第15章

Inpursuanceoftheseorders,theLordMayor,sheriffs,&c。,heldcouncilseveryday,moreorless,formakingsuchdispositionsastheyfoundneedfulforpreservingthecivilpeace;andthoughtheyusedthepeoplewithallpossiblegentlenessandclemency,yetallmannerofpresumptuousroguessuchasthieves,housebreakers,plunderersofthedeadorofthesick,weredulypunished,andseveraldeclarationswerecontinuallypublishedbytheLordMayorandCourtofAldermenagainstsuch。

Alsoallconstablesandchurchwardenswereenjoinedtostayinthecityuponseverepenalties,ortodeputesuchableandsufficienthousekeepersasthedeputyaldermenorCommonCouncilmenoftheprecinctshouldapprove,andforwhomtheyshouldgivesecurity;andalsosecurityincaseofmortalitythattheywouldforthwithconstituteotherconstablesintheirstead。

Thesethingsre—establishedthemindsofthepeopleverymuch,especiallyinthefirstoftheirfright,whentheytalkedofmakingsouniversalaflightthatthecitywouldhavebeenindangerofbeingentirelydesertedofitsinhabitantsexceptthepoor,andthecountryofbeingplunderedandlaidwastebythemultitude。Norwerethemagistratesdeficientinperformingtheirpartasboldlyastheypromisedit;formyLordMayorandthesheriffswerecontinuallyinthestreetsandatplacesofthegreatestdanger,andthoughtheydidnotcareforhavingtoogreataresortofpeoplecrowdingaboutthem,yetinemergentcasestheyneverdeniedthepeopleaccesstothem,andheardwithpatiencealltheirgrievancesandcomplaints。MyLordMayorhadalowgallerybuiltonpurposeinhishall,wherehestoodalittleremovedfromthecrowdwhenanycomplaintcametobeheard,thathemightappearwithasmuchsafetyaspossible。

Likewisetheproperofficers,calledmyLordMayor"sofficers,constantlyattendedintheirturns,astheywereinwaiting;andifanyofthemweresickorinfected,assomeofthemwere,otherswereinstantlyemployedtofillupandofficiateintheirplacestillitwasknownwhethertheothershouldliveordie。

Inlikemannerthesheriffsandaldermendidintheirseveralstationsandwards,wheretheywereplacedbyoffice,andthesheriff"sofficersorsergeantswereappointedtoreceiveordersfromtherespectivealdermenintheirturn,sothatjusticewasexecutedinallcaseswithoutinterruption。Inthenextplace,itwasoneoftheirparticularcarestoseetheordersforthefreedomofthemarketsobserved,andinthisparteithertheLordMayororoneorbothofthesheriffswereeverymarket—dayonhorsebacktoseetheirordersexecutedandtoseethatthecountrypeoplehadallpossibleencouragementandfreedomintheircomingtothemarketsandgoingbackagain,andthatnonuisancesorfrightfulobjectsshouldbeseeninthestreetstoterrifythemormakethemunwillingtocome。Alsothebakersweretakenunderparticularorder,andtheMasteroftheBakers"Companywas,withhiscourtofassistants,directedtoseetheorderofmyLordMayorfortheirregulationputinexecution,andthedueassizeofbread（whichwasweeklyappointedbymyLordMayor）observed;andallthebakerswereobligedtokeeptheirovengoingconstantly,onpainoflosingtheprivilegesofafreemanofthecityofLondon。

Bythismeansbreadwasalwaystobehadinplenty,andascheapasusual,asIsaidabove;andprovisionswereneverwantinginthemarkets,eventosuchadegreethatIoftenwonderedatit,andreproachedmyselfwithbeingsotimorousandcautiousinstirringabroad,whenthecountrypeoplecamefreelyandboldlytomarket,asiftherehadbeennomannerofinfectioninthecity,ordangerofcatchingit。

