedbythegreatfireofLondon,thenextyearaftertheplague;andofthesecondsort,theMonument,FleetDitchwithitsbridges,andtheHospitalofBethlemorBedlam,&c。Butpossiblythemanagersofthecity"screditatthattimemademoreconscienceofbreakinginupontheorphan"smoneytoshowcharitytothedistressedcitizensthanthemanagersinthefollowingyearsdidtobeautifythecityandre—edifythebuildings;though,inthefirstcase,theloserswouldhavethoughttheirfortunesbetterbestowed,andthepublicfaithofthecityhavebeenlesssubjectedtoscandalandreproach。

Itmustbeacknowledgedthattheabsentcitizens,who,thoughtheywerefledforsafetyintothecountry,wereyetgreatlyinterestedinthewelfareofthosewhomtheyleftbehind,forgotnottocontributeliberallytothereliefofthepoor,andlargesumswerealsocollectedamongtradingtownsintheremotestpartsofEngland;and,asIhaveheardalso,thenobilityandthegentryinallpartsofEnglandtookthedeplorableconditionofthecityintotheirconsideration,andsentuplargesumsofmoneyincharitytotheLordMayorandmagistratesforthereliefofthepoor。Thekingalso,asIwastold,orderedathousandpoundsaweektobedistributedinfourparts:onequartertothecityandlibertyofWestminster;onequarterorpartamongtheinhabitantsoftheSouthwarksideofthewater;onequartertothelibertyandpartswithinofthecity,exclusiveofthecitywithinthewalls;andone—

fourthparttothesuburbsinthecountyofMiddlesex,andtheeastandnorthpartsofthecity。ButthislatterIonlyspeakofasareport。

Certainitis,thegreatestpartofthepoororfamilieswhoformerlylivedbytheirlabour,orbyretailtrade,livednowoncharity;andhadtherenotbeenprodigioussumsofmoneygivenbycharitable,well—

mindedChristiansforthesupportofsuch,thecitycouldneverhavesubsisted。Therewere,noquestion,accountskeptoftheircharity,andofthejustdistributionofitbythemagistrates。Butassuchmultitudesofthoseveryofficersdiedthroughwhosehandsitwasdistributed,andalsothat,asIhavebeentold,mostoftheaccountsofthosethingswerelostinthegreatfirewhichhappenedintheverynextyear,andwhichburnteventhechamberlain"sofficeandmanyoftheirpapers,soIcouldnevercomeattheparticularaccount,whichIusedgreatendeavourstohaveseen。

Itmay,however,beadirectionincaseoftheapproachofalikevisitation,whichGodkeepthecityfrom;—Isay,itmaybeofusetoobservethatbythecareoftheLordMayorandaldermenatthattimeindistributingweeklygreatsumsofmoneyforreliefofthepoor,amultitudeofpeoplewhowouldotherwisehaveperished,wererelieved,andtheirlivespreserved。Andhereletmeenterintoabriefstateofthecaseofthepooratthattime,andwhatwayapprehendedfromthem,fromwhencemaybejudgedhereafterwhatmaybeexpectedifthelikedistressshouldcomeuponthecity。

Atthebeginningoftheplague,whentherewasnownomorehopebutthatthewholecitywouldbevisited;when,asIhavesaid,allthathadfriendsorestatesinthecountryretiredwiththeirfamilies;

andwhen,indeed,onewouldhavethoughttheverycityitselfwasrunningoutofthegates,andthattherewouldbenobodyleftbehind;

youmaybesurefromthathouralltrade,exceptsuchasrelatedtoimmediatesubsistence,was,asitwere,atafullstop。

Thisissolivelyacase,andcontainsinitsomuchoftherealconditionofthepeople,thatIthinkIcannotbetooparticularinit,andthereforeIdescendtotheseveralarrangementsorclassesofpeoplewhofellintoimmediatedistressuponthisoccasion。Forexample:

