Sir C. H. saith In a general mortality we cannot impute an infection to the Air or to the operations of the Elements as to intensive or excessive heat or cold which we must do did the Contagion truely lodge there sith it is evident even by Aristotle himself that the Elements are altered and have their qualities from heaven And besides the long continuance or duration of a Pestilence as sometimes a whole year somtimes two or three doth sufficiently prove that it cannot be reasonably thought to proceed from the Air or the intention of heat and cold or any other elementary qualities because they vary many times in the same day and much more in succession of seasons And we know that the state of the Air c. is of a quite different and contrary disposition in Winter to that which it is in Summer therefore the Contagion cannot remain in the Air. Nay in that great Pestilence in Germany which happened in the years 1598. and 1599. the Learned Physicians of Vienna themselves acknowledge at the instance and request of the Archduke Matthias tâ—at although they might presume some neer Cause thereof in the Air yet the true and certain causes of it were in the Heavens the Planets and their Aspects as is testified by Asuerus in Iatromathematicis p. 206. My Author yet goes further and says that they mentioned a preceding Comet in the earthly sign Taurus such a one as happened with us at Christmas 1664. and some notable Conjunctions of the Planets to be Post Deum the true and absolute causes thereof Now if these Learned persons had been fully satisfied that the Air had lodged the Contagion or that the infection had inhabited there they needed not to have climed to Heaven to find a more noble cause thereof If any shall ask me now whence cometh the Pestilence since I deny it to inhabit the Air I answer that it comes from the Heavens as in the first Chapter I have already sufficiently pâ—oved and it were but actum agere to do it here again But if then any shall enquire further how it comes I answer by that Magnetick power of the heavens by which all things in Nature and Natures self is preserved As a Needle will work toward a Loadstone though thorow a board of considerable thickness so our bodies bend to the influences of the heavenly bodies by whose power and vertue they are attracted higher or tower in and through all the changes and chances of this mortal life For as my worthy friend Dr. Ed. Bolnest in his Med. Inst â— â—4 hath truly urged it There is nothing above but hath its likâ—â—ess below and whatever is below hath the same vertue with 〈◊〉 which is above Heaven and earth the things above and things below are like two Lutes equally strung the one being touched the other answers it with a like sound Conclusion FRom what hath been said in the preceding discourse these several Conclusions naturally emerge 1. That the true and proper natural causes of the Pestilence are the Aspects and influences of the Heavens and when we attribute so great an effect to other less and inconsiderable causes we strangely erre and make the Gates too big for the â—iâ—y the building too ponderous for the foundation A Mouse can't cast a shaddow like an Elephant nor a Molehill like the Alpine mountaines If the effect be great so must the cause else Nature knew not Geometry 2. That the Pestilence cannot last above four years i. e. in one place or Country for in that time it either abateth of it self oâ— is removed unto some other Country c. as Celestial causes please to pre-appoint And therefore they that assert Plagues to continue sometimes eight sometimes fifteen years or more I mean in its raging effects are wrong in their Conclusions and not to be believed He that by second causes appoints beginnings to Pestilences proportionates unto them proper Mediums and Periods 3. That the several Plagues which happened Anno 1593 1603 1625 and 1636. received their beginnings increase abatements and periods proportionate to the energy of Celestial Influences and that the Stations Transits and ill Aspects of Saturn and Mars in a time of Sickness are the â—ugmentors thereof and the Transits Aspects and Stationâ— of Jupiter and Venus the Alleviators 4. That this present Plague God not aâ—â—ering or suspending the power he hath given to second caâ—ses will abate about the later end of September 1665. and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 less apace 5. That the Pestilence of it selfâ— is not catching That it is the timidity of our affections which occasions the supposed Infection 6. That those persons which flye from the Plague are the most subject unto it by seeking to â—huâ— dangers we often rush into them God hath not a conâ—roversie â—o much with wood and stones as with men and the rod of his anger is not so much for punishment of Cities and Houses as their Inhabitants God can find us oâ—t though we hide our selves behind Rocks and Mountains 7. That this present Plague was foreâ—old by Astrology and that no other Art whatsoever is capable of predictions of this kind 8. That the Air is unjustly suspected to lodge the Contagion it being so noble an element and so advantagious that without it we cannot live or move It is the only preserver of mankind and the Causa sine qua â—on of the vivification of all things Which seriously considered whispers unto us this great truth