THe Plague is a cruell and contagious Disease , which euerie-where , like a common Disease , inuading Man and Beast , kils verie many ; being attended , and as it were associated with a continuall Feauer , Botches , Carbunkles , Spots , Nauseousnesse , Vomitings , and other such maligne accidents . This Disease is not so pernitious or hurtfull , by any Elementarie qualitie , as from a certaine poysonous and venenate malignitie , the force whereof exceeds the condition of common putrefaction . Yet I will not deny , but that it is more hurtfull in certaine Bodyes , Times , and Regions , as also many other Diseases , of which Hippocrates makes mention . But from hence we can onely collect , that the force and malignitie of the Plague may be increased , or diminished according to the condition of the Elementarie qualities concurring with it , but not the whole nature and essence thereof to depend thereon .

This pestiferous Poyson principally assailes the Vitall Spirit , the Store-house and originall whereof is the Heart , so that if the Vitall Spirit proue stronger , it driues it farre from the Heart ; but if weaker , it being ouercome and weakned by the hostile assault , flies backe into the Fortress of the Heart , by the like contagion infecting the Heart , and so the whole Body , being spred into it by the passages of the Arteries .

Hence it is , pestilent Feauers are some-times simple and folitarie , other-whiles associated with a troope of other affects , as Botches , Carbunkles , Blaines , and Spots , of one or more colours .

It is probable such affects haue their originall from the expulfiue Facultie , whether strong or weake , prouoked by the malignitie of the raging matter : Yet assuredly diuers symptomes and changes arise according to the constitution of the Body of the Patient , and condition of the humour in which the virulencie of the Plague is chiefely inherent , and lastly in the nature of the efficient cause .

I thought good by this description to expresse the nature of the Plague , at this my first entrance into this matter , for we can scarce comprehend it in a proper definition . For although the force thereof be definite and certaine in Nature , yet it is not altogether certaine and manifest in Mens minds , because it neuer happens after one sort : so that in so great varietie it is verie difficult to set downe any thing generall and certaine .

THE generall and naturall causes of the Plague are absolutely two , that is , the infection of corrupt Aire , and a preparation and fitnesse of corrupt humours to take that infection ; for it is noted before out of the Doctrine of Galen , that our humours may be corrupted , and degenerate into such an alienation which may equall the malignitie of Poyson .

The Aire is corrupted , when the foure seasons of the yeere haue not their seasonablenesse , or degenerate from themselues , either by alteration , or by alienation : as if the constitution of the whole yeere be moyst and rainie by reason of grosse and blacke Clouds ; if the Winter be gentle and warme without any Northerly wind , which is cold and dry , and by that meanes contrarie to putrefaction ; if the Spring which should be temperate , shall be faultie in any excesse of distemper ; if the Autumne shall be ominous by Fires in the Aire , with Starres shooting , and as it were falling downe , or terrible Comets , neuer seene without some disaster ; if the Summer be hot , cloudy and moist , and without Winds , and the Clouds flye from the South into the North. These and such like vnnaturall constitutions of the seasons of the yeere , were neuer better , or more excellently handled by any , then by Hippocrates in his Booke Epidemion . Therefore the Aire from hence drawes the Seeds of Corruption and the Pestilence , which at the length , the like excesse of qualities being brought in , it sends into the humours of our Bodyes , chiefly such as are thin and serous . Although the Pestilence doth not alwaies necessarily arise from hence , but some-whiles some other kind of cruell and infectious Disease .

But neither is the Aire onely corrupted by these superiour causes , but also by putrid and filthy stinking vapours spread abroad through the Aire encompassing vs , from the Bodyes or Carkasses of things not buried , gapings or hollownesses of the Earth , or Sinkes and such like places being opened : For the Sea often ouer-flowing the Land in some places , and leauing in the Mudde , or hollownesses of the Earth ( caused by Earth-quakes ) the huge Bodyes of monstrous Fishes , which it hides in its Waters , hath giuen both the occasion and matter of a Plague . For thus in our time a Whale cast vpon the Tuscane shore , presently caused a Plague ouer all that Countrey .

