第12章

Johnansweredthatwhatotherpeoplehaddonewasnothingtothem;thattheyassuredthemtheywereallofonecompany;thattheyhadneverbeenmoreinnumberthantheysawthematthattime（which,bytheway,wasverytrue）;thattheycameoutintwoseparatecompanies,butjoinedbytheway,theircasesbeingthesame;thattheywerereadytogivewhataccountofthemselvesanybodycoulddesireofthem,andtogiveintheirnamesandplacesofabode,thatsotheymightbecalledtoanaccountforanydisorderthattheymightbeguiltyof;thatthetownsmenmightseetheywerecontenttolivehardly,andonlydesiredalittleroomtobreatheinontheforestwhereitwaswholesome;forwhereitwasnottheycouldnotstay,andwoulddecampiftheyfounditotherwisethere。

"But,"saidthetownsmen,"wehaveagreatchargeofpooruponourhandsalready,andwemusttakecarenottoincreaseit;wesupposeyoucangiveusnosecurityagainstyourbeingchargeabletoourparishandtotheinhabitants,anymorethanyoucanofbeingdangeroustousastotheinfection。"

"Why,lookyou,"saysJohn,"astobeingchargeabletoyou,wehopeweshallnot。Ifyouwillrelieveuswithprovisionsforourpresentnecessity,wewillbeverythankful;aswealllivedwithoutcharitywhenwewereathome,sowewillobligeourselvesfullytorepayyou,ifGodpleasestobringusbacktoourownfamiliesandhousesinsafety,andtorestorehealthtothepeopleofLondon。

"Astoourdyinghere:weassureyou,ifanyofusdie,wethatsurvivewillburythem,andputyoutonoexpense,exceptitshouldbethatweshouldalldie;andthen,indeed,thelastmannotbeingabletoburyhimself,wouldputyoutothatsingleexpensewhichIampersuaded",saysJohn,"hewouldleaveenoughbehindhimtopayyoufortheexpenseof。

"Ontheotherhand,"saysJohn,"ifyoushutupallbowelsofcompassion,andnotrelieveusatall,weshallnotextortanythingbyviolenceorstealfromanyone;butwhenwhatlittlewehaveisspent,ifweperishforwant,God"swillbedone。"

Johnwroughtsouponthetownsmen,bytalkingthusrationallyandsmoothlytothem,thattheywentaway;andthoughtheydidnotgiveanyconsenttotheirstayingthere,yettheydidnotmolestthem;andthepoorpeoplecontinuedtherethreeorfourdayslongerwithoutanydisturbance。Inthistimetheyhadgotsomeremoteacquaintancewithavictualling—houseattheoutskirtsofthetown,towhomtheycalledatadistancetobringsomelittlethingsthattheywanted,andwhichtheycausedtobesetdownatadistance,andalwayspaidforveryhonestly。

Duringthistimetheyoungerpeopleofthetowncamefrequentlyprettynearthem,andwouldstandandlookatthem,andsometimestalkwiththematsomespacebetween;andparticularlyitwasobservedthatthefirstSabbath—daythepoorpeoplekeptretired,worshippedGodtogether,andwereheardtosingpsalms。

Thesethings,andaquiet,inoffensivebehaviour,begantogetthemthegoodopinionofthecountry,andpeoplebegantopitythemandspeakverywellofthem;theconsequenceofwhichwas,thatupontheoccasionofaverywet,rainynight,acertaingentlemanwholivedintheneighbourhoodsentthemalittlecartwithtwelvetrussesorbundlesofstraw,aswellforthemtolodgeuponastocoverandthatchtheirhutsandtokeepthemdry。Theministerofaparishnotfaroff,notknowingoftheother,sentthemalsoabouttwobushelsofwheatandhalfabushelofwhitepeas。

Theywereverythankful,tobesure,forthisrelief,andparticularlythestrawwasa—verygreatcomforttothem;forthoughtheingeniouscarpenterhadmadeframesforthemtolieinliketroughs,andfilledthemwithleavesoftrees,andsuchthingsastheycouldget,andhadcutalltheirtent—clothouttomakethemcoverlids,yettheylaydampandhardandunwholesometillthisstrawcame,whichwastothemlikefeather—beds,and,asJohnsaid,morewelcomethanfeather—bedswouldhavebeenatanothertime。

