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and that God would on this occasion single out the proper objects of
His displeasure in a more especial and remarkable manner than at
another time； and that though I did believe that many good people
would； and did； fall in the common calamity； and that it was no
certain rule to ' judge of the eternal state of any one by their being
distinguished in such a time of general destruction neither one way or
other； yet； I say； it could not but seem reasonable to believe that God
would not think fit to spare by His mercy such open declared enemies；
that should insult His name and Being； defy His vengeance； and mock
at His worship and worshippers at such a time； no； not though His
mercy had thought fit to bear with and spare them at other times； that
this was a day of visitation； a day of God's anger； and those words
came into my thought； Jer。 v。 9： 'Shall I not visit for these things？ saith
the Lord： and shall not My soul be avenged of such a nation as this？'
These things； I say； lay upon my mind； and I went home very much
grieved and oppressed with the horror of these men's wickedness； and
to think that anything could be so vile； so hardened； and notoriously
wicked as to insult God； and His servants； and His worship in such a
manner； and at such a time as this was； when He had； as it were； His
sword drawn in His hand on purpose to take vengeance not on them
only； but on the whole nation。
I had； indeed； been in some passion at first with them … though it
was really raised； not by any affront they had offered me personally；
but by the horror their blaspheming tongues filled me with。 However；
I was doubtful in my thoughts whether the resentment I retained was
not all upon my own private account； for they had given me a great
deal of ill language too … I mean personally； but after some pause； and
having a weight of grief upon my mind； I retired myself as soon as I
came home； for I slept not that night； and giving God most humble
thanks for my preservation in the eminent danger I had been in； I set
my mind seriously and with the utmost earnestness to pray for those
desperate wretches； that God would pardon them； open their eyes； and
effectually humble them。
By this I not only did my duty； namely； to pray for those who
despitefully used me； but I fully tried my own heart； to my fun
satisfaction； that it was not filled with any spirit of resentment as they
had offended me in particular； and I humbly recommend the method
to all those that would know； or be certain； how to distinguish
between their zeal for the honour of God and the effects of their
private passions and resentment。
But I must go back here to the particular incidents which occur to
my thoughts of the time of the visitation； and particularly to the time
of their shutting up houses in the first part of their sickness； for before
the sickness was come to its height people had more room to make
their observations than they had afterward； but when it was in the
extremity there was no such thing as communication with one
another； as before。
During the shutting up of houses； as I have said； some violence was
offered to the watchmen。 As to soldiers； there were none to be
found。… the few guards which the king then had； which were nothing
like the number entertained since； were dispersed； either at Oxford
with the Court； or in quarters in the remoter parts of the country； small
detachments excepted； who did duty at the Tower and at Whitehall；
and these but very few。 Neither am I positive that there was any other
guard at the Tower than the warders； as they called them； who stand at
the gate with gowns and caps； the same as the yeomen of the guard；
except the ordinary gunners； who were twenty…four； and the officers
appointed to look after the magazine； who were called armourers。 As
to trained bands； there was no possibility of raising any； neither； if the
Lieutenancy； either of London or Middlesex； had ordered the drums to
beat for the militia； would any of the companies； I believe； have
drawn together； whatever risk they had run。
This made the watchmen be the less regarded； and perhaps
occasioned the greater violence to be used against them。 I mention it
on this score to observe that the setting watchmen thus to keep the
people in was； first of all； not effectual； but that the people broke out；
whether by force or by stratagem； even almost as often as they
pleased； and； second； that those that did thus break out were generally
people infected who； in their desperation； running about from one
place to another； valued not whom they injured： and which perhaps； as
I have said； might give birth to report that it was natural to the
infected people to desire to infect others； which report was really false。
And I know it so well； and in so many several cases； that I could
give several relations of good； pious； and religious people who； when
they have had the distemper； have been so far from being forward to
infect others that they have forbid their own family to come near
them； in hopes of their being preserved； and have even died without
seeing their nearest relations lest they should be instrumental to give
them the distemper； and infect or endanger them。 If； then； there were
cases wherein the infected people were careless of the injury they did
to others； this was certainly one of them； if not the chief； namely；
when people who had the distemper had broken out from houses which were
so shut up； and having been driven to extremities for provision
or for entertainment； had endeavoured to conceal their condition；
and have been thereby instrumental involuntarily to infect others
who have been ignorant and unwary。
This is one of the reasons why I believed then； and do believe still；
that the shutting up houses thus by force； and restraining； or rather
imprisoning； people in their own houses； as I said above； was of little
or no service in the whole。 Nay； I am of opinion it was rather hurtful；
having forced those desperate people to wander abroad with the
plague upon them； who would otherwise have died quietly in their beds。
I remember one citizen who； having thus broken out of his house in
Aldersgate Street or thereabout； went along the road to Islington； he
attempted to have gone in at the Angel Inn； and after that the White
Horse； two inns known still by the same signs； but was refused； after
which he came to the Pied Bull； an inn also still continuing the same
sign。 He asked them for lodging for one night only； pretending to be
going into Lincolnshire； and assuring them of his being very sound
and free from the infection； which also at that time had not reached
much that way。
They told him they had no lodging that they could spare but one bed
up in the garret； and that they could spare that bed for one night； some
drovers being expected the next day with cattle； so； if he would accept
of that lodging； he might have it； which he did。 So a se