buttheministersandpreachersofthePresbyteriansandIndependents,andofalltheothersortsofprofessions,hadbeguntogatherseparatesocietiesanderectaltaragainstaltar,andallthosehadtheirmeetingsforworshipapart,astheyhavenow,butnotsomanythen,theDissentersbeingnotthoroughlyformedintoabodyastheyaresince;
andthosecongregationswhichwerethusgatheredtogetherwereyetbutfew。Andeventhosethatwere,theGovernmentdidnotallow,butendeavouredtosuppressthemandshutuptheirmeetings。
Butthevisitationreconciledthemagain,atleastforatime,andmanyofthebestandmostvaluableministersandpreachersoftheDissentersweresufferedtogointothechurcheswheretheincumbentswerefledaway,asmanywere,notbeingabletostandit;
andthepeopleflockedwithoutdistinctiontohearthempreach,notmuchinquiringwhoorwhatopiniontheywereof。Butafterthesicknesswasover,thatspiritofcharityabated;andeverychurchbeingagainsuppliedwiththeirownministers,orotherspresentedwheretheministerwasdead,thingsreturnedtotheiroldchannelagain。
Onemischiefalwaysintroducesanother。Theseterrorsandapprehensionsofthepeopleledthemintoathousandweak,foolish,andwickedthings,whichtheywantednotasortofpeoplereallywickedtoencouragethemto:andthiswasrunningabouttofortune—
tellers,cunning—men,andastrologerstoknowtheirfortune,or,asitisvulgarlyexpressed,tohavetheirfortunestoldthem,theirnativitiescalculated,andthelike;andthisfollypresentlymadethetownswarmwithawickedgenerationofpretenderstomagic,totheblackart,astheycalledit,andIknownotwhat;nay,toathousandworsedealingswiththedevilthantheywerereallyguiltyof。Andthistradegrewsoopenandsogenerallypractisedthatitbecamecommontohavesignsandinscriptionssetupatdoors:\'Herelivesafortune—teller\',\'Herelivesanastrologer\',\'Hereyoumayhaveyournativitycalculated\',andthelike;andFriarBacon\'sbrazen—head,whichwastheusualsignofthesepeople\'sdwellings,wastobeseenalmostineverystreet,orelsethesignofMotherShipton,orofMerlin\'shead,andthelike。
Withwhatblind,absurd,andridiculousstufftheseoraclesofthedevilpleasedandsatisfiedthepeopleIreallyknownot,butcertainitisthatinnumerableattendantscrowdedabouttheirdoorseveryday。
Andifbutagravefellowinavelvetjacket,aband,andablackcoat,whichwasthehabitthosequack—conjurersgenerallywentin,wasbutseeninthestreetsthepeoplewouldfollowthemincrowds,andaskthemquestionsastheywentalong。
Ineednotmentionwhatahorriddelusionthiswas,orwhatittendedto;buttherewasnoremedyforittilltheplagueitselfputanendtoitall—and,Isuppose,clearedthetownofmostofthosecalculatorsthemselves。Onemischiefwas,thatifthepoorpeopleaskedthesemockastrologerswhethertherewouldbeaplagueorno,theyallagreedingeneraltoanswer\'Yes\',forthatkeptuptheirtrade。
Andhadthepeoplenotbeenkeptinafrightaboutthat,thewizardswouldpresentlyhavebeenrendereduseless,andtheircrafthadbeenatanend。Buttheyalwaystalkedtothemofsuch—and—suchinfluencesofthestars,oftheconjunctionsofsuch—and—suchplanets,whichmustnecessarilybringsicknessanddistempers,andconsequentlytheplague。Andsomehadtheassurancetotellthemtheplaguewasbegunalready,whichwastootrue,thoughtheythatsaidsoknewnothingofthematter。
