In which a company of Londoners, fleeing the plague, establish themselves in the forests near Epping and are met with suspicion and charity in equal measure as they endeavour to live honestly and avoid bringing infection to the countryside. Through the kindness of local gentlemen and prudent leadership, they struggle against poverty, cold, and the spreading sickness, ultimately seeking shelter in an old house and reflecting the broader plight of many displaced souls who roamed the lands in search of refuge.