It。wasindeedoneadmirablepieceofconductinthesaidmagistratesthatthestreetswerekeptconstantlydearandfreefromallmanneroffrightfulobjects,deadbodies,oranysuchthingsaswereindecentorunpleasant—unlesswhereanybodyfelldownsuddenlyordiedinthestreets,asIhavesaidabove;andtheseweregenerallycoveredwithsomeclothorblanket,orremovedintothenextchurchyardtillnight。Alltheneedfulworksthatcarriedterrorwiththem,thatwerebothdismalanddangerous,weredoneinthenight;ifanydiseasedbodieswereremoved,ordeadbodiesburied,orinfectedclothesburnt,itwasdoneinthenight;andallthebodieswhichwerethrownintothegreatpitsintheseveralchurchyardsorburying—

grounds,ashas。beenobserved,weresoremovedinthenight,andeverythingwascoveredandclosedbeforeday。Sothatinthedaytimetherewasnottheleastsignalofthecalamitytobeseenorheardof,exceptwhatwastobeobservedfromtheemptinessofthestreets,andsometimesfromthepassionateoutcriesandlamentationsofthepeople,outattheirwindows,andfromthenumbersofhousesandshopsshutup。

Norwasthesilenceandemptinessofthestreetssomuchinthecityasintheout—parts,exceptjustatoneparticulartimewhen,asIhavementioned,theplaguecameeastandspreadoverallthecity。ItwasindeedamercifuldispositionofGod,thatastheplaguebeganatoneendofthetownfirst（ashasbeenobservedatlarge）soitproceededprogressivelytootherparts,anddidnotcomeonthisway,oreastward,tillithadspentitsfuryintheWestpartofthetown;andso,asitcameononeway,itabatedanother。Forexample,itbeganatStGiles"sandtheWestminsterendofthetown,anditwasinitsheightinallthatpartbyaboutthemiddleofJuly,viz。,inStGiles—in—the—Fields,StAndrew"s,Holborn,StClementDanes,StMartin—in—the—Fields,andinWestminster。ThelatterendofJulyitdecreasedinthoseparishes;

andcomingeast,itincreasedprodigiouslyinCripplegate,StSepulcher"s,StJames"s,Clarkenwell,andStBride"sandAldersgate。

Whileitwasinalltheseparishes,thecityandalltheparishesoftheSouthwarksideofthewaterandallStepney,Whitechappel,Aldgate,Wapping,andRatcliff,wereverylittletouched;sothatpeoplewentabouttheirbusinessunconcerned,carriedontheirtrades,keptopentheirshops,andconversedfreelywithoneanotherinallthecity,theeastandnorth—eastsuburbs,andinSouthwark,almostasiftheplaguehadnotbeenamongus。

Evenwhenthenorthandnorth—westsuburbswerefullyinfected,viz。,Cripplegate,Clarkenwell,Bishopsgate,andShoreditch,yetstillalltherestweretolerablywell。Forexamplefrom25thJulyto1stAugustthebillstoodthusofalldiseases:—

StGiles,Cripplegate554

StSepulchers250

Clarkenwell103

Bishopsgate116

Shoreditch110

Stepneyparish127

Aldgate92

Whitechappel104

Alltheninety—sevenparisheswithinthewalls228

AlltheparishesinSouthwark205

—————

Total1889

Sothat,inshort,therediedmorethatweekinthetwoparishesofCripplegateandStSepulcherbyforty—eightthaninallthecity,alltheeastsuburbs,andalltheSouthwarkparishesputtogether。Thiscausedthereputationofthecity"shealthtocontinuealloverEngland—andespeciallyinthecountiesandmarketsadjacent,fromwhenceoursupplyofprovisionschieflycameevenmuchlongerthanthathealthitselfcontinued;forwhenthepeoplecameintothestreetsfromthecountrybyShoreditchandBishopsgate,orbyOldStreetandSmithfield,theywouldseetheout—streetsemptyandthehousesandshopsshut,andthefewpeoplethatwerestirringtherewalkinthemiddleofthestreets。Butwhentheycamewithinthecity,therethingslookedbetter,andthemarketsandshopswereopen,andthepeoplewalkingaboutthestreetsasusual,thoughnotquitesomany;

andthiscontinuedtillthelatterendofAugustandthebeginningofSeptember。

Butthenthecasealteredquite;thedistemperabatedinthewestandnorth—westparishes,andtheweightoftheinfectionlayonthecityandtheeasternsuburbs,andtheSouthwarkside,andthisinafrightfulmanner。

