第 2 节
作者:
漂亮格子 更新:2021-02-24 22:06 字数:9321
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 for some weeks that there was no
getting at the Lord Mayor's door without exceeding difficulty; there
were such pressing and crowding there to get passes and certificates
of health for such as travelled abroad; for without these there was no
being admitted to pass through the towns upon the road; or to lodge in
any inn。 Now; as there had none died in the city for all this time; my
Lord Mayor gave certificates of health without any difficulty to all
those who lived in the ninety…seven parishes; and to those within the
liberties too for a while。
This hurry; I say; continued some weeks; that is to say; all the month
of May and June; and the more because it was rumoured that an order
of the Government was to be issued out to place turnpikes and barriers
on the road to prevent people travelling; and that the towns on the
road would not suffer people from London to pass for fear of bringing
the infection along with them; though neither of these rumours had
any foundation but in the imagination; especially at…first。
I now began to consider seriously with myself concerning my own
case; and how I should dispose of myself; that is to say; whether I
should resolve to stay in London or shut up my house and flee; as
many of my neighbours did。 I have set this particular down so fully;
because I know not but it may be of moment to those who come after
me; if they come to be brought to the same distress; and to the same
manner of making their choice; and therefore I desire this account
may pass with them rather for a direction to themselves to act by than
a history of my actings; seeing it may not he of one farthing value to
them to note what became of me。
I had two important things before me: the one was the carrying on
my business and shop; which was considerable; and in which was
embarked all my effects in the world; and the other was the
preservation of my life in so dismal a calamity as I saw apparently
was coming upon the whole city; and which; however great it was; my
fears perhaps; as well as other people's; represented to be much
greater than it could be。
The first consideration was of great moment to me; my trade was a
saddler; and as my dealings were chiefly not by a shop or chance
trade; but among the merchants trading to the English colonies in
America; so my effects lay very much in the hands of such。 I was a
single man; 'tis true; but I had a family of servants whom I kept at my
business; had a house; shop; and warehouses filled with goods; and; in
short; to leave them all as things in such a case must be left (that is to
say; without any overseer or person fit to be trusted with them); had
been to hazard the loss not only of my trade; but of my goods; and
indeed of all I had in the world。
I had an elder brother at the same time in London; and not many
years before come over from Portugal: and advising with him; his
answer was in three words; the same that was given in another case
quite different; viz。; 'Master; save thyself。' In a word; he was for my
retiring into the country; as he resolved to do himself with his family;
telling me what he had; it seems; heard abroad; that the best
preparation for the plague was to run away from it。 As to my
argument of losing my trade; my goods; or debts; he quite confuted
me。 He told me the same thing which I argued for my staying; viz。;
that I would trust God with my safety and health; was the strongest
repulse to my pretensions of losing my trade and my goods; 'for'; says
he; 'is it not as reasonable that you should trust God with the chance or
risk of losing your trade; as that you should stay in so eminent a point
of danger; and trust Him with your life?'
I could not argue that I was in any strait as to a place where to go;
having several friends and relations in Northamptonshire; whence our
family first came from; and particularly; I had an