Howbeit now the sicknesse as I heare Haue brought these hardy men into great feare Yet to their kindred still their loue is such To giue them kind reliefe they will not grutch Prouided alwayes that they may be pent In some remoted place whereas the sent May not annoy the dwellers of the Towne Else one against another well might frowne Some two miles off the same there stands a hill That if you saw it surely say you will It is a great one likewise very high Not farre vpon nor yet not very nigh A wood doth stand Puckham is cald by name And there abouts is of great note and fame In nutting time then famous let it be A little more for that we now do see It prooues a shelter to our London men VVho there did lurke as Foxes in their den But if they chanc't abroad once for to stere More dreadfull far then wolues they did appeare To friend or foe if once they doe them spie Their sight more fell then Basilis koes eye There lodg'd that hard Squire Sir Henry hight A valiant doubty and couragious spright There lay that Lady bright his partner deare That were most brauely brought on horse-back there With diuers others men of mickle worth That were resolu'd none of them to come forth But round about the wood to roue and range Vntill the Moone had past her full and change This was the order then but out alas VVhilst we on hills are there 's a London Asse Or Carrier comes to Towne within bow shot When as the sicknesse raign'd exceeding hot His packe he doth vntie and London ware Lyes open to be catch't with Cheltnam ayre High time it is for safety to prouide More harme then ere aware may them betide The matter knowne some wise men of the Towne Bold affrappeth this foole hardy Clowne With bitter threates and with a dire aspect This great presumptuous act they do detect And to him spake thus or to this effect Thou London vagrant bold presumptuous man All words to good for thee that name we can Is this a place for thee for to vntie At such a time as this now verily If streight thou do'st not trusse and quickly runne From this same coast wee le shoot thee with a Gun At which hard words forthwith it did appeare How much it deern'd him by the trembling feare Of all his ioynts for greatly he did quake And seem'd as if his very heart did ake Sighing quoth he good sits be not offended VVhat 's done amisse hereafter shall be mended COurage braue London heart vnto thee take For euery weeke the sicknesse now doth slake What shall we alwayes faint be drooping men And thinke that nere good time will come agen Indeede 't is true many our Friends are gone And deare ones too we cannot choose but moane For them a while Gods hand we cannot stay When he doth please to strike well wish we may Time is for all a time there is to die And as they are so must be you and I A debt we owe that is to God a Death Short is our life and soone gone is our breath Here is no resting place Pilgrims we are VVithin this world vnto a Country farre VVe haue to trace it is to Heauens high To which we cannot come before we die They are in rest no doubt we still in care Sorrow we taste but they doe better fare LIke as in bloody field a battell fought By raging enemies that alwayes sought To worke vnto each other harme and skath And nought but death could swage their banefull wrath VVhere many thousands in one battel dye And many groueling on the earth doe lye After a long and weary battel tride So many wounded eke so many dyde Vpon retire they doe their losses count And finde they doe in number much surmount Of this poore Citie such now was the case When time had made so many runne the race Of this their mortall liues the rest behind To know the perfect number were inclin'd Of those that dy'd the seuerall Bills they view And cast them vp to be informed true The better to expresse cease Verse a while And let vs forwards in another stile GEntle Reader I am not ignorant what great mortallity hath beene reported and verily beleeued to be in London in almost all places of this Kingdome by reason of this sicknesse and that they conceiued a farre greater number dyed then indeed there did or at least-wise not considering or once imagining such a multitude of people men women and children should bee in one place or City thought verily there were hardly any or very few of vs left a liue Indeede the streetes were empty in respect of the large multitudes that formerly before this great sicknesse past too and fro in it but there was no grasse growing in any streets of note for want of trading as they conceiued for I perswade me as many people past too and fro in the streetes of the sayd City in the highest of the sicknesse vpon their occasions as did at any time in the streetes of any other City or great Towne of this Kingdome where the sicknesse was not setting Faires and appointed assemblies aside wherefore we were not all dead Indeede if God Almighty had goneon in wrath as of long time you see he did continue we should haue all beene ere long consumed But hee is a God of mercy and is graciously pleased to leaue some behind yea very many for a witnesse both of his Iustice and Mercy And as in my former similitude after a battell fought aswell the seuerall armies as the seuerall aduerse Countries will hearken after and take notice of the losse receiued although they may be much mooued for the same So I perswade my selfe both City and Country in this Kingdome that haue had no certainty of the number that haue dyed in this present visitation although they wish well to the City it