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
A TREATISE OF THE PESTILENCE Wherein is shewed all the causes thereof with most assured preseruatiues against all infection and lastly is taught the true and perfect cure of the pestilence by most excellent and approued medicines Composed by THOMAS THAYRE Chirurgian for the benefite of his countrie but chiefly for the honorable city of London Altissimus creauit medicinam super terram vir prudens non contemnit illam Imprinted at London by E. SHORT dwelling at the signe of the starre on bredstreete hill 1603. TO THE RIGHT HONORAble Sir ROBERT LEE Knight Lorde Maior of the renowned City of London and to the right Worshipful the Sheriffes and also to all the right Worshipfull the Aldermen their brethren THOMAS THAYRE wisheth all spirituall and temporall blessings from the Lord in this life and in the life to come eternall saluation through Christ Jesu our Sauiour COnsidering with my selfe Right Honorable and right Worshipfull that nothing is more necessary nor more desired in the time of dangerous sicknesse and perill of death then to present vnto the person so standing the meanes to preserue him from the violence of the same and to restore the sick from imminent perill of death vnto his former estate of health and perceiuing right Honorable that no man had as yet written any treatise wherein was contained such speciall and excellent medicines that might be able to resist and also cure this dangerous and contagious sicknesse and likewise to giue sufficient instruction direction vnto the inhabitants of this Citie for their preseruation in this infectious time I was mooued in conscience my Lord for the dutie I owe and for the loue I beare vnto this honorable city to cōmunicate vnto them such preseruatiues as are through Gods grace giuen vnto them able to resist and defend from infection of this sicknesse all such as vse thē And also I haue set down most excellent approued medicines such as I haue practised and approued vnto the great vtilitie of manie beeing able through Gods mercy speedily to cure the most and greatest part of al such as shall be infected with this sicknesse beeing vsed in time before the sicknesse hath vtterly ouercome nature And although my insufficic̄cy to write any publique matter perswaded me to relinquish my intēded purpose in publishing this treatise I being the meanest of so many in this land and vnable to write any plausible stile yet the truth plainnes of the matter the excellency of the medicines the vtility that many should find thereby being vsed ouercame that doubt of mind and animated me to proceede in my intended purpose not doubting but assuredly trusting in the Lord frō whom commeth all health that this beeing vsed many shall bee preserued and cured thereby to Gods glory and our comfort he it is on whom we must depend The Lord hath created medicine of the earth and giuen great vertue vnto trees hearbes gums stones and minerals and all for the helpe of his people in the time of their sicknes God make vs thankfull vnto him for them giue vs grace to be warned by others punishment and to vse thankfully and diligentlie the good means for our health and then I trust assuredly that the Lord will blesse our indeuours vnto his glory and our health ' and comfort And for as much as I haue written this treatise chiefelie in respect of the citie I haue presumed to dedicate the same vnto your Honor vnto the right Worshipfull the Sheriffes and Aldermen your brethren as a pledge of my loue and humble duty towards you which if it shall please you to accept in good part and vouchsafe to patronize mine indeuours I doubt not but that manie shall finde the benefit therof to Gods glory their great comfort and I shall be incouraged some other time as occasion shall be offred to performe a work no lesse needfull Thus beseeching the Almightie to blesse your Honor the right Worshipfull your brethren with all happinesse your hearts can desire I humblie take my leaue Your Honors and Worships to command THOMAS THAYRE To the louing Reader grace and health from the Lord. CAlling vnto mind curteous reader the saying of TVLLY Non nobis solùm nati sumus c. we are not born vnto our selues alone but we owe a dutie and seruice vnto our countrey our parents our friends and considering with my self vnto my griefe the sicknesse the which it hath pleased God to visit vs withall is greatly increased dispersing it selfe into manie places of this citie to the griefe of manie I hauing duly considered thereof thought it my dutie to vse the small talent that the Lord hath lent me vnto his glory and the good of my brethren which moued mee to write this Treatise shewing the causes of the pestilence the meanes to preserue vs from the infection of this contagious sicknesse and the way and methode to cure such as shall be infected therewith vsing the remedie in time I meane in the beginning of the sickenesse before nature be ouercome obseruing the order of this booke And for as much as this is Gods visitation for our iniquitie wee must therefore first fly vnto him with contrite hearts fixing our whole trust in his mercie And then wee must with all diligence and thankfulnes of heart vse the good meanes that the Lord hath ordained for our health For to neglect the meanes is to contemne Gods gifts and we make our selues guiltie of our owne death and before God we are no better then murtherers because we haue despised the meanes of our helpe that he hath ordained for vs. But I trust there are none so wilfull and obstinate in this citie This Treatise gentle Reader I haue penned and present vnto thee plaine and simple barren of eloquence and filed phrase to delight thee yet herein is contained most excellent and approued remedies and as effectuall for the curing of this sicknesse as are or haue beene knowne Vse them in Gods name and doe not trust vnto light and trifling medicines considering the strength and daunger of this sicknesse These haue power and vertue through Gods grace to expulse and speedily to cure this infectious sicknesse and for preseruing a person from infection I haue set downe manie preseruatiues And for curing the sicknesse I haue set downe foure principall medicines and three others of lesse strength to bee vsed when the aforenamed cannot be had All which you may haue readie or speedily made at euery good Apothecaries Vse them I counsell thee in the beginning of this sicknesse for delay breedeth daunger and death commonly followeth and medicine comes too late when nature is ouercome by the sicknesse And for as much as I haue written this Treatise for the benefit of all men in generall that thinke good to vse it haue done it in loue good wil so I hope the well disposed will censure it And no godly and vertuous minded Physition will be
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