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with the exceeding tediousness of the cure； the loathsomeness of the
disease； and many other articles； were enough to deter any man living
from a dangerous mixture with the sick people； and make them as
anxious almost to avoid the infections as before。
Nay； there was another thing which made the mere catching of the
distemper frightful； and that was the terrible burning of the caustics
which the surgeons laid on the swellings to bring them to break and to
run； without which the danger of death was very great； even to the
last。 Also； the insufferable torment of the swellings； which； though it
might not make people raving and distracted； as they were before； and
as I have given several instances of already； yet they put the patient to
inexpressible torment； and those that fell into it； though they did
escape with life； yet they made bitter complaints of those that had told
them there was no danger； and sadly repented their rashness and folly
in venturing to run into the reach of it。
Nor did this unwary conduct of the people end here； for a great
many that thus cast off their cautions suffered more deeply still； and
though many escaped； yet many died； and at least it had this public
mischief attending it； that it made the decrease of burials slower than
it would otherwise have been。 For as this notion ran like lightning
through the city； and people's heads were possessed with it； even as
soon as the first great decrease in the bills appeared； we found that the
two next bills did not decrease in proportion； the reason I take to be
the people's running so rashly into danger； giving up all their former
cautions and care； and all the shyness which they used to practise；
depending that the sickness would not reach them … or that if it did；
they should not die。
The physicians opposed this thoughtless humour of the people with
all their might； and gave out printed directions； spreading them all
over the city and suburbs； advising the people to continue reserved；
and to use still the utmost caution in their ordinary conduct；
notwithstanding the decrease of the distemper； terrifying them with
the danger of bringing a relapse upon the whole city； and telling them
how such a relapse might be more fatal and dangerous than the whole
visitation that had been already； with many arguments and reasons to
explain and prove that part to them； and which are too long to repeat here。
But it was all to no purpose； the audacious creatures were so
possessed with the first joy and so surprised with the satisfaction of
seeing a vast decrease in the weekly bills； that they were impenetrable
by any new terrors； and would not be persuaded but that the bitterness
of death was past； and it was to no more purpose to talk to them than
to an east wind； but they opened shops； went about streets； did
business； and conversed with anybody that came in their way to
converse with； whether with business or without； neither inquiring of
their health or so much as being apprehensive of any danger from
them； though they knew them not to be sound。
This imprudent； rash conduct cost a great many their lives who had
with great care and caution shut themselves up and kept retired； as it
were； from all mankind； and had by that means； under God's
providence； been preserved through all the heat of that infection。
This rash and foolish conduct； I say； of the people went so far that
the ministers took notice to them of it at last； and laid before them
both the folly and danger of it； and this checked it a little； so that they
grew more cautious。 But it had another effect； which they could not
check； for as the first rumour had spread not over the city only； but
into the country； it had the like effect： and the people were so tired
with being so long from London； and so eager to come back； that they
flocked to town without fear or forecast； and began to show
themselves in the streets as if all the danger was over。 It was indeed
surprising to see it； for though there died still from 1000 to 1800 a
week； yet the people flocked to town as if all had been well。
The consequence of this was； that the bills increased again 400 the
very first week in November； and if I might believe the physicians；
there was above 3000 fell sick that week； most of them new…comers； too。
One John Cock； a barber in St Martin's…le…Grand； was an eminent
example of this； I mean of the hasty return of the people when the
plague was abated。 This John Cock had left the town with his whole
family； and locked up his house； and was gone in the country； as many
others did； and finding the plague so decreased in November that
there died but 905 per week of all diseases； he ventured home again。
He had in his family ten persons； that is to say； himself and wife； five
children； two apprentices； and a maid…servant。 He had not returned to
his house above a week； and began to open his shop and carry on his
trade； but the distemper broke out in his family； and within about five
days they all died； except one； that is to say； himself； his wife； all his
five children； and his two apprentices； and only the maid remained alive。
But the mercy of God was greater to the rest than we had reason to
expect； for the malignity （as I have said） of the distemper was spent；
the contagion was exhausted； and also the winter weather came on
apace； and the air was clear and cold； with sharp frosts； and this
increasing still； most of those that had fallen sick recovered； and the
health of the city began to return。 There were indeed some returns of
the distemper even in the month of December； and the bills increased
near a hundred； but it went off again； and so in a short while things
began to return to their own channel。 And wonderful it was to see
how populous the city was again all on a sudden； so that a stranger
could not miss the numbers that were lost。 Neither was there any miss
of the inhabitants as to their dwellings … few or no empty houses were
to be seen； or if there were some； there was no want of
tenants for them。
I wish I could say that as the city had a new face； so the manners of
the people had a new appearance。 I doubt not but there were many
that retained a sincere sense of their deliverance； and were that
heartily thankful to that Sovereign Hand that had protected them in so
dangerous a time； it would be very uncharitable to judge otherwise in
a city so populous； and where the people were so devout as they were
here in the time of the visitation itself； but except what of this was to
be found in particular families and faces； it must be acknowledged
that the general practice of the people was just as it was before； and
very little difference was to be seen。
Some； indeed； said things were worse； that the morals of the people
declined from this very time； that the people； hardened by the danger
they had been in； like seamen after a storm is over； were more wicked
and more stupid； more bold and hardened； in their vices and immoralities
than they were before； but I will not carry it so far neither。 It would
take up a history of no small length to give a particular of all the
gradations by which the course of things in this city came to be
restored again； and to run in their own channel as they did before。
Some parts of England were now infected as violently as London
had been； the cities of Norwich； Peterborough； Lincoln； Colchester；
and other places were now visited； and the magistrates of London
began to set rules for our conduct as to corresponding with those
cities。 It is true we could not pretend to forbid their people coming to
London； because it was impossible to know them asunder； so； after
many consultations； the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen were
obliged to drop it。 All they could do was to warn and caution the
people not to entertain in their houses or converse with any people
who they knew came from such infected places。
But they might as well have talked to the air； for the people of
London thought themselves so plague…free now that they were past all
admonitions； they seemed to depend upon it that the air was restored；
and that the air was like a man that had had the smallpox； not capable
of being infected again。 This revived that notion that the infection
was all in the air； that there was no such thing as contagion from the
sick people to the sound； and so strongly did this whimsy prevail
among people that they ran all together promiscuously； sick and well。
Not the Mahometans； who； prepossessed with the principle of
predestination； value nothing of contagion； let it be in what it will；
could be more obstinate than the people of London； they that were
perfectly sound； and came out of the wholesome air； as we call it； into
the city； made nothing of going into the same houses and chambers；
nay； even into the same beds； with those that had the distemper upon
them； and were not re