sothedoorwasmarkedwitharedcross,apadlockontheoutside,asabove,andawatchmansettokeepthedoor,accordingtopublicorder。
Afterthemasterofthehousefoundtherewasnoremedy,butthathe,hiswife,andhischildrenweretobelockedupwiththispoordistemperedservant,hecalledtothewatchman,andtoldhimhemustgothenandfetchanurseforthemtoattendthispoorgirl,forthatitwouldbecertaindeathtothemalltoobligethemtonurseher;andtoldhimplainlythatifhewouldnotdothis,themaidmustperisheitherofthedistemperorbestarvedforwantoffood,forhewasresolvednoneofhisfamilyshouldgonearher;andshelayinthegarretfourstoreyhigh,whereshecouldnotcryout,orcalltoanybodyforhelp。
Thewatchmanconsentedtothat,andwentandfetchedanurse,ashewasappointed,andbroughthertothemthesameevening。Duringthisintervalthemasterofthehousetookhisopportunitytobreakalargeholethroughhisshopintoabulkorstall,whereformerlyacobblerhadsat,beforeorunderhisshop—window;butthetenant,asmaybesupposedatsuchadismaltimeasthat,wasdeadorremoved,andsohehadthekeyinhisownkeeping。Havingmadehiswayintothisstall,whichhecouldnothavedoneifthemanhadbeenatthedoor,thenoisehewasobligedtomakebeingsuchaswouldhavealarmedthewatchman;Isay,havingmadehiswayintothisstall,hesatstilltillthewatchmanreturnedwiththenurse,andallthenextdayalso。Butthenightfollowing,havingcontrivedtosendthewatchmanofanothertriflingerrand,which,asItakeit,wastoanapothecary\'sforaplaisterforthemaid,whichhewastostayforthemakingup,orsomeothersucherrandthatmightsecurehisstayingsometime;inthattimeheconveyedhimselfandallhisfamilyoutofthehouse,andleftthenurseandthewatchmantoburythepoorwench—thatis,throwherintothecart—andtakecareofthehouse。
Icouldgiveagreatmanysuchstoriesasthese,divertingenough,whichinthelongcourseofthatdismalyearImetwith—thatis,heardof—andwhichareverycertaintobetrue,orverynearthetruth;thatistosay,trueinthegeneral:fornomancouldatsuchatimelearnalltheparticulars。Therewaslikewiseviolenceusedwiththewatchmen,aswasreported,inabundanceofplaces;andIbelievethatfromthebeginningofthevisitationtotheend,therewasnotlessthaneighteenortwentyofthemkilled,orsowoundedastobetakenupfordead,whichwassupposedtobedonebythepeopleintheinfectedhouseswhichwereshutup,andwheretheyattemptedtocomeoutandwereopposed。
Nor,indeed,couldlessbeexpected,forhereweresomanyprisonsinthetownastherewerehousesshutup;andasthepeopleshutuporimprisonedsowereguiltyofnocrime,onlyshutupbecausemiserable,itwasreallythemoreintolerabletothem。
Ithadalsothisdifference,thateveryprison,aswemaycallit,hadbutonejailer,andashehadthewholehousetoguard,andthatmanyhousesweresosituatedasthattheyhadseveralwaysout,somemore,someless,andsomeintoseveralstreets,itwasimpossibleforonemansotoguardallthepassagesastopreventtheescapeofpeoplemadedesperatebythefrightoftheircircumstances,bytheresentmentoftheirusage,orbytheragingofthedistemperitself;sothattheywouldtalktothewatchmanononesideofthehouse,whilethefamilymadetheirescapeatanother。
Forexample,inColemanStreetthereareabundanceofalleys,asappearsstill。AhousewasshutupinthattheycallWhite\'sAlley;
andthishousehadaback—window,notadoor,intoacourtwhichhadapassageintoBellAlley。Awatchmanwassetbytheconstableatthedoorofthishouse,andtherehestood,orhiscomrade,nightandday,whilethefamilywentallawayintheeveningoutatthatwindowintothecourt,andleftthepoorfellowswardingandwatchingfornearafortnight。
