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had friends or estates in the country retired with their families；
and when； indeed； one would have thought the very city itself was
running out of the gates； and that there would be nobody left behind；
you may be sure from that hour all trade； except such as related to
immediate subsistence； was； as it were； at a full stop。
This is so lively a case； and contains in it so much of the real
condition of the people； that I think I cannot be too particular in it；
and therefore I descend to the several arrangements or classes of
people who fell into immediate distress upon this occasion。 For example：
1。 All master…workmen in manufactures； especially such as belonged
to ornament and the less necessary parts of the people's dress； clothes；
and furniture for houses； such as riband…weavers and other weavers；
gold and silver lace makers； and gold and silver wire drawers；
sempstresses； milliners； shoemakers； hatmakers； and glovemakers；
also upholsterers； joiners； cabinet…makers； looking…glass makers； and
innumerable trades which depend upon such as these； … I say； the
master…workmen in such stopped their work； dismissed their
journeymen and workmen； and all their dependents。
2。 As merchandising was at a full stop； for very few ships ventured to
come up the river and none at all went out； so all the extraordinary
officers of the customs； likewise the watermen； carmen； porters； and
all the poor whose labour depended upon the merchants； were at once
dismissed and put out of business。
3。 All the tradesmen usually employed in building or repairing of
houses were at a full stop； for the people were far from wanting to
build houses when so many thousand houses were at once stripped of
their inhabitants； so that this one article turned all the ordinary
workmen of that kind out of business； such as bricklayers； masons；
carpenters； joiners； plasterers； painters； glaziers； smiths； plumbers； and
all the labourers depending on such。
4。 As navigation was at a stop； our ships neither coming in or going
out as before； so the seamen were all out of employment； and many of
them in the last and lowest degree of distress； and with the seamen
were all the several tradesmen and workmen belonging to and
depending upon the building and fitting out of ships； such as ship…
carpenters； caulkers； ropemakers； dry coopers； sailmakers；
anchorsmiths； and other smiths； blockmakers； carvers； gunsmiths；
ship…chandlers； ship…carvers； and the like。 The masters of those
perhaps might live upon their substance； but the traders were
universally at a stop； and consequently all their workmen discharged。
Add to these that the river was in a manner without boats； and all or
most part of the watermen； lightermen； boat…builders； and lighter…
builders in like manner idle and laid by。
5。 All families retrenched their living as much as possible； as well
those that fled as those that stayed； so that an innumerable multitude
of footmen； serving…men； shopkeepers； journeymen； merchants'
bookkeepers； and such sort of people； and especially poor maid…
servants； were turned off； and left friendless and helpless； without
employment and without habitation； and this was really a dismal article。
I might be more particular as to this part； but it may suffice to
mention in general； all trades being stopped； employment ceased： the
labour； and by that the bread； of the poor were cut off； and at first
indeed the cries of the poor were most lamentable to hear； though by
the distribution of charity their misery that way was greatly abated。
Many indeed fled into the counties； but thousands of them having
stayed in London till nothing but desperation sent them away； death
overtook them on the road； and they served for no better than the
messengers of death； indeed； others carrying the infection along with
them； spread it very unhappily into the remotest parts of the kingdom。
Many of these were the miserable objects of despair which I have
mentioned before； and were removed by the destruction which
followed。 These might be said to perish not by the infection itself but
by the consequence of it； indeed； namely； by hunger and distress and
the want of all things： being without lodging； without money； without
friends； without means to get their bread； or without anyone to give it
them； for many of them were without what we call legal settlements；
and so could not claim of the parishes； and all the support they had
was by application to the magistrates for relief； which relief was （to
give the magistrates their due） carefully and cheerfully administered
as they found it necessary； and those that stayed behind never felt the
want and distress of that kind which they felt who went away in the
manner above noted。
Let any one who is acquainted with what multitudes of people get
their daily bread in this city by their labour； whether artificers or mere
workmen … I say； let any man consider what must be the miserable
condition of this town if； on a sudden； they should be all turned out of
employment； that labour should cease； and wages for work be no more。
This was the case with us at that time； and had not the sums of
money contributed in charity by well…disposed people of every kind；
as well abroad as at home； been prodigiously great； it had not been in
the power of the Lord Mayor and sheriffs to have kept the public
peace。 Nor were they without apprehensions； as it was； that
desperation should push the people upon tumults； and cause them to
rifle the houses of rich men and plunder the markets of provisions； in
which case the country people； who brought provisions very freely
and boldly to town； would have been terrified from coming any more；
and the town would have sunk under an unavoidable famine。
But the prudence of my Lord Mayor and the Court of Aldermen
within the city； and of the justices of peace in the out…parts； was such；
and they were supported with money from all parts so well； that the
poor people were kept quiet； and their wants everywhere relieved； as
far as was possible to be done。
Two things besides this contributed to prevent the mob doing any
mischief。 One was； that really the rich themselves had not laid up
stores of provisions in their houses as indeed they ought to have done；
and which if they had been wise enough to have done； and locked
themselves entirely up； as some few did； they had perhaps escaped the
disease better。 But as it appeared they had not； so the mob had no
notion of finding stores of provisions there if they had broken in。 as it
is plain they were sometimes very near doing； and which： if they bad；
they had finished the ruin of the whole city； for there were no regular
troops to have withstood them； nor could the trained bands have been
brought together to defend the city； no men being to be found to bear arms。
But the vigilance of the Lord Mayor and such magistrates as could
be had （for some； even of the ald