But as Fishes infect and breed a Plague in the Aire , so the Aire being corrupted , often causes a Pestilence in the Sea amongst Fishes , especially when they either swim on the top of the Water , or are infected by the pestilent vapours of the Earth lying vnder them , and rysing into the Aire thorough the Body of the Water , the latter whereof Aristotle saith , hapneth but seldome . But it often chances , that the Plague raging in any Countrey , many Fishes are cast vp on all the Coast , and may be seene lying on great heapes . But sulphurous vapours , or such as partake of any other maligne qualitie , sent forth from places vnder the ground by gapings and gulfes opened by Earthquakes , not onely corrupt the Aire , but also infect and taint the Seeds , Plants , and all the Fruits which we eat , and so transferre the pestilent corruption into vs , and those Beasts on which we feed , together with our nourishment . The truth whereof , Empedocles made manifest , who by shutting vp a great Gulfe of the Earth opened in a Valley betweene two Mountaines , freed all Sicily from a Plague caused from thence .

If Winds rysing sodainly shall driue such filthy exhalations from those Regions in which they were pestiferous , into other places , they also will carrie the Plague with them thither .

If it be thus , some will say , it should seeme that wheresoeuer stinking and putrid exhalations arise , as about standing Pooles , Sinkes , and Shambles , there should the Plague reigne , and straight suffocate with its noysome Poyson , the People which worke in such places : but experience finds this false .

We doe answer , that the putrifaction of the Plague is farre different , and of another kind then this common , as that which partakes of a certaine secret malignitie , and wholly contrarie to our liues , and of which we cannot easily ▪ giue a plaine and manifest reason . Yet that vulgar putrefaction wheresoeuer it be , doth easily and quickly entertaine and welcome the pestiferous contagion as often as , and whensoeuer it comes , as ioyned vnto it by a certaine familiaritie , and at the length , it selfe degenerating into a pestiferous malignitie , certainely no otherwise then those Diseases which arise in the Plague time , the putrid Diseases in our Bodyes , which at the first wanted virulencie and contagion , as Vlcers , putrid Feauers , and other such Diseases raysed by the peculiar default of the humours , easily degenerate into pestilence , presently receiuing the tainture of the Plague , to which they had before a certain preparation . Wherefore in time of the Plague , I would aduise all Men to shun such exceeding stinking places , as they would the Plague it selfe : that there may be no preparation in our Bodyes , or humours to catch that infection , ( without which , as Galen teaches , the Agent hath no power ouer the Subiect , for otherwise in a Plague time the Sicknesse would equally seaze vpon all ) so that the impression of the pestiferous qualitie may presently follow that disposition .

But when we say the Aire is pestilent , we doe not vnderstand that sincere , elementarie , and simple as it is of its owne nature , for such is not subiect to putrefaction , but that which is polluted with ill vapours rysing from the Earth , standing Waters , Vaults , or Sea , and degenerates , and is changed from its natiue puritie and simplicitie . But certainly amongst all the constitutions of the Aire fit to receiue a pestilent corruption , there is none more fit then a hot , moyst , and still season : For the excesse of such qualities easily causes putrefaction . Wherefore the South Wind reigning , which is hot and moyst , and principally in places neere the Sea , there Flesh cannot long be kept , but it presently is tainted and corrupted .

Further , we must know , that the pestilent malignitie which rises from the Carcasses or Bodyes of Men , is more easily communicated to Men ; that which rises from Oxen , to Oxen ; and that which comes from Sheepe , to Sheepe , by a certaine sympathy & familiaritie of Nature : no otherwise then the Plague which shall seaze vpon some one in a Family , doth presently spread more quickly amongst the rest of that Family , by reason of the similitude of temper , then amongst others of another Family disagreeing in their whole temper . Therefore the Aire thus altered and estranged from its goodnesse of nature necessarily drawne in by inspiration and transpiration , brings in the Seeds of the Plague , and so consequently the Plague it selfe , into Bodyes prepared and made ready to receiue it .

