placed by a lawful authority; and killing any public legal officer
in the execution of his office is always, in the language of the law,
called murder. But as they were not authorised by the magistrates'
instructions, or by the power they acted under, to be injurious or
abusive either to the people who were under their observation or to any
that concerned themselves for them; so when they did so, they might be
said to act themselves, not their office; to act as private persons,
not as persons employed; and consequently, if they brought mischief upon
themselves by such an undue behaviour, that mischief was upon their
own heads; and indeed they had so much the hearty curses of the people,
whether they deserved it or not, that whatever befell them nobody pitied
them, and everybody was apt to say they deserved it, whatever it was.
Nor do I remember that anybody was ever punished, at least to any
considerable degree, for whatever was done to the watchmen that guarded
their houses.

What variety of stratagems were used to escape and get out of houses
thus shut up, by which the watchmen were deceived or overpowered, and
that the people got away, I have taken notice of already, and shall
say no more to that. But I say the magistrates did moderate and ease
families upon many occasions in this case, and particularly in that of
taking away, or suffering to be removed, the sick persons out of such
houses when they were willing to be removed either to a pest-house or
other Places; and sometimes giving the well persons in the family so
shut up, leave to remove upon information given that they were well,
and that they would confine themselves in such houses where they went
so long as should be required of them. The concern, also, of the
magistrates for the supplying such poor families as were infected--I
say, supplying them with necessaries, as well physic as food--was very
great, and in which they did not content themselves with giving the
necessary orders to the officers appointed, but the aldermen in person,
and on horseback, frequently rode to such houses and caused the people
to be asked at their windows whether they were duly attended or not;
also, whether they wanted anything that was necessary, and if the
officers had constantly carried their messages and fetched them such
things as they wanted or not. And if they answered in the affirmative,
all was well; but if they complained that they were ill supplied, and
that the office