Part1
beingobservationsormemorialsofthemostremarkableoccurrences,aswellpublicasprivate,whichhappenedinLondonduringthelastgreatvisitationin1665。
WrittenbyaCitizenwhocontinuedallthewhileinLondon。
NevermadepublicbeforeItwasaboutthebeginningofSeptember,1664,thatI,amongtherestofmyneighbours,heardinordinarydiscoursethattheplaguewasreturnedagaininHolland;forithadbeenveryviolentthere,andparticularlyatAmsterdamandRotterdam,intheyear1663,whither,theysay,itwasbrought,somesaidfromItaly,othersfromtheLevant,amongsomegoodswhichwerebroughthomebytheirTurkeyfleet;
otherssaiditwasbroughtfromCandia;othersfromCyprus。Itmatterednotfromwhenceitcame;butallagreeditwascomeintoHollandagain。
Wehadnosuchthingasprintednewspapersinthosedaystospreadrumoursandreportsofthings,andtoimprovethembytheinventionofmen,asIhavelivedtoseepractisedsince。Butsuchthingsastheseweregatheredfromthelettersofmerchantsandotherswhocorrespondedabroad,andfromthemwashandedaboutbywordofmouthonly;sothatthingsdidnotspreadinstantlyoverthewholenation,astheydonow。ButitseemsthattheGovernmenthadatrueaccountofit,andseveralcouncilswereheldaboutwaystopreventitscomingover;butallwaskeptveryprivate。Henceitwasthatthisrumourdiedoffagain,andpeoplebegantoforgetitasathingwewereverylittleconcernedin,andthatwehopedwasnottrue;tillthelatterendofNovemberorthebeginningofDecember1664whentwomen,saidtobeFrenchmen,diedoftheplagueinLongAcre,orratherattheupperendofDruryLane。Thefamilytheywereinendeavouredtoconcealitasmuchaspossible,butasithadgottensomeventinthediscourseoftheneighbourhood,theSecretariesofStategotknowledgeofit;andconcerningthemselvestoinquireaboutit,inordertobecertainofthetruth,twophysiciansandasurgeonwereorderedtogotothehouseandmakeinspection。Thistheydid;andfindingevidenttokensofthesicknessuponboththebodiesthatweredead,theygavetheiropinionspubliclythattheydiedoftheplague。
Whereuponitwasgivenintotheparishclerk,andhealsoreturnedthemtotheHall;anditwasprintedintheweeklybillofmortalityintheusualmanner,thus—
Plague,2。Parishesinfected,1。
Thepeopleshowedagreatconcernatthis,andbegantobealarmedalloverthetown,andthemore,becauseinthelastweekinDecember1664anothermandiedinthesamehouse,andofthesamedistemper。
Andthenwewereeasyagainforaboutsixweeks,whennonehavingdiedwithanymarksofinfection,itwassaidthedistemperwasgone;
butafterthat,Ithinkitwasaboutthe12thofFebruary,anotherdiedinanotherhouse,butinthesameparishandinthesamemanner。
Thisturnedthepeople\'seyesprettymuchtowardsthatendofthetown,andtheweeklybillsshowinganincreaseofburialsinStGiles\'sparishmorethanusual,itbegantobesuspectedthattheplaguewasamongthepeopleatthatendofthetown,andthatmanyhaddiedofit,thoughtheyhadtakencaretokeepitasmuchfromtheknowledgeofthepublicaspossible。Thispossessedtheheadsofthepeopleverymuch,andfewcaredtogothroughDruryLane,ortheotherstreetssuspected,unlesstheyhadextraordinarybusinessthatobligedthemtoitThisincreaseofthebillsstoodthus:theusualnumberofburialsinaweek,intheparishesofStGiles—in—the—FieldsandStAndrew\'s,Holborn,werefromtwelvetoseventeenornineteeneach,fewmoreorless;butfromthetimethattheplaguefirstbeganinStGiles\'sparish,itwasobservedthattheordinaryburialsincreasedinnumberconsiderably。Forexample:—
