of no larger Extent, they ordered this dreadful Gulph to be dug; for ſuch it was rather than a Pit.
They had ſuppoſed this Pit would have ſupply'd them for a Month or more, when they dug it, and ſome blam'd the Church Wardens for ſuffering ſuch a frightful Thing, telling them they were making Preparations to bury the whole Pariſh, and the like; but Time made it appear, the Church-Wardens knew the Condition of the Pariſh better than they did; for the Pit being finiſhed the 4th of September, I think, they began to bury in it the 6th, and by the 20, which was juſt two Weeks they had thrown into it 1114 Bodies, when they were obliged to fill it up, the Bodies being then come to lie within ſix Foot of the Surface: I doubt not but there may be ſome antient Perſons alive in the Pariſh, who can juſtify the Fact of this, and are able to ſhew even in what Part of the ChurchYard, the Pit lay, better than I can; the Mark of it alſo was many Years to be ſeen in the Church-Yard on the Surface lying in Length, Parallel with the Paſſage which goes by the Weſt Wall of the Church-Yard, out of Houndſditch, and turns Eaſt again into White-Chappel, coming out near the three Nuns Inn.
It was about the 10th of September, that my Curioſity led, or rather drove me to go and ſee this Pit again, when there had been near 400 People buried in it; and I was not content to ſee it in the Day-time, as I had done before; for then there would have been nothing to have been ſeen but the looſe Earth; for all the Bodies that were thrown in, were immediately covered with Earth, by thoſe they call'd the Buryers, which at other Times were call'd Bearers; but I reſolv'd to go in the Night and ſee ſome of them thrown in.
There was a ſtrict Order to prevent People coming to thoſe Pits, and that was only to prevent Infection: But after ſome Time, that Order wasmore
