A journal of the plague year, or, Memorials of the great pestilence in London, in 1665 / by Daniel De Foe.

  • Defoe, Daniel, 1661?-1731.
Date:
1835
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A journal of the plague year, or, Memorials of the great pestilence in London, in 1665 / by Daniel De Foe. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    the view of London, and struck some amazement upon the spirits of many. It was in the month of May that the Plague was first taken notice of: our Bill of Mortality did let us know but of three which died of the disease in the whole year before; but in the beginning of May the Bill tells us of nine, which fell by the Plague ; one in the heart of the City, the other eight in the Suburbs. This was the first arrow of warning that was shot from Heaven amongst us, and fear quickly begins to creep upon peoples' hearts: great thoughts and discourse there is in the Town about the Plague, and they cast in their minds whi- ther they should go if the Plague should increase. Yet when the next week's Bill signifieth to them the decrease, from nine to three, their minds are some- thing appeased ; discourse of that subject cools ; fears are husht, and hopes take place, that the black cloud did but threaten, and give a few drops; but the wind would drive it away. But when in the next Bill the number of the dead by the Plague is mounted from three to fourteen, and in the next to seventeen, and in the next to forty-three, and the disease begins so*much to increase and disperse, Sinners begin to be startled. The Plague is so deadly, it kills where it comes without mercy; it kills, I had almost said certainly : very few do escape, especially upon its first entrance, and before its malignity be spent. Few are touched by it, but they are killed by it; and it kills suddenly.