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 Parist Clerk.
Obj. 2. Admit the Searchers were discreet and knowing persons, yet the Parish Clerks neglect their duty, and do not at 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; they being both [Page] 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.
But to proceed, my purpose is to give you a just and brief Accompt of all the Weekly Christnings and Mortality in all the Years of Pestilence since the beginning of the Bills of Mortality, accounting such for Plague Years, wherein the number of that Disease amounted to One Thousand or thereabouts: Together with some Observations on the Bills for the said Years, and their precedent and subsequent Years.
I shall begin with the year 1593. being the first year in which any Accompt of the Chirstnings and Burials was kept. I cannot find any Record of more antiquity then that of this Year in the Company of Parish Clerks Hall; nor can I give you a particular Accompt of the Christnings and Burials therein. But the General or whole Years Accompt I find Recorded in these Words, viz.
- A Brief Report of all the Christnings and Burials within the City of London and the Liberties thereof, for one whole Year past; (that is to say) from Thursday at Noon the xxj of December, Anno 1592. unto the xx day of December being Thursday at Noon, Anno 1593. hath been buried in all 17844
- Whereof hath died of the Plague 10662
- Christned this whole Year, is 4021
- Parishes Clear of the Plague 00
I shall now proceed to treat of the subsequent Year 1594. In which Year I find not only the General or whole Years Accompt, but also the Particular or Weekly Accompt, both of Christnings and Burials to be on Record. I shall not give you an Accompt of the Particulars in this Year; It (according to my Accompt) not coming within the compass of a Plague Year.
But I shall note unto you, That the Bill of Mortality now in its Infancie, consisted but of 109 Parishes; which Parishes then were only Alphabetically set down, without making any distinction of the Out-Parishes from those within the Walls: whereas now it comprehends 130. and distinguishes the Parishes by the four Divisions of the 97. 16. 12. and 5. Parishes, as by the present Bills may appear. I shall next name unto you the Parishes then wanting.
In the now 97 Parishes within the Walls, wanted the Parish of St. James at Dukes-place. In the now 16 Parishes, being part within the Liberties and part without, wanted St. Bartholomew the Great, Bridewell Precinct, and Trinity in the Minories. Which four Parishes, I conceive, being all Precincts, came not into the Bill. The now 12 and 5 Parishes were then quite exempt. I shall now shew by what ascents and steps the Bills came to what they now are.
In the Year 1604 were added to the 109 Parishes, these here-under named, To the then 13 Parishes the 3 Parishes said to be wanting of the 16 Parishes, and these 8. viz.
- St. Clement Danes
- St. Giles in the Fields
- St. James at Clarkenwell
- St. Katherine Tower
- St. Leonard in Shoreditch
- St. Mary in Whitechappel
- St. Martin in the Fields, and
- St. Magdalen Bermondsey.
In the Year 1606 was added to these 8, St. Mary at the Savoy: and in the Year 1647 to them likewise was added St. Paul in Covent Garden, making their number the 10 Out-parishes. In the Year 1626, the Parish or Precinct of St. James at Dukes-place was added to the then 96 now 97 Parishes within the Walls: All which Parishes ever since their several additions, and the other ever since the Year 1604, brought to the Company of Parish Clerks Hall, not only the number of all the Christnings and Burials, but also an accompt of all the Diseases and Casualties, although no such accompt was published to the World until the Year 1629. In this Year also was added the City of Westminster, which brought in only the number of the Christnings, Burials, and Plague, without taking notice of, or specifying any other the Diseases or Casualties. And in the Year 1636, the Parishes of Hackney, Islington, Lam-beth, Newington, Rothorith, and Stepney, likewise brought in their Reports of the Christnings, Burials, and Plague, in like manner and form as the City of Westminster before is said to do.
In the Year 1660 the Bills were new modelled, and the accompt of all the Diseases and Casualties in the whole 130 Parishes, was brought in, and the 12 Parishes lying in Middlesex and Surrey, were made a Division in the fore-side Bill by themselves, and the 5 Parishes within the City and Liberties of Westminster were made a Division by themselves; whereas before they were intermixed with each other.
In the Year 1665 the Totalls of the Christnings were distinctly set down in the foreside Bill under each of the 4 Divisions of the 97. 16. 12, and 5. Parishes respectively.
Thus have I given you a Brief accompt of the Additions of the several Parishes to the Weekly Bills: It now remains that I should shew you the several shapes or forms in which the Bills of Mortality have since their Original been presented to the World. And likewise for what reason the accompt of Burials were kept. I think I need not trouble my self herein, since that worthy and ingenious Gentleman, Captain John Graunt, in his Book of Natural and Political Observations on the Bills of Mortality, hath already so well described them: Wherein also he shews that the Bills of Mortality had their beginning in the Year 1592. it being a very Pestilential Year: and that the occasion of keeping the accompt of Burials arose first from the Plague in that Year.