Notfarfromthesameplacetheyblewupawatchmanwithgunpowder,andburnedthepoorfellowdreadfully;andwhilehemadehideouscries,andnobodywouldventuretocomeneartohelphim,thewholefamilythatwereabletostirgotoutatthewindowsonestoreyhigh,twothatwereleftsickcallingoutforhelp。Carewastakentogivethemnursestolookafterthem,butthepersonsfledwereneverfound,tillaftertheplaguewasabatedtheyreturned;butasnothingcouldbeproved,sonothingcouldbedonetothem。
Itistobeconsidered,too,thatasthesewereprisonswithoutbarsandbolts,whichourcommonprisonsarefurnishedwith,sothepeopleletthemselvesdownoutoftheirwindows,eveninthefaceofthewatchman,bringingswordsorpistolsintheirhands,andthreateningthepoorwretchtoshoothimifhestirredorcalledforhelp。
Inothercases,somehadgardens,andwallsorpales,betweenthemandtheirneighbours,oryardsandback—houses;andthese,byfriendshipandentreaties,wouldgetleavetogetoverthosewallsorpales,andsogooutattheirneighbours\'doors;or,bygivingmoneytotheirservants,getthemtoletthemthroughinthenight;sothatinshort,theshuttingupofhouseswasinnowisetobedependedupon。
Neitherdiditanswertheendatall,servingmoretomakethepeopledesperate,anddrivethemtosuchextremitiesasthattheywouldbreakoutatalladventures。
Andthatwhichwasstillworse,thosethatdidthusbreakoutspreadtheinfectionfartherbytheirwanderingaboutwiththedistemperuponthem,intheirdesperatecircumstances,thantheywouldotherwisehavedone;forwhoeverconsidersalltheparticularsinsuchcasesmustacknowledge,andwecannotdoubtbuttheseverityofthoseconfinementsmademanypeopledesperate,andmadethemrunoutoftheirhousesatallhazards,andwiththeplaguevisiblyuponthem,notknowingeitherwhithertogoorwhattodo,or,indeed,whattheydid;
andmanythatdidsoweredriventodreadfulexigenciesandextremities,andperishedinthestreetsorfieldsformerewant,ordroppeddownbytheragingviolenceofthefeveruponthem。Otherswanderedintothecountry,andwentforwardanyway,astheirdesperationguidedthem,notknowingwhithertheywentorwouldgo:
till,faintandtired,andnotgettinganyrelief,thehousesandvillagesontheroadrefusingtoadmitthemtolodgewhetherinfectedorno,theyhaveperishedbytheroadsideorgottenintobarnsanddiedthere,nonedaringtocometothemorrelievethem,thoughperhapsnotinfected,fornobodywouldbelievethem。
Ontheotherhand,whentheplagueatfirstseizedafamilythatistosay,whenanybodyofthefamilyhadgoneoutandunwarilyorotherwisecatchedthedistemperandbroughtithome—itwascertainlyknownbythefamilybeforeitwasknowntotheofficers,who,asyouwillseebytheorder,wereappointedtoexamineintothecircumstancesofallsickpersonswhentheyheardoftheirbeingsick。
Inthisinterval,betweentheirbeingtakensickandtheexaminerscoming,themasterofthehousehadleisureandlibertytoremovehimselforallhisfamily,ifheknewwhithertogo,andmanydidso。
Butthegreatdisasterwasthatmanydidthusaftertheywerereallyinfectedthemselves,andsocarriedthediseaseintothehousesofthosewhoweresohospitableastoreceivethem;which,itmustbeconfessed,wasverycruelandungrateful。
Andthiswasinpartthereasonofthegeneralnotion,orscandalrather,whichwentaboutofthetemperofpeopleinfected:namely,thattheydidnottaketheleastcareormakeanyscrupleofinfectingothers,thoughIcannotsaybuttheremightbesometruthinittoo,butnotsogeneralaswasreported。WhatnaturalreasoncouldbegivenforsowickedathingatatimewhentheymightconcludethemselvesjustgoingtoappearatthebarofDivinejusticeIknownot。IamverywellsatisfiedthatitcannotbereconciledtoreligionandprincipleanymorethanitcanbetogenerosityandHumanity,butImayspeakofthatagain。
