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St Giles…in…the…Fields 140
Clarkenwell 77
St Sepulcher 214
St Leonard； Shoreditch 183
Stepney parish 716
Aldgate 623
Whitechappel 532
In the ninety…seven parishes within the walls 1493
In the eight parishes on Southwark side 1636
…
Total 6060
Here is a strange change of things indeed； and a sad change it was；
and had it held for two months more than it did； very few people
would have been left alive。 But then such； I say； was the merciful
disposition of God that； when it was thus； the west and north part
which had been so dreadfully visited at first； grew； as you see； much
better； and as the people disappeared here； they began to look abroad
again there； and the next week or two altered it still more； that is；
more to the encouragement of tile other part of the town。 For
example： …
From the 19th of September to the 26th …
St Giles； Cripplegate 277
St Giles…in…the…Fields 119
Clarkenwell 76
St Sepulchers 193
St Leonard； Shoreditch 146
Stepney parish 616
Aldgate 496
Whitechappel 346
In the ninety…seven parishes within the walls 1268
In the eight parishes on Southwark side 1390
…
Total 4927
From the 26th of September to the 3rd of October …
St Giles； Cripplegate 196
St Giles…in…the…Fields 95
Clarkenwell 48
St Sepulchers 137
St Leonard； Shoreditch 128
Stepney parish 674
Aldgate 372
Whitechappel 328
In the ninety…seven parishes within the walls 1149
In the eight parishes on Southwark side 1201
…
Total 4382
And now the misery of the city and of the said east and south parts
was complete indeed； for； as you see； the weight of the distemper lay
upon those parts； that is to say； the city； the eight parishes over the
river； with the parishes of Aldgate； Whitechappel； and Stepney； and
this was the time that the bills came up to such a monstrous height as
that I mentioned before； and that eight or nine； and； as I believe； ten or
twelve thousand a week； died； for it is my settled opinion that they
never could come at any just account of the numbers； for the reasons
which I have given already。
Nay； one of the most eminent physicians； who has since published
in Latin an account of those times； and of his observations says that in
one week there died twelve thousand people； and that particularly
there died four thousand in one night； though I do not remember that
there ever was any such particular night so remarkably fatal as that
such a number died in it。 However； all this confirms what I have said
above of the uncertainty of the bills of mortality； &c。； of which I shall
say more hereafter。
And here let me take leave to enter again； though it may seem a
repetition of circumstances； into a description of the miserable
condition of the city itself； and of those parts where I lived at this
particular time。 The city and those other parts； notwithstanding the
great numbers of people that were gone into the country； was vastly
full of people； and perhaps the fuller because people had for a long
time a strong belief that the plague would not come into the city； nor
into Southwark； no； nor into Wapping or Ratcliff at all； nay； such was
the assurance of the people on that head that many removed from the
suburbs on the west and north sides； into those eastern and south sides
as for safety； and； as I verily believe； carried the plague amongst them
there perhaps sooner than they would otherwise have had it。
Here also I ought to leave a further remark for the use of posterity；
concerning the manner of people's infecting one another； namely； that
it was not the sick people only from whom the plague was
immediately received by others that were sound； but the well。 To
explain myself： by the sick people I mean those who were known to
be sick； had taken their beds； had been under cure； or had swellings
and tumours upon them； and the like； these everybody could beware
of； they were either in their beds or in such condition as could not
be concealed。
By the well I mean such as had received the contagion； and had it
really upon them； and in their blood； yet did not show the
consequences of it in their countenances： nay； even were not sensible
of it themselves； as many were not for several days。 These breathed
death in every place； and upon everybody who came near them； nay；
their very clothes retained the infection； their hands would infect the
things they touched； especially if they were warm and sweaty； and
they were generally apt to sweat too。
Now it was impossible to know these people； nor did they
sometimes； as I have said； know themselves to be infected。 These
were the people that so often dropped down and fainted in the streets；
for oftentimes they would go about the streets to the last； till on a
sudden they would sweat； grow faint； sit down at a door and die。 It is
true； finding themselves thus； they would struggle hard to get home to
their own doors； or at other times would be just able to go into their
houses and die instantly； other times they would go about till they had
the very tokens come out upon them； and yet not know it； and would
die in an hour or two after they came home； but be well as long as
they were abroad。 These were the dangerous people； these were the
people of whom the well people ought to have been afraid； but then；
on the other side； it was impossible to know them。
And this is the reason why it is impossible in a visitation to prevent
the spreading of the plague by the utmost human vigilance： viz。； that it
is impossible to know the infected people from the sound； or that the
infected people should perfectly know themselves。 I knew a man who
conversed freely in London all the season of the plague in 1665； and
kept about him an antidote or cordial on purpose to take when he
thought himself in any danger； and he had such a rule to know or have
warning of the danger by as indeed I never met with before or since。
How far it may be depended on I know not。 He had a wound in his
leg； and whenever he came among any people that were not sound；
and the infection began to affect him； he said he could know it by that
signal； viz。； that his wound in his leg would smart； and look pale and
white； so as soon as ever he felt it smart it was time for him to
withdraw； or to take care of himself； taking his drink； which he always
carried about him for that purpose。 Now it seems he found his wound
would smart many times when he was in company with such who
thought themselves to be sound； and who appeared so to one another；
but he would presently rise up and say publicly； 'Friends； here is
somebody in the room that has the plague'； and so would immediately
break up the company。 This was indeed a faithful monitor to all
people that the plague is not to be avoided by those that converse
promiscuously in a town infected； and people have it when they know
it not； and that they likewise give it to others when they know not that
they have it themselves； and in this case shutting up the well or
removing the sick will not do it； unless they can go back and shut up
all those that the sick had conversed with； even before they knew
themselves to be sick； and none knows how far to carry that back； or
where to stop； for none knows when or where or how they may have
received the infection； or from whom。
This I take to be the reason which makes so many people talk of the
air being corrupted and infected； and that they need not be cautious of
whom they converse with； for that the contagion was in the air。 I have
seen them in strange agitations and surprises on this account。 'I have
never come near any infected body'； says the disturbed person； 'I have
conversed with none but sound； healthy people； and yet I have gotten