Shutt Up: Bubonic Plague and Quarantine in Early Modern England
Abstract
The outbreak of bubonic plague that struck London and Westminster in 1636 provoked the usual frenzied response to epidemics, including popular flight and government-mandated quarantine. The government asserted that plague control measures were acts of public health for the benefit of all. However, contrary to this government narrative of disease prevention there was a popular account that portrayed quarantine and isolation as personal punishment rather than prudent policy. In examining the 1636 outbreak on the parish as well as the individual level, reasons for this inconsistency between official and unofficial perspectives emerge. Quarantine and its effects were not classless, and its implementation was not always strictly in the name of public health. Government application of quarantine was remarkably effective, but it could never be uncontroversial both because of circumstances and because of misuse. The flight of the wealthiest from London and Westminster left only the more socially vulnerable to be quarantined. Though plague policy was financially sensitive to the poorest, it was costly to the middling sort. Another cause of controversy was the government's use of quarantine as a punishment to control individuals found breaking other laws. Though not widely publicized, popular narratives continually included grievances about the cruelty and inequity of quarantine and the militaristic nature of its implementation. Despite these objections, quarantine remained a staple of the government response to plague outbreaks throughout the seventeenth century.
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In another case, the history of quarantine was attributed to the outbreak of leprosy in Venice, Italy, in 1127.
“In another case, the history of quarantine was attributed to the outbreak of leprosy in Venice, Italy, in 1127 (12).”
From Definitions and psychological impacts of quarantine and strategies to reduce it: A review paper (2020) · cites this paper as [12]
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The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: Rapid review of the evidence
Brooks, S. K., Webster, R. K., Smith, L. E., Woodland, L., Wessely, S., Greenberg, N., & Rubin, G. J. (2020) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(20)30460-8 · Cited by 16,378 · see citing works
The Psychological Impact of Quarantine and How to Reduce It: Rapid Review of the Evidence
Brooks, S. K., Webster, R. K., Smith, L. E., Woodland, L., Wessely, S., Greenberg, N., & Rubin, G. J. (2020) · doi:10.2139/ssrn.3532534 · Cited by 16,394 · see citing works
Saurabh, K., & Ranjan, S. (2020) · The Indian Journal of Pediatrics · doi:10.1007/s12098-020-03347-3 · Cited by 468 · see citing works
Definitions and psychological impacts of quarantine and strategies to reduce it: A review paper
Sadeghmoghadam, L., Khoshkhoo, M., & Saadati, N. (2020) · Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.5812/ijpbs.103501 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“In another case, the history of quarantine was attributed to the outbreak of leprosy in Venice, Italy, in 1127 (12).”
Background
- Authors
- Newman, K. L. S.
- Affiliations
- Oxford University Press (United Kingdom) (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Newman, K. L. S.
- ORCID
- Newman, K. L. S.
- Venue
- Journal of Social History
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2012-02-06
- Volume
- 45
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 809-834
- ISSN
- 0022-4529 (ISSN-L)
- 1527-1897
- OpenAlex
- W2028368011
- Cited by
- 114
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 53.16
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Social History (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Project Muse (Johns Hopkins University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History › History of Medicine and Tropical Health
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Medieval and Early Modern Justice
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History › Ottoman and Turkish Studies
- Keywords
- bubonic plague, quarantine, Westminster, early modern England, public health policy, plague control, 17th century
- MeSH terms
- Disease Outbreaks, England, Government, Humans, Plague, Public Health, Public Policy, Quarantine, Social Class, Social Control, Formal, Population Groups, History, 17th Century
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