Johnansweredthatwhatotherpeoplehaddonewasnothingtothem;thattheyassuredthemtheywereallofonecompany;thattheyhadneverbeenmoreinnumberthantheysawthematthattime（which,bytheway,wasverytrue）;thattheycameoutintwoseparatecompanies,butjoinedbytheway,theircasesbeingthesame;thattheywerereadytogivewhataccountofthemselvesanybodycoulddesireofthem,andtogiveintheirnamesandplacesofabode,thatsotheymightbecalledtoanaccountforanydisorderthattheymightbeguiltyof;thatthetownsmenmightseetheywerecontenttolivehardly,andonlydesiredalittleroomtobreatheinontheforestwhereitwaswholesome;forwhereitwasnottheycouldnotstay,andwoulddecampiftheyfounditotherwisethere。
\'But,\'saidthetownsmen,\'wehaveagreatchargeofpooruponourhandsalready,andwemusttakecarenottoincreaseit;wesupposeyoucangiveusnosecurityagainstyourbeingchargeabletoourparishandtotheinhabitants,anymorethanyoucanofbeingdangeroustousastotheinfection。\'
\'Why,lookyou,\'saysJohn,\'astobeingchargeabletoyou,wehopeweshallnot。Ifyouwillrelieveuswithprovisionsforourpresentnecessity,wewillbeverythankful;aswealllivedwithoutcharitywhenwewereathome,sowewillobligeourselvesfullytorepayyou,ifGodpleasestobringusbacktoourownfamiliesandhousesinsafety,andtorestorehealthtothepeopleofLondon。
\'Astoourdyinghere:weassureyou,ifanyofusdie,wethatsurvivewillburythem,andputyoutonoexpense,exceptitshouldbethatweshouldalldie;andthen,indeed,thelastmannotbeingabletoburyhimself,wouldputyoutothatsingleexpensewhichIampersuaded\',saysJohn,\'hewouldleaveenoughbehindhimtopayyoufortheexpenseof。
\'Ontheotherhand,\'saysJohn,\'ifyoushutupallbowelsofcompassion,andnotrelieveusatall,weshallnotextortanythingbyviolenceorstealfromanyone;butwhenwhatlittlewehaveisspent,ifweperishforwant,God\'swillbedone。\'
Johnwroughtsouponthetownsmen,bytalkingthusrationallyandsmoothlytothem,thattheywentaway;andthoughtheydidnotgiveanyconsenttotheirstayingthere,yettheydidnotmolestthem;andthepoorpeoplecontinuedtherethreeorfourdayslongerwithoutanydisturbance。Inthistimetheyhadgotsomeremoteacquaintancewithavictualling—houseattheoutskirtsofthetown,towhomtheycalledatadistancetobringsomelittlethingsthattheywanted,andwhichtheycausedtobesetdownatadistance,andalwayspaidforveryhonestly。
Duringthistimetheyoungerpeopleofthetowncamefrequentlyprettynearthem,andwouldstandandlookatthem,andsometimestalkwiththematsomespacebetween;andparticularlyitwasobservedthatthefirstSabbath—daythepoorpeoplekeptretired,worshippedGodtogether,andwereheardtosingpsalms。
Thesethings,andaquiet,inoffensivebehaviour,begantogetthemthegoodopinionofthecountry,andpeoplebegantopitythemandspeakverywellofthem;theconsequenceofwhichwas,thatupontheoccasionofaverywet,rainynight,acertaingentlemanwholivedintheneighbourhoodsentthemalittlecartwithtwelvetrussesorbundlesofstraw,aswellforthemtolodgeuponastocoverandthatchtheirhutsandtokeepthemdry。Theministerofaparishnotfaroff,notknowingoftheother,sentthemalsoabouttwobushelsofwheatandhalfabushelofwhitepeas。
Theywereverythankful,tobesure,forthisrelief,andparticularlythestrawwasa—verygreatcomforttothem;forthoughtheingeniouscarpenterhadmadeframesforthemtolieinliketroughs,andfilledthemwithleavesoftrees,andsuchthingsastheycouldget,andhadcutalltheirtent—clothouttomakethemcoverlids,yettheylaydampandhardandunwholesometillthisstrawcame,whichwastothemlikefeather—beds,and,asJohnsaid,morewelcomethanfeather—bedswouldhavebeenatanothertime。
