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bulk； or any convenient place that offered itself； or to their own
houses if possible； as I mentioned before； and there sit down； grow
faint； and die。 This kind of dying was much the same as it was with
those who die of common mortifications； who die swooning； and； as it
were； go away in a dream。 Such as died thus had very little notice of
their being infected at all till the gangrene was spread through their
whole body； nor could physicians themselves know certainly how it
was with them till they opened their breasts or other parts of their
body and saw the tokens。
We had at this time a great many frightful stories told us of nurses
and watchmen who looked after the dying people； that is to say； hired
nurses who attended infected people； using them barbarously； starving
them； smothering them； or by other wicked means hastening their end；
that is to say； murdering of them； and watchmen； being set to guard
houses that were shut up when there has been but one person left； and
perhaps that one lying sick； that they have broke in and murdered that
body； and immediately thrown them out into the dead…cart！ And so
they have gone scarce cold to the grave。
I cannot say but that some such murders were committed； and I
think two were sent to prison for it； but died before they could be
tried； and I have heard that three others； at several times； were
excused for murders of that kind； but I must say I believe nothing of
its being so common a crime as some have since been pleased to say；
nor did it seem to be so rational where the people were brought so low
as not to be able to help themselves； for such seldom recovered； and
there was no temptation to commit a murder； at least none equal to
the fact； where they were sure persons would die in so short a time；
and could not live。
That there were a great many robberies and wicked practices
committed even in this dreadful time I do not deny。 The power of
avarice was so strong in some that they would run any hazard to steal
and to plunder； and particularly in houses where all the families or
inhabitants have been dead and carried out； they would break in at all
hazards； and without regard to the danger of infection； take even the
clothes off the dead bodies and the bed…clothes from others where
they lay dead。
This； I suppose； must be the case of a family in Houndsditch； where
a man and his daughter； the rest of the family being； as I suppose；
carried away before by the dead…cart； were found stark naked； one in
one chamber and one in another； lying dead on the floor； and the
clothes of the beds； from whence 'tis supposed they were rolled off by
thieves； stolen and carried quite away。
It is indeed to be observed that the women were in all this calamity
the most rash； fearless； and desperate creatures； and as there were vast
numbers that went about as nurses to tend those that were sick； they
committed a great many petty thieveries in the houses where they
were employed； and some of them were publicly whipped for it； when
perhaps they ought rather to have been hanged for examples； for
numbers of houses were robbed on these occasions； till at length the
parish officers were sent to recommend nurses to the sick； and always
took an account whom it was they sent； so as that they might call them
to account if the house had been abused where they were placed。
But these robberies extended chiefly to wearing…clothes； linen； and
what rings or money they could come at when the person died who
was under their care； but not to a general plunder of the houses； and I
could give you an account of one of these nurses； who； several years
after； being on her deathbed； confessed with the utmost horror the
robberies she had committed at the time of her being a nurse； and by
which she had enriched herself to a great degree。 But as for murders；
I do not find that there was ever any proof of the facts in the manner
as it has been reported； except as above。
They did tell me； indeed； of a nurse in one place that laid a wet cloth
upon the face of a dying patient whom she tended； and so put an end
to his life； who was just expiring before； and another that smothered a
young woman she was looking to when she was in a fainting fit； and
would have come to herself； some that killed them by giving them one
thing； some another； and some starved them by giving them nothing at
all。 But these stories had two marks of suspicion that always attended
them； which caused me always to slight them and to look on them as
mere stories that people continually frighted one another with。 First；
that wherever it was that we heard it； they always placed the scene at
the farther end of the town； opposite or most remote from where you
were to hear it。 If you heard it in Whitechappel； it had happened at St
Giles's； or at Westminster； or Holborn； or that end of the town。 If you
heard of it at that end of the town； then it was done in Whitechappel； or
the Minories； or about Cripplegate parish。 If you heard of it in the
city； why； then it happened in Southwark； and if you heard of it in
Southwark； then it was done in the city； and the like。
In the next place； of what part soever you heard the story； the
particulars were always the same； especially that of laying a wet
double clout on a dying man's face； and that of smothering a young
gentlewoman； so that it was apparent； at least to my judgement； that
there was more of tale than of truth in those things。
However； I cannot say but it had some effect upon the people； and
particularly that； as I said before； they grew more cautious whom they
took into their houses； and whom they trusted their lives with； and had
them always recommended if they could； and where they could not
find such； for they were not very plenty； they applied to the parish
officers。
But here again the misery of that time lay upon the poor who； being
infected； had neither food or physic； neither physician or apothecary
to assist them； or nurse to attend them。 Many of those died calling for
help； and even for sustenance； out at their windows in a most
miserable and deplorable manner； but it must be added that whenever
the cases of such persons or families were represented to my Lord
Mayor they always were relieved。
It is true； in some houses where the people were not very poor； yet
where they had sent perhaps their wives and children away； and if
they had any servants they had been dismissed； … I say it is true that to
save the expenses； many such as these shut themselves in； and not
having help； died alone。
A neighbour and acquaintance of mine； having some money owing
to him from a shopkeeper in Whitecross Street or thereabouts； sent his
apprentice； a youth about eighteen years of age； to endeavour to get
the money。 He came to the door； and finding it shut； knocked pretty
hard； and； as he thought； heard somebody answer within； but was not
sure； so he waited； and after some stay knocked again； and then a third
time； when he heard somebody coming downstairs。
At length the man of the house came to the door； he had on his
breeches or drawers； and a yellow flannel waistcoat； no stockings； a
pair of slipped…shoes； a white cap on his head； and； as the young man
said； 'death in his face'。
When he opened the door； says he； 'What do you disturb me thus for？'
The boy； though a little surprised； replied； 'I come from such a
one； and my master sent me for the money which he says you know
of。' 'Very well； child；' returns the living ghost； 'call as you go by at
Cripplegate Church； and bid them ring the bell'； and with these words
shut the door again； and went up again； and died the same day； nay；
perhaps the same hour。 This the young man told me himself； and I
have reason to believe it。 This was while the plague was not come to
a height。 I think it was in June； towards the latter end of the month； it
must be before the dead…carts came about； and while they used the
ceremony of ringing the bell for the dead； which was over for certain；
in that parish at least； before the month of July； for by the 25th of July
there died 550 and upwards in a week； and then they could no more
bury in form； rich or poor。
I have mentioned above that notwithstanding this dreadful calamity；
yet the numbers of thieves were abroad upon all occasions； where they
had found any prey； and that these were generally women。 It was one
morning about eleven O'clock； I had walked out to my brother's house
in Coleman Street parish； as I often did； to see that all was safe。
My brother's house had a little court before it； and a brick wall and a
gate in it； and within that several warehouses where his goods of
several sorts lay。 It happened that in one of these warehouses were
several packs of women's high…crowned hats； which came out of the
country and were； as I suppose； for exportation： whither； I know not。
I was