Thisgentlemanandtheministerhavingthusbegun,andgivenanexampleofcharitytothesewanderers,othersquicklyfollowed,andtheyreceivedeverydaysomebenevolenceorotherfromthepeople,butchieflyfromthegentlemenwhodweltinthecountryroundthem。

Somesentthemchairs,stools,tables,andsuchhouseholdthingsastheygavenoticetheywanted;somesentthemblankets,rugs,andcoverlids,someearthenware,andsomekitchenwarefororderingtheirfood。

Encouragedbythisgoodusage,theircarpenterinafewdaysbuiltthemalargeshedorhousewithrafters,andaroofinform,andanupperfloor,inwhichtheylodgedwarm:fortheweatherbegantobedampandcoldinthebeginningofSeptember。Butthishouse,beingwellthatched,andthesidesandroofmadeverythick,keptoutthecoldwellenough。Hemade,also,anearthenwallatoneendwithachimneyinit,andanotherofthecompany,withavastdealoftroubleandpains,madeafunneltothechimneytocarryoutthesmoke。

Heretheylivedcomfortably,thoughcoarsely,tillthebeginningofSeptember,whentheyhadthebadnewstohear,whethertrueornot,thattheplague,whichwasveryhotatWalthamAbbeyononesideandatRumfordandBrentwoodontheotherside,wasalsocomingtoEpping,toWoodford,andtomostofthetownsupontheForest,andwhich,astheysaid,wasbroughtdownamongthemchieflybythehiglers,andsuchpeopleaswenttoandfromLondonwithprovisions。

Ifthiswastrue,itwasanevidentcontradictiontothatreportwhichwasafterwardsspreadalloverEngland,butwhich,asIhavesaid,I

cannotconfirmofmyownknowledge:namely,thatthemarket—peoplecarryingprovisionstothecitynevergottheinfectionorcarrieditbackintothecountry;bothwhich,Ihavebeenassured,hasbeenfalse。

Itmightbethattheywerepreservedevenbeyondexpectation,thoughnottoamiracle,thatabundancewentandcameandwerenottouched;andthatwasmuchfortheencouragementofthepoorpeopleofLondon,whohadbeencompletelymiserableifthepeoplethatbroughtprovisionstothemarketshadnotbeenmanytimeswonderfullypreserved,oratleastmorepreservedthancouldbereasonablyexpected。

Butnowthesenewinmatesbegantobedisturbedmoreeffectually,forthetownsaboutthemwerereallyinfected,andtheybegantobeafraidtotrustoneanothersomuchastogoabroadforsuchthingsastheywanted,andthispinchedthemveryhard,fornowtheyhadlittleornothingbutwhatthecharitablegentlemenofthecountrysuppliedthemwith。But,fortheirencouragement,ithappenedthatothergentlemeninthecountrywhohadnotsentthemanythingbefore,begantohearofthemandsupplythem,andonesentthemalargepig—thatistosay,aporkeranothertwosheep,andanothersentthemacalf。Inshort,theyhadmeatenough,andsometimeshadcheeseandmilk,andallsuchthings。Theywerechieflyputtoitforbread,forwhenthegentlemensentthemcorntheyhadnowheretobakeitortogrindit。Thismadethemeatthefirsttwobushelofwheatthatwassenttheminparchedcorn,astheIsraelitesofolddid,withoutgrindingormakingbreadofit。

AtlasttheyfoundmeanstocarrytheircorntoawindmillnearWoodford,wheretheybaditground,andafterwardsthebiscuit—makermadeahearthsohollowanddrythathecouldbakebiscuit—cakestolerablywell;andthustheycameintoaconditiontolivewithoutanyassistanceorsuppliesfromthetowns;anditwaswelltheydid,forthecountrywassoonafterfullyinfected,andabout120weresaidtohavediedofthedistemperinthevillagesnearthem,whichwasaterriblethingtothem。

