Ithappenedonenightthatthispoorfellow,whethersomebodyhadgivenhimtoomuchdrinkorno—JohnHaywardsaidhehadnotdrinkinhishouse,butthattheyhadgivenhimalittlemorevictualsthanordinaryatapublic—houseinColemanStreet—andthepoorfellow,havingnotusuallyhadabellyfulforperhapsnotagoodwhile,waslaidallalonguponthetopofabulkorstall,andfastasleep,atadoorinthestreetnearLondonWall,towardsCripplegate—,andthatuponthesamebulkorstallthepeopleofsomehouse,inthealleyofwhichthehousewasacorner,hearingabellwhichtheyalwaysrangbeforethecartcame,hadlaidabodyreallydeadoftheplaguejustbyhim,thinking,too,thatthispoorfellowhadbeenadeadbody,astheotherwas,andlaidtherebysomeoftheneighbours。
Accordingly,whenJohnHaywardwithhisbellandthecartcamealong,findingtwodeadbodieslieuponthestall,theytookthemupwiththeinstrumenttheyusedandthrewthemintothecart,and,allthiswhilethepipersleptsoundly。
Fromhencetheypassedalongandtookinotherdeadbodies,till,ashonestJohnHaywardtoldme,theyalmostburiedhimaliveinthecart;yetallthiswhilehesleptsoundly。Atlengththecartcametotheplacewherethebodiesweretobethrownintotheground,which,asI
doremember,wasatMountMill;andasthecartusuallystoppedsometimebeforetheywerereadytoshootoutthemelancholyloadtheyhadinit,assoonasthecartstoppedthefellowawakedandstruggledalittletogethisheadoutfromamongthedeadbodies,when,raisinghimselfupinthecart,hecalledout,\'Hey！whereamI？\'
Thisfrightedthefellowthatattendedaboutthework;butaftersomepauseJohnHayward,recoveringhimself,said,\'Lord,blessus！
There\'ssomebodyinthecartnotquitedead！\'Soanothercalledtohimandsaid,\'Whoareyou？\'Thefellowanswered,\'Iamthepoorpiper。
WhereamI？\'\'Whereareyou？\'saysHayward。\'Why,youareinthedead—cart,andwearegoingtoburyyou。\'\'ButIan\'tdeadthough,amI？\'saysthepiper,whichmadethemlaughalittlethough,asJohnsaid,theywereheartilyfrightedatfirst;sotheyhelpedthepoorfellowdown,andhewentabouthisbusiness。
Iknowthestorygoeshesetuphispipesinthecartandfrightedthebearersandotherssothattheyranaway;butJohnHaywarddidnottellthestoryso,norsayanythingofhispipingatall;butthathewasapoorpiper,andthathewascarriedawayasaboveIamfullysatisfiedofthetruthof。
Itistobenotedherethatthedead—cartsinthecitywerenotconfinedtoparticularparishes,butonecartwentthroughseveralparishes,accordingasthenumberofdeadpresented;norweretheytiedtocarrythedeadtotheirrespectiveparishes,butmanyofthedeadtakenupinthecitywerecarriedtotheburying—groundintheout—partsforwantofroom。
Ihavealreadymentionedthesurprisethatthisjudgementwasatfirstamongthepeople。Imustbeallowedtogivesomeofmyobservationsonthemoreseriousandreligiouspart。Surelynevercity,atleastofthisbulkandmagnitude,wastakeninaconditionsoperfectlyunpreparedforsuchadreadfulvisitation,whetherIamtospeakofthecivilpreparationsorreligious。Theywere,indeed,asiftheyhadhadnowarning,noexpectation,noapprehensions,andconsequentlytheleastprovisionimaginablewasmadeforitinapublicway。Forexample,theLordMayorandsheriffshadmadenoprovisionasmagistratesfortheregulationswhichweretobeobserved。Theyhadgoneintonomeasuresforreliefofthepoor。Thecitizenshadnopublicmagazinesorstorehousesforcornormealforthesubsistenceofthepoor,whichiftheyhadprovidedthemselves,asinsuchcasesisdoneabroad,manymiserablefamilieswhowerenowreducedtotheutmostdistresswouldhavebeenrelieved,andthatinabettermannerthannowcouldbedone。
