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52
referred to the Plague. This is perhaps not very remarkable,
as the Plague of 1665 first made its appearance in Long
Acre, and extended thence to the City of London.
The list of deaths given above contains some entries which
convey scarcely any meaning to the present generation, while
the most casual observer must be struck with the vagueness
of the cause of death in some instances. The large number
of deaths attributed to some causes, as, for instance, childbed,
dropsy and surfeit, is striking, and it seems somewhat curious
to include "stillborn" among the deaths. But a dip into the
bills of mortality for other periods reveals still stranger
entries. Thus we find deaths attributed at various times to
"Mouldfallen," "Livergrown," "Head mould shot,”
"Distracted," "Mother,'" "Sore Mouth," and "Cold."
Diseases now known under other names, such as "St.
Anthonie's Fire,'" "King's Evil," "Bloody Flux," &c., are
also to be met with.
A little later we find the price of salt, as well as bread,
appended to the bills of mortality, although it is not quite
apparent why the price of commodities should be attached to
a list of deaths. The bills for the week ending; the 31st
December, 1700, give the price of salt at 5s. the bushel of
561bs., with an intimation that those who sell at a higher price
are to forfeit five pounds for every offence. With regard to
bread, both troy weight and common weight are given, the
weight of the penny loaf on the 31st December, 1700, being
as follows :—
Troy Weight. Common Weight.
White 8 oz. 8 oz. 12dwt.
Wheaten 12 oz. 13 oz. 3 dwt.
Household 16 oz. I dwt. 17 oz. 10 dwt.
To this intimation a note is appended to the effect that "all
bakers and others are to take notice that the assize of all