Covid pandemic was a reminder of the plague in 1600s

Historian and former fire officer John Lowe has unearthed details of the strict rules imposed in Oxford at the height of the emergency in 1645.

The plague had been detected in several parts of the town and orders were made to “provide for the sick and to keep the sick from the whole”.

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In other words, help those with the disease as much as possible, but don’t run the risk of catching it yourself.

When anyone fell sick in any house, strangers were banned from entering until the sickness was confirmed as infectious or not.

What were described as ‘overseers’ were given the job of checking the nature and symptoms of the disease, caring for the patient and giving “further directions”.

As soon as any house was infected, or suspected of being infected, it was to be “shut up” and everyone living there was to stay inside until further notice.

A watchman was appointed “to keep the persons within the house and to fetch them such

necessaries as they want, to be delivered to them so discreetly and warily as may not endanger themselves, or those to whom they shall resort”.

A red cross was to be put on the front door of any house infected with the plague, with an inscription in capital letters, LORD HAVE MERCY UPON US.

The cross and inscription were to remain in place until the house was given the all-clear.

Watchmen appointed to make sure the rules were observed had to take an oath “for the faithful performance of that service”.

When sitting or walking in the streets, every watchman had to carry a white stick “so that others may be admonished not to go too near into his company”.

If a house had a back door, it had to be kept shut, the padlock hung on the door and the key kept by the watchman.

The overseers in charge of the emergency appointed “searchers and tenders” for the sick and “bearers and buriers” for those who died. All had to take oaths to “observe their several employments faithfully”.

Any who neglected their duties would be “proceeded against with all strictness and severity”.

Burials of those with the plague had to take place after 10pm with no mourners and bodies laid at least four feet underground. No churchyards in Oxford were to be used.

All cats and dogs had to be sent out of the town and strays were to be “knocked on the head”.

Oxford University did not escape the restrictions. If any colleges or halls were infected, governors had to tell the overseers and appropriate action, including possible closure, would be taken.