andwedidthisforsometime;butasIhadnotlaidinastoreofprovisionforsucharetreat,itwasimpossiblethatwecouldkeepwithindoorsentirely。However,Iattempted,thoughitwassoverylate,todosomethingtowardsit;andfirst,asIhadconveniencebothforbrewingandbaking,Iwentandboughttwosacksofmeal,andforseveralweeks,havinganoven,webakedallourownbread;alsoI
boughtmalt,andbrewedasmuchbeerasallthecasksIhadwouldhold,andwhichseemedenoughtoservemyhouseforfiveorsixweeks;alsoIlaidinaquantityofsaltbutterandCheshirecheese;butIhadnoflesh—meat,andtheplagueragedsoviolentlyamongthebutchersandslaughter—housesontheothersideofourstreet,wheretheyareknowntodwellingreatnumbers,thatitwasnotadvisablesomuchastogooverthestreetamongthem。
AndhereImustobserveagain,thatthisnecessityofgoingoutofourhousestobuyprovisionswasinagreatmeasuretheruinofthewholecity,forthepeoplecatchedthedistemperontheseoccasionsoneofanother,andeventheprovisionsthemselveswereoftentainted;
atleastIhavegreatreasontobelieveso;andthereforeIcannotsaywithsatisfactionwhatIknowisrepeatedwithgreatassurance,thatthemarket—peopleandsuchasbroughtprovisionstotownwereneverinfected。IamcertainthebutchersofWhitechappel,wherethegreatestpartoftheflesh—meatwaskilled,weredreadfullyvisited,andthatatleasttosuchadegreethatfewoftheirshopswerekeptopen,andthosethatremainedofthemkilledtheirmeatatMileEndandthatway,andbroughtittomarketuponhorses。
However,thepoorpeoplecouldnotlayupprovisions,andtherewasanecessitythattheymustgotomarkettobuy,andotherstosendservantsortheirchildren;andasthiswasanecessitywhichreneweditselfdaily,itbroughtabundanceofunsoundpeopletothemarkets,andagreatmanythatwentthithersoundbroughtdeathhomewiththem。
Itistruepeopleusedallpossibleprecaution。Whenanyoneboughtajointofmeatinthemarkettheywouldnottakeitoffthebutcher\'shand,buttookitoffthehooksthemselves。Ontheotherhand,thebutcherwouldnottouchthemoney,buthaveitputintoapotfullofvinegar,whichhekeptforthatpurpose。Thebuyercarriedalwayssmallmoneytomakeupanyoddsum,thattheymighttakenochange。
Theycarriedbottlesofscentsandperfumesintheirhands,andallthemeansthatcouldbeusedwereused,butthenthepoorcouldnotdoeventhesethings,andtheywentatallhazards。
Innumerabledismalstoriesweheardeverydayonthisveryaccount。
Sometimesamanorwomandroppeddowndeadintheverymarkets,formanypeoplethathadtheplagueuponthemknewnothingofittilltheinwardgangrenehadaffectedtheirvitals,andtheydiedinafewmoments。Thiscausedthatmanydiedfrequentlyinthatmannerinthestreetssuddenly,withoutanywarning;othersperhapshadtimetogotothenextbulkorstall,ortoanydoor—porch,andjustsitdownanddie,asIhavesaidbefore。
Theseobjectsweresofrequentinthestreetsthatwhentheplaguecametobeveryragingononeside,therewasscarceanypassingbythestreetsbutthatseveraldeadbodieswouldbelyinghereandthereupontheground。Ontheotherhand,itisobservablethatthoughatfirstthepeoplewouldstopastheywentalongandcalltotheneighbourstocomeoutonsuchanoccasion,yetafterwardnonoticewastakenofthem;butthatifatanytimewefoundacorpselying,goacrossthewayandnotcomenearit;or,ifinanarrowlaneorpassage,gobackagainandseeksomeotherwaytogoonthebusinesswewereupon;andinthosecasesthecorpsewasalwayslefttilltheofficershadnoticetocomeandtakethemaway,ortillnight,whenthebearersattendingthedead—cartwouldtakethemupandcarrythemaway。Nordidthoseundauntedcreatureswhoperformedtheseofficesfailtosearchtheirpockets,andsometimesstripofftheirclothesiftheywerewelldressed,assometimestheywere,andcarryoffwhattheycouldget。