Thisgentlemanandtheministerhavingthusbegun,andgivenanexampleofcharitytothesewanderers,othersquicklyfollowed,andtheyreceivedeverydaysomebenevolenceorotherfromthepeople,butchieflyfromthegentlemenwhodweltinthecountryroundthem。
Somesentthemchairs,stools,tables,andsuchhouseholdthingsastheygavenoticetheywanted;somesentthemblankets,rugs,andcoverlids,someearthenware,andsomekitchenwarefororderingtheirfood。
Encouragedbythisgoodusage,theircarpenterinafewdaysbuiltthemalargeshedorhousewithrafters,andaroofinform,andanupperfloor,inwhichtheylodgedwarm:fortheweatherbegantobedampandcoldinthebeginningofSeptember。Butthishouse,beingwellthatched,andthesidesandroofmadeverythick,keptoutthecoldwellenough。Hemade,also,anearthenwallatoneendwithachimneyinit,andanotherofthecompany,withavastdealoftroubleandpains,madeafunneltothechimneytocarryoutthesmoke。
Heretheylivedcomfortably,thoughcoarsely,tillthebeginningofSeptember,whentheyhadthebadnewstohear,whethertrueornot,thattheplague,whichwasveryhotatWalthamAbbeyononesideandatRumfordandBrentwoodontheotherside,wasalsocomingtoEpping,toWoodford,andtomostofthetownsupontheForest,andwhich,astheysaid,wasbroughtdownamongthemchieflybythehiglers,andsuchpeopleaswenttoandfromLondonwithprovisions。
Ifthiswastrue,itwasanevidentcontradictiontothatreportwhichwasafterwardsspreadalloverEngland,butwhich,asIhavesaid,I
cannotconfirmofmyownknowledge:namely,thatthemarket—peoplecarryingprovisionstothecitynevergottheinfectionorcarrieditbackintothecountry;bothwhich,Ihavebeenassured,hasbeenfalse。
Itmightbethattheywerepreservedevenbeyondexpectation,thoughnottoamiracle,thatabundancewentandcameandwerenottouched;andthatwasmuchfortheencouragementofthepoorpeopleofLondon,whohadbeencompletelymiserableifthepeoplethatbroughtprovisionstothemarketshadnotbeenmanytimeswonderfullypreserved,oratleastmorepreservedthancouldbereasonablyexpected。
Butnowthesenewinmatesbegantobedisturbedmoreeffectually,forthetownsaboutthemwerereallyinfected,andtheybegantobeafraidtotrustoneanothersomuchastogoabroadforsuchthingsastheywanted,andthispinchedthemveryhard,fornowtheyhadlittleornothingbutwhatthecharitablegentlemenofthecountrysuppliedthemwith。But,fortheirencouragement,ithappenedthatothergentlemeninthecountrywhohadnotsentthemanythingbefore,begantohearofthemandsupplythem,andonesentthemalargepig—thatistosay,aporkeranothertwosheep,andanothersentthemacalf。Inshort,theyhadmeatenough,andsometimeshadcheeseandmilk,andallsuchthings。Theywerechieflyputtoitforbread,forwhenthegentlemensentthemcorntheyhadnowheretobakeitortogrindit。Thismadethemeatthefirsttwobushelofwheatthatwassenttheminparchedcorn,astheIsraelitesofolddid,withoutgrindingormakingbreadofit。
AtlasttheyfoundmeanstocarrytheircorntoawindmillnearWoodford,wheretheybaditground,andafterwardsthebiscuit—makermadeahearthsohollowanddrythathecouldbakebiscuit—cakestolerablywell;andthustheycameintoaconditiontolivewithoutanyassistanceorsuppliesfromthetowns;anditwaswelltheydid,forthecountrywassoonafterfullyinfected,andabout120weresaidtohavediedofthedistemperinthevillagesnearthem,whichwasaterriblethingtothem。
Onthistheycalledanewcouncil,andnowthetownshadnoneedtobeafraidtheyshouldsettlenearthem;but,onthecontrary,severalfamiliesofthepoorersortoftheinhabitantsquittedtheirhousesandbuilthutsintheforestafterthesamemannerastheyhaddone。Butitwasobservedthatseveralofthesepoorpeoplethathadsoremovedhadthesicknessevenintheirhutsorbooths;thereasonofwhichwasplain,namely,notbecausetheyremovedintotheair,but,（）becausetheydidnotremovetimeenough;