1。Allmaster—workmeninmanufactures,especiallysuchasbelongedtoornamentandthelessnecessarypartsofthepeople"sdress,clothes,andfurnitureforhouses,suchasriband—weaversandotherweavers,goldandsilverlacemakers,andgoldandsilverwiredrawers,sempstresses,milliners,shoemakers,hatmakers,andglovemakers;

alsoupholsterers,joiners,cabinet—makers,looking—glassmakers,andinnumerabletradeswhichdependuponsuchasthese;—Isay,themaster—workmeninsuchstoppedtheirwork,dismissedtheirjourneymenandworkmen,andalltheirdependents。

2。Asmerchandisingwasatafullstop,forveryfewshipsventuredtocomeuptheriverandnoneatallwentout,soalltheextraordinaryofficersofthecustoms,likewisethewatermen,carmen,porters,andallthepoorwhoselabourdependeduponthemerchants,wereatoncedismissedandputoutofbusiness。

3。Allthetradesmenusuallyemployedinbuildingorrepairingofhouseswereatafullstop,forthepeoplewerefarfromwantingtobuildhouseswhensomanythousandhouseswereatoncestrippedoftheirinhabitants;sothatthisonearticleturnedalltheordinaryworkmenofthatkindoutofbusiness,suchasbricklayers,masons,carpenters,joiners,plasterers,painters,glaziers,smiths,plumbers,andallthelabourersdependingonsuch。

4。Asnavigationwasatastop,ourshipsneithercominginorgoingoutasbefore,sotheseamenwerealloutofemployment,andmanyoftheminthelastandlowestdegreeofdistress;andwiththeseamenwerealltheseveraltradesmenandworkmenbelongingtoanddependinguponthebuildingandfittingoutofships,suchasship—

carpenters,caulkers,ropemakers,drycoopers,sailmakers,anchorsmiths,andothersmiths;blockmakers,carvers,gunsmiths,ship—chandlers,ship—carvers,andthelike。Themastersofthoseperhapsmightliveupontheirsubstance,butthetraderswereuniversallyatastop,andconsequentlyalltheirworkmendischarged。

Addtothesethattheriverwasinamannerwithoutboats,andallormostpartofthewatermen,lightermen,boat—builders,andlighter—

buildersinlikemanneridleandlaidby。

5。Allfamiliesretrenchedtheirlivingasmuchaspossible,aswellthosethatfledasthosethatstayed;sothataninnumerablemultitudeoffootmen,serving—men,shopkeepers,journeymen,merchants"

bookkeepers,andsuchsortofpeople,andespeciallypoormaid—

servants,wereturnedoff,andleftfriendlessandhelpless,withoutemploymentandwithouthabitation,andthiswasreallyadismalarticle。

Imightbemoreparticularastothispart,butitmaysufficetomentioningeneral,alltradesbeingstopped,employmentceased:thelabour,andbythatthebread,ofthepoorwerecutoff;andatfirstindeedthecriesofthepoorweremostlamentabletohear,thoughbythedistributionofcharitytheirmiserythatwaywasgreatlyabated。

Manyindeedfledintothecounties,butthousandsofthemhavingstayedinLondontillnothingbutdesperationsentthemaway,deathovertookthemontheroad,andtheyservedfornobetterthanthemessengersofdeath;indeed,otherscarryingtheinfectionalongwiththem,spreaditveryunhappilyintotheremotestpartsofthekingdom。

ManyofthesewerethemiserableobjectsofdespairwhichIhavementionedbefore,andwereremovedbythedestructionwhichfollowed。Thesemightbesaidtoperishnotbytheinfectionitselfbutbytheconsequenceofit;indeed,namely,byhungeranddistressandthewantofallthings:beingwithoutlodging,withoutmoney,withoutfriends,withoutmeanstogettheirbread,orwithoutanyonetogiveitthem;formanyofthemwerewithoutwhatwecalllegalsettlements,andsocouldnotclaimoftheparishes,andallthesupporttheyhadwasbyapplicationtothemagistratesforrelief,whichreliefwas（togivethemagistratestheirdue）carefullyandcheerfullyadministeredastheyfounditnecessary,andthosethatstayedbehindneverfeltthewantanddistressofthatkindwhichtheyfeltwhowentawayinthemannerabovenoted。