Thestockofthecity\'smoneyIcansaybutlittleto。TheChamberofLondonwassaidtobeexceedinglyrich,anditmaybeconcludedthattheywereso,bythevastofmoneyissuedfromthenceintherebuildingthepublicedificesafterthefireofLondon,andinbuildingnewworks,suchas,forthefirstpart,theGuildhall,BlackwellHall,partofLeadenhall,halftheExchange,theSessionHouse,theCompter,theprisonsofLudgate,Newgate,&c。,severalofthewharfsandstairsandlanding—placesontheriver;allwhichwereeitherburneddownordamagedbythegreatfireofLondon,thenextyearaftertheplague;andofthesecondsort,theMonument,FleetDitchwithitsbridges,andtheHospitalofBethlemorBedlam,&c。Butpossiblythemanagersofthecity\'screditatthattimemademoreconscienceofbreakinginupontheorphan\'smoneytoshowcharitytothedistressedcitizensthanthemanagersinthefollowingyearsdidtobeautifythecityandre—edifythebuildings;though,inthefirstcase,theloserswouldhavethoughttheirfortunesbetterbestowed,andthepublicfaithofthecityhavebeenlesssubjectedtoscandalandreproach。
Itmustbeacknowledgedthattheabsentcitizens,who,thoughtheywerefledforsafetyintothecountry,wereyetgreatlyinterestedinthewelfareofthosewhomtheyleftbehind,forgotnottocontributeliberallytothereliefofthepoor,andlargesumswerealsocollectedamongtradingtownsintheremotestpartsofEngland;and,asIhaveheardalso,thenobilityandthegentryinallpartsofEnglandtookthedeplorableconditionofthecityintotheirconsideration,andsentuplargesumsofmoneyincharitytotheLordMayorandmagistratesforthereliefofthepoor。Thekingalso,asIwastold,orderedathousandpoundsaweektobedistributedinfourparts:onequartertothecityandlibertyofWestminster;onequarterorpartamongtheinhabitantsoftheSouthwarksideofthewater;onequartertothelibertyandpartswithinofthecity,exclusiveofthecitywithinthewalls;andone—
fourthparttothesuburbsinthecountyofMiddlesex,andtheeastandnorthpartsofthecity。ButthislatterIonlyspeakofasareport。
Certainitis,thegreatestpartofthepoororfamilieswhoformerlylivedbytheirlabour,orbyretailtrade,livednowoncharity;andhadtherenotbeenprodigioussumsofmoneygivenbycharitable,well—
mindedChristiansforthesupportofsuch,thecitycouldneverhavesubsisted。Therewere,noquestion,accountskeptoftheircharity,andofthejustdistributionofitbythemagistrates。Butassuchmultitudesofthoseveryofficersdiedthroughwhosehandsitwasdistributed,andalsothat,asIhavebeentold,mostoftheaccountsofthosethingswerelostinthegreatfirewhichhappenedintheverynextyear,andwhichburnteventhechamberlain\'sofficeandmanyoftheirpapers,soIcouldnevercomeattheparticularaccount,whichIusedgreatendeavourstohaveseen。
Itmay,however,beadirectionincaseoftheapproachofalikevisitation,whichGodkeepthecityfrom;—Isay,itmaybeofusetoobservethatbythecareoftheLordMayorandaldermenatthattimeindistributingweeklygreatsumsofmoneyforreliefofthepoor,amultitudeofpeoplewhowouldotherwisehaveperished,wererelieved,andtheirlivespreserved。Andhereletmeenterintoabriefstateofthecaseofthepooratthattime,andwhatwayapprehendedfromthem,fromwhencemaybejudgedhereafterwhatmaybeexpectedifthelikedistressshouldcomeuponthecity。
Atthebeginningoftheplague,whentherewasnownomorehopebutthatthewholecitywouldbevisited;when,asIhavesaid,allthathadfriendsorestatesinthecountryretiredwiththeirfamilies;
andwhen,indeed,onewouldhavethoughttheverycityitselfwasrunningoutofthegates,andthattherewouldbenobodyleftbehind;
youmaybesurefromthathouralltrade,exceptsuchasrelatedtoimmediatesubsistence,was,asitwere,atafullstop。
