if you list or else it may be drunk with Ale Béere or Wine The distilled water may be drunk by it selfe alone or else with white Wine before meate or with Sack after meate specially if the stomack be weake and colde The licour or brothe in the whiche the hearb is boiled maye be made thus Take a quart of running water séeth it skim it theÌ„ put into it a good handfull of the hearbe and let it boile vntill the better parte of the licour be consumed then drinke it with wine or if you liste with Honie or Sugare to make it the more pleasaÌ„t in the tast Or else make a potion on this wise Take a good handfull of the leaues wyth an handfull of raisons of the Sun washed and stoned and some sugar Candie Licorise slyced small boyle them all togither in a quarte of water ale or wine if it be too bitter it maye be made swéete as is afore saide Moreouer it is to be noted that the pouder and water of the hearb is moste to be regarded and specially the water for they may be long preserued so that a man may haue them alwayes in a readinesse to vse as néed shall require wheÌ„ as he cannot haue the iuice nor the grene leafe And the water which only is void of bitternesse may be drunke by it selfe alone for the stomacke and taste wyll beare it and like of it aswel as of rose-Rose-water Notwithstanding if the séede bée sowne as soone as it is ripe a man maye haue the hearb both winter and soÌ„mer froÌ„ the time that it beginneth to grow vntill the séede waxe ripe againe Therfore I councell all them that haue Gardens to nourish it that they may haue it always for their owne vse and the vse of their neighbors that lacke it ¶ The thirteenth Chapiter speaketh of the time and quantity to be obserued in taking of Carduus Benedictus HEre perhaps some man will aske a question of the time quaÌ„tity which things are to be considered in taking of medicines As touching the time if it be taken for a preseruatiue it is good to take it in the morning or in the euening before a man go to bed bicause that is a conuenient time to sweat for him that féeleth not himselfe greatly diseased But if a maÌ„ take it to expel any disease it is good to take it wheÌ„soeuer he féeleth any gréefe in his body and immediatly to go to bedde and sweate Howbeit it is not necessarie vppon euerye griefe to sweat after the taking of the medicine As touching the quanâ—â—e a man néede not be so carefull in taking this hearbe as in taking those medicines that doe purge vehemeÌ„tly by egâ—â—â—â—on as some terme it or by vomite For in taking them if great discretion be not vsed in considering the time the quantitie and the state of a maÌ„s body they may cause presente deathe or otherwise they maye muche trouble a man But in ministring this hearb it is not so in taking wherof a man may vse his owne discretion and the iudgement of his stomack This I counsell all men that minde to vse it that when they or anye of theirs are diseased they deferre not the time but take it presently as soone as it may be gotten and that they do not think it sufficient to take it once but that they take it thrée or foure times at the least ¶ The fourteenth Chapter sheweth the properties of Angelica NOw I haue written that I thinke sufficieÌ„t of Carduus Benedictus bicause perhaps ynough of it cannot bée gotten for them that haue néede I will adde vnto it an other herb of much like vertue called Angelica that if the one be lacking â–ª the other may be taken As touching the name the latest writers in my iudgemeÌ„t most to be credited in this matter find no other name for it neither in Englishe nor in Latine Howbeit I knowe that some much to be commended for their learning also for the publishing of the same to the benefite of their countrie haue giuen it other names but I thinke by errour If we English it as the Latine word soundeth we may call it Hearbe Angel or The Angelical or Angelike Hearbe Vppon what occasion this excellent name was first giuen vnto it I know not vnlesse it were for the excellent vertues thereof or for that God made it knoweÌ„ to man by the ministerie of an Angel. I suppose the former cause rather to be true Howbeit as I am not able to proue the other so I thinke no maÌ„ can giue any good reason to the contrarie For this we know that GOD hath made his Angels ministring spirites to serue vs for the safegarde of our soules and also of our bodies But vppon what occasion so euer the name was giuen it is excellent and so are the properties which be these that follow ¶ The Vertues of Angelica out of D. Turners Herball ANgelica is hote and drye at the leaste in the third