NOTES OX A MINUTE BOOK. 155 



tliat all psons kecpe their wells, buckets, rope?, tanckctts, nialkiiis, 



and ladders fitt to make use of uppou occasion " Ijut 



the great effort against fire was made on June 15, 1G49, when all 

 the inhabitants were summoned to meet the justices and company 

 at hall to confer about " something beneficial to the Towne'' at 

 8 a.m. " And that then it be proposed to them what each one 

 will contribute towards the raising of XXX'' or XL'' for Ijuj'ing 

 of a brazen Engine or Spoute to quench fire in times of danger." 

 Then on Dec. l4, 1649, there is an order for £35, more or less, to 

 be paid to Master W. White for the same, " which he bought at 

 London. And that the Towne Steward do in the most convenient 

 place in the Shirehall make a place with fir boards for the securing 

 and placing of him for the best ease and conveniency of use." 

 From other sources I gather that this " brazen spoute" was simply 

 a great syringe, held uj) by two men and worked by a third. 

 Master Mayor and Company were as watchful against pestilence 

 as against fire. In C, 9, under June 6, 1636, we read that "the 

 wagoners shall be Avarned in regard of the pnte danger of sicknes 

 in and from London to forbeare to bring any more passengers 

 without sufficient billes of health under the hands of the ministers 

 and churchwardens from London. . . ." Again in C. 9 on 

 Oct. 7, 1636, it is ordered that no goods brought by Richard 

 Shank, "one of the waggon cariers," or any other carrier, from 

 London are to be admitted to Dorchester without the consent of 

 the Mayor and Company. Again on Oct. 20, 1641, waggoners are 

 ordered to bring no one from London by reason of " the sicknes of 

 the pestilence." Moreover quarantine Avas enforced. In C. 9 

 under July 10, 1637, it is minuted that " AVhereas J. Greene 

 . . . . tailor, contrary to orders went to London and has since 

 returned and gone to his house the backway . . . . it is 

 therefore ordered that the barne of Kaph Perryn in flVome White- 

 field be procured to harbor the said Greene in or otherwise in the 

 Coller Maker's howse there, and two wardemen bee set lu attend 

 them (his family was willi liiiii), and tlii^ charge for tJH'iv dii't and 

 phyaick to bee borne ... by the whole Towne out of the 



