Note 265 — SCENE III.
Reading edition
This alludes to one of the regulations made to prevent the spreading of the plague. When a house became infected, the officers empowered for that purpose immediately placed a guard before it, which continued there night and day, to prevent any person going from thence until the expiration of forty days. At the same time, red crosses, of a foot long were painted on the doors and windows, with the words LORD HAVE MERCY UPON US, in great letters, wrote over them, to caution all passengers to avoid infected places.
In a collection of epigrams, entitled, "More Fools Yet," written by R. S. (Roger Sharpe), 1610, 4o, is the following—
"Rusticus, an honest country swayne, Whose education simple was, and plaine, Having survey'd the citie round about, Emptyed his purse, and so went trudging out. But by the way he saw, and much respected, A doore belonging to a house infected; Whereon was plac't (as 'tis the custome still) Lord have mercy upon us! This sad bill The sot perusde; and having read, he swore, All London was, ungodly, but that doore. Here dwells some vertue yet, sayes he; for this A most devout religious saying is: And thus he wisht (with putting off his hatte) That every doore had such a bill as that."