Then,indeed,thecitybegantolookdismal,shopstobeshut,andthestreetsdesolate。IntheHighStreet,indeed,necessitymadepeoplestirabroadonmanyoccasions;andtherewouldbeinthemiddleofthedayaprettymanypeople,butinthemorningsandeveningsscarceanytobeseen,eventhere,no,notinCornhillandCheapside。

Theseobservationsofminewereabundantlyconfirmedbytheweeklybillsofmortalityforthoseweeks,anabstractofwhich,astheyrespecttheparisheswhich。IhavementionedandastheymakethecalculationsIspeakofveryevident,takeasfollows。

Theweeklybill,whichmakesoutthisdecreaseoftheburialsinthewestandnorthsideofthecity,standsthus——

Fromthe12thofSeptembertothe19th—

StGiles,Cripplegate456

StGiles—in—the—Fields140

Clarkenwell77

StSepulcher214

StLeonard,Shoreditch183

Stepneyparish716

Aldgate623

Whitechappel532

Intheninety—sevenparisheswithinthewalls1493

IntheeightparishesonSouthwarkside1636

—————

Total6060

Hereisastrangechangeofthingsindeed,andasadchangeitwas;

andhaditheldfortwomonthsmorethanitdid,veryfewpeoplewouldhavebeenleftalive。Butthensuch,Isay,wasthemercifuldispositionofGodthat,whenitwasthus,thewestandnorthpartwhichhadbeensodreadfullyvisitedatfirst,grew,asyousee,muchbetter;andasthepeopledisappearedhere,theybegantolookabroadagainthere;andthenextweekortwoaltereditstillmore;thatis,moretotheencouragementoftileotherpartofthetown。Forexample:—

Fromthe19thofSeptembertothe26th—

StGiles,Cripplegate277

StGiles—in—the—Fields119

Clarkenwell76

StSepulchers193

StLeonard,Shoreditch146

Stepneyparish616

Aldgate496

Whitechappel346

Intheninety—sevenparisheswithinthewalls1268

IntheeightparishesonSouthwarkside1390

—————

Total4927

Fromthe26thofSeptembertothe3rdofOctober—

StGiles,Cripplegate196

StGiles—in—the—Fields95

Clarkenwell48

StSepulchers137

StLeonard,Shoreditch128

Stepneyparish674

Aldgate372

Whitechappel328

Intheninety—sevenparisheswithinthewalls1149

IntheeightparishesonSouthwarkside1201

—————

Total4382

Andnowthemiseryofthecityandofthesaideastandsouthpartswascompleteindeed;for,asyousee,theweightofthedistemperlayuponthoseparts,thatistosay,thecity,theeightparishesovertheriver,withtheparishesofAldgate,Whitechappel,andStepney;andthiswasthetimethatthebillscameuptosuchamonstrousheightasthatImentionedbefore,andthateightornine,and,asIbelieve,tenortwelvethousandaweek,died;foritismysettledopinionthattheynevercouldcomeatanyjustaccountofthenumbers,forthereasonswhichIhavegivenalready。

Nay,oneofthemosteminentphysicians,whohassincepublishedinLatinanaccountofthosetimes,andofhisobservationssaysthatinoneweektherediedtwelvethousandpeople,andthatparticularlytherediedfourthousandinonenight;thoughIdonotrememberthatthereeverwasanysuchparticularnightsoremarkablyfatalasthatsuchanumberdiedinit。However,allthisconfirmswhatIhavesaidaboveoftheuncertaintyofthebillsofmortality,&c。,ofwhichIshallsaymorehereafter。

