HISTORY 135F

Infectious and Epidemic Disease in History

Department of History
University of California, Irvine
 Instructor:    Dr. Barbara J. Becker

Documents Related to the Numbers of Deaths in London during the Great Plague

Chart of Mortality of the Great Plague in London, 1665-6; Table of Deaths in London (March 1665 - February 1666); and London's Remembrancer... (1665). by John Bell.

Mortality in the Great Plague

Deaths in London (March 1665 -- February 1666)

for the week ending:	due to plague:	total:		for the week ending:	due to plague:	total:
March 28, 1665	0	353		September 12, 1665	6544	7690
April 4	0	344		September 19	7165	8297
April 11	0	382		September 26	5533	6460
April 18	0	344		October 3	4929	5720
April 25	2	398		October 10	4327	5068
May 2	0	388		October 17	2665	3219
May 9	9	347		October 24	1421	1806
May 16	3	353		October 31	1031	1388
May 23	14	385		November 7	1414	1788
May 30	17	399		November 14	1050	1359
June 6	43	405		November 21	652	905
June 13	112	558		November 28	333	544
June 20	168	611		December 5	210	428
June 27	267	684		December 12	243	442
July 4	470	1006		December 19	281	525
July 11	725	1268		December 26	152	330
July 18	1089	1761		January 2, 1666	70	253
July 25	1843	2785		January 9	89	265
August 1	2010	3014		January 16	158	375
August 8	2817	4030		January 23	79	272
August 15	3880	5319		January 30	56	227
August 22	4237	5568		February 6	52	--
August 29	6102	7496		February 13	59	249
September 5	6988	8252		February 20	69	252

LONDONS REMEMBRANCER: OR, A true Accompt of every particular Weeks CHRISTNINGS and MORTALITY In all the Years of PESTILENCE Within the Cognizance of the BILLS of MORTALITY Being XVIII Years. Taken out of the Register of the Company of Parish Clerks of London, &c. TOGETHER WITH Several Observations on the said Years, and some of their Precedent and Subsequent Years. by John Bell, Clerk to the said Company (London, 1665)