being the harbour of many of their kindred and friends and in a manner the beauty wealth and strength of this nation will desire notwithstanding to be truly informed and therefore as ayming altogether to make my poore subiect profitable or pleasing or at least wise not burthen-some to all to whose hands it shall happen to come I haue taken this paines to set downe the number both in grosse and as they dyed weekly so may you perceiue the increase and decrease There dyed in London and the Lyberties thereof  Totall Plague FRom the 23 of December to the 30 of the same 211 0 From the 30 of December to the 6 of Ianuary 220 1 From the 6 of Ianuary to the 13. of the same 196 1 From the 13 of Ianuary to the 20 of the same 240 0 From the 20 to the 27 226 0 From the 27 to the 3 of February 174 3 From the 3 to the 10 204 5 From the 10 to the 17 211 3 From the 17 to the 24 252 1 From the 24 to the 3
of March 207 0 From the 3 to the 10 210 0 From the 10 to the 17 261 4 From the 17 to the 24 226 8 From the 24 to the 31 243 11 From the 31 to the 7 of April 239 10 From the 7 to the 14 256 24 From the 14 to the 21 230 25 From the 21 to the 28 305 26 From the 23 to the 5 of May 292 30 From the 5 to the 12 332 45 From the 12 to the 19 379 71 From the 19 to the 26 401 78 From the 26 to the 2 of Iune 395 69 From the 2 to the 9 434 97 From the 9 to the 16 510 165 From the 16 to the 23 640 239 From the 23 to the 30 942 390 From the 30 to the 7 of Iuly 1222 593 From the 7 to the 14 1741 1004 From the 14 to the 21 2850 1819 From the 21 to the 28 3583 2471 From the 28 to the 4 of August 4517 3659 From the 4 of August to the 11 4855 4115 From the 11 to the 18 5205 4463 From the 18 to the 25 4841 4218 From the 25 to the 1 of September 3897 3344 From the 1 of September to the 8 3157 2550 From the 8 to the 15 2148 1672 From the 15 to the 22 1994 1555 From the 22 to the 29 1256 85â— From the 29 to the 6 of October 838 538 From the 6 of October to the 13 â—15 511 From the 13 to the 20 651 331 From the 20 to the 27 375 134 From the 27 to the 3 of Nouember 357 89 From the 3 of Nouember to the 10 319 92 From the 10 to the 17 274 48 From the 17 to the 24 231 27 From the 24 to the 1 of December 190 15 From the 1 of December to the 8 181 15 From the 8 to the 15 of the same 168 6 Totall from the 33 of December 1624 to the 15 of December 1625. 53914. Whereof of the plague 35417. The Totall of the last great sicknesse hapning in the beginning of the Raigne of our late Soueraigne Lord King Iames deceased viz. From the 23. of December 1602. to the 22. of December 1603. there dyed of all diseases in London and the Liberties 38244. wherof of the plague 30578. Wherein the greatest number that dyed in one weeke was in London and the Liberties in all 3385. Whereof the plague 3035. IN Former times this Kingdome and City haue bin likewise visited as soone after the Conquest of King William Duke of Normandy there happened a fearefull plague As likewise in the Raigne of King Edward the third and in the yeare 1562. in which yeare there died of the Pestilence 20136. also in Anno 1592. in which yeare there dyed in all 25886. whereof the plague in and about London 1503. Other parts of the world haue likewise felt Gods hand as you may read in Scripture of Ierusalem c. Further it is recorded of the City called the grand Cair in Turkey once euery seauen yeares there hapneth a vehement Contation to the losse of most part of the people there In Rome there haue dyed 2000. a day and 100000. in a yeare In Constantinople 5000. a day and 700000. within six months In the Citty of Paris in France 100000. in a yeare viz. in Anno 1348. In Millan Padua and Venice 100000. in each City within two yeares In Bohemia 300000. in the like space and so likewise in other Cities and Kingdomes and at seuerall times hath God shewen his power AS one a sleepe of many pleasing toyes Oft times doth dreame and thinkes that he enioyes That which indeed he doth not when he wakes Into his former dumpes himselfe betakes So after we such bitter stormes had tasted For want of Trade whilst that the sicknesse lasted Luld with vaine hope when as we still did see The sicknesse cease that here a Terme should be VVithout all question kept thus thought we then And for a while we were right ioyfull men Our shops begin to open we prepare And set them out with sundry sorts of ware Although before this time windowes stood bare Open or shut we did not greatly care When newes doth come that sets vs into passion The King proclaimeth by his Proclamation That there no Terme of Michael should be kept But where the Proclamation did direct VVhich was to Reading good for Barke shire men You may coniecture what a plunge we then VVere put vnto how shall our Rent be payd And other needments which we want defrayd Now many a poore soule in the streetes we see For want to beg and craue which would not be But that the times so hard are others sham'd Although their need is great yet to be nam'd A craâ—ing begger much they would endure Ere they could brooke to put the same in vre And therefore farre more harder was their case Then those that beg'd and car'd not to be base T is such a time that many a sigh is fet By those we good-men call yet runne in debt And further also I thinke like to runne Good Lord amend it else we are vndone Albeit 't is a comfort that we finde That King and great men were so well inclin'd Their charitable deedes for to expresse In these our great afflictions to redresse The wants of poore men which did