Buttoreturntothemarkets。Thebutcherstookthatcarethatifanypersondiedinthemarkettheyhadtheofficersalwaysatbandtotakethemupuponhand—barrowsandcarrythemtothenextchurchyard;
andthiswassofrequentthatsuchwerenotenteredintheweeklybill,\'Founddeadinthestreetsorfields\',asisthecasenow,buttheywentintothegeneralarticlesofthegreatdistemper。
Butnowthefuryofthedistemperincreasedtosuchadegreethateventhemarketswerebutverythinlyfurnishedwithprovisionsorfrequentedwithbuyerscomparedtowhattheywerebefore;andtheLordMayorcausedthecountrypeoplewhobroughtprovisionstobestoppedinthestreetsleadingintothetown,andtositdowntherewiththeirgoods,wheretheysoldwhattheybrought,andwentimmediatelyaway;andthisencouragedthecountrypeoplegreatly—todoso,fortheysoldtheirprovisionsattheveryentrancesintothetown,andeveninthefields,asparticularlyinthefieldsbeyondWhitechappel,inSpittlefields;alsoinStGeorge\'sFieldsinSouthwark,inBunhillFields,andinagreatfieldcalledWood\'sClose,nearIslington。
ThithertheLordMayor,aldermen,andmagistratessenttheirofficersandservantstobuyfortheirfamilies,themselveskeepingwithindoorsasmuchaspossible,andthelikedidmanyotherpeople;andafterthismethodwastakenthecountrypeoplecamewithgreatcheerfulness,andbroughtprovisionsofallsorts,andveryseldomgotanyharm,which,Isuppose,addedalsotothatreportoftheirbeingmiraculouslypreserved。
Asformylittlefamily,havingthus,asIhavesaid,laidinastoreofbread,butter,cheese,andbeer,Itookmyfriendandphysician\'sadvice,andlockedmyselfup,andmyfamily,andresolvedtosufferthehardshipoflivingafewmonthswithoutflesh—meat,ratherthantopurchaseitatthehazardofourlives。
ButthoughIconfinedmyfamily,Icouldnotprevailuponmyunsatisfiedcuriositytostaywithinentirelymyself;andthoughI
generallycamefrightedandterrifiedhome,vetIcouldnotrestrain;
onlythatindeedIdidnotdoitsofrequentlyasatfirst。
Ihadsomelittleobligations,indeed,uponmetogotomybrother\'shouse,whichwasinColemanStreetparishandwhichhehadlefttomycare,andIwentatfirsteveryday,butafterwardsonlyonceortwiceaweek。
InthesewalksIhadmanydismalscenesbeforemyeyes,asparticularlyofpersonsfallingdeadinthestreets,terribleshrieksandscreechingsofwomen,who,intheiragonies,wouldthrowopentheirchamberwindowsandcryoutinadismal,surprisingmanner。Itisimpossibletodescribethevarietyofposturesinwhichthepassionsofthepoorpeoplewouldexpressthemselves。
PassingthroughTokenhouseYard,inLothbury,ofasuddenacasementviolentlyopenedjustovermyhead,andawomangavethreefrightfulscreeches,andthencried,\'Oh！death,death,death！\'inamostinimitabletone,andwhichstruckmewithhorrorandachillnessinmyveryblood。Therewasnobodytobeseeninthewholestreet,neitherdidanyotherwindowopen。forpeoplehadnocuriositynowinanycase,norcouldanybodyhelponeanother,soIwentontopassintoBellAlley。
JustinBellAlley,ontherighthandofthepassage,therewasamoreterriblecrythanthat,thoughitwasnotsodirectedoutatthewindow;
