such who were otherwise, to be as worms and maggots in the guts of the Commonwealth) I was counted as an enemy even to all the Sects and Factions.'[1]
NOTES TO CHAPTER IV
I
Concerning ye Plagues of London
1. London within ye bills hath 696th people in 108th houses.
2. In pestilentiall yeares, (which are one in 20), there dye 1⁄6th of ye people of ye plague and 1⁄5th of all diseases.
3. The remedies against spreading of ye plague are shutting up suspected houses and pest-houses within a ½ mile of ye citty.
4. In a circle about ye center of London of 35 miles semidiameter, or a dayes journey, there live as many people and are as many houses as in London.
5. Six heads may bee caryd a days journey for 20sh.
6. A family may bee lodged 3 months in ye country for 4sh, so as ye charge of carying out and lodging a family at a medium will be 5sh.
7. In ye greatest plague wee feare, scarce 20th families will bee infected; and in this new method but 10th, ye charge whereof will bee 50th pounds.
8. The People which ye next plague of London will sweep away will be probably 120th, which at 7£ per head is a losse of 8,400ths, the half whereof is 4,200ths.
9. So as 50 is ventured to save 4,200, or about one for 84.
10. There was never a Plague in ye campagne of England by which 1⁄6th of ye people dyed.
11. Poore people who live close dye most of ye plague.
12. The Plague is about 3 monthes rising and as much falling, which cold weather hastens.
13. Killing dogs, making great fires in ye street, nor the use of medicaments are considered sure, for which everyone by common directions may bee theire owne Physicians.
14. In ye circle of 70 miles diameter, choose 10 large wide roomey disjoyned houses with water and garden to each, the Inhabitants to remove at 7 dayes notice.
15. Convenient wagons or coaches to bee prepared to carry away ye suspected.
- ↑ Reflections, p. 119.
