14 
About the middle of August, the Lord Viscount Wentworth, 
the Lord President of the Council of the North, arrNed at 
York, and took up his abode at the royal palace, called the 
King’s Manor. Scarcely had there been time for the civic 
authorities to offer to the representative of royalty the usual 
tokens of their respect, when the following alarming letter from 
his lordship’s secretary was received by the Lord Mayor 
My very good Lord,— 
It hath been informed my lord, this day, that the 
plague is vehemently suspected to be in the towns of Armin, 
Heck,Ilednesse, Gowle, Usfleet, and Swinfleet, in the wapentake 
of Osgodcrosse, in the West Kiding ; and likewise at Blacktoft, 
in the wapentake of Howdenshire, in the East Riding. His 
lordship hath already sent letters to the justices next adjoining 
the towns above mentioned in both ridings, as well for shutting 
up of persons suspected, as for furnishing them with such things 
as are necessary for them; and with all hath commanded me to 
give notice thereof to your lordship, that by your honourable 
care and discretion, the parties inhabiting in, or near those 
towns, may be kept forth of this city. So I kiss your lordship’s 
hand, and rest 
Your very humble servant, 
Thomas Edmunds. 
From the Manor, 
the 22 of Aug., 1631. 
On the 23rd of August, the Lord Mayor summoned his 
brethren to meet him in the Council Chamber upon Ousebridge. 
The secretary’s letter was read to them, and they promptly 
ordered that all the posterns of the city should be locked up, and 
the keys brought to the Lord Mayor to keep. They issued 
strict warrants to the constables to prevent the admission of 
persons from any of the infected places; they ordered a good 
watch to be set at the Staith, both day and night, for prevention 
of such vessels as came from any infected place ; they ordered, 
fishing- they took in their nets forty-one salmon, besides a great quantity of other 
fishes. These latter they distributed among the poor people in the hospitals. 
The salmon they divided among the aldermen, sheriffs, twenty-foiu’, and 
chamberlains, every one a salmon. 
