them, or Nurſe to attend them: Many of thoſe died calling for help, and even for Suſtenance out at their Windows, in a moſt miſerable and deplorable manner; but it muſt be added, that when ever the Caſes of ſuch Perſons or Families, were repreſented to my Lord-Mayor, they always were reliev’d.
It is true, in ſome Houſes where the People were not very poor; yet, where they had ſent perhaps their Wives and Children away; and if they had any Servants, they had been diſmiſt; I ſay it is true, that to ſave the Expences, many ſuch as theſe ſhut themſelves in, and not having Help, dy’d alone.
A Neighbour and Acquaintance of mine, having ſome Money owing to him from a Shopkeeper in White Croſs ſtreet, or there abouts, ſent his Apprentice, a youth about 18 Years of Age, to endeavour to get the Money: He came to the Door, and finding it ſhut, knockt pretty hard, and as he thought, heard ſome Body anſwer within, but was not ſure, So he waited, and after ſome ſtay knockt again, and then a third Time, when he heard ſome Body coming down Stairs.
At length the Man of the Houſe came to the Door; he had on his Breeches or Drawers, and a yellow Flannel Waſtcoat; no Stockings, a pair of Slipt-Shoes, a white Cap on his head; and as the young Man ſaid, Death in his Face.
When he open’d the Door, ſays he, what do you diſturb me thus for? the Boy, tho’ a little ſurpriz’d, reply’d, I come from ſuch a one, and my Maſter ſent me for the Money, which he ſays you know of: Very well Child, returns the living Ghoſt, call as you go by at Cripplegate Church, and bid them ring the Bell, and with thoſe Words, ſhut the Door again, and went up again and Dy’d, The ſame Day; nay, perhaps the ſame Hour: This, the young Man told me himſelf, and I have Reaſon to believe it. This was while the Plague was not come to a Height: I think it was in June; Towards the latter End of the Month,
