Crime and Plague: England c.1340-c.1360

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Throughout history, there has been a link between epidemic disease and increased criminal activity. Despite this, theBlack Death, potentially the greatest disaster prior to the twentieth century has been understudied in terms of crime. Iwould like to discover if there was an increase in crime during the Black Death in 1348-50, and in the second pestilenceof 1361. I have chosen the period c.1340-c.1360 as it offers a picture of crime before, after and during the epidemics.However, it ensures that my research is not spread too thinly and that I am able to consider a number of different courts.There is a gap in the historiography on late medieval crime. I have a wealth of primary sources: firstly, the gaol deliveryrolls who heard all cases of people in prison awaiting trial, secondly the pleas from the King's Bench, which was thepremier criminal court, and finally, the local, manorial court records who dealt with minor crimes. Barbara Hanawalt hascompleted a similar study for the early fourteenth century but has received criticism as her work was limited to the gaoldelivery rolls. This topic is a progression from my MPhil research, which is looking at law and order during the BlackDeath. Therefore, I have a sound grasp of period, methodology, historiography and the relevant sources. I would like tocontinue under the supervision of Dr Christopher Briggs and would welcome collaboration with the Centre for EnglishLegal History as my work falls within its remit