Obseruations to be vsed , preseruing from the Plague .

BVt if vpon ●rgent occasio● of bu●●ne●●e you may not 〈◊〉 then haue a speciall care that the hou●e in which you must tarry , be kept clea●● and 〈◊〉 , without 〈…〉 or ●●u●●ishnesse , let the windowes be kept close , and 〈◊〉 especially in clowdy and rainie wether , that the pestilent ayre enter not in , but if you will open them , doe it about mid-day .

You must come abroade as seldome as you can , and not ( if you may ) except the element be cleare and bright , but before you come abroade , you must take 〈◊〉 ●e●icine , which is able to preserue you f●om infections , as the roote of Ang●●ca , Pimper●ell , &c. chewes in the mouth . chewed in the mouth .

Also you must make ●ires dayly in your house● , 〈…〉 the corrupt ayre that is in the house , may be the better purged and 〈…〉 of the ayre .

Also if you Iuniper , Ta●●●●is●●● , Bay lea●●●s , Rosemary , and such like are very good to purge the house of ●ll aires , and to 〈…〉 and from ●pon it the p●●●er of Rosemary , Sage , Rew , Be●on●e , wormewood , Mai●ram , Orig●n , Iuniper berries , M●●h , Frankensence and Ma●●●ke , Cipres●e barkes , Angeli●● the r●●ts or ●ea●●s , Lau●nder , 〈◊〉 of Aloes , Gall●● Mus●h●●a , C●oues , any one of all these are very good to aire your house withall .

It is best in hote weather to corr●●● and puri●●● the aire with co●● 〈◊〉 , as with ●word : 〈…〉 leaues , and branches of Willowes , &c. and to sprinckle the ●l●●re with coldwater mixt with Viniger , Roses , or 〈◊〉 , &c.

It is very good when out goeth abroad to haue something in their hands to 〈◊〉 to , the better to auoide those noysome 〈◊〉 and filthy 〈◊〉 which are in euery corner , therefore it is very good to carry in the hand a branch of Rew , Rosemary , Roses , or Camphir● and the smel of Viniger is very 〈…〉 something like this . Take of , Lapdanum , three drachmes . Storax calamintae , two drachmes . of each a drachme . Cinomon , Cloues , Nutmegs , Wood of Aloes , a scruple . Spiknard , halfe a scruple . of each halfe a drachme . Mirh , Mastik , Frankencense , of each three graines . Muske , Amber .

Make them to powder and ●earce them , and take 〈◊〉 water , and Rose viniger , wherein 〈…〉 is dissolued , and so make it vp in a Pomander .

Séeing also , that gluttony , excesse , and drunkennesse , is at al times to be shunned , so at this time of infection is most dangerous , breeding the humors , and corrupting the body : Therfore they that loue their health , let them vse temperance in theyr diet , and choose such meats as engender good blood , and bee not ready to putrifie and rot , but be of easie digestion , and eate with them sharpe sauces , as vinigere , or the iuyces of sharpe things , as veri●yce , iuyce of Citrons , Lemonds , Oringes , &c.

Also vse for pot-herbs , sage , or otherwise , Parcely , Maioram , Balme , Hysops , B●glose , Endine , Succorie , and Lettice .

Also hee must refraine from eating of much fruite , for it doth bréede corrupt blood , and if he eate any it must be 〈◊〉 .

Also hee must eate little garlik , onions , or 〈◊〉 , for these cause vnkinde heate .

Also suffer not thirst greatly , and when thou doest thirst , drinke but measurably , and that but smal and thinne drinke , or barly water , 〈…〉 with 〈…〉 .

Ano●●er special regard must be had in exercises , vbi , qu●●od● , & 〈◊〉 . The place where , must be in a 〈◊〉 and pure ayre , and 〈◊〉 must ●se them temperately and moderately , and 〈…〉 of violent exercises , as dancing , running , leaping : and wh●●soeuer such like kinde of exercise that causeth after breathing in of Ayre , ●e must refraine in the extreame heate of the day , and in places where is much con●●urse of people .

As for his sleepe and 〈◊〉 , let them be meane and moderate , onely his sleepe must be sufficient to suffice Nature , and in a close Chamber , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and the windowes and doores , close shut , lest the ill ayre enter into it , and hée must haue regard that his sheetes be cleane and swéete ●agges in chests where they kéepe linnen .

It is good also at night afore you goe in bed to ayre the chamber with a good fire , or with a cha●●ng dish of coles , wherein it were good to ●●ro some powder of Rew , Sage , Be●onie , or of Iuniper and such like .

When you walke in the morning , first empty the body of all super●●uities and excremen●s , and take heed : and beware the body , be not too 〈◊〉 at any time . Therefore , if of thy selfe n●●●rally at any time thou canst not voyde out excrements , thou shalt take ●yther a potion of pils , or else a glister o● suppos●●●ry o● 〈…〉 : or el●e take of Aloes epatick , two parts , of each one part . Amon●ia●●m , Mirrh .

With white wine or with the Water of scabious make pills of them , which minister daylie , if you will one scruple at a time .

These pils 〈◊〉 most resist putrifaction , and haue a very great vertue against the infecting of the pestilent ayre .

Blood-letting also is very wholsome for yong folke , and such as 〈◊〉 great store o● blood , for it doth much coole the state of the body , and bringeth it to a moderate heare , and letteth out the corrupt humors , which doe make the body more subi●ct to infection : bloud-letting is very necessary in the time of infection , and doth much profit , and preserue health .

Also it is very 〈◊〉 to be too passionate or melancholy : for the passions of sadnesse , Anger , hatred , feare , great cares , and heauie thoughts and sighing , do much distemper the body and make it 〈…〉 to withstand the infection : but on the contrary it is very good to vse ioy and mirth with temperance .

