offered many violences to the county robbed and plundered, and
killed cattle, and the like; that others, building huts and hovels by the
roadside, begged, and that with an importunity next door to
demanding relief; so that the county was very uneasy, and had been
obliged to take some of them up.
This in the first place intimated to them, that they would be sure to
find the charity and kindness of the county, which they had found here
where they were before, hardened and shut up against them; and that,
on the other hand, they would be questioned wherever they came, and
would be in danger of violence from others in like cases as
themselves.
Upon all these considerations John, their captain, in all their names,
went back to their good friend and benefactor, who had relieved them
before, and laying their case truly before him, humbly asked his
advice; and he as kindly advised them to take up their old quarters
again, or if not, to remove but a little farther out of the road, and
directed them to a proper place for them; and as they really wanted
some house rather than huts to shelter them at that time of the year, it
growing on towards Michaelmas, they found an old decayed house
which had been formerly some cottage or little habitation but was so
out of repair as scarce habitable; and by the consent of a farmer to
whose farm it belonged, they got leave to make what use of it they could.
The ingenious joiner, and all the rest, by his directions went to work
with it, and in a very few days made it capable to shelter them all in
case of bad weather; and in which there was an old chimney and old
oven, though both lying in ruins; yet they made them both fit for use,
and, raising additions, sheds, and leantos on every side, they soon
made the house capable to hold them all.
They chiefly wanted boards to make window-shutters, floors, doors,
and several other things; but as the gentlemen above favoured them,
and the country was by that means made easy with them, and above
all, that they were known to be all sound and in good health,
everybody helped them with what they could spare.
Here they encamped for good and all, and resolved to remove no
more. They saw plainly how terribly alarmed that county was
everywhere at anybody that came from London, and that they should
have no admittance anywhere but with the utmost difficulty; at least
no friendly reception and assistance as they had received here.
Now, although they received great assistance and encouragement
from the country gentlemen and from the people round about them,
yet they were put to great straits: for the weather grew cold and wet in
October and November, and they had not been used to so much
hardship; so that they got colds in their limbs, and distempers, but
never had the infection; and thus about December they came home to
the city again.
I give this story thus at large, principally to give an account what
became of the great numbers of people which immediately appeared
in the city as soon as the sickness abated; for, as I have said, great
numbers of those that were able and had retreats in the country fled to
those retreats. So, when it was increased to such a frightful extremity
as I have related, the middling people who had not friends fled to all
parts of the country where they could get shelter, as well those that
had money to relieve themselves as those that had not. Those that had
money always fled farthest, because they were able to subsist
themselves; but those who were empty suffered, as I have said, great
hardships, and were often driven by necessity to relieve their wants at
the expense of the country. By that means the country was made very
uneasy at them, and sometimes took them up; though even then they
scarce knew what to do with them, and were always very backward to
punish them, but often, too, they forced them from place to place till