On April 30th, 1665 Samuel Pepys wrote "Great fears of the sickenesse here in the City, it being said that two or three houses are already shut up. God preserve as all " After these fateful words there ensued the Great Plague of London, followed swiftly by the Great Fire of London. Twenty months later, he concluded 1666 with "Thus ends this year of publick wonder and mischief to this nation, and, therefore, generally wished by all people to have...