Onthistheycalledanewcouncil,andnowthetownshadnoneedtobeafraidtheyshouldsettlenearthem;but,onthecontrary,severalfamiliesofthepoorersortoftheinhabitantsquittedtheirhousesandbuilthutsintheforestafterthesamemannerastheyhaddone。Butitwasobservedthatseveralofthesepoorpeoplethathadsoremovedhadthesicknessevenintheirhutsorbooths;thereasonofwhichwasplain,namely,notbecausetheyremovedintotheair,but,（）becausetheydidnotremovetimeenough;

thatistosay,nottill,byopenlyconversingwiththeotherpeopletheirneighbours,theyhadthedistemperuponthem,or（asmaybesaid）

amongthem,andsocarrieditaboutthemwhithertheywent。Or（2）

becausetheywerenotcarefulenough,aftertheyweresafelyremovedoutofthetowns,nottocomeinagainandminglewiththediseasedpeople。

Butbeitwhichoftheseitwill,whenourtravellersbegantoperceivethattheplaguewasnotonlyinthetowns,buteveninthetentsandhutsontheforestnearthem,theybeganthennotonlytobeafraid,buttothinkofdecampingandremoving;forhadtheystayedtheywouldhavebeeninmanifestdangeroftheirlives。

Itisnottobewonderedthattheyweregreatlyafflictedatbeingobligedtoquittheplacewheretheyhadbeensokindlyreceived,andwheretheyhadbeentreatedwithsomuchhumanityandcharity;butnecessityandthehazardoflife,whichtheycameoutsofartopreserve,prevailedwiththem,andtheysawnoremedy。John,however,thoughtofaremedyfortheirpresentmisfortune:namely,thathewouldfirstacquaintthatgentlemanwhowastheirprincipalbenefactorwiththedistresstheywerein,andtocravehisassistanceandadvice。

EndofPart4

Part5

Thegood,charitablegentlemanencouragedthemtoquitthePlaceforfeartheyshouldbecutofffromanyretreatatallbytheviolenceofthedistemper;butwhithertheyshouldgo,thathefoundveryhardtodirectthemto。AtlastJohnaskedofhimwhetherhe,beingajusticeofthepeace,wouldgivethemcertificatesofhealthtootherjusticeswhomtheymightcomebefore;thatsowhatevermightbetheirlot,theymightnotberepulsednowtheyhadbeenalsosolongfromLondon。Thishisworshipimmediatelygranted,andgavethemproperlettersofhealth,andfromthencetheywereatlibertytotravelwhithertheypleased。

Accordinglytheyhadafullcertificateofhealth,intimatingthattheyhadresidedinavillageinthecountyofEssexsolongthat,beingexaminedandscrutinisedsufficiently,andhavingbeenretiredfromallconversationforabovefortydays,withoutanyappearanceofsickness,theywerethereforecertainlyconcludedtobesoundmen,andmightbesafelyentertainedanywhere,havingatlastremovedratherforfearoftheplaguewhichwascomeintosuchatown,ratherthanforhavinganysignalofinfectionuponthem,oruponanybelongingtothem。

Withthiscertificatetheyremoved,thoughwithgreatreluctance;

andJohnincliningnottogofarfromhome,theymovedtowardsthemarshesonthesideofWaltham。Butheretheyfoundamanwho,itseems,keptaweirorstopupontheriver,madetoraisethewaterforthebargeswhichgoupanddowntheriver,andheterrifiedthemwithdismalstoriesofthesicknesshavingbeenspreadintoallthetownsontheriverandneartheriver,onthesideofMiddlesexandHertfordshire;

thatistosay,intoWaltham,WalthamCross,Enfield,andWare,andallthetownsontheroad,thattheywereafraidtogothatway;thoughitseemsthemanimposeduponthem,forthatthethingwasnotreallytrue。

However,itterrifiedthem,andtheyresolvedtomoveacrosstheforesttowardsRumfordandBrentwood;buttheyheardthattherewerenumbersofpeoplefledoutofLondonthatway,wholayupanddownintheforestcalledHenaltForest,reachingnearRumford,andwho,havingnosubsistenceorhabitation,notonlylivedoddlyandsufferedgreatextremitiesinthewoodsandfieldsforwantofrelief,butweresaidtobemadesodesperatebythoseextremitiesasthattheyofferedmanyviolencestothecountyrobbedandplundered,andkilledcattle,andthelike;thatothers,buildinghutsandhovelsbytheroadside,begged,andthatwithanimportunitynextdoortodemandingrelief;sothatthecountywasveryuneasy,andhadbeenobligedtotakesomeofthemup。

