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not that they were suddenly struck with the distemper as with a
bullet that killed with the stroke； but that they really had the infection
in their blood long before； only； that as it preyed secretly on the vitals；
it appeared not till it seized the heart with a mortal power； and the
patient died in a moment； as with a sudden fainting or an apoplectic fit。
I know that some even of our physicians thought for a time that
those people that so died in the streets were seized but that moment
they fell； as if they had been touched by a stroke from heaven as men
are killed by a flash of lightning … but they found reason to alter their
opinion afterward； for upon examining the bodies of such after they
were dead； they always either had tokens upon them or other evident
proofs of the distemper having been longer upon them than they had
otherwise expected。
This often was the reason that； as I have said； we that were
examiners were not able to come at the knowledge of the infection
being entered into a house till it was too late to shut it up； and
sometimes not till the people that were left were all dead。 In Petticoat
Lane two houses together were infected； and several people sick； but
the distemper was so well concealed； the examiner； who was my
neighbour； got no knowledge of it till notice was sent him that the
people were all dead； and that the carts should call there to fetch them
away。 The two heads of the families concerted their measures； and so
ordered their matters as that when the examiner was in the
neighbourhood they appeared generally at a time； and answered； that
is； lied； for one another； or got some of the neighbourhood to say they
were all in health … and perhaps knew no better … till； death making it
impossible to keep it any longer as a secret； the dead…carts were called
in the night to both the houses t and so it became public。 But when
the examiner ordered the constable to shut up the houses there was
nobody left in them but three people； two in one house and one in the
other； just dying； and a nurse in each house who acknowledged that
they had buried five before； that the houses had been infected nine or
ten days； and that for all the rest of the two families； which were
many； they were gone； some sick； some well； or whether sick or well
could not be known。
In like manner； at another house in the same lane； a man having his
family infected but very unwilling to be shut up； when he could
conceal it no longer； shut up himself； that is to say； he set the great red
cross upon his door with the words； 'Lord have mercy upon us'； and so
deluded the examiner； who supposed it had been done by the
constable by order of the other examiner； for there were two
examiners to every district or precinct。 By this means he had free
egress and regress into his house again。 and out of it； as he pleased；
notwithstanding it was infected； till at length his stratagem was found
out； and then he； with the sound part of his servants and family； made
off and escaped； so they were not shut up at all。
These things made it very hard； if not impossible； as I have said； to
prevent the spreading of an infection by the shutting up of houses …
unless the people would think the shutting of their houses no
grievance； and be so willing to have it done as that they would give
notice duly and faithfully to the magistrates of their being infected as
soon as it was known by themselves； but as that cannot be expected
from them； and the examiners cannot be supposed； as above； to go
into their houses to visit and search； all the good of shutting up houses
will be defeated； and few houses will be shut up in time； except those
of the poor； who cannot conceal it； and of some people who will be
discovered by the terror and consternation which the things put them into。
I got myself discharged of the dangerous office I was in as soon as I
could get another admitted； whom I had obtained for a little money to
accept of it； and so； instead of serving the two months； which was
directed； I was not above three weeks in it； and a great while too；
considering it was in the month of August； at which time the
distemper began to rage with great violence at our end of the town。
In the execution of this office I could not refrain speaking my
opinion among my neighbours as to this shutting up the people in their
houses； in which we saw most evidently the severities that were used；
though grievous in themselves； had also this particular objection
against them： namely； that they did not answer the end； as I have said；
but that the distempered people went day by day about the streets； and
it was our united opinion that a method to have removed the sound
from the sick； in case of a particular house being visited； would have
been much more reasonable on many accounts； leaving nobody with
the sick persons but such as should on such occasion request to stay
and declare themselves content to be shut up with them
Our scheme for removing those that were sound from those that
were sick was only in such houses as were infected； and confining the
sick was no confinement； those that could not stir would not complain
while they were in their senses and while they had the power of
judging。 Indeed； when they came to be delirious and light…headed；
then they would cry out of the cruelty of being confined； but for the
removal of those that were well； we thought it highly reasonable and
just； for their own sakes； they should be removed from the sick； and
that for other people's safety they should keep retired for a while； to
see that they were sound； and might not infect others； and we thought
twenty or thirty days enough for this。
Now； certainly； if houses had been provided on purpose for those
that were sound to perform this demi…quarantine in； they would have
much less reason to think themselves injured in such a restraint than
in being confined with infected people in the houses where they lived。
It is here； however； to be observed that after the funerals became so
many that people could not toll the bell； mourn or weep； or wear black
for one another； as they did before； no； nor so much as make coffins
for those that died； so after a while the fury of the infection appeared
to be so increased that； in short； they shut up no houses at all。 It
seemed enough that all the remedies of that kind had been used till
they were found fruitless； and that the plague spread itself with an
irresistible fury； so that as the fire the succeeding year spread itself；
and burned with such violence that the citizens； in despair； gave over
their endeavours to extinguish it； so in the plague it came at last to
such violence that the people sat still looking at one another； and
seemed quite abandoned to despair； whole streets seemed to be
desolated； and not to be shut up only； but to be emptied of their
inhabitants； doors were left open； windows stood shattering with the
wind in empty houses for want of people to shut them。 In a word；
people began to give up themselves to their fears and to think that all
regulations and methods were in vain； and that there was nothing to be
hoped for but an universal desolation； and it was even in the height of
this general despair that it Pleased God to stay His hand； and to
slacken the fury of the contagion in such a manner as was even
surprising； like its beginning； and demonstrated it to be His own
particular hand； and that above； if not without the agency of means； as
I shall take notice of in its proper place。
But I must still speak of the plague as in its height； raging even to
desolation； and the people under the most dreadful consternation；
even； as I have said； to despair。 It is hardly credible to what excess
the passions of men carried them in this extremity of the distemper；
and this part； I think； was as moving as the rest。 What could affect a
man in his full power of reflection； and what could make deeper
impressions on the soul； than to see a man almost naked； and got out
of his house； or perhaps out of his bed； into the street； come out of
Harrow Alley； a populous conjunction or collection of alleys； courts；
and passages in the Butcher Row in Whitechappel； … I say； what could
be more affecting than to see this poor man come out into the open
street； run dancing and singing and making a thousand antic gestures；
with five or six women and children running after him； crying and
calling upon him for the Lord's sake to come back； and entreating the
help of others to bring him back； but all in vain； nobody daring to lay
a hand upon him or to come near him？
This was a most grievous and afflicting thing to me； who saw it all
from my own windows； for all this while the poor afflicted man was；
as I observed it； even then in the utmost agony of pain； having （as they
said） two swellings upon him which could not be brought to break or
to suppurate； but