To the READER. Courteous Reader, Having observed with some trouble, the many and gross mistakes which have been imposed upon the World, by divers Ignorant Scriblers about the weekly Accompts of former Visitations; I thought it some part of my duty to rectifie those Errours, out of the undeniable Records of those times; and I have accordingly drawn from the Register of the Company of Parish Clerks an exact Computation since the year 1592. to this present year, to satisfie their curiosity that desire to be better informed, and to prevent the inconvenience of false Papers for the future.  There have been several Pamphlets Printed upon this Argument, which have been all faulty more or less, and would not be worth the while to Descant upon; but there is one amongst the rest, which I cannot let pass without a mark, in regard that it bears the face of a Sober Discourse, and is Intituled, Reflections on the Bills of Mortality.  In this Pamphlet the Reader will find a greater number set down in some years to die of the Plague, than the Clerks Register took notice of to die in all.  I therefore have put this small Treatise to view for publick satisfaction, and prevention of false Papers; which is the only intention of JOHN BELL. ______ Some Objections against the BILLS of MORTALITY Answered: As also a view of the Original and continued Bills of Mortality; Shewing by what ascents and steps they came to their present perfection. Together with an Accompt of 18. Years PESTILENCE. ______ Since I have undertaken to say somewhat of the Bills of Mortality, I think it necessary to give an answer to those so generally reported Objections against it: Obj. 1.  That the Bill of Mortality is little worth, by reason the Searchers are generally old and simple women, and are not able to judge of, and distinguish between Diseases, and therefore cannot make a true Report to the Parish Clerk. Obj. 2.  Admit the Searchers were discreet and knowing persons, yet the Parish Clerks neglect their duty, and do not all return them; or not according to the Report of the Searchers. To these I answer, that the Bill of Mortality is of very great use and necessity, and therefore not to be slighted, since it so much conduceth to the Health of the City, and Preservation of the Members thereof, in that it giveth a general notice of the Plague, and a particular Accompt of the places which are therewith infected, to the end such places may be shunned and avoided. True and undeniable it is, That the Searchers are generally ancient women, and I think are therefore most fit for that Office:  But sure I am they are chosen by some of the eminentest men of the Parish to which they stand related; and if any of their Choosers should speak against their abilities, they would much disparage their own Judgments.  And after such Choice they are examined touching their sufficiency, and sworn to that Office by the Dean of the Arches, or some Justices of the Peace, as the cause shall require. As for the Clerks Returns, I dare affirm they never were more punctual in the Discharge of this their Duty then at this day.  And truly both they and the Searchers have a great deal of reason to be very careful of what they make Report, and being both bound by their Oaths for the performance thereof; The Searchers to view and search the bodies of all persons Deceasing within their Parish; and to give a true Accompt to the Clerk of what Diseases the Parties Die.  And the Clerk to return a just accompt (according to the Report of the Searchers) to the Common Hall of the Company of Parish Clerks, for the true making up of the Weekly Bill of Mortality.  And I presume there cannot be a stricter Obligation then a sacred Oath to bind any person.... ______ OBSERVATIONS On the BILLS of MORTALITY For the 18 Years: And on some of their Precedent and Subsequent years. ______ ...Observ. 3. That in all the years of Contagion or Plague, thenumbers of other Diseases encreased much, notwithstanding many of them turned to the Plague. For although the Plague be a great Receptacle for other Diseases, yet the contagion of the Air introduceth many more than the Plague receiveth.  And Captain Graunt observes, That a disposition in theAir towards the Plague, doth also dispose Women to Abortions. Observ. 4. That in the year 1625. there died in all 54265. whereof of the Plague 35417. of which number of the Plague 20455. died in the moneth of August.  I am of the opinion that this year was not only the greatest year of Pestilence, but also the most sickly year that ever the Bill of Mortality took notice of.  And I think I need give you no other reason therefore, than what I have already given in my 3. Observation.  This great Mortality and Pestilence continued only this year, whereas it is seldom known, but that other, either precedent or subsequent, accompany years of Pestilence with the like Contagion; which to this hapned nothing so:  For in 1624. its precedent, there died but 11. which number of the Plague for one whole year is no more than there have usually died of that Distemper in healthful years.  Nor was the subsequent year 1626. so Pestilential as to be termed a Plague year, there dying but 134 of the Plague therein.... Observ. 6. In the year 1664 part, and 1665. the Plague began with the first Weeks Bill for the year, in December, at St. Giles in the fields, when as but one had died of the Plague in 24 weeks before, and but 6 in the whole year: it increased not until the 9 day of May.  From which time it continued and increased, so that in 16 weeks it run up from 9 to 6102 in one week:  which number of the Plague much exceeded the total number of any one week in any year of Pestilence whatsoever, which I ever read to have happened within this City. I come next to shew you the Cause of the coming of the Plague, which I shall briefly do in the words of our famous English Oratour, Bishop Andrews. The Plague (saith he) is caused by Gods wrath against Sin, There is wrath gone out from the Lord, and the Plague is begun (saith Moses) Numb. 16.46.  So it is said, God was displeased with David, and he smote Israel with the Plague.  So that if there be a Plague, God is angry; and if there be a great Plague, God is very angry, &c.  Ask the Physician the cause of it, and he will tell you the cause is in the air; the air is infected, the humours corrupted, the Contagion of the sick, coming to and conversing with the sound, and they be all true causes. But as we acknowledge these to be true, That in all Diseases, and even in this also there is a natural cause, so we say there is somewhat more, somewhat Divine and above Nature; as somewhat for the Physician, so some work for the Priest, and more too (it may be) for whosoever doth not acknowledge the finger of God in this sickness, over and above all causes Natural, looketh not deeply enough into the cause thereof. That the Plague is a thing causal and not casual, may appear by the Latine word Plaga, which properly signifieth a stroke; which necessarily inferreth a cause; for where there is a stroke, there must be one that striketh. Thus much of Bishop Andrews. Now if there be a cause we shall do well to consider what that cause may be.  