Iamspeakingnowofpeoplemadedesperatebytheapprehensionsoftheirbeingshutup,andtheirbreakingoutbystratagemorforce,eitherbeforeoraftertheywereshutup,whosemiserywasnotlessenedwhentheywereout,butsadlyincreased。Ontheotherhand,manythatthusgotawayhadretreatstogotoandotherhouses,wheretheylockedthemselvesupandkepthidtilltheplaguewasover;andmanyfamilies,foreseeingtheapproachofthedistemper,laidupstoresofprovisionssufficientfortheirwholefamilies,andshutthemselvesup,andthatsoentirelythattheywereneitherseenorheardoftilltheinfectionwasquiteceased,andthencameabroadsoundandwell。Imightrecollectseveralsuchasthese,andgiveyoutheparticularsoftheirmanagement;fordoubtlessitwasthemosteffectualsecurestepthatcouldbetakenforsuchwhosecircumstanceswouldnotadmitthemtoremove,orwhohadnotretreatsabroadproperforthecase;forinbeingthusshutuptheywereasiftheyhadbeenahundredmilesoff。NordoIrememberthatanyoneofthosefamiliesmiscarried。Amongthese,severalDutchmerchantswereparticularlyremarkable,whokepttheirhouseslikelittlegarrisonsbesiegedsufferingnonetogoinoroutorcomenearthem,particularlyoneinacourtinThrogmortonStreetwhosehouselookedintoDraper\'sGarden。
ButIcomebacktothecaseoffamiliesinfectedandshutupbythemagistrates。Themiseryofthosefamiliesisnottobeexpressed;anditwasgenerallyinsuchhousesthatweheardthemostdismalshrieksandoutcriesofthepoorpeople,terrifiedandevenfrightedtodeathbythesightoftheconditionoftheirdearestrelations,andbytheterrorofbeingimprisonedastheywere。
Iremember,andwhileIamwritingthisstoryIthinkIheartheverysoundofit,acertainladyhadanonlydaughter,ayoungmaidenaboutnineteenyearsold,andwhowaspossessedofaveryconsiderablefortune。Theywereonlylodgersinthehousewheretheywere。Theyoungwoman,hermother,andthemaidhadbeenabroadonsomeoccasion,Idonotrememberwhat,forthehousewasnotshutup;butabouttwohoursaftertheycamehometheyoungladycomplainedshewasnotwell;inaquarterofanhourmoreshevomitedandhadaviolentpaininherhead。\'PrayGod\',sayshermother,inaterriblefright,\'mychildhasnotthedistemper！\'Thepaininherheadincreasing,hermotherorderedthebedtobewarmed,andresolvedtoputhertobed,andpreparedtogiveherthingstosweat,whichwastheordinaryremedytobetakenwhenthefirstapprehensionsofthedistemperbegan。
Whilethebedwasairingthemotherundressedtheyoungwoman,andjustasshewaslaiddowninthebed,she,lookinguponherbodywithacandle,immediatelydiscoveredthefataltokensontheinsideofherthighs。Hermother,notbeingabletocontainherself,threwdownhercandleandshriekedoutinsuchafrightfulmannerthatitwasenoughtoplacehorroruponthestoutestheartintheworld;norwasitonescreamoronecry,butthefrighthavingseizedherspirits,she—faintedfirst,thenrecovered,thenranalloverthehouse,upthestairsanddownthestairs,likeonedistracted,andindeedreallywasdistracted,andcontinuedscreechingandcryingoutforseveralhoursvoidofallsense,oratleastgovernmentofhersenses,and,asIwastold,nevercamethoroughlytoherselfagain。Astotheyoungmaiden,shewasadeadcorpsefromthatmoment,forthegangrenewhichoccasionsthespotshadspread[over]herwholebody,andshediedinlessthantwohours。Butstillthemothercontinuedcryingout,notknowinganythingmoreofherchild,severalhoursaftershewasdead。
ItissolongagothatIamnotcertain,butIthinkthemotherneverrecovered,butdiedintwoorthreeweeksafter。
