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visitation of 1656。
However； all this went off again； and the weather proving cold； and
the frost； which began in December； still continuing very severe even
till near the end of February； attended with sharp though moderate
winds； the bills decreased again； and the city grew healthy； and
everybody began to look upon the danger as good as over； only that
still the burials in St Giles's continued high。 From the beginning of
April especially they stood at twenty…five each week； till the week
from the 18th to the 25th； when there was buried in St Giles's parish
thirty； whereof two of the plague and eight of the spotted…fever； which
was looked upon as the same thing； likewise the number that died of
the spotted…fever in the whole increased； being eight the week before；
and twelve the week above…named。
This alarmed us all again； and terrible apprehensions were among
the people； especially the weather being now changed and growing
warm； and the summer being at hand。 However； the next week there
seemed to be some hopes again； the bills were low； the number of the
dead in all was but 388； there was none of the plague； and but four of
the spotted…fever。
But the following week it returned again； and the distemper was
spread into two or three other parishes； viz。； St Andrew's； Holborn； St
Clement Danes； and； to the great affliction of the city； one died within
the walls； in the parish of St Mary Woolchurch； that is to say； in
Bearbinder Lane； near Stocks Market； in all there were nine of the
plague and six。 of the spotted…fever。 It was； however； upon inquiry
found that this Frenchman who died in Bearbinder Lane was one who；
having lived in Long Acre； near the infected houses； had removed for
fear of the distemper； not knowing that he was already infected。
This was the beginning of May； yet the weather was temperate；
variable； and cool enough； and people had still some hopes。 That
which encouraged them was that the city was healthy： the whole
ninety…seven parishes buried but fifty…four； and we began to hope that；
as it was chiefly among the people at that end of the town； it might go
no farther； and the rather； because the next week； which was from the
9th of May to the 16th； there died but three； of which not one within
the whole city or liberties； and St Andrew's buried but fifteen； which
was very low。 'Tis true St Giles's buried two…and…thirty； but still； as
there was but one of the plague； people began to be easy。 The whole
bill also was very low； for the week before the bill was but 347； and
the week above mentioned but 343。 We continued in these hopes for
a few days； but it was but for a few； for the people were no more to be
deceived thus； they searched the houses and found that the plague was
really spread every way； and that many died of it every day。 So that
now all our extenuations abated； and it was no more to be concealed；
nay； it quickly appeared that the infection had spread itself beyond all
hopes of abatement。 that in the parish of St Giles it was gotten into
several streets； and several families lay all sick together； and；
accordingly； in the weekly bill for the next week the thing began to
show itself。 There was indeed but fourteen set down of the plague；
but this was all knavery and collusion； for in St Giles's parish they
buried forty in all； whereof it was certain most of them died of the
plague； though they were set down of other distempers； and though
the number of all the burials were not increased above thirty…two； and
the whole bill being but 385； yet there was fourteen of the spotted…
fever； as well as fourteen of the plague； and we took it for granted
upon the whole that there were fifty died that week of the plague。
The next bill was from the 23rd of May to the 30th； when the number
of the plague was seventeen。 But the burials in St Giles's were
fifty…three … a frightful number！ … of whom they set down but nine
of the plague； but on an examination more strictly by the justices
of peace； and at the Lord Mayor's request； it was found there were
twenty more who were really dead of the plague in that parish；
but had been set down of the spotted…fever or other distempers；
besides others concealed。
But those were trifling things to what followed immediately after；
for now the weather set in hot； and from the first week in June the
infection spread in a dreadful manner； and the bills rose high； the
articles of the fever； spotted…fever； and teeth began to swell； for all
that could conceal their distempers did it； to prevent their neighbours
shunning and refusing to converse with them； and also to prevent
authority shutting up their houses； which； though it was not yet
practised； yet was threatened； and people were extremely terrified at
the thoughts of it。
The second week in June； the parish of St Giles； where still the
weight of the infection lay； buried 120； whereof though the bills said
but sixty…eight of the plague； everybody said there had been 100 at
least； calculating it from the usual number of funerals in that parish；
as above。
Till this week the city continued free； there having never any died；
except that one Frenchman whom I mentioned before； within the
whole ninety…seven parishes。 Now there died four within the city； one
in Wood Street； one in Fenchurch Street； and two in Crooked Lane。
Southwark was entirely free； having not one yet died on that side of
the water。
I lived without Aldgate； about midway between Aldgate Church and
Whitechappel Bars； on the left hand or north side of the street； and as
the distemper had not reached to that side of the city； our
neighbourhood continued very easy。 But at the other end of the town
their consternation was very great： and the richer sort of people；
especially the nobility and gentry from the west part of the city；
thronged out of town with their families and servants in an unusual
manner； and this was more particularly seen in Whitechappel； that is to
say； the Broad Street where I lived； indeed； nothing was to be seen but
waggons and carts； with goods； women； servants； children； &c。；
coaches filled with people of the better sort and horsemen attending
them； and all hurrying away； then empty waggons and carts appeared；
and spare horses with servants； who； it was apparent； were returning
or sent from the countries to fetch more people； besides innumerable
numbers of men on horseback； some alone； others with servants； and；
generally speaking； all loaded with baggage and fitted out for
travelling； as anyone might perceive by their appearance。
This was a very terrible and melancholy thing to see； and as it was a
sight which I could not but look on from morning to night （for indeed
there was nothing else of moment to be seen）； it filled me with very
serious thoughts of the misery that was coming upon the city； and the
unhappy condition of those that would be left in it。
This hurry of the people was such