按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
on opening the ground for the foundations； were dug up； some of them
remaining so plain to be seen that the women's skulls were
distinguished by their long hair； and of others the flesh was not quite
perished； so that the people began to exclaim loudly against it； and
some suggested that it might endanger a return of the contagion； after
which the bones and bodies； as fast as they came at them； were carried
to another part of the same ground and thrown all together into a deep
pit； dug on purpose； which now is to be known in that it is not built
on； but is a passage to another house at the upper end of Rose Alley；
just against the door of a meeting…house which has been built there
many years since； and the ground is palisadoed off from the rest of the
passage； in a little square； there lie the bones and remains of near two
thousand bodies； carried by the dead carts to their grave in that one year。
（4） Besides this； there was a piece of ground in Moorfields； by the
going into the street which is now called Old Bethlem； which was
enlarged much； though not wholly taken in on the same occasion。
＇N。B。 … The author of this journal lies buried in that very ground；
being at his own desire； his sister having been buried there a few
years before。＇
（5） Stepney parish； extending itself from the east part of London to
the north； even to the very edge of Shoreditch Churchyard； had a piece
of ground taken in to bury their dead close to the said churchyard； and
which for that very reason was left open； and is since； I suppose； taken
into the same churchyard。 And they had also two other burying…places
in Spittlefields； one where since a chapel or tabernacle has been built
for ease to this great parish； and another in Petticoat Lane。
There were no less than five other grounds made use of for the
parish of Stepney at that time： one where now stands the parish church
of St Paul； Shadwell； and the other where now stands the parish
church of St John's at Wapping； both which had not the names of
parishes at that time； but were belonging to Stepney parish。
I could name many more； but these coming within my particular
knowledge； the circumstance； I thought； made it of use to record
them。 From the whole； it may be observed that they were obliged in
this time of distress to take in new burying…grounds in most of the out…
parishes for laying the prodigious numbers of people which died in so
short a space of time； but why care was not taken to keep those places
separate from ordinary uses； that so the bodies might rest undisturbed；
that I cannot answer for； and must confess I think it was wrong。 Who
were to blame I know not。
I should have mentioned that the Quakers had at that time also a
burying…ground set apart to their use； and which they still make use of；
and they had also a particular dead…cart to fetch their dead from their
houses； and the famous Solomon Eagle； who； as I mentioned before；
had predicted the plague as a judgement； and ran naked through the
streets； telling the people that it was come upon them to punish them
for their sins； had his own wife died the very next day of the plague；
and was carried； one of the first in the Quakers' dead…cart； to their new
burying…ground。
I might have thronged this account with many more remarkable
things which occurred in the time of the infection； and particularly
what passed between the Lord Mayor and the Court； which was then
at Oxford； and what directions were from time to time received from
the Government for their conduct on this critical occasion。 But really
the Court concerned themselves so little； and that little they did was of
so small import； that I do not see it of much moment to mention any
part of it here： except that of appointing a monthly fast in the city and
the sending the royal charity to the relief of the poor； both which I
have mentioned before。
Great was the reproach thrown on those physicians who left their
patients during the sickness； and now they came to town again nobody
cared to employ them。 They were called deserters； and frequently bills
were set up upon their doors and written； 'Here is a doctor to be let'； so
that several of those physicians were fain for a while to sit still and
look about them； or at least remove their dwellings； and set up in new
places and among new acquaintance。 The like was the case with the
clergy； whom the people were indeed very abusive to； writing verses
and scandalous reflections upon them； setting upon the church…door；
'Here is a pulpit to be let'； or sometimes； 'to be sold'； which was worse。
It was not the least of our misfortunes that with our infection； when
it ceased； there did not cease the spirit of strife and contention； slander
and reproach； which was really the great troubler of the nation's peace
before。 It was said to be the remains of the old animosities； which had
so lately involved us all in blood and disorder。 But as the late Act of
Indemnity had laid asleep the quarrel itself； so the Government had
recommended family and personal peace upon all occasions to the
whole nation。
But it could not be obtained； and particularly after the ceasing of the
plague in London； when any one that had seen the condition which the
people had been in； and how they caressed one another at that time；
promised to have more charity for the future； and to raise no more
reproaches； I say； any one that had seen them then would have thought
they would have come together with another spirit at last。 But； I say；
it could not be obtained。 The quarrel remained； the Church and the
Presbyterians were incompatible。 As soon as the plague was removed；
the Dissenting ousted ministers who had supplied the pulpits which
were deserted by the incumbents retired； they could expect no other
but that they should immediately fall upon them and harass them with
their penal laws； accept their preaching while they were sick； and
persecute them as soon as they were recovered again； this even we
that were of the Church thought was very hard； and could by no means
approve of it。
But it was the Government； and we could say nothing to hinder it；
we could only say it was not our doing； and we could not answer for it。
On the other hand； the Dissenters reproaching those ministers of the
Church with going away and deserting their charge； abandoning the
people in their danger； and when they had most need of comfort； and
the like： this we could by no means approve； for all men have not the
same faith and the same courage； and the Scripture commands us to
judge the most favourably and according to charity。
A plague is a formidable enemy； and is armed with terrors that every
man is not sufficiently fortified to resist or prepared to stand the shock
against。 It is very certain that a great many of the clergy who were in
circumstances to do it withdrew and fled for the safety of their lives；
but 'tis true also that a great many of the