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196
Since the receipt of the letter from the Lords of the Councell
there has been severall Meetings of the Justices of the Peace both
to review the Orders formerly made by the Councell Board as well
as their owno and many direcons thereupon given and warrants
issued forth to the respective officers as the present occasion
required both for the preservation of the inhabitants from the infection
of the plague as well as making provision for such as were
shut up and were in want.
The Lord Bishop of London was consulted with all concerning
buriall places who could not consecrate any ground unless a perpetuatie
of the same be first obtayned.
Nevertheless the Justices have directed that such persons who
dye of the sicknesse shalbo buried in the late usuall places assigned
for that purpose.
Such infected who were removable were sent to the Pest House
and others who could not have been shut up their doors were
marked wth a red crosse for 40 dayes Warders appointed to guard
them within as well as hinder the approach of Company from
wthout, with a white crosse afterwards for the same time. There
lias been no complaints brought to the Justices of any neglect
herein but doe believe that due execution hath been generally
made of this order having themselves made a particular observation
in severall places.
The Churchyards have not been so generally covered with lyme
in regarde of the dearnesse and scarcity thereof there being not a
sufficient quantity to be had for that end and purpose but much
fresh earth and lyme has been layd in many churchyards and
those bodyes wcl' have been there buryed so deep layd that we
hope 110 inconveniencing can from thence arise beside special
care is taken not to open the same graves again.
The streets are dayly cleansed and the filth carried away by the
Raker who brings the carts every morning and giveing notice
thereof to the inhabitants by the sound of his Bell to the end
that every Perticular house alsoe may be cleared of its filth. As
to the laystalls too neere the streets and passages much care has
been taken for to remove them many difficulties having arisen
therein by reason of titles in law wch the proprietors had therein
Not wth standing by the industry and diligence of the Justices
some are already quite removed and the rest we hope in a very
short time wilbe removed to the great advantage of the inhabitants
as well as to the satisfaction of the Lords of the Councell
order.
Beggars have ben and are dayly removed and punished and
provision made for the poore of each parish according to law.
As to the state of the pest house the Justices have frequently and
very lately considered of it and doe conceive it highly convenient
for the Preservation of the adjoining Parishes that they were