Letanyonewhoisacquaintedwithwhatmultitudesofpeoplegettheirdailybreadinthiscitybytheirlabour,whetherartificersormereworkmen—Isay,letanymanconsiderwhatmustbethemiserableconditionofthistownif,onasudden,theyshouldbeallturnedoutofemployment,thatlabourshouldcease,andwagesforworkbenomore。

Thiswasthecasewithusatthattime;andhadnotthesumsofmoneycontributedincharitybywell—disposedpeopleofeverykind,aswellabroadasathome,beenprodigiouslygreat,ithadnotbeeninthepoweroftheLordMayorandsheriffstohavekeptthepublicpeace。Norweretheywithoutapprehensions,asitwas,thatdesperationshouldpushthepeopleupontumults,andcausethemtoriflethehousesofrichmenandplunderthemarketsofprovisions;inwhichcasethecountrypeople,whobroughtprovisionsveryfreelyandboldlytotown,wouldhavebeenterrifiedfromcominganymore,andthetownwouldhavesunkunderanunavoidablefamine。

ButtheprudenceofmyLordMayorandtheCourtofAldermenwithinthecity,andofthejusticesofpeaceintheout—parts,wassuch,andtheyweresupportedwithmoneyfromallpartssowell,thatthepoorpeoplewerekeptquiet,andtheirwantseverywhererelieved,asfaraswaspossibletobedone。

Twothingsbesidesthiscontributedtopreventthemobdoinganymischief。Onewas,thatreallytherichthemselveshadnotlaidupstoresofprovisionsintheirhousesasindeedtheyoughttohavedone,andwhichiftheyhadbeenwiseenoughtohavedone,andlockedthemselvesentirelyup,assomefewdid,theyhadperhapsescapedthediseasebetter。Butasitappearedtheyhadnot,sothemobhadnonotionoffindingstoresofprovisionsthereiftheyhadbrokenin。asitisplaintheyweresometimesveryneardoing,andwhich:iftheybad,theyhadfinishedtheruinofthewholecity,fortherewerenoregulartroopstohavewithstoodthem,norcouldthetrainedbandshavebeenbroughttogethertodefendthecity,nomenbeingtobefoundtobeararms。

ButthevigilanceoftheLordMayorandsuchmagistratesascouldbehad（forsome,evenofthealdermen,weredead,andsomeabsent）

preventedthis;andtheydiditbythemostkindandgentlemethodstheycouldthinkof,asparticularlybyrelievingthemostdesperatewithmoney,andputtingothersintobusiness,andparticularlythatemploymentofwatchinghousesthatwereinfectedandshutup。Andasthenumberofthesewereverygreat（foritwassaidtherewasatonetimetenthousandhousesshutup,andeveryhousehadtwowatchmentoguardit,viz。,onebynightandtheotherbyday）,thisgaveopportunitytoemployaverygreatnumberofpoormenatatime。

Thewomenandservantsthatwereturnedofffromtheirplaceswerelikewiseemployedasnursestotendthesickinallplaces,andthistookoffaverygreatnumberofthem。

And,whichthoughamelancholyarticleinitself,yetwasadeliveranceinitskind:namely,theplague,whichragedinadreadfulmannerfromthemiddleofAugusttothemiddleofOctober,carriedoffinthattimethirtyorfortythousandoftheseverypeoplewhich,hadtheybeenleft,wouldcertainlyhavebeenaninsufferableburdenbytheirpoverty;thatistosay,thewholecitycouldnothavesupportedtheexpenseofthem,orhaveprovidedfoodforthem;andtheywouldintimehavebeenevendriventothenecessityofplunderingeitherthecityitselforthecountryadjacent,tohavesubsistedthemselves,whichwouldfirstorlasthaveputthewholenation,aswellasthecity,intotheutmostterrorandconfusion。

Itwasobservable,then,thatthiscalamityofthepeoplemadethemveryhumble;fornowforaboutnineweekstogethertherediednearathousandaday,onedaywithanother,evenbytheaccountoftheweeklybills,whichyet,Ihavereasontobeassured,nevergaveafullaccount,bymanythousands;theconfusionbeingsuch,andthecartsworkinginthedarkwhentheycarriedthedead,thatinsomeplacesnoaccountatallwaskept,buttheyworkedon,theclerksandsextonsnotattendingforweekstogether,andnotknowingwhatnumbertheycarried。Thisaccountisverifiedbythefollowingbillsofmortality:—

