oing out of our
houses to buy provisions was in a great measure the ruin of the whole
city, for the people catched the distemper on these occasions one of
another, and even the provisions themselves were often tainted; at
least I have great reason to believe so; and therefore I cannot say
with satisfaction what I know is repeated with great assurance, that
the market-people and such as brought provisions to town were never
infected. I am certain the butchers of Whitechappel, where the greatest
part of the flesh-meat was killed, were dreadfully visited, and that at
least to such a degree that few of their shops were kept open, and those
that remained of them killed their meat at Mile End and that way, and
brought it to market upon horses.

However, the poor people could not lay up provisions, and there was
a necessity that they must go to market to buy, and others to send
servants or their children; and as this was a necessity which renewed
itself daily, it brought abundance of unsound people to the markets, and
a great many that went thither sound brought death home with them.

It is true people used all possible precaution. When any one bought a
joint of meat in the market they would not take it off the butcher's
hand, but took it off the hooks themselves. On the other hand, the
butcher would not touch the money, but have it put into a pot full of
vinegar, which he kept for that purpose. The buyer carried always small
money to make up any odd sum, that they might take no change. They
carried bottles of scents and perfumes in their hands, and all the means
that could be used were used, but then the poor could not do even these
things, and they went at all hazards.

Innumerable dismal stories we heard every day on this very account.
Sometimes a man or woman dropped down dead in the very markets, for many
people that had the plague upon them knew nothing of it till the inward
gangrene had affected their vitals, and they died in a few moments. This
caused that many died frequently in that manner in the streets suddenly,
without any warning; others perhaps had time to go to the next bulk or
stall, or to any door-porch, and just sit down and die, as I have said
before.

These objects were so frequent in the streets that when the plague
came to be very raging on one side, there was scarce any passing by the
streets but that several dead bodies would be lying here and there upon
the ground. On the other hand, it is observa