Plague had been present in England since the Black Death, infecting various fauna in the countryside, and known as plague since the 15th century.[4] Occasionally Yersinia pestis was transmitted to human society by infectious contact with the fleas of wild animals, with disastrous results for trade, farming, and social life.[5][6] Increasing plague activity along England's southern and eastern coasts appeared during the late 1580s to early 90s.