néede to be taught my self then able to instruct others The cure of the soule belongeth vnto them and thē cure of the body vnto me I will now hasten vnto the second cause which is the corruption of the aire I haue shewed before all the causes that may corrupt the aire it followeth now that I teach the correction purging and altring of the aire corrupted which is the second cause of the pestilence And first I would counsel you that al the stréetes lanes and allies be kept cleane and swéete as possible may bée not suffering the filth and swéepings to lie on heapes as it dooth especiallie in the suburbes but to be caried awaie more spéedily for the uncleane kéeping of the stréetes yéelding as it dooth noisome and vnsauory smelles is a meanes to increase the corruption of the aire and giueth great strength vnto the pestilence Also that al the pondes pooles ditches about the City if they yéeld any stinking and noisom smels that they be scoured and clensed for there ariseth from them an euill and vnholesome aire which furthereth the corruption of the aire and worse will do in hotter weather Also that you suffer no mixsons to be made so néere vnto the Citie as they are but to be caried far off neither any dead carion to lie vnburied as I haue séene but to be caried forth and buried déepe Also that euerie Euening you make small and light fiers with Oken wood in those stréets where the infection is either two or thrée fiers according vnto the length of the stréete or place infected the wood being consumed cast in some stickes of Iuniper and therewithall two thrée or foure rowles of perfume that I haue here set downe in my booke which I would wish were vsed through the whole Citie in your chambers and houses cast in vpon some coles in a chafingdish or fuming pot in the Morning and Euening This fumigation hath a most excellent and singular propertie to purge and alter a corrupt and vnholsome aire But peraduenture some men for want of Iudgement wil think this my direction ouer curious of small validity but I do and will affirme that the vse thereof is very requisite and of great force vtility and the best meanes for the purging and altering the euill qualitie of the aire that is knowne vnto man This fumigatiō is to be vsed where the infection is in the euening and also in the morning is of great force for the purging of the aire and altering the euill qualitie thereof which I wish were dayly vsed through the Citie in their houses and chambers for the excellent vertue thereof R. Storax Calamint Labdanum Cypresse-wood Myrrhe Beniamin Yellow Sanders Ireos red Roseleaues Flowers of Nenuphar of each one ounce liquid Storax one ounce Cloues one ounce Turpentine one ounce Withy cole fiue ounces Rose-water as much as wil be sufficient to make them vp in trochis let them be two drams in weight The wood béeing consumed cast in some stickes of Iuniper and after it cast in two or thrée of these trochis which will yéelde a comfortable smell and purge the aire Another more swéete and delectable for the better sort to vse in their houses and chambers dailie R. Storax Calamint Labdanum Cypresse-wood Frankēcense Beniamin of each of thē half an ounce red Roseleaues dried yellow Sanders of each two drams Cinamon Cloues wood of Aloes of each of them one dramme flowers of Nenuphar one dram liquid Storax halfe an ounce gum Dragagant two drams and muske six graines Withy cole three ounces Rose Water as much as will suffice to make it vp in Trochis This I would counsell Gentlemen and Citizens to vse dayly in their houses and chambers for the excellent operation it hath Also it is good for want of these to burn in your houses and chambers Iuniper Frankincense Storax Baylaues Marierom Rose marie Lauender and such like Now hauing shewed the remedies for the two first causes it followeth that I teach the cure of the third and last cause which is the euill disposition of the body through superfluous corrupt and euill humors abounding Here is the cause and these corrupt and superfluous humors must be taken away before the body can bée in any good estate of health And this is the reason that diuers persons liuing together in one aire that one is infected and not another namely the disposition of the body for those naughtie corrupt superfluous humors are of themselues apt and disposed vnto putrefaction and if it so chance that they do putrefie of themselues then there arise dangerous feuers according vnto the nature of the humor that corrupteth As for example If choler do putrifie within the vesselles it ingendreth febris ardens or febris causon a hot and a dangerous feuer working his malice in the concauitie of the liuer and lunges and about the heart except remedy be administred the person dieth And so when any of the other humors doe putrefie there springe feuers according vnto their nature as the learned knowe Now such bodies I say wherein there is such superfluous humors abounding in the time of any infection receiuing into their bodies the corrupt and