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Part 3
When the buriers came up to him they soon found he was neither a
person infected and desperate； as I have observed above； or a person
distempered …in mind； but one oppressed with a dreadful weight of
grief indeed； having his wife and several of his children all in the cart
that was just come in with him； and he followed in an agony and
excess of sorrow。 He mourned heartily； as it was easy to see； but with
a kind of masculine grief that could not give itself vent by tears； and
calmly defying the buriers to let him alone； said he would only see the
bodies thrown in and go away； so they left importuning him。 But no
sooner was the cart turned round and the bodies shot into the pit
promiscuously； which was a surprise to him； for he at least expected
they would have been decently laid in； though indeed he was
afterwards convinced that was impracticable； I say； no sooner did he
see the sight but he cried out aloud； unable to contain himself。 I could
not hear what he said； but he went backward two or three steps and
fell down in a swoon。 The buriers ran to him and took him up； and in
a little while he came to himself； and they led him away to the Pie
Tavern over against the end of Houndsditch； where； it seems； the man
was known； and where they took care of him。 He looked into the pit
again as he went away； but the buriers had covered the bodies so
immediately with throwing in earth； that though there was light
enough； for there were lanterns； and candles in them； placed all night
round the sides of the pit； upon heaps of earth； seven or eight； or
perhaps more； yet nothing could be seen。
This was a mournful scene indeed； and affected me almost as much
as the rest； but the other was awful and full of terror。 The cart had in
it sixteen or seventeen bodies； some were wrapt up in linen sheets；
some in rags； some little other than naked； or so loose that what
covering they had fell from them in the shooting out of the cart； and
they fell quite naked among the rest； but the matter was not much to
them； or the indecency much to any one else； seeing they were all
dead； and were to be huddled together into the common grave of
mankind； as we may call it； for here was no difference made； but poor
and rich went together； there was no other way of burials； neither was
it possible there should； for coffins were not to be had for the
prodigious numbers that fell in such a calamity as this。
It was reported by way of scandal upon the buriers； that if any
corpse was delivered to them decently wound up； as we called it then；
in a winding…sheet tied over the head and feet； which some did； and
which was generally of good linen； I say； it was reported that the
buriers were so wicked as to strip them in the cart and carry them
quite naked to the ground。 But as I cannot easily credit anything so
vile among Christians； and at a time so filled with terrors as that was；
I can only relate it and leave it undetermined。
Innumerable stories also went about of the cruel behaviours and
practices of nurses who tended the sick； and of their hastening on the
fate of those they tended in their sickness。 But I shall say more of this
in its place。
I was indeed shocked with this sight； it almost overwhelmed me；
and I went away with my heart most afflicted； and full of the afflicting
thoughts； such as I cannot describe。 just at my going out of the church；
and turning up the street towards my own house； I saw another cart
with links； and a bellman going before； coming out of Harrow Alley in
the Butcher Row； on the other side of the way； and being； as I
perceived； very full of dead bodies； it went directly over the street also
toward the church。 I stood a while； but I had no stomach to go back
again to see the same dismal scene over again； so I went directly home；
where I could not but consider with thankfulness the risk I had run；
believing I had gotten no injury； as indeed I had not。
Here the poor unhappy gentleman's grief came into my head again；
and indeed I could not but shed tears in the reflection upon it； perhaps
more than he did himself； but his case lay so heavy upon my mind that
I could not prevail with myself； but that I must go out again into the
street； and go to the Pie Tavern； resolving to inquire what became of him。
It was by this time one o'clock in the morning； and yet the poor
gentleman was there。 The truth was； the people of the house； knowing
him； had entertained him； and kept him there all the night；
notwithstanding the danger of being infected by him； though it
appeared the man was perfectly sound himself。
It is with regret that I take notice of this tavern。 The people were
civil； mannerly； and an obliging sort of folks enough； and had till this
time kept their house open and their trade going on； though not so
very publicly as formerly： but there was a dreadful set of fellows that
used their house； and who； in the middle of all this horror； met there
every night； behaved with all the revelling and roaring extravagances
as is usual for such people to do at other times； and； indeed； to such an
offensive degree that the very master and mistress of the house grew
first ashamed and then terrified at them。
They sat generally in a room next the street； and as they always kept
late hours； so when the dead…cart came across the street…end to go into
Houndsditch； which was in view of the tavern windows； they would
frequently open the windows as soon as they heard the bell and look
out at them； and as they might often hear sad lamentations of people
in the streets or at their windows as the carts went along； they would
make their impudent mocks and jeers at them； especially if they heard
the poor people call upon God to have mercy upon them； as many
would do at those times in their ordinary passing along the streets。
These gentlemen； being something disturbed with the clutter of
bringing the poor gentleman into the house； as above； were first angry
and very high with the master of the house for suffering such a fellow；
as they called him； to be brought out of the grave into their house； but
being answered that the man was a neighbour； and that he was sound；
but overwhelmed with the calamity of his family； and the like； they
turned their anger into ridiculing the man and his sorrow for his wife
and children； taunted him with want of courage to leap into the great
pit and go to heaven； as they jeeringly expressed it； along with them；
adding some very profane and even blasphemous expressions。
They were at this vile work when I came back to the house； and； as
far as I could see； though the man sat still； mute and disconsolate； and
their affronts could not divert his sorrow； yet he was both grieved and
offended at their discourse。 Upon this I gently reproved them； being
well enough acquainted with their characters； and not unknown in
person to two of them。
They immediately fell upon me with ill language and oaths； asked
me what I did out of my grave at such a time when so many honester
men were carried into the churchyard； and why I was not at home
saying my prayers against the dead…cart came for me； and the like。
I was indeed astonished at the impudence of the men； though not at
all discomposed at their treatment of me。 However； I kept my temper。
I told them that though I defied them or any man in the world to tax
me with any dishonesty； yet I acknowledged that in this terrible
judgement of God many better than I were swept away and carried to
their grave。 But to answer their question directly； the case was； that I
was mercifully preserved by that great God whose name they had
blasphemed and taken in vain by cursing and swearing in a dreadful
manner； and that I believed I was preserved in particular； among other
ends of His goodness； that I might reprove them for their audacious
boldness in behaving in such a manner and in such an awful time as
this was； especially for their jeering and mocking at an honest
gentleman and a neighbour （for some of them knew him）； who； they
saw； was overwhelmed with sorrow for the breaches which it had
pleased God to make upon his family。
I cannot call exactly to mind the hellish； abominable raillery which
was the return they made to that talk of mine： being provoked； it
seems； that I was not at all afraid to be free with them； nor； if I could
remember； would I fill my account with any of the words； the horrid
oaths； curses； and vile expressions； such as； at that time of the day；
even the worst and ordinariest people in the street would not use； for；
except such hardened creatures as these； the most wicked wretches
that could be found had at that time some terror upon their minds of
the hand of that Power which could thus in a moment destroy them。
But that which was the worst in all their devilish language was； that
they were not afraid to blaspheme God and talk atheist