his eastern part
of the town at least, nor begin to be violent till the beginning of
August. For example, the whole bill from the 11th to the 18th of July
was 1,761, yet there died but 71 of the plague in all those parishes we
call the Tower Hamlets; and they were as follows:--

Aldgate, 14 { 34 { 65
Stepney, 33 The next { 58 To { 76
Whitechapel, 21 week was { 48 Aug. 1 { 79
St. Kath. Tower.[91] 2 thus: { 4 thus: { 4
Trin. Minories,[92] 1 { 1 { 4
-- --- ---
71 145 228

It was indeed coming on amain, for the burials that same week were, in
the next adjoining parishes, thus:--

St. L.[93] Shoreditch 64 The next week { 84 To { 110
St. Bot.[94] Bishopsg. 65 prodigiously { 105 Aug. 1 { 116
St. Giles's Crippl.[95] 213 increased, as { 431 thus: { 554
--- --- ---
342 620 780

This shutting up of houses was at first counted a very cruel and
unchristian method, and the poor people so confined made bitter
lamentations. Complaints of the severity of it were also daily brought
to my lord mayor, of houses causelessly, and some maliciously, shut up.
I cannot say but upon inquiry many that complained so loudly were found
in a condition to be continued; and others again, inspection being made
upon the sick person, and the sickness not appearing infectious, or, if
uncertain, yet, on his being content to be carried to the pesthouse,
was[96] released.

As I went along Houndsditch one morning, about eight o'clock, there was
a great noise. It is true, indeed, there was not much crowd, because the
people were not very free to gather together, or to stay long together
when they were there, nor did I stay long there; but the outcry was loud
enough to prompt my curiosity, and I called to one, who looked out of a
window, and asked what was the matter.

A watchman, it seems, had been employed to keep his post at the door of
a house which was infected, or said to be infected, and was shut up. He
had been there all night, for two nights together, as he told his story,
and the day watchman had been there one day,