A proclamation from Charles II which outlines the ‘Rules and orders for preventing the spreading of the Plague’ published at Whitehall on 11 May 1666. Catalogue ref: SP 46/131 f.64.
People continued to die from plague in London after the Great Fire although case numbers had already dropped significantly by the time of the fire. However, it would not be accurate to conclude that the Great Fire of London eliminated the plague.
- How do orders 1-9 try to prevent the spread of plague?
- What plague symptoms are described in the plague orders?
- What does this source reveal about medical knowledge of the causes of plague at the time?
Transcript
RULES AND ORDERS
To be observed by all Justices of Peace, Mayors, Bayliffs, and other Officers,
for prevention of the spreading of the Infection of the PLAGUE.
Published by His Majesties Special Command.
You are to take care, That no stranger be permitted to lodge or abide in any City, Towne or Village without Sufficient Certificate of health, and the consent of the next Justice of the Peace, or Chief Magistrate (if within a Corporation) which said Certificate to made by the Minister and Church Wardens of the Parish from whence such person came, and confirmed under the hand and Seal of the next Justice of Peace to the said Parish.
- That no old household Goods whatsoever be received into any city, Burrough, Town, Village or hamlet, coming from any place suspected to be infected with the Plague, without sufficient Certificate.
- That all publique [public] Meetings and Concourses [groups] of people, as much as may be (especially to Funerals; Wakes or Revels) be prohibited, where there is any suspicion of the Plague.
- That no Vagabonds nor Beggers be permitted to go and wander about the Countrey, or in any other city or place, and, That you appointing Watching and Warding for that end, and that all publique places (especially Streets and Passages) be kept sweet and clean, and that all Laystalls, Dunghills, and Slaughter-houses near any Dwellings be removed to places more remote.
- That Order to be given to all householders to keep their Dwelling-houses sweet and clean, and to keep shut all windows opening towards Infected houses.
- That Fires in moveable Pans, or otherwise, be made in all necessary publique [public] Meetings in Churches, &c. and convenient Fumes to correct the Air be burnt thereon.
- That care be taken that no unwholsom [unhealthy] Meats, stinking Fish, Flesh, musty Corn, or any other unwholesome Food be exposed to sale in any Shops or Markets.
- That no Swine [pigs], Dogs, Cats or tame Pigeons be permitted to pass up and down in Streets, or from house to house, in places Infected.
- That the Laws against Inn-Mates be forthwith put in strict execution, and that no more Alehouses be Licensed then are absolutely necessary in each City or place, especially during the continuance of this present Contagion.
- That each City and Town forthwith provide some convenient place remote from the same, where a pest-house, huts, or sheds may be erected, to be in readiness in case any Infection should break out; which if it shall happen to do, That able and faithful Searchers and Examiners be forthwith provided and Sworn to Search all suspected bodies, for the usual signs of the plague, viz. Swellings or Risings under the Ears or Arm-pits, or upon the Groynes [groin]; Blains, Carbuncles, or little Spots, either on the Breast or back, commonly called Tokens.
- That if any House be Infected, the sick person or persons be forthwith removed to the said pest-house, sheds, or huts, for the preservation of the rest of the Family: And that such house (though none be dead therein) be shut up for fourty days, and have a Red Cross, and Lord have mercy upon us, in Capital Letters affixed on the door, and Warders appointed, as well to find them necessaries, as to keep them from conversing with the found.
- That at the opening of each Infected house (after the expiration of the said Fourty Days) a White Cross be affixed on the said door, there to remain Twenty days more; during which time, or at least before any stranger be suffered to lodge therein, That the said house be well Fumed, Washed and Whited all over within with Lime; And that no Clothes, or Householdstuff be removed out of the said house into any other house, for at least Three months after, unless the persons so Infected have occasion to change their habitation.
- That none dying of the Plague be buried in Churches, or Church-yards (unless they be large, and then to have a place assigned for that use (where other bodies are not usually buried) Boarded or Paled in Ten foot high) but in some other convenient places, and that a good quantity of unslakt Lime be put into the Graves with such bodies, and that such Graves be not after opened within the space of a year or more, less they infect others.
- That in case any City, Burrough, Town or Village be so visited and Infected, that it is not able to maintain its own poor, That then a Rate be forthwith made by the adjoining Justices of the Peace, and confirmed at the very next Quarter Sessions, for that use, upon the neighbouring Parishes, according to the Statute 1 Jacobi [James 1], so that such visited poor may have sufficient Relief; want and nastiness being great occasions of the Infection.
- That you yourselves use your utmost endeavours, not only to see these Directions punctually observed, and be in a readiness to render an Accomt [Account] as often as you shall be required, but that you strictly enjoyn all high Constables, petty Constables, Headburroughs and other Officers, to execute their respective Duties according to their places; and if any shall fail herein, to use the utmost severity against them according to Law.
What relates to Physitians [doctors], Chysurgeons, [surgeons] and such other persons as are necessary for the preservation and help of such who shall be Infected, the same is left to your particular care and direction.