Andhereletmetakeleavetoenteragain,thoughitmayseemarepetitionofcircumstances,intoadescriptionofthemiserableconditionofthecityitself,andofthosepartswhereIlivedatthisparticulartime。Thecityandthoseotherparts,notwithstandingthegreatnumbersofpeoplethatweregoneintothecountry,wasvastlyfullofpeople;andperhapsthefullerbecausepeoplehadforalongtimeastrongbeliefthattheplaguewouldnotcomeintothecity,norintoSouthwark,no,norintoWappingorRatcliffatall;nay,suchwastheassuranceofthepeopleonthatheadthatmanyremovedfromthesuburbsonthewestandnorthsides,intothoseeasternandsouthsidesasforsafety;and,asIverilybelieve,carriedtheplagueamongstthemthereperhapssoonerthantheywouldotherwisehavehadit。

HerealsoIoughttoleaveafurtherremarkfortheuseofposterity,concerningthemannerofpeople"sinfectingoneanother;namely,thatitwasnotthesickpeopleonlyfromwhomtheplaguewasimmediatelyreceivedbyothersthatweresound,butthewell。Toexplainmyself:bythesickpeopleImeanthosewhowereknowntobesick,hadtakentheirbeds,hadbeenundercure,orhadswellingsandtumoursuponthem,andthelike;theseeverybodycouldbewareof;theywereeitherintheirbedsorinsuchconditionascouldnotbeconcealed。

BythewellImeansuchashadreceivedthecontagion,andhaditreallyuponthem,andintheirblood,yetdidnotshowtheconsequencesofitintheircountenances:nay,evenwerenotsensibleofitthemselves,asmanywerenotforseveraldays。Thesebreatheddeathineveryplace,anduponeverybodywhocamenearthem;nay,theirveryclothesretainedtheinfection,theirhandswouldinfectthethingstheytouched,especiallyiftheywerewarmandsweaty,andtheyweregenerallyapttosweattoo。

Nowitwasimpossibletoknowthesepeople,nordidtheysometimes,asIhavesaid,knowthemselvestobeinfected。Thesewerethepeoplethatsooftendroppeddownandfaintedinthestreets;

foroftentimestheywouldgoaboutthestreetstothelast,tillonasuddentheywouldsweat,growfaint,sitdownatadooranddie。Itistrue,findingthemselvesthus,theywouldstrugglehardtogethometotheirowndoors,oratothertimeswouldbejustabletogointotheirhousesanddieinstantly;othertimestheywouldgoabouttilltheyhadtheverytokenscomeoutuponthem,andyetnotknowit,andwoulddieinanhourortwoaftertheycamehome,butbewellaslongastheywereabroad。Thesewerethedangerouspeople;thesewerethepeopleofwhomthewellpeopleoughttohavebeenafraid;butthen,ontheotherside,itwasimpossibletoknowthem。

Andthisisthereasonwhyitisimpossibleinavisitationtopreventthespreadingoftheplaguebytheutmosthumanvigilance:viz。,thatitisimpossibletoknowtheinfectedpeoplefromthesound,orthattheinfectedpeopleshouldperfectlyknowthemselves。IknewamanwhoconversedfreelyinLondonalltheseasonoftheplaguein1665,andkeptabouthimanantidoteorcordialonpurposetotakewhenhethoughthimselfinanydanger,andhehadsucharuletoknoworhavewarningofthedangerbyasindeedInevermetwithbeforeorsince。

HowfaritmaybedependedonIknownot。Hehadawoundinhisleg,andwheneverhecameamonganypeoplethatwerenotsound,andtheinfectionbegantoaffecthim,hesaidhecouldknowitbythatsignal,viz。,thathiswoundinhislegwouldsmart,andlookpaleandwhite;soassoonaseverhefeltitsmartitwastimeforhimtowithdraw,ortotakecareofhimself,takinghisdrink,whichhealwayscarriedabouthimforthatpurpose。Nowitseemshefoundhiswoundwouldsmartmanytimeswhenhewasincompanywithsuchwhothoughtthemselvestobesound,andwhoappearedsotooneanother;

buthewouldpresentlyriseupandsaypublicly,"Friends,hereissomebodyintheroomthathastheplague",andsowouldimmediatelybreakupthecompany。Thiswasindeedafaithfulmonitortoallpeoplethattheplagueisnottobeavoidedbythosethatconversepromiscuouslyinatowninfected,andpeoplehaveitwhentheyknowitnot,andthattheylikewisegiveittootherswhentheyknownotthattheyhaveitthemselves;andinthiscaseshuttingupthewellorremovingthesickwillnotdoit,unlesstheycangobackandshutupallthosethatthesickhadconversedwith,evenbeforetheyknewthemselvestobesick,andnoneknowshowfartocarrythatback,orwheretostop;fornoneknowswhenorwhereorhowtheymayhavereceivedtheinfection,orfromwhom。

