The Great Plague. The Story of London\'s Most Deadly Year

136 • Confusion

There was little doubt about the demographics of death that August as the

epidemic peaked at Cripplegate and continued to increase in many other

parts of the capital. Plague had disrupted every aspect of life, from health

and welfare to family bonds and other relationships, as well as religious faith.

Every night during the terrible month of August, Reverend Patrick recited

the last rites of the Anglican Church in Covent Garden’s small churchyard.

During the last three days of the month, he interred six, then another six,

and finally five former parishioners. An unnamed child was found dead in

someone’s cellar. Several maids fell to the infection in their master’s house.

Then Patrick’s faithful churchwarden and a widow pressed into service as a

parish nurse both succumbed.^50 As September began Symon Patrick and

Elizabeth Gauden were debating their views on life after death.

Fig. 8 .Saint Giles Cripplegate Parish Records: Total Burials and Plague Burials, July
8 to December 30 , 1665 .Saint Giles Cripplegate Register, GL, MS 6419 / 7

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Total

Plague

July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.

Burials