Theministers,todothemjustice,andpreachersofmostsortsthatwereseriousandunderstandingpersons,thunderedagainsttheseandotherwickedpractices,andexposedthefollyaswellasthewickednessofthemtogether,andthemostsoberandjudiciouspeopledespisedandabhorredthem。Butitwasimpossibletomakeanyimpressionuponthemiddlingpeopleandtheworkinglabouringpoor。
Theirfearswerepredominantoveralltheirpassions,andtheythrewawaytheirmoneyinamostdistractedmanneruponthosewhimsies。
Maid—servantsespecially,andmen—servants,werethechiefoftheircustomers,andtheirquestiongenerallywas,afterthefirstdemandof\'Willtherebeaplague？\'Isay,thenextquestionwas,\'Oh,sirIfortheLord\'ssake,whatwillbecomeofme？Willmymistresskeepme,orwillsheturnmeoff？Willshestayhere,orwillshegointothecountry？Andifshegoesintothecountry,willshetakemewithher,orleavemeheretobestarvedandundone？\'Andthelikeofmenservants。
Thetruthis,thecaseofpoorservantswasverydismal,asIshallhaveoccasiontomentionagainby—and—by,foritwasapparentaprodigiousnumberofthemwouldbeturnedaway,anditwasso。Andofthemabundanceperished,andparticularlyofthosethatthesefalseprophetshadflatteredwithhopesthattheyshouldbecontinuedintheirservices,andcarriedwiththeirmastersandmistressesintothecountry;andhadnotpubliccharityprovidedforthesepoorcreatures,whosenumberwasexceedinggreatandinallcasesofthisnaturemustbeso,theywouldhavebeenintheworstconditionofanypeopleinthecity。
Thesethingsagitatedthemindsofthecommonpeopleformanymonths,whilethefirstapprehensionswereuponthem,andwhiletheplaguewasnot,asImaysay,yetbrokenout。ButImustalsonotforgetthatthemoreseriouspartoftheinhabitantsbehavedafteranothermanner。TheGovernmentencouragedtheirdevotion,andappointedpublicprayersanddaysoffastingandhumiliation,tomakepublicconfessionofsinandimplorethemercyofGodtoavertthedreadfuljudgementwhichhungovertheirheads;anditisnottoheexpressedwithwhatalacritythepeopleofallpersuasionsembracedtheoccasion;howtheyflockedtothechurchesandmeetings,andtheywereallsothrongedthattherewasoftennocomingnear,no,nottotheverydoorsofthelargestchurches。Alsothereweredailyprayersappointedmorningandeveningatseveralchurches,anddaysofprivateprayingatotherplaces;atallwhichthepeopleattended,Isay,withanuncommondevotion。Severalprivatefamiliesalso,aswellofoneopinionasofanother,keptfamilyfasts,towhichtheyadmittedtheirnearrelationsonly。Sothat,inaword,thosepeoplewhowerereallyseriousandreligiousappliedthemselvesinatrulyChristianmannertotheproperworkofrepentanceandhumiliation,asaChristianpeopleoughttodo。
Again,thepublicshowedthattheywouldbeartheirsharein。thesethings;theveryCourt,whichwasthengayandluxurious,putonafaceofjustconcernforthepublicdanger。Alltheplaysandinterludeswhich,afterthemanneroftheFrenchCourt,hadbeensetup,andbegantoincreaseamongus,wereforbidtoact;thegaming—tables,publicdancing—rooms,andmusic—houses,whichmultipliedandbegantodebauchthemannersofthepeople,wereshutupandsuppressed;
andthejack—puddings,merry—andrews,puppet—shows,rope—dancers,andsuch—likedoings,whichhadbewitchedthepoorcommonpeople,shutuptheirshops,findingindeednotrade;forthemindsofthepeoplewereagitatedwithotherthings,andakindofsadnessandhorroratthesethingssatuponthecountenancesevenofthecommonpeople。Deathwasbeforetheireyes,andeverybodybegantothinkoftheirgraves,notofmirthanddiversions。