That thâ— shutting up of People in a time of Sickneâ—s and dâ—nying them the advantage of the Air is no small propinquate cause at least of the increase of the Coâ—â—agion For by how much the more Men are abridged their Customary liberty by so much the more are they subject to Fear and the greater their Fear is thâ— seener do they meet the ill they dread But see more of this in the sixth Chapter of the foregoâ—ng dâ—sâ—curse In the time of the Levitical Law men were not to be shut up above seven days and then onâ—ly the unclâ—an peâ—son and this after the Priest had seen good reason for it and if he amended either before or at the seven days end then the Priest pronounced him clean But we in this Age shut up not onely the unclean but the Sound and Sick together the onely way to be rid of all if at the least 〈◊〉 be such a thing as Infection And iâ— in a Family of ten or more one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though all the rest be sound and healthy we shut up the living for the sake of â—he dead and debar them the benefit of those great and known preservers of health the Air and Exercise a Month at least together A Custome strangely tyrannous and I am afraid savors more of Barbarism then Christianâ—ty and as it is 〈◊〉 to the Laws of Old and to Charity so beyond question it is aâ—â—â—ath been considerably detrimental and injurious to the Lives of very many thousands in this great City whose only â—lory is in her numerous Inhabitants FINIS Quarles
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
must be an effect of some other Causes more powerful then they but there is nothing in Nature of equal Energy with the Heavens Ergo. If it could rationally be presumed to depend on other Causes we might for our conviction happily have a Plague when no such Causes are apparent but there is never any Pestilence but when either Comets Eclipses or great Conjunctions c. happen It therefore roundly and without obstruction follows That Plagues are caused by Celestial influences For further confirmation of this truth if what I have concisely spoken be not enough read Origanus de Effectiâ—us Stellarum p. 517. Peucer de Astrolog Haly pars 8. p. 398. Cardan in Pâ—ol Guido Bonatus cummultis aliiâ— Foelix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas CHAP. II. How long a Pestilence may naturally last MAny there are who hold an opinion that the Plague or Pestilence may last eight years some others believe it may endure fifteen years and others opinionate it may continue a longer or lesser time Nay there is one that hath lately printed but I confess with small shew of probable Reason that this great City London hath not been free from the Plague since the year 1636. which is now twenty nine years agone compleat Nor is it usual with those that determine thus positively of the duration of Plagues c. to give any satisfactory Reason wherefore they so conclude so that we are left at liberty either to believe what they assert or examine whether their Assertions be true If by the Plague they mean onely a Fever in the highest degree as in the definition formerly set down I am perswaded they say most true for it will be very difficult to prove not onely that a Plague may not remain and continue eight or fifteen years in that sence but that we are at any time free from a Plague Or that we indeed ever shall be either more or less as long as the Erratick Stars have Motion or whilst the Earthly Globe endureth For while the Nature and influence of Saturn and Mars c. continue the diseases they signifie shall never totally abate for should once their Energy for corruption be presumed to cease their power for generation must suffer a deliquium likewise It being as essentially necessary for the heavenly bodies to spend their influences in order to a corruption and destruction of the forms of things there being nothing else really subject to a Mutation as to employ their powers in the Generation or preservation of them A Plague is as it were a Broom in the hand of the Almighty with which he sweepeth the most nasty and uncomely corners of the Universe that the more noble parts of it may remain secure and safe But if by the duration of the Pestilence for so many years they mean an enumeration of Fevers exalted to the highest degree i. e. when a great number of particular Fates unite forcibly to make up the general calamities as in all those Plagues which happened in the years 1348 1593 1603 1625 1636. and now this 1665. I say then they are most grossly mistaken For a Plague in this later sence cannot last above four years neither did any of the Plagues in the years before mentioned last longer many of them not so long And of this opinion is the Learned Cardanus Seg. 7. Aphor. 