Black Assize of Exeter 1586 facts for kids

The Black Assizes were serious outbreaks of a disease called "gaol fever" that happened in prisons and courtrooms in England during the late 1500s. This illness caused many people to get sick and die, including prisoners waiting for their trials and important judges in the court buildings.

What Caused Them?

The main reason these outbreaks happened was that prisons and courtrooms were very dirty and crowded. The disease, which we now know was epidemic typhus, spread easily from sick prisoners in these unhealthy jails. It then moved into the packed and unclean courtrooms, infecting many others. Typhus is a disease carried by tiny insects called human body-lice.

Famous Outbreaks

Here are some of the most well-known Black Assizes:

• 1577: The Black Assize of Oxford in the summer of 1577. Many people died, including important legal figures like Chief Baron Bell and Serjeant Barham. The Lord Lieutenant, the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, and nearly 400 other people also passed away. A list of the names of those who died from this infection in Oxford still exists today.
• 1598: The Black Assizes of the Northern Circuit. Among those who died were Baron Flowerdew, Justice Beaumont, and Serjeant Drewe (Edward Drew), who was a lawyer for Queen Elizabeth I.
• 1586: The Black Assizes at Exeter Castle, which happened at the end of March 1586.

The Exeter Black Assize of 1586

The Black Assizes at Exeter Castle were held starting March 14, 1586. Sir Edmund Anderson, a high-ranking judge, was there and survived the illness.

Exeter Prison was located right under the royal Exeter Castle, and the courtrooms were inside the castle buildings. Modern doctors believe the cause was epidemic typhus, spread by human body-lice.

Many people died during this outbreak. This included 8 judges, 11 out of 12 jurors, several police officers, and many people from the surrounding area. The disease affected the local population for several months. Some of the important people who died were:

• Edward Flowerdew (died 1586), a judge.
• Sir Arthur Basset (1541–1586), a local official.
• Sir John Chichester (died March 31, 1586), who was the Sheriff of Devon in 1585.
• Robert III Cary (died April 1, 1586), a local leader.
• Thomas Carew (died March 28, 1586, aged 68).
• Sir Bernard Drake (died April 10, 1586).
• John Fortescue.
• John Waldron.
• Thomas Risdon (died April 2, 1586).

What People Said About It

An old historical record from 1841 by Alexander Jenkins described the event: "A terrible and sickening smell came from the prisoners who were brought to trial. This smell affected the people present so much that many became very sick, and most of them died."

Accounts from the Time

By John Hooker

One of the best descriptions from that time comes from John Hooker (around 1527–1601). His account was published in Holinshead's Chronicle in 1587. He suggested two possible reasons for the outbreak:

• First, he thought it was because of the "stuffy air and filthy smell" of Exeter Prison, which made the prisoners sick.
• Second, he believed the disease started with 38 Portuguese fishermen. Their ship, full of fish, was captured by Sir Bernard Drake (around 1537–1586) and brought to Dartmouth in Devon. The fishermen were then taken to the "dark pit and stinking dungeon" of Exeter Prison. They had to wait in jail for a long time for their trial. By the time of the court session, those who were still alive were so weak and thin that they had to be carried into the courtroom. The Chief Justice was shocked by their terrible condition. He ordered improvements for the future, but it was too late. The disease had already spread to the courtroom, infecting the judges, local people attending, and the wider population of the Westcountry for many months.

By Adam Wyote

Adam Wyote (or Wyatt) was a town clerk in Barnstaple, North Devon. He kept a personal diary from 1586 to 1611. His very first entry talks about the Black Assize of Exeter. He listed the names of eight important people from Devon who died from "gaol sickness": "Mr Flowerdewe (one of the Justices), Sir Barnard Drak, Mr Welrond, Mr Cary of Clovelly, Mr Carew of Hackome, Mr Fortescue, Mr Rysdon (all Justices of the Peace), and Sir John Chichester."

Later Outbreaks (1700s)

Outbreaks of Gaol Fever continued to happen even in the 1750s. In 1750, two judges and the Lord Mayor of London died from the illness. Another outbreak occurred in 1772.