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with an uncommon prejudice had broken off from the communion of
the Church of England； were now content to come to their parish
churches and to conform to the worship which they did not approve of
before； but as the terror of the infection abated； those things all
returned again to their less desirable channel and to the course they
were in before。
I mention this but historically。 I have no mind to enter into
arguments to move either or both sides to a more charitable
compliance one with another。 I do not see that it is probable such a
discourse would be either suitable or successful； the breaches seem
rather to widen； and tend to a widening further； than to closing； and
who am I that I should think myself able to influence either one side
or other？ But this I may repeat again； that 'tis evident death will
reconcile us all； on the other side the grave we shall be all brethren
again。 In heaven； whither I hope we may come from all parties and
persuasions； we shall find neither prejudice or scruple； there we shall
be of one principle and of one opinion。 Why we cannot be content to
go hand in hand to the Place where we shall join heart and hand
without the least hesitation； and with the most complete harmony and
affection … I say； why we cannot do so here I can say nothing to；
neither shall I say anything more of it but that it remains to be lamented。
I could dwell a great while upon the calamities of this dreadful time；
and go on to describe the objects that appeared among us every day；
the dreadful extravagancies which the distraction of sick people drove
them into； how the streets began now to be fuller of frightful objects；
and families to be made even a terror to themselves。 But after I have
told you； as I have above； that one man； being tied in his bed； and
finding no other way to deliver himself； set the bed on fire with his
candle； which unhappily stood within his reach； and burnt himself in
his bed； and how another； by the insufferable torment he bore； danced
and sung naked in the streets； not knowing one ecstasy from another； I
say； after I have mentioned these things； what can be added more？
What can be said to represent the misery of these times more lively to
the reader； or to give him a more perfect idea of a complicated distress？
I must acknowledge that this time was terrible； that I was sometimes
at the end of all my resolutions； and that I had not the courage that I
had at the beginning。 As the extremity brought other people abroad； it
drove me home； and except having made my voyage down to
Blackwall and Greenwich； as I have related； which was an excursion；
I kept afterwards very much within doors； as I had for about a
fortnight before。 I have said already that I repented several times that
I had ventured to stay in town； and had not gone away with my brother
and his family； but it was too late for that now； and after I had
retreated and stayed within doors a good while before my impatience
led me abroad； then they called me； as I have said； to an ugly and
dangerous office which brought me out again； but as that was expired
while the height of the distemper lasted； I retired again； and continued
dose ten or twelve days more； during which many dismal spectacles
represented themselves in my view out of my own windows and in our
own street … as that particularly from Harrow Alley； of the poor
outrageous creature which danced and sung in his agony； and many
others there were。 Scarce a day or night passed over but some dismal
thing or other happened at the end of that Harrow Alley； which was a
place full of poor people； most of them belonging to the butchers or to
employments depending upon the butchery。
Sometimes heaps and throngs of people would burst out of the alley；
most of them women； making a dreadful clamour； mixed or
compounded of screeches； cryings； and calling one another； that we
could not conceive what to make of it。 Almost all the dead part of the
night the dead…cart stood at the end of that alley； for if it went in it
could not well turn again； and could go in but a little way。 There； I
say； it stood to receive dead bodies； and as the churchyard was but a
little way off； if it went away full it would soon be back again。 It is
impossible to describe the most horrible cries and noise the poor
people would make at their bringing the dead bodies of their children
and friends out of the cart； and by the number one would have thought
there had been none left behind； or that there were people enough for
a small city living in those places。 Several times they cried 'Murder'；
sometimes 'Fire'； but it was easy to perceive it was all distraction； and
the complaints of distressed and distempered people。
I believe it was everywhere thus as that time； for the plague raged
for six or seven weeks beyond all that I have expressed； and came
even to such a height that； in the extremity； they began to break into
that excellent order of which I have spoken so much in behalf of the
magistrates； namely； that no dead bodies were seen in the street or
burials in the daytime： for there was a necessity in this extremity to
bear with its being otherwise for a little while。
One thing I cannot omit here； and indeed I thought it was extraordinary；
at least it seemed a remarkable hand of Divine justice： viz。； that all
the predictors； astrologers； fortune…tellers； and what they called
cunning…men； conjurers； and the like： calculators of nativities
and dreamers of dream； and such people； were gone and vanished；
not one of them was to be found。 I am verily persuaded that
a great number of them fell in the heat of the calamity；
having ventured to stay upon the prospect of getting great estates；
and indeed their gain was but too great for a time； through the madness
and folly of the people。 But now they were silent； many of them went
to their long home； not able to foretell their own fate or to calculate
their own nativities。 Some have been critical enough to say that
every one of them died。 I dare not affirm that； but this I must own；
that I never heard of one of them that ever appeared after the
calamity was over。
But to return to my particular observations during this dreadful part
of the visitation。 I am now come； as I have said； to the month of
September； which was the most dreadful of its kind； I believe； that
ever London saw； for； by all the accounts which I have seen of the
preceding visitations which have been in London； nothing has been
like it； the number in the weekly bill amounting to almost 40；000 from
the 22nd of August to the 26th of September； being but five weeks。
The particulars of the bills are as follows； viz。 ： …
From August the 22nd to the 29th 7496
〃 〃 29th 〃 5th September 8252
〃 September the 5th 〃 12th 7690
〃 〃 12th 〃 19th 8297
〃 〃 19th 〃 26th 6460
…
38；195
This was a prodigious number of itself； but if I should add the
reasons which I have to believe that this account was deficient； and
how deficient it was； you would； with me； make no scruple to believe
that there died above ten thousand a week for all those weeks； one
week with another； and a proportion for several weeks both before
and after。 The confusion among the people； especially within the city；
at that time； was inexpressible。 The terror was so great at last that the
courage of the people appointed to carry away the dead began to fail
them； nay； several of them died； although they had the distemper
before and were recovered； and some of them dropped down when
they have been carrying the bodies even at the pit side； and just ready
to throw them in； and this confusion was greater in the city because
they had flattered themselves with hopes of escaping； and thought the
bitterness of death was past。 One cart； they told us； going up
Shoreditch was forsaken of the drivers； or being left to one man to
drive； he died in the street； and the horses going on overthrew the cart；
and left the bodies； some thrown out here； some there； in a dismal
manner。 Another cart was； it seems； found in the great pit in Finsbury
Fields； the driver being dead； or having been gone and abandoned it；
and the horses running too near it； the cart fell in and drew the horses
in also。 It was suggested that the driver was thrown in with it and that
the cart fell upon him； by reason his whip was seen to be in the pit
among the bodies； but that； I suppose； could not be certain。
In our parish of Aldgate the dead…carts were several times； as I have
heard； found standing at the churchyard gate full of dead bodies； but
neither bellman or driver or any one else with it； neither in these or
many other cases did they know what bodies they had