he so is it indéed vnto all the godly but vnto the wicked it is an entrance into a continuall and eternall punishment from the which Christ that hath died for vs deliuer vs. Amen Now hauing shewed sin to be one cause of the Pestilence and sometimes the onely cause when it pleaseth God to punish the impietie of his people vsing it as the executioner of his wrath it followeth that I shewe the other causes whereof the Pestilence may arise The second cause is the corruption of the aire Galen the most excellent and famous Physition in his booke de Differentijs Febrium saith there be two causes of the Pestilence Vnam aërem vitiatum ac putridum alterā humores corporis vitio so victu collectos ad putreso endum paratos The one cause is saith he an infected corrupted and putrified aire the other cause is euill and superfluous humors gathered in the body through haughtie and corrupt diet which humours be apt and ready to putrifaction And this is most true and not onely the opinion of Galen and Hippocrates the Fathers and princes of Physicke but of all the learned and iudiciall Physitions of latter time and at this day Now let vs consider how and by what meanes the aire may be corrupted and altered from his wholsom qualitie vnto a venemous dispositiō Entring into due consideration therof I finde many causes that may corrupt the aire all which I will compose or include in these two The first cause whereby the aire may bée corrupted is through the vnholsom influence of that planets who by their malitious disposition qualitie and operations distemper alter and corrupt the aire making it vnholesome vnto humane nature When the temperature of the aire is changed from his naturall estate to immoderate heate and moisture then it corrupteth and putrifieth and ingendreth the Pestilence I emit to write what I haue read concerning the alterations and mutations that are sometimes caused by the superior bodies or planets here below vpon the earth for vnto the learned it were superfluous and vnto the vulgar or common sorte it woulde rather bréede admiration then credite but this euerie man is to vnderstand Deus regit Astra GOD rules the starres and yet I doubt not but through the Eclipses Exaltation Coniunctions and aspectes of the Planets the aire may bée corrupted and made vnholesome sometimes in somuch that diuers griefes are bred thereby The second cause whereby the aire may be corrupted is a venemous euaporation arising from the earth as from fennes moores standing muddie waters and stinking ditches and priuies or from dead bodies vnburied stinking chanels and mixsones and multitudes of people liuing in small and little roome and vncleanlie kept all these are causes and meanes whereby the aire may be corrupted The third cause of the pestilence is the euill disposition of the body which is bred by euill diet the bodie being repleat with corrupt and superfluous humors which humors bereadie to putrifie and rot vpon anie light occasion And when such a person doth but receiue into his bodie by inspiration the corrupted and infections aire he is therewith by and by infected his bodie being disposed thereunto through superfluous and corrupt humors abounding whereas contrarie wise a body of a good disposition I meane a body frée from grosse corrupt and superfluous humors is not castlie or lightlie infected because there is not that matter for the infectious ayre to worke vpon And againe nature is more stronge to repell the infectious or corrupted ayre if it be receiued and this is the cause why one person is rather infected then another namelie the disposition of the bodie Now hauing shewed all the causes of the pestilence I will GOD assisting mée set downe the cure and remedie for euerie cause which causes being taken away the effect which is the sicknesse must néedes cease The first cause I say is sinne and this ought first to be taken awaie and then I dare vndertake by Gods assistance my corporall medicines shall soone staie this furious sicknesse Sinne is a sicknesse of the soule the cure thereof dooth consist in these two points The first is true hartie and faithfull repentance with all contrition of heart confessing thy sinnes vnto the Lorde with faithfull prayer vnto Christ Iesu that it will please him to be an aduocate and mediator vnto the Lorde for the forgiuenesse of thy sinnes Do this and thou shalt find GOD mercifull hee is readier to forgiue then we to aske forgiuenesse of him He would