The Plague in France - as chronicled by Friar Jean de Venette (d.1369)

Relevance of Jean de Venette  A Carmelite friar – member of the Church and thus reliable commentator  A witness of the plague in France (he died in 1369)  Assessed social impact of the plague

In the Chronicle, Venette:  Refers to the 1348 outbreak of pestilence in France and elsewhere  Reports seeing a large, stationary bright star, west of Paris, beaming rays to Paris. Star portends epidemic.  Mentions high mortality, widespread acceptance of faith, wealth of church, degeneration of social values

Impact of the pestilence: Fatality and populace  Lumps erupting in armpits, groin – sign of death  High mortality in France through  Over 500 bodies a day taken in carts from Hôtel- Dieu, Paris, to the cemetery of the Holy Innocents  Plague path - originated in land of infidels to ravage Italy, Avignon, Gascony, Spain, France and Germany  Many villages and town houses stripped of their inhabitants and heirs

Impact of the pestilence: Religion  No one died without a confession or receiving the last sacrament. Pope even gave confessors power to absolve sins of dying.  Dying bequeathed land and goods to Church, in absence of living heirs.  Jews accused of poisoning water sources, air - causing sudden deaths.  Jews persecuted, burnt alive. Jewish mothers threw their children into these fires, fearing forceful baptism, then jumped in too.  Wicked Christians contaminated water, too.

Post epidemic  High birth rate. Twins and even living triplets born  Children cut just 20 or 22 teeth  Society turns greedy and quarrelsome  Wrongdoing, sin and ignorance flourish  Inflation despite abundant resources  Enemies of the king of France and Church stronger than ever  Charity grows cold  No spread of education, Latin. Very few educated persons alive

Bibliography  Horrox, Rosemary. "Jean De Venette." The Black Death Print.  "Plague in France." Google.com/images. 5 Nov Web