WE may know a Plague to be at hand and hang ouer vs , if at any time the Aire , and Seasons of the yeere swarue from their naturall constitution , after those wayes I haue mentioned before , if frequent and long continuing Meteors , or sulphurous Thunders infect the Aire ; If Fruits , Seeds , and Puls be Worme-eaten ; If Birds forsake their Nests , Egges , or Young , without any manifest cause ; If we perceiue Women commonly to abort , by continuall breathing in the vaporous Aire , being corrupted and hurtfull both to the Embrion and originall of life , and by which it being suffocated is presently cast forth and expell'd . Yet notwithstanding , those Airie impressions doe not solely corrupt the Aire , but there may be also others raysed by the Sunne from the filthy exhalations , and poysonous vapours of the Earth and Waters , or of dead Carkasses , which by their vnnaturall mixture , easily corrupt the Aire subiect to alteration , as which is thin and moyst , from whence diuers Epidemiall Diseases , and such as euerie-where seaze vpon the common sort , according to the seuerall kinds of corruptions , such as that famous Catarrhe with difficultie of breathing , which in the yeere 1510 going almost ouer the World , and raged ouer all the Cities and Townes of France , with great heauinesse of the Head ( whereupon the French named it Cucuita ) with a straitnesse of the Heart and Lungs , and a Cough , a continuall Feauer , and sometimes rauing .

This although it seazed vpon many more then it killed , yet because they commonly dyed who were either let Blood , or purged , it shewed it selfe pestilent by that violence and peculiar and vnheard of kind of malignitie .

Such also was the English Sweating-sicknesse , or Sweating-Feauer , which vnusuall with a great deale of terrour invaded all the lower parts of Germany , and the Low Countreys , from the yeere 1525 vnto the yeere 1530 , and that chiefly in Autumne .

As soone as this pestilent Disease entred into any Citie , suddainly two or three hundred fell sicke on one day , then it departing thence to some other place , the people strucken with it languishing , fell downe in a swound , and lying in their Beds , swet continually , hauing a Feauer , a frequent , quicke , and vnequall Pulse , neither did they leaue sweating till the disease left them , which was in one or two dayes at the most : yet freed of it , they languished long after , they all had a beating , or palpitation of the Heart , which held some for two or three yeeres , and others all their life after .

At the first beginning it killed many , before the force of it was knowne : but afterwards verie few , when it was found out by practice and vse , that those who furthered , and continued their sweats , and strengthened themselues with Cordials , were all restored . But at certaine times many other popular Diseases spring vp , as putrid Feauers , Fluxes , Bloody Fluxes , Catarrhes , Coughes , Phrenzies , Sqinancies , Pleurisies , Inflamations of the Lungs , Inflamations of the Eyes , Apoplexies , Lethargies , small Pockes , and Measels , Scabbes , Carbuncles , and maligne Pustules . Wherefore the Plague is not alwayes , nor euerie-where of one and the same kind , but of diuers ; which is the cause that diuers names are imposed vpon it , according to the varietie of the effects it brings , and symptomes which accompanie it , and kinds of putrefaction , and hidden qualities of the Aire .

They affirme , when the Plague is at hand , that Mushromes grow in greater aboundance out of the Earth , and vpon the surface thereof many kinds of poysonous insecta creepe in great numbers , as Spiders , Caterpillers , Butterflyes , Grasse-hoppers , Beetles , Hornets , Waspes , Flyes , Scorpions , Snailes , Locusts , Toads , Wormes , & such things as are the of-spring of putrefaction . And also wild Beasts tyred with the vaporous malignitie of their Dennes , and Caues in the Earth , forsake them ; and Moles , Toads , Vipers , Snakes , Lezards , Aspes , and Crocodiles are seene to flye away , and remoue their habitations in great troopes . For these , as also some other Creatures , haue a manifest power by the guift of God , and the instinct of Nature , to presage changes of Weather , as Raines , Showers , and faire Weather ; and Seasons of the yeere , as the Spring , Summer , Autumne , Winter , which they testifie by their Singing , Chirping , Crying , Flying , Playing , and Beating their Wings , and such like signes ; so also they haue a perception of a Plague at hand . And moreouer , the Carcasses of some of them which tooke lesse heed of themselues , suffocated by the pestiferous Poyson of the ill Aire contained in the Earth , may be euerie-where found , not onely in their Dennes , but also in the plaine Fields .

