第11章

Buttoreturntomytravellers。Heretheywereonlyexamined,andastheyseemedrathercomingfromthecountrythanfromthecity,theyfoundthepeopletheeasierwiththem;thattheytalkedtothem,letthemcomeintoapublic—housewheretheconstableandhiswarderswere,andgavethemdrinkandsomevictualswhichgreatlyrefreshedandencouragedthem;andhereitcameintotheirheadstosay,whentheyshouldbeinquiredofafterwards,notthattheycamefromLondon,butthattheycameoutofEssex。

Toforwardthislittlefraud,theyobtainedsomuchfavouroftheconstableatOldFordastogivethemacertificateoftheirpassingfromEssexthroughthatvillage,andthattheyhadnotbeenatLondon;

which,thoughfalseinthecommonacceptanceofLondoninthecounty,yetwasliterallytrue,WappingorRatcliffbeingnoparteitherofthecityorliberty。

ThiscertificatedirectedtothenextconstablethatwasatHomerton,oneofthehamletsoftheparishofHackney,wassoserviceabletothemthatitprocuredthem,notafreepassagethereonly,butafullcertificateofhealthfromajusticeofthepeace,whoupontheconstable"sapplicationgranteditwithoutmuchdifficulty;andthustheypassedthroughthelongdividedtownofHackney（foritlaytheninseveralseparatedhamlets）,andtravelledontilltheycameintothegreatnorthroadonthetopofStamfordHill。

Bythistimetheybegantobeweary,andsointheback—roadfromHackney,alittlebeforeitopenedintothesaidgreatroad,theyresolvedtosetuptheirtentandencampforthefirstnight,whichtheydidaccordingly,withthisaddition,thatfindingabarn,orabuildinglikeabarn,andfirstsearchingaswellastheycouldtobesuretherewasnobodyinit,theysetuptheirtent,withtheheadofitagainstthebarn。Thistheydidalsobecausethewindblewthatnightveryhigh,andtheywerebutyoungatsuchawayoflodging,aswellasatthemanagingtheirtent。

Heretheywenttosleep;butthejoiner,agraveandsoberman,andnotpleasedwiththeirlyingatthislooseratethefirstnight,couldnotsleep,andresolved,aftertryingtosleeptonopurpose,thathewouldgetout,and,takingtheguninhishand,standsentinelandguardhiscompanions。Sowiththeguninhishand,hewalkedtoandagainbeforethebarn,forthatstoodinthefieldneartheroad,butwithinthehedge。Hehadnotbeenlonguponthescoutbutheheardanoiseofpeoplecomingon,asifithadbeenagreatnumber,andtheycameon,ashethought,directlytowardsthebarn。Hedidnotpresentlyawakehiscompanions;butinafewminutesmore,theirnoisegrowinglouderandlouder,thebiscuit—bakercalledtohimandaskedhimwhatwasthematter,andquicklystartedouttoo。Theother,beingthelamesailmakerandmostweary,laystillinthetent。

Astheyexpected,sothepeoplewhomtheyhadheardcameondirectlytothebarn,whenoneofourtravellerschallenged,likesoldiersupontheguard,with"Whocomesthere？"Thepeopledidnotanswerimmediately,butoneofthemspeakingtoanotherthatwasbehindhim,"AlasIalasIwearealldisappointed,"sayshe。"Herearesomepeoplebeforeus;thebarnistakenup。"

Theyallstoppeduponthat,asundersomesurprise,anditseemstherewasaboutthirteenoftheminall,andsomewomenamongthem。

Theyconsultedtogetherwhattheyshoulddo,andbytheirdiscourseourtravellerssoonfoundtheywerepoor,distressedpeopletoo,likethemselves,seekingshelterandsafety;andbesides,ourtravellershadnoneedtobeafraidoftheircominguptodisturbthem,forassoonas—

theyheardthewords,"Whocomesthere？"thesecouldhearthewomensay,asiffrighted,"Donotgonearthem。Howdoyouknowbuttheymayhavetheplague？"Andwhenoneofthemensaid,"Letusbutspeaktothem",thewomensaid,"No,don"tbyanymeans。WehaveescapedthusfarbythegoodnessofGod;donotletusrunintodangernow,webeseechyou。"

