Orders formerly conceived and agreed to be published by the Lord Major and the Aldermen of the City of London

This book contains a set of public health guidelines issued by the City of London Authorities in 1646. They were meant to prevent the spread of plague, which struck every 20 to 30 years. There was an outbreak of plague in 1646-1647. The title of the book is ‘Orders formerly conceived and agreed to be published by the Lord Major [sic] and the Aldermen of the City of London: and the Justices of Peace of the counties of Middlesex and Surrey, concerning the infection of the plague. And now re-reprinted and published by order of the honourable House of Commons’. It was printed by Richard Cotes in 1646. The Orders outlined rules such as: no pigs, dogs, cats, rabbits or pigeons were to be kept in the City; no beggars were allowed in the streets; the theatres had to close; disorderly drinking in taverns and alehouses was to be severely punished. The rules were unpopular and some people rebelled.