... and smallpox were a principle reason behind the millions of deaths throughout Europe. Figures show the devastation caused by these epidemics; it has been claimed that during the period of 1557 to 1559 "a tenth of the English population died"3 as a result of influenza. The infamous plague ravaged through many European towns and cities and caused an increase in the mortality rate. In London, for example, in the three key years of 1603, 1625 and 1665, in which the Plague struck this city approximately 200,000 people were killed. In other European countries such as France, between "2.2 and 3.3 million"4 people fell victims to the plague in a large part of the seventeenth century. Amsterdam, Santander and Barcelona are also key examples of municipalities in which the plague killed masses of civilians. These epidemics spread uncontrollably throughout Europe and being so deadly played a significant role in the great ...

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