butthewholefamilywasinaterriblefright,andIcouldhearwomenandchildrenrunscreamingabouttheroomslikedistracted,whenagarret—windowopenedandsomebodyfromawindowontheothersidethealleycalledandasked,\'Whatisthematter？\'uponwhich,fromthefirstwindow,itwasanswered,\'OhLord,myoldmasterhashangedhimself！\'Theotheraskedagain,\'Ishequitedead？\'andthefirstanswered,\'Ay,ay,quitedead;quitedeadandcold！\'Thispersonwasamerchantandadeputyalderman,andveryrich。Icarenottomentionthename,thoughIknewhisnametoo,butthatwouldbeanhardshiptothefamily,whichisnowflourishingagain。
Butthisisbutone;itisscarcecrediblewhatdreadfulcaseshappenedinparticularfamilieseveryday。Peopleintherageofthedistemper,orinthetormentoftheirswellings,whichwasindeedintolerable,runningoutoftheirowngovernment,ravinganddistracted,andoftentimeslayingviolenthandsuponthemselves,throwingthemselvesoutattheirwindows,shootingthemselves。,;,&c。;mothersmurderingtheirownchildrenintheirlunacy,somedyingofmeregriefasapassion,someofmerefrightandsurprisewithoutanyinfectionatall,othersfrightedintoidiotismandfoolishdistractions,someintodespairandlunacy,othersintomelancholymadness。
Thepainoftheswellingwasinparticularveryviolent,andtosomeintolerable;thephysiciansandsurgeonsmaybesaidtohavetorturedmanypoorcreatureseventodeath。Theswellingsinsomegrewhard,andtheyappliedviolentdrawing—plaistersorpoulticestobreakthem,andifthesedidnotdotheycutandscarifiedtheminaterriblemanner。Insomethoseswellingsweremadehardpartlybytheforceofthedistemperandpartlybytheirbeingtooviolentlydrawn,andweresohardthatnoinstrumentcouldcutthem,andthentheyburntthemwithcaustics,sothatmanydiedravingmadwiththetorment,andsomeintheveryoperation。Inthesedistresses,some,forwantofhelptoholdthemdownintheirbeds,ortolooktothem,laidhandsuponthemselvesasabove。Somebrokeoutintothestreets,perhapsnaked,andwouldrundirectlydowntotheriveriftheywerenotstoppedbythewatchmanorotherofficers,andplungethemselvesintothewaterwherevertheyfoundit。
Itoftenpiercedmyverysoultohearthegroansandcriesofthosewhowerethustormented,butofthetwothiswascountedthemostpromisingparticularinthewholeinfection,foriftheseswellingscouldbebroughttoahead,andtobreakandrun,or,asthesurgeonscallit,todigest,thepatientgenerallyrecovered;whereasthosewho,likethegentlewoman\'sdaughter,werestruckwithdeathatthebeginning,andhadthetokenscomeoutuponthem,oftenwentaboutindifferenteasytillalittlebeforetheydied,andsometillthemomenttheydroppeddown,asinapoplexiesandepilepsiesisoftenthecase。
Suchwouldbetakensuddenlyverysick,andwouldruntoabenchorbulk,oranyconvenientplacethatoffereditself,ortotheirownhousesifpossible,asImentionedbefore,andtheresitdown,growfaint,anddie。Thiskindofdyingwasmuchthesameasitwaswiththosewhodieofcommonmortifications,whodieswooning,and,asitwere,goawayinadream。Suchasdiedthushadverylittlenoticeoftheirbeinginfectedatalltillthegangrenewasspreadthroughtheirwholebody;norcouldphysiciansthemselvesknowcertainlyhowitwaswiththemtilltheyopenedtheirbreastsorotherpartsoftheirbodyandsawthetokens。
Wehadatthistimeagreatmanyfrightfulstoriestoldusofnursesandwatchmenwholookedafterthedyingpeople;thatistosay,hirednurseswhoattendedinfectedpeople,usingthembarbarously,starvingthem,smotheringthem,orbyotherwickedmeanshasteningtheirend,thatistosay,murderingofthem;andwatchmen,beingsettoguardhousesthatwereshutupwhentherehasbeenbutonepersonleft,andperhapsthatonelyingsick,thattheyhavebrokeinandmurderedthatbody,andimmediatelythrownthemoutintothedead—cart！Andsotheyhavegonescarcecoldtothegrave。
