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。