degrée All the latter writers agrée vppon this and experience proueth the same that it is good against poyson pestilent aires and the Pestilence it selfe The Practicioners of Germanie write thus of it If any man be sodenly taken eyther with any Pestilence or with any sodaine pestilente Ague or with too much sodayn sweatting let him drinke of the pouder of the root halfe a dramme mingled with a dram of Triacle in thrée or foure sponefulles of the water of Angelica distilled out of the rootes and after go to bed and couer himselfe well and fast at the leaste thrée houres after which if he doe he shall beginne to sweate and by the helpe of GOD he shall be deliuered from his disease For lackeof Triacle a man may take a whole dramme of the root of Angelica in pouder with so much of the distilled water as is aforesayde it will haue the same effect The roote of Angelica wel stéeped in Vinegre and smelled vpon in time of the Pestilence and the same Vineger being sometime dronke fasting saueth a maÌ„s body from the Pestilence But in my iudgement it is better to take an Orenge or Lemmon cutte off the toppe picke out the meate pricke it fall of small holes put into it a piece of a Sponge Wool Cotten or fine linnen Cloth dipped in the foresayd Vineger and diuerse times smell vnto it For the better keping in of the sponge or cotten c. you maye fasten the toppe vnto it againe with a thréed as they do a cappe vnto a paire of kniues With this you may be bolder to venter where the Pestilence is than if you had a great sort of other medicines The water distilled out of the rootes of Angelica or the pouder of the same is good againste gnawing and paine of the bellie that commeth with colde if the bodie be not bounde withall And it is good against all inwarde diseases as the Pleurisie in the beginning before the heate of the inflamation be come into
the bodie For it disolueth and scattereth abroade such humours as vseth to giue matter to the Pleurisie Moreouer it is good for the diseases of the Lunges if they come of a colde cause and for the StranguriaÌ„ of a cold cause or of a stopping It is good for a woman that is in trauell with childe It is good also to driue winde away that is in the bodye and to ease the paine that commeth of the same The roote may be sodden in water or in wine as the nature of him that is sicke doth require The iuyce of the roote put into an hollowe tooth taketh away the ache and so likewise doth the distilled water put in at the eare Moreouer the iuyce and the water also of Angelica quicken the eye sight and breake the little filmes that go ouer the eyes wherof darknesse doth rise Of the rootes of Angelica and Pitche maye be made a good Emplaster against the bytings of madde beastes The water the iuyce or the pouder of the root sprinkled vpon the diseased place is a verye good remedie against old and déep sores For they do scoure and clense them and couer the bones with fleshe The water of the same in a colde cause is good to be layd on places diseased with the Goute and Sciatica For it stancheth the pain and melteth awaye the tough humours that are gathered togither The séede is of like vertue with the root The wild Angelica that groweth here in the lowe woods and by the water sides is not of suche vertue as the other is Howbeit the Surgions vse to séeth the roote of it in Wine to heale gréene woundes These Properties I haue gathered out of the Practicioners of the Germanes I haue not as yet proued them all my selfe but diuerse of them I haue proued and haue founde them to be true Al these are D. Turners woordes sauing that instead of a costly hollowe ball of Siluer Tinne or Iuniper wood I haue set downe the péele of an Orenge or LeÌ„mon the meat whereof is also commended by Physitians to be both a preseruatiue and a medicine agaynst poyson and the infection of the Pestilence ¶ The vertues of Angelica out of an other learned man. THe late writers say that the rootes of Angelica are coÌ„trarie to al poison the Pestilence and all naughtie corruptioÌ„ or euil or infected aire If any bodie be infected with the PestileÌ„ce or Plague or els is poisoned they giue him streight way to drinke a dramme of the pouder of this roote with Wine in the winter and in Summer with the distilled water of Carduus Benedictus then they bring him to bedde and couer him vntil he haue swette well The same roote being taken fasting in the morning or but onely holden in the mouthe doeth kéepe and preserue the bodie from the infection of the Pestilence and from all euil aire and poison They say also that the leaues