Imagine a sudden illness killing one third of the entire population without any explanation. Such was life during the mid-14th century when the Bubonic Plague Yersinia pestis, spread death and destruction throughout Europe. Most major centres were affected by the Plague, and Scotland and Ireland were no exception.

Although people did not realize it at the time, ordinary fleas spread the Plague. The fleas were transported by rats that were a common sight in the cities. Living off garbage and sewerage, the rats spread the fleas - and diseases - to man. Ironically, the Plague did not affect the flea: when a rat died the flea just moved on to the next host - be it man or beast. When the flea bit a new host it regurgitated some of the blood in its stomach and thus spread the disease.

But in the absence of any rational or reasonable explanation for the cause of the Plague, a frightened and superstitious people cast blame for sudden calamaties on whatever scapegoat was handy. Frequently Jews and suspected witches were targetted as responsible - as were strangers or any one else deemed "different". When there was no one available or left to blame, major catastrophes such as the Plague were often viewed as retribution or punishment from God.

The first recorded outbreak of the Plague occurred during the reign of Emperor Justinian in Constantinople. The Emperor's reign was in the sixth century AD and it is recorded that from 540-590 AD the plague swept through Europe attacking and killing a large part of the population. Ireland and Scotland were not immune but little is known of its effects on the population at that time.

In its next recorded outbreak, the Plague earned the nickname 'The Black Death" because of the discoloration of the skin and black tumours which appeared on the second day of contracting the disease. This second large outbreak originated in Asia, reached the Crimea and from there the disease intensified, spreading through the Mediteranean and from 1346-1352, throughout Europe. The plague crept slowly westward, more quickly by sea than on land. Ships were found adrift at sea with none of the crew left alive. But when ships did manage to land with survivors, they quickly spread the disease in the new land.

As an island country, Ireland was naturally the first to record the malady. Port cities like Dublin were hit exceptionally hard starting in the late summer of 1349. One third or more of the population of cities died from the plague. This was due to sanitary conditions and population density. Trash was stacked on the streets and the rats circulated through the cities eating this bounty and spreading the disease. The rats and their fleas had been a common site for hundreds of years so people never suspected them as the cause of the malady.

To avoid the disease, many fled to the countryside where the lower population density helped to decrease its spread. But the plague continued to spread until it had apparently ran its course, afflicting not only man but also all warm-blooded creatures that the fleas could live on. Others in Ireland decided to pilgrimage to That Molyngis (a religious site) in hopes of escaping what they viewed as the wrath of God.

Very late in the year 1349 or early in 1350 the plague spread from England to Scotland. According to Philip Ziegler, author of The Black Death, the Scots were initially very happy when they heard that the Plague had decimated their neighbours to the south. The English were hated enemies and this was seen both as an opportunity and retribution from God for past offenses to the Scots. As the plague moved through Cumberland and Durham, the Scots massed their forces in the forest of Selkirk. But just before they were to start their attack, the Plague struck, killing approximately 5,000 soldiers in short order. In their haste to escape, survivors helped to spread the disease across Scotland during the year 1350 AD.

The Scottish Lowlands and cities were exceptionally hard hit, losing over a third of the population, but the highlands, with its colder climate and sparse population, got off relatively easy. One-fifth, or 20%, of an estimated half million Scots died over the next year. Ireland suffered even greater losses, with a quarter of its population dying from the Plague.

In general, the Plague both aided and abetted the people of both countries. Without any agricultural workers to toil the fields, many landowners were ruined. But the workers who did survive came out ahead: they could and did demand higher wages and better conditions from their employers. Many farms on poor soil were abandoned, as the need for food was greatly diminished and property in many cases reverted to the poor.

The Plague did not immediately die out, however, as it burst forth again quite frequently over the next 300 years. But usually these outbreaks of the disease were isolated to a particular area or city and the disease did not spread as it did in the 14th century. Some of the more notable outbreaks were in Edinburgh in 1645 and London in 1665. Even today, the Black Death remains with us as a limited number of cases are reported annually in the United States and elsewhere.

by BW, January, 2000

Suggested Reading:

The Black Death, by Philip Ziegler, Alan Sutton Publishing Limited, 1991

The Black Death, by Ron Wild, History Magazine, Oct/Nov, 1999.

Links:

Bubonic Plague

History of the Plague

The Plague in Scotland

The Plague