Icannotsaybutthatsomesuchmurderswerecommitted,andI
thinktwoweresenttoprisonforit,butdiedbeforetheycouldbetried;andIhaveheardthatthreeothers,atseveraltimes,wereexcusedformurdersofthatkind;butImustsayIbelievenothingofitsbeingsocommonacrimeassomehavesincebeenpleasedtosay,nordiditseemtobesorationalwherethepeoplewerebroughtsolowasnottobeabletohelpthemselves,forsuchseldomrecovered,andtherewasnotemptationtocommitamurder,atleastnoneequaltothefact,wheretheyweresurepersonswoulddieinsoshortatime,andcouldnotlive。
ThattherewereagreatmanyrobberiesandwickedpracticescommittedeveninthisdreadfultimeIdonotdeny。Thepowerofavaricewassostronginsomethattheywouldrunanyhazardtostealandtoplunder;andparticularlyinhouseswhereallthefamiliesorinhabitantshavebeendeadandcarriedout,theywouldbreakinatallhazards,andwithoutregardtothedangerofinfection,takeeventheclothesoffthedeadbodiesandthebed—clothesfromotherswheretheylaydead。
This,Isuppose,mustbethecaseofafamilyinHoundsditch,whereamanandhisdaughter,therestofthefamilybeing,asIsuppose,carriedawaybeforebythedead—cart,werefoundstarknaked,oneinonechamberandoneinanother,lyingdeadonthefloor,andtheclothesofthebeds,fromwhence\'tissupposedtheywererolledoffbythieves,stolenandcarriedquiteaway。
Itisindeedtobeobservedthatthewomenwereinallthiscalamitythemostrash,fearless,anddesperatecreatures,andastherewerevastnumbersthatwentaboutasnursestotendthosethatweresick,theycommittedagreatmanypettythieveriesinthehouseswheretheywereemployed;andsomeofthemwerepubliclywhippedforit,whenperhapstheyoughtrathertohavebeenhangedforexamples,fornumbersofhouseswererobbedontheseoccasions,tillatlengththeparishofficersweresenttorecommendnursestothesick,andalwaystookanaccountwhomitwastheysent,soasthattheymightcallthemtoaccountifthehousehadbeenabusedwheretheywereplaced。
Buttheserobberiesextendedchieflytowearing—clothes,linen,andwhatringsormoneytheycouldcomeatwhenthepersondiedwhowasundertheircare,butnottoageneralplunderofthehouses;andI
couldgiveyouanaccountofoneofthesenurses,who,severalyearsafter,beingonherdeathbed,confessedwiththeutmosthorrortherobberiesshehadcommittedatthetimeofherbeinganurse,andbywhichshehadenrichedherselftoagreatdegree。Butasformurders,Idonotfindthattherewaseveranyproofofthefactsinthemannerasithasbeenreported,exceptasabove。
Theydidtellme,indeed,ofanurseinoneplacethatlaidawetclothuponthefaceofadyingpatientwhomshetended,andsoputanendtohislife,whowasjustexpiringbefore;andanotherthatsmotheredayoungwomanshewaslookingtowhenshewasinafaintingfit,andwouldhavecometoherself;somethatkilledthembygivingthemonething,someanother,andsomestarvedthembygivingthemnothingatall。Butthesestorieshadtwomarksofsuspicionthatalwaysattendedthem,whichcausedmealwaystoslightthemandtolookonthemasmerestoriesthatpeoplecontinuallyfrightedoneanotherwith。First,thatwhereveritwasthatweheardit,theyalwaysplacedthesceneatthefartherendofthetown,oppositeormostremotefromwhereyouweretohearit。IfyouhearditinWhitechappel,ithadhappenedatStGiles\'s,oratWestminster,orHolborn,orthatendofthetown。Ifyouheardofitatthatendofthetown,thenitwasdoneinWhitechappel,ortheMinories,oraboutCripplegateparish。Ifyouheardofitinthecity,why,thenithappenedinSouthwark;andifyouheardofitinSouthwark,thenitwasdoneinthecity,andthelike。
