ords his impressions. "Lord," he says, "how empty the
streets are and melancholy, so many poor sick people in the streets full
of sores; and so many sad stories overheard as I walk, everybody talking
of this dead, and that man sick, and so many in this place, and so many
in that. And they tell me that in Westminster there is never a physician
and but one apothecary left, all being dead; but that there are great
hopes of a decrease this week. God send it."

The while, trade being discontinued, those who had lived by commerce
or labour were supported by charity. To this good purpose the king
contributed a thousand pounds per week, and Dr. Sheldon, Archbishop of
Canterbury--who remained at Lambeth during the whole time--by letters
to his bishops, caused great sums to be collected throughout the country
and remitted to him for this laudable purpose. Nor did those of position
or wealth fail in responding to calls made upon them at this time;
their contributions being substantial enough to permit the lord mayor
to distribute upwards of one hundred thousand pounds a week amongst the
poor and afflicted for several months.

In October the death rate fell to nine thousand four hundred and
forty-four; in November to three thousand four hundred and forty-nine;
and in December to less than one thousand. Therefore, after a period of
unprecedented suffering, the people took courage once more, for life
is dear to all men. And those who had fled the plague-stricken city
returned to find a scene of desolation, greater in its misery than words
can describe. But the tide of human existence having once turned, the
capital gradually resumed its former appearance. Shops which had been
closed were opened afresh; houses whose inmates had been carried to the
grave became again centres of activity; the sound of traffic was heard
in streets long silent; church bells called the citizens to prayer;
marts were crowded; and people wore an air of cheerfulness becoming the
survivors of a calamity. And so all things went on as before.

The mortality bills computed the number of burials which took place in
London during this year at ninety-seven thousand three hundred and
six, of which sixty-eight thousand five hundred find ninety-six were
attributed to the plague. This estimate has been considered by all
historians as erroneous. For on the first appearance of the distemper,
the number of deaths set down was far below that which truth warranted,
in orde