Thiswasanextraordinarycase,andIamthereforethemoreparticularinit,becauseIcamesomuchtotheknowledgeofit;buttherewereinnumerablesuch—likecases,anditwasseldomthattheweeklybillcameinbutthereweretwoorthreeputin,\'frighted\';thatis,thatmaywellbecalledfrightedtodeath。Butbesidesthosewhoweresofrightedastodieuponthespot,thereweregreatnumbersfrightedtootherextremes,somefrightedoutoftheirsenses,someoutoftheirmemory,andsomeoutoftheirunderstanding。ButIreturntotheshuttingupofhouses。
Asseveralpeople,Isay,gotoutoftheirhousesbystratagemaftertheywereshutUP,soothersgotoutbybribingthewatchmen,andgivingthemmoneytoletthemgoprivatelyoutinthenight。ImustconfessIthoughtitatthattimethemostinnocentcorruptionorbriberythatanymancouldbeguiltyof,andthereforecouldnotbutpitythepoormen,andthinkitwashardwhenthreeofthosewatchmenwerepubliclywhippedthroughthestreetsforsufferingpeopletogooutofhousesshutup。
Butnotwithstandingthatseverity,moneyprevailedwiththepoormen,andmanyfamiliesfoundmeanstomakesalliesout,andescapethatwayaftertheyhadbeenshutup;buttheseweregenerallysuchashadsomeplacestoretireto;andthoughtherewasnoeasypassingtheroadsanywhitherafterthe1stofAugust,yetthereweremanywaysofretreat,andparticularly,asIhinted,somegottentsandsetthemupinthefields,carryingbedsorstrawtolieon,andprovisionstoeat,andsolivedinthemashermitsinacell,fornobodywouldventuretocomenearthem;andseveralstoriesweretoldofsuch,somecomical,sometragical,somewholivedlikewanderingpilgrimsinthedeserts,andescapedbymakingthemselvesexilesinsuchamannerasisscarcetobecredited,andwhoyetenjoyedmorelibertythanwastobeexpectedinsuchcases。
Ihavebymeastoryoftwobrothersandtheirkinsman,whobeingsinglemen,butthathadstayedinthecitytoolongtogetaway,andindeednotknowingwheretogotohaveanyretreat,norhavingwherewithtotravelfar,tookacoursefortheirownpreservation,whichthoughinitselfatfirstdesperate,yetwassonaturalthatitmaybewonderedthatnomoredidsoatthattime。Theywerebutofmeancondition,andyetnotsoverypoorasthattheycouldnotfurnishthemselveswithsomelittleconveniencessuchasmightservetokeeplifeandsoultogether;andfindingthedistemperincreasinginaterriblemanner,theyresolvedtoshiftaswellastheycould,andtobegone。
Oneofthemhadbeenasoldierinthelatewars,andbeforethatintheLowCountries,andhavingbeenbredtonoparticularemploymentbuthisarms,andbesidesbeingwounded,andnotabletoworkveryhard,hadforsometimebeenemployedatabaker\'sofsea—biscuitinWapping。
Thebrotherofthismanwasaseamantoo,butsomehoworotherhadbeenhurtofoneleg,thathecouldnotgotosea,buthadworkedforhislivingatasailmaker\'sinWapping,orthereabouts;andbeingagoodhusband,hadlaidupsomemoney,andwastherichestofthethree。
Thethirdmanwasajoinerorcarpenterbytrade,ahandyfellow,andhehadnowealthbuthisboxorbasketoftools,withthehelpofwhichhecouldatanytimegethisliving,suchatimeasthisexcepted,whereverhewent—andhelivednearShadwell。
TheyalllivedinStepneyparish,which,asIhavesaid,beingthelastthatwasinfected,oratleastviolently,theystayedtheretilltheyevidentlysawtheplaguewasabatingatthewestpartofthetown,andcomingtowardstheeast,wheretheylived。
Thestoryofthosethreemen,ifthereaderwillbecontenttohavemegiveitintheirownpersons,withouttakinguponmetoeithervouchtheparticularsoranswerforanymistakes,IshallgiveasdistinctlyasIcan,believingthehistorywillbeaverygoodpatternforanypoormantofollow,incasethelikepublicdesolationshouldhappenhere;
