f it they could.

The ingenious joiner, and all the rest, by his directions went to work
with it, and in a very few days made it capable to shelter them all in
case of bad weather; and in which there was an old chimney and old oven,
though both lying in ruins; yet they made them both fit for use, and,
raising additions, sheds, and leantos on every side, they soon made the
house capable to hold them all.

They chiefly wanted boards to make window-shutters, floors, doors, and
several other things; but as the gentlemen above favoured them, and the
country was by that means made easy with them, and above all, that they
were known to be all sound and in good health, everybody helped them
with what they could spare.

Here they encamped for good and all, and resolved to remove no more.
They saw plainly how terribly alarmed that county was everywhere at
anybody that came from London, and that they should have no admittance
anywhere but with the utmost difficulty; at least no friendly reception
and assistance as they had received here.

Now, although they received great assistance and encouragement from the
country gentlemen and from the people round about them, yet they were
put to great straits: for the weather grew cold and wet in October and
November, and they had not been used to so much hardship; so that they
got colds in their limbs, and distempers, but never had the infection;
and thus about December they came home to the city again.

I give this story thus at large, principally to give an account what
became of the great numbers of people which immediately appeared in the
city as soon as the sickness abated; for, as I have said, great numbers
of those that were able and had retreats in the country fled to those
retreats. So, when it was increased to such a frightful extremity as I
have related, the middling people who had not friends fled to all parts
of the country where they could get shelter, as well those that had
money to relieve themselves as those that had not. Those that had money
always fled farthest, because they were able to subsist themselves; but
those who were empty suffered, as I have said, great hardships, and were
often driven by necessity to relieve their wants at the expense of the
country. By that means the country was made very uneasy at them, and
sometimes took them up; though even then they scarce knew what to do
with them, and were always very backward to punish them, but often, too,
they fo