ThisItaketobethereasonwhichmakessomanypeopletalkoftheairbeingcorruptedandinfected,andthattheyneednotbecautiousofwhomtheyconversewith,forthatthecontagionwasintheair。Ihaveseentheminstrangeagitationsandsurprisesonthisaccount。"Ihavenevercomenearanyinfectedbody",saysthedisturbedperson;"Ihaveconversedwithnonebutsound,healthypeople,andyetIhavegottenthedistemper！""IamsureIamstruckfromHeaven",saysanother,andhefallstotheseriouspart。Again,thefirstgoesonexclaiming,"Ihavecomenearnoinfectionoranyinfectedperson;Iamsureitistheair。

Wedrawindeathwhenwebreathe,andtherefore"tisthehandofGod;thereisnowithstandingit。"Andthisatlastmademanypeople,beinghardenedtothedanger,growlessconcernedatit;andlesscautioustowardsthelatterendofthetime,andwhenitwascometoitsheight,thantheywereatfirst。Then,withakindofaTurkishpredestinarianism,theywouldsay,ifitpleasedGodtostrikethem,itwasallonewhethertheywentabroadorstayedathome;theycouldnotescapeit,andthereforetheywentboldlyabout,evenintoinfectedhousesandinfectedcompany;visitedsickpeople;and,inshort,layinthebedswiththeirwivesorrelationswhentheywereinfected。Andwhatwastheconsequence,butthesamethatistheconsequenceinTurkey,andinthosecountrieswheretheydothosethings—namely,thattheywereinfectedtoo,anddiedbyhundredsandthousands？

IwouldbefarfromlesseningtheaweofthejudgementsofGodandthereverencetoHisprovidencewhichoughtalwaystobeonourmindsonsuchoccasionsasthese。DoubtlessthevisitationitselfisastrokefromHeavenuponacity,orcountry,ornationwhereitfalls;amessengerofHisvengeance,andaloudcalltothatnationorcountryorcitytohumiliationandrepentance,accordingtothatoftheprophetJeremiah（xviii。7,8）:"AtwhatinstantIshallspeakconcerninganation,andconcerningakingdom,topluckup,andtopulldown,andtodestroyit;ifthatnationagainstwhomIhavepronouncedturnfromtheirevil,IwillrepentoftheevilthatIthoughttodountothem。"NowtopromptdueimpressionsoftheaweofGodonthemindsofmenonsuchoccasions,andnottolessenthem,itisthatIhaveleftthoseminutesuponrecord。

Isay,therefore,IreflectuponnomanforputtingthereasonofthosethingsupontheimmediatehandofGod,andtheappointmentanddirectionofHisprovidence;nay,onthecontrary,thereweremanywonderfuldeliverancesofpersonsfrominfection,anddeliverancesofpersonswheninfected,whichintimatesingularandremarkableprovidenceintheparticularinstancestowhichtheyrefer;andI

esteemmyowndeliverancetobeonenexttomiraculous,anddorecorditwiththankfulness。

ButwhenIamspeakingoftheplagueasadistemperarisingfromnaturalcauses,wemustconsideritasitwasreallypropagatedbynaturalmeans;norisitatallthelessajudgementforitsbeingundertheconductofhumancausesandeffects;for,astheDivinePowerhasformedthewholeschemeofnatureandmaintainsnatureinitscourse,sothesamePowerthinksfittoletHisownactingswithmen,whetherofmercyorjudgement,togoonintheordinarycourseofnaturalcauses;andHeispleasedtoactbythosenaturalcausesastheordinarymeans,exceptingandreservingtoHimselfneverthelessapowertoactinasupernaturalwaywhenHeseesoccasion。Now"tisevidentthatinthecaseofaninfectionthereisnoapparentextraordinaryoccasionforsupernaturaloperation,buttheordinarycourseofthingsappearssufficientlyarmed,andmadecapableofalltheeffectsthatHeavenusuallydirectsbyacontagion。Amongthesecausesandeffects,thisofthesecretconveyanceofinfection,imperceptibleandunavoidable,ismorethansufficienttoexecutethefiercenessofDivinevengeance,withoutputtingituponsupernaturalsandmiracle。

