Character guide

H.F.

major

Also known as Unknown, thou, your, thee, Himself, mine, myself, thy, themselves, their, Our, our, ourselves

The narrator and focal character, a saddler who remains in London during the plague.

John Hayward

supporting

Also known as this John Hayward, John, Hayward, honest John Hayward, Captain John

A sea captain and friend of the narrator who provides news from abroad.

Thomas

supporting

Also known as Brother Tom, Tom

The narrator's brother, who leaves London with his family early in the plague.

Dr. Heath

minor

Also known as Heath

A physician consulted by the narrator about plague remedies.

Richard Nay

minor

Also known as Richard, Richard the joiner

A joiner who helps bury the dead and later falls ill.

Solomon Eagle

minor

A Quaker who walks through London prophesying doom with a pan of fire.

John Cock

minor

Also known as One John Cock

A man who dies of the plague after being shut up in his house.

Sir Robert Clayton

minor

Also known as Robert

A wealthy merchant and Lord Mayor of London during the plague.

Sir Charles Doe

minor

A gentleman who provides accounts of plague deaths in his parish.

Captain Richard

minor

Also known as Richard

A ship captain who brings goods from Holland during the plague.

Master of the House

minor

Also known as the master of the house, The master of the house

The head of a household where the narrator lodges during the plague.

My Master

minor

The narrator's employer, a saddler, who leaves London early in the plague.

A Doctor

minor

Also known as the doctor

An unnamed physician who treats plague patients and advises the narrator.

Mr. ⸻

minor

A merchant and friend of the narrator who stays in London during the plague.

Lord

minor

A nobleman who issues orders for plague containment in London.

Our Travellers

minor

A group of people fleeing London who are described collectively.

The Officers

minor

Also known as the proper officers, the parish officers

Parish officials who enforce quarantine and burial orders.

Servants

minor

Domestic servants who care for the sick and die in large numbers.

Constable

minor

A parish constable who enforces plague regulations.

The Quakers

minor

A religious group noted for their calm response to the plague.

The Dutch

minor

Dutch traders who bring goods to London during the plague.

Forsooth

minor

A character who appears in a comic anecdote about a plague victim.

Rachel

minor

A woman who loses her family to the plague and is mentioned briefly.

Ford

minor

A man who dies of the plague and is mentioned in a list of victims.

Giles

minor

Also known as St. Giles

A parish in London heavily affected by the plague.

King James

minor

Also known as King James, our late Sovereign King James, of happy memory

The former king of England, mentioned in historical context.

Andrew

minor

Also known as St. Andrew

A parish in London mentioned in plague statistics.

Bride

minor

Also known as St. Bride

A parish in London mentioned in plague statistics.

Providence

minor

Also known as Divine Providence

A personification of divine guidance mentioned by the narrator.