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they had been in； like seamen after a storm is over； were more wicked
and more stupid； more bold and hardened； in their vices and immoralities
than they were before； but I will not carry it so far neither。 It would
take up a history of no small length to give a particular of all the
gradations by which the course of things in this city came to be
restored again； and to run in their own channel as they did before。
Some parts of England were now infected as violently as London
had been； the cities of Norwich； Peterborough； Lincoln； Colchester；
and other places were now visited； and the magistrates of London
began to set rules for our conduct as to corresponding with those
cities。 It is true we could not pretend to forbid their people coming to
London； because it was impossible to know them asunder； so； after
many consultations； the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen were
obliged to drop it。 All they could do was to warn and caution the
people not to entertain in their houses or converse with any people
who they knew came from such infected places。
But they might as well have talked to the air； for the people of
London thought themselves so plague…free now that they were past all
admonitions； they seemed to depend upon it that the air was restored；
and that the air was like a man that had had the smallpox； not capable
of being infected again。 This revived that notion that the infection
was all in the air； that there was no such thing as contagion from the
sick people to the sound； and so strongly did this whimsy prevail
among people that they ran all together promiscuously； sick and well。
Not the Mahometans； who； prepossessed with the principle of
predestination； value nothing of contagion； let it be in what it will；
could be more obstinate than the people of London； they that were
perfectly sound； and came out of the wholesome air； as we call it； into
the city； made nothing of going into the same houses and chambers；
nay； even into the same beds； with those that had the distemper upon
them； and were not recovered。
Some； indeed； paid for their audacious boldness with the price of
their lives； an infinite number fell sick； and the physicians had more
work than ever； only with this difference； that more of their patients
recovered； that is to say； they generally recovered； but certainly there
were more people infected and fell sick now； when there did not die
above a thousand or twelve hundred in a week； than there was when
there died five or six thousand a week； so entirely negligent were the
people at that time in the great and dangerous case of health and
infection； and so ill were they able to take or accept of the advice of
those who cautioned them for their good。
The people being thus returned； as it were； in general； it was very
strange to find that in their inquiring after their friends； some whole
families were so entirely swept away that there was no remembrance
of them left； neither was anybody to be found to possess or show any
title to that little they had left； for in such cases what was to be found
was generally embezzled and purloined； some gone one way； some another。
It was said such abandoned effects came to the king； as the universal
heir； upon which we are told； and I suppose it was in part true； that the
king granted all such； as deodands； to the Lord Mayor and Court of
Aldermen of London； to be applied to the use of the poor； of whom
there were very many。 For it is to be observed； that though the
occasions of relief and the objects of distress were very many more in
the time of the violence of the plague than now after all was over； yet
the distress of the poor was more now a great deal than it was then；
because all the sluices of general charity were now shut。 People
supposed the main occasion to be over； and so stopped their hands；
whereas particular objects were still very moving； and the distress of
those that were poor was very great indeed。
Though the health of the city was now very much restored； yet
foreign trade did not begin to stir； neither would foreigners admit our
ships into their ports for a great while。 As for the Dutch； the
misunderstandings between our court and them had broken out into a
war the year before； so that our trade that way was wholly interrupted；
but Spain and Portugal； Italy and Barbary； as also Hamburg and all the
ports in the Baltic； these were all shy of us a great while； and would
not restore trade with us for many months。
The distemper sweeping away such multitudes； as I have observed；
many if not all the out…parishes were obliged to make new burying…
grounds； besides that I have mentioned in Bunhill Fields； some of
which were continued； and remain in use to this day。 But others were
left off； and （which I confess I mention with some reflection） being
converted into other uses or built upon afterwards； the dead bodies
were disturbed； abused； dug up again； some even before the flesh of
them was perished from the bones； and removed like dung or rubbish
to other places。 Some of those which came within the reach of my
observation are as follow：
（1） A piece of ground beyond Goswell Street； near Mount Mill；
being some of the remains of the old lines or fortifications of the city；
where abundance were buried promiscuously from the parishes of Aldersgate；
Clerkenwell； and even out of the city。 This ground； as I take it； was
since made a physic garden； and after that has been built upon。
（2） A piece of ground just over the Black Ditch； as it was then
called； at the end of Holloway Lane； in Shoreditch parish。 It has been
since made a yard for keeping hogs； and for other ordinary uses； but is
quite out of use as a burying…ground。
（3） The upper end of Hand Alley； in Bishopsgate Street； which was
then a green field； and was taken in particularly for Bishopsgate
parish； though many of the carts out of the city brought their dead
thither also； particularly out of the parish of St All…hallows on the
Wall。 This place I cannot mention without much regret。 It was； as I
remember； about two or three years after the plague was ceased that
Sir Robert Clayton came to be possessed of the ground。 It was
reported； how true I know not； that it fell to the king for want of heirs；
all those who had any right to it being carried off by the pestilence；
and that Sir Robert Clayton obtained a grant of it from King Charles
II。 But however he came by it； certain it is the ground was let out to
build on； or built upon； by his order。 The first house built upon it was
a large fair house； still standing； which faces the street or way now
called Hand Alley which； though called an alley； is as wide as a street。
The houses in the same row with that house northward are built on the
very same ground where the poor people were buried； and the bodies；
on opening the ground for the foundations； were dug up； some of them
remaining so plain to be seen that the women's skulls