but what I adjudged necessary and if therein I have unmasked any vulgar errors i. e. shewn the Face of Truth without a Vizor I hope the ingenious will accept my endeavors kindly and not be ashamed or affraid to behold her brightness and glory When I speak of the Causes of the Plague you are to understand that I tacitly acknowledge God the chief and supreme Cause of all things and that it is in his power to alter or suspend second Causes even as he pleaseth but this he seldom nay never doth but by Miracle as in the days of Joshua and good King Hezekiah And when I justly censure persons that out of a slavish fear leave their habitations thereby hoping to fly from the judgements of God I would not be understood as if I condemned all that leave the City For many have done it rather out of Custom and for pleasure then any fear really and many more out of a prudent care rather then from a servile fear as judging it better to be subject to the â—â—ll of a Slate or Tyle then a whole house to the fate of a little village then to the destiny of so great a City and although I believe that the Plague is sent not so much to afflict the City as the Citizens the Houses as the owners of them Yet I am perswaded that it is the greatest Plague to the City that so many have run out of it We know the Famousest Edifices have a time to flourish and another to decay and as the Poeth saith Quandoquidem data sunt ipsis quoque fata fepulchris Even Tombs themselves are subject unto Fate And that it is a Fate most cruel to this great City to have her children so subject to fear that by their leaving her all trading is at an ebb and she in Summer forced to undergo a dismall dreadful Winter of Evil there is no one that hath any sence of humane sufferings but must truly and sorrowfully acknowledge To conclude I shall not Apologize for my present attempt it is sufficient that I saw this great City wanted encouragement and knew that God in mercy had enabled me to present them with this Celestial Cordial and to be a messenger of good news unto them Now that God would graciously vouchsafe to protect this great City and the Nations from so great a scourge for the Future Bless and defend his Sacred Majesty c. Settle us in Peace and preserve the Government both of State and Church is the Cordial fervent Prayer of the earnest implorer of Englands happiness From my house in Jewen Garden against the Sun in Jewen-street neer Aldersgate-street John Gadbury These few escapes of the Press be pleased thus to correct PAge 2. l. 11. r. Apodictical p. 8. l. 2. r. and as these l. 21. r. cause or causes p. 29. l. 10. dele the p. 35. l. 1. r. from a Sickness p. 37. l. 35. for with r. of Licensed Aug. 25. 1665. Roger L'estrange Prooeme WHether the Doctrine of Democritus and his followers who maintain that by the Worlds which perish without this and by the strange bodies which from that infinity of worlds run into this there arise many times the beginnings of Plague and Pestilence and of other extraordinary accidents be true I will not take on me here to dispute because there would many eminent questions hard to be resolved at least to the satisfaction of many arise from such enquiries and possibly of little emolument unto the Readers Or whether the particular corruptions which happen in divers Countries either by Earthquakes Excessive droughts extreme heats and unusual rains c. do infect disease and alter the Winds and Rivers which arise out of the Earth and consequently the humors of Man or whether the alteration of Drinks and Dyet and other customes c. be not the proper and immediate causes of the Pestilence in mankind both which are very likely is not my present intention to discuss My design is not to trouble or consult either Physicks or Metaphysicks but as the Stars and their influences have been my Study for many years and are sub Deo the causes of all action and passion in this inferiour world which is a Physical Science too I must acknowledge though few Physicians understand and fewer make use of it so I shall make it my business at this time thence to discover the Cause and continuance of this great Pest being assured in this Learning to meet with Demonstration whereas all others afford but likelihoods of proof grounding things upon false Hypotheses In Astrology God not altering the course of second Causes as in Joshua's and Hezekia's time he did there is an Apodyctical proof of the matter in Question without being beholden to the poor shifts and effeminate evasions that other Arts not in conjunction with this are constantly compell'd to lay hold on My Method then shall be to consider 1. The Causes of the Plague in general 2. How long a Pestilence may naturally last 3. Of the several Plagues that happened Anno 1593 1603 1625 1636. and how they increased and abated 4. Of this present Plague when according to natural causes it may abate 5. Whether the Plague be catching 6. The Folly of People in flying from their habitations for fear of the Plague evinced 7. That this present Plague was foretold by Astrology 8. The Air