Ourtravellersfoundbythisthattheywereagood,sobersortofpeople,andflyingfortheirlives,astheywere;and,astheywereencouragedbyit,soJohnsaidtothejoiner,hiscomrade,"Letusencouragethemtooasmuchaswecan";sohecalledtothem,"Harkye,goodpeople,"saysthejoiner,"wefindbyyourtalkthatyouareflyingfromthesamedreadfulenemyasweare。Donotbeafraidofus;weareonlythreepoormenofus。Ifyouarefreefromthedistemperyoushallnotbehurtbyus。Wearenotinthebarn,butinalittletenthereintheoutside,andwewillremoveforyou;wecansetupourtentagainimmediatelyanywhereelse";anduponthisaparleybeganbetweenthejoiner,whosenamewasRichard,andoneoftheirmen,whosaidhisnamewasFord。

Ford。Anddoyouassureusthatyouareallsoundmen？

Richard。Nay,weareconcernedtotellyouofit,thatyoumaynotbeuneasyorthinkyourselvesindanger;butyouseewedonotdesireyoushouldputyourselvesintoanydanger,andthereforeItellyouthatwehavenotmadeuseofthebarn,sowewillremovefromit,thatyoumaybesafeandwealso。

Ford。Thatisverykindandcharitable;butifwehavereasontobesatisfiedthatyouaresoundandfreefromthevisitation,whyshouldwemakeyouremovenowyouaresettledinyourlodging,and,itmaybe,arelaiddowntorest？Wewillgointothebarn,ifyouplease,torestourselvesawhile,andweneednotdisturbyou。

Richard。Well,butyouaremorethanweare。Ihopeyouwillassureusthatyouareallofyousoundtoo,forthedangerisasgreatfromyoutousasfromustoyou。

Ford。BlessedbeGodthatsomedoescape,thoughitisbutfew;

whatmaybeourportionstillweknownot,buthithertowearepreserved。

Richard。Whatpartofthetowndoyoucomefrom？Wastheplaguecometotheplaceswhereyoulived？

Ford。Ay,ay,inamostfrightfulandterriblemanner,orelsewehadnotfledawayaswedo;butwebelievetherewillbeveryfewleftalivebehindus。

Richard。Whatpartdoyoucomefrom？

Ford。WearemostofusofCripplegateparish,onlytwoorthreeofClerkenwellparish,butonthehitherside。

Richard。Howthenwasitthatyoucameawaynosooner？

Ford。Wehavebeenawaysometime,andkepttogetheraswellaswecouldatthehitherendofIslington,wherewegotleavetolieinanolduninhabitedhouse,andhadsomebeddingandconveniencesofourownthatwebroughtwithus;buttheplagueiscomeupintoIslingtontoo,andahousenextdoortoourpoordwellingwasinfectedandshutup;andwearecomeawayinafright。

Richard。Andwhatwayareyougoing？

Ford。Asourlotshallcastus;weknownotwhither,butGodwillguidethosethatlookuptoHim。

Theyparleyednofurtheratthattime,butcamealluptothebarn,andwithsomedifficultygotintoit。Therewasnothingbuthayinthebarn,butitwasalmostfullofthat,andtheyaccommodatedthemselvesaswellastheycould,andwenttorest;butourtravellersobservedthatbeforetheywenttosleepanancientmanwhoitseemswasfatherofoneofthewomen,wenttoprayerwithallthecompany,recommendingthemselvestotheblessinganddirectionofProvidence,beforetheywenttosleep。

