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As to foreign trade； there needs little to be said。 The trading nations
of Europe were all afraid of us； no port of France； or Holland； or
Spain； or Italy would admit our ships or correspond with us； indeed
we stood on ill terms with the Dutch； and were in a furious war with
them； but though in a bad condition to fight abroad； who had such
dreadful enemies to struggle with at home。
Our merchants were accordingly at a full stop； their ships could go
nowhere … that is to say； to no place abroad； their manufactures and
merchandise … that is to say； of our growth … would not be touched
abroad。 They were as much afraid of our goods as they were of our
people； and indeed they had reason： for our woollen manufactures are
as retentive of infection as human bodies； and if packed up by persons
infected； would receive the infection and be as dangerous to touch as
a man would be that was infected； and therefore； when any English
vessel arrived in foreign countries； if they did take the goods on shore；
they always caused the bales to be opened and aired in places
appointed for that purpose。 But from London they would not suffer
them to come into port； much less to unlade their goods； upon any
terms whatever； and this strictness was especially used with them in
Spain and Italy。 In Turkey and the islands of the Arches indeed； as
they are called； as well those belonging to the Turks as to the
Venetians； they were not so very rigid。 In the first there was no
obstruction at all； and four ships which were then in the river loading
for Italy … that is； for Leghorn and Naples … being denied product； as
they call it； went on to Turkey； and were freely admitted to unlade
their cargo without any difficulty； only that when they arrived there；
some of their cargo was not fit for sale in that country； and other parts
of it being consigned to merchants at Leghorn； the captains of the
ships had no right nor any orders to dispose of the goods； so that great
inconveniences followed to the merchants。 But this was nothing but
what the necessity of affairs required； and the merchants at Leghorn
and Naples having notice given them； sent again from thence to take
care of the effects which were particularly consigned to those ports；
and to bring back in other ships such as were improper for the markets
at Smyrna and Scanderoon。
The inconveniences in Spain and Portugal were still greater； for they
would by no means suffer our ships； especially those from London； to
come into any of their ports； much less to unlade。 There was a report
that one of our ships having by stealth delivered her cargo； among
which was some bales of English cloth； cotton； kerseys； and such…like
goods； the Spaniards caused all the goods to be burned； and punished
the men with death who were concerned in carrying them on shore。
This； I believe； was in part true； though I do not affirm it； but it is not
at all unlikely； seeing the danger was really very great； the infection
being so violent in London。
I heard likewise that the plague was carried into those countries by
some of our ships； and particularly to the port of Faro in the kingdom
of Algarve； belonging to the King of Portugal； and that several persons
died of it there； but it was not confirmed。
On the other hand； though the Spaniards and Portuguese were so shy
of us； it is most certain that the plague （as has been said） keeping at
first much at that end of the town next Westminster； the
merchandising part of the town （such as the city and the water…side）
was perfectly sound till at least the beginning of July； and the ships in
the river till the beginning of August； for to the 1st of July there had
died but seven within the whole city； and but sixty within the liberties；
but one in all the parishes of Stepney； Aldgate； and Whitechappel； and
but two in the eight parishes of Southwark。 But it was the same thing
abroad； for the bad news was gone over the whole world that the city
of London was infected with the plague； and there was no inquiring
there how the infection proceeded； or at which part of the town it was
begun or was reached to。
Besides； after it began to spread it increased so fast； and the bills
grew so high all on a sudden； that it was to no purpose to lessen the
report of it； or endeavour to make the people abroad think it better
than it was； the account which the weekly bills gave in was sufficient；
and that there died two thousand to three or…four thousand a week was
sufficient to alarm the whole trading part of the world； and the
following time； being so dreadful also in the very city itself； put the
whole world； I say； upon their guard against it。
You may be sure； also； that the report of these things lost nothing in
the carriage。 The plague was itself very terrible； and the distress of
the people very great； as you may observe of what I have said。 But the
rumour was infinitely greater； and it must not be wondered that our
friends abroad （as my brother's correspondents in particular were told
there； namely； in Portugal and Italy； where he chiefly traded） ＇said＇
that in London there died twenty thousand in a week； that the dead
bodies lay unburied by heaps； that the living were not sufficient to
bury the dead or the sound to look after the sick； that all the kingdom
was infected likewise； so that it was an universal malady such as was
never heard of in those parts of the world； and they could hardly
believe us when we gave them an account how things really were； and
how there was not above one…tenth part of the people dead； that there
was 500；000； left that lived all the time in the town； that now the
people began to walk the streets again； and those who were fled to
return； there was no miss of the usual throng of people in the streets；
except as every family might miss their relations and neighbours； and
the like。 I say they could not believe these things； and if inquiry were
now to be made in Naples； or in other cities on the coast of Italy； they
would tell you that there was a dreadful infection in London so many years ago；
in which； as above； there died twenty thousand in a week； &c。； just as we have
had it reported in London that there was a plague in the city of Naples
in the year 1656； in which there died 20；000 people in a day； of which
I have had very good satisfaction that it was utterly false。
But these extravagant reports were very prejudicial to our trade； as
well as unjust and injurious in themselves； for it was a long time after
the plague was quite over before our trade could recover itself in those
parts of the world； and the Flemings and Dutch （but especially the
last） made very great advantages of it； having all the market to
themselves； and even buying our manufactures in several parts of
England where the plague was not； and carrying them to Holland and
Flanders； and from thence transporting them to Spain and to Italy as if
they had been of their own making。