unjustly suspected to lodge the Contagion 9. Conclusion CHAP. I. The Causes of the Plague in general IT is an Axiome agreed unto by all Philosophers That a Cause is that whereupon dependeth or whence issueth an effect or that by which any thing happeneth Some hold that there are four causes of every thing viz. Causa Essentialis Materialis Formalis and Finalis Plato mentioneth three kinds of Causes and distinguisheth them by these three Terms By which Of which and For which but taketh the most principal to be that By which it being the Efficient Cause And that the Heavens are the Efficient and Essential Causes of Plagues or other Contagious diseases we need not doubt it being so congruent to Reason to believe Physicians tell us that the Plague is a disease most Malignant and Pestilential a Fever in the highest degree which doth suddenly putrifie and corrupt both the Solid and Fluid parts of the body which having done by an almost uncontrolable and unrepellable siecity dries up and destroys the Natural Powers then seizeth or preyeth upon the vitals and so lets in the everlasting Enemy DEATH And sith by Divine Logick we are able to prove that all effects have suitable and corresponding Causes Men do not gather Grapes of Thornes or Figgs of Thistles It is most Rational to believe that this so terrible disease must proceed from some Cause or Causes most Illustrious eminent and Celestial it being so remarkably terrifying wheresoever it settles or makes its abode And for men to hope to find out a Cause I mean of Energy and honor sufficient here below
is to befool themselves with a vain empty and idle enquiry For we know there is nothing sublunary but is its fellow effect and though in a different manner hath a dependancy on Celestial influences with it and for an effect to produce an effect is all out as improbable and unlikely as for a Child to beget a Child Therefore the true and certain Causes of this astonishing adversary the Plague are no where to be found but in the Heavens Qualis effectus talis Causa If the effect be eminent so must the Cause All Astrologers with good reason affirm That all popular diseases are irritated by Mars and Saturn their Influences and indeed the skilful in the Sydereal Science may readily read those dismal effects in their Natures Mars is a Planet fiery hot and dry Cholerick and therefore Author of all Pestilential diseases Saturn is a Planet Earthy cold and dry and Author of all tedious and durable infirmities And it is observable that Mars though his effects are violent like his Nature never hurteth so cruelly or causeth so raging a Pestilence as when in Configuration of Saturn Nor do their Conjunctions and Aspects in every part or place of Heaven produce such Malignant and cruel effects but only when they are conjoyned or configurated in earthy fiery or Humane signs or Asterisms and receive some assistance from the Conjunctional Opposite or Quadrantal Rays of Jupiter who according to Astrologers is significator sanguinis Then I say and at such times Mars by his Cholerick intemperate Nature causeth not onely the Plague but the raging sury of it and Saturn by reason of his destructive temper and inimical qualities to all natural existencies portends the Diuturnity and continuance thereof and the sweeping away of Multitudes thereby And both these Planets Natures being so pernicious to Mankind and indeed all other Generable and Corruptible things they possessing the two extremes of a mischievous temperature is perhaps one main reason why we have seldom any Plagues or Pestilences that are not accompanied of at least attended in the sequel with Wars and Famine Hear the Learned Anton how ingeniously he expresseth their Natures and Qualities in his Philosophical Satyrs Thus of Saturn Saturns sullen face Pale and of Ashy colour male-content A Catiline to Mortal Temperament That would blow up the Capitol of Man With Envious influence And if there hate be in a Heav'nly brest This Planet with that Fury is possest And of Mars he saith Blood Death and Tragick stories Mars doth yeild A Golgotha of Graves whose purple-field Dy'd Crimson with his fatal Massacres Craves bloody Inke and Scarlet Characters A Pen that like a Bullets force would reel A Marble Conscience Other co-operating Causes there are of the Pestilence as Comets Eclipses of the Luminaries and Grand Satellitiums of the Planets c. which as they happen to be more or less in number so the Plague is either intended or remitted And hence it is that all Plagues are not alike mischievous in their devourings their Causes being sometimes more or less forcible then at others Aristotle that great Master of Reason acknowledgeth that there is neither generation nor corruption but is effected by the Heavenly Motions And any man though but meanly conversant in History may find that there never happened any eminent Plague or other prodigious Accidents as War Famine c. but there were either Great Conjunctions or Aspects of the superior Celestial bodies terrible Comets Eclipses of the Luminaries and