FromDecember27toJanuary3{StGiles\'s16
{StAndrew\'s17
\"January3\"\"10{StGiles\'s12
{StAndrew\'s25
\"January10\"\"17{StGiles\'s18
{StAndrew\'s28
\"January17\"\"24{StGiles\'s23
{StAndrew\'s16
\"January24\"\"31{StGiles\'s24
{StAndrew\'s15
\"January30\"February7{StGiles\'s21
{StAndrew\'s23
\"February7\"\"14{StGiles\'s24
Whereofoneoftheplague。
ThelikeincreaseofthebillswasobservedintheparishesofStBride\'s,adjoiningononesideofHolbornparish,andintheparishofStJames,Clerkenwell,adjoiningontheothersideofHolborn;inbothwhichparishestheusualnumbersthatdiedweeklywerefromfourtosixoreight,whereasatthattimetheywereincreasedasfollows:—
FromDecember20toDecember27{StBride\'s0
{StJames\'s8
December27toJanuary3{StBride\'s6
{StJames\'s9
\"January3\"\"10{StBride\'s11
{StJames\'s7
\"January10\"\"17{StBride\'s12
{StJames\'s9
\"January17\"\"24{StBride\'s9
{StJames\'s15
\"January24\"\"31{StBride\'s8
{StJames\'s12
\"January31\"February7{StBride\'s13
{StJames\'s5
\"February7\"\"14{StBride\'s12
{StJames\'s6
Besidesthis,itwasobservedwithgreatuneasinessbythepeoplethattheweeklybillsingeneralincreasedverymuchduringtheseweeks,althoughitwasatatimeoftheyearwhenusuallythebillsareverymoderate。
Theusualnumberofburialswithinthebillsofmortalityforaweekwasfromabout240orthereaboutsto300。Thelastwasesteemedaprettyhighbill;butafterthiswefoundthebillssuccessivelyincreasingasfollows:—
Buried。Increased。
Decemberthe20thtothe27th291……
\"27th\"3rdJanuary34958
Januarythe3rd\"10th\"39445
\"10th\"17th\"41521
\"17th\"24th\"47459
Thislastbillwasreallyfrightful,beingahighernumberthanhadbeenknowntohavebeenburiedinoneweeksincetheprecedingvisitationof1656。
However,allthiswentoffagain,andtheweatherprovingcold,andthefrost,whichbeganinDecember,stillcontinuingverysevereeventillneartheendofFebruary,attendedwithsharpthoughmoderatewinds,thebillsdecreasedagain,andthecitygrewhealthy,andeverybodybegantolookuponthedangerasgoodasover;onlythatstilltheburialsinStGiles\'scontinuedhigh。FromthebeginningofAprilespeciallytheystoodattwenty—fiveeachweek,tilltheweekfromthe18thtothe25th,whentherewasburiedinStGiles\'sparishthirty,whereoftwooftheplagueandeightofthespotted—fever,whichwaslookeduponasthesamething;likewisethenumberthatdiedofthespotted—feverinthewholeincreased,beingeighttheweekbefore,andtwelvetheweekabove—named。
Thisalarmedusallagain,andterribleapprehensionswereamongthepeople,especiallytheweatherbeingnowchangedandgrowingwarm,andthesummerbeingathand。However,thenextweekthereseemedtobesomehopesagain;thebillswerelow,thenumberofthedeadinallwasbut388,therewasnoneoftheplague,andbutfourofthespotted—fever。
Butthefollowingweekitreturnedagain,andthedistemperwasspreadintotwoorthreeotherparishes,viz。,StAndrew\'s,Holborn;StClementDanes;and,tothegreatafflictionofthecity,onediedwithinthewalls,intheparishofStMaryWoolchurch,thatistosay,inBearbinderLane,nearStocksMarket;inalltherewerenineoftheplagueandsix。ofthespotted—fever。Itwas,however,uponinquiryfoundthatthisFrenchmanwhodiedinBearbinderLanewasonewho,havinglivedinLongAcre,neartheinfectedhouses,hadremovedforfearofthedistemper,notknowingthathewasalreadyinfected。