In the Plague in Aarons time, the peoples Rebellion was the cause.  In that in Phineas his time, Fornication was the cause.  In that in King Davids time, Pride was the cause; his heart was lifted up to number the people.  And in that in Senacheribs Camp, his Blasphemy by the mouth of his servant Rabshakeb was the cause.  Thus we see four Plagues and their Causes; Now I shall say somewhat of their causers.  The two first of these were caused by the people, the other two by Kings.  In the two first I observe that the Scripture makes mention only of the number of the people, without particularising what they were that died, whether Men, Women, or Children, or all of them.  In the two latter it makes mention of Men only; first in King Davids time of Threescore and Ten Thousand men; and in Senacheribs Camp of One Hundred Fourscore and Five Thousand Men:  and I believe that in the two last none but men died, for king Davids sin was numbring the men, the women were not numbred.  And in Senacheribs Camp, the Scripture sayes plainly, that those that died were mighty men of valour, Leaders and Captains in the Camp of the King of Assyria, 2 Chron. 32.21.  And I believe that few or no women followed the Camp so far.  And although frequently in Scripture where men are spoken of, women are included, yet I presume that in both these they were wholly exempt. From hence I observe, that all the Plagues wherewith it has pleased God to visit this Nation, were drawn down upon it by the sins of the peole, and not by any particular act or crime of any the Kings thereof; for I cannot find, nor do I believe, that any one hath read of a Plague within this Nation which spared either Sex or Age. Now to look home to ourselves:  Let us consider for which of these four causes, or whether for all of them, God is pleased to afflict us with the present raging Pestilence. Although I am confident this Nation is sufficiently guilty of all of them, yet I am of opinion that more particularly this Judgment is laid on us for the first of them, the sin of Rebellion, which extended much farther than that of the Israelites against Moses andAaron; for they only murmured; they touched not the life of either of them, and yet God plagued them for it.  Our Rebellion extended to the height of Rebellion; even to the taking away the life of the best of Kings, his late Majestie of ever blessed Memory, whose blood doubtless doth uncessantly cry to the Lord for Vengeance. For if the Lord punished the sin of Saul a King so severely, for shedding the blood of the Gibeonites, who were his Vassals and Slaves, Hewers of Wood, and Drawers of Water, that neither the lives of himself and his three sons, who fell all in one Battel, in one day; nor the three years of Famine in the Land, could appease Gods wrath therefore, but that the blood of seven more of Sauls sons must do it. May not then this Nation justly expect Gods greatest judgments to fall on the people of it, for shedding the blood of their lawful Soveraign?  For their sin therein was as much greater than Sauls, by how much a lawful and good King (over three so fair, large, and populous Kingdoms) is greater than a Vassal or Slave. And because Murther of all sins is the most hainous in the sight of the Almighty, but especially the Murthering of Kings and Nobles, therefore God punisheth it with one of his severest punishments.  I mean with the Plague:  for God himself accounted three dayes Pestilence equal to three Months flying before the Enemy, or three years of Famine. Some may Object, and say, That it is a vain and ridiculous thing to imagine this present Plague to be inflicted upon us for a thing so long past. I answer in the words of the Psalmist, Psal. 9.12. When God maketh inquisition for blood, he remembreth them.  When God will make inquisition for blood, there is none can tell; but when he doth, then he will not fail to remember them that shed it. This When, hath not at any time since the death of our late Martyred Soveraign, come so near as now; and therefore I cannot choose but take particular notice of it.  For God doth not alwayes make inquisition for blood so soon as it is spilt, but many times a great while after:  as may appear by the Gibeonites, for Saul slew them in his lifetime, in favour of the men of Israel and Judah; and yet God sent a Famine of three years in the time of King David, after Sauls death; for that a full satisfaction for their blood was not then made by the blood of Sauls Family.  And when David asked them, What he should do for them to make an atonement to the Lord they (though slaves) asked neither silver, nor gold, nor Liberty, but seven of Sauls sons, whom they hanged to cease the Famine. Thus much then for supernatural causes:  I shall now proceed to give you some Causes natural. The first and great Cause natural, is the infection of the Air, and the Rule and Raigning of the Plannets over mens bodies; from which proceeds the Contagion of Converse.  And I conceive that the contagion of the Air doth arise from the unseasonableness of the weather; for the weather hath been very seldom, since the beginning of the Plague, sutable to the season of the year, but the Air hath been close and obnubulated, insomuch that the Sun hath not had the full power to do its Office; which is, to exhale all Foggs and malign Vapours, &c. arising from the terrene bodies, which corrupt and infect the Air. The second is the inclination of mens bodies to receive and retain the suppressions of the Air. And mens bodies are most inclineable to it when they are disordered by immoderate eating or drinking, by heats or colds, &c.  And it is thought by some, that things eaten long since may in some measure be introductory to it.  For some Physitians are of opinion, that the unwholsom meat (by reason of the great Rot among Sheep) eaten by the Poor last Year, may now cause so great a Malignity, as to prove contagious. Now the first and great Antidote, and Preservative against the Plague, is hearty Repentance and fervent Prayer.  For Prayer upon Repentance is of all things most powerful with God; the many and mighty effects whereof, the Holy Scriptures do abundantly declare. I shall give one instance of the excellency of it briefly, as I had it related to me by a worthy Gentleman, my very good Friend, as followeth. Many years since, it pleased God to afflict the Kingdom of France with a Contagious sneezing, that might justly be termed epidemical:  for in a short space it swept away many thousands of people.  And the King then Regnant took all possible care to abate it, by convening all the learned Docters in his own Nation, together with the assistance of some from Neighbouring Nations:  and all to small purpose, for all Philosophie Physical could by no means abate it.  At length they fell to their Devotions, and in a very short space it pleased God to cease it; which hath procreated a good Ceremony amongst them ever since used, that when any man sneezes, all the Company put on their Hats and pray, Dieu vous assiste, which is, God help you, the Lord bless you. The second, or mean Antidote and Preservative against Infection is to take the advice of some learned Physician, whether Galienical or Chymical, and to do thereafter. ______ FINIS.