Thisissolivelyacase,andcontainsinitsomuchoftherealconditionofthepeople,thatIthinkIcannotbetooparticularinit,andthereforeIdescendtotheseveralarrangementsorclassesofpeoplewhofellintoimmediatedistressuponthisoccasion。Forexample:
1。Allmaster—workmeninmanufactures,especiallysuchasbelongedtoornamentandthelessnecessarypartsofthepeople\'sdress,clothes,andfurnitureforhouses,suchasriband—weaversandotherweavers,goldandsilverlacemakers,andgoldandsilverwiredrawers,sempstresses,milliners,shoemakers,hatmakers,andglovemakers;
alsoupholsterers,joiners,cabinet—makers,looking—glassmakers,andinnumerabletradeswhichdependuponsuchasthese;—Isay,themaster—workmeninsuchstoppedtheirwork,dismissedtheirjourneymenandworkmen,andalltheirdependents。
2。Asmerchandisingwasatafullstop,forveryfewshipsventuredtocomeuptheriverandnoneatallwentout,soalltheextraordinaryofficersofthecustoms,likewisethewatermen,carmen,porters,andallthepoorwhoselabourdependeduponthemerchants,wereatoncedismissedandputoutofbusiness。
3。Allthetradesmenusuallyemployedinbuildingorrepairingofhouseswereatafullstop,forthepeoplewerefarfromwantingtobuildhouseswhensomanythousandhouseswereatoncestrippedoftheirinhabitants;sothatthisonearticleturnedalltheordinaryworkmenofthatkindoutofbusiness,suchasbricklayers,masons,carpenters,joiners,plasterers,painters,glaziers,smiths,plumbers,andallthelabourersdependingonsuch。
4。Asnavigationwasatastop,ourshipsneithercominginorgoingoutasbefore,sotheseamenwerealloutofemployment,andmanyoftheminthelastandlowestdegreeofdistress;andwiththeseamenwerealltheseveraltradesmenandworkmenbelongingtoanddependinguponthebuildingandfittingoutofships,suchasship—
carpenters,caulkers,ropemakers,drycoopers,sailmakers,anchorsmiths,andothersmiths;blockmakers,carvers,gunsmiths,ship—chandlers,ship—carvers,andthelike。Themastersofthoseperhapsmightliveupontheirsubstance,butthetraderswereuniversallyatastop,andconsequentlyalltheirworkmendischarged。
Addtothesethattheriverwasinamannerwithoutboats,andallormostpartofthewatermen,lightermen,boat—builders,andlighter—
buildersinlikemanneridleandlaidby。
5。Allfamiliesretrenchedtheirlivingasmuchaspossible,aswellthosethatfledasthosethatstayed;sothataninnumerablemultitudeoffootmen,serving—men,shopkeepers,journeymen,merchants\'
bookkeepers,andsuchsortofpeople,andespeciallypoormaid—
servants,wereturnedoff,andleftfriendlessandhelpless,withoutemploymentandwithouthabitation,andthiswasreallyadismalarticle。
Imightbemoreparticularastothispart,butitmaysufficetomentioningeneral,alltradesbeingstopped,employmentceased:thelabour,andbythatthebread,ofthepoorwerecutoff;andatfirstindeedthecriesofthepoorweremostlamentabletohear,thoughbythedistributionofcharitytheirmiserythatwaywasgreatlyabated。
Manyindeedfledintothecounties,butthousandsofthemhavingstayedinLondontillnothingbutdesperationsentthemaway,deathovertookthemontheroad,andtheyservedfornobetterthanthemessengersofdeath;indeed,otherscarryingtheinfectionalongwiththem,spreaditveryunhappilyintotheremotestpartsofthekingdom。
ManyofthesewerethemiserableobjectsofdespairwhichIhavementionedbefore,andwereremovedbythedestructionwhichfollowed。Thesemightbesaidtoperishnotbytheinfectionitselfbutbytheconsequenceofit;indeed,namely,byhungeranddistressandthewantofallthings:beingwithoutlodging,withoutmoney,withoutfriends,withoutmeanstogettheirbread,orwithoutanyonetogiveitthem;formanyofthemwerewithoutwhatwecalllegalsettlements,andsocouldnotclaimoftheparishes,andallthesupporttheyhadwasbyapplicationtothemagistratesforrelief,whichreliefwas（togivethemagistratestheirdue）carefullyandcheerfullyadministeredastheyfounditnecessary,andthosethatstayedbehindneverfeltthewantanddistressofthatkindwhichtheyfeltwhowentawayinthemannerabovenoted。