ThiswasthebeginningofMay,yettheweatherwastemperate,variable,andcoolenough,andpeoplehadstillsomehopes。Thatwhichencouragedthemwasthatthecitywashealthy:thewholeninety—sevenparishesburiedbutfifty—four,andwebegantohopethat,asitwaschieflyamongthepeopleatthatendofthetown,itmightgonofarther;andtherather,becausethenextweek,whichwasfromthe9thofMaytothe16th,therediedbutthree,ofwhichnotonewithinthewholecityorliberties;andStAndrew\'sburiedbutfifteen,whichwasverylow。\'TistrueStGiles\'sburiedtwo—and—thirty,butstill,astherewasbutoneoftheplague,peoplebegantobeeasy。Thewholebillalsowasverylow,fortheweekbeforethebillwasbut347,andtheweekabovementionedbut343。Wecontinuedinthesehopesforafewdays,butitwasbutforafew,forthepeoplewerenomoretobedeceivedthus;theysearchedthehousesandfoundthattheplaguewasreallyspreadeveryway,andthatmanydiedofiteveryday。Sothatnowallourextenuationsabated,anditwasnomoretobeconcealed;
nay,itquicklyappearedthattheinfectionhadspreaditselfbeyondallhopesofabatement。thatintheparishofStGilesitwasgottenintoseveralstreets,andseveralfamilieslayallsicktogether;and,accordingly,intheweeklybillforthenextweekthethingbegantoshowitself。Therewasindeedbutfourteensetdownoftheplague,butthiswasallknaveryandcollusion,forinStGiles\'sparishtheyburiedfortyinall,whereofitwascertainmostofthemdiedoftheplague,thoughtheyweresetdownofotherdistempers;andthoughthenumberofalltheburialswerenotincreasedabovethirty—two,andthewholebillbeingbut385,yettherewasfourteenofthespotted—
fever,aswellasfourteenoftheplague;andwetookitforgranteduponthewholethattherewerefiftydiedthatweekoftheplague。
Thenextbillwasfromthe23rdofMaytothe30th,whenthenumberoftheplaguewasseventeen。ButtheburialsinStGiles\'swerefifty—three—afrightfulnumber！—ofwhomtheysetdownbutnineoftheplague;butonanexaminationmorestrictlybythejusticesofpeace,andattheLordMayor\'srequest,itwasfoundthereweretwentymorewhowerereallydeadoftheplagueinthatparish,buthadbeensetdownofthespotted—feverorotherdistempers,besidesothersconcealed。
Butthoseweretriflingthingstowhatfollowedimmediatelyafter;
fornowtheweathersetinhot,andfromthefirstweekinJunetheinfectionspreadinadreadfulmanner,andthebillsrosehigh;thearticlesofthefever,spotted—fever,andteethbegantoswell;forallthatcouldconcealtheirdistempersdidit,topreventtheirneighboursshunningandrefusingtoconversewiththem,andalsotopreventauthorityshuttinguptheirhouses;which,thoughitwasnotyetpractised,yetwasthreatened,andpeoplewereextremelyterrifiedatthethoughtsofit。
ThesecondweekinJune,theparishofStGiles,wherestilltheweightoftheinfectionlay,buried120,whereofthoughthebillssaidbutsixty—eightoftheplague,everybodysaidtherehadbeen100atleast,calculatingitfromtheusualnumberoffuneralsinthatparish,asabove。
Tillthisweekthecitycontinuedfree,therehavingneveranydied,exceptthatoneFrenchmanwhomImentionedbefore,withinthewholeninety—sevenparishes。Nowtherediedfourwithinthecity,oneinWoodStreet,oneinFenchurchStreet,andtwoinCrookedLane。
Southwarkwasentirelyfree,havingnotoneyetdiedonthatsideofthewater。