thatistosay,nottill,byopenlyconversingwiththeotherpeopletheirneighbours,theyhadthedistemperuponthem,or（asmaybesaid）
amongthem,andsocarrieditaboutthemwhithertheywent。Or（2）
becausetheywerenotcarefulenough,aftertheyweresafelyremovedoutofthetowns,nottocomeinagainandminglewiththediseasedpeople。
Butbeitwhichoftheseitwill,whenourtravellersbegantoperceivethattheplaguewasnotonlyinthetowns,buteveninthetentsandhutsontheforestnearthem,theybeganthennotonlytobeafraid,buttothinkofdecampingandremoving;forhadtheystayedtheywouldhavebeeninmanifestdangeroftheirlives。
Itisnottobewonderedthattheyweregreatlyafflictedatbeingobligedtoquittheplacewheretheyhadbeensokindlyreceived,andwheretheyhadbeentreatedwithsomuchhumanityandcharity;butnecessityandthehazardoflife,whichtheycameoutsofartopreserve,prevailedwiththem,andtheysawnoremedy。John,however,thoughtofaremedyfortheirpresentmisfortune:namely,thathewouldfirstacquaintthatgentlemanwhowastheirprincipalbenefactorwiththedistresstheywerein,andtocravehisassistanceandadvice。
EndofPart4
Part5
Thegood,charitablegentlemanencouragedthemtoquitthePlaceforfeartheyshouldbecutofffromanyretreatatallbytheviolenceofthedistemper;butwhithertheyshouldgo,thathefoundveryhardtodirectthemto。AtlastJohnaskedofhimwhetherhe,beingajusticeofthepeace,wouldgivethemcertificatesofhealthtootherjusticeswhomtheymightcomebefore;thatsowhatevermightbetheirlot,theymightnotberepulsednowtheyhadbeenalsosolongfromLondon。Thishisworshipimmediatelygranted,andgavethemproperlettersofhealth,andfromthencetheywereatlibertytotravelwhithertheypleased。
Accordinglytheyhadafullcertificateofhealth,intimatingthattheyhadresidedinavillageinthecountyofEssexsolongthat,beingexaminedandscrutinisedsufficiently,andhavingbeenretiredfromallconversationforabovefortydays,withoutanyappearanceofsickness,theywerethereforecertainlyconcludedtobesoundmen,andmightbesafelyentertainedanywhere,havingatlastremovedratherforfearoftheplaguewhichwascomeintosuchatown,ratherthanforhavinganysignalofinfectionuponthem,oruponanybelongingtothem。
Withthiscertificatetheyremoved,thoughwithgreatreluctance;
andJohnincliningnottogofarfromhome,theymovedtowardsthemarshesonthesideofWaltham。Butheretheyfoundamanwho,itseems,keptaweirorstopupontheriver,madetoraisethewaterforthebargeswhichgoupanddowntheriver,andheterrifiedthemwithdismalstoriesofthesicknesshavingbeenspreadintoallthetownsontheriverandneartheriver,onthesideofMiddlesexandHertfordshire;
thatistosay,intoWaltham,WalthamCross,Enfield,andWare,andallthetownsontheroad,thattheywereafraidtogothatway;thoughitseemsthemanimposeduponthem,forthatthethingwasnotreallytrue。
However,itterrifiedthem,andtheyresolvedtomoveacrosstheforesttowardsRumfordandBrentwood;buttheyheardthattherewerenumbersofpeoplefledoutofLondonthatway,wholayupanddownintheforestcalledHenaltForest,reachingnearRumford,andwho,havingnosubsistenceorhabitation,notonlylivedoddlyandsufferedgreatextremitiesinthewoodsandfieldsforwantofrelief,butweresaidtobemadesodesperatebythoseextremitiesasthattheyofferedmanyviolencestothecountyrobbedandplundered,andkilledcattle,andthelike;thatothers,buildinghutsandhovelsbytheroadside,begged,andthatwithanimportunitynextdoortodemandingrelief;sothatthecountywasveryuneasy,andhadbeenobligedtotakesomeofthemup。
