第10章

FromJanuary3toJanuary107113

""10"178611

""17"249515

""24"31329

""31toFebruary7338

"February7"146211

""14"215213

""21"282210

""28toMarch75110

——————————

4824100

FromAugust1toAugust825511

""8"152368

""15"222844

""22"2940610

""29toSeptember538211

September5"123923……

""12"1942517

""19"2642610

""26toOctober31449

————————

2916180

Tothedisparityofthesenumbersitistobeconsideredandallowedfor,thataccordingtoourusualopinionwhowerethenuponthespot,therewerenotone—thirdofthepeopleinthetownduringthemonthsofAugustandSeptemberaswereinthemonthsofJanuaryandFebruary。Inaword,theusualnumberthatusedtodieofthesethreearticles,and,asIhear,diddieofthemtheyearbefore,wasthus:—

1664。1665。

Child—bed189Child—bed625

Abortiveandstill—born458Abortiveandstill—born617

————————

6471242

Thisinequality,Isay,isexceedinglyaugmentedwhenthenumbersofpeopleareconsidered。Ipretendnottomakeanyexactcalculationofthenumbersofpeoplewhichwereatthistimeinthecity,butI

shallmakeaprobableconjectureatthatpartby—and—by。WhatIhavesaidnowistoexplainthemiseryofthosepoorcreaturesabove;sothatitmightwellbesaid,asintheScripture,Woebetothosewhoarewithchild,andtothosewhichgivesuckinthatday。For,indeed,itwasawoetotheminparticular。

Iwasnotconversantinmanyparticularfamilieswherethesethingshappened,buttheoutcriesofthemiserablewereheardafaroff。Astothosewhowerewithchild,wehaveseensomecalculationmade;291

womendeadinchild—bedinnineweeks,outofone—thirdpartofthenumberofwhomthereusuallydiedinthattimebuteighty—fourofthesamedisaster。Letthereadercalculatetheproportion。

Thereisnoroomtodoubtbutthemiseryofthosethatgavesuckwasinproportionasgreat。Ourbillsofmortalitycouldgivebutlittlelightinthis,yetsomeitdid。Therewereseveralmorethanusualstarvedatnurse,butthiswasnothing。Themiserywaswheretheywere,first,starvedforwantofanurse,themotherdyingandallthefamilyandtheinfantsfounddeadbythem,merelyforwant;and,ifI

mayspeakmyopinion,Idobelievethatmanyhundredsofpoorhelplessinfantsperishedinthismanner。Secondly,notstarved,butpoisonedbythenurse。Nay,evenwherethemotherhasbeennurse,andhavingreceivedtheinfection,haspoisoned,thatis,infectedtheinfantwithhermilkevenbeforetheyknewtheywereinfectedthemselves;nay,andtheinfanthasdiedinsuchacasebeforethemother。Icannotbutremembertoleavethisadmonitionuponrecord,ifeversuchanotherdreadfulvisitationshouldhappeninthiscity,thatallwomenthatarewithchildorthatgivesuckshouldbegone,iftheyhaveanypossiblemeans,outoftheplace,becausetheirmisery,ifinfected,willsomuchexceedallotherpeople"s。

Icouldtellheredismalstoriesoflivinginfantsbeingfoundsuckingthebreastsoftheirmothers,ornurses,aftertheyhavebeendeadoftheplague。OfamotherintheparishwhereIlived,who,havingachildthatwasnotwell,sentforanapothecarytoviewthechild;andwhenhecame,astherelationgoes,wasgivingthechildsuckatherbreast,andtoallappearancewasherselfverywell;butwhentheapothecarycameclosetoherhesawthetokensuponthatbreastwithwhichshewassucklingthechild。Hewassurprisedenough,tobesure,but,notwillingtofrightthepoorwomantoomuch,hedesiredshewouldgivethechildintohishand;sohetakesthechild,andgoingtoacradleintheroom,laysitin,andopeningitscloths,foundthetokensuponthechildtoo,andbothdiedbeforehecouldgethometosendapreventivemedicinetothefatherofthechild,towhomhehadtoldtheircondition。Whetherthechildinfectedthenurse—motherorthemotherthechildwasnotcertain,butthelastmostlikely。

