midnight
The more pious part of the community thronged to the churches , from which they had been so long absent , and returned thanks for their unexpected deliverance . Others , who had been terrified into seriousness and devotion , speedily forgot their former terrors , and resumed their old habits . Profaneness and debauchery again prevailed , and the taverns were as well filled as the churches . Solomon Eagle continued his midnight courses through the streets ; but he could no longer find an audience as before . Those who listened to him only laughed at his denunciations of a new judgment , and told him his preachings and prophesyings were now completely out of date . By this time numbers of those who had quitted London having returned to it , the streets began to resume their wonted appearance . The utmost care was taken by the authorities to cleanse and purify the houses , in order to remove all chance of keeping alive the infection .