of Angelica yownd with the leaues of Rue and Honie are verie good to be layde vnto the bitinges of madde Dogges Serpentes and Vipers if 〈◊〉 him to bedde and couer him vntill he haue swett well The same roote being taken fasting in the morning or but onely holden in the mouthe doeth kéepe and preserue the bodie from the infection of the Pestilence and from all euill aire and poyson They say also that the leaue of Angelica pound with the leaues of Rue and Honie are verie good to be laide vnto the bitinges of madde Dogges Serpents and Vipers if incontinent after the hurte the Wine be dronk wherein the roote or leaues of Angelica haue boyled The Conclusion of the Booke THus muche I haue thought good to write of the Plague of these hearbs Carduus Benedictus Angelica whiche as some men vse to speake is called a great secret either bicause it is not knowen to many men or else bycause they would haue it kept close and knowne but to a few But I do not thinke méete that any thing should be secrete which may be profitable for man For GOD hath not made any thing for the vse of a fewe but for the commoditie of all meâ— And we that are the children of God ougâ—â— to frame our selues so that we may bâ— like affectioned vnto our father who 〈◊〉 beneficiall to all men who hath madâ— his Sunne to shine his raine to raine vpon the wicked as well as vpon thâ— good that is to saye who feedeth all meâ— both good and bad For by heat and moâ—sture which proceede from the Sunnâ— and the raine all things growe vpon thâ— earth whereby mans life is mainteined Hereof I conclude that for as much as Almightie God is good vnto all men we ought to be like minded and not to kéepe any thing secrete nor to hide any thing from man that may profite him Thus I make an end willing all men rightly to vse the good creatures of God and to giue him heartie thankes for all his benefites FINIS Deut. 28. 15. 2. Sam. 24. 15. 2. Chro. â—1 14. 1. Cor. 10. 6. Iohn 5. â—4 I speake of the ordinarie vvorking of God vvhich I vvold alvvaies haue so to be vnderstoode that it is nothing preiudiciall to his miraculous operation Eccles 38. 9. Psal. 34. â—5 â–ª 1. Pet. 3. 12. Psal. 66. 18. Esai 55. 7. Iere. 10. 1. Iosu 10. 1â— Ecclesi 46. 4. 2. King. 20. 11. Esay 38. 8. The vvonderful miracle vvroughte for a signe of helth vnto Hezechias vvas noted at the same time as may be thought of the Astronomers at BabyloÌ„ a thousand miles from Ierusalem 〈…〉 dvvelled and therfore the King of BabyloÌ„ 〈…〉 2. Chro. 32. 31. Exod. 7. 8. 9. 10. 12. and. 14. Exod. 15. 16. and 17. Iosua 3. 16. Exod. 14. 21. Iosua 10. 1â— Dan. 3. 25. Actes 19. 1â— Leuit. 20. 27. 〈◊〉 18. 20. Of this name there vvere fiue Emperours the first of them began his raigne vvithin these â–ª 430. yeares that vvas aboue â—100 yeares after the creation of the vvorlde Colicke
shooting in the body especially in those foresayd places the necke armeholes and flankes The third is an outragious heate within the bodie as if a man were in the fire yet oftentimes the outward parts are so cold that it maketh a man to shake as if he were in a Feuer This inward heate is ioyned with much heauinesse of the head drinesse of the mouth extreme thirst Wherevpon in some followeth a maruellous desire to léepe so that they can not be kepte waking othersome can not sléepe but are out of quiet raue as though they were falne into a Phrensy or are like them that dote Other signes are hardnesse to drawe the breathe or muche labour to take winde whiche in some is so straight that they can scarse speake Also the breath stinking greate pain of the head faintnesse sluggishnesse weakenesse of the lims the bodye verye heauie dul the sweat stinking the pulsies beating thicke small and déepe anguishe pensiuenesse of minde psain in the mouth of the stomack no apetite to meat often vomitting the vomit being bitter and of diuerse colours bitternesse and blacknesse or yellownesse and drynesse of the tongue the vrine much like vnto beastes stale troubled thicke and stinking or at the firste like cleane water then blackishe and at the last troubled and for the moste parte without any residence chaunging of sight so that there commeth sometimes to the patientes eyes as it were a yellow coloure and sometimes all that be beholdeth he thinketh to be gréen paine of the mouth or an vnaturall taste bitter sower or stinking These are the principal signes of infection and yet not certaine tokens of the Plague For it may be sometimes in a man without any of them and also some of these tokens are in manye that are not infected with this disease Here it