e plague among them in a most furious manner; and this, joined
to the distress of their circumstances when taken, was the reason why
they died so by heaps; for I cannot say I could observe one jot of
better husbandry among them, I mean the labouring poor, while they were
all well and getting money than there was before, but as lavish, as
extravagant, and as thoughtless for tomorrow as ever; so that when they
came to be taken sick they were immediately in the utmost distress,
as well for want as for sickness, as well for lack of food as lack of
health.

This misery of the poor I had many occasions to be an eyewitness of, and
sometimes also of the charitable assistance that some pious people daily
gave to such, sending them relief and supplies both of food, physic,
and other help, as they found they wanted; and indeed it is a debt of
justice due to the temper of the people of that day to take notice here,
that not only great sums, very great sums of money were charitably sent
to the Lord Mayor and aldermen for the assistance and support of
the poor distempered people, but abundance of private people daily
distributed large sums of money for their relief, and sent people about
to inquire into the condition of particular distressed and visited
families, and relieved them; nay, some pious ladies were so transported
with zeal in so good a work, and so confident in the protection of
Providence in discharge of the great duty of charity, that they went
about in person distributing alms to the poor, and even visiting poor
families, though sick and infected, in their very houses, appointing
nurses to attend those that wanted attending, and ordering apothecaries
and surgeons, the first to supply them with drugs or plasters, and such
things as they wanted; and the last to lance and dress the swellings and
tumours, where such were wanting; giving their blessing to the poor in
substantial relief to them, as well as hearty prayers for them.

I will not undertake to say, as some do, that none of those charitable
people were suffered to fall under the calamity itself; but this I may
say, that I never knew any one of them that miscarried, which I mention
for the encouragement of others in case of the like distress; and
doubtless, if they that give to the poor lend to the Lord, and He will
repay them, those that hazard their lives to give to the poor, and to
comfort and assist the poor in such a misery as this, may hope to be
protected in