Itwassoondayatthattimeoftheyear,andasRichardthejoinerhadkeptguardthefirstpartofthenight,soJohnthesoldierrelievedhim,andhehadthepostinthemorning,andtheybegantobeacquaintedwithoneanother。ItseemswhentheyleftIslingtontheyintendedtohavegonenorth,awaytoHighgate,butwerestoppedatHolloway,andtheretheywouldnotletthempass;sotheycrossedoverthefieldsandhillstotheeastward,andcameoutattheBoardedRiver,andsoavoidingthetowns,theyleftHornseyonthelefthandandNewingtonontherighthand,andcameintothegreatroadaboutStamfordHillonthatside,asthethreetravellershaddoneontheotherside。Andnowtheyhadthoughtsofgoingovertheriverinthemarshes,andmakeforwardstoEppingForest,wheretheyhopedtheyshouldgetleavetorest。Itseemstheywerenotpoor,atleastnotsopoorastobeinwant;atleasttheyhadenoughtosubsistthemmoderatelyfortwoorthreemonths,when,astheysaid,theywereinhopesthecoldweatherwouldchecktheinfection,oratleasttheviolenceofitwouldhavespentitself,andwouldabate,ifitwereonlyforwantofpeopleleftalivetoheinfected。

Thiswasmuchthefateofourthreetravellers,onlythattheyseemedtobethebetterfurnishedfortravelling,andhaditintheirviewtogofartheroff;forastothefirst,theydidnotproposetogofartherthanoneday"sjourney,thatsotheymighthaveintelligenceeverytwoorthreedayshowthingswereatLondon。

Buthereourtravellersfoundthemselvesunderanunexpectedinconvenience:namelythatoftheirhorse,forbymeansofthehorsetocarrytheirbaggagetheywereobligedtokeepintheroad,whereasthepeopleofthisotherbandwentoverthefieldsorroads,pathornopath,wayornoway,astheypleased;neitherhadtheyanyoccasiontopassthroughanytown,orcomenearanytown,otherthantobuysuchthingsastheywantedfortheirnecessarysubsistence,andinthatindeedtheywereputtomuchdifficulty;ofwhichinitsplace。

Butourthreetravellerswereobligedtokeeptheroad,orelsetheymustcommitspoil,anddothecountryagreatdealofdamageinbreakingdownfencesandgatestogooverenclosedfields,whichtheywerelothtodoiftheycouldhelpit。

Ourthreetravellers,however,hadagreatmindtojointhemselvestothiscompanyandtaketheirlotwiththem;andaftersomediscoursetheylaidasidetheirfirstdesignwhichlookednorthward,andresolvedtofollowtheotherintoEssex;sointhemorningtheytookuptheirtentandloadedtheirhorse,andawaytheytravelledalltogether。

Theyhadsomedifficultyinpassingtheferryattheriver—side,theferrymanbeingafraidofthem;butaftersomeparleyatadistance,theferrymanwascontenttobringhisboattoaplacedistantfromtheusualferry,andleaveitthereforthemtotakeit;soputtingthemselvesover,hedirectedthemtoleavetheboat,andhe,havinganotherboat,saidhewouldfetchitagain,whichitseems,however,hedidnotdoforaboveeightdays。

Here,givingtheferrymanmoneybeforehand,theyhadasupplyofvictualsanddrink,whichhebroughtandleftintheboatforthem;butnotwithout,asIsaid,havingreceivedthemoneybeforehand。Butnowourtravellerswereatagreatlossanddifficultyhowtogetthehorseover,theboatbeingsmallandnotfitforit:andatlastcouldnotdoitwithoutunloadingthebaggageandmakinghimswimover。

Fromtherivertheytravelledtowardstheforest,butwhentheycametoWalthamstowthepeopleofthattowndeniedtoadmitthem,aswasthecaseeverywhere。Theconstablesandtheirwatchmenkeptthemoffatadistanceandparleyedwiththem。Theygavethesameaccountofthemselvesasbefore,butthesegavenocredittowhattheysaid,givingitforareasonthattwoorthreecompanieshadalreadycomethatwayandmadethelikepretences,butthattheyhadgivenseveralpeoplethedistemperinthetownswheretheyhadpassed;andhadbeenafterwardssohardlyusedbythecountry（thoughwithjustice,too,astheyhaddeserved）thataboutBrentwood,orthatway,severalofthemperishedinthefields—whetheroftheplagueorofmerewantanddistresstheycouldnottell。