venemous aire are thereby infected And these humors turned not only into putrefaction but into a venemous qualitie by the operation of the infectious aire Whereas in bodies voide and frée from such superfluous humors there the infectious aire hath not such matter to worke vpon and againe nature is more strong and forcible to resist and expell a corrupt and infectious aire although receiued Here the reason is apparant why one person is infected and not another And very niedfull it is especiallie in this time of sicknesse that this euill disposition of the body be taken away and amended by purging and euacuating of the perccant humors For which purpose I wil set down a very excellent and approued potion which purgeth the blood and disburdeneth the body of superfluous humors both choler flegme and melancholie opening attracting and euacuating the corrupt and vitious humors of the body to the great comfort helpe and ease of those that vse it with discretion as I shall direct them the making or composition whereof I haue here set downe But first taking this sirrup thrée morninges before you purge two spoonefuls euerie morning fasting after it two or thrée houres and vse your accustomed diet as before R. Oximell two ounces sir de quinque radicibus two ounces misce R. Good Rubarbe two drammes spicknarde six graines Sene halfe an ounce Fenill seede and annisseede of each halfe a dramme flowers of Borage and buglosse of each halfe a little handfull Water of Endiue and fumitarie of each of them fiue ounces and so make your infusion Let this infusion be made in some earthen stupot close couered and paasted that no breath or vapor goe forth and let it stand seuen or eight howers vpon some imbers
herewith offended or enuy my endeuours considering it is for the benefit and helpe of many in this or such like dangerous time wherein many perish for want of counsel and helpe in their sicknesse at the beginning thereof And where anie ouersight or defect hath passed in my booke as I doubt not but that there are some hauing so short time and so little opportunity to ouerlooke it I desire the learned Reader to correct and amend the same and in so doing I shall be vnto him beholding And so now taking my leaue I beseech God of his great mercy to blesse the meanes that we shall vse for our health vnto the honour glorie and praise of his holy name and vnto our health comfort Farewell luly the ninth Non quaero quod mihi vtile est sed multis Thine in all friendly loue and good will Thomas Thayre A Treatise of the Pestilence wherein is shewed all the causes thereof with most assured preseruatiues against all infection THis contagious sicknes which is generally called the Plague or Pestilence is no other thing then a corrupt and venemous aire deadly enemie vnto the vital spirits most commonly bringing death and dissolution vnto the body except with spéede good remedy be vsed I mean not that the aire of it self is a verie poison for then consequently all persons for the most part that liue within the aire so corrupted should be infected and few or none escape the danger thereof but my meaning is that the aire hath in it selfe a venemous qualitie by reason whereof those bodies wherein there is Cacochymia corrupt and superfluous humours abounding are apt and lightly infected those humours being of themselues inclined and disposed vnto putrifaction Now I will proceede to shew the causes of this dangerous sicknesse and also the cure thereof Now hauing briefly defined what the Pestilence is I will God assisting me prosecute mine intended purpose First in shewing all the causes thereof and the cure and remedie for euerie cause Entring into due consideration of the causes of the Pestilence that now raigneth Christian Reader I find there are thrée causes thereof The first and chiefest is sinne The second is the corruption of the aire The third and last cause is the euill disposition of the body bred by euill diet and the abuse of things called Res non naturales things not natural not so called for that they are against nature but because through the abuse of them nature is debilitated corrupted and oftentimes vtterly destroyed The first cause I say is sinne The holy Scriptures sufficiently proueth the same and giueth manie examples how the Lord oftentimes punisheth his people for their sin and impietie of life with the Pestilence Reade the 14. chapter of the booke of Numbers and the 11. and 12. verses where the Lord speaking vnto Moses saying How long will this people prouoke me and how long will it be ere they beleeue me for all the signes I haue shewed among them I will smite them with the pestilence and will destroy them and will make thee a greater mightier nation then they Why doth the Lord here threaten the children of Israel his chosen to strike them with the Pestilence the reason is shewed in the same chapter because saith he they haue murmured against me and haue rebelled not keeping nor obseruing my lawes And as the Lord spake vnto the children of Israel by Moses so speaketh he vnto vs dayly by his ministers and preachers of his word Also reade Deuteronomy the 28. chap. the 1. 