Out of the hundred parishes in and about the city, one only, that of Saint John the Evangelist in Watling-street, remained uninfected, and this merely because there was scarcely a soul left within it, the greater part of the inhabitants having quitted their houses, and fled into the country.
The deepest despair now seized upon all the survivors.

Scarcely a family but had lost half of its number--many, more than half--while those who were left felt assured that their turn would speedily arrive.

Even the reckless were appalled, and abandoned their evil courses.

Not only were the dead lying in the passages and alleys, but even in the main thoroughfares, and none would remove them.

The awful prediction of Solomon Eagle that "grass would grow in the streets, and that the living should not be able to bury the dead," had come to pass.