and who were in a great Meaſure preſerv’d by that Caution; nor were they, after they were a little hardened to it ſo ſhye of converſing with one another, when actually infected, as they were at firſt, no tho’ they knew it.
I acknowledge I was one of thoſe thoughtleſs Ones, that had made ſo little Proviſion, that my Servants were obliged to go out of Doors to buy every Trifle by Penny and Halfpenny, juſt as before it begun, even till my Experience ſhewing me the Folly, I began to be wiſer ſo late, that I had ſcarce Time to Store my ſelf ſufficient for our common Subſiſtence for a Month.
I had in Family only an antient Woman, that managed the Houſe, a Maid-Servant, two Apprentices, and my ſelf; and the Plague beginning to encreaſe about us, I had many ſad Thoughts about what Courſe I ſhould take, and how I ſhould act; the many diſmal Objects, which happened everywhere as I went about the Streets, had fill’d my Mind with a great deal of Horror, for fear of the Diſtemper it ſelf, which was indeed, very horrible in it ſelf, and in ſome more than in others, the ſwellings which were generally in the Neck, or Groin, when they grew hard, and would not break, grew ſo painful, that it was equal to the moſt exquiſite Torture; and ſome not able to bear the Torment threw themſelves out at Windows, or ſhot themſelves, or otherwiſe made themſelves away, and I ſaw ſeveral diſmal Objects of that Kind: Others unable to contain themſelves, vented their Pain by inceſſant Roarings, and ſuch loud and lamentable Cries were to be heard as we walk’d along the Streets, that would Pierce the very Heart to think of, eſpecially when it was to be conſidered, that the ſame dreadful \ Scourge might be expected every Moment to ſeize upon our ſelves.
I cannot ſay, but that now I began to faint in in my Reſolutions, my Heart fail’d me very much,
