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Many historians believe the Black Death originated in Mongolia, and Chinese records show a huge outbreak in Mongolia in the early 1330s (another Chinese virus?). The plague repeatedly returned to haunt Europe and the Mediterranean throughout the 14th to 17th centuries. It was present somewhere in Europe in every year between 1346 and 1671. We have detailed records of what happened in the Great Plague of London in 1665.
Much of the following comes from God Preserve us all!: Samuel Pepys and the Great Plague In two successive years of the 17th century London suffered two terrible disasters. In the spring and summer of 1665 an outbreak of Bubonic Plague spread from parish to parish until thousands had died and the huge pits dug to receive the bodies were full. In 1666 the Great Fire of London destroyed much of the center of London, but also helped to kill off some of the black rats and fleas that carried the plague bacillus.
Whole communities were wiped out and corpses littered the streets as there was no one left to bury them. It began in London in the poor, overcrowded parish of St. Giles-in-the-Field. It started slowly at first but by May of 1665, 43 had died. In June 6,137 people died, in July 17,036 people and at its peak in August, 31,159 people died (see figure). In all, 15% of the population perished during that terrible summer.
Great Plague deaths for the months May-August; covid-19 deaths for biweekly periods from end January to first half of March
While deaths from the Great Plague were around ten times the deaths from covid-19 in the four time periods since the deaths were first noted, the rate of growth was roughly the same. Incubation of the disease took a mere four to six days in the plague (five days for covid-19). When the plague appeared in a household, the house was sealed, thus condemning the whole family to death. These houses were distinguished by a painted red cross on the door and the words, ‘Lord have mercy on us’. At night the corpses were brought out in answer to the cry,’ Bring out your dead’, put in a cart and taken away to the plague pits.
While deaths from the Great Plague were around ten times the deaths so far from covid-19 in the four time periods since the deaths were first noted, the rate of growth was roughly the same. Incubation of the disease took a mere four to six days in the plague (five days for covid-19). When the plague appeared in a household, the house was sealed, thus condemning the whole family to death. These houses were distinguished by a painted red cross on the door and the words, ‘Lord have mercy on us’. At night the corpses were brought out in answer to the cry,’ Bring out your dead’, put in a cart and taken away to the plague pits.
The King, Charles II and his Court left London and fled to Oxford. Those people who could, sent their families away from London during these months, but the poor had no recourse but to stay.
It was believed that holding a posy of flowers to the nose kept away the plague and to this day British judges are still given a nose-gay to carry on ceremonial occasions as a protection against the plague. A song about the plague is still sung by children. ‘Ring-a-ring of roses‘ describes in great detail the symptoms of the plague and ends with ‘All fall down’. The last word, ‘dead’, is omitted today.
In his diary, Samuel Pepys gives a vivid account of the plague’s progression.
June 5, 1665
This day, much against my will, I did in Drury Lane see two or three houses marked with a red cross upon the doors, and “Lord have mercy upon us” writ there; which was a sad sight to me, being the first of the kind that, to my remembrance, I ever saw. It put me into an ill conception of myself and my smell, so that I was forced to buy some roll-tobacco to smell to and chaw, which took away the apprehension.
June 10, 1665
Lay long in bed, and then up and at the office all the morning. At noon dined at home, and then to the office busy all the afternoon. In the evening home to supper; and there, to my great trouble, hear that the plague is come into the City (though it hath these three or four weeks since its beginning been wholly out of the City); but where should it begin but in my good friend and neighbour’s, Dr. Burnett, in Fanchurch Street: which in both points troubles me mightily. To the office to finish my letters and then home to bed, being troubled at the sicknesse, and my head filled also with other business enough, and particularly how to put my things and estate in order, in case it should please God to call me away, which God dispose of to his glory!
June 15, 1665
The Duke of Yorke not yet come to towne. The towne grows very sickly, and people to be afeard of it; there dying this last week of the plague 112, from 43 the week before, whereof but [one] in Fanchurch-streete, and one in Broad-streete, by the Treasurer’s office.
June 20, 1665
This day I informed myself that there died four or five at Westminster of the plague in one alley in several houses upon Sunday last, Bell Alley, over against the Palace-gate; yet people do think that the number will be fewer in the towne than it was the last weeke!
June 22, 1665
Up pretty betimes, and in great pain whether to send my mother into the country to-day or no, I hearing, by my people, that she, poor wretch, hath a mind to stay a little longer, and I cannot blame her, considering what a life she will through her own folly lead when she comes home again, unlike the pleasure and liberty she hath had here. At last I resolved to put it to her, and she agreed to go, so I would not oppose it, because of the sicknesse in the towne, and my intentions of removing my wife. So I did give her money and took a kind leave of her, she, poor wretch, desiring that I would forgive my brother John, but I refused it to her, which troubled her, poor soul, but I did it in kind words and so let the discourse go off, she leaving me though in a great deal of sorrow. So I to my office and left my wife and people to see her out of town, and I at the office all the morning. At noon my wife tells me that she is with much ado gone, and I pray God bless her, but it seems she was to the last unwilling to go, but would not say so, but put it off till she lost her place in the coach, and was fain to ride in the waggon part.
June 23, 1665
So home by hackney-coach, which is become a very dangerous passage now-a-days, the sickness increasing mightily, and to bed.
June 26, 1665
So, weary, home, and to my office a while, till almost midnight, and so to bed. The plague encreases mightily, I this day seeing a house, at a bitt-maker’s over against St. Clement’s Church, in the open street, shut up; which is a sad sight.
June 29, 1665
This end of the towne every day grows very bad of the plague. The Mortality Bill is come to 267; which is about ninety more than the last: and of these but four in the City, which is a great blessing to us.
June 30, 1665
Thus this book of two years ends. Myself and family in good health, consisting of myself and wife, Mercer, her woman, Mary, Alice, and Susan our maids, and Tom my boy. In a sickly time of the plague growing on.
An Act of Tragedy and Courage
A small village in Derbyshire called Eyam has a story of tragedy and courage that will always be remembered. In 1665 a box of laundry was brought to Eyam by a traveler. The laundry was found to be infested with fleas, and the epidemic started.
80% of the people died on Eyam and there could have been a terrible outbreak in Derbyshire had the village not had a courageous rector called William Mompesson. He persuaded the villagers not to flee the village and so spread the infection, but to stay until the plague had run its course. His wife was one of the many victims and her tomb can be seen in Eyam churchyard.
Mompesson preached in the open air during the time of the plague, on a rock in a dell now called Cucklett Church. Every year a Commemorative Service is held here on the last Sunday in August. During their ‘siege’ the villagers dropped money for provisions into a well so as not to spread the infection on the coins.
Our current tragedy is an echo of plagues humanity has had to face many times in the past. There will be times when the news seems too much, when the isolation and boredom seems overwhelming, when fear and anxiety overshadow peace and confidence, but always remember this: The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold…of whom shall I be afraid?