Inthenextplace,ofwhatpartsoeveryouheardthestory,theparticularswerealwaysthesame,especiallythatoflayingawetdoublecloutonadyingman\'sface,andthatofsmotheringayounggentlewoman;sothatitwasapparent,atleasttomyjudgement,thattherewasmoreoftalethanoftruthinthosethings。
However,Icannotsaybutithadsomeeffectuponthepeople,andparticularlythat,asIsaidbefore,theygrewmorecautiouswhomtheytookintotheirhouses,andwhomtheytrustedtheirliveswith,andhadthemalwaysrecommendediftheycould;andwheretheycouldnotfindsuch,fortheywerenotveryplenty,theyappliedtotheparishofficers。
Buthereagainthemiseryofthattimelayuponthepoorwho,beinginfected,hadneitherfoodorphysic,neitherphysicianorapothecarytoassistthem,ornursetoattendthem。Manyofthosediedcallingforhelp,andevenforsustenance,outattheirwindowsinamostmiserableanddeplorablemanner;butitmustbeaddedthatwheneverthecasesofsuchpersonsorfamilieswererepresentedtomyLordMayortheyalwayswererelieved。
Itistrue,insomehouseswherethepeoplewerenotverypoor,yetwheretheyhadsentperhapstheirwivesandchildrenaway,andiftheyhadanyservantstheyhadbeendismissed;—Isayitistruethattosavetheexpenses,manysuchastheseshutthemselvesin,andnothavinghelp,diedalone。
Aneighbourandacquaintanceofmine,havingsomemoneyowingtohimfromashopkeeperinWhitecrossStreetorthereabouts,senthisapprentice,ayouthabouteighteenyearsofage,toendeavourtogetthemoney。Hecametothedoor,andfindingitshut,knockedprettyhard;and,ashethought,heardsomebodyanswerwithin,butwasnotsure,sohewaited,andaftersomestayknockedagain,andthenathirdtime,whenheheardsomebodycomingdownstairs。
Atlengththemanofthehousecametothedoor;hehadonhisbreechesordrawers,andayellowflannelwaistcoat,nostockings,apairofslipped—shoes,awhitecaponhishead,and,astheyoungmansaid,\'deathinhisface\'。
Whenheopenedthedoor,sayshe,\'Whatdoyoudisturbmethusfor？\'
Theboy,thoughalittlesurprised,replied,\'Icomefromsuchaone,andmymastersentmeforthemoneywhichhesaysyouknowof。\'\'Verywell,child,\'returnsthelivingghost;\'callasyougobyatCripplegateChurch,andbidthemringthebell\';andwiththesewordsshutthedooragain,andwentupagain,anddiedthesameday;nay,perhapsthesamehour。Thistheyoungmantoldmehimself,andI
havereasontobelieveit。Thiswaswhiletheplaguewasnotcometoaheight。IthinkitwasinJune,towardsthelatterendofthemonth;itmustbebeforethedead—cartscameabout,andwhiletheyusedtheceremonyofringingthebellforthedead,whichwasoverforcertain,inthatparishatleast,beforethemonthofJuly,forbythe25thofJulytheredied550andupwardsinaweek,andthentheycouldnomoreburyinform,richorpoor。
Ihavementionedabovethatnotwithstandingthisdreadfulcalamity,yetthenumbersofthieveswereabroaduponalloccasions,wheretheyhadfoundanyprey,andthattheseweregenerallywomen。ItwasonemorningaboutelevenO\'clock,Ihadwalkedouttomybrother\'shouseinColemanStreetparish,asIoftendid,toseethatallwassafe。
Mybrother\'shousehadalittlecourtbeforeit,andabrickwallandagateinit,andwithinthatseveralwarehouseswherehisgoodsofseveralsortslay。Ithappenedthatinoneofthesewarehouseswereseveralpacksofwomen\'shigh—crownedhats,whichcameoutofthecountryandwere,asIsuppose,forexportation:whither,Iknownot。
