During the early months of 1349 Scottish soldiers engaged in border warfare praised God that many of their English opponents were being felled by a new and terrifying affliction. Within months, however, Scots themselves began to fall victim to what they had described as 'the foul death of the English' ... within a year more than a quarter or the population of Scotland was dead.
This is the first-ever history of the Black Death in Scotland, tells the history of how it was brought to and affected Scotland, set within the context of 14th-century Christendom. The religious, physical, social and psychological impact it had on the population and the responses of the Scottish people are covered in detail. Bringing to light important evidence on the causes of plague and the effect of the distribution and density of the population on its spread, and including extracts from contemporary sources, this study is both well-written and engaging.
Contents:
Preface
1. The Black Death in Scotland
2. The Effects of the Black Death in Scotland
3. The Responses to the Black Death in Scotland
Bibliography
List of Illustrations
Index
