Possible Clues:

• Trial prompted by political volte-face in capital
• Short drama retrospective, for example, about university in The Black Death
• 21dn with high mortality
• One of 10 inflicted on Egypt in Exodus
• Avoid like the ___
• Blood, frogs or lice, in the Passover story
• Place associated with fever epidemic
• Harass, trouble
• Infestation in place with row overlooking river
• 'The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices make instruments to ____ us' (The Tragedy of King Lear)