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irty…five thousand； and eleven years after full ten thousand persons perished of this same pestilence。 Moreover； but two years previous； a like scourge had been rife in Holland； and in Amsterdam alone twenty… four thousand citizens had died from its effects。
And the terror of the citizens of London was yet more forcibly increased by the appearance in April of a blazing star or comet； bearing a tail apparently six yards in length； which rose betimes in a lurid sky； and passed with ominous movement from west to east。 ＇It is worthy of notice that Lilly in his 〃Astrological Predictions；〃 published in 1648； declared the year 1656 would be 〃ominous to London； unto her merchants at sea； to her traffique at land； to her poor； to her rich； to all sorts of people inhabiting in her or her Liberties； by reason of sundry fires and a consuming plague。〃＇ The king with his queen and court； prompted by curiosity； stayed up one night to watch this blazing star pass above the silent city； the Royal Society in behalf of science embodied many learned comments regarding it in their 〃Philosophical Transactions；〃 but the great body of the people regarded it as a visible signal of God's certain wrath。 They were more confirmed in this opinion； as some amongst them； whose judgments were distorted by fears； declared the comet had at times before their eyes assumed the appearance of a fiery sword threatening the sinful city。 It was also noted in the spring of this year that birds and wild fowls had left their accustomed places； and few swallows were seen。 But in the previous summer there had been 〃such a multitude of flies that they lined the insides of houses； and if any threads of strings did hang down in any place； they were presently thick…set with flies like ropes of onions； and swarms of ants covered the highways that you might have taken up a handful at a time； both winged and creeping ants； and such a multitude of croaking frogs in ditches that you might have heard them before you saw them；〃 as is set down by one William Boghurst； apothecary at the White Hart in St。 Giles…in… the…Fields； who wrote a learned 〃Treatis on the Plague〃 in 1666； he being the only man who up to that time had done so from experience and observation。 ＇This quaint and curious production； which has never been printed； and which furnishes the following pages with some strange details； is preserved in the Sloane Collection of Manuscripts in the British Museum。＇ And from such signs； as likewise from knowledge that the pestilence daily increased； all felt a season of bitter tribulation was at hand。
According to 〃Some Observations of the Plague；〃 written by Dr。 Hedges for use of a peer of the realm； the dread malady was communicated to London from the Netherlands 〃by way of contagion。〃 It first made its appearance in the parishes of St。 Giles and St。 Martin's； Westminster； from which directions it gradually spread to Holborn； Fleet Street； the Strand； and the city； finally reaching to the east； bringing death invariably in its train。
The distemper was not only fatal in its termination； but loathsome in its progress； for the blood of those affected being poisoned by atmospheric contagion； bred venom in the body； which burst forth into nauseous sores and uncleanness； or otherwise preyed with more rapid fatality internally； in some cases causing death before its victims were assured of disease。 Nor did it spare the young and robust any more than those weak of frame or ripe with years； but attacking stealthily； killed speedily。 It was indeed the 〃pestilence that walketh in darkness； and the destruction that wasteth in the noonday。〃 In the month of May； when it was yet uncertain if the city would be spared even in part； persons of position and wealth； and indeed those endowed with sufficient means to support themselves elsewhere； resolved to fly from the capital； whilst such as had neither home； friends； nor expectation of employment in other places； remained behind。 Accordingly great preparations were made by those who determined on flight； and all day long vast crowds gathered round my lord mayor's house in St。 Helen's； Bishopsgate； seeking certificates of health； so that for some weeks it was difficult to reach his door for the throng that gathered there； as is stated by John Noorthouck。 Such official testimonies to the good health of those leaving London had now become necessary； for the inhabitants of provincial towns； catching the general alarm； refused to shelter in their houses； or even let pass through their streets； the residents of the plague…stricken city； unless officially assured they were free from the dreaded distemper。 Nay； even with such certificates in their possession； many were refused admittance to inns； or houses of entertainment； and were therefore obliged to sleep in fields by night； and beg food by day； and not a few deaths were caused by want and exposure。
And now were the thoroughfares of the capital crowded all day long with coaches conveying those who sought safety in flight； and with waggons and carts containing their household goods and belongings； until it seemed as if the city mould be left without a soul。 Many merchants and shipowners together with their families betook themselves to vessels； which they caused to be towed down the river towards Greenwich； and in which they resided for months； whilst others sought refuge in smacks and fishing… boats； using them as shelters by day； and lodging on the banks by night。 Some few families remaining in the capital laid in stores of provisions； and shutting themselves up securely in their houses； permitted none to enter or leave； by which means some of them escaped contagion and death。 The court tarried until the 29th of June； and then left for Hampton； none too soon； for the pestilence had reached almost to the palace gates。 The queen mother likewise departed； retiring into France； from which country she never returned。
All through the latter part of May； and the whole of the following month； this flight from the dread enemy of mankind continued； presenting a melancholy spectacle to those who remained； until at last the capital seemed veritably a city of the dead。 But for the credit of humanity be it stated； that not all possessed of health and wealth abandoned the town。 Prominent amongst those who remained were the Duke of Albemarle； Lord Craven； the lord mayor； Sir John Laurence； some of his aldermen； and a goodly number of physicians； chirurgeons； and apothecaries； all of whom by their skill or exertions sought to check the hungry ravages of death。 The offices which medical men voluntarily performed during this period of dire affliction were loathsome to a terrible degree。 〃I commonly dressed forty sores in a day；〃 says Dr。 Boghurst； whose simple words convey a forcible idea of his nobility； 〃held the pulse of patients sweating in their beds half a quarter of an hour together； let blood； administered clysters to the sick； held them up in their beds to keep them from strangling and choking； half an hour together commonly； and suffered their breathing in my face several times when they were dying； eat and drank with them； especially those that had sores； sat down by their bed