Gate with Gowns and Caps, the ſame as the Yeomen of the Guard; except the ordinary Gunners, who were 24, and the Officers appointed to look after the Magazine, who were call’d Armourers: as to Traind-Bands, there was no Poſſibility of raiſing any, neither if the Lieutenancy, either of London or Middleſex had ordered the Drums to beat for the Militia, would any of the Companies, I believe, have drawn together, whatever Riſque they had run.
This made the Watchmen be the leſs regarded, and perhaps, occaſioned the greater Violence to be uſed againſt them; I mention it on this Score, to obſerve that the ſetting Watchmen thus to keep the People in, was (1ſt) of all, not effectual, but that the People broke out, whether by Force or by Stratagem, even almoſt as often as they pleas’d: And (2d) that thoſe that did thus break out, were generally People infected, who in their Deſperation, running about from one Place to another, valued not who they injur’d, and which perhaps, as I have ſaid, might give Birth to Report, that it was natural to the infected People to deſire to infect others, which Report was really falſe.
And I know it ſo well, and in ſo many ſeveral Caſes, that I could give ſeveral Relations of good, pious, and religious People, who, when they have had the Diſtemper, have been ſo far from being forward to infect others, that they have forbid their own Family to come near them, in Hopes of their being preſerved; and have even died without ſeeing their neareſt Relations, left they ſhould be inſtrumental to give them the Diſtemper, and infect or endanger them: If then there were Caſes wherein the infected People were careleſs of the Injury they did to others, this was certainly one of them, if not the chief, namely, when People, who had the Diſtemper, had broken out from Houſes which were ſo ſhut up, and having been driven to Extremities for Proviſion, or for Entertainment, had endeavoured to conceal their Condition, and have been thereby Inſtrumental involuntarily to infect others who have been ignorant and unwary.
