This Gentleman and the Miniſter having thus begun and given an Example of Charity to thee Wanderers, others quickly followed, and they receiv'd every Day ſome Benevolence or other from the People, but chiefly from the Gentlemen who dwelt in the Country round about; ſome ſent them Chairs, Stools, ſTables, and ſuch Houſhold Things as they gave Notice they wanted; ſome ſent them Blankets, Rugs and Coverlids; ſome Earthen-ware; and ſome Kitchin-ware for ordering their Food.
Encourag’d by this good Uſage, their Carpenter in a few Days, built them a large Shed or Houſe with Rafters, and a Roof in Form, and an upper Floor in which they lodged warm, for the Weather began to be damp and cold in the beginning of September; But this Houſe being very well Thatch’d, and the Sides and Roof made very thick, kept out the Cold well enough: He made alſo an earthen Wall at one End, with a Chimney in it; and another of the Company, with a vaſt deal of Trouble and Pains, made a Funnel to the Chimney to carry out the Smoak.
Here they liv’d very comfortably, tho’ coarſely, till the beginning of September, when they had the bad News to hear, whether true or, not, that the Plague, which was very hot at Waltham-Abby on one ſide, and at Rumford and Brent-Wood on the other ſide; was alſo come to Epping, to Woodford, and to moſt of the Towns upon the Foreſt, and which, as they ſaid, was brought down among them chiefly by the Higlers and ſuch People as went to and from London with Proviſions.
If this was true, it was an evident Contradiction to that Report which was afterwards ſpread all over England, but which, as I have ſaid, I cannot confirm of my own Knowledge, namely, That the Market People carrying Proviſions to the City, never got the Infec-