ThiswasagoodreasonindeedwhythepeopleofWalthamstowshouldbeverycautious,andwhytheyshouldresolvenottoentertainanybodythattheywerenotwellsatisfiedof。But,asRichardthejoinerandoneoftheothermenwhoparleyedwiththemtoldthem,itwasnoreasonwhytheyshouldblockuptheroadsandrefusetoletpeoplepassthroughthetown,andwhoaskednothingofthembuttogothroughthestreet;thatiftheirpeoplewereafraidofthem,theymightgointotheirhousesandshuttheirdoors;theywouldneithershowthemcivilitynorincivility,butgoonabouttheirbusiness。

Theconstablesandattendants,nottobepersuadedbyreason,continuedobstinate,andwouldhearkentonothing;sothetwomenthattalkedwiththemwentbacktotheirfellowstoconsultwhatwastobedone。Itwasverydiscouraginginthewhole,andtheyknewnotwhattodoforagoodwhile;butatlastJohnthesoldierandbiscuit—

maker,consideringawhile,"Come,"sayshe,"leavetherestoftheparleytome。"Hehadnotappearedyet,sohesetsthejoiner,Richard,toworktocutsomepolesoutofthetreesandshapethemaslikegunsashecould,andinalittletimehehadfiveorsixfairmuskets,whichatadistancewouldnotbeknown;andaboutthepartwherethelockofagunishecausedthemtowrapclothandragssuchastheyhad,assoldiersdoinwetweathertopreservethelocksoftheirpiecesfromrust;therestwasdiscolouredwithclayormud,suchastheycouldget;andallthiswhiletherestofthemsatunderthetreesbyhisdirection,intwoorthreebodies,wheretheymadefiresatagooddistancefromoneanother。

Whilethiswasdoingheadvancedhimselfandtwoorthreewithhim,andsetuptheirtentinthelanewithinsightofthebarrierwhichthetown"smenhadmade,andsetasentineljustbyitwiththerealgun,theonlyonetheyhad,andwhowalkedtoandfrowiththegunonhisshoulder,soasthatthepeopleofthetownmightseethem。Also,hetiedthehorsetoagateinthehedgejustby,andgotsomedrystickstogetherandkindledafireontheothersideofthetent,sothatthepeopleofthetowncouldseethefireandthesmoke,butcouldnotseewhattheyweredoingatit。

Afterthecountrypeoplehadlookeduponthemveryearnestlyagreatwhile,and,byallthattheycouldsee,couldnotbutsupposethattheywereagreatmanyincompany,theybegantobeuneasy,notfortheirgoingaway,butforstayingwheretheywere;andaboveall,perceivingtheyhadhorsesandarms,fortheyhadseenonehorseandonegunatthetent,andtheyhadseenothersofthemwalkaboutthefieldontheinsideofthehedgebythesideofthelanewiththeirmuskets,astheytookthemtobe,shouldered;Isay,uponsuchasightasthis,youmaybeassuredtheywerealarmedandterriblyfrighted,anditseemstheywenttoajusticeofthepeacetoknowwhattheyshoulddo。WhatthejusticeadvisedthemtoIknownot,buttowardstheeveningtheycalledfromthebarrier,asabove,tothesentinelatthetent。

"Whatdoyouwant？"saysJohn。*

"Why,whatdoyouintendtodo？"saystheconstable。"Todo,"saysJohn;"whatwouldyouhaveustodo？"Constable。Whydon"tyoubegone？Whatdoyoustaytherefor？

John。Whydoyoustopusontheking"shighway,andpretendtorefuseusleavetogoonourway？

Constable。Wearenotboundtotellyouourreason,thoughwedidletyouknowitwasbecauseoftheplague。

John。Wetoldyouwewereallsoundandfreefromtheplague,whichwewerenotboundtohavesatisfiedyouof,andyetyoupretendtostopusonthehighway。

Constable。Wehavearighttostopitup,andourownsafetyobligesustoit。Besides,thisisnottheking"shighway;"tisawayuponsufferance。Youseehereisagate,andifwedoletpeoplepasshere,wemakethempaytoll。

John。Wehavearighttoseekourownsafetyaswellasyou,andyoumayseeweareflyingforourlives:and"tisveryunchristianandunjusttostopus。

Constable。Youmaygobackfromwhenceyoucame;wedonothinderyoufromthat。

John。No;itisastrongerenemythanyouthatkeepsusfromdoingthat,orelseweshouldnothavecomehither。