is not impertinent to note that where the Plague raigneth there are scarsly any other diseases besides or if there be they wil shortly after be turned into it This is the opinion of learned Physitians and séemeth to agrée with reason For if euil humors make a man apt to receiue infection it is no maruell that they whiche are diseased bycause their sicknesse procéedeth of corruption in the bodie be infected with the Pestilēce if they come within the compasse of the venomous aire Therfore D. Faire in his treatise of the Pestilence sayeth for a certaintie What childe so euer is vexed wyth the wormes in time of the Plague is infected with it For it is a matter sayth he so disposed to the Pestilence as Brimstone is to be kindled of the fire Thys may suffise as touching the signes and tokens of the disease ¶ The eleauenth Chapter speaketh of the cure of the Pestilence and sheweth the vertues of Carduus Benedictus LIke as for preseruatiues so for the cure of this disease mani things are prescribed of Phisitians as choice of meats perfumes letting of bloud cupping vomiting electuaries pilles potions pouders and plasters al which as ouer costly I omit which they that are disposed may vnderstand in other mens writings I mind onely to set downe the vertues of two hearbes vz. Carduus Benedictus and Angelica which being known as they may help against many infirmities so they are much commended both as preseruatiues medicines against this disease Howbeit it séemeth they were knowne but of late yeares For Doctour Turner writeth of them among those wherof there is no mention made of Dioscorides Galene Plinie and other old Authors Also that which he writeth expressely of Carduus Benedictus doth signifie the same Although saith he dyuers of the later writers haue gone aboute to make Carduus Benedictus a kind of Atractilis yet for al that the description is found not perfectly to agrée vnto it It is written that it was set out of India vnto the Emperoure Fredericke as a pretious medicine against many diseases and griefs It is called in English most cōmonly Cardo Benedictus and in Italian Herba Turcha Thus he writeth of the Hearbe and after sheweth the vertues thereof out of the later writers The vertues of Carduus Benedictus that is to saye in Englishe The blessed Thistle which for the operation and greate efficacie that GOD hath giuen vnto it may wel be so called the properties wherof are diligently gathered oute of D. Turners Herball and other vvriters and partly proued by the Gatherer ¶ First it helpeth the heade and the partes thereof THe hearbe eaten or the Pouder or iuyce of the hearb drunke kéepeth a man from the head ach and migram and also dryueth it away when it is gotten Being taken in meate or drinke it is good againste disinesse and the swimming giddinesse of the heade it comforteth the brayne sharpeneth the witte strengthneth memorie it is a singular remedye agaynste deafenesse for it amendeth thicke hearing It prouoketh sléepe The iuyce of it layde vnto the eyes quickeneth the sight Also the water in the whiche the pouder or hearbe dryed is stéeped hathe the same effecte if the eies be washed therewith The hearbe eaten is good for the same purpose The water or iuyce dropped into the eies cureth the reddenesse bloudshotten and itching of them And some write that it doth strengthen the téeth they being washed rubbed with a cloth dipped in the water or iuyce thereof The pouder stauncheth bloude that floweth out of the nose being applied to the place ¶ Secondly it helpeth the stomacke THe brothe of the hearbe otherwyse called the decoction drunk in wine is good for an euill stomack it helpeth a weake stomack causeth an appetite to meate Also the wine wherin it hath bin boiled doth cleanse and mundifie the infected stomacke The pouder therof eaten with Hony or drunk in wine dothe ripe and digest colde flegme purgeth bringeth vp that which is in the breast scouring the same of grosse humors and causeth to fetch breath more easily The hearb chewed in the mouth healeth the stinche of the breath ¶ Thirdly it helpeth the heart THe pouder being takē before a mā be infected preserueth him from the Pestilence And a dram of it or a Walnutte shell full taken immediatly after a man feeleth himselfe infected expelleth the venome of the pestilent infection frō the heart so that if a man sweate afterwarde he shal be deliuered incontinent The same effect hath the herb boiled in wine or in the vrine of a healthful man child drunke I mean the decoction or licour from the which the herb is strained after that it hath bin boiled therin The leaues pouder iuyce or water of the herbe drunk and the patient well couered with clothes and sweting thrée houres expelleth all poyson taken in at the mouth and other corruption that doth hurt and annoy the heart ¶ Finally it helpeth the Liuer Lungs and other partes of the body THe hearb boyled in wine and drūk hote aboute a quarter of an houre before the fit and the patient afterward