Thisinthefirstplaceintimatedtothem,thattheywouldbesuretofindthecharityandkindnessofthecounty,whichtheyhadfoundherewheretheywerebefore,hardenedandshutupagainstthem;andthat,ontheotherhand,theywouldbequestionedwherevertheycame,andwouldbeindangerofviolencefromothersinlikecasesasthemselves。

UponalltheseconsiderationsJohn,theircaptain,inalltheirnames,wentbacktotheirgoodfriendandbenefactor,whohadrelievedthembefore,andlayingtheircasetrulybeforehim,humblyaskedhisadvice;andheaskindlyadvisedthemtotakeuptheiroldquartersagain,orifnot,toremovebutalittlefartheroutoftheroad,anddirectedthemtoaproperplaceforthem;andastheyreallywantedsomehouseratherthanhutstoshelterthematthattimeoftheyear,itgrowingontowardsMichaelmas,theyfoundanolddecayedhousewhichhadbeenformerlysomecottageorlittlehabitationbutwassooutofrepairasscarcehabitable;andbytheconsentofafarmertowhosefarmitbelonged,theygotleavetomakewhatuseofittheycould。

Theingeniousjoiner,andalltherest,byhisdirectionswenttoworkwithit,andinaveryfewdaysmadeitcapabletoshelterthemallincaseofbadweather;andinwhichtherewasanoldchimneyandoldoven,thoughbothlyinginruins;yettheymadethembothfitforuse,and,raisingadditions,sheds,andleantosoneveryside,theysoonmadethehousecapabletoholdthemall。

Theychieflywantedboardstomakewindow—shutters,floors,doors,andseveralotherthings;butasthegentlemenabovefavouredthem,andthecountrywasbythatmeansmadeeasywiththem,andaboveall,thattheywereknowntobeallsoundandingoodhealth,everybodyhelpedthemwithwhattheycouldspare。

Heretheyencampedforgoodandall,andresolvedtoremovenomore。TheysawplainlyhowterriblyalarmedthatcountywaseverywhereatanybodythatcamefromLondon,andthattheyshouldhavenoadmittanceanywherebutwiththeutmostdifficulty;atleastnofriendlyreceptionandassistanceastheyhadreceivedhere。

Now,althoughtheyreceivedgreatassistanceandencouragementfromthecountrygentlemenandfromthepeopleroundaboutthem,yettheywereputtogreatstraits:fortheweathergrewcoldandwetinOctoberandNovember,andtheyhadnotbeenusedtosomuchhardship;sothattheygotcoldsintheirlimbs,anddistempers,butneverhadtheinfection;andthusaboutDecembertheycamehometothecityagain。

Igivethisstorythusatlarge,principallytogiveanaccountwhatbecameofthegreatnumbersofpeoplewhichimmediatelyappearedinthecityassoonasthesicknessabated;for,asIhavesaid,greatnumbersofthosethatwereableandhadretreatsinthecountryfledtothoseretreats。So,whenitwasincreasedtosuchafrightfulextremityasIhaverelated,themiddlingpeoplewhohadnotfriendsfledtoallpartsofthecountrywheretheycouldgetshelter,aswellthosethathadmoneytorelievethemselvesasthosethathadnot。Thosethathadmoneyalwaysfledfarthest,becausetheywereabletosubsistthemselves;butthosewhowereemptysuffered,asIhavesaid,greathardships,andwereoftendrivenbynecessitytorelievetheirwantsattheexpenseofthecountry。Bythatmeansthecountrywasmadeveryuneasyatthem,andsometimestookthemup;thougheventhentheyscarceknewwhattodowiththem,andwerealwaysverybackwardtopunishthem,butoften,too,theyforcedthemfromplacetoplacetilltheywereobligedtocomebackagaintoLondon。