other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Appeatances as the certain Causes and Precursors of them Take a few instances Anno 1348. There happened a Plague so great in England and indeed in other parts also that the Chronicles tell us there were buried thereof in the Charter-house-yard London 50000 People Nay Mr. Cambden saith that in that little Town of Yarmouth there then dyed about 7000 Persons It is observable a little before this great Pestilence there happened a very great Comet in Taurus an Earthly sign as is witnessed by Leovitius and also a great Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter and Mars in Aquarius So terrible were the Effects of these Celestial Appearances then that it is dismal to mention God of his Mercy grant that onely the Plague be our Portion at this time we laboring now under the like cruel influences if not greater Anno 1527. That great Plague called the Sweating Sickness began to rage a great and terrible Comet of a bloody colour appeared but a little before in the Heavens They then laboured also under the weighty effects of a Conjunction of Saturn Jupiter and Mars in Risces a watery sign perhaps a main reason why that Pestilence was attended with a Sweat Anno 1593. Anno Regni Elizab. 35. There was another very great Plague the Celestial Causes of which were the two Conjunctions and Oppositions of Saturn and Mars from and in Capricorn and Cancer Tropical signs and an Opposition of Saturn and Jupiter from the same signs besides three great Eclipses of the Luminaries of Heaven Anno 1603. When the great Plague happened then we may remember that there was a Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in Sagittarius And a little before that a great Eclipse of the Sun and a Comet also of great Magnitude appeared Anno 1625. That Contagion was the consequence of a great Conjunction of Saturn Jupiter and Mars in the Celestial sign Leo a sign of the fiery triplicity and representing the heart in the Microcosme Ergo the more dangerous Anno 1636. There happened another Plague in London but not so great as any the former there were then two Conjunctions c. of Saturn and Mars and two invisible Eclipses I mean as to us of the Sun the first on January 27. the other on July 22. one happening in Aquarius the other in Leo the greatest dignities of the Sun I purposely omit an infinite of instances more of this kind as the Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in Pisces Anno 1643. and other concomitant configurations under the effects whereof we then laboring â—â—riâ—ok of the rage of a cruel Civil War and not onely so but a Plague brake forth very violently in all the South and Southwest parts in this Kingdom of England and in the Northwest likewise Thus then we see that immediately upon Eclipses great Conjunctions the Apparitions of Comets c. the Pestilence c. hath constantly followed and these Celestial Causes have been more or fewer in number or greater or lâ—sser in Nature for great Conjunctions have the prehâ—minence from meaner Conjunctions Aspects Eclipses c. and they from Comets or other Apparitions so hath the Pestilence been more or less durable and raging Ergo we may with good ground assert That the Configurations of the Planets Eclipses of the Luminaries and other Celestial Apparitions as Comets c. are the most certain efficient Causes of such Effects To conclude If the Pestilence be not an effect of the before mentioned Causes it
therewith the truly valiant often escape untoucht A mans own wit when bridled by fear hunts him into those snares that above all things he would gladly shun Cowardice throws contempt upon the great Creator of all things as arguing a distrust unworthy of his power Can God preserve Daniel in the Lions Den and not secure thee from the Plague thinkest thou is it harder for him to keep thee sound among the sick then it was to protect the three children in the Oven from the devouring flames and consuming heat thereof In a Coward not onely Religion but Reason endures the Rack and where a generous confidence is wanting the faculties of the Soul are frozen But a well-poyz'd Resolution is a bulwark against the most imminent dangers Audaces fortuna juvat The Gods befriend the nobly confident And valour as one well observes casts a kind of honor upon God in that we shew that we believe his goodness while we trust our selves in danger upon his care onely whereas the Coward eclipses his sufficiency by unworthily doubting that God will not bring him off Sinful Adam can't hide himself so closely but God can easily find him and if distrustful Jonah will flee to Tarshish God can raise a Tempest to overtake him If God have appointed the Pestilence for thy Portion thy flying from it but throws thee into its embraces Hence it is that the Countries round about us come to be so suddenly seized with this Sickness the fears of the Heartless fugitives being as so many nimble Chariots to convey it unto the places whither they fly or travel If men will be afraid to trust God it is no wonder that he refuses to protect them Let us