IwassurprisedthatwhenIcamenearmybrother\'sdoor,whichwasinaplacetheycalledSwanAlley,Imetthreeorfourwomenwithhigh—crownedhatsontheirheads;and,asIrememberedafterwards,one,ifnotmore,hadsomehatslikewiseintheirhands;butasIdidnotseethemcomeoutatmybrother\'sdoor,andnotknowingthatmybrotherhadanysuchgoodsinhiswarehouse,Ididnotoffertosayanythingtothem,butwentacrossthewaytoshunmeetingthem,aswasusualtodoatthattime,forfearoftheplague。ButwhenIcamenearertothegateImetanotherwomanwithmorehatscomeoutofthegate。\'Whatbusiness,mistress,\'saidI,\'haveyouhadthere？\'
\'Therearemorepeoplethere,\'saidshe;\'Ihavehadnomorebusinesstherethanthey。\'Iwashastytogettothegatethen,andsaidnomoretoher,bywhichmeansshegotaway。ButjustasIcametothegate,Isawtwomorecomingacrosstheyardtocomeoutwithhatsalsoontheirheadsandundertheirarms,atwhichIthrewthegatetobehindme,whichhavingaspringlockfasteneditself;andturningtothewomen,\'Forsooth,\'saidI,\'whatareyoudoinghere？\'andseizeduponthehats,andtookthemfromthem。Oneofthem,who,Iconfess,didnotlooklikeathief—\'Indeed,\'saysshe,\'wearewrong,butweweretoldtheyweregoodsthathadnoowner。Bepleasedtotakethemagain;andlookyonder,therearemoresuchcustomersaswe。\'Shecriedandlookedpitifully,soItookthehatsfromherandopenedthegate,andbadethembegone,forIpitiedthewomenindeed;butwhenIlookedtowardsthewarehouse,asshedirected,thereweresixorsevenmore,allwomen,fittingthemselveswithhatsasunconcernedandquietasiftheyhadbeenatahatter\'sshopbuyingfortheirmoney。
Iwassurprised,notatthesightofsomanythievesonly,butatthecircumstancesIwasin;beingnowtothrustmyselfinamongsomanypeople,whoforsomeweekshadbeensoshyofmyselfthatifImetanybodyinthestreetIwouldcrossthewayfromthem。
Theywereequallysurprised,thoughonanotheraccount。Theyalltoldmetheywereneighbours,thattheyhadheardanyonemighttakethem,thattheywerenobody\'sgoods,andthelike。Italkedbigtothematfirst,wentbacktothegateandtookoutthekey,sothattheywereallmyprisoners,threatenedtolockthemallintothewarehouse,andgoandfetchmyLordMayor\'sofficersforthem。
Theybeggedheartily,protestedtheyfoundthegateopen,andthewarehousedooropen;andthatithadnodoubtbeenbrokenopenbysomewhoexpectedtofindgoodsofgreatervalue:whichindeedwasreasonabletobelieve,becausethelockwasbroke,andapadlockthathungtothedoorontheoutsidealsoloose,andnotabundanceofthehatscarriedaway。
AtlengthIconsideredthatthiswasnotatimetobecruelandrigorous;andbesidesthat,itwouldnecessarilyobligemetogomuchabout,tohaveseveralpeoplecometome,andIgotoseveralwhosecircumstancesofhealthIknewnothingof;andthatevenatthistimetheplaguewassohighasthattheredied4000aweek;sothatinshowingmyresentment,oreveninseekingjusticeformybrother\'sgoods,Imightlosemyownlife;soIcontentedmyselfwithtakingthenamesandplaceswheresomeofthemlived,whowerereallyinhabitantsintheneighbourhood,andthreateningthatmybrothershouldcallthemtoanaccountforitwhenhereturnedtohishabitation。
ThenItalkedalittleuponanotherfootwiththem,andaskedthemhowtheycoulddosuchthingsastheseinatimeofsuchgeneralcalamity,and,asitwere,inthefaceofGod\'smostdreadfuljudgements,whentheplaguewasattheirverydoors,and,itmaybe,intheirveryhouses,andtheydidnotknowbutthatthedead—cartmightstopattheirdoorsinafewhourstocarrythemtotheirgraves。
