Page:A Journal of the Plague Year (1722).djvu/153

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
the PLAGUE.
145

It happened that they had not an equal ſhare of Money, but as the Sail-maker, who had the beſt Stock, was beſides his being Lame, the moſt unfit to expect to get any thing by Working in the Country, ſo he was content that what Money they had ſhould all go into one publick Stock, on Condition, that whatever any one of them could gain more than another, it ſhould, without any grudging, be all added to the ſame publick Stock.

They reſolv’d to load themſelves with as little Baggage as poſſible, becauſe they reſolv’d at firſt to travel on Foot; and to go a great way, that they might, if poſſible, be effectually Safe; and a great many Conſultations they had with themſelves, before they could agree about what Way they ſhould travel, which they were ſo far from adjuſting, that even to the Morning they ſet out, they were not reſolv’d on it.

At laſt the Seaman put in a Hint that determin’d it; Firſt, ſays he, the Weather is very hot, and therefore I am for travelling North, that we may not have the Sun upon our Faces and beating on our Breaſts, which will heat and ſuffocate us; and I have been told, ſays he, that it is not good to over-heat our Blood at a Time when, for ought we know, the Infection may be in the very Air. In the next Place, ſays he, I am for going the Way that may be contrary to the Wind as it may blow when we ſet out; that we may not have the Wind blow the Air of the City on our Backs as we go. Theſe two Cautions were approv'd of; if it could be brought ſo to hit, that the Wind might not be in the South when they ſet out to go North.

John the Baker, who had been a Soldier, then put in his Opinion; Firſt, ſays he, we none of us expect to get any Lodging on the Road, and it will be a little too hard to lie juſt in the open Air; tho’ it be warm Weather, yet it may be wet,