so abound VVithin this City that no place was found VVithout a multitude and to preuent Meanes was collected orders there were sent By Proclamation how it should be vsde That so their worthy deedes be not abusde This was commended to the weighty care Of Londons Gouernour the worthy Maior Who in the same did shew himselfe vpright Got great applause in all the peoples sight This worthy Act did many others mooue To shew their Charity and Christian loue Yea those that had not much themselues would giue Of that they had poore people to relieue In these sad times abroad and at the doore Thus were we moou'd so far'd it with the poore Examples surely are of wondrous force In such sad times as these to strike remorse Into mens hearts but more when as we see Before our eyes the woefull misery Of those that want no doubt most that were here And saw these things more liberall farre they were Then earst before and to tell plaine my minde What others write my selfe did daily finde Them very free for wheresoere I was At home or broad giuing there alwayes was By one or other vnto those that cri'd Who hardly of an Almes deed were deni'd Of them they askt foretimes it was not so But many should be ask't that would say no Before that we would see ones wants relieued So hard our hearts were to poore soules y'grieued And now to you that in the Country be Heare not the cryes of poore nor yet doe see Their miserable wants how they haue far'd And how we to our powers haue not spar'd Our meanes for to relieue them if we slacke Let not our slacknesse you hard hearted make When you shalberequired I may say We haue done well whilst you haue beene away Still neede there is and like is so to be 'T will be a pleasing thing for vs to see You home againe in peace if much you make Of poore afflicted ones for Christ his sake LAstly to all Residers of this Land That at this time haue felt the Almighties hand Or seene the heauy iudgements that haue beene Sith that the cause thereof is onely sinne For which we haue euduted many a smart And oft times gone to bed with aking heart Like dreaded children let vs now be wise And haue a care that we doe not despise Or set at light the anger of our God Least he in furie with a greater rod In vengeance come vpon vs warning take By this most grieuous chastment now awake And looke about vs let vs call to minde VVhat mightie Cities we in writings finde That heretofore for glorie bare the bell And through the world did far and neere excell The Famous Niniue Ierusalem Troy Carthage Roome and many more with them Which for their sinnes were wholly ouerthrowne Their standing places hardly to be knowne And in this sad disaster let vs not Forget the woefull state which now God wot Renown'd Iudea and the Easterne Lands That now lye groaning vnder Turkish bands The famous Grecia many Countries more VVho all one God and Sauiour did adore That we do now but going farre astray Haue wrought vnto themselues such sad anoy That griefe it is to tell Oh that my pen Or all the arte I haue could now mooue men To leaue their euill courses and to turne Vnto their maker inwardly to mourne For what hath bin the cause of this sad woe And gaine the loue of him that now our foe Appeares to be how haue we wandred wide In vaine excesse of ryot sinfull pride Where was the loue that with vs should be found And with Gods seruants should to all abound VVas it not turn'd to hatred and despite Or such a loue as strayd farre from the right Most filthy fraud we lou'd for to deceiue And if we could our neighbours to bereaue Of that they had be 't but a good name If we had none we enui'd at the same Our swearing and blaspheming hatefull lyes Haue pe'rst the very Heauens and there cries For flaming vengeance and our great oppression Haue there bin likewise and haue made confession Before we 'd do 't our selues our beastly lust And many other sinnes did sticke as rust Vpon our sinfull soules oh now like men Le ts rouse these dang'rous Adders from their den These haue bin they that haue our sorrows sought And these were they that to destruction brought The other wofull Countries these are they That if we not forsake them will destroy Our wofull Land likewise now let vs weepe And drench our eyes in flouds of sorrowes deepe That we so great a God haue not regarded Conclude that we most iustly are rewarded For our misdeedes and let vs from them cease This is the way to make a finall peace 'Twixt God and vs so let all good men pray Amen Amen with me God grant we may FINIS
Then did the Lord begin to lay his hand And plainly shewd he 'd giue vs vnderstand That he was angry with vs at the first Small quaintity there dy'd Death did not thirst As now it doth a dozen or a score We thought it much soone after forty more Or such like number to the ground were sent But hardly any misse of those that went Time slides away our glasse doth daily runne And God will finish what he had begunne For shortly after in the Bills are spide About a hundred of the sicknesse dyde And yet at that time I remember well There 's very few of vs could rightly tell Whether the sicknesse were the plague or no So willingly we would haue had it so The Searchers now brought into question be For that poore aged folkes they could not see Gods handy-worke t was thought that they did wrong To many people thus did we prolong Our miseries aduice was taken then Of Phisicke Doctors all held worthy men And such as for their skill did much surpasse The meaner sort they told vs that whereas Those