Likewiseofachildbroughthometotheparentsfromanursethathaddiedoftheplague,yetthetendermotherwouldnotrefusetotakeinherchild,andlaiditinherbosom,bywhichshewasinfected;anddiedwiththechildinherarmsdeadalso。

Itwouldmakethehardestheartmoveattheinstancesthatwerefrequentlyfoundoftendermotherstendingandwatchingwiththeirdearchildren,andevendyingbeforethem,andsometimestakingthedistemperfromthemanddying,whenthechildforwhomtheaffectionatehearthadbeensacrificedhasgotoveritandescaped。

ThelikeofatradesmaninEastSmithfield,whosewifewasbigwithchildofherfirstchild,andfellinlabour,havingtheplagueuponher。

Hecouldneithergetmidwifetoassistherornursetotendher,andtwoservantswhichhekeptfledbothfromher。Heranfromhousetohouselikeonedistracted,butcouldgetnohelp;theutmosthecouldgetwas,thatawatchman,whoattendedataninfectedhouseshutup,promisedtosendanurseinthemorning。Thepoorman,withhisheartbroke,wentback,assistedhiswifewhathecould,actedthepartofthemidwife,broughtthechilddeadintotheworld,andhiswifeinaboutanhourdiedinhisarms,whereheheldherdeadbodyfasttillthemorning,whenthewatchmancameandbroughtthenurseashehadpromised;andcomingupthestairs（forhehadleftthedooropen,oronlylatched）,theyfoundthemansittingwithhisdeadwifeinhisarms,andsooverwhelmedwithgriefthathediedinafewhoursafterwithoutanysignoftheinfectionuponhim,butmerelysunkundertheweightofhisgrief。

Ihaveheardalsoofsomewho,onthedeathoftheirrelations,havegrownstupidwiththeinsupportablesorrow;andofone,inparticular,whowassoabsolutelyovercomewiththepressureuponhisspiritsthatbydegreeshisheadsankintohisbody,sobetweenhisshouldersthatthecrownofhisheadwasverylittleseenabovetheboneofhisshoulders;andbydegreeslosingbothvoiceandsense,hisface,lookingforward,layagainsthiscollarboneandcouldnotbekeptupanyotherwise,unlessheldupbythehandsofotherpeople;andthepoormannevercametohimselfagain,butlanguishednearayearinthatcondition,anddied。Norwasheeveronceseentoliftuphiseyesortolookuponanyparticularobject。

Icannotundertaketogiveanyotherthanasummaryofsuchpassagesasthese,becauseitwasnotpossibletocomeattheparticulars,wheresometimesthewholefamilieswheresuchthingshappenedwerecarriedoffbythedistemper。Buttherewereinnumerablecasesofthiskindwhichpresentedtotheeyeandtheear,eveninpassingalongthestreets,asIhavehintedabove。Norisiteasytogiveanystoryofthisorthatfamilywhichtherewasnotdiversparallelstoriestobemetwithofthesamekind。

ButasIamnowtalkingofthetimewhentheplagueragedattheeasternmostpartofthetown—howforalongtimethepeopleofthosepartshadflatteredthemselvesthattheyshouldescape,andhowtheyweresurprisedwhenitcameuponthemasitdid;for,indeed,itcameuponthemlikeanarmedmanwhenitdidcome;—Isay,thisbringsmebacktothethreepoormenwhowanderedfromWapping,notknowingwhithertogoorwhattodo,andwhomImentionedbefore;

oneabiscuit—baker,oneasailmaker,andtheotherajoiner,allofWapping,orthere—abouts。

Thesleepinessandsecurityofthatpart,asIhaveobserved,wassuchthattheynotonlydidnotshiftforthemselvesasothersdid,buttheyboastedofbeingsafe,andofsafetybeingwiththem;andmanypeoplefledoutofthecity,andoutoftheinfectedsuburbs,toWapping,Ratcliff,Limehouse,Poplar,andsuchPlaces,astoPlacesofsecurity;anditisnotatallunlikelythattheirdoingthishelpedtobringtheplaguethatwayfasterthanitmightotherwisehavecome。