andiftheremaybenosuchoccasion,whichGodofHisinfinitemercygrantus,stillthestorymayhaveits—usessomanywaysasthatitwill,Ihope,neverbesaidthattherelatinghasbeenunprofitable。
Isayallthisprevioustothehistory,havingyet,forthepresent,muchmoretosaybeforeIquitmyownpart。
Iwentallthefirstpartofthetimefreelyaboutthestreets,thoughnotsofreelyastorunmyselfintoapparentdanger,exceptwhentheydugthegreatpitinthechurchyardofourparishofAldgate。Aterriblepititwas,andIcouldnotresistmycuriositytogoandseeit。AsnearasImayjudge,itwasaboutfortyfeetinlength,andaboutfifteenorsixteenfeetbroad,andatthetimeIfirstlookedatit,aboutninefeetdeep;butitwassaidtheydugitneartwentyfeetdeepafterwardsinonepartofit,tilltheycouldgonodeeperforthewater;fortheyhad,itseems,dugseverallargepitsbeforethis。Forthoughtheplaguewaslonga—comingtoourparish,yet,whenitdidcome,therewasnoparishinoraboutLondonwhereitragedwithsuchviolenceasinthetwoparishesofAldgateandWhitechappel。
Isaytheyhaddugseveralpitsinanotherground,whenthedistemperbegantospreadinourparish,andespeciallywhenthedead—cartsbegantogoabout,whichwasnot,inourparish,tillthebeginningofAugust。Intothesepitstheyhadputperhapsfiftyorsixtybodieseach;thentheymadelargerholeswhereintheyburiedallthatthecartbroughtinaweek,which,bythemiddletotheendofAugust,cametofrom200to400aweek;andtheycouldnotwelldigthemlarger,becauseoftheorderofthemagistratesconfiningthemtoleavenobodieswithinsixfeetofthesurface;andthewatercomingonataboutseventeenoreighteenfeet,theycouldnotwell,Isay,putmoreinonepit。Butnow,atthebeginningofSeptember,theplagueraginginadreadfulmanner,andthenumberofburialsinourparishincreasingtomorethanwaseverburiedinanyparishaboutLondonofnolargerextent,theyorderedthisdreadfulgulftobedug—forsuchitwas,ratherthanapit。
Theyhadsupposedthispitwouldhavesuppliedthemforamonthormorewhentheydugit,andsomeblamedthechurchwardensforsufferingsuchafrightfulthing,tellingthemtheyweremakingpreparationstoburythewholeparish,andthelike;buttimemadeitappearthechurchwardensknewtheconditionoftheparishbetterthantheydid:for,thepitbeingfinishedthe4thofSeptember,Ithink,theybegantoburyinitthe6th,andbythe20th,whichwasjusttwoweeks,theyhadthrownintoit1114bodieswhentheywereobligedtofillitup,thebodiesbeingthencometoliewithinsixfeetofthesurface。I
doubtnotbuttheremaybesomeancientpersonsaliveintheparishwhocanjustifythefactofthis,andareabletoshoweveninwhatplaceofthechurchyardthepitlaybetterthanIcan。Themarkofitalsowasmanyyearstobeseeninthechurchyardonthesurface,lyinginlengthparallelwiththepassagewhichgoesbythewestwallofthechurchyardoutofHoundsditch,andturnseastagainintoWhitechappel,comingoutneartheThreeNuns\'Inn。
Itwasaboutthe10thofSeptemberthatmycuriosityled,orratherdrove,metogoandseethispitagain,whentherehadbeennear400
peopleburiedinit;andIwasnotcontenttoseeitintheday—time,asIhaddonebefore,forthentherewouldhavebeennothingtohavebeenseenbutthelooseearth;forallthebodiesthatwerethrowninwereimmediatelycoveredwithearthbythosetheycalledtheburiers,whichatothertimeswerecalledbearers;butIresolvedtogointhenightandseesomeofthemthrownin。