Theacutepenetratingnatureofthediseaseitselfwassuch,andtheinfectionwasreceivedsoimperceptibly,thatthemostexactcautioncouldnotsecureuswhileintheplace。ButImustbeallowedtobelieve—andIhavesomanyexamplesfreshinmymemorytoconvincemeofit,thatIthinknonecanresisttheirevidence—Isay,I

mustbeallowedtobelievethatnooneinthiswholenationeverreceivedthesicknessorinfectionbutwhoreceiveditintheordinarywayofinfectionfromsomebody,ortheclothesortouchorstenchofsomebodythatwasinfectedbefore。

ThemannerofitscomingfirsttoLondonprovesthisalso,viz。,bygoodsbroughtoverfromHolland,andbroughtthitherfromtheLevant;thefirstbreakingofitoutinahouseinLongAcrewherethosegoodswerecarriedandfirstopened;itsspreadingfromthathousetootherhousesbythevisibleunwaryconversingwiththosewhoweresick;andtheinfectingtheparishofficerswhowereemployedaboutthepersonsdead,andthelike。Theseareknownauthoritiesforthisgreatfoundationpoint—thatitwentonandproceededfrompersontopersonandfromhousetohouse,andnootherwise。Inthefirsthousethatwasinfectedtherediedfourpersons。

Aneighbour,hearingthemistressofthefirsthousewassick,wenttovisither,andwenthomeandgavethedistempertoherfamily,anddied,andallherhousehold。Aminister,calledtopraywiththefirstsickpersoninthesecondhouse,wassaidtosickenimmediatelyanddiewithseveralmoreinhishouse。Thenthephysiciansbegantoconsider,fortheydidnotatfirstdreamofageneralcontagion。Butthephysiciansbeingsenttoinspectthebodies,theyassuredthepeoplethatitwasneithermoreorlessthantheplague,withallitsterrifyingparticulars,andthatitthreatenedanuniversalinfection,somanypeoplehavingalreadyconversedwiththesickordistempered,andhaving,asmightbesupposed,receivedinfectionfromthem,thatitwouldbeimpossibletoputastoptoit。

Heretheopinionofthephysiciansagreedwithmyobservationafterwards,namely,thatthedangerwasspreadinginsensibly,forthesickcouldinfectnonebutthosethatcamewithinreachofthesickperson;butthatonemanwhomayhavereallyreceivedtheinfectionandknowsitnot,butgoesabroadandaboutasasoundperson,maygivetheplaguetoathousandpeople,andtheytogreaternumbersinproportion,andneitherthepersongivingtheinfectionorthepersonsreceivingitknowanythingofit,andperhapsnotfeeltheeffectsofitforseveraldaysafter。

Forexample,manypersonsinthetimeofthisvisitationneverperceivedthattheywereinfectedtilltheyfoundtotheirunspeakablesurprise,thetokenscomeoutuponthem;afterwhichtheyseldomlivedsixhours;forthosespotstheycalledthetokenswerereallygangrenespots,ormortifiedfleshinsmallknobsasbroadasalittlesilverpenny,andhardasapieceofcallusorhorn;sothat,whenthediseasewascomeuptothatlength,therewasnothingcouldfollowbutcertaindeath;andyet,asIsaid,theyknewnothingoftheirbeinginfected,norfoundthemselvessomuchasoutoforder,tillthosemortalmarkswereuponthem。Buteverybodymustallowthattheywereinfectedinahighdegreebefore,Andmusthavebeensosometime,andconsequentlytheirbreath,theirsweat,theirveryclothes,werecontagiousformanydaysbefore。

