Female searchers, "such
as are of honest reputation, and of the best sort as can be got
of the kind," were selected that they might report of what
disease people died; such women not being permitted during this
visitation to use any public work or employment, or keep shop or
stall, or wash linen for the people. Nurses to attend the
afflicted deserted by their friends were also appointed. And
inasmuch as multitudes of idle rogues and wandering beggars
swarming the city were a great means of spreading disease, the
constables had orders not to suffer their presence in the
streets. And dogs and cats, being domestic animals, apt to run
from house to house, and carry infection in their fur and hair,
an order was made that they should be killed, and an officer
nominated to see it carried into execution. It was computed
that, in accordance with this edict, forty thousand dogs, and
five times that number of cats, were massacred.
All plays bear-baitings, exhibitions, and games were forbidden;
as were likewise "all public feasting, and particularly by the
companies of the city, and dinners at taverns, alehouses, and
other places of common entertainment; and the money thereby
spared, be employed for the benefit and relief of the poor
visited with the infection." Pest-houses were opened at Tothill
Fields, Westminster, and at Bunhill Fields, near Old Street, for
reception of the sick: and indeed every possible remedy
calculated to check the disease was adopted.
Pages:
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242