1568. Some precautions were taken in the City and Westminster against plague (Creighton, i. 318, 338).
1569. Further precautions were taken on 27 March (Creighton, i. 338) and plays restrained on 31 May until 30 Sept. There was in fact plague in September and October (Creighton, i. 338; La Mothe, ii. 249, 287; Sp. P. ii. 193, 203). Michaelmas term was deferred on 28 Sept. (Procl. 642) and adjourned to Hilary on 23 Oct. (Procl. 644). Access to court was restrained on 3 Oct. (Procl. 643).
1570. There was plague in July and August (Hatfield MSS. i. 476; Sp. P. ii. 262, 270, 273; Creighton, i. 338). Michaelmas term was deferred on 24 Sept. (Procl. 658).
1572. Harrison reports a restraint of plays for fear of plague. There is no other evidence.
1573. Plague appeared in the autumn (Creighton, i. 339). The Lord Mayor’s feast was suppressed (Remembrancia, 38).
1574. Michaelmas term was deferred on 1 Oct. (Procl. 691). The plague deaths on 28 Oct. were 65 (Holinshed, iii. 1240). The Lord Mayor’s feast was suppressed (Dasent, viii. 303). Plays were restrained on 15 Nov. until Easter.
1575. There was plague in Westminster, but apparently none in London (Creighton, i. 340). Michaelmas term was deferred on 26 Sept. (Procl. 696).
1576. There was plague in the Tower on 13 July (Dasent, ix. 163). Michaelmas term was deferred on 29 Sept. (Procl. 708).
1577. There was plague in August, September, and November (Dasent, x. 22, 35, 40, 86). Plays were restrained on 1 Aug. to Michaelmas. Michaelmas term was deferred on 16 Sept. (Procl. 719), and further on 15 Oct. (Procl. 722).
1578. The plague deaths were over 30 in nearly every week from 17 April to 18 Dec., reaching 280 on 2 Oct., and totalling 3,568 for the year. The Lord Mayor’s feast was suppressed and the precautions against infection revised (Dasent, x. 339, 386, 413). Michaelmas term was deferred on 22 Sept. (Procl. 724) and 20 Oct. (Procl. 725), and adjourned on 14 Nov. to Hilary (Procl. 729). Plays were restrained on 10 Nov. and the restraint removed on 23 Dec.