Icouldnotperceivethatmydiscoursemademuchimpressionuponthemallthatwhile,tillithappenedthattherecametwomenoftheneighbourhood,hearingofthedisturbance,andknowingmybrother,fortheyhadbeenbothdependentsuponhisfamily,andtheycametomyassistance。Thesebeing,asIsaid,neighbours,presentlyknewthreeofthewomenandtoldmewhotheywereandwheretheylived;
anditseemstheyhadgivenmeatrueaccountofthemselvesbefore。
Thisbringsthesetwomentoafurtherremembrance。ThenameofonewasJohnHayward,whowasatthattimeundersextonoftheparishofStStephen,ColemanStreet。Byundersextonwasunderstoodatthattimegravediggerandbearerofthedead。Thismancarried,orassistedtocarry,allthedeadtotheirgraveswhichwereburiedinthatlargeparish,andwhowerecarriedinform;andafterthatformofburyingwasstopped,wentwiththedead—cartandthebelltofetchthedeadbodiesfromthehouseswheretheylay,andfetchedmanyofthemoutofthechambersandhouses;fortheparishwas,andisstill,remarkableparticularly,abovealltheparishesinLondon,foragreatnumberofalleysandthoroughfares,verylong,intowhichnocartscouldcome,andwheretheywereobligedtogoandfetchthebodiesaverylongway;whichalleysnowremaintowitnessit,suchasWhite\'sAlley,CrossKeyCourt,SwanAlley,BellAlley,WhiteHorseAlley,andmanymore。Heretheywentwithakindofhand—
barrowandlaidthedeadbodiesonit,andcarriedthemouttothecarts;whichworkheperformedandneverhadthedistemperatall,butlivedabouttwentyyearsafterit,andwassextonoftheparishtothetimeofhisdeath。Hiswifeatthesametimewasanursetoinfectedpeople,andtendedmanythatdiedintheparish,beingforherhonestyrecommendedbytheparishofficers;yetsheneverwasinfectedneither。
Heneverusedanypreservativeagainsttheinfection,otherthanholdinggarlicandrueinhismouth,andsmokingtobacco。ThisIalsohadfromhisownmouth。Andhiswife\'sremedywaswashingherheadinvinegarandsprinklingherhead—clothessowithvinegarastokeepthemalwaysmoist,andifthesmellofanyofthoseshewaitedonwasmorethanordinaryoffensive,shesnuffedvinegaruphernoseandsprinkledvinegaruponherhead—clothes,andheldahandkerchiefwettedwithvinegartohermouth。
Itmustbeconfessedthatthoughtheplaguewaschieflyamongthepoor,yetwerethepoorthemostventurousandfearlessofit,andwentabouttheiremploymentwithasortofbrutalcourage;Imustcallitso,foritwasfoundedneitheronreligionnorprudence;scarcedidtheyuseanycaution,butranintoanybusinesswhichtheycouldgetemploymentin,thoughitwasthemosthazardous。Suchwasthatoftendingthesick,watchinghousesshutup,carryinginfectedpersonstothepest—house,and,whichwasstillworse,carryingthedeadawaytotheirgraves。
ItwasunderthisJohnHayward\'scare,andwithinhisbounds,thatthestoryofthepiper,withwhichpeoplehavemadethemselvessomerry,happened,andheassuredmethatitwastrue。Itissaidthatitwasablindpiper;but,asJohntoldme,thefellowwasnotblind,butanignorant,weak,poorman,andusuallywalkedhisroundsaboutteno\'clockatnightandwentpipingalongfromdoortodoor,andthepeopleusuallytookhiminatpublic—houseswheretheyknewhim,andwouldgivehimdrinkandvictuals,andsometimesfarthings;andheinreturnwouldpipeandsingandtalksimply,whichdivertedthepeople;andthushelived。ItwasbutaverybadtimeforthisdiversionwhilethingswereasIhavetold,yetthepoorfellowwentaboutasusual,butwasalmoststarved;andwhenanybodyaskedhowhedidhewouldanswer,thedeadcarthadnottakenhimyet,butthattheyhadpromisedtocallforhimnextweek。