ForthoughIammuchforpeopleflyingawayandemptyingsuchatownasthisuponthefirstappearanceofalikevisitation,andthatallpeoplewhohaveanypossibleretreatshouldmakeuseofitintimeandbegone,yetImustsay,whenallthatwillflyaregone,thosethatareleftandmuststanditshouldstandstock—stillwheretheyare,andnotshiftfromoneendofthetownoronepartofthetowntotheother;

forthatisthebaneandmischiefofthewhole,andtheycarrytheplaguefromhousetohouseintheirveryclothes。

Whereforewereweorderedtokillallthedogsandcats,butbecauseastheyweredomesticanimals,andareapttorunfromhousetohouseandfromstreettostreet,sotheyarecapableofcarryingtheeffluviaorinfectiousstreamsofbodiesinfectedevenintheirfursandhair？Andthereforeitwasthat,inthebeginningoftheinfection,anorderwaspublishedbytheLordMayor,andbythemagistrates,accordingtotheadviceofthephysicians,thatallthedogsandcatsshouldbeimmediatelykilled,andanofficerwasappointedfortheexecution。

Itisincredible,iftheiraccountistobedependedupon,whataprodigiousnumberofthosecreaturesweredestroyed。Ithinktheytalkedoffortythousanddogs,andfivetimesasmanycats;fewhousesbeingwithoutacat,somehavingseveral,sometimesfiveorsixinahouse。Allpossibleendeavourswereusedalsotodestroythemiceandrats,especiallythelatter,bylayingratsbaneandotherpoisonsforthem,andaprodigiousmultitudeofthemwerealsodestroyed。

Ioftenreflectedupontheunprovidedconditionthatthewholebodyofthepeoplewereinatthefirstcomingofthiscalamityuponthem,andhowitwasforwantoftimelyenteringintomeasuresandmanagements,aswellpublicasprivate,thatalltheconfusionsthatfollowedwerebroughtuponus,andthatsuchaprodigiousnumberofpeoplesankinthatdisaster,which,ifproperstepshadbeentaken,might,Providenceconcurring,havebeenavoided,andwhich,ifposteritythinkfit,theymaytakeacautionandwarningfrom。ButI

shallcometothispartagain。

Icomebacktomythreemen。Theirstoryhasamoralineverypartofit,andtheirwholeconduct,andthatofsomewhomtheyjoinedwith,isapatternforallpoormentofollow,orwomeneither,ifeversuchatimecomesagain;andiftherewasnootherendinrecordingit,Ithinkthisaveryjustone,whethermyaccountbeexactlyaccordingtofactorno。

Twoofthemaresaidtobebrothers,theoneanoldsoldier,butnowabiscuit—maker;theotheralamesailor,butnowasailmaker;thethirdajoiner。SaysJohnthebiscuit—makeronedaytoThomashisbrother,thesailmaker,"BrotherTom,whatwillbecomeofus？Theplaguegrowshotinthecity,andincreasesthisway。Whatshallwedo？"

"Truly,"saysThomas,"Iamatagreatlosswhattodo,forIfindifitcomesdownintoWappingIshallbeturnedoutofmylodging。"Andthustheybegantotalkofitbeforehand。

John。Turnedoutofyourlodging,TomIIfyouare,Idon"tknowwhowilltakeyouin;forpeoplearesoafraidofoneanothernow,there"snogettingalodginganywhere。

