9 
As the summer advanced, the mortality increased to a frightful 
extent, and persons of all ranks fled from the terrors of the 
pestilence. At a meeting of the Corporation, on the 16th 
July, scarcely a dozen members were present. They complained 
that the sheriffs, and most of the chamberlains and constables 
were gone forth of the city, abroad into the country, who ought, 
by reason of their offices, most especially to remain, and do their 
duty for the good government of the city.” The absentees were 
ordered to return under penalty for disobedience ; the sheriffs 
£100 each, the chamberlains £40 each, the constables £20 
each. None of those who had remained in the city were to 
leave it without licence, under heavy penalties. 
In August and September the pestilence had attained its most 
fatal degree of virulence ; the number of deaths in each of those 
months being three times greater than in either July or October. 
The threats and injunctions of the corporate authorities were 
now of no avail. “ When nature sickened, and each gale was 
death,” the city was deserted by all who had the means of 
providing abodes elsewhere. There w^ere a few exceptions. It 
is to the honour of the Lord Mayor,* and three or four of his 
brethren, that they did not for a moment desert their posts. At 
the annual election of sheriffs, on St. Matthew’s day, (21st 
Sept.,) an occasion which usually brought together a large 
assembly of the citizens, the Lord Mayor, with only four 
aldermen, and three commoncouncil-men, were present. The 
few who attended imposed fines upon the absentees; but this 
had little effect. In the following week, w’hen a meeting was 
called for swearing in the newly elected sheriffs, the attendance 
was equally scanty; and at the only meeting held during the 
remainder of the year, no more than three aldermen appeared. 
One of the four who were present a month previously, had fallen 
a victim to the pestilence.t 
During the later autumnal and the winter months, the violence 
of the disease gradually abated. Before the close of this mayoralty, 
Alderman Thomas Herbert. The Lady Mayoress, his wife, was stricken 
with the infection, and died in the fatal month of Angnst. 
t During the year the corporation was deprived of the services of three of 
their Serjeants-at-Mace, and four of their Tipstaffs, who were cut off by the 
pestilence. 
I) 