IlivedwithoutAldgate,aboutmidwaybetweenAldgateChurchandWhitechappelBars,onthelefthandornorthsideofthestreet;andasthedistemperhadnotreachedtothatsideofthecity,ourneighbourhoodcontinuedveryeasy。Butattheotherendofthetowntheirconsternationwasverygreat:andtherichersortofpeople,especiallythenobilityandgentryfromthewestpartofthecity,throngedoutoftownwiththeirfamiliesandservantsinanunusualmanner;andthiswasmoreparticularlyseeninWhitechappel;thatistosay,theBroadStreetwhereIlived;indeed,nothingwastobeseenbutwaggonsandcarts,withgoods,women,servants,children,&c。;
coachesfilledwithpeopleofthebettersortandhorsemenattendingthem,andallhurryingaway;thenemptywaggonsandcartsappeared,andsparehorseswithservants,who,itwasapparent,werereturningorsentfromthecountriestofetchmorepeople;besidesinnumerablenumbersofmenonhorseback,somealone,otherswithservants,and,generallyspeaking,allloadedwithbaggageandfittedoutfortravelling,asanyonemightperceivebytheirappearance。
Thiswasaveryterribleandmelancholythingtosee,andasitwasasightwhichIcouldnotbutlookonfrommorningtonight（forindeedtherewasnothingelseofmomenttobeseen）,itfilledmewithveryseriousthoughtsofthemiserythatwascominguponthecity,andtheunhappyconditionofthosethatwouldbeleftinit。
ThishurryofthepeoplewassuchforsomeweeksthattherewasnogettingattheLordMayor\'sdoorwithoutexceedingdifficulty;thereweresuchpressingandcrowdingtheretogetpassesandcertificatesofhealthforsuchastravelledabroad,forwithoutthesetherewasnobeingadmittedtopassthroughthetownsupontheroad,ortolodgeinanyinn。Now,astherehadnonediedinthecityforallthistime,myLordMayorgavecertificatesofhealthwithoutanydifficultytoallthosewholivedintheninety—sevenparishes,andtothosewithinthelibertiestooforawhile。
Thishurry,Isay,continuedsomeweeks,thatistosay,allthemonthofMayandJune,andthemorebecauseitwasrumouredthatanorderoftheGovernmentwastobeissuedouttoplaceturnpikesandbarriersontheroadtopreventpeopletravelling,andthatthetownsontheroadwouldnotsufferpeoplefromLondontopassforfearofbringingtheinfectionalongwiththem,thoughneitheroftheserumourshadanyfoundationbutintheimagination,especiallyat—first。
Inowbegantoconsiderseriouslywithmyselfconcerningmyowncase,andhowIshoulddisposeofmyself;thatistosay,whetherI
shouldresolvetostayinLondonorshutupmyhouseandflee,asmanyofmyneighboursdid。Ihavesetthisparticulardownsofully,becauseIknownotbutitmaybeofmomenttothosewhocomeafterme,iftheycometobebroughttothesamedistress,andtothesamemannerofmakingtheirchoice;andthereforeIdesirethisaccountmaypasswiththemratherforadirectiontothemselvestoactbythanahistoryofmyactings,seeingitmaynotheofonefarthingvaluetothemtonotewhatbecameofme。
Ihadtwoimportantthingsbeforeme:theonewasthecarryingonmybusinessandshop,whichwasconsiderable,andinwhichwasembarkedallmyeffectsintheworld;andtheotherwasthepreservationofmylifeinsodismalacalamityasIsawapparentlywascominguponthewholecity,andwhich,howevergreatitwas,myfearsperhaps,aswellasotherpeople\'s,representedtobemuchgreaterthanitcouldbe。