These vapours corrupted not by a simple putrefaction , but an occult malignitie , are drawne out of the Bowels of the Earth into the Aire , by the force of the Sunne and Starres , and thence condensed into Clouds , which by their falling vpon Corne , Trees , and Grasse , infect and corrupt all things , which the Earth produces , and also killes those Creatures which feed vpon them ; yet brute Beasts sooner then Men , as which stoop and hold their Heads downe towards the Ground ( the maintainer and breeder of this Poyson ) that they may get their Food from thence . Therefore at such times , skilfull Husbandmen , taught by long experience , neuer driue their Cattell or Sheepe to pasture , before that the Sunne by the force of his Beames , haue wasted and dissipated into Aire , this pestiferous dew hanging and abiding vpon boughes and leaues of Trees , Herbs , Corne , and Fruits .

But on the contrarie , that Pestilence which proceeds from some maligne qualitie from aboue , by reason of euill and certaine coniunction of the Starres , is more hurtfull to Men and Birds , as those , who are neerer to Heauen .

HAuing declared the signes fore-shewing a Pestilence : now we must shew by what meanes we may shun the imminent danger thereof , and defend our selues from it . No preuention seemed more certaine to the Ancients , then most speedily to remoue into places farre distant from the infected place , and to be most slow in their returne thither againe . But those who by reason of their businesse , or employments cannot change their habitation , must principally haue care of two things : The first is , that they strengthen their Bodyes , and the principall parts thereof against the daily imminent inuasions of the Poyson , or the pestiferous and venenate Aire . The other , that they abate the force of it , that it may not imprint its virulencie in the Body ; which may be done by correcting the excesse of the qualitie inclining towards it , by the opposition of its contrarie . For if it be hotter , then is meet it must be tempered with cooling things ; if too cold , with heating things : yet this will not suffice . For we ought besides , to amend and purge the corruptions of the venenate malignitie diffused through it , by smels and perfumes resisting the Poyson thereof . The Body will be strengthened and more powerfully resist the infected Aire , if it want excrementitious humors , which may be procured by purging and bleeding , and for the rest a conuenient dyet appointed , as shunning much varietie of Meats , and hot and moyst things , and all such which are easily corrupted in the Stomacke , and cause obstructions , such as those things which be made by Comfit-makers ; we must shun satietie and drunkennesse , for both of them weakens the Powers , which are preserued by the moderate vse of Meats of good iuice .

Let moderate exercises in a cleere Aire , and free from any venemous tainture , preceed your Meales .

Let the Belly haue due euacuation either by Nature or Art .

Let the Heart , the seat of Life , and the rest of the Bowels be strengthened with Cordials and Antidotes applyed and taken ( as we shall here-after shew ) in the forme of Epithemes , Ointments , Emplasters , Waters , Pilles , Powders , Tablets , Opiates , Fumigations , and such like .

Make choyce of a pure Aire and free from all pollution , and farre remote from stinking places , for such is most fit to preserue life , to recreate and repaire the Spirits , whereas on the contrarie a cloudy , or mistie Aire , and such as is infected with grosse and stinking vapours , duls the Spirits , deiects the Appetite , makes the Body faint and ill coloured , oppresses the Heart , and is the breeder of many diseases .

The Northern Wind is healthfull , because it is cold and dry . But on the contrarie , the Southern Wind , because it is hot and moyst , weakens the Body by sloth or dulnesse , opens the Pores , and makes them peruious to the pestiferous malignitie . The Western Wind is also vnwholsome , because it comes neere to the nature of the Southern : wherefore the Windowes must be shut vp on that side of the House on which they blow , but opened on the North and East side , vnlesse it happen the Plague come from thence .

