Page:A Journal of the Plague Year (1722).djvu/101

 of their Shops were kept open, and thoſe that remain d of them, kill’d their Meat at Mile-End, and that Way, and brought it to Market upon Horſes.

However, the poor People cou’d 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 renew’d it ſelf 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 us’d all poſſible Precaution, when any one bought a Joint of Meat in the Market, they would not take it of the Butchers Hand, but take it oft of 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 carry’d always ſmall Money to make up any odd Sum, that they might take no Change. They carry’d Bottles for Scents, and Perfumes in their Hands, and all the Means that could be us’d, were us’d: But then the Poor cou’d 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 dropt down Dead in the very Markets; for many People that had the Plague upon them, knew nothing of it; till the inward Gangreen had affected their Vitals and they dy’d in a few Moments; this caus’d, that many died frequently in that Manner in the Streets ſuddainly, 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