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removing could not effectually clear the house where the sick person
was of the distemper； and the rest of the family； being then left at
liberty； would certainly spread it among others。
The methods also in private families； which would have been
universally used to have concealed the distemper and to have
concealed the persons being sick； would have been such that the
distemper would sometimes have seized a whole family before any
visitors or examiners could have known of it。 On the other hand； the
prodigious numbers which would have been sick at a time would have
exceeded all the capacity of public pest…houses to receive them； or of
public officers to discover and remove them。
This was well considered in those days； and I have heard them talk
of it often。 The magistrates had enough to do to bring people to
submit to having their houses shut up； and many ways they deceived
the watchmen and got out； as I have observed。 But that difficulty
made it apparent that they t would have found it impracticable to have
gone the other way to work； for they could never have forced the sick
people out of their beds and out of their dwellings。 It must not have
been my Lord Mayor's officers； but an army of officers； that must have
attempted it； and tile people； on the other hand； would have been
enraged and desperate； and would have killed those that should have
offered to have meddled with them or with their children and
relations； whatever had befallen them for it； so that they would have
made the people； who； as it was； were in the most terrible distraction
imaginable； I say； they would have made them stark mad； whereas the
magistrates found it proper on several accounts to treat them with
lenity and compassion； and not with violence and terror； such as
dragging the sick out of their houses or obliging them to remove
themselves； would have been。
This leads me again to mention the time when the plague first
began； that is to say； when it became certain that it would spread over
the whole town； when； as I have said； the better sort of people first
took the alarm and began to hurry themselves out of town。 It was
true； as I observed in its place； that the throng was so great； and the
coaches； horses； waggons； and carts were so many； driving and
dragging the people away； that it looked as if all the city was running
away； and had any regulations been published that had been terrifying
at that time； especially such as would pretend to dispose of the people
otherwise than they would dispose of themselves； it would have put
both the city and suburbs into the utmost confusion。
But the magistrates wisely caused the people to be encouraged；
made very good bye…laws for the regulating the citizens； keeping good
order in the streets； and making everything as eligible as possible to
all sorts of people。
In the first place； the Lord Mayor and the sheriffs； the Court of
Aldermen； and a certain number of the Common Council men； or
their deputies； came to a resolution and published it； viz。； that they
would not quit the city themselves； but that they would be always at
hand for the preserving good order in every place and for the doing
justice on all occasions； as also for the distributing the public charity
to the poor； and； in a word； for the doing the duty and discharging the
trust reposed in them by the citizens to the utmost of their power。
In pursuance of these orders； the Lord Mayor； sheriffs； &c。； held
councils every day； more or less； for making such dispositions as they
found needful for preserving the civil peace； and though they used the
people with all possible gentleness and clemency； yet all manner of
presumptuous rogues such as thieves； housebreakers； plunderers of the
dead or of the sick； were duly punished； and several declarations were
continually published by the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen
against such。
Also all constables and churchwardens were enjoined to stay in the
city upon severe penalties； or to depute such able and sufficient
housekeepers as the deputy aldermen or Common Council men of the
precinct should approve； and for whom they should give security； and
also security in case of mortality that they would forthwith constitute
other constables in their stead。
These things re…established the minds of the people very much；
especially in the first of their fright； when they talked of making so
universal a flight that the city would have been in danger of being
entirely deserted of its inhabitants except the poor； and the country of
being plundered and laid waste by the multitude。 Nor were the
magistrates deficient in performing their part as boldly as they
promised it； for my Lord Mayor and the sheriffs were continually in
the streets and at places of the greatest danger； and though they did
not care for having too great a resort of people crowding about them；
yet in emergent cases they never denied the people access to them；
and heard with patience all their grievances and complaints。 My Lord
Mayor had a low gallery built
on purpose in his hall； where he stood a little removed from the crowd
when any complaint came to be heard； that he might appear with as
much safety as possible。
Likewise the proper officers； called my Lord Mayor's officers；
constantly attended in their turns； as they were in waiting； and if any
of them were sick or infected； as some of them were； others were
instantly employed to fill up and officiate in their places till it was
known whether the other should live or die。
In like manner the sheriffs and aldermen did in their several stations
and wards； where they were placed by office； and the sheriff's officers
or sergeants were appointed to receive orders from the respective
aldermen in their turn； so that justice was executed in all cases
without interruption。 In the next place； it was one of their particular
cares to see
the orders for the freedom of the markets observed； and in this part
either the Lord Mayor or one or both of the sheriffs were every
market…day on horseback to see their orders executed and to see that
the country people had all possible encouragement and freedom in
their coming to the markets and going back again； and that no
nuisances or frightful objects should be seen in the streets to terrify
them or make them unwilling to come。 Also the bakers were taken
under particular order； and the Master of the Bakers' Company was；
with his court of assistants； directed to see the order of my Lord
Mayor for their regulation put in execution； and the due assize of
bread （which was weekly appointed by my Lord Mayor） observed； and
all the bakers were obliged to keep their oven going constantly； on
pain of losing the privileges of a freeman of the city of London。
By this means bread was always to be had in plenty； and as cheap as
usual； as I said above； and provisions were never wanting in the
markets； even to such a degree that I