The Year 1665

Extract from Quarter Sessions of the Peace
Held at Bridport in Dorset 2nd October 1665

BACKGROUND:- It was only 5 years since Charles II had been restored to the throne. On the 4th March 1665 The Second Anglo Dutch War broke out and it was quickly followed by the advent of the Great Plague of London. Dorchester had many trading links with the continent through local ports like Bridport, Weymouth, Melcombe Regis and Wareham and the war with the Dutch in 1665 was principally a Naval one with the English planning to blockade Dutch ports and attack their merchant and fishing fleets. The commander of the Dutch Fleet was told to seek out the English and bring it into battle. Their first engagement on 13th June 1665 was at the battle of Lowestoft with more than 100 ships in each fleet and a major victory for the English who lost over 500 killed and wounded. The Dutch casualties were severe with 2,500 killed and wounded, 2,000 captured, 8 warships destroyed and 9 captured. Although it was a substantial English victory, the escape of the bulk of the Dutch fleet deprived England of the chance of ending the war quickly with a single decisive victory. 

There had been an outbreak of the Plague in Holland in 1663 and Charles II had suspended trade with the Dutch and imposed a 30 day quarantine for ships coming into London, which was increased to 40 days in 1664. It is possible that some of the 2,000 Dutch prisoners of war may have brought the plague with them to London as the first reported case in the Parish of St Giles occurred in April 1665. By May, 43 people had died, and in June it was ordered that people traveling from one town to another had to have a certificate of health in order to do so. This led to forgers making a good income from counterfeit certificates. By the end of June 6,137 had died. It is thought that two thirds of Londoners fled the city. Charles II for example moved with his family to Salisbury in July. The official number of deaths in August in London was 31,159 and the plague reached Eyan in Derbyshire. In September King Charles II and his family left Salisbury for Oxford after a few cases of plague were reported there and in October when the above Quarter Sessions were held at Bridport, Parliament met at Oxford instead of London.

Joseph SEAWARD ⁽²⁾ to pay Seamen:

This Court being credibly informed that there are daily Seamen, and other distressed travelers who pass through the town of Dorchester & who ought by the law to be relieved in their travels especially in this time of War, And for that Michael HENRY Esq treasurer for the Western Part of this County residing somewhere convenient for such travelers & seamen to repair unto for relief. It is therefore ordered that the said treasurer be hereby desired to pay unto Mr Joseph SEAWARD merchant in Dorchester the sum of forty shillings to relieve such distressed travelers and Seamen who ought to be relieved accordingly to the law. And the said Mr Joseph SEAWARD is to give account at the next General Quarter Sessions of the peace to be held for this County how he hath distributed and disbursed the same.

Pensioners:-

This Court taking into consideration the sad condition of many distressed Marines and Seamen within this County who have lost their limbs in his Majesties service at Sea in the present war against the Dutch an[d] by French and are thereby disabled for relieving themselves and families, AND that many distressed Widows have left their husbands in the said service IT IS ordered by this Court that the Treasurer of this County do from Michas Quarter ⁽¹⁾ exclusive forbear the payment of all such Pensions as have been granted by this Court unto any person or persons whatsoever until further order from this Court.

Plague:-

This Court taking notice of the hand of GOD in his sore visiting many neighbouring towns and places adjacent to this County with the sore disease of the PLAGUE conceive it a duty incumbent upon them to use their utmost care & endeavour by the blessing of the Almighty thereupon to prevent this County from being infected with the same, And

For that end think fit that all Sports & pastimes as Bear-baiting Bull baiting Interludes Common Plays Cockfighting & the like which might occasion the concourse of people from this and other several quarters of this & other Counties be, during this time of infection with the same disease of the PLAGUE, inhibited and forbidden. And

This Court doth thereupon order that no person or persons whatsoever within this County do set up or use or cause to be set up or used, any of the said Sports or Pastimes before mentioned or any other public sports which might cause people to resort together & thereby endanger the health care of the other as before in these sad times of contagion. And

If any person or persons shall not withstanding this order publically use & exercise any such Sports & pastimes that then he or they be by his Majesties Officers in whose permit?????? such Sports Plays & Pastimes are apprehended & carried before one of his Majesties Justices of the Peace of this County who is desired to bind over such offender or offenders to appear and answer such offence at the next General Quarter Sessions of the Peace to be held for this County and in meantime to be of the good behaviour. And

To the end that no person whatsoever might pretend ignorance herein it is ordered that this order be published in all market towns within this County & fixed in some usual public place of the said town whereby all persons might take notice thereof accordingly