and Owners, and ſuch like, who have lock’d themſelves up, and live on board, cloſe ſhut in, for fear of the Infection; and I tend on them to fetch Things for them, carry Letters, and do what is abſolutely neceſſary, that they may not be obliged to come on Shore; and every Night I faſten my Boat on board one of the Ship’s Boats, and there I ſleep by my ſelf, and bleſſed be God, I am preſerv’d hitherto.
Well, ſaid I, Friend, but will they let you come on board, after you have been on Shore here, when this is ſuch a terrible Place, and ſo infected as it is?
Why, as to that, ſaid he, I very ſeldom go up the Ship Side, but deliver what I bring to their Boat, or lie by the Side, and they hoiſt it on board; if I did, I think they are in no Danger from me, for I never go into any Houſe on Shore, or touch any Body, no, not of my own Family; But I fetch Proviſions for them.
Nay, ſays I, but that may be worſe, for you muſt have thoſe Proviſions of ſome Body or other; and ſince all this Part of the Town is ſo infected, it is dangerous ſo much as to ſpeak with any Body; for this Village, ſaid I, is as it were, the Beginning of London, tho’ it be at ſome Diſtance from it.
That is true, added he, but you do not underſtand me Right, I do not buy Proviſions for them here; I row up to Greenwich and buy freſh Meat there, and ſometimes I row down the River to Woolwich and buy there; then I go to ſingle Farm Houſes on the Kentiſh Side, where I am known, and buy Fowls and Eggs, and Butter, and bring to the Ships, as they direct me, ſometimes one, ſometimes the other; I ſeldom come on Shore here; and I came now only to call to my Wife, and hear how my little Family do, and give them a little Money, which I receiv'd laſt Night.
Poor Man! ſaid I, and how much haft thou gotten for them?
I have gotten four Shillings, ſaid he, which is a great Sum, as things go now with poor Men; but they have given me a Bag of Bread too, and a Salt Fiſh and ſome Fleſh; ſo all helps out.