that from vs this sicknesse did deuide Had caught a spotted feuer and so dyde THus the Almightie though he hath and can Produce strange wonders by the Arte of man Neuerthelesse when he thinkes good he will Confound the wisedome and the learned skill Of mortall Creatures and vs plainly shew He can send iudgments that they shall not know How to preuent with all their arte or skill If we rebell and not his will fulfill THE Former Searchers now are in hard case They are reprou'd some forc't to loose their place And now with cheerefull hearts we doe agree The former doubt but a mistake might bee Yet still alas the sicknesse doth increase And therefore of our feares we do not cease Those that they now appoint are bound with oath Vpon their consciences to tell the troth That neither for reward or filthy seare Or else for any fauour that they beare Vnto the persons that are so infected Should stop their iudgments now to be expected THeir charge receiu'd away now do they hie And to their businesse do they looke more nigh Daies quickly go the nights likewise full fast And very sudainly a weeke is past And now we lookt to be resolued well And who but searchers could vs betrer tell The questions askt and then they told their mind That certainly the places which they find So visited so farre as they could see No other sicknes then the plague should be The reason now of this afore-said doubt As I haue heard by experience is found out That as the plague beginneth with the yeare So do the markes thereof at first appeare Much like the spotted Feuer as time goes on And yeare vpon his backe puts age vppon The markes do alter to another hue Leauing the red and then is turn'd to blew VVE studdy now and often cast about And call to mind what heretofore fell out Vpon the Death of any Souerainge Prince Or in Successors raigne hath hapned since There 's many of vs doe remember yet It was so late we can it not forget When first King Iames came here this Crowne to sway How many by the plague were caught away And now the most of vs perswaded be That such a scknesse we againe shall see But being come vnto the month of Iune It sings to vs a sad and mournesfull tune For now we thinke the sicknesse will not cease Because we find it weekly doth increase Orders are now prescribde and best inuention That we can vse or finde out for preuention The doores of sicke are shut and Dogs be kild T is better they should goe then we be fild With noysome smells a reason some doth tell That brings the sicknesse with vs here to dwell It to auoid houses and streetes we wash And many a paile of water downe we pash Before our doores the place of those infected We warily auoyd though we respected The visited before their sicknesse came Yet now to see them would redound much blame Vnto vs all the neighbours they would scare vs And hearing it few of them would come neere vs For so to doe can we tell what may chance To vs or ours so farre for to aduance Or venture out our selues them to come neare Pray blame vs not we iustly may forbeare Thus did we feare at first but time growes on That which before we could not build vppon Trinity Terme was for that time put off Causes of suite in Law were driuen off Till longer time they that came many a mile VVith griefe returne stay heere but little while That hoped to haue seene some happy end Oâ— their long Suites now vainely doe they spend Both time and money London they forsake And many a long and wearie steppe they make Before they come vnto their wisht desire To see the smoake that issues from the fire Of their owne Chymneys and to preuent Danger of infection the Parliament That euer commonly with vs did sit Do now forbeare and thinke it farre more fit That kept it should be in some other place The City Oxford 't was that had the grace Of that assembly there they time did spend No doubtfull carefull for to make an end Of that they had in hand statutes are acted And in a booke together are compacted For publique good there let them rest a while Whilst we goe forwards in our homelie stile To tell you truely what did come to passe To moneth next following which cald Iuly was Each weeke with longing we desire to see VVhither the bills increast or lessened be But where the figures set for hundreds were Now thousands three and more there do appeare By hundreds three foure score fiue in number Due time it is for vs to leaue of slumber And generally with one voyce and accord We gin to weigh the iudgments of the Lord And seeke to him our helper and our guide That we of mercie may not be denide In this affliction call to minde our sinne VVith humble praiers and fasting we beginne That so we may appease Gods angrie hand The onely way his iudgements to withstand Wherein assuredlie we did doe well VVe knew the gracious goodnes which befell To Niniue and other Cities noe Which else had bin destroyd had't not bin so They had repented this right godly thing First was commended by our noble King Thereby he shew'd that he a Father was Vnto this Citie and what came to passe He tooke to heart alas what better loue Or friend for friendship can we further prooue Then at such times as we afflicted be That they are moou'd our miseries to see And do their best endeauors to be briefe Vse all the arte they can for our reliefe In this renowned King great commendation We must ascribe welfare and preseruation Of vs and ours was dailie in thy minde As by thy prouident care we did it finde Should we vnthankfull be it were most vild And we hereafter