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cases； for whether it were in the street or in the fields； if we had seen
anybody coming； it was a general method to walk away； yet I believe
the account is exactly true。
As this puts me upon mentioning my walking the streets and fields； I
cannot omit taking notice what a desolate place the city was at that
time。 The great street I lived in （which is known to be one of the
broadest of all the streets of London； I mean of the suburbs as well as
the liberties） all the side where the butchers lived； especially without
the bars； was more like a green field than a paved street； and the
people generally went in the middle with the horses and carts。 It is
true that the farthest end towards Whitechappel Church was not all
paved； but even the part that was paved was full of grass also； but this
need not seem strange； since the great streets within the city； such as
Leadenhall Street； Bishopsgate Street； Cornhill； and even the
Exchange itself； had grass growing in them in several places； neither
cart or coach were seen in the streets from morning to evening； except
some country carts to bring roots and beans； or peas； hay； and straw；
to the market； and those but very few compared to what was usual。
As for coaches； they were scarce used but to carry sick people to the
pest…house； and to other hospitals； and some few to carry physicians to
such places as they thought fit to venture to visit； for really coaches
were dangerous things； and people did not care to venture into them；
because they did not know who might have been carried in them last；
and sick； infected people were； as I have said； ordinarily carried in
them to the pest…houses； and sometimes people expired in them as
they went along。
It is true； when the infection came to such a height as I have now
mentioned； there were very few physicians which cared to stir abroad
to sick houses； and very many of the most eminent of the faculty were
dead； as well as the surgeons also； for now it was indeed a dismal
time； and for about a month together； not taking any notice of the bills
of mortality； I believe there did not die less than 1500 or 1700 a day；
one day with another。
One of the worst days we had in the whole time； as I thought； was in
the beginning of September； when； indeed； good people began to
think that God was resolved to make a full end of the people in this
miserable city。 This was at that time when the plague was fully come
into the eastern parishes。 The parish of Aldgate； if I may give my
opinion； buried above a thousand a week for two weeks； though the
bills did not say so many； … but it surrounded me at so dismal a rate
that there was not a house in twenty uninfected in the Minories； in
Houndsditch； and in those parts of Aldgate parish about the Butcher
Row and the alleys over against me。 I say； in those places death
reigned in every corner。 Whitechappel parish was in the same
condition； and though much less than the parish I lived in； yet buried
near 600 a week by the bills； and in my opinion near twice as many。
Whole families； and indeed whole streets of families； were swept
away together； insomuch that it was frequent for neighbours to call to
the bellman to go to such…and…such houses and fetch out the people；
for that they were all dead。
And； indeed； the work of removing the dead bodies by carts was
now grown so very odious and dangerous that it was complained of
that the bearers did not take care to dear such houses where all the
inhabitants were dead； but that sometimes the bodies lay several days
unburied； till the neighbouring families were offended with the
stench； and consequently infected； and this neglect of the officers was
such that the churchwardens and constables were summoned to look
after it； and even the justices of the Hamlets were obliged to venture
their lives among them to quicken and encourage them； for
innumerable of the bearers died of the distemper； infected by the
bodies they were obliged to come so near。 And had it not been that
the number of poor people who wanted employment and wanted
bread （as I have said before） was so great that necessity drove them to
undertake anything and venture anything； they would never have
found people to be employed。 And then the bodies of the dead would
have lain above ground； and have perished and rotted in a dreadful manner。
But the magistrates cannot be enough commended in this； that they
kept such good order for the burying of the dead； that as fast as any of
these they employed to carry off and bury the dead fell sick or died； as
was many times the case； they immediately supplied the places with
others； which； by reason of the great number of poor that was left out
of business； as above； was not hard to do。 This occasioned； that
notwithstanding the infinite number of people which died and were
sick； almost all together； yet they were always cleared away and
carried off every night； so that it was never to be said of London that
the living were not able to bury the dead。
As the desolation was greater during those terrible times； so the
amazement of the people increased； and a thousand unaccountable
things they would do in the violence of their fright； as others did the
same in the agonies of their distemper； and this part was very
affecting。 Some went roaring and crying and wringing their hands
along the street； some would go praying and lifting up their hands to
heaven； calling upon God for mercy。 I cannot say； indeed； whether
this was not in their distraction； but； be it so； it was still an indication
of a more serious mind； when they had the use of their senses； and
was much better； even as it was； than the frightful yellings and cryings
that every day； and especially in the evenings； were heard in some
streets。 I suppose the world has heard of the famous Solomon Eagle；
an enthusiast。 He； though not infected at all but in his head； went
about denouncing of judgement upon the city in a frightful manner；
sometimes quite naked； and with a pan of burning charcoal on his
head。 What he said； or pretended； indeed I could not learn。
I will not say whether that clergyman was distracted or not； or
whether he did it in pure zeal for the poor people； who went every
evening through the streets of Whitechappel； and； with his hands lifted
up； repeated that part of the Liturgy of the Church continually； 'Spare
us； good Lord； spare Thy people； whom Thou has redeemed with Thy
most precious blood。' I say； I cannot speak positively of these things；
because these were only the dismal objects which represented
themselves to me as I looked through my chamber windows （for I
seldom opened the casements）； while I confined myself within doors
during that most violent raging of the pestilence； when； indeed； as I
have said； many began to think； and even to say； that there would
none escape； and indeed I began to think so too； and therefore kept
within doors for about a fortnight and nev