not without the Agency of Means, as I ſhall take Notice of in its proper Place.
But I muſt ſtill ſpeak of the Plague as in its height, raging even to Deſolation, and the People under the moſt dreadful Conſternation, even, as I have ſaid, to Deſpair. It is hardly credible to what Exceſſes the Paſſions of Men carry’d them in this Extremity of the Diſtemper; and this Part, I think, was as moving as the reſt; What cou’d affect a Man in his full Power of Reflection; and what could make deeper Impreſſions on the Soul, than to ſee a Man almoſt Naked and got out of his Houſe, or perhaps out of his Bed into the Street, come out of Harrow-Alley, a populous Conjunction or Collection of Alleys, Courts, and Paſſages, in the Butcher-row in Whitechappel? I ſay, What could be more Affecting, than to ſee this poor Man come out into the open Street, run Dancing and Singing, and making a thouſand antick Geſtures, with five or fix Women and Children running after him, Crying, and calling upon him, for the Lord’s ſake to come back, and entreating the help of others to bring him back, but all in vain, no Body daring to lay a Hand upon him, or to come near him.
This was a moſt grievous and aſſlicting thing to me, who ſee it all from my own Windows; for all this while, the poor afflicted Man, was, as I obſerv’d it, even then in the utmoſt Agony of Pain, having, as they ſaid, two Swellings upon him, which cou’d not be brought to break, or to ſuppurate; but by laying ſtrong Cauſticks on them, the Surgeons had, it ſeems, hopes to break them, which Cauſticks were then upon him, burning his Fleſh as with a hot Iron: I cannot ſay what became of this poor Man, but I think he continu’d roving about in that manner till he fell down and Died.
No wonder the Aſpect of the City itſelf was frightful, the uſual concourſe of People in the Streets,
