Illustrations of Social Life IV: The Plague

Summary

London was ravaged by many an epidemic of bubonic plague before the last and greatest of them all, that of 1665. Major plagues which in their turn were called ‘great’ occurred in 1563, 1592–3, 1603 and 1625; and during Shakespeare’s residence in London there were minor plagues in each year from 1606 till 1610. The effects upon the theatre were serious. In 1592 and 1593 companies were disbanded and reformed with bewildering speed, so that the tracing of Shakespeare’s allegiance in these years is most difficult. The establishment in 1594 of the Lord Chamberlain’s company, the most stable of all Elizabethan and early seventeenth-century companies, is a landmark in his life. It was secure enough to survive the great plague of 1603 and the minor plagues of 1606–10, though the London theatres were closed for nearly a year in 1603–4 and for some time in every year from 1606 to 1610—in 1608 and 1609 for many months. On 8 February 1604 the company received the special favour of a grant of £30 from its new patron King James for its maintenance and relief

being prohibited to presente any playes publiquelie in or neere London by reason of greate perill that might growe throughe the extraordinary Concourse and assemblie of people to a newe increase of the plague till it shall please god to settle the Cittie in a more perfecte health by way of his Maiesties free gifte.