ThisoccasionedavastvarietyofcaseswhichphysicianswouldhavemuchmoreopportunitytorememberthanI;butsomecamewithinthecompassofmyobservationorhearing,ofwhichIshallnameafew。

AcertaincitizenwhohadlivedsafeanduntouchedtillthemonthofSeptember,whentheweightofthedistemperlaymoreinthecitythanithaddonebefore,wasmightycheerful,andsomethingtoobold（asI

thinkitwas）inhistalkofhowsecurehewas,howcautioushehadbeen,andhowhehadnevercomenearanysickbody。Saysanothercitizen,aneighbourofhis,tohimoneday,"Donotbetooconfident,Mr—;itishardtosaywhoissickandwhoiswell,forweseemenaliveandwelltooutwardappearanceonehour,anddeadthenext。"

"Thatistrue",saysthefirstman,forhewasnotamanpresumptuouslysecure,buthadescapedalongwhile—andmen,asIsaidabove,especiallyinthecitybegantobeover—easyuponthatscore。"Thatistrue,"sayshe;"Idonotthinkmyselfsecure,butIhopeIhavenotbeenincompanywithanypersonthattherehasbeenanydangerin。""No？"

sayshisneighbour。"WasnotyouattheBullHeadTaverninGracechurchStreetwithMr—thenightbeforelast？""Yes,"saysthefirst,"Iwas;buttherewasnobodytherethatwehadanyreasontothinkdangerous。"Uponwhichhisneighboursaidnomore,beingunwillingtosurprisehim;butthismadehimmoreinquisitive,andashisneighbourappearedbackward,hewasthemoreimpatient,andinakindofwarmthsayshealoud,"Why,heisnotdead,ishe？"Uponwhichhisneighbourstillwassilent,butcastuphiseyesandsaidsomethingtohimself;atwhichthefirstcitizenturnedpale,andsaidnomorebutthis,"ThenIamadeadmantoo",andwenthomeimmediatelyandsentforaneighbouringapothecarytogivehimsomethingpreventive,forhehadnotyetfoundhimselfill;buttheapothecary,openinghisbreast,fetchedasigh,andsaidnomorebutthis,"LookuptoGod";andthemandiedinafewhours。

Nowletanymanjudgefromacaselikethisifitispossiblefortheregulationsofmagistrates,eitherbyshuttingupthesickorremovingthem,tostopaninfectionwhichspreadsitselffrommantomanevenwhiletheyareperfectlywellandinsensibleofitsapproach,andmaybesoformanydays。

EndofPart5

Part6

Itmaybepropertoaskherehowlongitmaybesupposedmenmighthavetheseedsofthecontagioninthembeforeitdiscovereditselfinthisfatalmanner,andhowlongtheymightgoaboutseeminglywhole,andyetbecontagioustoallthosethatcamenearthem。IbelievethemostexperiencedphysicianscannotanswerthisquestiondirectlyanymorethanIcan;andsomethinganordinaryobservermaytakenoticeof,whichmaypasstheirobservations。Theopinionofphysiciansabroadseemstobethatitmayliedormantinthespiritsorintheblood—vesselsaveryconsiderabletime。Whyelsedotheyexactaquarantineofthosewhocameintotheirharboursandportsfromsuspectedplaces？Fortydaysis,onewouldthink,toolongfornaturetostrugglewithsuchanenemyasthis,andnotconqueritoryieldtoit。ButIcouldnotthink,bymyownobservation,thattheycanbeinfectedsoastobecontagioustoothersabovefifteenorsixteendaysatfurthest;andonthatscoreitwas,thatwhenahousewasshutupinthecityandanyonehaddiedoftheplague,butnobodyappearedtobeillinthefamilyforsixteenoreighteendaysafter,theywerenotsostrictbutthattheywouldconniveattheirgoingprivatelyabroad;norwouldpeoplebemuchafraidofthemafterward,butratherthinktheywerefortifiedthebetter,havingnotbeenvulnerablewhentheenemywasintheirownhouse;butwesometimesfoundithadlainmuchlongerconcealed。