Constable。Well,youmaygoanyotherway,then。

John。No,no;Isupposeyouseeweareabletosendyougoing,andallthepeopleofyourparish,andcomethroughyourtownwhenwewill;butsinceyouhavestoppedushere,wearecontent。Youseewehaveencampedhere,andherewewilllive。Wehopeyouwillfurnishuswithvictuals。

*ItseemsJohnwasinthetent,buthearingthemcall,hestepsout,andtakingthegunuponhisshoulder,talkedtothemasifhehadbeenthesentinelplacedthereupontheguardbysomeofficerthatwashissuperior。[Footnoteintheoriginal。]

Constable。WefurnishyouIWhatmeanyoubythat？

John。Why,youwouldnothaveusstarve,wouldyou？Ifyoustopushere,youmustkeepus。

Constable。Youwillbeillkeptatourmaintenance。

John。Ifyoustintus,weshallmakeourselvesthebetterallowance。

Constable。Why,youwillnotpretendtoquarteruponusbyforce,willyou？

John。Wehaveofferednoviolencetoyouyet。Whydoyouseemtoobligeustoit？Iamanoldsoldier,andcannotstarve,andifyouthinkthatweshallbeobligedtogobackforwantofprovisions,youaremistaken。

Constable。Sinceyouthreatenus,weshalltakecaretobestrongenoughforyou。Ihaveorderstoraisethecountyuponyou。

John。Itisyouthatthreaten,notwe。Andsinceyouareformischief,youcannotblameusifwedonotgiveyoutimeforit;weshallbeginourmarchinafewminutes。*

Constable。Whatisityoudemandofus？

John。Atfirstwedesirednothingofyoubutleavetogothroughthetown;weshouldhaveofferednoinjurytoanyofyou,neitherwouldyouhavehadanyinjuryorlossbyus。Wearenotthieves,butpoorpeopleindistress,andflyingfromthedreadfulplagueinLondon,whichdevoursthousandseveryweek。Wewonderhowyoucouldbesounmerciful！

Constable。Self—preservationobligesus。

John。What！Toshutupyourcompassioninacaseofsuchdistressasthis？

Constable。Well,ifyouwillpassoverthefieldsonyourlefthand,andbehindthatpartofthetown,Iwillendeavourtohavegatesopenedforyou。

John。Ourhorsemen**cannotpasswithourbaggagethatway;itdoesnotleadintotheroadthatwewanttogo,andwhyshouldyouforceusoutoftheroad？Besides,youhavekeptushereall*Thisfrightedtheconstableandthepeoplethatwerewithhim,thattheyimmediatelychangedtheirnote。

**Theyhadbutonehorseamongthem。[Footnotesintheoriginal。]

daywithoutanyprovisionsbutsuchaswebroughtwithus。Ithinkyououghttosendussomeprovisionsforourrelief。

Constable。Ifyouwillgoanotherwaywewillsendyousomeprovisions。

John。Thatisthewaytohaveallthetownsinthecountystopupthewaysagainstus。

Constable。Iftheyallfurnishyouwithfood,whatwillyoubetheworse？Iseeyouhavetents;youwantnolodging。

John。Well,whatquantityofprovisionswillyousendus？

Constable。Howmanyareyou？

John。Nay,wedonotaskenoughforallourcompany;weareinthreecompanies。Ifyouwillsendusbreadfortwentymenandaboutsixorsevenwomenforthreedays,andshowusthewayoverthefieldyouspeakof,wedesirenottoputyourpeopleintoanyfearforus;wewillgooutofourwaytoobligeyou,thoughweareasfreefrominfectionasyouare。*

Constable。Andwillyouassureusthatyourotherpeopleshallofferusnonewdisturbance？

John。No,noyoumaydependonit。

Constable。Youmustobligeyourself,too,thatnoneofyourpeopleshallcomeastepnearerthanwheretheprovisionswesendyoushallbesetdown。

John。Ianswerforitwewillnot。

Accordinglytheysenttotheplacetwentyloavesofbreadandthreeorfourlargepiecesofgoodbeef,andopenedsomegates,throughwhichtheypassed;butnoneofthemhadcouragesomuchastolookouttoseethemgo,and,asitwasevening,iftheyhadlookedtheycouldnothaveseenthemastoknowhowfewtheywere。