Buteventhosewholesomereflections—which,rightlymanaged,wouldhavemosthappilyledthepeopletofallupontheirknees,makeconfessionoftheirsins,andlookuptotheirmercifulSaviourforpardon,imploringHiscompassionontheminsuchatimeoftheirdistress,bywhichwemighthavebeenasasecondNineveh—hadaquitecontraryextremeinthecommonpeople,who,ignorantandstupidintheirreflectionsastheywerebrutishlywickedandthoughtlessbefore,werenowledbytheirfrighttoextremesoffolly;
and,asIhavesaidbefore,thattheyrantoconjurersandwitches,andallsortsofdeceivers,toknowwhatshouldbecomeofthem（whofedtheirfears,andkeptthemalwaysalarmedandawakeonpurposetodeludethemandpicktheirpockets）,sotheywereasmadupontheirrunningafterquacksandmountebanks,andeverypractisingoldwoman,formedicinesandremedies;storingthemselveswithsuchmultitudesofpills,potions,andpreservatives,astheywerecalled,thattheynotonlyspenttheirmoneybutevenpoisonedthemselvesbeforehandforfearofthepoisonoftheinfection;andpreparedtheirbodiesfortheplague,insteadofpreservingthemagainstit。Ontheotherhanditisincredibleandscarcetobeimagined,howthepostsofhousesandcornersofstreetswereplasteredoverwithdoctors\'billsandpapersofignorantfellows,quackingandtamperinginphysic,andinvitingthepeopletocometothemforremedies,whichwasgenerallysetoffwithsuchflourishesasthese,viz。:\'Infalliblepreventivepillsagainsttheplague。\'\'Neverfailingpreservativesagainsttheinfection。\'
\'Sovereigncordialsagainstthecorruptionoftheair。\'\'Exactregulationsfortheconductofthebodyincaseofaninfection。\'\'Anti—pestilentialpills。\'\'Incomparabledrinkagainsttheplague,neverfoundoutbefore。\'
\'Anuniversalremedyfortheplague。\'\'Theonlytrueplaguewater。\'\'Theroyalantidoteagainstallkindsofinfection\';—andsuchanumbermorethatIcannotreckonup;andifIcould,wouldfillabookofthemselvestosetthemdown。
Otherssetupbillstosummonpeopletotheirlodgingsfordirectionsandadviceinthecaseofinfection。Thesehadspecioustitlesalso,suchasthese:—
\'AneminentHighDutchphysician,newlycomeoverfromHolland,whereheresidedduringallthetimeofthegreatplaguelastyearinAmsterdam,andcuredmultitudesofpeoplethatactuallyhadtheplagueuponthem。\'
\'AnItaliangentlewomanjustarrivedfromNaples,havingachoicesecrettopreventinfection,whichshefoundoutbyhergreatexperience,anddidwonderfulcureswithitinthelateplaguethere,whereintheredied20,000inoneday。\'
\'Anancientgentlewoman,havingpractisedwithgreatsuccessinthelateplagueinthiscity,anno1636,givesheradviceonlytothefemalesex。Tobespokenwith,\'&c。
\'Anexperiencedphysician,whohaslongstudiedthedoctrineofantidotesagainstallsortsofpoisonandinfection,has,afterfortyyears\'practice,arrivedtosuchskillasmay,withGod\'sblessing,directpersonshowtopreventtheirbeingtouchedbyanycontagiousdistemperwhatsoever。Hedirectsthepoorgratis。\'
Itakenoticeofthesebywayofspecimen。Icouldgiveyoutwoorthreedozenofthelikeandyethaveabundanceleftbehind。\'Tissufficientfromthesetoappriseanyoneofthehumourofthosetimes,andhowasetofthievesandpickpocketsnotonlyrobbedandcheatedthepoorpeopleoftheirmoney,butpoisonedtheirbodieswithodiousandfatalpreparations;somewithmercury,andsomewithotherthingsasbad,perfectlyremotefromthethingpretendedto,andratherhurtfulthanserviceabletothebodyincaseaninfectionfollowed。
