6 
to permit London wares to be brought to the city ; the purchasers 
being warned to be careful of whom they bought. 
In the first week of March, 1604, immediately after the 
election of members to sit in the first parliament of King James 
I., it was known at York that the plague had appeared in several 
towns in the neighbourhood. Again orders were given for 
keeping a strict watch; especially as the county election was at 
hand, which would draw a great number of people from all 
parts of Yorkshire. 
On the 14th of March, orders for a strict watch were repeated, 
and the ministers and parish-clerks were required to make a 
weekly return of the men, women, and children, -who died in 
each parish, their names, and of what sickness they died. 
A month later the alarm had much increased. On the 18th 
of April, the time (it is recorded) is very dangerous by reason 
of the infection of the plague in divers towns near the city.” 
The bodies of those who died in the city were ordered to be 
viewed, and the disease they died of, to be certified. The Walm- 
gate district was thought to be most in jeopardy, and warrants 
were issued to the wardens of that ward to adopt rigorous 
measures of precaution. A house at Tadcaster was reported to 
be infected, and one of the aldermen rode over to give relief to 
the poor people who occupied it. Before the close of this month 
the worst fears of the citizens were realised. The plague was. 
begun. 
On the 27th of April, the Lord Mayor was requested to obtain 
from Newcastle, a cleanser and a viewer, skilful in viewing 
infected persons, and cleansing infected houses ; and on the .2nd 
of May, several sanitary orders and regulations were made by 
the corporate authorities. No bride-beds were to be made. 
Not too many wives were to be allowed to resort to sick wuves’ 
labour; not above twelve at most at one time. The poor were 
to be relieved at their own abodes and not suffered to go abroad. 
Temporary lodges’were built on the Horse Fair, and on Hob 
Moor,* to receive those who were feared to be infected. Alreadv 
* The Horse-fair was a piece of open ground distant about a mile from the walls 
on the northerly side of the city. Hoh-moor was, and continues to he a larg-e 
common pasture, lying on the west side of the city, nearly two miles beyond 
Micklegate Bar. 
