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all the labourers depending on such。
4。 As navigation was at a stop； our ships neither coming in or going
out as before； so the seamen were all out of employment； and many of
them in the last and lowest degree of distress； and with the seamen
were all the several tradesmen and workmen belonging to and
depending upon the building and fitting out of ships； such as ship…
carpenters； caulkers； ropemakers； dry coopers； sailmakers；
anchorsmiths； and other smiths； blockmakers； carvers； gunsmiths；
ship…chandlers； ship…carvers； and the like。 The masters of those
perhaps might live upon their substance； but the traders were
universally at a stop； and consequently all their workmen discharged。
Add to these that the river was in a manner without boats； and all or
most part of the watermen； lightermen； boat…builders； and lighter…
builders in like manner idle and laid by。
5。 All families retrenched their living as much as possible； as well
those that fled as those that stayed； so that an innumerable multitude
of footmen； serving…men； shopkeepers； journeymen； merchants'
bookkeepers； and such sort of people； and especially poor maid…
servants； were turned off； and left friendless and helpless； without
employment and without habitation； and this was really a dismal article。
I might be more particular as to this part； but it may suffice to
mention in general； all trades being stopped； employment ceased： the
labour； and by that the bread； of the poor were cut off； and at first
indeed the cries of the poor were most lamentable to hear； though by
the distribution of charity their misery that way was greatly abated。
Many indeed fled into the counties； but thousands of them having
stayed in London till nothing but desperation sent them away； death
overtook them on the road； and they served for no better than the
messengers of death； indeed； others carrying the infection along with
them； spread it very unhappily into the remotest parts of the kingdom。
Many of these were the miserable objects of despair which I have
mentioned before； and were removed by the destruction which
followed。 These might be said to perish not by the infection itself but
by the consequence of it； indeed； namely； by hunger and distress and
the want of all things： being without lodging； without money； without
friends； without means to get their bread； or without anyone to give it
them； for many of them were without what we call legal settlements；
and so could not claim of the parishes； and all the support they had
was by application to the magistrates for relief； which relief was （to
give the magistrates their due） carefully and cheerfully administered
as they found it necessary； and those that stayed behind never felt the
want and distress of that kind which they felt who went away in the
manner above noted。
Let any one who is acquainted with what multitudes of people get
their daily bread in this city by their labour； whether artificers or mere
workmen … I say； let any man consider what must be the miserable
condition of this town if； on a sudden； they should be all turned out of
employment； that labour should cease； and wages for work be no more。
This was the case with us at that time； and had not the sums of
money contributed in charity by well…disposed people of every kind；
as well abroad as at home； been prodigiously great； it had not been in
the power of the Lord Mayor and sheriffs to have kept the public
peace。 Nor were they without apprehensions； as it was； that
desperation should push the people upon tumults； and cause them to
rifle the houses of rich men and plunder the markets of provisions； in
which case the country people； who brought provisions very freely
and boldly to town； would have been terrified from coming any more；
and the town would have sunk under an unavoidable famine。
But the prudence of my Lord Mayor and the Court of Aldermen
within the city； and of the justices of peace in the out…parts； was such；
and they were supported with money from all parts so well； that the
poor people were kept quiet； and their wants everywhere relieved； as
far as was possible to be done。
Two things besides this contributed to prevent the mob doing any
mischief。 One was； that really the rich themselves had not laid up
stores of provisions in their houses as indeed they ought to have done；
and which if they had been wise enough to have done； and locked
themselves entirely up； as some few did； they had perhaps escaped the
disease better。 But as it appeared they had not； so the mob had no
notion of finding stores of provisions there if they had broken in。 as it
is plain they were sometimes very near doing； and which： if they bad；
they had finished the ruin of the whole city； for there were no regular
troops to have withstood them； nor could the trained bands have been
brought together to defend the city； no men being to be found to bear arms。
But the vigilance of the Lord Mayor and such magistrates as could
be had （for some； even of the aldermen； were dead； and some absent）
prevented this； and they did it by the most kind and gentle methods
they could think of； as particularly by relieving the most desperate
with money； and putting others into business； and particularly that
employment of watching houses that were infected and shut up。 And
as the number of these were very great （for it was said there was at
one time ten thousand houses shut up； and every house had two
watchmen to guard it； viz。； one by night and the other by day）； this
gave opportunity to employ a very great number of poor men at a
time。
The women and servants that were turned off from their places were
likewise employed as nurses to tend the sick in all places； and this
took off a very great number of them。
And； which though a melancholy article in itself； yet was a
deliverance in its kind： namely； the plague； which raged in a dreadful
manner from the middle of August to the middle of October； carried
off in that time thirty or forty thousand of these very people which；
had they been left； would certainly have been an insufferable burden
by their poverty； that is to say； the whole city could not have
supported the expense of them； or have provided food for them； and
they would in time have been even driven to the necessity of
plundering either the city itself or the country adjacent； to have
subsisted themselves； which would first or last have put the whole
nation； as well as the city； into the utmost terror and confusion。
It was observable； then； that this calamity of the people made them
very humble； for now for about nine weeks together there died near a
thousand a day； one day with another； even by the account of the
weekly bills； which yet； I have reason to be assured； never gave a full
account； by many thousands； the confusion being such； and the carts
working in the dark when they carried the dead； that in some places
no account at all was kept； but they worked on； the clerks and sextons
not attending for weeks together； and not knowing what number they
carried。 This account is verified by the following bills of mortality： …
Of all of the
Diseases。 Plague
From August 8 to August 15 5319 3880
〃 〃 15 〃 22 5568 4237
〃 〃 22 〃 29 7496 6102
〃 〃 29 to September 5 8252 6988
〃 September 5 〃 12 7690 6544
〃 〃 12 〃 19 8297 7165
〃 〃 19 〃 26 6460 5533
〃 〃 26 to October 3 5720 4979
〃 October 3 〃 10 5068 4327
… …
59；870 49；705
So that the gross of the people were carried off in these two months；
for； as the whole number which was brought in to die of the plague
was but 68；590； here is 50；000 of them； within a trifle； in two months；
I say 50；000； because； as there wants 295 in the number above； so
there wants two days of two months in the account of time。
Now when I say that the parish officers did not give in a full
account； or were not to be depended upon for their account； let any
one but consider how men could be exact in such a time of dreadful
distress； and when many of them were taken sick themselves and
perhaps died in the very time when their accounts were to be given in；
I mean the parish clerks； besides inferior officers； for though these
poor men ventured at all hazards； yet they were far from being exempt
from the common calamity； especially if it be true that the parish of
Stepney had； within the year； 116 sextons； gravediggers； and their
assistants； that is to say； bearers； bellmen； and drivers of carts fo