not the death of a sinner but with all mercy patience and long suffering wayteth and expecteth our conuersion vnto him The second point is newnesse of life for what shall it auaile vs to haue forgiuenesse of our sinnes if we fall into the same againe and walke in our former euilnesse of life This will but increase Gods wrath and indignation against vs and exasperate him to punish our impietie of life with all seueritie Therefore I counsell thee as thou tendrest the saluation of thy soule flie from euill and do the thing that is right walke vprightlie before him in newnesse and holinesse of life for the Lord séeth all thy waies and knoweth the thoughts of thy heart long before Remember thy time here is but short and death will sommon thee thou knowest not how soone to giue an account how thou hast spent thy time and vsed the talent that the Lord hath lent thée here on earth Then shalt thou stād before the tribunall seat of the Almightie iust Iudge where all thy whole life shal be laide open and all thy actions and thoughts of thy heart made manifest and knowne Then happy and ten times happie are they vnto whom the Lord shall say Come yee blessed of my Father receiue ye the Kingdome prepared for you before the beginning of the worlde But how vnhappie and in what miserable estate are they vnto whom the Lord shall say Goe you cursed into eternall darknesse a place of punishment appointed for you where there is horror weeping and gnashing of teeth This is the place appointed for the vngodly worldlings that wallow and continue in their sinne neglecting the seruice of the Lord for which end they were created Consider this good Christian Reader and defer no time to turne vnto the Lord for this life of ours is fraile vnconstant and very vncertaine We haue examples daily before our eies of the vncertainty thereof to day a man to morrow none Homo natus Muliere paucorum dierum est repletur inquietudine saith Iob Man that is borne of a woman his daies are fewe and is full of misery For thy further instruction I refer thée vnto the godly and learned Diuines heare them for they are the messengers and ministers of the Lorde appointed to teach his people and in mée it might be noted for presumption to take vpon mée the office of another man hauing in this point more
puluerem redigi queat addendo pulueris sinapis albi quantum praedicta omnia ponderant postea anaÊ’ ij anaÊ’ iij. anaÊ’ j. anaÊ’ myrrhaeÊ’ ij ossis de corde cerui scrup ij MargaritarumÊ’ i. camphuraeÊ’ ij anaÊ’ i. puluerizeÌ„tur omnia sing per se misc omnia simul in mortario tandem appone Theriaca Andromachi ad pondus omnium iterum pistillo fortiter contunde commisce per tres quasi integras horas agitando fiat electuarium When any person is infected let him take a dram or somewhat more according vnto his strength mixe and dissolue it in water of Scabious Roses or Endiue as you can haue or in them altogether the quaÌ„titie or measure of eight spoonefuls make it warme and drinke it in Gods name sweate well thereupon and thou shalt be deliuered from danger of the sicknesse and is a most approued medicine and spéedie remedie if it be taken in time for herein censisteth the danger namely delay in which time the venome pierceth vnto the heart and there setleth and vanquisheth the vitall spirits For this is most certaine as I haue often séene and approoued that those that take and vse in the very beginning of their sicknesse some good meanes scarce two in tenne die but very spéedily recouer their former health And truly I cannot but lament the folly of many people who féeling themselues sicke driue forth and delay the time some trusting to their strength and youth other some take some light and trifling medicine to no purpose and manie other blinded with a foolish opinion that physicke can doe them no good and this is the cause whie so manie die of this sicknes as they now do Note this that if a person doe vomite vp his medicine that then you cause him to wash his mouth with rosewater and vinegar and giue him as much more if he cast it vp againe do as before vntill he kéepe it A singular confection for the cure of the Pestilence R. Rad. Angelicae rad Gentianae rad Zedoariae rad Turmentillae rad Dictamni rad Valerianae rad anaÊ’ ij anaÊ’â—j Cinamomi myrrhae boli armeni praeparati terrae anaÊ’ iiij anaÊ’j succi scordii succi calendulae ana vnc 1. CommisceaÌ„tur omnia cum syrupo acctositatis citri q. s incorporentur ad formam opitatae adde