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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 often wondered at it； and
reproached myself with being so timorous and cautious in stirring
abroad； when the country people came freely and boldly to market； as
if there had been no manner of infection in the city； or danger of
catching it。
It。 was indeed one admirable piece of conduct in the said
magistrates that the streets were kept constantly dear and free from all
manner of frightful objects； dead bodies； or any such things as were
indecent or unpleasant … unless where anybody fell down suddenly or
died in the streets； as I have said above； and these were generally
covered with some cloth or blanket； or removed into the next
churchyard till night。 All the needful works that carried terror with
them； that were both dismal and dangerous； were done in the night； if
any diseased bodies were removed； or dead bodies buried； or infected
clothes burnt； it was done in the night； and all the bodies which were
thrown into the great pits in the several churchyards or burying…
grounds； as has。 been observed； were so removed in the night； and
everything was covered and closed before day。 So that in the daytime
there was not the least signal of the calamity to be seen or heard of；
except what was to be observed from the emptiness of the streets； and
sometimes from the passionate outcries and lamentations of the
people； out at their windows； and from the numbers of houses and
shops shut up。
Nor was the silence and emptiness of the streets so much in the city
as in the out…parts； except just at one particular time when； as I have
mentioned； the plague came east and spread over all the city。 It was
indeed a merciful disposition of God； that as the plague began at one
end of the town first （as has been observed at large） so it proceeded
progressively to other parts； and did not come on this way； or
eastward； till it had spent its fury in the West part of the town； and so；
as it came on one way； it abated another。 For example； it began at St
Giles's and the Westminster end of the town； and it was in its height in
all that part by about the middle of July； viz。； in St Giles…in…the…Fields；
St Andrew's； Holborn； St Clement Danes； St Martin…in…the…Fields； and
in Westminster。 The latter end of July it decreased in those parishes；
and coming east； it increased prodigiously in Cripplegate； St
Sepulcher's； St James's； Clarkenwell； and St Bride's and Aldersgate。
While it was in all these parishes； the city and all the parishes of the
Southwark side of the water and all Stepney； Whitechappel； Aldgate；
Wapping； and Ratcliff； were very little touched； so that people went
about their business unconcerned； carried on their trades； kept open
their shops； and conversed freely with one another in all the city； the
east and north…east suburbs； and in Southwark； almost as if the plague
had not been among us。
Even when the north and north…west suburbs were fully infected；
viz。； Cripplegate； Clarkenwell； Bishopsgate； and Shoreditch； yet still
all the rest were tolerably well。 For example from 25th July to 1st
August the bill stood thus of all diseases： …
St Giles； Cripplegate 554
St Sepulchers 250
Clarkenwell 103
Bishopsgate 116
Shoreditch 110
Stepney parish 127
Aldgate 92
Whitechappel 104
All the ninety…seven parishes within the walls 228
All the parishes in Southwark 205
…
Total 1889
So that； in short； there died more that week in the two parishes of
Cripplegate and St Sepulcher by forty…eight than in all the city； all the
east suburbs； and all the Southwark parishes put together。 This caused
the reputation of the city's health to continue all over England … and
especially in the counties and markets adjacent； from whence our
supply of provisions chiefly came even much longer than that health
itself continued； for when the people came into the streets from the
country by Shoreditch and Bishopsgate； or by Old Street and
Smithfield； they would see the out…streets empty and the houses and
shops shut； and the few people that were stirring there walk in the
middle of the streets。 But when they came within the city； there
things looked better； and the markets and shops were open； and the
people walking about the streets as usual； though not quite so many；
and this continued till the latter end of August and the beginning of
September。
But then the case altered quite； the distemper abated in the west and
north…west parishes； and the weight of the infection lay on the city and
the eastern suburbs； and the Southwark side； and this in a frightful
manner。
Then； indeed； the city began to look dismal； shops to be shut； and the
streets desolate。 In the High Street； indeed； necessity made people stir
abroad on many occasions； and there would be in the middle of the
day a pretty many people； but in the mornings and evenings scarce any
to be seen； even there； no； not in Cornhill and Cheapside。
These observations of mine were abundantly confirmed by the
weekly bills of mortality for those weeks； an abstract of which； as they
respect the parishes which。 I have mentioned and as they make the
calculations I speak of very evident； take as
follows。
The weekly bill； which makes out this decrease of the burials in the
west and north side of the city； stands thus … …
From the 12th of September to the 19th …
St Giles； Cripplegate 456
St Giles…in…the…Fields