Letanyonewhoisacquaintedwithwhatmultitudesofpeoplegettheirdailybreadinthiscitybytheirlabour,whetherartificersormereworkmen—Isay,letanymanconsiderwhatmustbethemiserableconditionofthistownif,onasudden,theyshouldbeallturnedoutofemployment,thatlabourshouldcease,andwagesforworkbenomore。
Thiswasthecasewithusatthattime;andhadnotthesumsofmoneycontributedincharitybywell—disposedpeopleofeverykind,aswellabroadasathome,beenprodigiouslygreat,ithadnotbeeninthepoweroftheLordMayorandsheriffstohavekeptthepublicpeace。Norweretheywithoutapprehensions,asitwas,thatdesperationshouldpushthepeopleupontumults,andcausethemtoriflethehousesofrichmenandplunderthemarketsofprovisions;inwhichcasethecountrypeople,whobroughtprovisionsveryfreelyandboldlytotown,wouldhavebeenterrifiedfromcominganymore,andthetownwouldhavesunkunderanunavoidablefamine。
ButtheprudenceofmyLordMayorandtheCourtofAldermenwithinthecity,andofthejusticesofpeaceintheout—parts,wassuch,andtheyweresupportedwithmoneyfromallpartssowell,thatthepoorpeoplewerekeptquiet,andtheirwantseverywhererelieved,asfaraswaspossibletobedone。
Twothingsbesidesthiscontributedtopreventthemobdoinganymischief。Onewas,thatreallytherichthemselveshadnotlaidupstoresofprovisionsintheirhousesasindeedtheyoughttohavedone,andwhichiftheyhadbeenwiseenoughtohavedone,andlockedthemselvesentirelyup,assomefewdid,theyhadperhapsescapedthediseasebetter。Butasitappearedtheyhadnot,sothemobhadnonotionoffindingstoresofprovisionsthereiftheyhadbrokenin。asitisplaintheyweresometimesveryneardoing,andwhich:iftheybad,theyhadfinishedtheruinofthewholecity,fortherewerenoregulartroopstohavewithstoodthem,norcouldthetrainedbandshavebeenbroughttogethertodefendthecity,nomenbeingtobefoundtobeararms。
ButthevigilanceoftheLordMayorandsuchmagistratesascouldbehad（forsome,evenofthealdermen,weredead,andsomeabsent）
preventedthis;andtheydiditbythemostkindandgentlemethodstheycouldthinkof,asparticularlybyrelievingthemostdesperatewithmoney,andputtingothersintobusiness,andparticularlythatemploymentofwatchinghousesthatwereinfectedandshutup。Andasthenumberofthesewereverygreat（foritwassaidtherewasatonetimetenthousandhousesshutup,andeveryhousehadtwowatchmentoguardit,viz。,onebynightandtheotherbyday）,thisgaveopportunitytoemployaverygreatnumberofpoormenatatime。
Thewomenandservantsthatwereturnedofffromtheirplaceswerelikewiseemployedasnursestotendthesickinallplaces,andthistookoffaverygreatnumberofthem。
And,whichthoughamelancholyarticleinitself,yetwasadeliveranceinitskind:namely,theplague,whichragedinadreadfulmannerfromthemiddleofAugusttothemiddleofOctober,carriedoffinthattimethirtyorfortythousandoftheseverypeoplewhich,hadtheybeenleft,wouldcertainlyhavebeenaninsufferableburdenbytheirpoverty;thatistosay,thewholecitycouldnothavesupportedtheexpenseofthem,orhaveprovidedfoodforthem;andtheywouldintimehavebeenevendriventothenecessityofplunderingeitherthecityitselforthecountryadjacent,tohavesubsistedthemselves,whichwouldfirstorlasthaveputthewholenation,aswellasthecity,intotheutmostterrorandconfusion。
