Thieves have broken in during this time of panic, and have despoiled me of the value of thousands of pounds.

Whilst my mind has been full of other matters, my worldly wealth has been swept away.

I stand here before you a ruined man.
And like enough the very miscreants who have used this time of public calamity for plunder and lawlessness may be lying by this time in the common grave.

But that will not give my property back to me." "Alas, father, these are indeed evil days! But has no watch been kept upon the streets that such acts can be done by the evil disposed?
Is all property in the city at the mercy of the violent and wicked ?" "Only too much has vanished that same way, as I have heard from many.

Some owners are themselves gone where they will need their valuables no more, and others were careful to remove all they had to their own houses, or they themselves lived over their goods and could guard them by their presence.