Therewasastrictordertopreventpeoplecomingtothosepits,andthatwasonlytopreventinfection。Butaftersometimethatorderwasmorenecessary,forpeoplethatwereinfectedandneartheirend,anddeliriousalso,wouldruntothosepits,wraptinblanketsorrugs,andthrowthemselvesin,and,astheysaid,burythemselves。Icannotsaythattheofficerssufferedanywillinglytoliethere;butIhaveheardthatinagreatpitinFinsbury,intheparishofCripplegate,itlyingopenthentothefields,foritwasnotthenwalledabout,[many]cameandthrewthemselvesin,andexpiredthere,beforetheythrewanyearthuponthem;andthatwhentheycametoburyothersandfoundthemthere,theywerequitedead,thoughnotcold。
Thismayservealittletodescribethedreadfulconditionofthatday,thoughitisimpossibletosayanythingthatisabletogiveatrueideaofittothosewhodidnotseeit,otherthanthis,thatitwasindeedvery,very,verydreadful,andsuchasnotonguecanexpress。
Igotadmittanceintothechurchyardbybeingacquaintedwiththesextonwhoattended;who,thoughhedidnotrefusemeatall,yetearnestlypersuadedmenottogo,tellingmeveryseriously（forhewasagood,religious,andsensibleman）thatitwasindeedtheirbusinessanddutytoventure,andtorunallhazards,andthatinittheymighthopetobepreserved;butthatIhadnoapparentcalltoitbutmyowncuriosity,which,hesaid,hebelievedIwouldnotpretendwassufficienttojustifymyrunningthathazard。ItoldhimIhadbeenpressedinmymindtogo,andthatperhapsitmightbeaninstructingsight,thatmightnotbewithoutitsuses。\'Nay,\'saysthegoodman,\'ifyouwillventureuponthatscore,nameofGodgoin;for,dependuponit,\'twillbeasermontoyou,itmaybe,thebestthateveryouheardinyourlife。\'Tisaspeakingsight,\'sayshe,\'andhasavoicewithit,andaloudone,tocallusalltorepentance\';andwiththatheopenedthedoorandsaid,\'Go,ifyouwill。\'
Hisdiscoursehadshockedmyresolutionalittle,andIstoodwaveringforagoodwhile,butjustatthatintervalIsawtwolinkscomeoverfromtheendoftheMinories,andheardthebellman,andthenappearedadead—cart,astheycalledit,comingoverthestreets;soIcouldnolongerresistmydesireofseeingit,andwentin。Therewasnobody,asIcouldperceiveatfirst,inthechurchyard,orgoingintoit,buttheburiersandthefellowthatdrovethecart,orratherledthehorseandcart;butwhentheycameuptothepittheysawamangotoandagain,muffledupinabrownCloak,andmakingmotionswithhishandsunderhiscloak,asifhewasingreatagony,andtheburiersimmediatelygatheredabouthim,supposinghewasoneofthosepoordeliriousordesperatecreaturesthatusedtopretend,asIhavesaid,toburythemselves。Hesaidnothingashewalkedabout,buttwoorthreetimesgroanedverydeeplyandloud,andsighedashewouldbreakhisheart。
EndofPart2
Part3
Whentheburierscameuptohimtheysoonfoundhewasneitherapersoninfectedanddesperate,asIhaveobservedabove,orapersondistempered—inmind,butoneoppressedwithadreadfulweightofgriefindeed,havinghiswifeandseveralofhischildrenallinthecartthatwasjustcomeinwithhim,andhefollowedinanagonyandexcessofsorrow。Hemournedheartily,asitwaseasytosee,butwithakindofmasculinegriefthatcouldnotgiveitselfventbytears;andcalmlydefyingtheburierstolethimalone,saidhewouldonlyseethebodiesthrowninandgoaway,sotheyleftimportuninghim。Butnosoonerwasthecartturnedroundandthebodiesshotintothepitpromiscuously,whichwasasurprisetohim,forheatleastexpectedtheywouldhavebeendecentlylaidin,thoughindeedhewasafterwardsconvincedthatwasimpracticable;Isay,nosoonerdidheseethesightbuthecriedoutaloud,unabletocontainhimself。Icouldnothearwhathesaid,buthewentbackwardtwoorthreestepsandfelldowninaswoon。Theburiersrantohimandtookhimup,andinalittlewhilehecametohimself,andtheyledhimawaytothePieTavernoveragainsttheendofHoundsditch,where,itseems,themanwasknown,andwheretheytookcareofhim。Helookedintothepitagainashewentaway,buttheburiershadcoveredthebodiessoimmediatelywiththrowinginearth,thatthoughtherewaslightenough,fortherewerelanterns,andcandlesinthem,placedallnightroundthesidesofthepit,uponheapsofearth,sevenoreight,orperhapsmore,yetnothingcouldbeseen。