OfalloftheDiseases。PlagueFromAugust8toAugust1553193880

""15"2255684237

""22"2974966102

""29toSeptember582526988

"September5"1276906544

""12"1982977165

""19"2664605533

""26toOctober357204979

"October3"1050684327

——————————

59,87049,705

Sothatthegrossofthepeoplewerecarriedoffinthesetwomonths;

for,asthewholenumberwhichwasbroughtintodieoftheplaguewasbut68,590,hereis50,000ofthem,withinatrifle,intwomonths;

Isay50,000,because,astherewants295inthenumberabove,sotherewantstwodaysoftwomonthsintheaccountoftime。

NowwhenIsaythattheparishofficersdidnotgiveinafullaccount,orwerenottobedependeduponfortheiraccount,letanyonebutconsiderhowmencouldbeexactinsuchatimeofdreadfuldistress,andwhenmanyofthemweretakensickthemselvesandperhapsdiedintheverytimewhentheiraccountsweretobegivenin;

Imeantheparishclerks,besidesinferiorofficers;forthoughthesepoormenventuredatallhazards,yettheywerefarfrombeingexemptfromthecommoncalamity,especiallyifitbetruethattheparishofStepneyhad,withintheyear,116sextons,gravediggers,andtheirassistants;thatistosay,bearers,bellmen,anddriversofcartsforcarryingoffthedeadbodies。

Indeedtheworkwasnotofanaturetoallowthemleisuretotakeanexacttaleofthedeadbodies,whichwereallhuddledtogetherinthedarkintoapit;whichpitortrenchnomancouldcomenighbutattheutmostperil。IobservedoftenthatintheparishesofAldgateandCripplegate,WhitechappelandStepney,therewerefive,six,seven,andeighthundredinaweekinthebills;whereasifwemaybelievetheopinionofthosethatlivedinthecityallthetimeaswellasI,therediedsometimes2000aweekinthoseparishes;andIsawitunderthehandofonethatmadeasstrictanexaminationintothatpartashecould,thattherereallydiedanhundredthousandpeopleoftheplagueinthatoneyearwhereasinthebills,thearticlesoftheplague,itwasbut68,590。

IfImaybeallowedtogivemyopinion,bywhatIsawwithmyeyesandheardfromotherpeoplethatwereeye—witnesses,Idoverilybelievethesame,viz。,thattherediedatleast100,000oftheplagueonly,besidesotherdistempersandbesidesthosewhichdiedinthefieldsandhighwaysandsecretPlacesoutofthecompassofthecommunication,asitwascalled,andwhowerenotputdowninthebillsthoughtheyreallybelongedtothebodyoftheinhabitants。Itwasknowntousallthatabundanceofpoordespairingcreatureswhohadthedistemperuponthem,andweregrownstupidormelancholybytheirmisery,asmanywere,wanderedawayintothefieldsandWoods,andintosecretuncouthplacesalmostanywhere,tocreepintoabushorhedgeanddie。

Theinhabitantsofthevillagesadjacentwould,inpity,carrythemfoodandsetitatadistance,thattheymightfetchit,iftheywereable;

andsometimestheywerenotable,andthenexttimetheywenttheyshouldfindthepoorwretchesliedeadandthefooduntouched。Thenumberofthesemiserableobjectsweremany,andIknowsomanythatperishedthus,andsoexactlywhere,thatIbelieveIcouldgototheveryplaceanddigtheirbonesupstill;forthecountrypeoplewouldgoanddigaholeatadistancefromthem,andthenwithlongpoles,andhooksattheendofthem,dragthebodiesintothesepits,andthenthrowtheearthinfromasfarastheycouldcastit,tocoverthem,takingnoticehowthewindblew,andsocomingonthatsidewhichtheseamencalltowindward,thatthescentofthebodiesmightblowfromthem;andthusgreatnumberswentoutoftheworldwhowereneverknown,oranyaccountofthemtaken,aswellwithinthebillsofmortalityaswithout。

