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But the vigilance of the Lord Mayor and such magistrates as could
be had （for some； even of the aldermen； were dead； and some absent）
prevented this； and they did it by the most kind and gentle methods
they could think of； as particularly by relieving the most desperate
with money； and putting others into business； and particularly that
employment of watching houses that were infected and shut up。 And
as the number of these were very great （for it was said there was at
one time ten thousand houses shut up； and every house had two
watchmen to guard it； viz。； one by night and the other by day）； this
gave opportunity to employ a very great number of poor men at a
time。
The women and servants that were turned off from their places were
likewise employed as nurses to tend the sick in all places； and this
took off a very great number of them。
And； which though a melancholy article in itself； yet was a
deliverance in its kind： namely； the plague； which raged in a dreadful
manner from the middle of August to the middle of October； carried
off in that time thirty or forty thousand of these very people which；
had they been left； would certainly have been an insufferable burden
by their poverty； that is to say； the whole city could not have
supported the expense of them； or have provided food for them； and
they would in time have been even driven to the necessity of
plundering either the city itself or the country adjacent； to have
subsisted themselves； which would first or last have put the whole
nation； as well as the city； into the utmost terror and confusion。
It was observable； then； that this calamity of the people made them
very humble； for now for about nine weeks together there died near a
thousand a day； one day with another； even by the account of the
weekly bills； which yet； I have reason to be assured； never gave a full
account； by many thousands； the confusion being such； and the carts
working in the dark when they carried the dead； that in some places
no account at all was kept； but they worked on； the clerks and sextons
not attending for weeks together； and not knowing what number they
carried。 This account is verified by the following bills of mortality： …
Of all of the
Diseases。 Plague
From August 8 to August 15 5319 3880
〃 〃 15 〃 22 5568 4237
〃 〃 22 〃 29 7496 6102
〃 〃 29 to September 5 8252 6988
〃 September 5 〃 12 7690 6544
〃 〃 12 〃 19 8297 7165
〃 〃 19 〃 26 6460 5533
〃 〃 26 to October 3 5720 4979
〃 October 3 〃 10 5068 4327
… …
59；870 49；705
So that the gross of the people were carried off in these two months；
for； as the whole number which was brought in to die of the plague
was but 68；590； here is 50；000 of them； within a trifle； in two months；
I say 50；000； because； as there wants 295 in the number above； so
there wants two days of two months in the account of time。
Now when I say that the parish officers did not give in a full
account； or were not to be depended upon for their account； let any
one but consider how men could be exact in such a time of dreadful
distress； and when many of them were taken sick themselves and
perhaps died in the very time when their accounts were to be given in；
I mean the parish clerks； besides inferior officers； for though these
poor men ventured at all hazards； yet they were far from being exempt
from the common calamity； especially if it be true that the parish of
Stepney had； within the year； 116 sextons； gravediggers； and their
assistants； that is to say； bearers； bellmen； and drivers of carts for
carrying off the dead bodies。
Indeed the work was not of a nature to allow them leisure to take an
exact tale of the dead bodies； which were all huddled together in the
dark into a pit； which pit or trench no man could come nigh but at the
utmost peril。 I observed often that in the parishes of Aldgate and
Cripplegate； Whitechappel and Stepney； there were five； six； seven； and
eight hundred in a week in the bills； whereas if we may believe the
opinion of those that lived in the city all the time as well as I； there
died sometimes 2000 a week in those parishes； and I saw it under the
hand of one that made as strict an examination into that part as he
could； that there really died an hundred thousand people of the plague
in that one year whereas in the bills； the articles of the plague； it was
but 68；590。
If I may be allowed to give my opinion； by what I saw with my eyes
and heard from other people that were eye…witnesses； I do verily
believe the same； viz。； that there died at least 100；000 of the plague
only； besides other distempers and besides those which died in the
fields and highways and secret Places out of the compass of the
communication； as it was called； and who were not put down in the
bills though they really belonged to the body of the inhabitants。 It was
known to us all that abundance of poor despairing creatures who had
the distemper upon them； and were grown stupid or melancholy by
their misery； as many were； wandered away into the fields and Woods；
and into secret uncouth places almost anywhere； to creep into a bush
or hedge and die。
The inhabitants of the villages adjacent would； in pity； carry them
food and set it at a distance； that they might fetch it； if they were able；
and sometimes they were not able； and the next time they went they
should find the poor wretches lie dead and the food untouched。 The
number of these miserable objects were many； and I know so many
that perished thus； and so exactly where； that I believe I could go to
the very place and dig their bones up still； for the country people
would go and dig a hole at a distance from them； and then with long
poles； and hooks at the end of them； drag the bodies into these pits；
and then throw the earth in from as far as they could cast it； to cover
them； taking notice how the wind blew； and so coming on that side
which the seamen call to windward； that the scent of the bodies might
blow from them； and thus great numbers went out of the world who
were never known； or any account of them taken； as well within the
bills of mortality as without。
This； indeed； I had in the main only from the relation of others； for I
seldom walked into the fields； except towards Bethnal Green and
Hackney； or as hereafter。 But when I did walk； I always saw a great
many poor wanderers at a distance； but I could know little of their
cases； for whether it were in the street or in the fields； if we had seen
anybody coming； it was a gen