Page:A Journal of the Plague Year (1722).djvu/69

 of any Errand, that the Family ſent him of, that is to ſay, for Neceſſaries, ſuch as Food and Phyſick, to fetch Phyſicians, if they would come, or Surgeons, or Nurſes, or to order the Dead-Cart, and the like; But with this Condition too, that when he went, he was to lock up the Outer-Door of the Houſe, and take the Key away with him; to evade this, and cheat the Watchmen, People got two or three Keys made to their Locks, or they found Ways to unſcrew the Locks, ſuch as were ſcrew'd on, and ſo take off the Lock, being in the Inſide of the Houſe, and while they ſent away the Watchman to the Market, to the Bakehouſe, or for one Trifle or another, open the Door, and go out as often as they pleas'd: But this being found out, the Officers afterwards had Orders to Padlock up the Doors on the Outſide, and place Bolts on them as they thought fit.

At another Houſe, as I was inform'd, in the Street next within Algate, a whole Family was ſhut up and lock'd in, becauſe the Maid-Servant was taken ſick; the Maſter of the Houſe had complain'd by his Friends to the next Alderman, and to the Lord Mayor, and had conſented to have the Maid carried to the Peſt-Houſe, but was refuſed, ſo the Door was marked with a red Croſs, a Padlock on the Outſide, as above, and a Watchman ſet to keep the Door according to publick Order.

After the Maſter of the Houſe found there was no Remedy, but that he, his Wife and his Children were to be lockt up with this poor diſtempered Servant; he call'd to the Watchman, and told him, he muſt go then and fetch a Nurſe for them, to attend this poor Girl, for that it would be certain Death to them all to oblige them to nurſe her, and told him plainly, that if he would not do this, the Maid muſt periſh either of the {continues|per}}