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the fields and woods； and lived like hermits in holes and caves； or any
place they could find； and where； we may be sure； they suffered great
extremities； such that many of them were obliged to come back again
whatever the danger was； and so those little huts were often found
empty； and the country people supposed the inhabitants lay dead in
them of the plague； and would not go near them for fear … no； not in a
great while； nor is it unlikely but that some of the unhappy wanderers
might die so all alone； even sometimes for want of help； as
particularly in one tent or hut was found a man dead； and on the gate
of a field just by was cut with his knife in uneven letters the following
words； by which it may be supposed the other man escaped； or that；
one dying first； the other buried him as well as he could： …
O mIsErY！
We BoTH ShaLL DyE；
WoE； WoE。
I have given an account already of what I found to have been the
case down the river among the seafaring men； how the ships lay in the
offing； as it's called； in rows or lines astern of one another； quite down
from the Pool as far as I could see。 I have been told that they lay in
the same manner quite down the river as low as Gravesend； and some
far beyond： even everywhere or in every place where they could ride
with safety as to wind and weather； nor did I ever hear that the plague
reached to any of the people on board those ships … except such as lay
up in the Pool； or as high as Deptford Reach； although the people
went frequently on shore to the country towns and villages and
farmers' houses； to buy fresh provisions； fowls； pigs； calves； and the
like for their supply。
Likewise I found that the watermen on the river above the bridge
found means to convey themselves away up the river as far as they
could go； and that they had； many of them； their whole families in
their boats； covered with tilts and bales； as they call them； and
furnished with straw within for their lodging； and that they lay thus all
along by the shore in the marshes； some of them setting up little tents
with their sails； and so lying under them on shore in the day； and
going into their boats at night； and in this manner； as I have heard； the
river…sides were lined with boats and people as long as they had
anything to subsist on； or could get anything of the country； and
indeed the country people； as well Gentlemen as others； on these and
all other occasions； were very forward to relieve them … but they were
by no means willing to receive them into their towns and houses； and
for that we cannot blame them。
There was one unhappy citizen within my knowledge who had been
visited in a dreadful manner； so that his wife and all his children were
dead； and himself and two servants only left； with an elderly woman；
a near relation； who had nursed those that were dead as well as she
could。 This disconsolate man goes to a village near the town； though
not within the bills of mortality； and finding an empty house there；
inquires out the owner； and took the house。 After a few days he got a
cart and loaded it with goods； and carries them down to the house； the
people of the village opposed his driving the cart along； but with some
arguings and some force； the men that drove the cart along got
through the street up to the door of the house。 There the constable
resisted them again； and would not let them be brought in。 The man
caused the goods to be unloaden and laid at the door； and sent the cart
away； upon which they carried the man before a justice of peace； that
is to say； they commanded him to go； which he did。 The justice
ordered him to cause the cart to fetch away the goods again； which he
refused to do； upon which the justice ordered the constable to pursue
the carters and fetch them back； and make them reload the goods and
carry them away； or to set them in the stocks till they came for further
orders； and if they could not find them； nor the man would not
consent to take them away； they should cause them to be drawn with
hooks from the house…door and burned in the street。 The poor
distressed man upon this fetched the goods again； but with grievous
cries and lamentations at the hardship of his case。 But there was no
remedy； self…preservation obliged the people to those severities which
they would not otherwise have been concerned in。 Whether this poor
man lived or died I cannot tell； but it was reported that he had the
plague upon him at that time； and perhaps the people might report that
to justify their usage of him； but it was not unlikely that either he or
his goods； or both； were dangerous； when his whole family had been
dead of the distempers so little a while before。
I know that the inhabitants of the towns adjacent to London were
much blamed for cruelty to the poor people that ran from the
contagion in their distress； and many very severe things were done； as
may be seen from what has been said； but I cannot but say also that；
where there was room for charity and assistance to the people； without
apparent danger to themselves； they were
willing enough to help and relieve them。 But as every town were
indeed judges in their own case； so the poor people who ran abroad in
their extremities were often ill…used and driven back again into the
town； and this caused infinite exclamations and outcries against the
country towns； and made the clamour very popular。
And yet； more or less； maugre all the caution； there was not a town
of any note within ten （or； I believe； twenty） miles of the city but what
was more or less infected and had some died among them。 I have
heard the accounts of several； such as they were reckoned up； as follows： …
In Enfield 32 In Uxbridge 117
〃 Hornsey 58 〃 Hertford 90
〃 Newington 17 〃 Ware 160
〃 Tottenham 42 〃 Hodsdon 30
〃 Edmonton 19 〃 Waltham Abbey 23
〃 Barnet and Hadly 19 〃 Epping 26
〃 St Albans 121 〃 Deptford 623
〃 Watford 45 〃 Greenwich 231
〃 Eltham and Lusum 85 〃 Kingston 122
〃 Croydon 61 〃 Stanes 82
〃 Brentwood 70 〃 Chertsey 18
〃 Rumford 109 〃 Windsor 103
〃 Barking Abbot 200
〃 Brentford 432 Cum aliis。
Another thing might render the country more strict with respect to
the citizens； and especially with respect to the poor； and this was what
I hinted at before： namely； that there was a seeming propensity or a
wicked inclination in those that were infected to infect others。
There have been great debates among our physicians as to the
reason of this。 Some will have it to be in the nature of the disease；
and that it