In which the narrator accompanies a waterman to Greenwich to observe the array of ships moored in the river, serving as refuge for those seeking safety from the plague, and reflects on the fearful consequences of the contagion infiltrating these floating sanctuaries. He further considers the tragic plight of Londoners, particularly women in childbirth and infants, who suffered grievously from neglect and superstition amid the dire circumstances, revealing a populace overwhelmed by desperation and the dread of death.