On the 10th of March
the King issued another letter, in which, after referring to the
previous proclamation, he further prorogued the meeting of Parliament
_sine die._ The reason for this step is explained to be "because
the deadly pestilence in Westminster, _and in the City of
London,_ and in other places thereabouts, was increasing with
extraordinary severity" _(gravius solito invalescit)._
It is to be observed that, in the first notice of prorogation, no
mention is made of the City of London, only of Westminster and its
neighbourhood. In the second, we hear that the plague had already
extended over a wider area, and was showing no signs of abating. Nay,
by this time the King and his advisers had taken alarm--there was no
knowing where the mortality would stop.
Two days after this (12th of March, 1349) William Bateman, Bishop of
Norwich, received his letters of protection as ambassador for the
King in France. His safe conduct--for himself and his suite--was to
extend till Whitsuntide next ensuing (31st of May, 1349). The suite
consisted of eight persons, all Norfolk men; two were wealthy laymen,
two were distinguished ecclesiastics, three were country parsons, of
one I know nothing. I believe they all got back safely, but the three
country parsons returned to their several cures only to be smitten by
the plague.
Pages:
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179