he had the plague, she screamed out, and fell down into a swoon, or in a
fit, which, though she recovered a little, yet killed her in a very few
days; and I never heard whether she had the plague or no.

Another infected person came and knocked at the door of a citizen's
house where they knew him very well. The servant let him in, and, being
told the master of the house was above, he ran up, and came into the
room to them as the whole family were at supper. They began to rise up a
little surprised, not knowing what the matter was; but he bid them sit
still, he only come to take his leave of them. They asked him, "Why, Mr.
----, where are you going?"--"Going?" says he; "I have got the sickness,
and shall die to-morrow night." It is easy to believe, though not to
describe, the consternation they were all in. The women and the man's
daughters, which[239] were but little girls, were frightened almost to
death, and got up, one running out at one door and one at another, some
downstairs and some upstairs, and, getting together as well as they
could, locked themselves into their chambers, and screamed out at the
windows for help, as if they had been frightened out of their wits. The
master, more composed than they, though both frightened and provoked,
was going to lay hands on him and throw him downstairs, being in a
passion; but then, considering a little the condition of the man and the
danger of touching him, horror seized his mind, and he stood still like
one astonished. The poor distempered man, all this while, being as well
diseased in his brain as in his body, stood still like one amazed. At
length he turns round. "Ay!" says he with all the seeming calmness
imaginable, "is it so with you all? Are you all disturbed at me? Why,
then, I'll e'en go home and die there." And so he goes immediately
downstairs. The servant that had let him in goes down after him with a
candle, but was afraid to go past him and open the door; so he stood on
the stairs to see what he would do. The man went and opened the door,
and went out and flung[240] the door after him. It was some while before
the family recovered the fright; but, as no ill consequence attended,
they have had occasion since to speak of it, you may be sure, with great
satisfaction. Though the man was gone, it was some time, nay, as I
heard, some days, before they recovered themselves of the hurry they
were in; nor did they go up and down the house with any assurance till
they