mals, and are apt to run from Houſe to Houſe, and from Street to Street; ſo they are capable of carrying the Effluvia or Infectious Steams of Bodies infected, even in their Furrs and Hair; and therefore, it was that in the beginning of the Infection, an Order was publiſhed by the Lord Mayor, and by the Magiſtrates, according to the Advice of the Phyſicians; that all the Dogs and Cats ſhould be immediately killed, and an Officer was appointed for the Execution.
It is incredible, if their Account is to be depended upon, what a prodigious Number of thoſe Creatures were deſtroy’d: I think they talk’d of forty thouſand Dogs, and five times as many Cats, few Houſes being without a Cat, and ſome having ſeveral, and ſometimes five or ſix in a Houſe. All poſſible Endeavours were us’d alſo to deſtroy the Mice and Rats, eſpecially the latter; by laying Rats-Bane, and other Poiſons for them, and a prodigious multitude of them were alſo deſtroy'd.
I often reflected upon the unprovided Condition, that the whole Body of the People were in at the firſt coming of this Calamity upon them, and how it was for Want of timely entring into Meaſures, and Managements, as well publick as private, that all the Confuſions that followed were brought upon us; and that ſuch a prodigious Number of People ſunk in that Diſaſter, which if proper Steps had been taken, might, Providence concurring, have been avoided, and which, if Poſterity think fit, they may take a Caution, and Warning from: But I ſhall come to this Part again.
I come back to my three Men: Their Story has a Moral in every Part of it, and their whole Conduct, and that of ſome who they join’d with, is a Patern for all poor Men to follow, or Women either, if ever ſuch a Time comes again; and if there was no other End in recording it, I thing this a very juſt one, whether my Account be exactly according to Fact or no.
Two of them are ſaid to be Brothers, the one an old Soldier, but now a Biſcuit Baker; the other a
