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[illustration] ❧ Orders to be vsed in the time of the infection of the Plague within the Citie and Liberties of London, till further charitable prouision may be had for places of receite for the visited with infection.
THat euery Alderman call before him his Deputie, and all the Church-wardens, Constables, Parish Clarkes, Sextons and Bedles within his Warde, and giue them streight and earnest charge from time to time to inquire what houses in euery parish and precinct of that Warde be infected. And that euery Constable doe bring euery day true, distinct, and plaine certi∣ficate thereof in writing to the Alderman or his Deputie. And that the Al∣derman* 1.1 or his Deputie from time to time send the same certificates to the Surueyers of the Parishes, to whom it shall appertaine, to the intent that they haue vnderstanding thereby to see the orders in that behalfe executed accordingly. And here is to be noted, that euery house wherein any shall bee sick of the Plague, is to be iudged and vsed as infected, as wel as where any dyeth thereof. And likewise euery house from whence any person infected shall be remooued to any house or place, shall bee iudged infected, if any eft∣soones fall sicke in the same house.
That in euery house infected, the Master, Mistresse, or gouernour, and the* 1.2 whole family and residents therein at the time of such infection, shall remaine continually without departing out of the same, and with the doores and windowes of the hall, shop, or other nether part of the house shut, by the space of xxviii. dayes from the death of the party dying of infection, and vntill the partie sicke, and not dying thereof, shall bee fully recouered, or their sore fully healed: and such person recouering, or healed, to tarry shut vp xx. dayes from such recouerie, or full healing. And that during all that time, no clothes, linnen,* 1.3 or other like thing, be hanged out, or ouer into the streete.
And that none so to be shut vp, shal go abroad out of the said house, during the time aboue appointed, but one certaine person (and not sundry at sundry times) to be appointed by the Surueyers of that Parish, for prouision of necessaries for the said family. Which person so to be appointed, shall during all the time of his, or her being abroad out of such house carry in their hand openly, vpright in the plainest manner to be seene, one red wand of the length of iii. foot at the least,* 1.4 to be deliuered to them by the Surueyers at the charge of the Parish, without carrying it closely, or couering any part of it with their cloke or garment, or otherwise: and in their going in the streetes and lanes shall alway keepe the way close by the chanell side, shunning as much as may be, the meeting and vsuall way of other people. And shall not in any* 1.5 wise come into any throng or presse of publike assembly, on paine of imprisonment by the space of viii. daies without baile or maineprise, in some of the Cages next to the house so infected.
Prouided alway, that it shalbe free to the owner of any house so infected, and his said family, residents, or any of them* 1.6 at any time within the said xxviii. dayes, to remoue and depart out of this Citie, and the Liberties thereof, into any o∣ther his, or her house, or abiding in the Country, or to any house in the Citie, without being shut vp in such house infec∣ted,* 1.7 so that euery such person so remouing, or departing, doe abstaine from returning into the said Citie, or the Liberties thereof, and from going abroad out of such other house in the City, during the said xxviii. daies, and on pain that euery person so returning, or going abroad within the said xxviii. dayes, shall suffer imprisonment, as is aforesaid.
That the Churchwardens and Constable in euery precinct, prouide, and haue in readinesse, one, or moe sober discreet* 1.8 women, as the case shall require to be prouiders and deliuerers of necessaries for the infected houses, and to attend the persons sick and infected, at the charge of such householders of such houses, if they be able: and if not, then at the charge* 1.9 of the Parish. And that such women once entring into charge of such prouision and attendance, shall carry red wands, goe by the chanell side, and forbeare assemblies, as is aforesaid.
That such as haue Welles or Pumpes, shall cause euery morning before vi. of the clocke, and euery euening after* 1.10 viii. of the clocke, the same to be drawne, and x. buckets of water at the least to be powred to runne downe the Chanell. And that euery morning and euening at the said houres the streets and Chanels be made cleane, and swept by some one* 1.11 of euery house against the chanel, but so as the water be not in any wise swept out of the chanel to the sides of the streets nor the stones wet but within the chanel, excepted onely sprinkling for laying of the dust at the sweeping. And that the mud and filth of the streetes be at the said houres taked vp, and swept together in heapes out▪ of the chanell, and not at any other time of the day. And that it be so drawne vp from the chanell, that the water powred downe the chanels may not carry away, or be mingled with such filth.
That the streetes be made cleane by the Scauenger and Raker euery day, except Sunday.* 1.12
That the Alderman himselfe, or his Deputie, doe often visite the Warde to view whether the said orders bee duely obserued, specially touching cleanenesse of the streetes.
That ouer the doore of euery house infected, in a place notorious and plaine for them that passe by to see it, the Clark* 1.13 or Sexton of that Parish cause to be set one Paper printed with these words, Lord haue mercy vpon vs, in such large forme as shall be appointed. And that the Constable of the precinct, and Bedle of the Warde, shall daily view & see that the said Paper remaine there during the said terme of xxviii. dayes without taking away, blotting or defacing. And if any be taken away, blotted or defaced, that a new be set in the place thereof. And if the same be taken away, blotted, or