2. 3. and 4. verses and there you shall sée the blessings that the Lord promiseth vnto them that walke in his waies and kéepe his commandements And it followeth in the same chapter But if thou wilt not obey the voice of the Lord thy God and keep and doe his commandements The Lord shall make the pestilence to cleaue vnto thee And many more curses hee pronounceth against them that continue in their sin and iniquitie of life And further The Lord shal smite thee with a consumption with a feuer and with a burning ague and so forth This spake the Lord vnto the children of Israel his people and this speaketh the Lord daily vnto vs but we are slow to repentance and amendment of life Reade Leuiticus the 26. chap. and the 21. verse And if you walke stubbornly against me saith the Lord and will not obey my word I will bring seuen times more plagues vpon you according vnto your sinnes And in the third verse following he saith I will send the pestilence among you and you shall bee deliuered into the hands of your enemies This spake the Lord vnto the inhabitants of Ierusalem and this speaketh hee vnto vs oftentimes by his Ministers whom we ought with all reuerence to heare and with all diligence to follow Many more places could I cite and inferre out of the sacred Scriptures to proue sinne to be a cause of the Pestilence and sometime the onely cause thereof example in Dauid example in Pharao and diuers other which for prolixitie I omit hoping this may suffice to proue sinne to bee a cause of the Pestilence which is indéede as a messenger or executioner sometimes of Gods iustire Manie and great plagues hath this our land tasted of in times past and it is not yet tenne yeares since this Citie of London was visited and afflicted with this sicknes dispersing it selfe into diuers and many places of this land cutting off and taking away a great multitude of people and I doubt not but sin was a great cause thereof O that man would therefore remember the inconstancie and srailtie of this life And consider the end of his creation was to serue and glorifie God but we daily dishonour him by committing of sinne and not giuing vnto him that honor and seruice that is due vnto the Lord But placing all our affections vpon the vaine delights and inconstant pleasures of this alluring and deceitfull world which do as it were bewitch vs and withdrawe vs from that Christian care that we ought to haue of our saluation abusing Gods mercie and long sufferance with our delayes and procrastination to turne vnto him being misebly deluded by satan and intised by the glittering shewes of this world to the loue thereof and God knowes how soone we must leaue it I pray God infuse his grace and holy Spirit into our hearts that sinne may be mortified in vs and that it may worke in vs a reformation and amendment of life that we may henceforth walk in this our short pilgrimage as Christians and seruants of the Lord seruing him in all holinesse and pietie of life contemning the vaine pleasures of this fraudulent world which are but snares to intrap our soules and the baites of Sathan to draw vs vnto destruction then shall we not need to feare death but say with Saint Paul Mors mihi lucrum Death vnto me is gaine saith
signe is the vrine most commonly is troubled thick like beastes water stinking but smel to it not if you loue your health but oftentimes the water dooth not shew at all especially in the beginning of the sicknesse therefore trust not vnto the water but looke vnto the other signes héere aboue set downe The twelfth and last signe and surest of all other is there ariseth in the necke vnder the arme or in the flanke a tumor or swelling or in some other part of the bodie there appeareth any red gréenish or blackish coloured sore these are most apparant signes to the eye that this person is infected with the pestilence But take héede bée not deceiued for oftentimes a person is strongly infected with the Pestilence and hath neither Apostume Carbuncle nor botch appearing in two or thrée dayes by which time hée is néere his death therefore when a botch dooth not appeare spéedily it is alwaies an euill signe and dangerous The reason hereof is nature is weake and the infection and poison is strong and furious and nature being weake as in children and in aged persons and in others also through the euill disposition of the body is not able to make resistance against so furious and puissant an enemie and to expulse the infection or poison And this is the verie reason and cause why in some persons there appeareth no botch or sore but other certaine markes or spots as I may call them Now contrariwise when the infection or poison is more milde and weake and nature strong then she gathering hir power and force together strineth and resisteth the infection and expulseth the poison from the heart and other the principall members vnto some