Thomas。Why,thepeoplewhereIlodgearegood,civilpeople,andhavekindnessenoughformetoo;buttheysayIgoabroadeverydaytomywork,anditwillbedangerous;andtheytalkoflockingthemselvesupandlettingnobodycomenearthem。

John。Why,theyareintheright,tobesure,iftheyresolvetoventurestayingintown。

Thomas。Nay,Imightevenresolvetostaywithindoorstoo,for,exceptasuitofsailsthatmymasterhasinhand,andwhichIamjustfinishing,Iamliketogetnomoreworkagreatwhile。There"snotradestirsnow。Workmenandservantsareturnedoffeverywhere,sothatImightbegladtobelockeduptoo;butIdonotseetheywillbewillingtoconsenttothat,anymorethantotheother。

John。Why,whatwillyoudothen,brother？AndwhatshallIdo？

forIamalmostasbadasyou。ThepeoplewhereIlodgeareallgoneintothecountrybutamaid,andsheistogonextweek,andtoshutthehousequiteup,sothatIshallbeturnedadrifttothewideworldbeforeyou,andIamresolvedtogoawaytoo,ifIknewbutwheretogo。

Thomas。Wewerebothdistractedwedidnotgoawayatfirst;thenwemighthavetravelledanywhere。There"snostirringnow;weshallbestarvedifwepretendtogooutoftown。Theywon"tletushavevictuals,no,notforourmoney,norletuscomeintothetowns,muchlessintotheirhouses。

John。Andthatwhichisalmostasbad,Ihavebutlittlemoneytohelpmyselfwithneither。

Thomas。Astothat,wemightmakeshift,Ihavealittle,thoughnotmuch;butItellyouthere"snostirringontheroad。Iknowacoupleofpoorhonestmeninourstreethaveattemptedtotravel,andatBarnet,orWhetstone,orthereabouts,thepeopleofferedtofireatthemiftheypretendedtogoforward,sotheyarecomebackagainquitediscouraged。

John。IwouldhaveventuredtheirfireifIhadbeenthere。IfIhadbeendeniedfoodformymoneytheyshouldhaveseenmetakeitbeforetheirfaces,andifIhadtenderedmoneyforittheycouldnothavetakenanycoursewithmebylaw。

Thomas。Youtalkyouroldsoldier"slanguage,asifyouwereintheLowCountriesnow,butthisisaseriousthing。Thepeoplehavegoodreasontokeepanybodyoffthattheyarenotsatisfiedaresound,atsuchatimeasthis,andwemustnotplunderthem。

John。No,brother,youmistakethecase,andmistakemetoo。I

wouldplundernobody;butforanytownupontheroadtodenymeleavetopassthroughthetownintheopenhighway,anddenymeprovisionsformymoney,istosaythetownhasarighttostarvemetodeath,whichcannotbetrue。

Thomas。Buttheydonotdenyyoulibertytogobackagainfromwhenceyoucame,andthereforetheydonotstarveyou。

John。Butthenexttownbehindmewill,bythesamerule,denymeleavetogoback,andsotheydostarvemebetweenthem。Besides,thereisnolawtoprohibitmytravellingwhereverIwillontheroad。

Thomas。Buttherewillbesomuchdifficultyindisputingwiththemateverytownontheroadthatitisnotforpoormentodoitorundertakeit,atsuchatimeasthisisespecially。

John。Why,brother,ourconditionatthisrateisworsethananybodyelse"s,forwecanneithergoawaynorstayhere。IamofthesamemindwiththelepersofSamaria:"Ifwestayherewearesuretodie",I

meanespeciallyasyouandIarestated,withoutadwelling—houseofourown,andwithoutlodginginanybodyelse"s。Thereisnolyinginthestreetatsuchatimeasthis;wehadasgoodgointothedead—cartatonce。ThereforeIsay,ifwestayherewearesuretodie,andifwegoawaywecanbutdie;Iamresolvedtobegone。