ThiswasJohnthesoldier"smanagement。Butthisgavesuchanalarmtothecounty,thathadtheyreallybeentwoorthreehundredthewholecountywouldhavebeenraiseduponthem,and*Herehecalledtooneofhismen,andbadehimorderCaptainRichardandhispeopletomarchthelowerwayonthesideofthemarches,andmeetthemintheforest;whichwasallasham,fortheyhadnoCaptainRichard,oranysuchcompany。[Footnoteintheoriginal。]

theywouldhavebeensenttoprison,orperhapsknockedonthehead。

Theyweresoonmadesensibleofthis,fortwodaysafterwardstheyfoundseveralpartiesofhorsemenandfootmenalsoabout,inpursuitofthreecompaniesofmen,armed,astheysaid,withmuskets,whowerebrokeoutfromLondonandhadtheplagueuponthem,andthatwerenotonlyspreadingthedistemperamongthepeople,butplunderingthecountry。

Astheysawnowtheconsequenceoftheircase,theysoonsawthedangertheywerein;sotheyresolvedbytheadvicealsooftheoldsoldiertodividethemselvesagain。Johnandhistwocomrades,withthehorse,wentaway,asiftowardsWaltham;theotherintwocompanies,butallalittleasunder,andwenttowardsEpping。

Thefirstnighttheyencampedallintheforest,andnotfaroffofoneanother,butnotsettingupthetent,lestthatshoulddiscoverthem。Ontheotherhand,Richardwenttoworkwithhisaxeandhishatchet,andcuttingdownbranchesoftrees,hebuiltthreetentsorhovels,inwhichtheyallencampedwithasmuchconvenienceastheycouldexpect。

TheprovisionstheyhadatWalthamstowservedthemveryplentifullythisnight;andasforthenext,theyleftittoProvidence。

Theyhadfaredsowellwiththeoldsoldier"sconductthattheynowwillinglymadehimtheirleader,andthefirstofhisconductappearedtobeverygood。HetoldthemthattheywerenowataproperdistanceenoughfromLondon;thatastheyneednotbeimmediatelybeholdentothecountryforrelief,sotheyoughttobeascarefulthecountrydidnotinfectthemasthattheydidnotinfectthecountry;thatwhatlittlemoneytheyhad,theymustbeasfrugalofastheycould;thatashewouldnothavethemthinkofofferingthecountryanyviolence,sotheymustendeavourtomakethesenseoftheirconditiongoasfarwiththecountryasitcould。Theyallreferredthemselvestohisdirection,sotheylefttheirthreehousesstanding,andthenextdaywentawaytowardsEpping。Thecaptainalso（forsotheynowcalledhim）,andhistwofellow—travellers,laidasidetheirdesignofgoingtoWaltham,andallwenttogether。

WhentheycamenearEppingtheyhalted,choosingoutaproperplaceintheopenforest,notverynearthehighway,butnotfaroutofitonthenorthside,underalittleclusteroflowpollard—trees。Heretheypitchedtheirlittlecamp—whichconsistedofthreelargetentsorhutsmadeofpoleswhichtheircarpenter,andsuchaswerehisassistants,cutdownandfixedinthegroundinacircle,bindingallthesmallendstogetheratthetopandthickeningthesideswithboughsoftreesandbushes,sothattheywerecompletelycloseandwarm。Theyhad,besidesthis,alittletentwherethewomenlaybythemselves,andahuttoputthehorsein。

Ithappenedthatthenextday,ornextbutone,wasmarket—dayatEpping,whenCaptainJohnandoneoftheothermenwenttomarketandboughtsomeprovisions;thatistosay,bread,andsomemuttonandbeef;andtwoofthewomenwentseparately,asiftheyhadnotbelongedtotherest,andboughtmore。Johntookthehorsetobringithome,andthesackwhichthecarpentercarriedhistoolsin,toputitin。Thecarpenterwenttoworkandmadethembenchesandstoolstositon,suchasthewoodhecouldgetwouldafford,andakindoftabletodineon。

