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Flanders； and from thence transporting them to Spain and to Italy as if
they had been of their own making。
But they were detected sometimes and punished： that is to say； their
goods confiscated and ships also； for if it was true that our
manufactures as well as our people were infected； and that it was
dangerous to touch or to open and receive the smell of them； then
those people ran the hazard by that clandestine trade not only of
carrying the contagion into their own country； but also of infecting the
nations to whom they traded with those goods； which； considering
how many lives might be lost in consequence of such an action； must
be a trade that no men of conscience could suffer themselves to be
concerned in。
I do not take upon me to say that any harm was done； I mean of that
kind； by those people。 But I doubt I need not make any such proviso
in the case of our own country； for either by our people of London； or
by the commerce which made their conversing with all sorts of people
in every country and of every considerable town necessary； I say； by
this means the plague was first or last spread all over the kingdom； as
well in London as in all the cities and great towns； especially in the
trading manufacturing towns and seaports； so that； first or last； all the
considerable places in England were visited more or less； and the
kingdom of Ireland in some places； but not so universally。 How it
fared with the people in Scotland I had no opportunity to inquire。
It is to be observed that while the plague continued so violent in
London； the outports； as they are called； enjoyed a very great trade；
especially to the adjacent countries and to our own plantations。 For
example； the towns of Colchester； Yarmouth； and Hun； on that side of
England； exported to Holland and Hamburg the manufactures of the
adjacent countries for several months after the trade with London was；
as it were； entirely shut up； likewise the cities of Bristol and Exeter；
with the port of Plymouth； had the like advantage to Spain； to the
Canaries； to Guinea； and to the West Indies； and particularly to
Ireland； but as the plague spread itself every way after it had been in
London to such a degree as it was in August and September； so all or
most of those cities and towns were infected first or last； and then
trade was； as it were； under a general embargo or at a full stop … as I
shall observe further when I speak of our home trade。
One thing； however； must be observed： that as to ships coming in
from abroad （as many； you may be sure； did） some who were out in all
parts of the world a considerable while before； and some who when
they went out knew nothing of an infection； or at least of one so
terrible … these came up the river boldly； and delivered their cargoes as
they were obliged to do； except just in the two months of August and
September； when the weight of the infection lying； as I may say； all
below Bridge； nobody durst appear in business for a while。 But as this
continued but for a few weeks； the homeward…bound ships； especially
such whose cargoes were not liable to spoil； came to an anchor for a
time short of the Pool；* or fresh…water part of the river； even as low as
the river Medway； where several of them ran in； and others lay at the
Nore； and in the Hope below Gravesend。 So that by the latter end of
October there was a very great fleet of homeward…bound ships to
come up； such as the like had not been known for many years。
* That part of the river where the ships lie up when they come home is
called the Pool； and takes in all the river on both sides of the water；
from the Tower to Cuckold's Point and Limehouse。 ＇Footnote in the original。＇
Two particular trades were carried on by water…carriage all the
while of the infection； and that with little or no interruption； very
much to the advantage and comfort of the poor distressed people of
the city： and those were the coasting trade for corn and
the Newcastle trade for coals。
The first of these was particularly carried on by small vessels from
the port of Hull and other places on the Humber； by which great
quantities of corn were brought in from Yorkshire and Lincolnshire。
The other part of this corn…trade was from Lynn； in Norfolk； from
Wells and Burnham； and from Yarmouth； all in the same county； and
the third branch was from the river Medway； and from Milton；
Feversham； Margate； and Sandwich； and all the other little places and
ports round the coast of Kent and Essex。
There was also a very good trade from the coast of Suffolk with
corn； butter； and cheese； these vessels kept a constant course of trade；
and without interruption came up to that market known still by the
name of Bear Key； where they supplied the city plentifully with corn
when land…carriage began to fail； and when the people began to be
sick of coming from many places in the country。
This also was much of it owing to the prudence and conduct of the
Lord Mayor； who took such care to keep the masters and seamen from
danger when they came up； causing their corn to be bought off at any
time they wanted a market （which； however； was very seldom）； and
causing the corn…factors immediately to unlade and deliver the vessels
loaden with corn； that they had very little occasion to come out of
their ships or vessels； the money being always carried on board to
them and put into a pail of vinegar before it was carried。
The second trade was that of coals from Newcastle…upon…Tyne；
without which the city would have been greatly distressed； for not in
the streets only； but in private houses and families； great quantities of
coals were then burnt； even all the summer long and when the weather
was hottest； which was done by the advice of the physicians。 Some
indeed opposed it； and insisted that to keep the houses and rooms hot
was a means to propagate the temper； which was a fermentation and
heat already in the blood； that it was known to spread and increase in
hot weather and abate in cold； and therefore they alleged that all
contagious distempers are the worse for heat； because the contagion
was nourished and gained strength in hot weather； and was； as it were；
propagated in heat。
Others said they granted that heat in the climate might propagate
infection … as sultry； hot weather fills the air with vermin and
nourishes innumerable numbers and kinds of venomous creatures
which breed in our food； in the plants； and even in our bodies； by the
very stench of which infection may be propagated； also that heat in
the air； or heat of weather； as we ordinarily call it； makes bodies relax
and faint； exhausts the spirits； opens the pores； and makes us more apt
to receive infection； or any evil influence； be it from noxious
pestilential vapours or any other thing in the air； but that the heat of
fire； and especially of coal fires kept in our houses； or near us； had a
quite different operation； the heat being not of th