Thomas。Youwillgoaway。Whitherwillyougo,andwhatcanyoudo？Iwouldaswillinglygoawayasyou,ifIknewwhither。Butwehavenoacquaintance,nofriends。Herewewereborn,andherewemustdie。

John。Lookyou,Tom,thewholekingdomismynativecountryaswellasthistown。YoumayaswellsayImustnotgooutofmyhouseifitisonfireasthatImustnotgooutofthetownIwasborninwhenitisinfectedwiththeplague。IwasborninEngland,andhavearighttoliveinitifIcan。

Thomas。ButyouknoweveryvagrantpersonmaybythelawsofEnglandbetakenup,andpassedbacktotheirlastlegalsettlement。

John。Buthowshalltheymakemevagrant？Idesireonlytotravelon,uponmylawfuloccasions。

Thomas。Whatlawfuloccasionscanwepretendtotravel,orratherwanderupon？Theywillnotbeputoffwithwords。

John。Isnotflyingtosaveourlivesalawfuloccasion？

Anddotheynotallknowthatthefactistrue？

Wecannotbesaidtodissemble。

Thomas。Butsupposetheyletuspass,whithershallwego？

John。Anywhere,tosaveourlives;itistimeenoughtoconsiderthatwhenwearegotoutofthistown。IfIamonceoutofthisdreadfulplace,IcarenotwhereIgo。

Thomas。Weshallbedriventogreatextremities。Iknownotwhattothinkofit。

John。Well,Tom,considerofitalittle。

ThiswasaboutthebeginningofJuly;andthoughtheplaguewascomeforwardinthewestandnorthpartsofthetown,yetallWapping,asIhaveobservedbefore,andRedriff,andRatdiff,andLimehouse,andPoplar,inshort,DeptfordandGreenwich,allbothsidesoftheriverfromtheHermitage,andfromoveragainstit,quitedowntoBlackwall,wasentirelyfree;therehadnotonepersondiedoftheplagueinallStepneyparish,andnotoneonthesouthsideofWhitechappelRoad,no,notinanyparish;andyettheweeklybillwasthatveryweekrisenupto1006。

Itwasafortnightafterthisbeforethetwobrothersmetagain,andthenthecasewasalittlealtered,andthe"plaguewasexceedinglyadvancedandthenumbergreatlyincreased;thebillwasupat2785,andprodigiouslyincreasing,thoughstillbothsidesoftheriver,asbelow,keptprettywell。ButsomebegantodieinRedriff,andaboutfiveorsixinRatdiffHighway,whenthesailmakercametohisbrotherJohnexpress,andinsomefright;forhewasabsolutelywarnedoutofhislodging,andhadonlyaweektoprovidehimself。

HisbrotherJohnwasinasbadacase,forhewasquiteout,andhadonlybeggedleaveofhismaster,thebiscuit—maker,tolodgeinanouthousebelongingtohisworkhouse,whereheonlylayuponstraw,withsomebiscuit—sacks,orbread—sacks,astheycalledthem,laiduponit,andsomeofthesamesackstocoverhim。

Heretheyresolved（seeingallemploymentbeingatanend,andnoworkorwagestobehad）,theywouldmakethebestoftheirwaytogetoutofthereachofthedreadfulinfection,and,beingasgoodhusbandsastheycould,wouldendeavourtoliveuponwhattheyhadaslongasitwouldlast,andthenworkformoreiftheycouldgetworkanywhere,ofanykind,letitbewhatitwould。

Whiletheywereconsideringtoputthisresolutioninpracticeinthebestmannertheycould,thethirdman,whowasacquaintedverywellwiththesailmaker,cametoknowofthedesign,andgotleavetobeoneofthenumber;andthustheypreparedtosetout。