Thisinthefirstplaceintimatedtothem,thattheywouldbesuretofindthecharityandkindnessofthecounty,whichtheyhadfoundherewheretheywerebefore,hardenedandshutupagainstthem;andthat,ontheotherhand,theywouldbequestionedwherevertheycame,andwouldbeindangerofviolencefromothersinlikecasesasthemselves。
UponalltheseconsiderationsJohn,theircaptain,inalltheirnames,wentbacktotheirgoodfriendandbenefactor,whohadrelievedthembefore,andlayingtheircasetrulybeforehim,humblyaskedhisadvice;andheaskindlyadvisedthemtotakeuptheiroldquartersagain,orifnot,toremovebutalittlefartheroutoftheroad,anddirectedthemtoaproperplaceforthem;andastheyreallywantedsomehouseratherthanhutstoshelterthematthattimeoftheyear,itgrowingontowardsMichaelmas,theyfoundanolddecayedhousewhichhadbeenformerlysomecottageorlittlehabitationbutwassooutofrepairasscarcehabitable;andbytheconsentofafarmertowhosefarmitbelonged,theygotleavetomakewhatuseofittheycould。
Theingeniousjoiner,andalltherest,byhisdirectionswenttoworkwithit,andinaveryfewdaysmadeitcapabletoshelterthemallincaseofbadweather;andinwhichtherewasanoldchimneyandoldoven,thoughbothlyinginruins;yettheymadethembothfitforuse,and,raisingadditions,sheds,andleantosoneveryside,theysoonmadethehousecapabletoholdthemall。
Theychieflywantedboardstomakewindow—shutters,floors,doors,andseveralotherthings;butasthegentlemenabovefavouredthem,andthecountrywasbythatmeansmadeeasywiththem,andaboveall,thattheywereknowntobeallsoundandingoodhealth,everybodyhelpedthemwithwhattheycouldspare。
Heretheyencampedforgoodandall,andresolvedtoremovenomore。TheysawplainlyhowterriblyalarmedthatcountywaseverywhereatanybodythatcamefromLondon,andthattheyshouldhavenoadmittanceanywherebutwiththeutmostdifficulty;atleastnofriendlyreceptionandassistanceastheyhadreceivedhere。
Now,althoughtheyreceivedgreatassistanceandencouragementfromthecountrygentlemenandfromthepeopleroundaboutthem,yettheywereputtogreatstraits:fortheweathergrewcoldandwetinOctoberandNovember,andtheyhadnotbeenusedtosomuchhardship;sothattheygotcoldsintheirlimbs,anddistempers,butneverhadtheinfection;andthusaboutDecembertheycamehometothecityagain。
Igivethisstorythusatlarge,principallytogiveanaccountwhatbecameofthegreatnumbersofpeoplewhichimmediatelyappearedinthecityassoonasthesicknessabated;for,asIhavesaid,greatnumbersofthosethatwereableandhadretreatsinthecountryfledtothoseretreats。So,whenitwasincreasedtosuchafrightfulextremityasIhaverelated,themiddlingpeoplewhohadnotfriendsfledtoallpartsofthecountrywheretheycouldgetshelter,aswellthosethathadmoneytorelievethemselvesasthosethathadnot。Thosethathadmoneyalwaysfledfarthest,becausetheywereabletosubsistthemselves;butthosewhowereemptysuffered,asIhavesaid,greathardships,andwereoftendrivenbynecessitytorelievetheirwantsattheexpenseofthecountry。Bythatmeansthecountrywasmadeveryuneasyatthem,andsometimestookthemup;thougheventhentheyscarceknewwhattodowiththem,andwerealwaysverybackwardtopunishthem,butoften,too,theyforcedthemfromplacetoplacetilltheywereobligedtocomebackagaintoLondon。