wel couered in the bed driueth away al agues The pouder water of the herb drunk with wine hath the same effecte The iuyce drunke with wine is good againste shorte wind the diseases of the Lungs Also it is good against the ach of the body it strengthneth the meÌ„bers of the whole body The herb boiled in the vrine of a helthful manchild and drunke doeth help against the Dropsie breaketh all Aposthumes maistereth the falling sicknesse The pouder eaten or drunke helpeth againste the stitches in the side It is also good for them that beginne to haue the Consumption called the Ptisicke The herbe eaten doth strengthen the trembling and palsy members The pouder ministred in a Clister helpeth against the Collick other diseases of the guts The water drunke hath the same effect The iuice drunk with wine or the hearbe boiled in wine and drunke hote breaketh the stone and driueth out grauell being sodden in water and the patient sitting ouer it so that the hote vapoure may come vnto the diseased place it helpeth againste the same infirmitie After the same maner being vsed it is good against the gréene sicknesse Also it healeth the griping paines of the belly it openeth the stopping of the meÌ„bers pearceth and causeth vrine The leaues boyled in wine and drunke as is aforesaide prouoke sweate consume the euill bloude and ingender the good Also the wine or water in the which the hearbe is boiled being drunke consumeth the euill humors and preserueth the good It is good for one that is brused wyth a fall or otherwise The leaues iuyce broth pouder and water of the herbe is very good to heale the canker olde rotten festered sores The leaues brused or punnd and laid to are good against burnings hote swellings carbuncles and sores that be hard to be cured especiaâ—ly for them of the pestilence and also they are good to heale the bitings of venomous worms and serpents or créeping beasts Finally the downe comming of the floures thereof when the séede is ripe doth heale cuts and newe wounds without paine Thus much of Carduus Benedictus gathered oute of the Herbals of diuers learned men which although it may be sufficient yet I haue thoughte good here to sette downe that which two painfull and skilfull Physitions Matthiolus and Fuchsius haue written hereof in Latin whose words as perhappes they may bring some credite to that whiche is alreadye written so in them something more may be learned or at the lest somthing is vttered for the better vnderstaÌ„ding of that aforesaide Their wordes in English are as followeth ¶ The properties of Carduus Benedictus out of Matthiolus CArduus Benedictus is a plante of gret name and fame specially against the Pestilence and also againste deadly poysons aswell taken inwardly as laid outwardly to the stingings and bitings of venomous beasts They are healed with this herbe that are sicke of a quartane or other Agues that come with a colde and that by the drinking of the decoction or stilled water or a dramme of the pouder in like maner being droÌ„k it helpeth infaÌ„ts that are troubled with the falling sicknesse The decoctioÌ„ taken in Wine doth mitigate the paine of the guttes and reines and other griefes of the belly It prouoketh sweat It killeth the wormes and helpeth againste other diseases of the wombe The hearbe it selfe aswell gréene as dried both drunk laid outwardly to the grief doth heale the gréeuous swelling soares called Alcers that is such as bréede in the fleshe without any outward cause as a stripe with a weapon or biting of a beast couereth the flesh with skin Therefore it is mingled with the drinke made of Guacum wine and water for theÌ„ that haue the FreÌ„ch pocks Thus much Mathiolus ¶ The properties of Carduus Benedictus out of Fuchsius CArduus Benedictus taketh awaie the stoppings of the inward bowels it prouoketh vrine breaketh the stone and helpeth them that are seung of venomous beastes They saye also that they are not infected that take it in theyr meate or drinke before they come into the euill aire and manye doe persuade themselues that it muche helpeth them that are alreadie infected Moreouer all men agrée vpon this that it is a remedy against the bitings of SerpeÌ„ts