several packs of women's high…crowned hats； which came out of the
country and were； as I suppose； for exportation： whither； I know not。
I was surprised that when I came near my brother's door； which was
in a place they called Swan Alley； I met three or four women with
high…crowned hats on their heads； and； as I remembered afterwards；
one； if not more； had some hats likewise in their hands； but as I did
not see them come out at my brother's door； and not knowing that my
brother had any such goods in his warehouse； I did not offer to say
anything to them； but went across the way to shun meeting them； as
was usual to do at that time； for fear of the plague。 But when I came
nearer to the gate I met another woman with more hats come out of
the gate。 'What business； mistress；' said I； 'have you had there？'
'There are more people there；' said she； 'I have had no more business there
than they。' I was hasty to get to the gate then； and said no more to her；
by which means she got away。 But just as I came to the gate； I saw
two more coming across the yard to come out with hats also on their
heads and under their arms； at which I threw the gate to behind me；
which having a spring lock fastened itself； and turning to the women；
'Forsooth；' said I； 'what are you doing here？' and seized upon the hats；
and took them from them。 One of them； who； I confess； did not look
like a thief … 'Indeed；' says she； 'we are wrong； but we were told they
were goods that had no owner。 Be pleased to take them again； and
look yonder； there are more such customers as we。' She cried and
looked pitifully； so I took the hats from her and opened the gate； and
bade them be gone； for I pitied the women indeed； but when I looked
towards the warehouse； as she directed； there were six or seven more；
all women； fitting themselves with hats as unconcerned and quiet as if
they had been at a hatter's shop buying for their money。
I was surprised； not at the sight of so many thieves only； but at the
circumstances I was in； being now to thrust myself in among so many
people； who for some weeks had been so shy of myself that if I met
anybody in the street I would cross the way from them。
They were equally surprised； though on another account。 They all
told me they were neighbours； that they had heard anyone might take
them； that they were nobody's goods； and the like。 I talked big to
them at first； went back to the gate and took out the key； so that they
were all my prisoners； threatened to lock them all into the warehouse；
and go and fetch my Lord Mayor's officers for them。
They begged heartily； protested they found the gate open； and the
warehouse door open； and that it had no doubt been broken open by
some who expected to find goods of greater value： which indeed was
reasonable to believe； because the lock was broke； and a padlock that
hung to the door on the outside also loose； and not abundance of the
hats carried away。
At length I considered that this was not a time to be cruel and
rigorous； and besides that； it would necessarily oblige me to go much
about； to have several people come to me； and I go to several whose
circumstances of health I knew nothing of； and that even at this time
the plague was so high as that there died 4000 a week； so that in
showing my resentment； or even in seeking justice for my brother's
goods； I might lose my own life； so I contented myself with taking the
names and places where some of them lived； who were really inhabitants
in the neighbourhood； and threatening that my brother should call them
to an account for it when he returned to his habitation。
Then I talked a little upon another foot with them； and asked them
how they could do such things as these in a time of such general
calamity； and； as it were； in the face of God's most dreadful
judgements； when the plague was at their very doors； and； it may be；
in their very houses； and they did not know but that the dead…cart
might stop at their doors in a few hours to carry them to their graves。
I could not perceive that my discourse made much impression upon
them all that while； till it happened that there came two men of the
neighbourhood； hearing of the disturbance； and knowing my brother；
for they had been both dependents upon his family； and they came to
my assistance。 These being； as I said； neighbours； presently knew
three of the women and told me who they were and where they lived；
and it seems they had given me a true account of themselves before。
This brings these two men to a further remembrance。 The name of
one was John Hayward； who was at that time undersexton of the
parish of St Stephen； Coleman Street。 By undersexton was
understood at that time gravedigger and bearer of the dead。 This man
carried； or assisted to carry； all the dead to their graves which were
buried in that large parish； and who were carried in form； and after
that form of burying was stopped； went with the dead…cart and the bell
to fetch the dead bodies from the houses where they lay； and fetched
many of them out of the chambers and houses； for the parish was； and
is still； remarkable particularly； above all the parishes in London；
for a great number of alleys and thoroughfares； very long； into which
no carts could come； and where they were obliged to go and fetch the
bodies a very long way； which alleys now remain to witness it； such
as White's Alley； Cross Key Court； Swan Alley； Bell Alley； White
Horse Alley； and many more。 Here they went with a kind of hand…
barrow and laid the dead bodies on it； and carried them out to the
carts； which work he performed and never had the distemper at all；
but lived about twenty years after it； and was sexton of the parish to
the time of his death。 His wife at the same time was a nurse to
infected people； and tended many that died in the parish； being for her
honesty recommended by the parish officers； yet she never was
infected neither。
He never used any preservative against the infection； other than
holding garlic and rue in his mouth； and smoking tobacco。 This I also
had from his own mouth。 And his wife's remedy was washing her head
in vinegar and sprinkling her head…clothes so with vinegar as to
keep them always moist； and if the smell of any of those she waited
on was more than ordinary offensive； she snuffed vinegar up her nose
and sprinkled vinegar upon her head…clothes； and held a handkerchief
wetted with vinegar to her mouth。
It must be confessed that though the plague was chiefly among the
poor； yet were the poor the most venturous and fearless of it； and went
about their employment with a sort of brutal courage； I must call it so；
for it was founded neither on religion nor prudence； scarce did they
use any caution； but ran into any business which they could get
employment in； though it was the most hazardous。 Such was that of
tending the sick； watching houses shut up； carrying infected persons to
the pest…house； and； which was still worse； carrying the dead away to
their graves。
It was under this John Hayward's care； and within his bounds； that
the story of the piper； with which people have made themselves so
merry； happened； and he assured me that it was true。 It is said that it
was a blind piper； but； as John told me； the fellow was not blind； but
an ignorant； weak； poor man； and usually walked his rounds about ten
o'clock at night and went piping along from door to door； and the
people usually took him in at public…houses where they knew him； and
would give him drink and victuals； and sometimes farthings； and he in
return would pipe and sing and talk simply； which diverted the
people； and thus he lived。 It was but a very bad time for this diversion
while things were as I have told； yet the poor fellow went about as
usual； but was almost starved； and when anybody asked how he did he
would answer； the dead cart had not taken him yet； but that they had
promised to call for him next week。
It happened one night that this poor fellow； whether somebody had
given him too much drink or no … John Hayward said he had not drink
in his house； but that they had given him a little more victuals than
ordinary at a public…house in Coleman Street … and the poor fellow；
having not usually had a bellyful for perhaps not a good while； was
laid all along upon the top of a bulk or stall； and fast asleep； at a door
in the street near London Wall； towards Cripplegate…； and that upon
the same bulk or stall the people of some house； in the alley of which
the house was a corner； hearing a bell which they always rang before
the cart came； had laid a body really dead of the plague just by him；
thinking； too； that this poor fellow had been a dead body； as the other
was； and laid there by some of the neighbours。
Accordingly； when John Hayward with his bell and the cart came
along； finding two dead bodies lie upon the stall； they took them up