Ihave,sincemyknowingthisstoryofJohnandhisbrother,inquiredandfoundthattherewereagreatmanyofthepoordisconsolatepeople,asabove,fledintothecountryeveryway;andsomeofthemgotlittleshedsandbarnsandouthousestolivein,wheretheycouldobtainsomuchkindnessofthecountry,andespeciallywheretheyhadanytheleastsatisfactoryaccounttogiveofthemselves,andparticularlythattheydidnotcomeoutofLondontoolate。Butothers,andthatingreatnumbers,builtthemselveslittlehutsandretreatsinthefieldsandwoods,andlivedlikehermitsinholesandcaves,oranyplacetheycouldfind,andwhere,wemaybesure,theysufferedgreatextremities,suchthatmanyofthemwereobligedtocomebackagainwhateverthedangerwas;andsothoselittlehutswereoftenfoundempty,andthecountrypeoplesupposedtheinhabitantslaydeadinthemoftheplague,andwouldnotgonearthemforfear—no,notinagreatwhile;norisitunlikelybutthatsomeoftheunhappywanderersmightdiesoallalone,evensometimesforwantofhelp,asparticularlyinonetentorhutwasfoundamandead,andonthegateofafieldjustbywascutwithhisknifeinunevenlettersthefollowingwords,bywhichitmaybesupposedtheothermanescaped,orthat,onedyingfirst,theotherburiedhimaswellashecould:—
OmIsErY！
WeBoTHShaLLDyE,WoE,WoE。
IhavegivenanaccountalreadyofwhatIfoundtohavebeenthecasedowntheriveramongtheseafaringmen;howtheshipslayintheoffing,asit\'scalled,inrowsorlinesasternofoneanother,quitedownfromthePoolasfarasIcouldsee。IhavebeentoldthattheylayinthesamemannerquitedowntheriveraslowasGravesend,andsomefarbeyond:eveneverywhereorineveryplacewheretheycouldridewithsafetyastowindandweather;nordidIeverhearthattheplaguereachedtoanyofthepeopleonboardthoseships—exceptsuchaslayupinthePool,orashighasDeptfordReach,althoughthepeoplewentfrequentlyonshoretothecountrytownsandvillagesandfarmers\'houses,tobuyfreshprovisions,fowls,pigs,calves,andthelikefortheirsupply。
LikewiseIfoundthatthewatermenontheriverabovethebridgefoundmeanstoconveythemselvesawayuptheriverasfarastheycouldgo,andthattheyhad,manyofthem,theirwholefamiliesintheirboats,coveredwithtiltsandbales,astheycallthem,andfurnishedwithstrawwithinfortheirlodging,andthattheylaythusallalongbytheshoreinthemarshes,someofthemsettinguplittletentswiththeirsails,andsolyingunderthemonshoreintheday,andgoingintotheirboatsatnight;andinthismanner,asIhaveheard,theriver—sideswerelinedwithboatsandpeopleaslongastheyhadanythingtosubsiston,orcouldgetanythingofthecountry;andindeedthecountrypeople,aswellGentlemenasothers,ontheseandallotheroccasions,wereveryforwardtorelievethem—buttheywerebynomeanswillingtoreceivethemintotheirtownsandhouses,andforthatwecannotblamethem。
Therewasoneunhappycitizenwithinmyknowledgewhohadbeenvisitedinadreadfulmanner,sothathiswifeandallhischildrenweredead,andhimselfandtwoservantsonlyleft,withanelderlywoman,anearrelation,whohadnursedthosethatweredeadaswellasshecould。Thisdisconsolatemangoestoavillagenearthetown,thoughnotwithinthebillsofmortality,andfindinganemptyhousethere,inquiresouttheowner,andtookthehouse。Afterafewdayshegotacartandloadeditwithgoods,andcarriesthemdowntothehouse;thepeopleofthevillageopposedhisdrivingthecartalong;butwithsomearguingsandsomeforce,thementhatdrovethecartalonggotthroughthestreetuptothedoorofthehouse。Theretheconstableresistedthemagain,andwouldnotletthembebroughtin。Themancausedthegoodstobeunloadenandlaidatthedoor,andsentthecartaway;uponwhichtheycarriedthemanbeforeajusticeofpeace;thatistosay,theycommandedhimtogo,whichhedid。Thejusticeorderedhimtocausethecarttofetchawaythegoodsagain,whichherefusedtodo;uponwhichthejusticeorderedtheconstabletopursuethecartersandfetchthemback,andmakethemreloadthegoodsandcarrythemaway,ortosettheminthestockstilltheycameforfurtherorders;andiftheycouldnotfindthem,northemanwouldnotconsenttotakethemaway,theyshouldcausethemtobedrawnwithhooksfromthehouse—doorandburnedinthestreet。Thepoordistressedmanuponthisfetchedthegoodsagain,butwithgrievouscriesandlamentationsatthehardshipofhiscase。Buttherewasnoremedy;self—preservationobligedthepeopletothoseseveritieswhichtheywouldnototherwisehavebeenconcernedin。WhetherthispoormanlivedordiedIcannottell,butitwasreportedthathehadtheplagueuponhimatthattime;andperhapsthepeoplemightreportthattojustifytheirusageofhim;butitwasnotunlikelythateitherheorhisgoods,orboth,weredangerous,whenhiswholefamilyhadbeendeadofthedistemperssolittleawhilebefore。
