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thirds； if above one…half； of the consumption of provisions in the city
as used to be。
It pleased God to send a very plentiful year of corn and fruit； but not
of hay or grass … by which means bread was cheap； by reason of the
plenty of corn。 Flesh was cheap； by reason of the scarcity of grass；
but butter and cheese were dear for the same reason； and hay in the
market just beyond Whitechappel Bars was sold at 4 pound per load。
But that affected not the poor。 There was a most excessive plenty
of all sorts of fruit； such as apples； pears； plums； cherries； grapes；
and they were the cheaper because of the want of people； but this
made the poor eat them to excess； and this brought them into fluxes；
griping of the guts； surfeits； and the like； which often precipitated
them into the plague。
But to come to matters of trade。 First； foreign exportation being
stopped or at least very much interrupted and rendered difficult； a
general stop of all those manufactures followed of course which were
usually brought for exportation； and though sometimes merchants
abroad were importunate for goods； yet little was sent； the passages
being so generally stopped that the English ships would not be
admitted； as is said already； into their port。
This put a stop to the manufactures that were for exportation in most
parts of England； except in some out…ports； and even that was soon
stopped； for they all had the plague in their turn。 But though this was
felt all over England； yet； what was still worse； all intercourse of trade
for home consumption of manufactures； especially those which
usually circulated through the Londoner's hands； was stopped at once；
the trade of the city being stopped。
All kinds of handicrafts in the city； &c。； tradesmen and mechanics；
were； as I have said before； out of employ； and this occasioned the
putting…off and dismissing an innumerable number of journeymen and
workmen of all sorts； seeing nothing was done relating to such trades
but what might be said to be absolutely necessary。
This caused the multitude of single people in London to be
unprovided for； as also families whose living depended upon the
labour of the heads of those families； I say； this reduced them to
extreme misery； and I must confess it is for the honour of the city of
London； and will be for many ages； as long as this is to be spoken of；
that they were able to supply with charitable provision the wants of so
many thousands of those as afterwards fell sick and were distressed：
so that it may be safely averred that nobody perished for want； at least
that the magistrates had any notice given them of。
This stagnation of our manufacturing trade in the country would
have put the people there to much greater difficulties； but that the
master…workmen； clothiers and others； to the uttermost of their stocks
and strength； kept on making their goods to keep the poor at work；
believing that soon as the sickness should abate they would have a
quick demand in proportion to the decay of their trade at that time。
But as none but those masters that were rich could do thus； and that
many were poor and not able； the manufacturing trade in England
suffered greatly； and the poor were pinched all over England by the
calamity of the city of London only。
It is true that the next year made them full amends by another
terrible calamity upon the city； so that the city by one calamity
impoverished and weakened the country； and by another calamity；
even terrible too of its kind； enriched the country and made them
again amends； for an infinite quantity of household Stuff； wearing
apparel； and other things； besides whole warehouses filled with
merchandise and manufactures such as come from all parts of
England； were consumed in the fire of London the next year after this
terrible visitation。 It is incredible what a trade this made all over the
whole kingdom； to make good the want and to supply that loss； so
that； in short； all the manufacturing hands in the nation were set on
work； and were little enough for several years to supply the market
and answer the demands。 All foreign markets also were empty of our
goods by the stop which had been occasioned by the plague； and
before an open trade was allowed again； and the prodigious demand at
home falling in； joined to make a quick vent for all sort of goods； so
that there never was known such a trade all over England for the time
as was in the first seven years after the plague； and after the
fire of London。
It remains now that I should say something of the merciful part of
this terrible judgement。 The last week in September； the plague being
come to its crisis； its fury began to assuage。 I remember my friend Dr
Heath； coming to see me the week before； told me he was sure that the
violence of it would assuage in a few days； but when I saw the weekly
bill of that week； which was the highest of the whole year； being 8297
of all diseases； I upbraided him with it； and asked him what he had
made his judgement from。 His answer； however； was not so much to
seek as I thought it would have been。 'Look you；' says he； 'by the
number which are at this time sick and infected； there should have
been twenty thousand dead the last week instead of eight thousand； if
the inveterate mortal contagion had been as it was two weeks ago； for
then it ordinarily killed in two or three days； now not under eight or
ten； and then not above one in five recovered； whereas I have
observed that now not above two in five miscarry。 And； observe it
from me； the next bill will decrease； and you will see many more
people recover than used to do； for though a vast multitude are now
everywhere infected； and as many every day fall sick； yet there will
not so many die as there did； for the malignity of the distemper is
abated'； … adding that he began now to hope； nay； more than hope； that
the infection had passed its crisis and was going off； and accordingly
so it was； for the next week being； as I said； the last in September； the
bill decreased almost two thousand。
It is true the plague was still at a frightful height； and the next bill
was no less than 6460； and the next to that； 5720； but still my friend's
observation was just； and it did appear the people did recover faster
and more in number than they used to do； and indeed； if it had not
been so； what had been the condition of the city of London？ For；
according to my friend； there were not fewer than 60；000 people at
that time infected； whereof； as above； 20；477 died； and near 40；000
recovered； whereas； had it been as it was before； 50；000 of that
number would very probably have died； if not more； and 50；000 more
would have sickened； for； in a word； the whole mass of people began
to sicken； and it looked as if none would escape。
But this remark of my friend's appeared more evident in a few
weeks more； for the decrease went on； and another week in October it
decreased 1843； so that the number dead of the plague was but 2665；
and the next week it decreased 1413 more； and yet it was seen plainly
that there was abundance of people sick； nay； abundance more than
ordinary； and abundance fell sick every day but （as above） the
malignity of the disease abated。
Such is the precipitant disposition of our people （whether it is so or
not all over the world； that's none of my particular business to
inquire）； but I saw it apparently here； that as upon the first fright of
the infection they shunned one another； and fled from one another's
houses and from the city with an unaccountable and； as I thought；
unnecessary fright； so now； upon this notion spreading； viz。； that the
distemper was not so catching as formerly； and that if it was catched it
was not so mortal； and seeing abundance of people who really fell
sick recover again daily； they took to such a precipitant courage； and
grew so entirely regardless of themselves and of the infection； that
they made no more of the plague than of an ordinary fever； nor indeed
so much。 They not only went boldly into company with those who
had tumours and carbuncles upon them that were running； and
consequently contagious； but ate and drank with them； nay； into their
houses to visit them； and even； as I was told； into their very chambers
where they lay sick。
This I could not see rational。 My friend Dr Heath allowed； and it
was plain to experience； that the distemper was as catching as ever；
and as many fell sick； but only he alleged that so many of those that
fell sick did not die； but I think that while many did die； and that at
best the distemper itself was very terrible； the sores and swellings very
tormenting； and the danger of death not left out of the circumstances
of sickness； though not so frequent as before； all those things； together
with the exceeding tediousness of the cure； the loathsomeness of the
disease； and many other articles； were enough to