Endnotes explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Government and Authority

  The constable and the sham military orders reflect the use and manipulation of authority figures during the plague.

• Fear and Panic

  John's pretense as a sentinel exploits the fear of the constable and the people, causing them to change their behavior.

Characters to notice

• John Hayward

  John is described stepping out of a tent with a gun, pretending to be a sentinel to frighten a constable and the people with him.

• Constable

  The constable and his company are frightened by John's ruse and change their tone.

• Captain Richard

  Captain Richard is mentioned in a sham order to march with his people, but no such person or company actually existed.

• H.F.

  The author of the journal lies buried in the ground mentioned, at his own desire, following his sister's burial there a few years before.

Key passages

• “It seems John was in the tent, but hearing them call, he steps out, and taking the gun upon his shoulder, talked to them as if he had been the sentinel placed there upon the guard by some officer that was his superior.”

  John, who was in the tent, came out when called, shouldered his gun, and spoke to them as if he were a sentinel stationed there by a superior officer.

  John's impersonation of a guard is a key moment of deception.

• “This frighted the constable and the people that were with him, that they immediately changed their note.”

  This scared the constable and his group so much that they quickly altered their tone.

  The constable's fear leads to a swift change in behavior.

• “Here he called to one of his men, and bade him order Captain Richard and his people to march the lower way on the side of the marches, and meet them in the forest; which was all a sham, for they had no Captain Richard, or any such company.”

  He then called to one of his men and ordered him to direct Captain Richard and his company to take the lower path along the marshes and rendezvous in the forest, but this was entirely a fabrication, as there was no Captain Richard or any such group.

  The order for Captain Richard is revealed as a bluff to intimidate others.

• “That part of the river where the ships lie up when they come home is called the Pool, and takes in all the river on both sides of the water, from the Tower to Cuckold’s Point and Limehouse.”

  The section of the river where ships anchor upon returning is known as the Pool, encompassing both banks from the Tower to Cuckold's Point and Limehouse.

  Geographical clarification of the Pool of London.

• “N.B. ⁠—The author of this journal lies buried in that very ground, being at his own desire, his sister having been buried there a few years before.”

  Note: The author of this journal is buried in that same ground, as he wished, because his sister had been buried there a few years earlier.

  The author's burial request reflects personal connection to the location.