Page:A Journal of the Plague Year (1722).djvu/128

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120
Memoirs of

ing of the Dead, that as faſt as any of thoſe they employ’d to carry off, and bury the dead, fell ſick or dy’d, as was many Times the Caſe, they immediately ſupply’d the places with others; which by reaſon of the great Number of Poor that was left out of Buſineſs, as above, was not hard to do: This occaſion’d, that notwithſtanding the infinite Number of People which dy’d, and were ſick almoſt all together, yet, they were always clear’d away, and carry’d off every Night; ſo that it was never to be ſaid of London, that the living were notable to bury the Dead.

As the Deſolation was greater, during thoſe terrible Times, ſo the Amazement of the People encreas’d; and a thouſand unaccountable Things they would do in the violence of their Fright, as others did the ſame in the Agonies of their Diſtemper, and this part was very affecting; ſome went roaring, and crying, and wringing their Hands along the Street; ſome would go praying, and lifting up their Hands to Heaven, calling upon God for Mercy. I cannot ſay indeed, whether this was not in their Diſtraction; but be it ſo, it was ſtill an indication of a more ſerious Mind, when they had the uſe of their Senſes, and was much better, even as it was, than the frightful yellings and cryings that every Day, and eſpeciaily in the Evenings, were heard in ſome Streets. I ſuppoſe the World has heard of the famous Soloman Eagle an Enthuſiaſt: He tho’ not infected at all, but in his Head; went about denouncing of Judgment upon the City in a frightful manner; ſometimes quite naked, and with a Pan of burning Charcoal on his Head: What he ſaid or pretended, indeed I could not learn.

I will not ſay, whether that Clergyman was diſtracted or not: Or whether he did it in pure Zeal for the poor People who went every Evening thro’ the Streets of White-Chapel; and with his Hands lifted up, repeated that Part of the Liturgy of the Church continually; Spare us good Lord, ſpare thy People whom thou haſt redeemed with thy moſt precious Blood, I ſay, I cannot ſpeak poſi-