按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 impresses every one that is seized upon by it with a kind of
a rage； and a hatred against their own kind … as if there was a
malignity not only in the distemper to communicate itself； but in the
very nature of man； prompting him with evil will or
an evil eye； that； as they say in the case of a mad dog； who though the
gentlest creature before of any of his kind； yet then will fly upon and
bite any one that comes next him； and those as soon as any who had
been most observed by him before。
Others placed it to the account of the corruption of human nature；
who cannot bear to see itself more miserable than others of its own
species； and has a kind of involuntary wish that all men were as
unhappy or in as bad a condition as itself。
Others say it was only a kind of desperation； not knowing or
regarding what they did； and consequently unconcerned at the danger
or safety not only of anybody near them； but even of themselves also。
And indeed； when men are once come to a condition to abandon
themselves； and be unconcerned for the safety or at the danger of
themselves； it cannot be so much wondered that they should be
careless of the safety of other people。
But I choose to give this grave debate a quite different turn； and
answer it or resolve it all by saying that I do not grant the fact。 On the
contrary； I say that the thing is not really so； but that it was a general
complaint raised by the people inhabiting the outlying villages against
the citizens to justify； or at least excuse； those hardships and severities
so much talked of； and in which complaints both sides may be said to
have injured one another； that is to say； the citizens pressing to be
received and harboured in time of distress； and with the plague upon
them； complain of the cruelty and injustice of the country people in
being refused entrance and forced back again with their goods and
families； and the inhabitants； finding themselves so imposed upon；
and the citizens breaking in as it were upon them whether they would
or no； complain that when they were infected they were not only
regardless of others； but even willing to infect them； neither of which
were really true … that is to say； in the colours they were described in。
It is true there is something to be said for the frequent alarms which
were given to the country of the resolution of the people of London to
come out by force； not only for relief； but to plunder and rob； that they
ran about the streets with the distemper upon them without any
control； and that no care was taken to shut up houses； and confine the
sick people from infecting others； whereas； to do the Londoners
justice； they never practised such things； except in such particular
cases as I have mentioned above； and such like。 On the other hand；
everything was managed with so much care； and such excellent order
was observed in the whole city and suburbs by the care of the Lord
Mayor and aldermen and by the justices of the peace； church…wardens；
&c。； in the outparts； that London may be a pattern to all the cities in
the world for the good government and the excellent order that was
everywhere kept； even in the time of the most violent infection； and
when the people were in the utmost consternation and distress。 But of
this I shall speak by itself。
One thing； it is to be observed； was owing principally to the
prudence of the magistrates； and ought to be mentioned to their
honour： viz。； the moderation which they used in the great and difficult
work of shutting up of houses。 It is true； as I have mentioned； that the
shutting up of houses was a great subject of discontent； and I may say
indeed the only subject of discontent among the people at that time；
for the confining the sound in the same house with the sick was
counted very terrible； and the complaints of people so confined were
very grievous。 They were heard into the very