The Black Death! A demonic, diabolical domestic disaster!

Edward arrived back in England in October 1347 to national acclaim at his triumph in France. The medieval media which took the form of the priest in his pulpit and the town crier standing at the market cross regaled the people with tales of the king’s staggering military victories over the French. Even those who had initially resented the taxes that had been levied to pay for the war now agreed that it was money well spent. Edward made a tour of England and basked in the adulation of his subjects who were in awe of their successful warrior king. The King beamed as he rode through the towns on his charger waving his hat at the assembled crowds who replied with the loudest of cheers.

‘Oh! How loudly did the church bells ring!

Oh! How joyously did the choirs sing!’

Edward wanted a great colourful pageant to mark this zenith of English military achievement. Tournaments were held to show off the martial skills of the country’s mounted knights. Plays were staged to mark this occasion of national triumph. The people, particularly the women were dazzled by the fine clothing and other household goods, plundered from France and given to them as presents by their returning menfolk.

A medieval tournament.

The latter months of 1347 and those of early 1348 were a time of celebration, colour and thanksgiving. King Edward had never before felt so confident and proud. These were truly golden days!

But gold can turn to 

Black!

Then there is no turning back!

However a  horror awaited the adoring multitudes that would infect every nook and cranny of his realm.

‘Oh mighty King Edward, your subjects do marvel at your military excellence!

But soon, so many of them would be consumed by the coming of a terrible pestilence!’

A terrible disease which was thought to have originated in central Asia had spread throughout Europe arrived in England in the summer of 1348. It’s point of entry is believed to have been the port of Melcombe in Dorset. The pestilence was to travel rapidly and reached London by the autumn. Once infected, the victims would develop large swellings or buboes under the armpits or in the groin which oozed blood and pus. This was accompanied by aching limbs, a high fever and delirium. Death usually occurred within three or four days.

Victims of the Black Death

The source of the disease has been attributed to fleas which lived in the fur of rats who dwelt in very close proximity to human beings. Medieval towns were filthy places with ditches full of both animal and human sewage. People were unaware of the problem of germs  and would cheerfully empty their chamber pots into the street resulting in an never ending tide of sewage through which the populace was forced to wade. It was not uncommon for people to throw the contents of their chamber pots without any consideration of anyone walking by. This meant that many an unfortunate pedestrian went home with sewage drenched hats and cloaks. All of this dripping filth was carried into the houses  as they walked through the door smearing it on the floor.

‘Oh but the smell, how did they stand the smell?

It had ever been thus thus, to them this was normal, so everything was well!

Oh, but the mess, on the floor, the terrible mess!

They had known it since birth, so they really could not care less!’

The wooden framed dwellings with their thatched roofs were easily penetrated by rats with their lethal cargo of disease ridden fleas.

The death toll was shocking. It has been estimated that somewhere between a third and half of the population of England died. The pestilence was even handed in its delivery. It did not discriminate between the rich and the poor. All were fair game for its merciless touch. The dead were interred in mass graves as the graveyards were soon filled to overflowing.

‘Filled with human flesh and bone, the graveyards became fat and high!

The weeping mourners, wondering when it would be their turn to die!’

The land became desolate, market squares once hives of activity were now bereft of man or beast, save for the rats, who gnawed at any flesh that they came upon. The only sound coming from the houses and hovels was often the death cries of the dying or the wailing of the bereaved. In many villages there was only silence, as the dead do not speak and the living had fled

‘1348 a year which had begun with the English standing tall, saluting the king’s military belligerence!

Ended with the people, heads bowed on their knees praying pitifully for deliverance!’