पृष्ठ 918 / 1118

The Tribunal of Health, on the 14th of November, directed the

commissioners to wait on the governor, in order to represent to

him the situation of affairs. He replied, that he was very sorry

for it; but that the cares of war were much more pressing: this

was the second time he had made the same answer under similar

circumstances. Two or three days after, he published a decree,

prescribing public rejoicings on the birth of Prince Charles, the

first son of Philip IV., without troubling himself with the

danger which would result from so great a concourse of people at

such a time; just as if things were going on in their ordinary

course, and no dreadful evil was hanging over them.