Theyweretakennonoticeoffortwoorthreedays,butafterthatabundanceofpeopleranoutofthetowntolookatthem,andallthecountrywasalarmedaboutthem。Thepeopleatfirstseemedafraidtocomenearthem;and,ontheotherhand,theydesiredthepeopletokeepoff,fortherewasarumourthattheplaguewasatWaltham,andthatithadbeeninEppingtwoorthreedays;soJohncalledouttothemnottocometothem,"for,"sayshe,"weareallwholeandsoundpeoplehere,andwewouldnothaveyoubringtheplagueamongus,norpretendwebroughtitamongyou。"

Afterthistheparishofficerscameuptothemandparleyedwiththematadistance,anddesiredtoknowwhotheywere,andbywhatauthoritytheypretendedtofixtheirstandatthatplace。Johnansweredveryfrankly,theywerepoordistressedpeoplefromLondonwho,foreseeingthemiserytheyshouldbereducedtoifplaguespreadintothecity,hadfledoutintimefortheirlives,and,havingnoacquaintanceorrelationstoflyto,hadfirsttakenupatIslington;but,theplaguebeingcomeintothattown,werefledfarther;andastheysupposedthatthepeopleofEppingmighthaverefusedthemcomingintotheirtown,theyhadpitchedtheirtentsthusintheopenfieldandintheforest,beingwillingtobearallthehardshipsofsuchadisconsolatelodgingratherthanhaveanyonethinkorbeafraidthattheyshouldreceiveinjurybythem。

AtfirsttheEppingpeopletalkedroughlytothem,andtoldthemtheymustremove;thatthiswasnoplaceforthem;andthattheypretendedtobesoundandwell,butthattheymightbeinfectedwiththeplagueforaughttheyknew,andmightinfectthewholecountry,andtheycouldnotsufferthemthere。

Johnarguedverycalmlywiththemagreatwhile,andtoldthemthatLondonwastheplacebywhichthey—thatis,thetownsmenofEppingandallthecountryroundthem—subsisted;towhomtheysoldtheproduceoftheirlands,andoutofwhomtheymadetheirrentoftheirfarms;andtobesocrueltotheinhabitantsofLondon,ortoanyofthosebywhomtheygainedsomuch,wasveryhard,andtheywouldbelothtohaveitrememberedhereafter,andhaveittoldhowbarbarous,howinhospitable,andhowunkindtheyweretothepeopleofLondonwhentheyfledfromthefaceofthemostterribleenemyintheworld;thatitwouldbeenoughtomakethenameofanEppingmanhatefulthroughallthecity,andtohavetherabblestonethemintheverystreetswhenevertheycamesomuchastomarket;thattheywerenotyetsecurefrombeingvisitedthemselves,andthat,asheheard,Walthamwasalready;thattheywouldthinkitveryhardthatwhenanyofthemfledforfearbeforetheyweretouched,theyshouldbedeniedthelibertyoflyingsomuchasintheopenfields。

TheEppingmentoldthemagain,thatthey,indeed,saidtheyweresoundandfreefromtheinfection,butthattheyhadnoassuranceofit;

andthatitwasreportedthattherehadbeenagreatrabbleofpeopleatWalthamstow,whomadesuchpretencesofbeingsoundastheydid,butthattheythreatenedtoplunderthetownandforcetheirway,whethertheparishofficerswouldorno;thattherewereneartwohundredofthem,andhadarmsandtentslikeLowCountrysoldiers;

thattheyextortedprovisionsfromthetown,bythreateningthemwithlivinguponthematfreequarter,showingtheirarms,andtalkinginthelanguageofsoldiers;andthatseveralofthembeinggoneawaytowardRumfordandBrentwood,thecountryhadbeeninfectedbythem,andtheplaguespreadintoboththoselargetowns,sothatthepeopledurstnotgotomarketthereasusual;thatitwasverylikelytheyweresomeofthatparty;andifso,theydeservedtobesenttothecountyjail,andbesecuredtilltheyhadmadesatisfactionforthedamagetheyhaddone,andfortheterrorandfrighttheyhadputthecountryinto。