London in 1592 is a partially-walled city of one hundred and fifty thousand people, composed of the immediate city of London and its surrounding parishes (called "liberties") just outside the walls.

There is also a large population of subjects living in several parishes surrounding the liberties, which are among the first communities to be hit severely by the plague's return.

Queen Elizabeth I rules England and City of London's government is concerned with a growing population and rising crime.

Due to increasing economic and food shortages, disorder has grown among the underclass population in the city, and beyond that, moralist authorities increasingly struggle to govern.