d, to be
able to say that everything is set down with moderation, and rather
within compass than beyond it.

Upon all these accounts, I say, I could wish, when we were recovered,
our conduct had been more distinguished for charity and kindness, in
remembrance of the past calamity, and not so much in valuing ourselves
upon our boldness in staying; as if all men were cowards that fly from
the hand of God, or that those who stay do not sometimes owe their
courage to their ignorance, and despising the hand of their Maker, which
is a criminal kind of desperation, and not a true courage.

I cannot but leave it upon record, that the civil officers, such as
constables, headboroughs, lord mayor's and sheriff's men, also parish
officers, whose business it was to take charge of the poor, did their
duties, in general, with as much courage as any, and perhaps with more;
because their work was attended with more hazards, and lay more among
the poor, who were more subject to be infected, and in the most pitiful
plight when they were taken with the infection. But then it must be
added, too, that a great number of them died; indeed, it was scarcely
possible it should be otherwise.

I have not said one word here about the physic or preparations that were
ordinarily made use of on this terrible occasion (I mean we that
frequently went abroad up and down the streets, as I did). Much of this
was talked of in the books and bills of our quack doctors, of whom I
have said enough already. It may, however, be added, that the College of
Physicians were daily publishing several preparations, which they had
considered of in the process of their practice; and which, being to be
had in print, I avoid repeating them for that reason.

One thing I could not help observing,--what befell one of the quacks,
who published that he had a most excellent preservative against the
plague, which whoever kept about them should never be infected, or
liable to infection. This man, who, we may reasonably suppose, did not
go abroad without some of this excellent preservative in his pocket, yet
was taken by the distemper, and carried off in two or three days.

I am not of the number of the physic haters or physic despisers (on the
contrary, I have often mentioned the regard I had to the dictates of my
particular friend Dr. Heath); but yet I must acknowledge I made use of
little or nothing, except, as I have observed, to keep a preparation of
strong scent, to have r