Thefirstconsiderationwasofgreatmomenttome;mytradewasasaddler,andasmydealingswerechieflynotbyashoporchancetrade,butamongthemerchantstradingtotheEnglishcoloniesinAmerica,somyeffectslayverymuchinthehandsofsuch。Iwasasingleman,\'tistrue,butIhadafamilyofservantswhomIkeptatmybusiness;hadahouse,shop,andwarehousesfilledwithgoods;and,inshort,toleavethemallasthingsinsuchacasemustbeleft（thatistosay,withoutanyoverseerorpersonfittobetrustedwiththem）,hadbeentohazardthelossnotonlyofmytrade,butofmygoods,andindeedofallIhadintheworld。
IhadanelderbrotheratthesametimeinLondon,andnotmanyyearsbeforecomeoverfromPortugal:andadvisingwithhim,hisanswerwasinthreewords,thesamethatwasgiveninanothercasequitedifferent,viz。,\'Master,savethyself。\'Inaword,hewasformyretiringintothecountry,asheresolvedtodohimselfwithhisfamily;
tellingmewhathehad,itseems,heardabroad,thatthebestpreparationfortheplaguewastorunawayfromit。Astomyargumentoflosingmytrade,mygoods,ordebts,hequiteconfutedme。HetoldmethesamethingwhichIarguedformystaying,viz。,thatIwouldtrustGodwithmysafetyandhealth,wasthestrongestrepulsetomypretensionsoflosingmytradeandmygoods;\'for\',sayshe,\'isitnotasreasonablethatyoushouldtrustGodwiththechanceorriskoflosingyourtrade,asthatyoushouldstayinsoeminentapointofdanger,andtrustHimwithyourlife？\'
IcouldnotarguethatIwasinanystraitastoaplacewheretogo,havingseveralfriendsandrelationsinNorthamptonshire,whenceourfamilyfirstcamefrom;andparticularly,IhadanonlysisterinLincolnshire,verywillingtoreceiveandentertainme。
Mybrother,whohadalreadysenthiswifeandtwochildrenintoBedfordshire,andresolvedtofollowthem,pressedmygoingveryearnestly;andIhadonceresolvedtocomplywithhisdesires,butatthattimecouldgetnohorse;forthoughitistrueallthepeopledidnotgooutofthecityofLondon,yetImayventuretosaythatinamannerallthehorsesdid;fortherewashardlyahorsetobeboughtorhiredinthewholecityforsomeweeks。OnceIresolvedtotravelonfootwithoneservant,and,asmanydid,lieatnoinn,butcarryasoldier\'stentwithus,andsolieinthefields,theweatherbeingverywarm,andnodangerfromtakingcold。Isay,asmanydid,becauseseveraldidsoatlast,especiallythosewhohadbeeninthearmiesinthewarwhichhadnotbeenmanyyearspast;andImustneedssaythat,speakingofsecondcauses,hadmostofthepeoplethattravelleddoneso,theplaguehadnotbeencarriedintosomanycountrytownsandhousesasitwas,tothegreatdamage,andindeedtotheruin,ofabundanceofpeople。
Butthenmyservant,whomIhadintendedtotakedownwithme,deceivedme;andbeingfrightedattheincreaseofthedistemper,andnotknowingwhenIshouldgo,hetookothermeasures,andleftme,soIwasputoffforthattime;and,onewayorother,Ialwaysfoundthattoappointtogoawaywasalwayscrossedbysomeaccidentorother,soastodisappointandputitoffagain;andthisbringsinastorywhichotherwisemightbethoughtaneedlessdigression,viz。,aboutthesedisappointmentsbeingfromHeaven。
ImentionthisstoryalsoasthebestmethodIcanadviseanypersontotakeinsuchacase,especiallyifhebeonethatmakesconscienceofhisduty,andwouldbedirectedwhattodoinit,namely,thatheshouldkeephiseyeupontheparticularprovidenceswhichoccuratthattime,andlookuponthemcomplexly,astheyregardoneanother,andasalltogetherregardthequestionbeforehim:andthen,Ithink,hemaysafelytakethemforintimationsfromHeavenofwhatishisunquestioneddutytodoinsuchacase;Imeanastogoingawayfromorstayingintheplacewherewedwell,whenvisitedwithaninfectiousdistemper。