Kindle a cleere Fire in all the Lodging Chambers of the House , and perfume the whole House with Aromaticke things , as Frankensence , Myrrhe , Benzoine , Ladanum , Styrax , Roses , Mirtle-leaues , Lauender , Rosemary , Sage , Sauory , Wild Time , Marierome , Broome , Pine Apples , peeces of Firre , Iuniper Berries , Cloues , Perfumes : and let your Cloathes be aired in the same .

There be some , who thinke it a great preseruatiue against the pestilent Aire to keepe a Goat in their houses , because the capacitie of the Houses filled with the strong sent which the Goat sends forth , prohibits the entrance of the venemous Aire : which same reason hath place also in sweet smels , and besides , it argues , that such as are hungry are apter to take the Plague , then those who haue eaten moderately : for the Body is not onely strengthened with Meat , but all the passages thereof are filled by the vapours diffused from thence , by which otherwise the infected Aire would find a more easie entrance to the Heart .

Yet the common sort of People yeeld another reason for the Goat , which is , That one ill sent driues away another , as one wedge driues forth another ; which calles to my mind that which is recorded by Alexander Benedictus , that there was a Scythian Physition , which caused a Plague arysing from the infection of the Aire , to cease , by causing all the Dogges , Cats , and such like Beasts which were in the Citie , to be hilled , and casting their Carcasses vp and downe the Streets , that so by the comming of this new putrid vapour as a stranger , the former pestiferous infection , as an old guest , was put out of its Lodging , and so the Plague ceased . For Poysons haue not onely an antipathy with their Antidotes , but also with some other Poysons .

Whilst the Plague is hot it is not good to stirre out of doore before the rysing of the Sunne : wherefore we must haue patience , vntill he haue cleansed the Aire with the comfortable light of his Beames , and dispersed all the foggy and nocturnall pollutions , which commonly hang in the Aire in dirtie , and specially in low places and Valleys .

All publike and great meetings and assemblyes must be shunned .

If the Plague begin in Summer , and seeme principally to rage , helped forward by the Summers heat , it is the best to performe a Iourney begun , or vndertaken for performance of necessarie affaires , rather vpon the night time , then on the day , because the Infection takes force , strength and subtiletie of substance , by which it may more easily permeate and enter in , by the heat of the Sunne ; but by night Mens Bodies are more strong , and all things are more grosse and dense . But you must obserue a cleane contrarie course if the malignitie seeme to borrow strength , and celeritie from coldnesse . But you must alwayes eschew the Beames of the Moone , but specially at the full : For then our Bodyes are more languid and weake , and fuller of excrementitious humors . Euen as Trees which for that cause must be cut downe in their season of the Moone , that is , in the decrease thereof .

After a little gentle walking in your Chamber , you must presently vse some meanes that the principall parts may be strengthened by suscitating the heat and Spirits , and that the passages to them may be filled , that so the way may be shut vp from the Infection comming from without . Such as by the vse of Garlike haue not their Heads troubled , nor their inward parts inflamed , as Countrey people , and such as are vsed to it , to such there can be no more certaine preseruatiue and antidote against the pestiferous Fogges or Mists , and the nocturnall obscuritie , then to take it in the morning with a draught of good Wine ; for it being aboundantly diffused presently ouer all the Body , filles vp the passages thereof , and strengheneth it in a moment .

For Water , if the Plague proceed from the tainture of the Aire , we must wholly shun and auoid Raine-water , because it cannot but be infected by the contagion of the Aire . Wherefore the Water of Springs , and of the deepest Welles are thought best . But if the malignitie proceed from the vapours contained in the Earth , you must make choyse of Raine-water . Yet it 's more safe to digest euerie sort of Water by boyling it , and to preferre that Water before other , which is pure and cleerer to the sight , and without either tast or smell , and which besides suddainly takes the extremest mutation of heat and cold .