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.
1579. The plague deaths were below 30 in each week, totalling 629 for the year.
1580. The plague deaths were not above 8 in any week, totalling 128 for the year, but plays were restrained from 17 April to Michaelmas, and other precautions taken (Remembrancia, 329).
1581. There was plague in the latter part of the year, with deaths over 30 from 17 Aug. to 2 Nov., reaching 107 on 5 Oct., and totalling 987 for the first forty-five weeks of the year; the figures for the last seven weeks are missing. The precautions were revised (Creighton, i. 319). Plays were restrained on 10 July and the restraint removed on 18 Nov. Michaelmas term was deferred on 21 Sept. (Procl. 760), and other precautions taken (Remembrancia, 331).
1582. There was some plague during the year (Remembrancia, 332), with deaths over 30 from 26 July to 27 Dec., reaching 216 on 25 Oct., and totalling 2,976 for fifty-one recorded weeks of the year. Plays were restrained, probably with the assent of the Privy Council, although the Register is missing. Michaelmas term was deferred on 18 Sept. (Procl. 764), and transferred to Hertford on 8 Oct. (Procl. 765).
1583. The plague deaths were over 30 from 3 to 31 Jan., after which the record fails. But precautions continued (Remembrancia, 335). A restraint of plays was terminated on 26 Nov.
1584. There is no evidence of plague, but the dispute of this year suggests that the summer restraint of recent years had been repeated.
1585. There is no evidence of plague or restraint.
1586. There is no evidence of plague, other than a precautionary restraint of 11 May.
1587. There was a similar precautionary restraint on 7 May.
1588-91. There is no evidence of plague or even of precautionary restraints.
1592. The first notice of plague is on 13 Aug., when it was daily increasing (Dasent, xxiii. 118), and there is ample evidence of its seriousness to the end of the year (ibid., 136, 177, 181, 183, 203, 220, 230, 231, 241, 273, 274, 276, 365; Birch, Eliz. i. 87; Creighton, i. 351). A new 'booke of orders and remedies' was recommended by the Council (Dasent, xxiii. 203) on 19 Sept. to the Kent justices. This is doubtless the Orders Thoughte Meete by her Maiestie and her privie Counsell to be executed of which several prints (1592, 1593, 1603, n.d.) exist. It is for provincial use, and has no special reference to the restraint of plays. Plays had been under restraint for other reasons than plague since 23 June. The mayoral feast was suppressed on 11 Oct. (Dasent, xxiii. 232). Access to Hampton Court was restrained on 12 Oct. (Procl. 854). Michaelmas term was deferred and finally
