ABSTRACT
Fear of plague was widespread. It led to social disruption: the destruction of trade, of local government, and violence between city and country people as the former, when they took the age-old advice to flee far, to stay away a long time, to come back slowly, fled into the countryside. Fear of contagion also led to the breakdown of religious and social norms such as the family and neighbourly duties of looking after the sick. Given the impact that fear of the plague had upon society, it would not be surprising if religious and medical writers, who were often aware of the social and political dimensions of plague (such as the controversial policy of 'shutting up', or the question of whether flight was allowable) might try to restrain fear and anxiety.
