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about denouncing of judgement upon the city in a frightful manner；
sometimes quite naked； and with a pan of burning charcoal on his
head。 What he said； or pretended； indeed I could not learn。
I will not say whether that clergyman was distracted or not； or
whether he did it in pure zeal for the poor people； who went every
evening through the streets of Whitechappel； and； with his hands lifted
up； repeated that part of the Liturgy of the Church continually； 'Spare
us； good Lord； spare Thy people； whom Thou has redeemed with Thy
most precious blood。' I say； I cannot speak positively of these things；
because these were only the dismal objects which represented
themselves to me as I looked through my chamber windows （for I
seldom opened the casements）； while I confined myself within doors
during that most violent raging of the pestilence； when； indeed； as I
have said； many began to think； and even to say； that there would
none escape； and indeed I began to think so too； and therefore kept
within doors for about a fortnight and never stirred out。 But I could
not hold it。 Besides； there were some people who； notwithstanding
the danger； did not omit publicly to attend the worship of God； even in
the most dangerous times； and though it is true that a great many
clergymen did shut up their churches； and fled； as other people did；
for the safety of their lives； yet all did not do so。 Some ventured to
officiate and to keep up the assemblies of the people by constant
prayers； and sometimes sermons or brief exhortations to repentance
and reformation； and this as long as any would come to hear them。
And Dissenters did the like also； and even in the very churches where
the parish ministers were either dead or fled； nor was there any room
for making difference at such a time as this was。
It was indeed a lamentable thing to hear the miserable lamentations
of poor dying creatures calling out for ministers to comfort them and
pray with them； to counsel them and to direct them； calling out to God
for pardon and mercy； and confessing aloud their past sins。 It would
make the stoutest heart bleed to hear how many warnings were then
given by dying penitents to others not to put off and delay their
repentance to the day of distress； that such a time of calamity as this
was no time for repentance； was no time to call upon God。 I wish I
could repeat the very sound of those groans and of those exclamations
that I heard from some poor dying creatures when in the height of
their agonies and distress； and that I could make him that reads this
hear； as I imagine I now hear them； for the sound seems still to ring in
my ears。
If I could but tell this part in such moving accents as should alarm
the very soul of the reader； I should rejoice that I recorded those
things； however short and imperfect。
It pleased God that I was still spared； and very hearty and sound in
health； but very impatient of being pent up within doors without air；
as I had been for fourteen days or thereabouts； and I could not restrain
myself； but I would go to carry a letter for my brother to the post…
house。 Then it was indeed that I observed a profound silence in the
streets。 When I came to the post…house； as I went to put in my letter I
saw a man stand in one corner of the yard and talking to another at a
window； and a third had opened a door belonging to the office。 In the
middle of the yard lay a small leather purse with two keys hanging at
it； with money in it； but nobody would meddle with it。 I asked how
long it had lain there； the man at the window said it had lain almost an
hour； but that they had not meddled with it； because they did not know
but the person who dropped it might come back to look for it。 I had
no such need of money； nor was the sum so big that I had any
inclination to meddle with it； or to get the money at the hazard it
might be attended with； so I seemed to go away； when the man who
had opened the door said he would take it up； but so that if the right
owner came for it he should be sure to have it。 So he went in and
fetched a pail of water and set it down hard by the purse； then went
again and fetch some gunpowder； and cast a good deal of powder
upon the purse； and then made a train from that which he had thrown
loose upon the purse。 The train reached about two yards。 After this
he goes in a third time and fetches out a pair of tongs red hot； and
which he had prepared； I suppose； on purpose； and first setting fire to
the train of powder； that singed the purse and also smoked the air
sufficiently。 But he was not content with that； but he then takes up the
purse with the tongs； holding it so long till the tongs burnt through the
purse； and then he shook the money out into the pail of water； so he
carried it in。 The money； as I remember； was about thirteen shilling
and some smooth groats and brass farthings。
There might perhaps have been several poor people； as I have
observed above； that would have been hardy enough to have ventured
for the sake of the money； but you may easily see by what I have
observed that the few people who were spared were very careful of
themselves at that time when the distress was so exceeding great。
Much about the same time I walked out into the fields towards Bow；
for I had a great mind to see how things were managed in the river
and among the ships； and as I had some concern in shipping； I had a
notion that it had been one of the best ways of securing one's self from
the infection to have retired into a ship； and musing how to satisfy my
curiosity in that point； I turned away over the fields from Bow to
Bromley； and down to Blackwall to the stairs which are there for
landing or taking water。
Here I saw a poor man walking on the bank； or sea…wall； as they call
it； by himself。 I walked a while also about； seeing the houses all shut
up。 At last I fell into some talk； at a distance； with this poor man； first
I asked him how people did thereabouts。 'Alas； sir！' says he； 'almost
desolate； all dead or sick。 Here are very few families in this part； or in
that village' （pointing at Poplar）； 'where half of them are not dead
already； and the rest sick。' Then he pointing to one house； 'There they
are all dead'； said he； 'and the house stands open； nobody dares go into
it。 A poor thief'； says he； 'ventured in to steal something； but he paid
dear for his theft； for he was carried to the churchyard too last night。'
Then he pointed to several other houses。 'There'； says he。 'they are all
dead； the man and his wife； and five children。 There'； says he； 'they
are shut up； you see a watchman at the door'； and so of other houses。
'Why；' says I； 'what do you here all alone？ ' 'Why；' says he； 'I am a
poor； desolate man； it has pleased God I am not yet visited； though my
family is； and one of my children dead。' 'How do you mean； then；' said
I； 'that you are not visited？' 'Why；' says he； 'that's my house' （pointing
to a very little； low…boarded house）； 'and there my poor wife and two
children live；' said he； 'if they may be said to live； for my wife and one
of the children are visited； but I do not come at them。' And with that
word I saw the tears run very plentifully down his face； and so they
did down mine too； I assure you。
'But；' said I； 'why do you not come at them？ How can you abandon
your own flesh and blood？' 'Oh； sir；' says he； 'the Lord forbid！ I do not
abandon them； I work for them as much as I am able； and； blessed be
the Lord； I keep them from want'； and with that I observed he lifted up
his eyes to heaven； with a countenance that presently told me I had
happened on a man that was no hypocrite； but a serious； religious；
good man； and his ejaculation was an expression of thankfulness that；
in such a condition as he was in； he should be able to say his family
did not want。 'Well；' says I； 'honest man； that is a great mercy as
things go now with the poor。 But how do you live； then； and how are
you kept from the dreadful calamity that is now upon us all？' 'Why；
sir；' says he； 'I am a waterman； and there's my boat；' says he； 'and the
boat serves me for a house。 I work in it in the day； and I sleep in it in
the night； and what I get I lay down upon that stone；' says he； showing
me a broad stone on the other side of the street； a good way from his
house； 'and then；' says he； 'I halloo； and call to them till I make them
hear； and they come and fetch it。'
'Well； friend；' says I； 'but how can you get any money as a
waterman？ Does an body go by water these times？' 'Yes； sir；' says he；
'in the way I am employed there does。 Do you see there；' says he； 'five
ships lie at anchor' （pointing down the river a good way below the
town）； 'and do you see'； says he； 'eight or ten ships lie at the chain
there； and at anchor yonder？' pointing above the town）。 'All those
ships have families on board； of their merchants and owners； a