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continued but for a few weeks； the homeward…bound ships； especially
such whose cargoes were not liable to spoil； came to an anchor for a
time short of the Pool；* or fresh…water part of the river； even as low as
the river Medway； where several of them ran in； and others lay at the
Nore； and in the Hope below Gravesend。 So that by the latter end of
October there was a very great fleet of homeward…bound ships to
come up； such as the like had not been known for many years。
* That part of the river where the ships lie up when they come home is
called the Pool； and takes in all the river on both sides of the water；
from the Tower to Cuckold's Point and Limehouse。 ＇Footnote in the original。＇
Two particular trades were carried on by water…carriage all the
while of the infection； and that with little or no interruption； very
much to the advantage and comfort of the poor distressed people of
the city： and those were the coasting trade for corn and
the Newcastle trade for coals。
The first of these was particularly carried on by small vessels from
the port of Hull and other places on the Humber； by which great
quantities of corn were brought in from Yorkshire and Lincolnshire。
The other part of this corn…trade was from Lynn； in Norfolk； from
Wells and Burnham； and from Yarmouth； all in the same county； and
the third branch was from the river Medway； and from Milton；
Feversham； Margate； and Sandwich； and all the other little places and
ports round the coast of Kent and Essex。
There was also a very good trade from the coast of Suffolk with
corn； butter； and cheese； these vessels kept a constant course of trade；
and without interruption came up to that market known still by the
name of Bear Key； where they supplied the city plentifully with corn
when land…carriage began to fail； and when the people began to be
sick of coming from many places in the country。
This also was much of it owing to the prudence and conduct of the
Lord Mayor； who took such care to keep the masters and seamen from
danger when they came up； causing their corn to be bought off at any
time they wanted a market （which； however； was very seldom）； and
causing the corn…factors immediately to unlade and deliver the vessels
loaden with corn； that they had very little occasion to come out of
their ships or vessels； the money being always carried on board to
them and put into a pail of vinegar before it was carried。
The second trade was that of coals from Newcastle…upon…Tyne；
without which the city would have been greatly distressed； for not in
the streets only； but in private houses and families； great quantities of
coals were then burnt； even all the summer long and when the weather
was hottest； which was done by the advice of the physicians。 Some
indeed opposed it； and insisted that to keep the houses and rooms hot
was a means to propagate the temper； which was a fermentation and
heat already in the blood； that it was known to spread and increase in
hot weather and abate in cold； and therefore they alleged that all
contagious distempers are the worse for heat； because the contagion
was nourished and gained strength in hot weather； and was； as it were；
propagated in heat。
Others said they granted that heat in the climate might propagate
infection … as sultry； hot weather fills the air with vermin and
nourishes innumerable numbers and kinds of venomous creatures
which breed in our food； in the plants； and even in our bodies； by the
very stench of which infection may be propagated； also that heat in
the air； or heat of weather； as we ordinarily call it； makes bodies relax
and faint； exhausts the spirits； opens the pores； and makes us more apt
to receive infection； or any evil influence； be it from noxious
pestilential vapours or any other thing in the air； but that the heat of
fire； and especially of coal fires kept in our houses； or near us； had a
quite different operation； the heat being not of the same kind； but
quick and fierce； tending not to nourish but to consume and dissipate
all those noxious fumes which the other kind of heat rather exhaled
and stagnated than separated and burnt up。 Besides； it was alleged
that the sulphurous and nitrous particles that are often found to be in
the coal； with that bituminous substance which burns； are all assisting
to clear and purge the air； and render it wholesome and safe to breathe
in after the noxious particles； as above； are dispersed and burnt up。
The latter opinion prevailed at that time； and； as I must confess； I
think with good reason； and the experience of the citizens confirmed
it； many houses which had constant fires kept in the rooms having
never been infected at all； and I must join my experience to it； for I
found the keeping good fires kept our rooms sweet and wholesome；
and I do verily believe made our whole family so； more than would
otherwise have been。
But I return to the coals as a trade。 It was with no little difficulty
that this trade was kept open； and particularly because； as we were in an
open war with I the Dutch at that time； the Dutch capers at first took a
great many of our collier…ships； which made the rest cautious； and
made them to stay to come in fleets together。 But after some time the
capers were either afraid to take them； or their masters； the States；
were afraid they should； and forbade them； lest the plague should be
among them； which made them fare the better。
For the security of those northern traders； the coal…ships were
ordered by my Lord Mayor not to come up into the Pool above a
certain number at a time； and ordered lighters and other vessels such
as the woodmongers （that is； the wharf…keepers or coal…sellers）
furnished； to go down and take out the coals as low as Deptford and
Greenwich； and some farther down。
Others delivered great quantities of coals in particular places where
the ships could come to the shore； as at Greenwich； Blackwall； and
other places； in vast heaps； as if to be kept for sale； but were then
fetched away after the ships which brought them were gone； so that
the seamen had no communication with the river…men； nor so much as
came near one another。
Yet all this caution could not effectually prevent the distemper
getting among the colliery： that is to say among the ships； by which a
great many seamen died of it； and that which was still worse was； that
they carried it down to Ipswich and Yarmouth； to Newcastle…upon…
Tyne； and other places on the coast … where； especially at Newcastle
and at Sunderland； it carried off a great
number of people。
The making so many fires； as above； did indeed consume an unusual
quantity of coals； and that upon one or two stops of the ships coming
up； whether by contrary weather or by the interruption of enemies I do
not remember； but the price of coals was exceeding dear； even as high
as 4 a chalder； but it soon abated when the ships came in； and as
afterwards they had a freer passage； the price was very reasonable all
the rest of that year。
The public fires which were made on these occasions； as I have
calculated it； must necessarily have cost the city about 200 chalders of
coals a week； if they had continued； which was indeed a very great quantity；
but as it was thought necessary； nothing was spared。 However； as some of
the physicians cried them down； they were not kept alight above four or
five days。 The fires were ordered thus： …
One at the Custom House； one at Billingsgate； one at Queenhith；
and one at the Three Cranes； one in Blackfriars； and one at the gate of
Bridewell； one at the corner of Leadenhal Street and Gracechurch；
one at the north and one at the south gate of the Royal Exchange； one
at Guild Hall； and one at Blackwell Hall gate； one at the Lord Mayor's
door in St Helen's； one at the west entrance into St Paul's； and one at
the entrance into Bow Church。 I do not remember whether there was
any at the city gates； but one at the Bridge…foot there was； just by St
Magnus Church。
I know some have quarrelled since that at the experiment； and said
that there died the more people because of those fires； but I am
persuaded those that say so offer no evidence to prove it； neither can I
believe it on any account whatever。
It remains to give some account of the state of trade at home in
England during this dreadful time； and particularly as it relates to the
manufactures and the trade in the city。 At the first breaking out of the
infection there was； as it is easy to suppose； a very great fright among
the people； and consequently a general stop of trade； except in
provisions and necessaries of life； and even in those things； as there
was a vast number of people fled and a very great number always sick；
besides the number which died； so there could not be above two…
thirds； if above one…half； of the consumption of provisions in the city
as used to be。
It pleased G