IknowthattheinhabitantsofthetownsadjacenttoLondonweremuchblamedforcrueltytothepoorpeoplethatranfromthecontagionintheirdistress,andmanyveryseverethingsweredone,asmaybeseenfromwhathasbeensaid;butIcannotbutsayalsothat,wheretherewasroomforcharityandassistancetothepeople,withoutapparentdangertothemselves,theywerewillingenoughtohelpandrelievethem。Butaseverytownwereindeedjudgesintheirowncase,sothepoorpeoplewhoranabroadintheirextremitieswereoftenill—usedanddrivenbackagainintothetown;andthiscausedinfiniteexclamationsandoutcriesagainstthecountrytowns,andmadetheclamourverypopular。
Andyet,moreorless,maugreallthecaution,therewasnotatownofanynotewithinten（or,Ibelieve,twenty）milesofthecitybutwhatwasmoreorlessinfectedandhadsomediedamongthem。Ihaveheardtheaccountsofseveral,suchastheywerereckonedup,asfollows:—
InEnfield32InUxbridge117
\"Hornsey58\"Hertford90
\"Newington17\"Ware160
\"Tottenham42\"Hodsdon30
\"Edmonton19\"WalthamAbbey23
\"BarnetandHadly19\"Epping26
\"StAlbans121\"Deptford623
\"Watford45\"Greenwich231
\"ElthamandLusum85\"Kingston122
\"Croydon61\"Stanes82
\"Brentwood70\"Chertsey18
\"Rumford109\"Windsor103
\"BarkingAbbot200
\"Brentford432Cumaliis。
Anotherthingmightrenderthecountrymorestrictwithrespecttothecitizens,andespeciallywithrespecttothepoor,andthiswaswhatIhintedatbefore:namely,thattherewasaseemingpropensityorawickedinclinationinthosethatwereinfectedtoinfectothers。
Therehavebeengreatdebatesamongourphysiciansastothereasonofthis。Somewillhaveittobeinthenatureofthedisease,andthatitimpresseseveryonethatisseizeduponbyitwithakindofarage,andahatredagainsttheirownkind—asiftherewasamalignitynotonlyinthedistempertocommunicateitself,butintheverynatureofman,promptinghimwithevilwilloranevileye,that,astheysayinthecaseofamaddog,whothoughthegentlestcreaturebeforeofanyofhiskind,yetthenwillflyuponandbiteanyonethatcomesnexthim,andthoseassoonasanywhohadbeenmostobservedbyhimbefore。
Othersplacedittotheaccountofthecorruptionofhumannature,whocannotbeartoseeitselfmoremiserablethanothersofitsownspecies,andhasakindofinvoluntarywishthatallmenwereasunhappyorinasbadaconditionasitself。
Otherssayitwasonlyakindofdesperation,notknowingorregardingwhattheydid,andconsequentlyunconcernedatthedangerorsafetynotonlyofanybodynearthem,butevenofthemselvesalso。
Andindeed,whenmenareoncecometoaconditiontoabandonthemselves,andbeunconcernedforthesafetyoratthedangerofthemselves,itcannotbesomuchwonderedthattheyshouldbecarelessofthesafetyofotherpeople。