Ihave,sincemyknowingthisstoryofJohnandhisbrother,inquiredandfoundthattherewereagreatmanyofthepoordisconsolatepeople,asabove,fledintothecountryeveryway;andsomeofthemgotlittleshedsandbarnsandouthousestolivein,wheretheycouldobtainsomuchkindnessofthecountry,andespeciallywheretheyhadanytheleastsatisfactoryaccounttogiveofthemselves,andparticularlythattheydidnotcomeoutofLondontoolate。Butothers,andthatingreatnumbers,builtthemselveslittlehutsandretreatsinthefieldsandwoods,andlivedlikehermitsinholesandcaves,oranyplacetheycouldfind,andwhere,wemaybesure,theysufferedgreatextremities,suchthatmanyofthemwereobligedtocomebackagainwhateverthedangerwas;andsothoselittlehutswereoftenfoundempty,andthecountrypeoplesupposedtheinhabitantslaydeadinthemoftheplague,andwouldnotgonearthemforfear—no,notinagreatwhile;norisitunlikelybutthatsomeoftheunhappywanderersmightdiesoallalone,evensometimesforwantofhelp,asparticularlyinonetentorhutwasfoundamandead,andonthegateofafieldjustbywascutwithhisknifeinunevenlettersthefollowingwords,bywhichitmaybesupposedtheothermanescaped,orthat,onedyingfirst,theotherburiedhimaswellashecould:—

OmIsErY！

WeBoTHShaLLDyE,WoE,WoE。

IhavegivenanaccountalreadyofwhatIfoundtohavebeenthecasedowntheriveramongtheseafaringmen;howtheshipslayintheoffing,asit"scalled,inrowsorlinesasternofoneanother,quitedownfromthePoolasfarasIcouldsee。IhavebeentoldthattheylayinthesamemannerquitedowntheriveraslowasGravesend,andsomefarbeyond:eveneverywhereorineveryplacewheretheycouldridewithsafetyastowindandweather;nordidIeverhearthattheplaguereachedtoanyofthepeopleonboardthoseships—exceptsuchaslayupinthePool,orashighasDeptfordReach,althoughthepeoplewentfrequentlyonshoretothecountrytownsandvillagesandfarmers"houses,tobuyfreshprovisions,fowls,pigs,calves,andthelikefortheirsupply。

LikewiseIfoundthatthewatermenontheriverabovethebridgefoundmeanstoconveythemselvesawayuptheriverasfarastheycouldgo,andthattheyhad,manyofthem,theirwholefamiliesintheirboats,coveredwithtiltsandbales,astheycallthem,andfurnishedwithstrawwithinfortheirlodging,andthattheylaythusallalongbytheshoreinthemarshes,someofthemsettinguplittletentswiththeirsails,andsolyingunderthemonshoreintheday,andgoingintotheirboatsatnight;andinthismanner,asIhaveheard,theriver—sideswerelinedwithboatsandpeopleaslongastheyhadanythingtosubsiston,orcouldgetanythingofthecountry;andindeedthecountrypeople,aswellGentlemenasothers,ontheseandallotheroccasions,wereveryforwardtorelievethem—buttheywerebynomeanswillingtoreceivethemintotheirtownsandhouses,andforthatwecannotblamethem。

Therewasoneunhappycitizenwithinmyknowledgewhohadbeenvisitedinadreadfulmanner,sothathiswifeandallhischildrenweredead,andhimselfandtwoservantsonlyleft,withanelderlywoman,anearrelation,whohadnursedthosethatweredeadaswellasshecould。Thisdisconsolatemangoestoavillagenearthetown,thoughnotwithinthebillsofmortality,andfindinganemptyhousethere,inquiresouttheowner,andtookthehouse。Afterafewdayshegotacartandloadeditwithgoods,andcarriesthemdowntothehouse;thepeopleofthevillageopposedhisdrivingthecartalong;butwithsomearguingsandsomeforce,thementhatdrovethecartalonggotthroughthestreetuptothedoorofthehouse。Theretheconstableresistedthemagain,andwouldnotletthembebroughtin。Themancausedthegoodstobeunloadenandlaidatthedoor,andsentthecartaway;uponwhichtheycarriedthemanbeforeajusticeofpeace;thatistosay,theycommandedhimtogo,whichhedid。Thejusticeorderedhimtocausethecarttofetchawaythegoodsagain,whichherefusedtodo;uponwhichthejusticeorderedtheconstabletopursuethecartersandfetchthemback,andmakethemreloadthegoodsandcarrythemaway,ortosettheminthestockstilltheycameforfurtherorders;andiftheycouldnotfindthem,northemanwouldnotconsenttotakethemaway,theyshouldcausethemtobedrawnwithhooksfromthehouse—doorandburnedinthestreet。Thepoordistressedmanuponthisfetchedthegoodsagain,butwithgrievouscriesandlamentationsatthehardshipofhiscase。Buttherewasnoremedy;self—preservationobligedthepeopletothoseseveritieswhichtheywouldnototherwisehavebeenconcernedin。WhetherthispoormanlivedordiedIcannottell,butitwasreportedthathehadtheplagueuponhimatthattime;andperhapsthepeoplemightreportthattojustifytheirusageofhim;butitwasnotunlikelythateitherheorhisgoods,orboth,weredangerous,whenhiswholefamilyhadbeendeadofthedistemperssolittleawhilebefore。