mithridatum Andromachi vnc iii. theriacae opti vnc i. semis aqua angelicae vnc ii misc Take one dram and a halfe or two drammes of this confection or two drammes and a half according to the age and strength of the patient with water of Scabious Cardus benedictus or Angelica nine or ten spoonefuls made warme and mixed wel together let him drinke it and sweate well thereupon Another that cureth the Pestilence and expulseth al venemous infection R. Bolearmoniack prepared halfe an ounce Cinamon two drams roote of gentian angelica Zedoarie turmentil ana two drams seed of citrons red rose leaues harts horne rased of the three kinds of Saunders of each one dram iuniper berries halfe a dram nutmegge the bone of the deares heart ii scrup seede pearle and orient one dramme saffron one dram red corall two scruples rinds of citrons two scruples fragments or peeces of the fiue precious stones Saphiri Hyacinthi Smaragdi Rubini granati praep ana one scruple leafe gold one scruple bezoar stone one scruple Make these into most fine powder seuerally which being done put thereto as much sirrup of limons as will make it in forme of an electuarie making it somthing thick putting thereto of good Mithridatum thrée ounces mixe them This being taken the weight of one dram or a dram and a halfe or two drams for a stroÌ„g person in water of Scabious Angelica or Cardus benedictus sweating therwithal cureth the person spéedily of the pestilence expulsing it by sweat vrine Another for the commons and countrimen where these aforesaid set downe cannot be had R. Good Mithridatum Andromachus a dram a half good Treacle I meane not the coÌ„mon treacle sold at the Mercers but at the Apothecaries called theriaca Andromach one dram Mixe these together and take it in a little posset drink made with white wine and sweate well therewith and this cureth the pestilence If any sore doe arise then vse the meanes as I haue taught in this booke to ripen or suppurate the sore which being done let it be opened and drawne forth Another medicine or remedie for the Commons and Contriemen very good and effectuall Take a great white Onion cut off the top and with your knife pike forth the core and make a wide hollownesse in the middle which you must fill vp with good treacle from the Apothecaries called Theriaca Andromachi or Andromachs treacle let it bée in weight one dram and a halfe this béeing put into the Onion couer it with that you cut off before and paaste it ouer and rost it in the imbers and béeing soft stampe it in a morter and straine it through a cloth and with two or thrée spoonfuls of posset drinke mixed with it take it and sweate thereupon as long as you can and this wil expulse it from the hart Or this which is very good R. Mithridatum two drams Venice treacle one dram mix them with water of Angelica Cardus Benedictus or Scabious or for want therof posset drink made with white wine and sweate well These thrée last medicines I haue set downe for them that cannot haue spéedily the other aforesaid and although they séeme meane yet are they of great vertue in this sicknesse and cure them that take it in time in the beginning of their sicknesse obseruing the order of this book therewithall The signes that signifie and declare a person to be infected with the pestilence The first is a great paine and heauinesse in the head The second is hée féeleth great heat within his bodie and the outward partes cold and readie to shake and is thirstie and drie therewithal The third signe is he cannot draw his breath easily but with some paine and difficultie The fourth signe is he hath a great desire to sléepe and can very hardly refraine from sléeping but beware hée sléepe not And sometimes watching dooth vex and trouble him as much and cannot sléepe The fift signe is swelling in the stomacke with much paine breaking forth with stinking sweat The sixt signe is diuers heauie lookes of the eies séeing all things of one colour as gréene or yellow and the eies are changed in their colour The seuenth signe is losse of appetite vnsauourie taste bitternesse of the mouth sowre and stinking The eight signe is wambling of the stomacke and a desire to vomite and sometime vomiting humors bitter and of diuers colours The ninth signe is the pulse beateth swift and déepe The tenth signe is a heauinesse and dulnesse in all the body and a faintnes and a weakenesse of the limmes The eleuenth
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