Ithappenedthattheyhadnotanequalshareofmoney;butasthesailmaker,whohadthebeststock,was,besideshisbeinglame,themostunfittoexpecttogetanythingbyworkinginthecountry,sohewascontentthatwhatmoneytheyhadshouldallgointoonepublicstock,onconditionthatwhateveranyoneofthemcouldgainmorethananother,itshouldwithoutanygrudgingbealladdedtothepublicstock。

Theyresolvedtoloadthemselveswithaslittlebaggageaspossiblebecausetheyresolvedatfirsttotravelonfoot,andtogoagreatwaythattheymight,ifpossible,beeffectuallysafe;andagreatmanyconsultationstheyhadwiththemselvesbeforetheycouldagreeaboutwhatwaytheyshouldtravel,whichtheyweresofarfromadjustingthateventothemorningtheysetouttheywerenotresolvedonit。

Atlasttheseamanputinahintthatdeterminedit。"First,"sayshe,"theweatherisveryhot,andthereforeIamfortravellingnorth,thatwemaynothavethesunuponourfacesandbeatingonourbreasts,whichwillheatandsuffocateus;andIhavebeentold",sayshe,"thatitisnotgoodtooverheatourbloodatatimewhen,foraughtweknow,theinfectionmaybeintheveryair。Inthenextplace,"sayshe,"Iamforgoingthewaythatmaybecontrarytothewind,asitmayblowwhenwesetout,thatwemaynothavethewindblowtheairofthecityonourbacksaswego。"Thesetwocautionswereapprovedof,ifitcouldbebroughtsotohitthatthewindmightnotbeinthesouthwhentheysetouttogonorth。

Johnthebaker,whobadbeenasoldier,thenputinhisopinion。

"First,"sayshe,"wenoneofusexpecttogetanylodgingontheroad,anditwillbealittletoohardtoliejustintheopenair。Thoughitbewarmweather,yetitmaybewetanddamp,andwehaveadoublereasontotakecareofourhealthsatsuchatimeasthis;andtherefore,"

sayshe,"you,brotherTom,thatareasailmaker,mighteasilymakeusalittletent,andIwillundertaketosetitupeverynight,andtakeitdown,andafigforalltheinnsinEngland;ifwehaveagoodtentoverourheadsweshalldowellenough。"

Thejoineropposedthis,andtoldthem,letthemleavethattohim;

hewouldundertaketobuildthemahouseeverynightwithhishatchetandmallet,thoughhehadnoothertools,whichshouldbefullytotheirsatisfaction,andasgoodasatent。

Thesoldierandthejoinerdisputedthatpointsometime,butatlastthesoldiercarrieditforatent。Theonlyobjectionagainstitwas,thatitmustbecarriedwiththem,andthatwouldincreasetheirbaggagetoomuch,theweatherbeinghot;butthesailmakerhadapieceofgoodhapfellinwhichmadethateasy,forhismasterwhomheworkedfor,havingarope—walkaswellassailmakingtrade,hadalittle,poorhorsethathemadenouseofthen;andbeingwillingtoassistthethreehonestmen,hegavethemthehorseforthecarryingtheirbaggage;alsoforasmallmatterofthreedays"workthathismandidforhimbeforehewent,helethimhaveanoldtop—gallantsailthatwaswornout,butwassufficientandmorethanenoughtomakeaverygoodtent。Thesoldiershowedhowtoshapeit,andtheysoonbyhisdirectionmadetheirtent,andfitteditwithpolesorstavesforthepurpose;andthustheywerefurnishedfortheirjourney,viz。,threemen,onetent,onehorse,onegun—forthesoldierwouldnotgowithoutarms,fornowhesaidhewasnomoreabiscuit—baker,butatrooper。

Thejoinerhadasmallbagoftoolssuchasmightbeusefulifheshouldgetanyworkabroad,aswellfortheirsubsistenceashisown。