Icannotomitasubtilityofoneofthosequackoperators,withwhichhegulledthepoorpeopletocrowdabouthim,butdidnothingforthemwithoutmoney。Hehad,itseems,addedtohisbills,whichhegaveaboutthestreets,thisadvertisementincapitalletters,viz。,\'Hegivesadvicetothepoorfornothing。\'
Abundanceofpoorpeoplecametohimaccordingly,towhomhemadeagreatmanyfinespeeches,examinedthemofthestateoftheirhealthandoftheconstitutionoftheirbodies,andtoldthemmanygoodthingsforthemtodo,whichwereofnogreatmoment。Buttheissueandconclusionofallwas,thathehadapreparationwhichiftheytooksuchaquantityofeverymorning,hewouldpawnhislifetheyshouldneverhavetheplague;no,thoughtheylivedinthehousewithpeoplethatwereinfected。Thismadethepeopleallresolvetohaveit;butthenthepriceofthatwassomuch,Ithink\'twashalf—a—
crown。\'But,sir,\'saysonepoorwoman,\'Iamapooralmswomanandamkeptbytheparish,andyourbillssayyougivethepooryourhelpfornothing。\'\'Ay,goodwoman,\'saysthedoctor,\'soIdo,asIpublishedthere。Igivemyadvicetothepoorfornothing,butnotmyphysic。\'
\'Alas,sir！\'saysshe,\'thatisasnarelaidforthepoor,then;foryougivethemadvicefornothing;thatistosay,youadvisethemgratis,tobuyyourphysicfortheirmoney;sodoeseveryshop—keeperwithhiswares。\'Herethewomanbegantogivehimillwords,andstoodathisdoorallthatday,tellinghertaletoallthepeoplethatcame,tillthedoctorfindingsheturnedawayhiscustomers,wasobligedtocallherupstairsagain,andgiveherhisboxofphysicfornothing,whichperhaps,too,wasgoodfornothingwhenshehadit。
Buttoreturntothepeople,whoseconfusionsfittedthemtobeimposeduponbyallsortsofpretendersandbyeverymountebank。
Thereisnodoubtbutthesequackingsortoffellowsraisedgreatgainsoutofthemiserablepeople,forwedailyfoundthecrowdsthatranafterthemwereinfinitelygreater,andtheirdoorsweremorethrongedthanthoseofDrBrooks,DrUpton,DrHodges,DrBerwick,orany,thoughthemostfamousmenofthetime。IAndIwastoldthatsomeofthemgotfivepoundsadaybytheirphysic。
Buttherewasstillanothermadnessbeyondallthis,whichmayservetogiveanideaofthedistractedhumourofthepoorpeopleatthattime:andthiswastheirfollowingaworsesortofdeceiversthananyofthese;forthesepettythievesonlydeludedthemtopicktheirpocketsandgettheirmoney,inwhichtheirwickedness,whateveritwas,laychieflyonthesideofthedeceivers,notuponthedeceived。
ButinthispartIamgoingtomention,itlaychieflyinthepeopledeceived,orequallyinboth;andthiswasinwearingcharms,philtres,exorcisms,amulets,andIknownotwhatpreparations,tofortifythebodywiththemagainsttheplague;asiftheplaguewasnotthehandofGod,butakindofpossessionofanevilspirit,andthatitwastobekeptoffwithcrossings,signsofthezodiac,paperstiedupwithsomanyknots,andcertainwordsorfigureswrittenonthem,asparticularlythewordAbracadabra,formedintriangleorpyramid,thus:—
ABRACADABRA
ABRACADABROthershadtheJesuits\'
ABRACADABmarkinacross:
ABRACADAIH
ABRACADS。
ABRACA
ABRACOthersnothingbutthisABRAmark,thus:
ABR
AB**
A{*}
**
Imightspendagreatdealoftimeinmyexclamationsagainstthefollies,andindeedthewickedness,ofthosethings,inatimeofsuchdanger,inamatterofsuchconsequencesasthis,ofanationalinfection。Butmymemorandumsofthesethingsrelaterathertotakenoticeonlyofthefact,andmentiononlythatitwasso。Howthepoorpeoplefoundtheinsufficiencyofthosethings,andhowmanyofthemwereafterwardscarriedawayinthedead—cartsandthrownintothecommongravesofeveryparishwiththesehellishcharmsandtrumperyhangingabouttheirnecks,remainstobespokenofaswegoalong。