This,indeed,Ihadinthemainonlyfromtherelationofothers,forI

seldomwalkedintothefields,excepttowardsBethnalGreenandHackney,orashereafter。ButwhenIdidwalk,Ialwayssawagreatmanypoorwanderersatadistance;butIcouldknowlittleoftheircases,forwhetheritwereinthestreetorinthefields,ifwehadseenanybodycoming,itwasageneralmethodtowalkaway;yetIbelievetheaccountisexactlytrue。

Asthisputsmeuponmentioningmywalkingthestreetsandfields,I

cannotomittakingnoticewhatadesolateplacethecitywasatthattime。ThegreatstreetIlivedin（whichisknowntobeoneofthebroadestofallthestreetsofLondon,Imeanofthesuburbsaswellastheliberties）allthesidewherethebutcherslived,especiallywithoutthebars,wasmorelikeagreenfieldthanapavedstreet,andthepeoplegenerallywentinthemiddlewiththehorsesandcarts。ItistruethatthefarthestendtowardsWhitechappelChurchwasnotallpaved,buteventhepartthatwaspavedwasfullofgrassalso;butthisneednotseemstrange,sincethegreatstreetswithinthecity,suchasLeadenhallStreet,BishopsgateStreet,Cornhill,andeventheExchangeitself,hadgrassgrowingintheminseveralplaces;neithercartorcoachwereseeninthestreetsfrommorningtoevening,exceptsomecountrycartstobringrootsandbeans,orpeas,hay,andstraw,tothemarket,andthosebutveryfewcomparedtowhatwasusual。

Asforcoaches,theywerescarceusedbuttocarrysickpeopletothepest—house,andtootherhospitals,andsomefewtocarryphysicianstosuchplacesastheythoughtfittoventuretovisit;forreallycoachesweredangerousthings,andpeopledidnotcaretoventureintothem,becausetheydidnotknowwhomighthavebeencarriedinthemlast,andsick,infectedpeoplewere,asIhavesaid,ordinarilycarriedinthemtothepest—houses,andsometimespeopleexpiredinthemastheywentalong。

Itistrue,whentheinfectioncametosuchaheightasIhavenowmentioned,therewereveryfewphysicianswhichcaredtostirabroadtosickhouses,andverymanyofthemosteminentofthefacultyweredead,aswellasthesurgeonsalso;fornowitwasindeedadismaltime,andforaboutamonthtogether,nottakinganynoticeofthebillsofmortality,Ibelievetheredidnotdielessthan1500or1700aday,onedaywithanother。

Oneoftheworstdayswehadinthewholetime,asIthought,wasinthebeginningofSeptember,when,indeed,goodpeoplebegantothinkthatGodwasresolvedtomakeafullendofthepeopleinthismiserablecity。Thiswasatthattimewhentheplaguewasfullycomeintotheeasternparishes。TheparishofAldgate,ifImaygivemyopinion,buriedaboveathousandaweekfortwoweeks,thoughthebillsdidnotsaysomany;—butitsurroundedmeatsodismalaratethattherewasnotahouseintwentyuninfectedintheMinories,inHoundsditch,andinthosepartsofAldgateparishabouttheButcherRowandthealleysoveragainstme。Isay,inthoseplacesdeathreignedineverycorner。Whitechappelparishwasinthesamecondition,andthoughmuchlessthantheparishIlivedin,yetburiednear600aweekbythebills,andinmyopinionneartwiceasmany。

Wholefamilies,andindeedwholestreetsoffamilies,weresweptawaytogether;insomuchthatitwasfrequentforneighbourstocalltothebellmantogotosuch—and—suchhousesandfetchoutthepeople,forthattheywerealldead。