121. where he saith Pestem 4. annis durare nunquam posse and Origanus ecchoing to him p. 518. faith that experience sufficiently proveth that the Plague never remaineth in one place above four years but in that space of time the Contagion removeth as it were from one place to another as lately we know by woful experience that it came out of Turky into Germany out of Germany into Italy out of Italy into Holland and out of Holland into England where now it rageth and all this in less then four or five years time And in this sence faith Origanus Cardanus is to be understood We know also that an Eclipse of the Sun c. cannot operate longer then four years scarcely so long And it is sufficiently known unto Artists that the raging effects of a Conjunction of Saturn Mars or Jupiter c. lasts not longer then while Saturn is transiting one Twelfth part of the Zodiack for in that time the fury of their influences is either wholly abated or taken off by Configurations and Appearances of a contrary Nature and Quality or else they are for some certain time suspended as in a Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter c. they may be such Conjunctions happening but seldom in comparison of other Configurations And how opposite to reason it is for us to presume the Effects should remain in force when the cause is removed I submit to the judgements of the ingenious Thus then we see the several opinions of the Plagues duration either of eight years fifteen years c. is groundless and uncertain since it is proved that no Pestilence can last longer then four years time at the most unless the Authors of such appointments will say they are to be understood according to the first part of the Distinction which if they do then I aver as before that the world cannot onely be afflicted with the Plague for Eight or Fifteen years at a time but must be content to be united unto it for ever The Angel is Gold as truely as the Five pound piece and endures the touch as boldly So the single violent Fever which it is impossible for the world to be a day freed from is as truely the Pestilence as the great united numbers of Fevers are and it differs no more in Nature and Essence from it then the light which appears at seven or eight of the Clock in the morning doth from that which shines at mid-day And it is an illustrious Truth That single Bullets kill as certainly as Caseâ—â—ot and it is not the great numbers that dye in War should make a private man if right in his Wits think a Duel less dangerous CHAP. III. Of the several Plagues that happened Anno 1593 1603 1625 1636. and how they increased and abated HAving already declared the Efficient Causes of the Pestilence and shewn how long it is probable for one to last viz. to rage at one time I shall in the next place consider of the four last several great Plagues which happened Anno 1593 1603 1625 1636. together with the Natural and true causes of their increase and abatement thereby evincing to my Reader that what I shall in the next Chapter write concerning this present Pestilence and its decrease shall be upon grounds most Rational and safe to be built on First then it is meetly requisite that I exhibit briefly Table-wise the true increase and decrease of the Pestilence in those four years which take as followeth A Table shewing the Increase and Abatement of the Plague in the years 1593 1603 1625 1636. Moneths names Week 1593 1603 1625 1636 March 17 3
man be a trench or channel capable of receiving the pretended Noxious esflâ—viums of another or whether Cables can be made of Cobwebbs All such enquiries I shall leave to those that have leisure and take pleasure to disport themselves with words and the names and noises of things onely That which I here aim at is to examine whether the Pestilence be infectious or catching If it be infectious and really catching in it self it must be so equally to all persons that approach it or that it approacheth and this either to some degree of danger or else unto death or else it must be infectious to some particular persons onely If it be infectious to all persons or catching to all alike then all persons that come into the sight or within the scent oâ— it must necessarily be subject unto iâ— and this either unto death or other lesser degree of danger There cannot be a person either man woman or child that is either shut up in a house with persons infected or that shall talk with any of them so shut up though but at a window or through a Wicket but mâ—st be supposed to paâ—take of the infection â—oâ—â—he Tâ—loâ—s of a Contagion in this sence lay hold on them all But How wide this is of the Truth I leave to the judgements of any that have their five Sences free from infection and their Reason from depravation In every great Pest experience convinceth this opinion of Error for in this great City we know and see it daily now that there are divers persons that have had and yet have the Sickness the very next door unto them on both sides of them before and behind them and yet their Persons Houses and Families not so much as concerned in it or touched with it Many also are constantly visiting their Friends and Relations that are visited yet by Gods blessing they remain safe and sound And many that I know whose hard hap it hath been to be shut up with others in an infected house out of which there have been several buried yet their good fortune hath been such that they have not only been freed from it but have not had so much as a head-ach all that time or in any considerable time afterward In this present Pestilence in Thames street a poor woman dyed of it having her Childsucking at her brâ—st at the same time yet was the infant preserved from it and was put unto a Nurse where it yet remains healthful as I am credibly informed and never had the least of prejudice of that kind attend it Nay some there are on my knowledge I speak it that have lyen in