Lastly, That you take special care, that not onely [only] the Monethly Fasts, but that the publique prayers on Wednesdays and Fridays also, be strictly and constantly observed according to his Majesties Proclamation; And that such Collections as shall be then made, be strictly applied to the relief and necessities of the poor in Infected places, by which means God may be inclined to remove his severe hand both from amongst you and us.
LONDON
Printed by John Bill and Christopher Barker, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty, 1666
Glossary
affixed – attached.
Alehouses – places where ale (beer) was sold.
Bayliffs – bailiffs, officials who could enforce written orders issued by a court and carry out arrests.
Blains – sores, blisters.
Boarded or paled – fenced.
Burrough – any place larger than a village
Carbuncles – harmful tumours, caused by inflammation of the skin.
Chysurgeons – surgeons.
Contagion – epidemic
Dunghill- heap of dung
Enjoyn – direct, order.
Expiration – end of the time limit.
Forthwith – immediately.
Habitation – place where people live.
Headburroughs – officers with the same role as petty constables
Herein – in this.
High Constable – officer with duties and powers to keep the peace.
Fumed – treated with fumes.
Justice of the Peace – magistrate with the power to deal with lesser crimes, perform marriages and administer oaths.
Large – wealthy, important.
Laystall-laystall was a place where cattle going to market could be held.
Pest-house – a plague hospital, there were five in London holding about 600 people.
petty Constable – officer whose task was to keep the peace.
Physitians – physicians, doctors.
Proclamation – public announcement.
Quarter Sessions – a local court of limited powers that sat every three months.
Relief – public assistance, aid
Render – give.
Revels- feasts or parties.
Searchers – officials appointed to view dead bodies and report on the cause of death.
Unwholsom – unhealthy.
Vagabond -a person who wanders from place to place without a home or job.
Viz.- that is.
Wakes- funeral receptions
Warders – guards or watchers of the locked-up houses.
Simplified transcript
RULES AND ORDERS
To be followed by all Justices of Peace, mayors, officers of the court
for prevention of the spreading of the plague
Published by special order of the King.
You are to take care, that no outsider is to be allowed to stay in any city, town or village without a certificate of health, and the agreement of the justice of the peace, or magistrate. If in a town, a certificate is needed from the cathedral and church wardens of the parish from where the person comes from with agreement from the Justice of Peace to the new parish.
- That no old household goods be received, without a certificate, into any city, town, village, or hamlet, coming from a place suspected to be infected with the plague.
- No public meetings or groups of people are to meet for funerals, wakes or parties, where there is any suspicion of the plague.
- No tramps or beggars are allowed to move around the country or within a city. Wardens and watchmen will make sure this is done and keep for all public places (especially streets and passages) clean and make sure that any animal pens dunghills, and slaughterhouses near any houses are removed.
- All householders must keep their houses sweet and clean, and to keep shut all windows opening towards infected houses.
- Fires with moveable pans [metal grate for holding hot coals], to be placed in all public meetings held in churches, to improve the air by the burning fire.
- Care be taken that no unhealthy meat, stinking fish, or rotten corn, or any other unhealthy food be sold in shops or markets.
- That no pigs, dogs, cats, or tame pigeons be permitted to pass up and down in streets, or from house to house, in places infected with plague.
- That laws against the owners of inns are strictly enforced, and that no more alehouses are allowed to do business other than necessary in the city or otherwise during this present outbreak of plague.
- Each city or town must provide a remote place for a pest-house or huts, or sheds in readiness should an infection break out. If that happens, reliable searchers and examiners must be provided to search for those suspected of having the plague. They must check for the usual signs of swellings under the ears or armpits, or groin including sores, inflammation, or little spots, either on the chest or back, commonly called tokens.
- If any house is infected, the sick person or persons must be immediately taken to the pest-house, sheds, or huts, for the safety of the rest of the family. And the house (even if nobody who has died there) is to be shut up for 40 days, and have a red cross, and ‘Lord have mercy upon us’, in capital letters attached to the door. Appointed warders will bring them necessities, so they don’t have to go out.
- When the infected house is opened after 40 days, a white cross is to be fixed to the door for another 20 days. Before anyone lives there, the house is to be fumigated, cleaned, and whitewashed inside with lime. No clothes, or household goods are to be removed from the house into any other house, for at least three months.
- No one who has died from plague is to be buried in churches, or churchyards unless there is enough space for that purpose and the area is fenced at ten foot high. Burial must be in appropriate places, and a good quantity of burnt lime must be put into the graves with the bodies. These graves must not be opened within the space of a year or more in case they infect others.
- In case any city, town or village be Infected with the plague is unable to care for its own poor, a rate will be fixed by the local justices of the peace, and confirmed at the next quarter court sessions, for the neighbouring parishes (according to the laws of James I.) Therefore, the poor will have enough help during these times of the plague.
- You must make every effort to be sure that these rules are followed and give account for them when asked. You must work with all constables and other officers, to help carry out their duties and if anyone fails to do so, they will face the consequences of the law.
In relation to doctors, surgeons, and such other persons necessary for the preservation and help for the infected, do as directed.
Lastly, take special care, that not only the monthly fasts, but that the public prayers on Wednesdays and Fridays are strictly observed according to his Majesty’s Proclamation. And that collections are made, for the relief and the poor in infected places, and God may spare us all from the plague.