emunctorie or clensing place where it may be best purged auoided Now this is a good signe that nature is strong and hath preuailed against the infectious poison so is it indéede if the sore arise not néere about the heart or throat or som such dangerous place And againe nature must now forth with bee aided least the venom gathering strength by the putrefaction of the humors within the body returne againe vnto the heart Therefore I say the heart must be strengthened with cordialles and also spéedily comforted and the other principal members likewise For we commonly sée notwithstanding the botch be thrust forth by nature yet the person often and most commonlie dyeth whereof the greatest and most part might liue if helpe in due time were administred And sometimes the infection is so strong and the Body so weake through corrupt and vitious humors that nature is sodainly ouercome and the spirits of life expulsed And this infection naturallie flieth with all possible spéed to the heart as the principal member of life to surprize it pierceth sooner vnto the heart of cholerick persons then any other complexion although the sanguine be more apt to be infected by reason of their heat and moisture and phlegmatick are also apt through humiditie that is in them the melancholie are not apt to be infected but hardlie cured béeing infected Now forasmuch as this sicknesse is swift fierce and dangerous and spéedily expulseth life if it be not preuented in time by good medicine Let vs I say leaue our follie in delaying to vse the meanes for our helpe remembring this good counsell Principijs obsta sero medicina paratur c. We must stop the beginninges medecines come too late nature béeing ouercome through the long suffering of the euil And what is the reasō that so many dy ofthis sicknesse as they doe I think you wil answere me it is Gods hand and visitation contra mortem non est remedium I grant indéede it is Gods visitation and so is all other sicknesses And this is the difference this sicknesse is strong swift and dangerous and killeth many through his violence and venemous quality some other more mild yet killeth also in some short time if it be not preuented and some other so mild weake that nature being strong doth ouercome hir selfe with good diet without the benefit of medicines The verie causes indeed that so many die of this sicknesse are two The first is the strength power and venemous qualitie of this sicknes spéedily surprizing the vitall spirits The second cause is our delay to vse medicine in time and not vsing good and effectuall medicines such as haue vertue by Gods grace giuen vnto them for the curing and withstanding of this violent sickenes We must relie vpon God fixing our whole trust in him and thankfully and diligently vse the good meanes that hee hath ordained and created for our health and helpe in time of sicknes And against this contagious sicknesse I haue set downe good preseruatiues which being vsed will by Gods grace preuent the danger And also most excellent and approued remedies for this sicknesse that whoso vseth them in time shal vndoubtedly by Gods grace and mercie be spéedily cured Now it followeth that I teach the vse of them and the true and perfect cure of the pestilence and what is to be obserued in the cure thereof And first I will teach the cure of the pestilence when no botch or sore appeareth and how to preuent the rising of any botch or sore most commonly in all persons The cure of the Pestilence when no botch or sore appeareth and how to preuent the rising of any botch or sores most commonly in all persons In the cure of this sicknes there are thrée intentions especially required The first is to aide and helpe nature to expell the infection and venemous poison The second is to comfort the heart and other the principall members of the body The third is a good obseruation in diet afterward to be vsed And at the first when any person féeleth himselfe sicke let him well consider whether any of the signes before set downe that signifie a person infected be in him or no if he find any of them at al in himselfe then let him be assured it is the sicknesse But héere hée must not deferre the time doubting and making farther trial whether it bée or no For in this time when the pestilence reigneth there are few other sicknesses The nature of this venemous and corrupt aire is to alter and conuert other sicknesses into the pestilence as we find most true by experience And againe the nature and qualitie of this dangerous sicknesse is euer with all swiftnesse to approch and assaile the heart the principall member and fountaine of life Héere may it appeare how dangerous delay is in this sicknesse in not vsing some good and approued medicine that hath vertue through Gods gift to withstand the force thereof and power to expell the venemous infection of this contagious sickenes Now to preuent this lyon of his pray note what is to be done First when any féeleth himselfe sicke or euill at ease if the sicknes begin hote