IknowthattheinhabitantsofthetownsadjacenttoLondonweremuchblamedforcrueltytothepoorpeoplethatranfromthecontagionintheirdistress,andmanyveryseverethingsweredone,asmaybeseenfromwhathasbeensaid;butIcannotbutsayalsothat,wheretherewasroomforcharityandassistancetothepeople,withoutapparentdangertothemselves,theywerewillingenoughtohelpandrelievethem。Butaseverytownwereindeedjudgesintheirowncase,sothepoorpeoplewhoranabroadintheirextremitieswereoftenill—usedanddrivenbackagainintothetown;andthiscausedinfiniteexclamationsandoutcriesagainstthecountrytowns,andmadetheclamourverypopular。

Andyet,moreorless,maugreallthecaution,therewasnotatownofanynotewithinten（or,Ibelieve,twenty）milesofthecitybutwhatwasmoreorlessinfectedandhadsomediedamongthem。Ihaveheardtheaccountsofseveral,suchastheywerereckonedup,asfollows:—

InEnfield32InUxbridge117

"Hornsey58"Hertford90

"Newington17"Ware160

"Tottenham42"Hodsdon30

"Edmonton19"WalthamAbbey23

"BarnetandHadly19"Epping26

"StAlbans121"Deptford623

"Watford45"Greenwich231

"ElthamandLusum85"Kingston122

"Croydon61"Stanes82

"Brentwood70"Chertsey18

"Rumford109"Windsor103

"BarkingAbbot200

"Brentford432Cumaliis。

Anotherthingmightrenderthecountrymorestrictwithrespecttothecitizens,andespeciallywithrespecttothepoor,andthiswaswhatIhintedatbefore:namely,thattherewasaseemingpropensityorawickedinclinationinthosethatwereinfectedtoinfectothers。

Therehavebeengreatdebatesamongourphysiciansastothereasonofthis。Somewillhaveittobeinthenatureofthedisease,andthatitimpresseseveryonethatisseizeduponbyitwithakindofarage,andahatredagainsttheirownkind—asiftherewasamalignitynotonlyinthedistempertocommunicateitself,butintheverynatureofman,promptinghimwithevilwilloranevileye,that,astheysayinthecaseofamaddog,whothoughthegentlestcreaturebeforeofanyofhiskind,yetthenwillflyuponandbiteanyonethatcomesnexthim,andthoseassoonasanywhohadbeenmostobservedbyhimbefore。

Othersplacedittotheaccountofthecorruptionofhumannature,whocannotbeartoseeitselfmoremiserablethanothersofitsownspecies,andhasakindofinvoluntarywishthatallmenwereasunhappyorinasbadaconditionasitself。

Otherssayitwasonlyakindofdesperation,notknowingorregardingwhattheydid,andconsequentlyunconcernedatthedangerorsafetynotonlyofanybodynearthem,butevenofthemselvesalso。

Andindeed,whenmenareoncecometoaconditiontoabandonthemselves,andbeunconcernedforthesafetyoratthedangerofthemselves,itcannotbesomuchwonderedthattheyshouldbecarelessofthesafetyofotherpeople。