the same bed with those that have had the soars upon them and have nevertheless escaped free from all manner of detriment and danger thereby How many are there of Physicians Chirurgeons Apothecaries Nurses c. that are daily among them and yet escape not onely death but the disease it self If any shall reply that they may possibly have taken and do take Antidotes and thereby they escape I then demand If there be such a preserving vertue in any Antiâ—â—te that can be made use of what is the reason that any that take Antidotes and Preservatives as they are called at any time are infected or do dye of which I could give many instances Some we know have Fates attending them so strenuous that Sâ—lamander like they can bid defiance to the flames of the greatest Pestilence as others we have known to be safe in the heat of a battle when men have fallen by the sword or bullets on every side of them He that hath powerful Stars is not onely shot-free but Plague-free and a good Nativity is the certainest Amâ—let or Antidote that a man can have or be blessed with I need not labor to be more perspicuous in this which is so plain and cleer of it self Every Parish where the Viâ—itation hath come affords instances more then enough and therefore it will be but a blotting of paper to endeavor a further eviction of this so obvious and Sun-like Truth That the Plague is not equally infectious nor are all persons in danger of catching it Secondly If the Plague be presumed not infectious unto all but unto some particular persons onely I say then it ought not to be deemed or esteemed infectious at all at least not any more infectious then are all other diseases viz. Small Pocks Scurvey Pleuresie Ague Gout Palsey Tooth-ach c. since though the Notion of Infection be laid aside there is not a person born into the world that hath not at some time or other in his life as his Nativity shall truly shew some one disease or other As persons Genitures are either mild and quiet or ragged and violent so accordingly do they partake of diseases in the course of their lives Never was any person subject to violent diseases as the Plague c. but had a violent Nativity to shew it and è contra And he that hath the Sun Moon or Ascendant in his Radix directed to the hostile beams or body of Mars in dangerous places of the Heavens as the books of Astrologie will truely inform you shall never escape the Plague although the Kingdom he lives in at that time be free from it And that the Pestilence can be otherways in this later sence catching I deny All persons must grant that to the first person in a Pestilence it comes â—x Aftris if not I would fain know from what other Cause Then if it be possible for the first person to meet with the Plague without Infection from another why is it not so for a Second or for a Third or for a Thousand A Million c Do we think that God and Nature cannot suit effects to their proper Causes without being beholding to an infection from so filly a worm as Man Is it not as easie for Heaven to strike thousands of Millions of persons with the Pestilence at once as to afflict one poor individual mortal therewith Poor man that hath hardly breath enough to help himself must vainly suppose he hath some to spare to hurt and offend others We blaspheme one of the greatest Attributes of the Almighty when we restrain his power it is not we that can or are able to infect one another but it is God by his Power over us that afflicts us all and indeed the Plague carrieth not in it so much of infection as it doth of affliction and so we mortals find it Beyond all peradventure the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Small Pox Lues Venerea c. are diseases in all respects as loathsome and dangerous as the Pestilence yet how few is the number that dread infection or Contagion from them in Comparison of the vast multitudes of men and women that bow the knee of their Reason to this Nay I dare aver and maintain that although the Plague be a disease principally known by the spoâ—s yet compared to those
from Sagittary and Gemini 4. A Quadrate of Saturn and Mars June 27. 1664. from Sagittary and Virgo 5. The Apparition of three Comets in the later end of 1664. and beginning of 1665. 6. The Transit of Saturn through Sagittary unto his greatest dignities there to continue for above five years together All which are Causes so powerfully impelling that it is to be feared the Pestilence we now partake of will not be the one moiety of the Effects thence to issue or thereon depending By this connexion of Causes it is somewhat apparent that this Pest should have took its beginning at the later end of 1664. and truly had not the Winter then been so extreamly sharp it having a Frost of almost ten weeks continuance together to have kept it back as we know it did it had beyond all question broke forth then Nay and break forth it did then too as my self can experimentally testifie having been personally visited with it at Christmas that year And my good friend Mr. Josias Westwood the Chirurgeon whose assistance I then craved and advice I followed I bless God to my preservation hath told me since That many of his Patients at that time were afflicted with the same distemper and yet obtained cure against it the Air being then so friendly to Nature and an enemy unto the Pestilence And