Scorpions Finally the later writers saye that it cureth very greate paines of the head taketh away giddinesse recouereth the memorie being taken in meate or drink also that it healeth festering soares especially of the Pappes and Teats if the pouder thereof be laid vpon it Thus muche Fuchsius By this we may vnderstaÌ„d with how great vertue God hath indued as I may say hath blessed this herbe It helpeth the body within and without It helpeth almost all the principall members of the body as the braine the hart the stomack the liuer lungs kidneys I may say it is a preseruatiue against al diseases for it prouoketh sweat wherby the body is purged of much corruption which doth bréede diseases Also it expelleth all venome and infection It consumeth euill bloud and all naughtie humors whereof all diseases are ingendred Therfore giuing God thankes for his goodnesse which hath giuen vs thys hearb and all other things for our commoditie lette vs vse it as néede shall require ¶ The twelfth Chapter sheweth howe Carduus Benedictus may be taken HEre is to be noted that we may vse this herb enioy the vertues therof foure maner waies First in the gréene leafe secondly in the pouder thirdly in the iuyce and fourthly in the distilled water Vnto these may be added the licour in the whiche the hearbe is boiled For the most part the vertue that is in Sinne is in them all so that in dyuers diseases for the which the hearb is medicinable for lack of the one a man may vse the other The gréene leafe may be taken with bread and butter as we vse to take Sage and Parcely in a morning to breakefast And if it séeme too bitter in the taste it may be takeÌ„ with hony in steade of butter It may be also taken in potage boiled among other hearbs Finally being shred small it may be very well drunke with Ale Béere or Wine specially posset ale or burnt wine It is giuen somtimes in Béere with some Aqua Composita put to it that without any harme when the stomack of the patient is weake he not trobled with any hote disease The iuice of it is either outwardely applied to the bodie as is also the leafe pouder and water sometymes or else it is receyued by the mouth into the body Being receiued into the body it may be taken in Potage euen as the gréene leafe or with Wine â–ª which if it be burned and drunke hote it is the better If you list you may boile it with Wine Hony or Sugar to make it sweete and then drinke it warme The pouder may be taken with hony vpon a kniues point or with bread and Hony
thine hands aright and clense thy hearte from all wickednesse Here the wise man teacheth vs twoo thynges whiche are medicines in time of the Pestilence preseruatiues before it commeth that is to saye Prayer and Repentaunce Repentaunce whiche chiefly cōsisteth in forsaking of wickednesse and amendment of life must goe before them our Prayer that followeth shall be acceptable vnto GOD. For hys eies are vppon the righteous and his eares are open vnto their prayers but sinners he will not heare Althoughe all menne are sinners yet when we repent GOD putteth away oure synne and we are accompted as righteous in his sight In this case if wée praye vnto him he will graunt vs those things that are conuenient for vs What are the partes of Repentaunce howe we ought to praye and other circumstances belonging to these things the ignorant reader hath to learne as is aforesayde This may be sufficient in this shorte treatise for the preseruatiues againste the first cause of the Pestilence The seuenth Chapter sheweth the preseruatiues against the second cause of the Pestilence THe second is linked to the first and last causes as the effect of the one and cause of the other For the euyll constellation causeth an infectious aire and an aptnesse of mannes bodie to receiue the effect thereof whiche constellation is not so muche euill of it selfe as per Accidens bycause wée are sinners But if the Astronomers dare saye that the Starres or the motion of them created of GOD from the beginning whiche maketh the constellation is euill of it selfe the trueth therof I referre to the Diuines to dyscusse yet I dare say that the operation thereof coulde haue no force to the hurte of man if we were his faithfull seruauntes and did continuallye walke in his commaundementes For vnto the children of GOD it is sayd Feare not the signes of Heauen So little cause haue they to feare the signes of Heauen that for their sakes GOD altereth the course of the starres whych he hymselfe created For the commoditie of the Israelites he staied the course of the Sunne so that one daye was as