ButIchoosetogivethisgravedebateaquitedifferentturn,andansweritorresolveitallbysayingthatIdonotgrantthefact。Onthecontrary,Isaythatthethingisnotreallyso,butthatitwasageneralcomplaintraisedbythepeopleinhabitingtheoutlyingvillagesagainstthecitizenstojustify,oratleastexcuse,thosehardshipsandseveritiessomuchtalkedof,andinwhichcomplaintsbothsidesmaybesaidtohaveinjuredoneanother;thatistosay,thecitizenspressingtobereceivedandharbouredintimeofdistress,andwiththeplagueuponthem,complainofthecrueltyandinjusticeofthecountrypeopleinbeingrefusedentranceandforcedbackagainwiththeirgoodsandfamilies;andtheinhabitants,findingthemselvessoimposedupon,andthecitizensbreakinginasitwereuponthemwhethertheywouldorno,complainthatwhentheywereinfectedtheywerenotonlyregardlessofothers,butevenwillingtoinfectthem;neitherofwhichwerereallytrue—thatistosay,inthecolourstheyweredescribedin。

ItistruethereissomethingtobesaidforthefrequentalarmswhichweregiventothecountryoftheresolutionofthepeopleofLondontocomeoutbyforce,notonlyforrelief,buttoplunderandrob;thattheyranaboutthestreetswiththedistemperuponthemwithoutanycontrol;andthatnocarewastakentoshutuphouses,andconfinethesickpeoplefrominfectingothers;whereas,todotheLondonersjustice,theyneverpractisedsuchthings,exceptinsuchparticularcasesasIhavementionedabove,andsuchlike。Ontheotherhand,everythingwasmanagedwithsomuchcare,andsuchexcellentorderwasobservedinthewholecityandsuburbsbythecareoftheLordMayorandaldermenandbythejusticesofthepeace,church—wardens,&c。,intheoutparts,thatLondonmaybeapatterntoallthecitiesintheworldforthegoodgovernmentandtheexcellentorderthatwaseverywherekept,eveninthetimeofthemostviolentinfection,andwhenthepeoplewereintheutmostconsternationanddistress。ButofthisIshallspeakbyitself。

Onething,itistobeobserved,wasowingprincipallytotheprudenceofthemagistrates,andoughttobementionedtotheirhonour:viz。,themoderationwhichtheyusedinthegreatanddifficultworkofshuttingupofhouses。Itistrue,asIhavementioned,thattheshuttingupofhouseswasagreatsubjectofdiscontent,andImaysayindeedtheonlysubjectofdiscontentamongthepeopleatthattime;

fortheconfiningthesoundinthesamehousewiththesickwascountedveryterrible,andthecomplaintsofpeoplesoconfinedwereverygrievous。Theywereheardintotheverystreets,andtheyweresometimessuchthatcalledforresentment,thoughoftenerforcompassion。Theyhadnowaytoconversewithanyoftheirfriendsbutoutattheirwindows,wheretheywouldmakesuchpiteouslamentationsasoftenmovedtheheartsofthosetheytalkedwith,andofotherswho,passingby,heardtheirstory;andasthosecomplaintsoftentimesreproachedtheseverity,andsometimestheinsolence,ofthewatchmenplacedattheirdoors,thosewatchmenwouldanswersaucilyenough,andperhapsbeapttoaffrontthepeoplewhowereinthestreettalkingtothesaidfamilies;forwhich,orfortheirill—

treatmentofthefamilies,Ithinksevenoreightoftheminseveralplaceswerekilled;IknownotwhetherIshouldsaymurderedornot,becauseIcannotenterintotheparticularcases。Itistruethewatchmenwereontheirduty,andactinginthepostwheretheywereplacedbyalawfulauthority;andkillinganypubliclegalofficerintheexecutionofhisofficeisalways,inthelanguageofthelaw,calledmurder。Butastheywerenotauthorisedbythemagistrates"

instructions,orbythepowertheyactedunder,tobeinjuriousorabusiveeithertothepeoplewhowereundertheirobservationortoanythatconcernedthemselvesforthem;sowhentheydidso,theymighthesaidtoactthemselves,nottheiroffice;"toactasprivatepersons,notaspersonsemployed;andconsequently,iftheybroughtmischiefuponthemselvesbysuchanunduebehaviour,thatmischiefwasupontheirownheads;andindeedtheyhadsomuchtheheartycursesofthepeople,whethertheydeserveditornot,thatwhateverbefellthemnobodypitiedthem,andeverybodywasapttosaytheydeservedit,whateveritwas。NordoIrememberthatanybodywaseverpunished,atleasttoanyconsiderabledegree,forwhateverwasdonetothewatchmenthatguardedtheirhouses。