There can be no doubt that in the towns of Italy and France there was
a dreadful mortality; but when we are told that 100,000 died in
Venice, and 60,000 in Florence, and 70,000 in Siena, it is impossible
to accept such round numbers as anything better than ignorant
guesses. Whether the great cities of the Low Countries were visited
by the pestilence with any severity, or how far the towns of Germany
were affected, I am unable to say, nor am I much concerned at present
with such an inquiry; that I leave to others to throw light upon. But
as to the progress, the incidence, and the effect of the Black Death
in England--when it came and where it showed itself, how long it
lasted, and what effects followed--on these questions the time has
come for pointing out that we have a body of evidence such as perhaps
exists in no other country--evidence, too, which hitherto has hardly
received any attention, its very existence entirely overlooked,
forgotten, nay! not even suspected.
* * * * * * *
Let us understand where we are, and look about us for a little while.
When King Edward III. entered London in triumph on the 14th of
October, 1347, he was the foremost man in Europe, and England had
reached a height of power and glory such as she had never attained
before. At the battle of Cre?i France had received a crushing blow,
and by the loss of Calais, after an eleven months' siege, she had
been reduced well-nigh to the lowest point of humiliation.
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