the Night and always ſudden, when ſuch attempts were made, the Officers cou’d not be at hand to prevent it, and even when any got out in the Day, the Officers appointed did not care to meddle with them, becauſe, as they were all grievouſly infected to beſure when they were come to that Height, ſo they were more than ordinarily infectious, and it was one of the moſt dangerous Things that cou’d be to touch them; on the other Hand, they generally ran, on not knowing what they did, till they dropp’d down ſlark Dead, or till they had exhauſted their Spirits ſo, as that they wou’d fall and then die in perhaps half an Hour or an Hour, and which was moſt piteous to hear, they were ſure to come to themſelves intirely in that half Hour or Hour, and then to make moſt grievous and piercing Cries and Lamentations in the deep afflicting Senſe of the Condition they were in. This was much of it before the Order for ſhutting up of Houſes was ſtrictly put in Execution, for at firſt the Watchmen were not ſo vigorous and ſevere, as they were afterward in the keeping the People in; that is to ſay, before they were, I mean ſome of them, ſeverely puniſh’d for their Neglect, failing in their Duty, and letting People who were under their Care ſlip away, or conniving at their going abroad whether ſick or well. But after they ſaw the Officers appointed to examine into their Conduct, were reſolv’d to have them do their Duty, or be puniſh’d for the omiſſion, they were more exact, and the People were ſtrictly reſtrain'd; which was a thing they took ſo ill, and bore ſo impatiently, that their Diſcontents can hardly be deſcrib’d: Bet there was an abſolute Neceſſity for it, that muſt be confeſs’d, unleſs ſome other Meaſures had been timely enter’d upon, and it was too late for that.
Had not this particular of the Sick’s been reſtrain’d as above, been our Caſe at that time, London wou’d ha’ been the moſt dreadful Place that ever was in the World, there wou’d for ought I kno’ have as