Thiswasamournfulsceneindeed,andaffectedmealmostasmuchastherest;buttheotherwasawfulandfullofterror。Thecarthadinitsixteenorseventeenbodies;somewerewraptupinlinensheets,someinrags,somelittleotherthannaked,orsoloosethatwhatcoveringtheyhadfellfromthemintheshootingoutofthecart,andtheyfellquitenakedamongtherest;butthematterwasnotmuchtothem,ortheindecencymuchtoanyoneelse,seeingtheywerealldead,andweretobehuddledtogetherintothecommongraveofmankind,aswemaycallit,forherewasnodifferencemade,butpoorandrichwenttogether;therewasnootherwayofburials,neitherwasitpossiblethereshould,forcoffinswerenottobehadfortheprodigiousnumbersthatfellinsuchacalamityasthis。
Itwasreportedbywayofscandalupontheburiers,thatifanycorpsewasdeliveredtothemdecentlywoundup,aswecalleditthen,inawinding—sheettiedovertheheadandfeet,whichsomedid,andwhichwasgenerallyofgoodlinen;Isay,itwasreportedthattheburiersweresowickedastostriptheminthecartandcarrythemquitenakedtotheground。ButasIcannoteasilycreditanythingsovileamongChristians,andatatimesofilledwithterrorsasthatwas,Icanonlyrelateitandleaveitundetermined。
Innumerablestoriesalsowentaboutofthecruelbehavioursandpracticesofnurseswhotendedthesick,andoftheirhasteningonthefateofthosetheytendedintheirsickness。ButIshallsaymoreofthisinitsplace。
Iwasindeedshockedwiththissight;italmostoverwhelmedme,andIwentawaywithmyheartmostafflicted,andfulloftheafflictingthoughts,suchasIcannotdescribe。justatmygoingoutofthechurch,andturningupthestreettowardsmyownhouse,Isawanothercartwithlinks,andabellmangoingbefore,comingoutofHarrowAlleyintheButcherRow,ontheothersideoftheway,andbeing,asI
perceived,veryfullofdeadbodies,itwentdirectlyoverthestreetalsotowardthechurch。Istoodawhile,butIhadnostomachtogobackagaintoseethesamedismalsceneoveragain,soIwentdirectlyhome,whereIcouldnotbutconsiderwiththankfulnesstheriskIhadrun,believingIhadgottennoinjury,asindeedIhadnot。
Herethepoorunhappygentleman\'sgriefcameintomyheadagain,andindeedIcouldnotbutshedtearsinthereflectionuponit,perhapsmorethanhedidhimself;buthiscaselaysoheavyuponmymindthatIcouldnotprevailwithmyself,butthatImustgooutagainintothestreet,andgotothePieTavern,resolvingtoinquirewhatbecameofhim。
Itwasbythistimeoneo\'clockinthemorning,andyetthepoorgentlemanwasthere。Thetruthwas,thepeopleofthehouse,knowinghim,hadentertainedhim,andkepthimthereallthenight,notwithstandingthedangerofbeinginfectedbyhim,thoughitappearedthemanwasperfectlysoundhimself。
ItiswithregretthatItakenoticeofthistavern。Thepeoplewerecivil,mannerly,andanobligingsortoffolksenough,andhadtillthistimekepttheirhouseopenandtheirtradegoingon,thoughnotsoverypubliclyasformerly:buttherewasadreadfulsetoffellowsthatusedtheirhouse,andwho,inthemiddleofallthishorror,metthereeverynight,behavedwithalltherevellingandroaringextravagancesasisusualforsuchpeopletodoatothertimes,and,indeed,tosuchanoffensivedegreethattheverymasterandmistressofthehousegrewfirstashamedandthenterrifiedatthem。
