For God is deaf nowdays and will not hear us. And for our guilt he grinds good men to dust. - William Langland Papatlaca first hit the trade cities of Spain in November 1520. Because it had a three week incubation period, it had spread to many Spanish towns before the first mainlander exhibited any symptoms. The strategy that the rich often used, of fleeing infected towns to live in the country for a time, was not very effective because papatlaca was often already present in their entourage. People turned to their faith to offer pleas to God to be spared - and ended up exposing themselves to the disease in the large church gatherings. The epidemic was soon labeled the Spanish Scourge.