Allthiswastheeffectofthehurrythepeoplewerein,afterthefirstnotionoftheplaquebeingathandwasamongthem,andwhichmaybesaidtobefromaboutMichaelmas1664,butmoreparticularlyafterthetwomendiedinStGiles\'sinthebeginningofDecember;
andagain,afteranotheralarminFebruary。Forwhentheplagueevidentlyspreaditself,theysoonbegantoseethefollyoftrustingtothoseunperformingcreatureswhohadgulledthemoftheirmoney;
andthentheirfearsworkedanotherway,namely,toamazementandstupidity,notknowingwhatcoursetotakeorwhattodoeithertohelporrelievethemselves。Buttheyranaboutfromoneneighbour\'shousetoanother,andeveninthestreetsfromonedoortoanother,withrepeatedcriesof,\'Lord,havemercyuponus！Whatshallwedo？\'
Indeed,thepoorpeopleweretobepitiedinoneparticularthinginwhichtheyhadlittleornorelief,andwhichIdesiretomentionwithaseriousaweandreflection,whichperhapseveryonethatreadsthismaynotrelish;namely,thatwhereasdeathnowbegannot,aswemaysay,tohoverovereveryone\'sheadonly,buttolookintotheirhousesandchambersandstareintheirfaces。Thoughtheremightbesomestupidityanddulnessofthemind（andtherewasso,agreatdeal）,yettherewasagreatdealofjustalarmsoundedintotheveryinmostsoul,ifImaysosay,ofothers。Manyconscienceswereawakened;manyhardheartsmeltedintotears;manyapenitentconfessionwasmadeofcrimeslongconcealed。ItwouldwoundthesoulofanyChristiantohaveheardthedyinggroansofmanyadespairingcreature,andnonedurstcomeneartocomfortthem。Manyarobbery,manyamurder,wasthenconfessedaloud,andnobodysurvivingtorecordtheaccountsofit。Peoplemightbeheard,evenintothestreetsaswepassedalong,callinguponGodformercythroughJesusChrist,andsaying,\'Ihavebeenathief,\'Ihavebeenanadulterer\',\'Ihavebeenamurderer\',andthelike,andnonedurststoptomaketheleastinquiryintosuchthingsortoadministercomforttothepoorcreaturesthatintheanguishbothofsoulandbodythuscriedout。Someoftheministersdidvisitthesickatfirstandforalittlewhile,butitwasnottobedone。Itwouldhavebeenpresentdeathtohavegoneintosomehouses。Theveryburiersofthedead,whowerethehardenedestcreaturesintown,weresometimesbeatenbackandsoterrifiedthattheydurstnotgointohouseswherethewholefamiliesweresweptawaytogether,andwherethecircumstancesweremoreparticularlyhorrible,assomewere;butthiswas,indeed,atthefirstheatofthedistemper。
Timeinuredthemtoitall,andtheyventuredeverywhereafterwardswithouthesitation,asIshallhaveoccasiontomentionatlargehereafter。
Iamsupposingnowtheplaguetobebegun,asIhavesaid,andthatthemagistratesbegantotaketheconditionofthepeopleintotheirseriousconsideration。Whattheydidastotheregulationoftheinhabitantsandofinfectedfamilies,Ishallspeaktobyitself;butastotheaffairofhealth,itispropertomentionitherethat,havingseenthefoolishhumourofthepeopleinrunningafterquacksandmountebanks,wizardsandfortune—tellers,whichtheydidasabove,eventomadness,theLordMayor,averysoberandreligiousgentleman,appointedphysiciansandsurgeonsforreliefofthepoor—I