Itwasobservable,then,thatthiscalamityofthepeoplemadethemveryhumble;fornowforaboutnineweekstogethertherediednearathousandaday,onedaywithanother,evenbytheaccountoftheweeklybills,whichyet,Ihavereasontobeassured,nevergaveafullaccount,bymanythousands;theconfusionbeingsuch,andthecartsworkinginthedarkwhentheycarriedthedead,thatinsomeplacesnoaccountatallwaskept,buttheyworkedon,theclerksandsextonsnotattendingforweekstogether,andnotknowingwhatnumbertheycarried。Thisaccountisverifiedbythefollowingbillsofmortality:—
OfalloftheDiseases。PlagueFromAugust8toAugust1553193880
\"\"15\"2255684237
\"\"22\"2974966102
\"\"29toSeptember582526988
\"September5\"1276906544
\"\"12\"1982977165
\"\"19\"2664605533
\"\"26toOctober357204979
\"October3\"1050684327
——————————
59,87049,705
Sothatthegrossofthepeoplewerecarriedoffinthesetwomonths;
for,asthewholenumberwhichwasbroughtintodieoftheplaguewasbut68,590,hereis50,000ofthem,withinatrifle,intwomonths;
Isay50,000,because,astherewants295inthenumberabove,sotherewantstwodaysoftwomonthsintheaccountoftime。
NowwhenIsaythattheparishofficersdidnotgiveinafullaccount,orwerenottobedependeduponfortheiraccount,letanyonebutconsiderhowmencouldbeexactinsuchatimeofdreadfuldistress,andwhenmanyofthemweretakensickthemselvesandperhapsdiedintheverytimewhentheiraccountsweretobegivenin;
Imeantheparishclerks,besidesinferiorofficers;forthoughthesepoormenventuredatallhazards,yettheywerefarfrombeingexemptfromthecommoncalamity,especiallyifitbetruethattheparishofStepneyhad,withintheyear,116sextons,gravediggers,andtheirassistants;thatistosay,bearers,bellmen,anddriversofcartsforcarryingoffthedeadbodies。
Indeedtheworkwasnotofanaturetoallowthemleisuretotakeanexacttaleofthedeadbodies,whichwereallhuddledtogetherinthedarkintoapit;whichpitortrenchnomancouldcomenighbutattheutmostperil。IobservedoftenthatintheparishesofAldgateandCripplegate,WhitechappelandStepney,therewerefive,six,seven,andeighthundredinaweekinthebills;whereasifwemaybelievetheopinionofthosethatlivedinthecityallthetimeaswellasI,therediedsometimes2000aweekinthoseparishes;andIsawitunderthehandofonethatmadeasstrictanexaminationintothatpartashecould,thattherereallydiedanhundredthousandpeopleoftheplagueinthatoneyearwhereasinthebills,thearticlesoftheplague,itwasbut68,590。
IfImaybeallowedtogivemyopinion,bywhatIsawwithmyeyesandheardfromotherpeoplethatwereeye—witnesses,Idoverilybelievethesame,viz。,thattherediedatleast100,000oftheplagueonly,besidesotherdistempersandbesidesthosewhichdiedinthefieldsandhighwaysandsecretPlacesoutofthecompassofthecommunication,asitwascalled,andwhowerenotputdowninthebillsthoughtheyreallybelongedtothebodyoftheinhabitants。Itwasknowntousallthatabundanceofpoordespairingcreatureswhohadthedistemperuponthem,andweregrownstupidormelancholybytheirmisery,asmanywere,wanderedawayintothefieldsandWoods,andintosecretuncouthplacesalmostanywhere,tocreepintoabushorhedgeanddie。
Theinhabitantsofthevillagesadjacentwould,inpity,carrythemfoodandsetitatadistance,thattheymightfetchit,iftheywereable;
andsometimestheywerenotable,andthenexttimetheywenttheyshouldfindthepoorwretchesliedeadandthefooduntouched。Thenumberofthesemiserableobjectsweremany,andIknowsomanythatperishedthus,andsoexactlywhere,thatIbelieveIcouldgototheveryplaceanddigtheirbonesupstill;forthecountrypeoplewouldgoanddigaholeatadistancefromthem,andthenwithlongpoles,andhooksattheendofthem,dragthebodiesintothesepits,andthenthrowtheearthinfromasfarastheycouldcastit,tocoverthem,takingnoticehowthewindblew,andsocomingonthatsidewhichtheseamencalltowindward,thatthescentofthebodiesmightblowfromthem;andthusgreatnumberswentoutoftheworldwhowereneverknown,oranyaccountofthemtaken,aswellwithinthebillsofmortalityaswithout。
