@onfri6ufion fo f 

 Jporclpesfcr. 



of 



By the Rev. W. MILES BARNES. 



(Read December 15th, 1898.} 



THE PLAGUE AT DORCHESTER. 



3RHE histories of Dorchester generally relate that in 

 1595 the town was visited by a dreadful plague, 



which carried off so many of the inhabitants that 



the living were not sufficient to bury the dead. 



I have searched, but can find no confirmation of 



this story. 



As to the plague generally, on account partly of 

 the very insanitary condition of the dwelling-houses and their 

 surroundings in the middle ages, England as well as other 

 European countries was visited by terrible epidemics. That 

 Dorchester wholly escaped these scourges is not to be expected. 

 From the direction taken by the Great Plague or black death of 

 the reign of Edward III. (A.D. 1349) it is not unreasonable to 

 suppose that this most virulent and deadly pestilence visited 

 Dorchester. 