Itcameverywarmlyintomymindonemorning,asIwasmusingonthisparticularthing,thatasnothingattendeduswithoutthedirectionorpermissionofDivinePower,sothesedisappointmentsmusthavesomethinginthemextraordinary;andIoughttoconsiderwhetheritdidnotevidentlypointout,orintimatetome,thatitwasthewillofHeavenIshouldnotgo。Itimmediatelyfollowedinmythoughts,thatifitreallywasfromGodthatIshouldstay,Hewasableeffectuallytopreservemeinthemidstofallthedeathanddangerthatwouldsurroundme;andthatifIattemptedtosecuremyselfbyfleeingfrommyhabitation,andactedcontrarytotheseintimations,whichIbelievetobeDivine,itwasakindofflyingfromGod,andthatHecouldcauseHisjusticetoovertakemewhenandwhereHethoughtfit。
Thesethoughtsquiteturnedmyresolutionsagain,andwhenIcametodiscoursewithmybrotheragainItoldhimthatIinclinedtostayandtakemylotinthatstationinwhichGodhadplacedme,andthatitseemedtobemademoreespeciallymyduty,ontheaccountofwhatIhavesaid。
Mybrother,thoughaveryreligiousmanhimself,laughedatallI
hadsuggestedaboutitsbeinganintimationfromHeaven,andtoldmeseveralstoriesofsuchfoolhardypeople,ashecalledthem,asIwas;
thatIoughtindeedtosubmittoitasaworkofHeavenifIhadbeenanywaydisabledbydistempersordiseases,andthatthennotbeingabletogo,IoughttoacquiesceinthedirectionofHim,who,havingbeenmyMaker,hadanundisputedrightofsovereigntyindisposingofme,andthatthentherehadbeennodifficultytodeterminewhichwasthecallofHisprovidenceandwhichwasnot;butthatIshouldtakeitasanintimationfromHeaventhatIshouldnotgooutoftown,onlybecauseIcouldnothireahorsetogo,ormyfellowwasrunawaythatwastoattendme,wasridiculous,sinceatthetimeIhadmyhealthandlimbs,andotherservants,andmightwitheasetraveladayortwoonfoot,andhavingagoodcertificateofbeinginperfecthealth,mighteitherhireahorseortakepostontheroad,asIthoughtfit。
ThenheproceededtotellmeofthemischievousconsequenceswhichattendedthepresumptionoftheTurksandMahometansinAsiaandinotherplaceswherehehadbeen（formybrother,beingamerchant,wasafewyearsbefore,asIhavealreadyobserved,returnedfromabroad,cominglastfromLisbon）,andhow,presumingupontheirprofessedpredestinatingnotions,andofeveryman\'sendbeingpredeterminedandunalterablybeforehanddecreed,theywouldgounconcernedintoinfectedplacesandconversewithinfectedpersons,bywhichmeanstheydiedattherateoftenorfifteenthousandaweek,whereastheEuropeansorChristianmerchants,whokeptthemselvesretiredandreserved,generallyescapedthecontagion。
Upontheseargumentsmybrotherchangedmyresolutionsagain,andIbegantoresolvetogo,andaccordinglymadeallthingsready;
for,inshort,theinfectionincreasedroundme,andthebillswererisentoalmostsevenhundredaweek,andmybrothertoldmehewouldventuretostaynolonger。Idesiredhimtoletmeconsiderofitbuttillthenextday,andIwouldresolve:andasIhadalreadypreparedeverythingaswellasIcouldastoMYbusiness,andwhomtoentrustmyaffairswith,Ihadlittletodobuttoresolve。
Iwenthomethateveninggreatlyoppressedinmymind,irresolute,andnotknowingwhattodo。Ihadsettheeveningwholly—aparttoconsiderseriouslyaboutit,andwasallalone;foralreadypeoplehad,asitwerebyageneralconsent,takenupthecustomofnotgoingoutofdoorsaftersunset;thereasonsIshallhaveoccasiontosaymoreofby—and—by。
