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part6-第5章

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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
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