Whatmoneytheyhadtheybroughtallintoonepublicstock,andthustheybegantheirjourney。Itseemsthatinthemorningwhentheysetoutthewindblew,asthesailorsaid,byhispocket—compass,atN。W。

byW。Sotheydirected,orratherresolvedtodirect,theircourseN。W。

Butthenadifficultycameintheirway,that,astheysetoutfromthehitherendofWapping,neartheHermitage,andthattheplaguewasnowveryviolent,especiallyonthenorthsideofthecity,asinShoreditchandCripplegateparish,theydidnotthinkitsafeforthemtogonearthoseparts;sotheywentawayeastthroughRatcliffHighwayasfarasRatcliffCross,andleavingStepneyChurchstillontheirlefthand,beingafraidtocomeupfromRatcliffCrosstoMileEnd,becausetheymustcomejustbythechurchyard,andbecausethewind,thatseemedtoblowmorefromthewest,blewdirectlyfromthesideofthecitywheretheplaguewashottest。So,Isay,leavingStepneytheyfetchedalongcompass,andgoingtoPoplarandBromley,cameintothegreatroadjustatBow。

HerethewatchplaceduponBowBridgewouldhavequestionedthem,butthey,crossingtheroadintoanarrowwaythatturnsoutofthehitherendofthetownofBowtoOldFord,avoidedanyinquirythere,andtravelledtoOldFord。Theconstableseverywherewereupontheirguardnotsomuch,Itseems,tostoppeoplepassingbyastostopthemfromtakinguptheirabodeintheirtowns,andwithalbecauseofareportthatwasnewlyraisedatthattime:andthat,indeed,wasnotveryimprobable,viz。,thatthepoorpeopleinLondon,beingdistressedandstarvedforwantofwork,andbythatmeansforwantofbread,wereupinarmsandhadraisedatumult,andthattheywouldcomeouttoallthetownsroundtoplunderforbread。This,I

say,wasonlyarumour,anditwasverywellitwasnomore。Butitwasnotsofarofffrombeingarealityasithasbeenthought,forinafewweeksmorethepoorpeoplebecamesodesperatebythecalamitytheysufferedthattheywerewithgreatdifficultykeptfromgoutintothefieldsandtowns,andtearingallinpieceswherevertheycame;

and,asIhaveobservedbefore,nothinghinderedthembutthattheplagueragedsoviolentlyandfellinuponthemsofuriouslythattheyratherwenttothegravebythousandsthanintothefieldsinmobsbythousands;for,inthepartsabouttheparishesofStSepulcher,Clarkenwell,Cripplegate,Bishopsgate,andShoreditch,whichweretheplaceswherethemobbegantothreaten,thedistempercameonsofuriouslythattherediedinthosefewparisheseventhen,beforetheplaguewascometoitsheight,nolessthan5361peopleinthefirstthreeweeksinAugust;whenatthesametimethepartsaboutWapping,Radcliffe,andRotherhithwere,asbeforedescribed,hardlytouched,orbutverylightly;sothatinawordthough,asIsaidbefore,thegoodmanagementoftheLordMayorandjusticesdidmuchtopreventtherageanddesperationofthepeoplefrombreakingoutinrabblesandtumults,andinshortfromthepoorplunderingtherich,—I

say,thoughtheydidmuch,thedead—cartsdidmore:forasIhavesaidthatinfiveparishesonlytherediedabove5000intwentydays,sotheremightbeprobablythreetimesthatnumbersickallthattime;forsomerecovered,andgreatnumbersfellsickeverydayanddiedafterwards。Besides,Imuststillbeallowedtosaythatifthebillsofmortalitysaidfivethousand,Ialwaysbelieveditwasneartwiceasmanyinreality,therebeingnoroomtobelievethattheaccounttheygavewasright,orthatindeedtheywereamongsuchconfusionsasI

sawthemin,inanyconditiontokeepanexactaccount。