EpiMedDat
The Open Data Collection for Historical Epidemics and Medieval Diseases

1258-04-00-St. Albans

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Date startStart date of the disease. 1258-04 +
Date endEnd date of the disease. 1258-06 +
SeasonSeason (spring, summer, fall or winter)
Date otherOther mentioned dates.
PlacePlace(s), city or location of the disease. St. Albans
RegionHistorical region(s) England
CountryCurrent country
RiverMentioned river(s)
Natural eventMentioned natural event(s)
PersonMentioned persons(s)
GroupGroup(s) of people mentioned
VictimIndication of victims +
AnimalMentioned animal(s)
DiseaseMentioned disease(s)
Epidemic waveAssociated epidemic wave
Social responseSocial response that happened in reaction to the disease
LanguageLanguage of the original text Latin
KeywordFurther keyword(s) Cemetery, Epidemics, Famine, Grain, Mortality
last edited 23. 12. 2025 by EpiMedDat-Bot.

Strong famine and disease in St. Albans.

Text originalOriginal text

Defi[ci]ente insuper annona, pauperum multitude innumerabilis mortua est. Et inventa sunt passim eorum corpora tumida prae fame et liventia, quina vel sena in porcariis, sterquiliniis, et lutosis plateis, in semetipsis morticina miserabiliter tabefacta. Nec ausi sunt, qui domos habebant, perituros, propter tabem et contagia infirmorum in suam propriam inediam hospitari. Et cum plura corpora mortua invenirentur, factae sunt in cimiteriis amplae fossae et capaces, in quibus reponebantur corpora plurimorum

Text translationEnglish translation of the text

Additionally, with the failing grain supply, an innumerable multitude of the poor died. Their bloated and discolored bodies, swollen from hunger, were found everywhere, five or six at a time, in pigsties, dung heaps, and muddy streets, miserably decayed into corpses. Those who had homes did not dare to take in the dying, fearing infection and contagion, even at the cost of their own starvation. And since many dead bodies were found, large and spacious pits were dug in the cemeteries, in which the bodies of many were placed.

References

  1. ^ Matthaei Parisiensis: Chronica majora 1872–1884 
  2. ^ Translation by Martin Bauch 

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