I shall now return to speak of the Year 1603. And shall first observe unto you, that most of the Pamphlets and Papers yet extant concerning the Bills of Mortality, make mention of this Year for a very great Plague Year. But their Writers are either very ignorant, and set down their accompts at random, or else have lost a year; for they all make their Papers bear date March 17. 1603. and conclude that from thence to December following, which must necessarily be in the Year 1604. there died of all Diseases [Page] 37294. whereof of the Plague 30561. I shall now make the falsities of their Papers appear, by giving you the General, or whole Years accompt for that Year, as I find it Recorded in the form following; which will somewhat antidate their Papers, and yet not amount to the 33 part of the number they accompt the Plague to be therien
The whole Years Collection of all the Burials and Christnings, as well within the City of London and the Liberties thereof, as in the eight Out-Parishes adjoyning to the City, and out of the Freedom: together with all at the Pest-house belonging to London, from Thursday the 21 of December, Anno Dom. 1603. to Thursday the 20 of December 1604. according to the Report made to the Kings most excellent Majesty, by the Company of Parish Clerks as followeth:
- Buried this Year in the fourscore and 16 Parishes of London within the Walls 1798
- Whereof of the Plague 280
- Buried this Year in the 16 Parishes of London within the Liberties and without the Walls 2465
- Whereof of the Plague 368
- The whole summ of all the Burials in London and the Liberties thereof this year is 4263
- Whereof of the Plague 648
- Buried this Year in the eight Out-Parishes, and the Pest-house adjoyning to London, and cut of the Freedom 956
- Whereof of the Plague 248
- The Total of all the Burials in all the places aforesaid is 5219
- Whereof of the Plague 896
- Christned in all the aforesaid Places this Year 5458
- Parishes that have been clear this Year 24
- Parishes that have been infected this Year 96
I had likewise given you the particulars for this Year, but that according to my accompt it comes not within the compass of a Plague Year.
I deny not, but that there might be, and I believe was, a very grievous Pestilence which raged here in some part of the Year 1603. and that which confirms me most in this belief, is a Sermon preached by Bishop Andrews before King James at Cheswick the 20 day of August 1603. being said to be preached in the time of Pestilence: But I deny, and have already made it appear, that it continued not till March 1603. much less began then.
Having now given you an accompt of the Errours of others Papers, by putting them in Competition with the Company of Parish Clerks Register, you may ask me, Why then I do not give you a better account of that Pestilential Year?
I answer, That in that Year the Parish-Clerks gave not in any accompt thereof; and although I think it not impossible, yet it is very improbable, that any particular man should give a just accompt thereof.
For the Bills of Mortality took their Original 21 Decemb. 1592. being part of the year in which raged the Great Plague, and continued until 18 Decemb. 1595. In which Year (the Plague ceasing) they were discontinued and laid aside as useless until the 21. day of December, Anno 1603. at which time they were again resumed and continued unto this Day.
Captain Graunt observes likewise, that the Bills were not resumed till after the Great Plague 1603.
I now proceed to give you a particular accompt of 18 Years of Pestilence, and shall first begin with the Year 1605 part, and 1606. being the first Year which I find the Particular or Weekly accompt of the Plague to amount to above 1000 in our Books, as in the Table following.
The 18 Years of Pestilence, of which I give you a Weekly accompt, are these hereunder written;
Anno | Anno |
1605 | part, and | 1606 | 1639 | part, and | 1640 |
1606 | 1607 | 1640 | 1641 |
1607 | 1608 | 1641 | 1642 |
1608 | 1609 | 1642 | 1643 |
1609 | 1610 | 1643 | 1644 |
1624 | 1625 | 1644 | 1645 |
1629 | 1630 | 1645 | 1646 |
1635 | 1636 | 1646 | 1647 |
1636 | 1637 | 1664 | 1665 |
OBSERVATIONS On the BILLS of MORTALITY For the 18 Years: And on some of their Precedent and Subsequent Years.
HAving now finished the Tables for the 18 Years, and given you a just and faithful accompt of all the Christnings and Burials in every particular Week, I shall make some few short Observations on the Weekly and General Bills therein, and on such other years, on which they have dependency; I mean some of their precedent and subsequent Years.
Observ. 1.
That the Weekly and General Bills in the year 1593. did bear date from Thursday to Thursday, as by the General Bill for that year (which I have herein before inserted, may appear,) and that they continued that course until the year 1629. In which year, and ever since, they bare date from Tuesday to Tuesday: But both then and now, the Weekly Collections or accompts of Christnings and Burials, began the Bill in December, and the whole years accompt, or General Bill, concluded the year in the same Moneth following; whereas all the Papers that make mention of the Great Plagues in the years 1592. 1593. 1603. and 1625. bear date the 17 of March in all the said years, and accompt from thence; still making that day Epidemical, as well as the Year Pestilential. But I think it very strange, nor do I believe that the 17 of March in all the said years did fall out to be on a Thursday: but I conceive, that what is contained in them, was gleaned from some false scattered Papers, printed in [Page] some of those years, and I presume it will not be strange to such who shall live to see another year of Pestilence, to see the same poyson extracted from the many false Papers printed in this year.
Observ. 2.
That in all the years of Pestilence I ever read of, there died of that Distemper both Males and Females, except in the Plague in the time of King David, and in that of Senacheribs Camp; in both which there died none but Men, as I shall shew you hereafter.
Observ. 3.
That in all the years of Contagion or Plague, the numbers 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 the Air 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 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. 5.
That the greatest number of the Plague in the year 1636. hapned to be in September; and so likewise in most of the 18 years: in the precedent year to this, there died none of the Plague, although both it, and the subsequent year were Plague years.
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 encreased nor 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 Rabshakeh 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 hath pleased God to visit this Nation, were drawn down upon it by the sins of the people, 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 our selves: 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 [Page] 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 and Anton; 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 herein 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 life time, in favour of the men of Israel [Page] 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 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 [Page] 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 Doctors 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 off 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.