IntheretirementofthiseveningIendeavouredtoresolve,first,whatwasmydutytodo,andIstatedtheargumentswithwhichmybrotherhadpressedmetogointothecountry,andIset,againstthemthestrongimpressionswhichIhadonmymindforstaying;thevisiblecallIseemedtohavefromtheparticularcircumstanceofmycalling,andthecareduefrommeforthepreservationofmyeffects,whichwere,asImightsay,myestate;alsotheintimationswhichIthoughtI
hadfromHeaven,thattomesignifiedakindofdirectiontoventure;
anditoccurredtomethatifIhadwhatImightcalladirectiontostay,IoughttosupposeitcontainedapromiseofbeingpreservedifIobeyed。
Thislayclosetome,andmymindseemedmoreandmoreencouragedtostaythanever,andsupportedwithasecretsatisfactionthatIshouldbekept。Addtothis,that,turningovertheBiblewhichlaybeforeme,andwhilemythoughtsweremorethanordinarilyseriousuponthequestion,Icriedout,\'Well,Iknownotwhattodo;
Lord,directmeI\'andthelike;andatthatjunctureIhappenedtostopturningoverthebookatthegistPsalm,andcastingmyeyeonthesecondverse,Ireadontotheseventhverseexclusive,andafterthatincludedthetenth,asfollows:\'IwillsayoftheLord,Heismyrefugeandmyfortress:myGod,inHimwillItrust。SurelyHeshalldelivertheefromthesnareofthefowler,andfromthenoisomepestilence。
HeshallcovertheewithHisfeathers,andunderHiswingsshaltthoutrust:Histruthshallbethyshieldandbuckler。Thoushaltnotbeafraidfortheterrorbynight;norforthearrowthatfliethbyday;norforthepestilencethatwalkethindarkness;norforthedestructionthatwastethatnoonday。Athousandshallfallatthyside,andtenthousandatthyrighthand;butitshallnotcomenighthee。Onlywiththineeyesshaltthoubeholdandseetherewardofthewicked。
BecausethouhastmadetheLord,whichismyrefuge,eventhemostHigh,thyhabitation;thereshallnoevilbefallthee,neithershallanyplaguecomenighthydwelling,\'&C。
IscarceneedtellthereaderthatfromthatmomentIresolvedthatI
wouldstayinthetown,andcastingmyselfentirelyuponthegoodnessandprotectionoftheAlmighty,wouldnotseekanyothershelterwhatever;andthat,asmytimeswereinHishands,Hewasasabletokeepmeinatimeoftheinfectionasinatimeofhealth;andifHedidnotthinkfittodeliverme,stillIwasinHishands,anditwasmeetHeshoulddowithmeasshouldseemgoodtoHim。
WiththisresolutionIwenttobed;andIwasfurtherconfirmedinitthenextdaybythewomanbeingtakenillwithwhomIhadintendedtoentrustmyhouseandallmyaffairs。ButIhadafurtherobligationlaidonmeonthesameside,forthenextdayIfoundmyselfverymuchoutoforderalso,sothatifIwouldhavegoneaway,Icouldnot,\"andIcontinuedillthreeorfourdays,andthisentirelydeterminedmystay;soItookmyleaveofmybrother,whowentawaytoDorking,inSurrey,andafterwardsfetchedaroundfartherintoBuckinghamshireorBedfordshire,toaretreathehadfoundoutthereforhisfamily。
Itwasaveryilltimetobesickin,forifanyonecomplained,itwasimmediatelysaidhehadtheplague;andthoughIhadindeednosymptomofthatdistemper,yetbeingveryill,bothinmyheadandinmystomach,IwasnotwithoutapprehensionthatIreallywasinfected;butinaboutthreedaysIgrewbetter;thethirdnightIrestedwell,sweatedalittle,andwasmuchrefreshed。Theapprehensionsofitsbeingtheinfectionwentalsoquiteawaywithmyillness,andI
wentaboutmybusinessasusual。
Thesethings,however,putoffallmythoughtsofgoingintothecountry;andmybrotheralsobeinggone,Ihadnomoredebateeitherwithhimorwithmyselfonthatsubject。
