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they always caused the bales to be opened and aired in places
appointed for that purpose。 But from London they would not suffer
them to come into port； much less to unlade their goods； upon any
terms whatever； and this strictness was especially used with them in
Spain and Italy。 In Turkey and the islands of the Arches indeed； as
they are called； as well those belonging to the Turks as to the
Venetians； they were not so very rigid。 In the first there was no
obstruction at all； and four ships which were then in the river loading
for Italy … that is； for Leghorn and Naples … being denied product； as
they call it； went on to Turkey； and were freely admitted to unlade
their cargo without any difficulty； only that when they arrived there；
some of their cargo was not fit for sale in that country； and other parts
of it being consigned to merchants at Leghorn； the captains of the
ships had no right nor any orders to dispose of the goods； so that great
inconveniences followed to the merchants。 But this was nothing but
what the necessity of affairs required； and the merchants at Leghorn
and Naples having notice given them； sent again from thence to take
care of the effects which were particularly consigned to those ports；
and to bring back in other ships such as were improper for the markets
at Smyrna and Scanderoon。
The inconveniences in Spain and Portugal were still greater； for they
would by no means suffer our ships； especially those from London； to
come into any of their ports； much less to unlade。 There was a report
that one of our ships having by stealth delivered her cargo； among
which was some bales of English cloth； cotton； kerseys； and such…like
goods； the Spaniards caused all the goods to be burned； and punished
the men with death who were concerned in carrying them on shore。
This； I believe； was in part true； though I do not affirm it； but it is not
at all unlikely； seeing the danger was really very great； the infection
being so violent in London。
I heard likewise that the plague was carried into those countries by
some of our ships； and particularly to the port of Faro in the kingdom
of Algarve； belonging to the King of Portugal； and that several persons
died of it there； but it was not confirmed。
On the other hand； though the Spaniards and Portuguese were so shy
of us； it is most certain that the plague （as has been said） keeping at
first much at that end of the town next Westminster； the
merchandising part of the town （such as the city and the water…side）
was perfectly sound till at least the beginning of July； and the ships in
the river till the beginning of August； for to the 1st of July there had
died but seven within the whole city； and but sixty within the liberties；
but one in all the parishes of Stepney； Aldgate； and Whitechappel； and
but two in the eight parishes of Southwark。 But it was the same thing
abroad； for the bad news was gone over the whole world that the city
of London was infected with the plague； and there was no inquiring
there how the infection proceeded； or at which part of the town it was
begun or was reached to。
Besides； after it began to spread it increased so fast； and the bills
grew so high all on a sudden； that it was to no purpose to lessen the
report of it； or endeavour to make the people abroad think it better
than it was； the account which the weekly bills gave in was sufficient；
and that there died two thousand to three or…four thousand a week was
sufficient to alarm the whole trading part of the world； and the
following time； being so dreadful also in the very city itself； put the
whole world； I say； upon their guard against it。
You may be sure； also； that the report of these things lost nothing in
the carriage。 The plague was itself very terrible； and the distress of
the people very great； as you may observe of what I have said。 But the
rumour was infinitely greater； and it must not be wondered that our
friends abroad （as my brother's correspondents in particular were told
there； namely； in Portugal and Italy； where he chiefly traded） ＇said＇
that in London there died twenty thousand in a week； that the dead
bodies lay unburied by heaps； that the living were not sufficient to
bury the dead or the sound to look after the sick； that all the kingdom
was infected likewise； so that it was an universal malady such as was
never heard of in those parts of the world； and they could hardly
believe us when we gave them an account how things really were； and
how there was not above one…tenth part of the people dead； that there
was 500；000； left that lived all the time in the town； that now the
people began to walk the streets again； and those who were fled to
return； there was no miss of the usual throng of people in the streets；
except as every family might miss their relations and neighbours； and
the like。 I say they could not believe these things； and if inquiry were
now to be made in Naples； or in other cities on the coast of Italy； they
would tell you that there was a dreadful infection in London so many years ago；
in which； as above； there died twenty thousand in a week； &c。； just as we have
had it reported in London that there was a plague in the city of Naples
in the year 1656； in which there died 20；000 people in a day； of which
I have had very good satisfaction that it was utterly false。
But these extravagant reports were very prejudicial to our trade； as
well as unjust and injurious in themselves； for it was a long time after
the plague was quite over before our trade could recover itself in those
parts of the world； and the Flemings and Dutch （but especially the
last） made very great advantages of it； having all the market to
themselves； and even buying our manufactures in several parts of
England where the plague was not； and carrying them to Holland and
Flanders； and from thence transporting them to Spain and to Italy as if
they had been of their own making。
But they were detected sometimes and punished： that is to say； their
goods confiscated and ships also； for if it was true that our
manufactures as well as our people were infected； and that it was
dangerous to touch or to open and receive the smell of them； then
those people ran the hazard by that clandestine trade not only of
carrying the contagion into their own country； but also of infecting the
nations to whom they traded with those goods； which； considering
how many lives might be lost in consequence of such an action； must
be a trade that no men of conscience could suffer themselves to be
concerned in。
I do not take upon me to say that any harm was done； I mean of that
kind； by those people。 But I doubt I need not make any such proviso
in the case of our own country； for either by our people of London； or
by the commerce which made their conversing with all sorts of people
in every country and of every considerable town necessary； I say； by
this means the plague was first or last spread all over the kingdom； as
well in London as in all the cities and great towns； especially in the
trading manufacturing towns and seaports； so that； first or last； all the
considerable places in England were visited more or less； and the
kingdom of Ireland in some places； but not so universally。 How it
fared with the people in Scotland I had no opportunity to inquire。
It is to be observed that while the plague continued so violent in
London； the outports； as they are called； enjoyed a very great trade；
especially to the adjacent countries and to our own plantations。 For
example； the towns of Colchester； Yarmouth； and Hun； on that side of
England； exported to Holland and Hamburg the manufactures of the
adjacent countries for several months after the trade with London was；
as it were； entirely shut up； likewise the cities of Bristol and Exeter；
with the port of Plymouth； had the like advantage to Spain； to the
Canaries； to Guinea； and to the West Indies； and particularly to
Ireland； but as the plague spread itself every way after it had been in
London to such a degree as it was in August and September； so all or
most of those cities and towns were infected first or last； and then
trade was； as it were； under a general embargo or at a full stop … as I
shall observe further when I speak of our home trade。
One thing； however； must be observed： that as to ships coming in
from abroad （as many； you may be sure； did） some who were out in all
parts of the world a considerable while before； and some who when
they went out knew nothing of an infection； or at least of one so
terrible … these came up the river boldly； and delivered their cargoes as
they were obliged to do； except just in the two months of August and
September； when the weight of the infection lying； as I may say； all
below Bridge； nobody durst appear in business for a while。 But as this
continued but for a few weeks； the homeward…bound ships； especially
such wh