This,indeed,Ihadinthemainonlyfromtherelationofothers,forI
seldomwalkedintothefields,excepttowardsBethnalGreenandHackney,orashereafter。ButwhenIdidwalk,Ialwayssawagreatmanypoorwanderersatadistance;butIcouldknowlittleoftheircases,forwhetheritwereinthestreetorinthefields,ifwehadseenanybodycoming,itwasageneralmethodtowalkaway;yetIbelievetheaccountisexactlytrue。
Asthisputsmeuponmentioningmywalkingthestreetsandfields,I
cannotomittakingnoticewhatadesolateplacethecitywasatthattime。ThegreatstreetIlivedin（whichisknowntobeoneofthebroadestofallthestreetsofLondon,Imeanofthesuburbsaswellastheliberties）allthesidewherethebutcherslived,especiallywithoutthebars,wasmorelikeagreenfieldthanapavedstreet,andthepeoplegenerallywentinthemiddlewiththehorsesandcarts。ItistruethatthefarthestendtowardsWhitechappelChurchwasnotallpaved,buteventhepartthatwaspavedwasfullofgrassalso;butthisneednotseemstrange,sincethegreatstreetswithinthecity,suchasLeadenhallStreet,BishopsgateStreet,Cornhill,andeventheExchangeitself,hadgrassgrowingintheminseveralplaces;neithercartorcoachwereseeninthestreetsfrommorningtoevening,exceptsomecountrycartstobringrootsandbeans,orpeas,hay,andstraw,tothemarket,andthosebutveryfewcomparedtowhatwasusual。
Asforcoaches,theywerescarceusedbuttocarrysickpeopletothepest—house,andtootherhospitals,andsomefewtocarryphysicianstosuchplacesastheythoughtfittoventuretovisit;forreallycoachesweredangerousthings,andpeopledidnotcaretoventureintothem,becausetheydidnotknowwhomighthavebeencarriedinthemlast,andsick,infectedpeoplewere,asIhavesaid,ordinarilycarriedinthemtothepest—houses,andsometimespeopleexpiredinthemastheywentalong。
Itistrue,whentheinfectioncametosuchaheightasIhavenowmentioned,therewereveryfewphysicianswhichcaredtostirabroadtosickhouses,andverymanyofthemosteminentofthefacultyweredead,aswellasthesurgeonsalso;fornowitwasindeedadismaltime,andforaboutamonthtogether,nottakinganynoticeofthebillsofmortality,Ibelievetheredidnotdielessthan1500or1700aday,onedaywithanother。
Oneoftheworstdayswehadinthewholetime,asIthought,wasinthebeginningofSeptember,when,indeed,goodpeoplebegantothinkthatGodwasresolvedtomakeafullendofthepeopleinthismiserablecity。Thiswasatthattimewhentheplaguewasfullycomeintotheeasternparishes。TheparishofAldgate,ifImaygivemyopinion,buriedaboveathousandaweekfortwoweeks,thoughthebillsdidnotsaysomany;—butitsurroundedmeatsodismalaratethattherewasnotahouseintwentyuninfectedintheMinories,inHoundsditch,andinthosepartsofAldgateparishabouttheButcherRowandthealleysoveragainstme。Isay,inthoseplacesdeathreignedineverycorner。Whitechappelparishwasinthesamecondition,andthoughmuchlessthantheparishIlivedin,yetburiednear600aweekbythebills,andinmyopinionneartwiceasmany。
Wholefamilies,andindeedwholestreetsoffamilies,weresweptawaytogether;insomuchthatitwasfrequentforneighbourstocalltothebellmantogotosuch—and—suchhousesandfetchoutthepeople,forthattheywerealldead。
