8 
houses are cleansed ; also Francis Staines, a butcher’s house in 
the Little Shambles-end; also four houses in Trinity churchyard, 
in Goodramgate, which churchyard is payled up; also two 
houses in the Far Water-lane ; also John Harrison’s houses, at 
Bootham Bar ; also Arthur Wilson, a saddler, in Spurriergate. 
Also there are three houses which are feared to be infected 
within the city,—Hector Routledge house in Coneystreet,—a 
house on Bishophill,—and a house in Jeobergate; and these 
are all the houses that are infected within the city, to my 
knowledge.” 
The Lord Mayor’s letter gives us the first intimation of the 
disease having penetrated into some of the best parts of the city, 
as Coneystreet, Spurriergate, and Petergate, and that it had 
crossed the river and appeared on Bishophill, an airy and thinly 
populated district. It continued to spread rapidly. The annual 
feast of the trade-companies customarily held during this month, 
at St. Anthony’s Hall, was suspended, in regard of the 
infection of the plague being dispersed in divers places of the 
city.” Some of the principal inhabitants had already left the 
city, and others now began to hurry away. On the 28th of June, 
it was found necessary to make a special order, requiring all the 
aldermen ‘‘ to stay in the city during the visitation, for the 
governing of the city.” To those who were now absent, letters 
were written desiring them to return. Sir Robert Watter, who 
had been Lord Mayor the preceding year, had retired to his 
country seat at Ouseburn. He sent an excuse, but was informed 
that it could not be accepted; that the infection was so great 
ill the city, that unless the magistrates have great care, and take 
pains ill the governing and ruling of the city, and in taking 
order for the relieving of them, the poorer sort would not be 
ruled, which would be a great discredit to them.” A meeting 
was called for making a new assessment for the relief of the 
visited. Sir Robert Watter was commanded to attend, upon 
pain of being heavily fined. In his letter to Sir Robert, com¬ 
municating the order of his brother magistrates, the Lord Mayor 
says, ” divers of us have offered large sums of money to have 
licence to go into the country for the safety of our lives, which 
will not be granted.” 
