Black Assize
Encyclopedia
The Black Assize was a plague
of Epidemic typhus that struck the town of Oxford
in England
on July 6, 1577. About 300 people including the chief baron and sheriff, are thought to have died as a result of the plague. It received its name because it was believed to have been caught from prisoners under trial at the Assize Court at Oxford Castle
.
On the wall inside the Main Hall of the Old County Hall of Oxfordshire in New Road one may find an interesting inscription that reads:
From the time of the Black Death in the mid-fourteenth century until the second half of the nineteenth century, Oxford was regularly visited by plague, cholera
, smallpox
and typhoid fevers. In 1348 the Black Death
reduced the city's population to such an extent that Gloucester College (from which Gloucester Green
gets its name) was forced to close. In 1571 the University had to postpone the start of term because of an outbreak of plague, and the 'gaol fever' six years later may have been part of the same epidemic, being considered more worthy of note because its victims included the Lord Chief Baron and the Lord High Sheriff.
Pandemic
A pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that is spreading through human populations across a large region; for instance multiple continents, or even worldwide. A widespread endemic disease that is stable in terms of how many people are getting sick from it is not a pandemic...
of Epidemic typhus that struck the town of Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
on July 6, 1577. About 300 people including the chief baron and sheriff, are thought to have died as a result of the plague. It received its name because it was believed to have been caught from prisoners under trial at the Assize Court at Oxford Castle
Oxford Castle
Oxford Castle is a large, partly ruined Norman medieval castle situated on the west edge of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England. The original moated, wooden motte and bailey castle was replaced with stone in the 11th century and played an important role in the conflict of the Anarchy...
.
On the wall inside the Main Hall of the Old County Hall of Oxfordshire in New Road one may find an interesting inscription that reads:
Near this spot stood the ancient Shire Hall, unhappily famous In history as the scene in July 1577 of the Black Assize, when a malignant disease known as Gaol Fever caused the death within forty days of the Lord Chief Baron of the ExchequerLord Chief Baron of the ExchequerThe Chief Baron of the Exchequer was the first "baron" of the English Exchequer of pleas. "In the absence of both the Treasurer of the Exchequer or First Lord of the Treasury, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, it was he who presided in the equity court and answered the bar i.e...
, Sir Robert Bell, the Lord High Sheriff (Sir Robert D'Oyly of Merton) and about three hundred more.
The malady from the stench of the Prisoners developed itself during the Trial of one Rowland Jenkes, a saucy foul-mouthed Bookseller, for scandalous words uttered against the Queen.
Anno 1875. JMD pie posuit.(JMD erected this monument out of piety, 1875)
From the time of the Black Death in the mid-fourteenth century until the second half of the nineteenth century, Oxford was regularly visited by plague, cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
, smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
and typhoid fevers. In 1348 the Black Death
Black Death
The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have...
reduced the city's population to such an extent that Gloucester College (from which Gloucester Green
Gloucester Green
Gloucester Green is a square in central Oxford, England, and the site of the city's bus station. It lies between George Street to the south and Beaumont Street to the north. To the west is Worcester Street and to the east is Gloucester Street....
gets its name) was forced to close. In 1571 the University had to postpone the start of term because of an outbreak of plague, and the 'gaol fever' six years later may have been part of the same epidemic, being considered more worthy of note because its victims included the Lord Chief Baron and the Lord High Sheriff.