meanthediseasedpoorandinparticularorderedtheCollegeofPhysicianstopublishdirectionsforcheapremediesforthepoor,inallthecircumstancesofthedistemper。This,indeed,wasoneofthemostcharitableandjudiciousthingsthatcouldbedoneatthattime,forthisdrovethepeoplefromhauntingthedoorsofeverydisperserofbills,andfromtakingdownblindlyandwithoutconsiderationpoisonforphysicanddeathinsteadoflife。
ThisdirectionofthephysicianswasdonebyaconsultationofthewholeCollege;and,asitwasparticularlycalculatedfortheuseofthepoorandforcheapmedicines,itwasmadepublic,sothateverybodymightseeit,andcopiesweregivengratistoallthatdesiredit。Butasitispublic,andtobeseenonalloccasions,Ineednotgivethereaderofthisthetroubleofit。
IshallnotbesupposedtolessentheauthorityorcapacityofthephysicianswhenIsaythattheviolenceofthedistemper,whenitcametoitsextremity,waslikethefirethenextyear。Thefire,whichconsumedwhattheplaguecouldnottouch,defiedalltheapplicationofremedies;thefire—engineswerebroken,thebucketsthrownaway,andthepowerofmanwasbaffledandbroughttoanend。SothePlaguedefiedallmedicines;theveryphysicianswereseizedwithit,withtheirpreservativesintheirmouths;andmenwentaboutprescribingtoothersandtellingthemwhattodotillthetokenswereuponthem,andtheydroppeddowndead,destroyedbythatveryenemytheydirectedotherstooppose。Thiswasthecaseofseveralphysicians,evensomeofthemthemosteminent,andofseveralofthemostskilfulsurgeons。Abundanceofquackstoodied,whohadthefollytotrusttotheirownmedicines,whichtheymustneedsbeconscioustothemselvesweregoodfornothing,andwhoratherought,likeothersortsofthieves,tohaverunaway,sensibleoftheirguilt,fromthejusticethattheycouldnotbutexpectshouldpunishthemastheyknewtheyhaddeserved。
Notthatitisanyderogationfromthelabourorapplicationofthephysicianstosaytheyfellinthecommoncalamity;norisitsointendedbyme;itratheristotheirpraisethattheyventuredtheirlivessofaraseventolosethemintheserviceofmankind。Theyendeavouredtodogood,andtosavethelivesofothers。ButwewerenottoexpectthatthephysicianscouldstopGod\'sjudgements,orpreventadistempereminentlyarmedfromheavenfromexecutingtheerranditwassentabout。
Doubtless,thephysiciansassistedmanybytheirskill,andbytheirprudenceandapplications,tothesavingoftheirlivesandrestoringtheirhealth。Butitisnotlesseningtheircharacterortheirskill,tosaytheycouldnotcurethosethathadthetokensuponthem,orthosewhoweremortallyinfectedbeforethephysiciansweresentfor,aswasfrequentlythecase。
Itremainstomentionnowwhatpublicmeasuresweretakenbythemagistratesforthegeneralsafety,andtopreventthespreadingofthedistemper,whenitfirstbrokeout。Ishallhavefrequentoccasiontospeakoftheprudenceofthemagistrates,theircharity,theirvigilanceforthepoor,andforpreservinggoodorder,furnishingprovisions,andthelike,whentheplaguewasincreased,asitafterwardswas。ButI
amnowupontheorderandregulationstheypublishedforthegovernmentofinfectedfamilies。
Imentionedaboveshuttingofhousesup;anditisneedfultosaysomethingparticularlytothat,forthispartofthehistoryoftheplagueisverymelancholy,butthemostgrievousstorymustbetold。
AboutJunetheLordMayorofLondonandtheCourtofAldermen,asIhavesaid,beganmoreparticularlytoconcernthemselvesfortheregulationofthecity。
ThejusticesofPeaceforMiddlesex,bydirectionoftheSecretaryofState,hadbeguntoshutuphousesintheparishesofStGiles—in—the—