consider how small a number of worthy generous persons this Pest preys upon in comparison of the vast multitudes of the vulgar that are swept away by it There hath not been six persons of eminent Note and consideration known to dye in this great and populous City since the Plague began It feeds chiefly upon those people that fear hath slain to its hand Persons of narrow souls understandings of confused Intellects and Aguish constitutions are they that principally fall sacrifices unto this great devourer when those of a more refined Reason and understanding as if supported by more noble Stars remain secure from it So we see a vertuous confidence is a security against the worst of Evils and a slavish timidity onely a herauld or harbinger to them Lucan tells us Fortunaque perdat Opposita virtute minas Fates greatest Threats be lost Where vertue Rules the Rost I read in a Book lately Printed upon occasion of this great Pestilence that in the time of that raging Sickness Anno 1348. many People kept themselves up close in their houses as in Castles and many retired into deserts and solitary places to secure and preserve themselves from its violence But the Pest as if it knew no limits nor could be contrould in its rage and fury untill the hand that scatter'd it restrained it pursues those poor souls into their close corners and there destroys great numbers of them And at the last when they saw they had like a bird in a net by striving entangled and endangered themselves the more they assumed a Christian and man like boldness and resolving to welcome death in that terrible habit if it fell to their Lot they went promiscuously together and became serviceable to each other in administring to one anothers necessities and to crown this happy magnanimity and fearless Resolution it so pleased God the Plague stayed And it is ingeniously observed by Mr. Kemp in his Treatise lately published pag 39. That in the ending 〈◊〉 great sickness 1625. the people went promiscuously 〈◊〉 another and the houses were quickly filled with 〈◊〉 and fresh commers out of the Country and yet 〈◊〉 infection followed Thus we see the conceit of 〈◊〉 hurts more then the thing it self Minus afficit 〈◊〉 â—â—tigatio quam cogitatio And since peoples 〈◊〉 from their habitations doth rather betray them 〈◊〉 the arms of danger then any way secure them 〈◊〉 the thing they fear it argues professed Folly in any 〈◊〉 for men may as well abscond from the 〈◊〉 presence as to hope to hide themselves from his 〈◊〉 CHAP. VII 〈◊〉 this present Plague was foretold by Astrology 〈◊〉 to say much of that impertinent and worthless scoffer whose mouth Satan hath lately opened not only against most honorable and Learned Society of men in the world 〈◊〉 the Colledge of Physicians but against the 〈◊〉 of the Stars and Heavens and the Augures Coeli as 〈◊〉 pleased to term Astrologers because I 〈◊〉 the Flux of his Pen he understandeth the Starry 〈◊〉 a little if at all in that he vainly goeth about to 〈◊〉 and Eclipse them The man by his writing seems 〈◊〉 of that number who for fear of giving that honor 〈◊〉 Coelestial bodies is their due are not ashamed of 〈◊〉 more and greater energy to a dunghill or unto a 〈◊〉 Lake or Pond or a close sluttish ally c. then unto 〈◊〉 and ever-busied Creatures whom God hath over us that as secondary Causes they might guide â—â—veâ—n all things in this inferior world But these are 〈◊〉 prefer a Hog to Venus embrace a Cloud for Juno 〈◊〉 Aesops Ape they cannot be content to hugg their own Ethiopian fancies c. but must be idly adventurin◠〈◊〉 corrupt and poyson the better-informed judgements of others Nor yet to examine his frivolous supposition of the Plague its taking beginning from the disease called the Scorbuâ—e or the Lues Venerea its Rise from a souldier copulating with a foul Mare as Holy Helmont and himself dream a most beastly and unsavory suggestion and bespeaks the Author and broacher thereof to be Sordiduâ— in coâ—tu as Astrologers say those are that have Saâ—urn and Venus in their Nativities in Quadrate or Opposite Aspect from beasâ—ial signs Not I say to take further or other notice of the Author oâ— these and many other insolent and unworthy passages in thaâ— defiled Pamphlet he calls A consolatory advice c. it being aâ— I hear under the examination of a better hand I shall in thiâ— Chapter acquaint the world that this great Pest was predicted by Astrology and that not by one Astrologer alone but by several as by these several passages cited from several of theiâ— works is apparent 1. Mr. John Booker in his Telescopium Uranicum 1665 mentioning a text of Haly de judiciis Astrorum of the effect of a â–¡ ♄ and ♂ such an Aspect happening in the Vernal figure thence predicts That one part of the people of that Clymaâ— meaning our own shall be destroyed consumed and wast away 2. William Andrews in his Almanack for 1665. in the Judicials of the Aestival figure thereof hath these words Aâ— in regard he that is Saturn is in the eighth house viz. the houâ— of death and mortality he doth seem thereby to prenote MORTALITY which will