we were not to expect, that the Phyſicians could ſtop God's Judgments, or prevent a Diſtemper eminently armed from Heaven, from executing the Errand it was ſent about,
Doubtleſs, the Phyſicians aſſifted many by their Skill, and by their Prudence and Applications, to the ſaving of their Lives, and reſtoring their Health: But it is no leſſening their Character, or their Skill, to ſay, they could not cure thoſe that had the Tokens upon them, or thoſe who were mortally infected before the Phyſicians were ſent for, as was frequently the Caſe.
It remains to mention now what publick Meaſures were taken by the Magiſtrates for the general Safety, and to prevent the ſpreading of the Diſtemper, when it firſt broke out: I ſhall have frequent Occaſion to ſpeak of their Prudence of the Magiſtrates, their Charity, the Vigilance for the Poor, and for preſerving good Order, furniſhing Proviſions, and the like, when the Plague was encreaſed, as it afterwards was. But I am now upon the Order and Regulations they publiſhed for the Government of infected Families.
I mention'd above ſhutting of Houſes up; and it is needful to ſay ſomething particularly to that; for this Part of the Hiſtory of the Plague is very melancholy, but the moſt grievous Story muſt be told.
About June the Lord Mayor of London, and the Court of Aldermen, as I have ſaid, began more particularly to concern themſelves for the Regulation of the City.
The Juſtices of Peace for Middleſex, by Direction of the Secretary of State, had begun to ſhut up Houſes in the Pariſhes of St. Giles's in the Fields, St. Martins, St. Clement Danes, &c. and it was with good Succeſs, for in ſeveral Streets, where thePlague
