Page:A Journal of the Plague Year (1722).djvu/112

 which indeed, was reaſonable to believe, becauſe the Lock was broke, and a Padlock that hung to the Door on the out-ſide alſo looſe; and not abundance of the Hats carry’d away.

At length I conſider'd, that this was not a Time to be Cruel and Rigorous; and beſides that, it would neceſſarily oblige me to go much about, to have ſeveral People come to me, and I go to ſeveral, whoſe Circumſtances of Health, I knew nothing of; and that even, at this Time the Plague was ſo high, as that there dy’d 4000 a Week; ſo that in ſhowing my Reſentment, or even in ſeeking Juſtice for my Brother’s Goods, I might loſe my own Life; ſo I contented my ſelf, with taking the Names and Places where ſome of them lived, who were really Inhabitants in the Neighbourhood; and threatning that my Brother ſhould call them to an Account for it, when he return’d to his Habitation.

Then I talk’d a little upon another Foot with them; and ask’d them how they could do ſuch Things as theſe, in a Time of ſuch general Calamity; and as it were, in the Face of Gods moſt dreadful Judgments, when the Plague was at their very Doors; and it may be in their very Houſes; and they did not know, but that the Dead-Cart might ſtop at their Doors in a few Hours, to carry them to their Graves.

I cou’d not perceive that my Diſcourſe made much Impreſſion upon them all that while; till it happened, that there came two Men of the Neighbourhood, hearing of the Diſturbance, and knowing my Brother, for they had been both dependants upon his Family, and they came to my Aſſiſtance: Theſe being as I ſaid Neighbours, preſently knew three of the Women, and told me who they were, and where they liv’d; and it ſeems, they had given me a true Account of themſelves before.

This brings theſe two Men to a farther Remembrance: The Name of one was Johnn Hayward, who was at that Time under-Sexton, of the Pariſſh of St.