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A JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR
by DANIEL DEFOE
Part 1
being observations or memorials
of the most remarkable occurrences；
as well public as private； which happened in
London during the last great visitation in 1665。
Written by a Citizen who continued
all the while in London。
Never made public before
It was about the beginning of September； 1664； that I； among the rest
of my neighbours； heard in ordinary discourse that the plague was
returned again in Holland； for it had been very violent there； and
particularly at Amsterdam and Rotterdam； in the year 1663； whither；
they say； it was brought； some said from Italy； others from the Levant；
among some goods which were brought home by their Turkey fleet；
others said it was brought from Candia； others from Cyprus。 It
mattered not from whence it came； but all agreed it was come into
Holland again。
We had no such thing as printed newspapers in those days to spread
rumours and reports of things； and to improve them by the invention
of men； as I have lived to see practised since。 But such things as these
were gathered from the letters of merchants and others who
corresponded abroad； and from them was handed about by word of
mouth only； so that things did not spread instantly over the whole
nation； as they do now。 But it seems that the Government had a true
account of it； and several councils were held about ways to prevent its
coming over； but all was kept very private。 Hence it was that this
rumour died off again； and people began to forget it as a thing we
were very little concerned in； and that we hoped was not true； till the
latter end of November or the beginning of December 1664 when two
men； said to be Frenchmen； died of the plague in Long Acre； or rather
at the upper end of Drury Lane。 The family they were in endeavoured
to conceal it as much as possible； but as it had gotten some vent in the
discourse of the neighbourhood； the Secretaries of State got
knowledge of it； and concerning themselves to inquire about it； in
order to be certain of the truth； two physicians and a surgeon were
ordered to go to the house and make inspection。 This they did； and
finding evident tokens of the sickness upon both the bodies that were
dead； they gave their opinions publicly that they died of the plague。
Whereupon it was given in to the parish clerk； and he also returned
them to the Hall； and it was printed in the weekly bill of mortality in
the usual manner； thus …
Plague； 2。 Parishes infected； 1。
The people showed a great concern at this； and began to be alarmed
all over the town； and the more； because in the last week in December
1664 another man died in the same house； and of the same distemper。
And then we were easy again for about six weeks； when none having
died with any marks of infection； it was said the distemper was gone；
but after that； I think it was about the 12th of February； another died in
another house； but in the same parish and in the same manner。
This turned the people's eyes pretty much towards that end of the
town； and the weekly bills showing an increase of burials in St Giles's
parish more than usual； it began to be suspected that the plague was
among the people at that end of the town； and that many had died of it；
though they had taken care to keep it as much from the knowledge of the
public as possible。 This possessed the heads of the people very much；
and few cared to go through Drury Lane； or the other streets suspected；
unless they had extraordinary business that obliged them to it
This increase of the bills stood thus： the usual number of burials in a
week； in the parishes of St Giles…in…the…Fields and St Andrew's；
Holborn； were from twelve to seventeen or nineteen each； few more
or less； but from the time that the plague first began in St Giles's
parish； it was observed that the ordinary burials increased in number
considerably。 For example： …
From December 27 to January 3 ｛ St Giles's 16
｛ St Andrew's 17
〃 January 3 〃 〃 10 ｛ St Giles's 12
｛ St Andrew's 25
〃 January 10 〃 〃 17 ｛ St Giles's 18
｛ St Andrew's 28
〃 January 17 〃 〃 24 ｛ St Giles's 23
｛ St Andrew's 16
〃 January 24 〃 〃 31 ｛ St Giles's 24
｛ St Andrew's 15
〃 January 30 〃 February 7 ｛ St Giles's 21
｛ St Andrew's 23
〃 February 7 〃 〃 14 ｛ St Giles's 24
Whereof one of the plague。
The like increase of the bills was observed in the parishes of St
Bride's； adjoining on one side of Holborn parish； and in the parish of
St James； Clerkenwell； adjoining on the other side of Holborn； in both
which parishes the usual numbers that died weekly were from four to
six or eight； whereas at that time they were increased as follows： …
From December 20 to December 27 ｛ St Bride's 0
｛ St James's 8
December 27 to January 3 ｛ St Bride's 6
｛ St James's 9
〃 January 3 〃 〃 10 ｛ St Bride's 11
｛ St James's 7
〃 January 10 〃 〃 17 ｛ St Bride's 12
｛ St James's 9
〃 January 17 〃 〃 24 ｛ St Bride's 9
｛ St James's 15
〃 January 24 〃 〃 31 ｛ St Bride's 8
｛ St James's 12
〃 January 31 〃 February 7 ｛ St Bride's 13
｛ St James's 5
〃 February 7 〃 〃 14 ｛ St Bride's 12
｛ St James's 6
Besides this； it was observed with great uneasiness by the people that
the weekly bills in general increased very much during these weeks；
although it was at a time of the year when usually the bills are very
moderate。
The usual number of burials within the bills of mortality for a week
was from about 240 or thereabouts to 300。 The last was esteemed a
pretty high bill； but after this we found the bills successively
increasing as follows： …
Buried。 Increased。
December the 20th to the 27th 291 。。。
〃 27th 〃 3rd January 349 58
January the 3rd 〃 10th 〃 394 45
〃 10th 〃 17th 〃 415 21
〃 17th 〃 24th 〃 474 59
This last bill was really frightful； being a higher number than had
been known to have been buried in one week since the preceding
visitation of 1656。
However； all this went off again； and the weather proving cold； and
the frost； which began in December； still continuing very severe even
till near the end of February； attended with sharp though moderate
winds； the bills decreased again； and the city grew healthy； and
everybody began to look upon the danger as good as over； only that
still the burials in St Giles's continued high。 From the beginning of
April especially they stood at twenty…five each week； till the week
from the 18th to the 25th； when there was buried in St Giles's parish
thirty； whereof two of the plague and eight of the spotted…fever； which
was looked upon as the same thing； likewise the number that died of
the spotted…fever in the whole increased； being eight the week before；
and twelve the week above…named。
This alarmed us all again； and terrible apprehensions were among
the people； especially the weather being now changed and growing
warm； and the summer being at hand。 However； the next week there
seemed to be some hopes again； the bills were low； the number of the
dead in all was but 388； there was none of the plague； and but four of
the spotted…fever。
But the following week it returned again； and the distemper was
spread into two or three other parishes； viz。； St Andrew's； Holborn； St
Clement Danes； and； to the great affliction of the city； one died within
the walls； in the parish of St Mary Woolchurch； that is to say； in
Bearbinder Lane； near Stocks Market； in all there were nine of the
plague and six。 of the spotted…fever。 It was； however； upon inquiry
found that this Frenchman who died in Bearbinder Lane was one who；
having lived in Long Acre； near the infected houses； had removed for
fear of the distemper； not knowing that he was already infected。
This was the beginning of May； yet the weather was temperate；
variable； and cool enough； and people had still some hopes。 That
which encouraged them was that the city was healthy： the whole
ninety…seven parishes bu
