The deadliest disease of the Medieval Age was the Black Death. It may have killed as many as half of the population of Europe and Medieval doctors were helpless against it. The first signs were lumps in the groin or armpits. After this, livid black spots appeared on the arms and thighs and other parts of the body. Few recovered. Almost all died within three days, usually without any fever.
Striking the English first, the Scots said ‘it had befallen them through the revenging hand of God' and called it 'the foul death of England'. They planned to take advantage of the situation by invading England but knowing no boundaries, the plague then struck them north of the border. 'In 1350, there was a great pestilence and mortality of men in the kingdom of Scotland, and this pestilence also raged for many years before and after in various parts of the world' wrote the historian-priest John of Fordun.
Medieval society was deeply affected by the Black Death. Apart from the personal and family devastation it wrought, it all but destroyed the economic life of Scotland as well as affecting the politics and culture of the nation.
With so few people available to do jobs, wages rose, investment fell, and sometimes fields were simply left to rot. Scotland struggled to cope so much that it took until the late 15th century for economic prospects to recover after the initial outbreak. A whole way of life altered, and the trade and manufacturing progress that had been made after the Wars of Independence almost came to a halt.
Images of ‘the Danse Macabre’ - the Dance of Death - appeared in churches and cathedrals, reminding people that everyone, rich and poor alike, would all face death and judgement.