And,indeed,theworkofremovingthedeadbodiesbycartswasnowgrownsoveryodiousanddangerousthatitwascomplainedofthatthebearersdidnottakecaretodearsuchhouseswherealltheinhabitantsweredead,butthatsometimesthebodieslayseveraldaysunburied,tilltheneighbouringfamilieswereoffendedwiththestench,andconsequentlyinfected;andthisneglectoftheofficerswassuchthatthechurchwardensandconstablesweresummonedtolookafterit,andeventhejusticesoftheHamletswereobligedtoventuretheirlivesamongthemtoquickenandencouragethem,forinnumerableofthebearersdiedofthedistemper,infectedbythebodiestheywereobligedtocomesonear。Andhaditnotbeenthatthenumberofpoorpeoplewhowantedemploymentandwantedbread（asIhavesaidbefore）wassogreatthatnecessitydrovethemtoundertakeanythingandventureanything,theywouldneverhavefoundpeopletobeemployed。Andthenthebodiesofthedeadwouldhavelainaboveground,andhaveperishedandrottedinadreadfulmanner。

Butthemagistratescannotbeenoughcommendedinthis,thattheykeptsuchgoodorderfortheburyingofthedead,thatasfastasanyofthesetheyemployedtocarryoffandburythedeadfellsickordied,aswasmanytimesthecase,theyimmediatelysuppliedtheplaceswithothers,which,byreasonofthegreatnumberofpoorthatwasleftoutofbusiness,asabove,wasnothardtodo。Thisoccasioned,thatnotwithstandingtheinfinitenumberofpeoplewhichdiedandweresick,almostalltogether,yettheywerealwaysclearedawayandcarriedoffeverynight,sothatitwasnevertobesaidofLondonthatthelivingwerenotabletoburythedead。

Asthedesolationwasgreaterduringthoseterribletimes,sotheamazementofthepeopleincreased,andathousandunaccountablethingstheywoulddointheviolenceoftheirfright,asothersdidthesameintheagoniesoftheirdistemper,andthispartwasveryaffecting。Somewentroaringandcryingandwringingtheirhandsalongthestreet;somewouldgoprayingandliftinguptheirhandstoheaven,callinguponGodformercy。Icannotsay,indeed,whetherthiswasnotintheirdistraction,but,beitso,itwasstillanindicationofamoreseriousmind,whentheyhadtheuseoftheirsenses,andwasmuchbetter,evenasitwas,thanthefrightfulyellingsandcryingsthateveryday,andespeciallyintheevenings,wereheardinsomestreets。IsupposetheworldhasheardofthefamousSolomonEagle,anenthusiast。He,thoughnotinfectedatallbutinhishead,wentaboutdenouncingofjudgementuponthecityinafrightfulmanner,sometimesquitenaked,andwithapanofburningcharcoalonhishead。Whathesaid,orpretended,indeedIcouldnotlearn。

Iwillnotsaywhetherthatclergymanwasdistractedornot,orwhetherhediditinpurezealforthepoorpeople,whowenteveryeveningthroughthestreetsofWhitechappel,and,withhishandsliftedup,repeatedthatpartoftheLiturgyoftheChurchcontinually,"Spareus,goodLord;spareThypeople,whomThouhasredeemedwithThymostpreciousblood。"Isay,Icannotspeakpositivelyofthesethings,becausethesewereonlythedismalobjectswhichrepresentedthemselvestomeasIlookedthroughmychamberwindows（forI

seldomopenedthecasements）,whileIconfinedmyselfwithindoorsduringthatmostviolentragingofthepestilence;when,indeed,asI

havesaid,manybegantothink,andeventosay,thattherewouldnoneescape;andindeedIbegantothinksotoo,andthereforekeptwithindoorsforaboutafortnightandneverstirredout。ButIcouldnotholdit。Besides,thereweresomepeoplewho,notwithstandingthedanger,didnotomitpubliclytoattendtheworshipofGod,eveninthemostdangeroustimes;andthoughitistruethatagreatmanyclergymendidshutuptheirchurches,andfled,asotherpeopledid,forthesafetyoftheirlives,yetalldidnotdoso。Someventuredtoofficiateandtokeepuptheassembliesofthepeoplebyconstantprayers,andsometimessermonsorbriefexhortationstorepentanceandreformation,andthisaslongasanywouldcometohearthem。