ButIchoosetogivethisgravedebateaquitedifferentturn,andansweritorresolveitallbysayingthatIdonotgrantthefact。Onthecontrary,Isaythatthethingisnotreallyso,butthatitwasageneralcomplaintraisedbythepeopleinhabitingtheoutlyingvillagesagainstthecitizenstojustify,oratleastexcuse,thosehardshipsandseveritiessomuchtalkedof,andinwhichcomplaintsbothsidesmaybesaidtohaveinjuredoneanother;thatistosay,thecitizenspressingtobereceivedandharbouredintimeofdistress,andwiththeplagueuponthem,complainofthecrueltyandinjusticeofthecountrypeopleinbeingrefusedentranceandforcedbackagainwiththeirgoodsandfamilies;andtheinhabitants,findingthemselvessoimposedupon,andthecitizensbreakinginasitwereuponthemwhethertheywouldorno,complainthatwhentheywereinfectedtheywerenotonlyregardlessofothers,butevenwillingtoinfectthem;neitherofwhichwerereallytrue—thatistosay,inthecolourstheyweredescribedin。
ItistruethereissomethingtobesaidforthefrequentalarmswhichweregiventothecountryoftheresolutionofthepeopleofLondontocomeoutbyforce,notonlyforrelief,buttoplunderandrob;thattheyranaboutthestreetswiththedistemperuponthemwithoutanycontrol;andthatnocarewastakentoshutuphouses,andconfinethesickpeoplefrominfectingothers;whereas,todotheLondonersjustice,theyneverpractisedsuchthings,exceptinsuchparticularcasesasIhavementionedabove,andsuchlike。Ontheotherhand,everythingwasmanagedwithsomuchcare,andsuchexcellentorderwasobservedinthewholecityandsuburbsbythecareoftheLordMayorandaldermenandbythejusticesofthepeace,church—wardens,&c。,intheoutparts,thatLondonmaybeapatterntoallthecitiesintheworldforthegoodgovernmentandtheexcellentorderthatwaseverywherekept,eveninthetimeofthemostviolentinfection,andwhenthepeoplewereintheutmostconsternationanddistress。ButofthisIshallspeakbyitself。
Onething,itistobeobserved,wasowingprincipallytotheprudenceofthemagistrates,andoughttobementionedtotheirhonour:viz。,themoderationwhichtheyusedinthegreatanddifficultworkofshuttingupofhouses。Itistrue,asIhavementioned,thattheshuttingupofhouseswasagreatsubjectofdiscontent,andImaysayindeedtheonlysubjectofdiscontentamongthepeopleatthattime;
fortheconfiningthesoundinthesamehousewiththesickwascountedveryterrible,andthecomplaintsofpeoplesoconfinedwereverygrievous。Theywereheardintotheverystreets,andtheyweresometimessuchthatcalledforresentment,thoughoftenerforcompassion。Theyhadnowaytoconversewithanyoftheirfriendsbutoutattheirwindows,wheretheywouldmakesuchpiteouslamentationsasoftenmovedtheheartsofthosetheytalkedwith,andofotherswho,passingby,heardtheirstory;andasthosecomplaintsoftentimesreproachedtheseverity,andsometimestheinsolence,ofthewatchmenplacedattheirdoors,thosewatchmenwouldanswersaucilyenough,andperhapsbeapttoaffrontthepeoplewhowereinthestreettalkingtothesaidfamilies;forwhich,orfortheirill—
treatmentofthefamilies,Ithinksevenoreightoftheminseveralplaceswerekilled;IknownotwhetherIshouldsaymurderedornot,becauseIcannotenterintotheparticularcases。Itistruethewatchmenwereontheirduty,andactinginthepostwheretheywereplacedbyalawfulauthority;andkillinganypubliclegalofficerintheexecutionofhisofficeisalways,inthelanguageofthelaw,calledmurder。Butastheywerenotauthorisedbythemagistrates\'
instructions,orbythepowertheyactedunder,tobeinjuriousorabusiveeithertothepeoplewhowereundertheirobservationortoanythatconcernedthemselvesforthem;sowhentheydidso,theymighthesaidtoactthemselves,nottheiroffice;\'toactasprivatepersons,notaspersonsemployed;andconsequently,iftheybroughtmischiefuponthemselvesbysuchanunduebehaviour,thatmischiefwasupontheirownheads;andindeedtheyhadsomuchtheheartycursesofthepeople,whethertheydeserveditornot,thatwhateverbefellthemnobodypitiedthem,andeverybodywasapttosaytheydeservedit,whateveritwas。NordoIrememberthatanybodywaseverpunished,atleasttoanyconsiderabledegree,forwhateverwasdonetothewatchmenthatguardedtheirhouses。