Wiltshire Quarter Sessions. 11 



three city parishes during' the year 1604^ giv<;a by Hatcher, shews 

 that in the month of August of that year the deaths numbered two 

 hundred and thirty-five. 



The municipal authorities- made what ordinances they could for 

 the protection of their towns, and the justices legislated for the 

 county : — 



" Wiltes. Orders made and agreed upon by the Justices of the Peace of the 

 fores'* Oountye at the Open Gen'all Quarter Sessions of the Peace of the same 

 county holdeu at the City of New Sar' The Tuesday next after the Feast of the 

 Epiphany &c. in the yere of the raigne of 0'' Sov'aigne Lord King James &c. 

 viz. of Englande &c. the first and of Scotlande the xxxvij"" 



" Whereas div's Townes Villages and other places w'thin this county ar at this 

 p'sent infected w"" the contajious disease of the pestilence and that notw"'standing 

 any good order or p'vision made and taken by his Ma"" Officers and Ministers 

 of the saide places for p'vencon of the disperse thereof div's insolent and stubbome 

 people infected therew"' being shutt up (by order) in their houses or other places 

 convenient and there competently p'vided for and relieved w'^ all maner necessary 

 p'vision fi-tt for them Doe very uncivily and outragiously demesne and behave 

 them selves towai'ds the said officers and other their neighbo" of the places wher 

 the s** infecon ys, refusing to keepe them selves in according to the orders taken, 

 and p'scribed them in that behalfe but very uncharitably p'sume to leave their 

 houses and places appointed them and to set them selves in the company of their 

 neighbo" both in their private houses and other publick meetings free as yett 

 from the s"* infecon to the great offence of their s"* neighbo" and daunger of 

 further encrease of the s^ disease (as the Court is very credibly enformed) yf 

 some good order therein be not taken Yt is therefor ordered by the Justices of 

 the Peace of the s"* County assembled at the fores'" Gen'all Quarter Sessions That 

 the Constables Bayliffs Tithingmen and other his Maties Officers wthin the 

 pcincts and lymitts of such Townes and places as now or hereafter shalbe infected 

 w'h the s'' disease shall and maye use all good and fit meanes for the urging and 

 compelling all the people in any house infected thereof to kepe close in the house 

 where the s^ infection is or where they shalbe by order placed for the tyme 

 lymitted and appointed them And that every such pson .... w'*' shall 

 happen to be infected w'*" the s^ disease .... and shalbe commanded to 

 kepe close . . : . and shall stubbornely and obstinately refuse to be ordered 

 or shall evile intreat any such officer in this behalfe and p'sume to presse or come 

 into any company cleene of the s'' infecon That then suche p'son and p'sons (so 

 misbehaving themselves) after suche time as he or they shalbe founde whole and 

 sounde of the said infection shall Le comitted .... unto the house of 

 correction .... neerest unto suche Towne .... there to remayne 

 by the space of one moneth next after his or their comittem' and shall once every 

 daye duringe his ymj)riso?im^ there be punished by whipping and after . . 

 . . shall find sufficient security for his good behavio'." 



Further order was made : — 

 " For avoydinge of further encrease of the infection of the pestilence w*^*" by 



