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warm; and the summer being at hand。  However; the next week there

seemed to be some hopes again; the bills were low; the number of the

dead in all was but 388; there was none of the plague; and but four of

the spotted…fever。



But the following week it returned again; and the distemper was

spread into two or three other parishes; viz。; St Andrew's; Holborn; St

Clement Danes; and; to the great affliction of the city; one died within

the walls; in the parish of St Mary Woolchurch; that is to say; in

Bearbinder Lane; near Stocks Market; in all there were nine of the

plague and six。 of the spotted…fever。  It was; however; upon inquiry

found that this Frenchman who died in Bearbinder Lane was one who;

having lived in Long Acre; near the infected houses; had removed for

fear of the distemper; not knowing that he was already infected。



This was the beginning of May; yet the weather was temperate;

variable; and cool enough; and people had still some hopes。  That

which encouraged them was that the city was healthy: the whole

ninety…seven parishes buried but fifty…four; and we began to hope that;

as it was chiefly among the people at that end of the town; it might go

no farther; and the rather; because the next week; which was from the

9th of May to the 16th; there died but three; of which not one within

the whole city or liberties; and St Andrew's buried but fifteen; which

was very low。  'Tis true St Giles's buried two…and…thirty; but still; as

there was but one of the plague; people began to be easy。  The whole

bill also was very low; for the week before the bill was but 347; and

the week above mentioned but 343。  We continued in these hopes for

a few days; but it was but for a few; for the people were no more to be

deceived thus; they searched the houses and found that the plague was

really spread every way; and that many died of it every day。  So that

now all our extenuations abated; and it was no more to be concealed;

nay; it quickly appeared that the infection had spread itself beyond all

hopes of abatement。 that in the parish of St Giles it was gotten into

several streets; and several families lay all sick together; and;

accordingly; in the weekly bill for the next week the thing began to

show itself。  There was indeed but fourteen set down of the plague;

but this was all knavery and collusion; for in St Giles's parish they

buried forty in all; whereof it was certain most of them died of the

plague; though they were set down of other distempers; and though

the number of all the burials were not increased above thirty…two; and

the whole bill being but 385; yet there was fourteen of the spotted…

fever; as well as fourteen of the plague; and we took it for granted

upon the whole that there were fifty died that week of the plague。



The next bill was from the 23rd of May to the 30th; when the number

of the plague was seventeen。  But the burials in St Giles's were

fifty…three … a frightful number! … of whom they set down but nine

of the plague; but on an examination more strictly by the justices

of peace; and at the Lord Mayor's request; it was found there were

twenty more who were really dead of the plague in that parish;

but had been set down of the spotted…fever or other distempers;

besides others concealed。



But those were trifling things to what followed immediately after;

for now the weather set in hot; and from the first week in June the

infection spread in a dreadful manner; and the bills rose high; the

articles of the fever; spotted…fever; and teeth began to swell; for all

that could conceal their distempers did it; to prevent their neighbours

shunning and refusing to converse with them; and also to prevent

authority shutting up their houses; which; though it was not yet

practised; yet was threatened; and people were extremely terrified at

the thoughts of it。



The second week in June; the parish of St Giles; where still the

weight of the infection lay; buried 120; whereof though the bills said

but sixty…eight of the plague; everybody said there had been 100 at

least; calculating it from the usual number of funerals in that parish;

as above。



Till this week the city continued free; there having never any died;

except that one Frenchman whom I mentioned before; within the

whole ninety…seven parishes。  Now there died four within the city; one

in Wood Street; one in Fenchurch Street; and two in Crooked Lane。

Southwark was entirely free; having not one yet died on that side of

the water。



I lived without Aldgate; about midway between Aldgate Church and

Whitechappel Bars; on the left hand or north side of the street; and as

the distemper had not reached to that side of the city; our

neighbourhood continued very easy。  But at the other end of the town

their consternation was very great: and the richer sort of people;

especially the nobility and gentry from the west part of the city;

thronged out of town with their families and servants in an unusual

manner; and this was more particularly seen in Whitechappel; that is to

say; the Broad Street where I lived; indeed; nothing was to be seen but

waggons and carts; with goods; women; servants; children; &c。;

coaches filled with people of the better sort and horsemen attending

them; and all hurrying away; then empty waggons and carts appeared;

and spare horses with servants; who; it was apparent; were returning

or sent from the countries to fetch more people; besides innumerable

numbers of men on horseback; some alone; others with servants; and;

generally speaking; all loaded with baggage and fitted out for

travelling; as anyone might perceive by their appearance。



This was a very terrible and melancholy thing to see; and as it was a

sight which I could not but look on from morning to night (for indeed

there was nothing else of moment to be seen); it filled me with very

serious thoughts of the misery that was coming upon the city; and the

unhappy condition of those that would be left in it。



This hurry of the people was such for some weeks that there was no

getting at the Lord Mayor's door without exceeding difficulty; there

were such pressing and crowding there to get passes and certificates

of health for such as travelled abroad; for without these there was no

being admitted to pass through the towns upon the road; or to lodge in

any inn。  Now; as there had none died in the city for all this time; my

Lord Mayor gave certificates of health without any difficulty to all

those who lived in the ninety…seven parishes; and to those within the

liberties too for a while。



This hurry; I say; continued some weeks; that is to say; all the month

of May and June; and the more because it was rumoured that an order

of the Government was to be issued out to place turnpikes and barriers

on the road to prevent people travelling; and that the towns on the

road would not suffer people from London to pass for fear of bringing

the infection along with them; though neither of these rumours had

any foundation but in the imagination; especially at…first。



I now began to consider seriously with myself concerning my own

case; and how I should dispose of myself; that is to say; whether I

should resolve to stay in London or shut up my house and flee; as

many of my neighbours did。  I have set this particular down so fully;

because I know not but it may be of moment to those who come after

me; if they come to be brought to the same distress; and to the same

manner of making their choice; and therefore I desire this account

may pass with them rather for a direction to themselves to act by than

a history of my actings; seeing it may not he of one farthing value to

them to note what became of me。



I had two important things before me: the one was the carrying on

my business and shop; which was considerable; and in which was

embarked all my effects in the world; and the other was the

preservation of my life in so dismal a calamity as I saw a

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