wiſe have been both very troubleſome and very dangerous in their running about Streets with the Diſtemper upon them, which when they were dilirious, they would have done in a moſt frightful manner; and as indeed they began to do at firſt very much, 'till they were thus reſtrain’d; nay, ſo very open they were, that the Poor would go about and beg at peoples Doors, and ſay they had the Plague upon them, and beg Rags for their Sores, or both, or any thing that dilirious Nature happen’d to think of.
A poor unhappy Gentlewoman, a ſubſtantial Citizen’s Wife was (if the Story be true) murther'd by one of theſe Creatures in Alderſgate-ſtreet, or that Way: He was going along the Street, raving mad to be ſure, and ſinging, the People only ſaid, he was drunk; but he himſelf ſaid, he had the Plague upon him, which, it ſeems, was true; and meeting this Gentlewoman, he would kiſs her; ſhe was terribly frighted as he was only a rude Fellow, and ſhe run from him, but the Street being very thin of People, there was no body near enough to help her: When ſhe ſee he would overtake her, ſhe turn’d, and gave him a Thruſt ſo forcibly, he being but weak, and puſh’d him down backward: But very unhappily, ſhe being ſo near, he caught hold of her, and pull’d her down alſo; and getting up firſt, maſter’d her, and kiſs'd her; and which was worſt of all, when he had done, told her he had the Plague, and why ſhould not ſhe have it as well as he. She was frighted enough before, being alſo young with Child; but when ſhe heard him ſay, he had the Plague, ſhe ſcream’d out and fell down in a Swoon, or in a Fit, which tho’ ſhe recover’d a little, yet kill’d her in a very few Days, and I never heard whether ſhe had the Plague or no.
Another infected Perſon came, and knock’d at the Door of a Citizen’s Houſe, where they knew him very well; the Servant let him in, and being told the Maſter of the Houſe was above, he ran up, and came