besides it was but prudence in people to keep it from the knowledge of the world since few or none dyed thereof as long as they could for we find that it came to a discovery soon enough to amaze and terrifie the whole Nation and hath bid fair for the Ruine of Trade of all kinds in this great and once populous City Put now let us consider its progress and increase with the causes thereof and the possibility of its abatement with the time when In this matter I shall consult but not trouble you with the Figure of the Suns Ingress into the Equinoctial sign Aries for the year 1655. it being in almost every Almanack to be seen and thence draw down the several Arguments of encrease and abatement and because the Pestilence was hardly perceptible untill the month of June I will begin there And in that month as if God and Nature had appointed this Sickness to be Ominous in earnest to these Nations we may observe two most fatal transits to usher it in viz. Mars his then coming to the opposite point of the Ascendant and the Sun to the opposite point of Saturn Malum Principium malus finis sequitur A beginning of a Sickness so mischievous that greater can hardly be God grant the end be not as inauspicious and although I presume it will not be of many months continuance to this great City yet we are not to suppose a Pestilence ended when it seemingly acquits one place In the month of July the Pestilence began to encrease considerably especially toward the later end thereof there were then fix oppositions of the Erratick Stars and two Eclipâ—es and to add to these Mars Venus and Mercury then came to the Quadrate place of the Sun and to the opposite point of Saturn by transit and the Sun then came to the opposition of Jupiter both by transit and aspect All which were very great arguments of its encrease In the monâ—th of August Saturn comes to the Quadrate place of the Sun and will be stationary upon it all the moneth and the two Eclipses last moneth do now begin to operate which are testimonies of very great Aâ—gmentaâ—ion howbeâ—t the fortunate Planer Venus coming to the Sexâ—ile of her own place and of the Moons at the beginning of the moneth and coming to a Trine of the Sun the later end thereof and Jupiter his then being stationary in Trine of the Sun also may so happily contemper the fury of it that it may not now encrease or augment to any exceeding great height A part of September is likely to prove somewhat dangerous because Saturn is in a manner still stationary and the Sun and Saturn then come to a Quadrate aspect and this in ill points of the Vernal figure Mars and Jupiter who is Dominus Ascendentis then also come to an opposition and both in square of Luna's place whence it is probable that in the second and last weeks of this moneth the Pestilence may admit of an abarement but indeed I much fear about the middle of the moneth an encrease considerable nevertheless I hope and rationally believe favente Deo that this Pestilence cannot ascend to any higher degree then it may at that time reach unto The moneth of October seems to promise well and the Pestilence therein cannot meet with any eminent cause for augmentation yet I suppose the second and last week will make some sâ—ight offers at an encrease because then the Sun comes to the opposite place of the Moon and Venus hath a progressional motion to the opposition of the Sun and Quartile of Saturns places November and December in this respect God not â—â—usâ—rating the course of second Causes or taking advantage of us for our sins I question not will prove very kindly and the City of London will begin to be in a better heart then in many moneths before Howâ—eit it cannot be supposed that this Pestilence should in so short a time totally vanish or that so great a Sickness should not leave some unkind impressions behind it but in comparison of what it hath been I dare assert that we shall then be in a manner wholly acquitted from it and its violent raging destructive Qualities and Company To conclude London hath at present been the Patient and hath felt the force of the Almighties scourge to purpose while most other places of England have escaped the â—ash O Utinam I wish with all my soul that London might be the Scape-Goat for them all but ah I fear I fear before the Planet Saturn be gotten quite out of Capricorn that those other parts of this Nation will drink deep of the same Cup. God and Nature punish none by proxy It will not be this Cities sufferings that can excuse other Towns and Cities from the violent stroaks of so insatiate an enemy CHAP. V. Whether the Plague be Infectious or catching I Shall not here stand to discourse largely of Atoms nor yet too strictly enquire into the Sympathies and Antipathies of things Nor yet shall I trouble my self to enquire whether there are Spirits in Nature of so active and subtile a faculty that can penetrate the Pores of the body insensibly and as easily as lightning is said to meâ—â— the sword and never singe the sâ—â—bberd Or whether there be a commanding quality in the body of man of power and ability sufficient to send forth infectious and dangerous Spirits or Atoms as Powder doth a Bullet out of the mouth of a Canon Musquet or Pistoll which shall admit of no Reverberation or Repulse from the body or butt it aims at Or whether the body of one