Page:A Journal of the Plague Year (1722).djvu/282

 Conſtables and Headboroughs in the two Pariſhes of Stepney and White-Chapel; but I could not carry my Liſt on, for when the violent Rage of the Diſtemper in September came upon us, it drove us out of all Meaſures: Men did then no more die by Tale and by Number, they might put out a Weekly Bill, and call them ſeven or eight Thouſand, or what they pleas’d; ’tis certain they died by Heaps, and were buried by Heaps, that is to ſay without Account; and if I might believe ſome People, who were more abroad and more converſant with thoſe things than I, tho’ I was public enough for one that had no more Buſineſs to do than I had, I ſay, if I may believe them, there was not many leſs buried thoſe firſt three Weeks in September than 20000 per Week; however the others aver the Truth of it, yet I rather chuſe to keep to the public Account; ſeven and eight thouſand per Week is enough to make good all that I have ſaid of the Terror of thoſe Times; and it is much to the Satisfaction of me that write, as well as thoſe that read, to be able to ſay, that every thing is ſet down with Moderation, and rather within Compaſs than beyond it.

Upon all theſe Accounts I ſay I could with, when we were recover’d, our Conduct had been more diſtinguiſh’d for Charity and Kindneſs in Remembrance of the paſt Calamity, and not ſo much a valuing our ſelves upon our Boldneſs in ſtaying, as if all Men were Cowards that fly from the Hand of God, or that thoſe, who ſtay, do not ſometimes owe their Courage to their Ignorance, and deſpiſing the Hand of their Maker, which is a criminal kind of Deſperation, and not a true Courage.

I cannot but leave it upon Record, that the Civil Officers, ſuch as Conſtables, Headboroughs, Lord Mayor’s, and Sheriff’s-men, as alſo Pariſh-Officers, whoſe Buſineſs it was to take Charge of the Poor,