long as two For Ezechias sake he brought the Sunne tenne degrées back In that text where this is written if a degrée be taken as Astronomers take it and as I do take it for the thirtith part of a signe in the firmament it may be thought that that moneth was ten dayes longer than other monthes are If it were so it is no more wōderful thā other miracles whiche God hath wrought for his children For where as the Egyptians were plagued with tenne gréeuous plagues the Israelites Gods chosen people whiche dwelled hard by them were not touched therewith And for theyr sakes he made the bitter waters swéete and gaue them drinke out of a rocke and foode from heauen For their sakes he made the waters of the riuer Iordan go backe yea and the waters of the great sea He made the sea drie ground so that his people went safely through the middest therof For their sakes he sent hailestones from heauen and slue their enymies For the thrée yong mens sakes that woulde not bowe downe to the Image that the idolatrous king had commaunded to be worshipped God turned the heate of the fire from them vppon their enimies that put them into the hote burnyng ouen For Daniels sake who woulde not worshippe the idoll Bell nor the Dragon God stopped seuē Lions mouthes into whose den he was put which Liōs though they were kept without meale seuen dayes yet they neuer opened their mouth against Daniel in the meane time God prouided sustenaunce for him These and many other like wonderfull woorkes of Almightie God are written for our learning that we worshipping him aright might haue confidence in him without fear what so euer the signes of the heauens do threaten against vs. For if God for the commoditye of his children after the course of the starres of the waters if for their commoditie he quench the heate of the fire and stay the rage of the fierce and hungrie Lions if he wonderfullye preserue them from plagues and slaye their enimies wée maye be sure if we forsake our wickednesse and kéepe his lawes the operation of the starres shall haue no force to hurt vs Therfore it followeth that the same preseruatiues which serue against the first cause of the Pestilence that is to say Repentance and Prayer are very good and auailable against an euill constellation the which béeing well vsed the other that are to be taken againste the third and fourth causes will take the better effect This that I haue sayde the Astronomers will not deny And if they giue anye other preseruatiue againste the seconde cause than this which I haue set downe I thinke it superfluous vaine as I doe all the publishing of their practises Astronomical ouer aboue that whiche it teacheth vs to discerne one time of the yeare from another and to direct men from place to place from sea to sea from land to land and from countrie to countrie Some reason of my opinion I haue alreadye giuen vnto the whiche I adde that in diuerse points it draweth mens mindes from depending vppon Gods prouidence moueth them to directe their actions by the motions of the Starres Therefore I doe not thinke their Arte necessarie or profytable in a Christian common weale further than is aforesayde I thynke rather that the burning of their bookes woulde be as acceptable a sacrifice to GOD as that of the Ephesians whose bookes of curious Artes consumed with fire were valued at fiftye thousande péeces of siluer For theyr Arte is vnlawfull and forbidden by GOD his lawe in these wordes following If a man or woman haue a spirite of diuination or southsaying in them they shall dye the death they shal stone them to death their bloud shall be vpon them Let none of them be found amōg you that maketh his sonne or his daughter go through the fire or that vseth witchcrafte or is a regarder of times or a marker of the flying of foules or a sorcerer or a charmer or that counselleth with spirites or a southsayer or that asketh counsel at the dead If they say that no clause in these sentences maketh against their Arte I meane diuination or iudiciall Astronomie I doubt not but that the Hebrue Grammarians wil easily proue the contrarie by y signification of the Hebrue wordes out of the whiche language these lawes of God are translated If this question did pertain to my purpose I would stande longer vppon it but I let it passe and will returne to my preseruatiues ¶ The eighth Chapter sheweth the preseruatiues against the third cause of the Pestilence THe third cause was sayde to be the corruption of the ayre The preseruatiue is to auoyde as much as may be those things aforesayde that cause corruption In the which good