Fields,StMartin,StClementDanes,&c。,anditwaswithgoodsuccess;forinseveralstreetswheretheplaguebrokeout,uponstrictguardingthehousesthatwereinfected,andtakingcaretoburythosethatdiedimmediatelyaftertheywereknowntobedead,theplagueceasedinthosestreets。ItwasalsoobservedthattheplaguedecreasedsoonerinthoseparishesaftertheyhadbeenvisitedtothefullthanitdidintheparishesofBishopsgate,Shoreditch,Aldgate,Whitechappel,Stepney,andothers;theearlycaretakeninthatmannerbeingagreatmeanstotheputtingachecktoit。
Thisshuttingupofhouseswasamethodfirsttaken,asIunderstand,intheplaguewhichhappenedin1603,atthecomingofKingJamestheFirsttothecrown;andthepowerofshuttingpeopleupintheirownhouseswasgrantedbyActofParliament,entitled,\'AnActforthecharitableReliefandOrderingofPersonsinfectedwiththePlague\';
onwhichActofParliamenttheLordMayorandaldermenofthecityofLondonfoundedtheordertheymadeatthistime,andwhichtookplacethe1stofJuly1665,whenthenumbersinfectedwithinthecitywerebutfew,thelastbillfortheninety—twoparishesbeingbutfour;
andsomehouseshavingbeenshutupinthecity,andsomepeoplebeingremovedtothepest—housebeyondBunhillFields,inthewaytoIslington,—Isay,bythesemeans,whentherediednearonethousandaweekinthewhole,thenumberinthecitywasbuttwenty—eight,andthecitywaspreservedmorehealthyinproportionthananyotherplaceallthetimeoftheinfection。
TheseordersofmyLordMayor\'swerepublished,asIhavesaid,thelatterendofJune,andtookplacefromthe1stofJuly,andwereasfollows,viz。:—
ORDERSCONCEIVEDANDPUBLISHEDBYTHELORD
MAYORANDALDERMENOFTHECITYOFLONDON
CONCERNINGTHEINFECTIONOFTHEPLAGUE,1665。
\'WHEREASinthereignofourlateSovereignKingJames,ofhappymemory,anActwasmadeforthecharitablereliefandorderingofpersonsinfectedwiththeplague,wherebyauthoritywasgiventojusticesofthepeace,mayors,bailiffs,andotherhead—officerstoappointwithintheirseverallimitsexaminers,searchers,watchmen,keepers,andburiersforthepersonsandplacesinfected,andtoministeruntothemoathsfortheperformanceoftheiroffices。Andthesamestatutedidalsoauthorisethegivingofotherdirections,asuntothemforthepresentnecessityshouldseemgoodintheirdirections。Itisnow,uponspecialconsideration,thoughtveryexpedientforpreventingandavoidingofinfectionofsickness（ifitshallsopleaseAlmightyGod）thattheseofficersfollowingbeappointed,andtheseordershereafterdulyobserved。
ExaminerstobeappointedineveryParish。
\'First,itisthoughtrequisite,andsoordered,thatineveryparishtherebeone,two,ormorepersonsofgoodsortandcreditchosenandappointedbythealderman,hisdeputy,andcommoncouncilofeveryward,bythenameofexaminers,tocontinueinthatofficethespaceoftwomonthsatleast。Andifanyfitpersonsoappointedshallrefusetoundertakethesame,thesaidpartiessorefusingtobecommittedtoprisonuntiltheyshallconformthemselvesaccordingly。
TheExaminer\'sOffice。
\'Thattheseexaminersheswornbythealdermentoinquireandlearnfromtimetotimewhathousesineveryparishbevisited,andwhatpersonsbesick,andofwhatdiseases,asnearastheycaninformthemselves;andupondoubtinthatcase,tocommandrestraintofaccessuntilitappearwhatthediseaseshallprove。Andiftheyfindanypersonsickoftheinfection,togiveordertotheconstablethatthehousebeshutup;andiftheconstableshallbefoundremissornegligent,togivepresentnoticethereoftothealdermanoftheward。