And,indeed,theworkofremovingthedeadbodiesbycartswasnowgrownsoveryodiousanddangerousthatitwascomplainedofthatthebearersdidnottakecaretodearsuchhouseswherealltheinhabitantsweredead,butthatsometimesthebodieslayseveraldaysunburied,tilltheneighbouringfamilieswereoffendedwiththestench,andconsequentlyinfected;andthisneglectoftheofficerswassuchthatthechurchwardensandconstablesweresummonedtolookafterit,andeventhejusticesoftheHamletswereobligedtoventuretheirlivesamongthemtoquickenandencouragethem,forinnumerableofthebearersdiedofthedistemper,infectedbythebodiestheywereobligedtocomesonear。Andhaditnotbeenthatthenumberofpoorpeoplewhowantedemploymentandwantedbread（asIhavesaidbefore）wassogreatthatnecessitydrovethemtoundertakeanythingandventureanything,theywouldneverhavefoundpeopletobeemployed。Andthenthebodiesofthedeadwouldhavelainaboveground,andhaveperishedandrottedinadreadfulmanner。
Butthemagistratescannotbeenoughcommendedinthis,thattheykeptsuchgoodorderfortheburyingofthedead,thatasfastasanyofthesetheyemployedtocarryoffandburythedeadfellsickordied,aswasmanytimesthecase,theyimmediatelysuppliedtheplaceswithothers,which,byreasonofthegreatnumberofpoorthatwasleftoutofbusiness,asabove,wasnothardtodo。Thisoccasioned,thatnotwithstandingtheinfinitenumberofpeoplewhichdiedandweresick,almostalltogether,yettheywerealwaysclearedawayandcarriedoffeverynight,sothatitwasnevertobesaidofLondonthatthelivingwerenotabletoburythedead。
Asthedesolationwasgreaterduringthoseterribletimes,sotheamazementofthepeopleincreased,andathousandunaccountablethingstheywoulddointheviolenceoftheirfright,asothersdidthesameintheagoniesoftheirdistemper,andthispartwasveryaffecting。Somewentroaringandcryingandwringingtheirhandsalongthestreet;somewouldgoprayingandliftinguptheirhandstoheaven,callinguponGodformercy。Icannotsay,indeed,whetherthiswasnotintheirdistraction,but,beitso,itwasstillanindicationofamoreseriousmind,whentheyhadtheuseoftheirsenses,andwasmuchbetter,evenasitwas,thanthefrightfulyellingsandcryingsthateveryday,andespeciallyintheevenings,wereheardinsomestreets。IsupposetheworldhasheardofthefamousSolomonEagle,anenthusiast。He,thoughnotinfectedatallbutinhishead,wentaboutdenouncingofjudgementuponthecityinafrightfulmanner,sometimesquitenaked,andwithapanofburningcharcoalonhishead。Whathesaid,orpretended,indeedIcouldnotlearn。
Iwillnotsaywhetherthatclergymanwasdistractedornot,orwhetherhediditinpurezealforthepoorpeople,whowenteveryeveningthroughthestreetsofWhitechappel,and,withhishandsliftedup,repeatedthatpartoftheLiturgyoftheChurchcontinually,\'Spareus,goodLord;spareThypeople,whomThouhasredeemedwithThymostpreciousblood。\'Isay,Icannotspeakpositivelyofthesethings,becausethesewereonlythedismalobjectswhichrepresentedthemselvestomeasIlookedthroughmychamberwindows（forI
seldomopenedthecasements）,whileIconfinedmyselfwithindoorsduringthatmostviolentragingofthepestilence;when,indeed,asI
havesaid,manybegantothink,andeventosay,thattherewouldnoneescape;andindeedIbegantothinksotoo,andthereforekeptwithindoorsforaboutafortnightandneverstirredout。ButIcouldnotholdit。Besides,thereweresomepeoplewho,notwithstandingthedanger,didnotomitpubliclytoattendtheworshipofGod,eveninthemostdangeroustimes;andthoughitistruethatagreatmanyclergymendidshutuptheirchurches,andfled,asotherpeopledid,forthesafetyoftheirlives,yetalldidnotdoso。Someventuredtoofficiateandtokeepuptheassembliesofthepeoplebyconstantprayers,andsometimessermonsorbriefexhortationstorepentanceandreformation,andthisaslongasanywouldcometohearthem。