Signes to know the infected .

HAuing before shewed the natural and original causes of the plague and pestilence , with the best meanes for the preseruation of a mans selfe from it , we wil proceed and shew , first the ●●gnes whereby a man may best iudge of himselfe , whether he be already infected , or not , and the meanes to cure the ●●ck .

As concerning the signes that declare one to be already infe●●●● , they are many .

First when the outward members are cold , and the inward parts burning hot , when there is a paine and heauinesse of the head , and a great inclination to keepe . A wearines , heauines , and difficulty in breathing . A sadnesse and carefulnesse of the minde : a change of countenance , with a frowning looke of the eyes : losse of stomake and appetit● : immoderate thirst and often vomiting : a bitternesse and drienesse of the mouth : The Pulse frequent , smal and déepe , the vrine troublous , thicke , and stinking like beasts vrine .

The surest token of al to know the infected of the plague , is ▪ if there doe arise and engender botches behind the eares , or vnder the armeholes , or about the share : or also if Carbuncles do arise in any member sodainely , for when they doe appeare they betoken strength of Nature : Which being strong and mighty , doth labour to driue the poyson out of the body , but if botches do not appeare , it is more perillous and daungerous : for it betokeneth that nature is weake and feeble , and not able to expell and driue out the venemous humors , and then you must haue respect to the signes before rehearsed .

Also 〈◊〉 botches which do appeare , they do declare which members of the body be infected aboue any other , and doe ●●rust out veni●ous humors from them .

The infection of the plague entereth into a man in this 〈◊〉 .

In a 〈◊〉 are three principall parts ( that i● ) the heart , lyuer , and armes , and each of the●● hath his cleansing place : Therefore if they do appeare in the necke , they doe shew the braines to be chiefely vexed : if vnder the arme-holes , the heart , but if they appeare in the share , the lyuer is most infected .

For a man hauing taken same venome , it is mingled with the blood , and runnes to the heart , which is the chiefe parte of man : and the heart by kinde putteth the venome to his clensing place which is the arme-holes ▪ and it being stopt , putteth to the next princip●ll part , that is the Liuer , and it passeth it to his cleansing place which is the Ihigh-holes or share : Likewise they b●ing stopt , passe it to the next principall place ( that is ) the armes , and to their clensing places which are vnder the eares , or vnder the throate , and they being stopped , suffer it not to passe out , th●● it is 〈◊〉 xii . houres before it rest in any place , and if it be 〈◊〉 let out within the space of xxiiii . houres by bléeding , it castes a man into an ague , and maketh a bot●● in one of the thrée places , or néere them .

The cure of the infected of the plague .

The best way to cure the plague is in this , when thou findest thy selfe to be infected , and féelest the bloud flickering , bleed in the first houre , or within sixe houres after drinck not , 〈◊〉 tarry not aboue twelue houres from bleeding , for when thy bloud is so flickering , the venome is then mouing and not yet settled , and after it is to late : those that are fatte may be lette bl●●d , or else not .

If the matter be gathered vnder the armeholes , it comes from the heart by the veine cardiall , then bleed on the same side : on the innermost veyne of the arme comonly called B●sollica : but bleed not on both sides , except it be in both armeholes , for that is dangerous , and losse of good bloud .

And if the boch doth appeare behind the eares , or aboue the 〈◊〉 , or in any other parts of the face , or neck , you must let blo●d out of veine Cephali●a , on the same side let blood with c●pping glasse● for that is the best , or a horse ●each , or horse 〈◊〉 .

But if the botch appeare in the share , you must then bleed in the ●●uckle of the same 〈◊〉 , and then in any case bleed not in the Arme , for it will draw vp the matter againe .

But if there app●●re no botch outwardly , you must then draw bloud out of the same side where is felt the greatest paine and heauines , and out of which veine the paine & griefe of the members aflicted wil declare .

For if the members aboue the breast be most grieued and afflicted , cut the Cephalica vein . But if the parts about the necke be most grieued , bleed in the Basillica , or middle veyne .

And if the nether parts be most grieued and vexed bl●●d in the hamme or ankles . And if nature be strong , and other things not letting draw out bloud aboundantly .

But if through age or for other causes you may not vse bl●●d letting , then you must fasten cupping glasses and 〈◊〉 them .

And if you perceiue the pestilence to infect or inuade you at meate , or vpon a full stomacke , then vomitt straiteway , and when the body and stomack is empty , then take some medicine that can resist poyson as methrydate or Triacle .

When the patient hath taken som medcines that wil expel the venome , lay him in a warmed bed , being made with soft she●●s , and well couered with cloathes , that there he may sweate well , for the space of foure or fiue houres , or more , according to his strength . But if by this meanes you can scarsly prouoke him to sweate , you may vse some other meanes , as by the heating of tiles , and laying them hote to the feete of the patient , or with stone bottles filled with hot water , and being close stopt with corke , that the water spil not , and so put into the bed to the sick , they wil by their beat prouoke him readily to sweat . And all the time the sicke doth sweate , you must take heed that he neither sleep , eate , nor drinke .

And after hee hath sweat , you must wipe diligently off the sweat , with very cleane and fine linnen clothes . Then afterward let the sicke rise from his bed , if he either will or can : But let him not come into the open ayre , but eschew it asmuch as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Also let the ayre of the chamber in the which the sicke doth ●ie , be 〈◊〉 and amended and purified with odo●●●ro●● things and wi●h sweet smelling perfumes , such as are before declared .

Lastly , the principall 〈◊〉 whole body bring cleansed by bleeding , or cupping and sweating , the patient must be very ●ary , and measurable in his diet , for in the 〈…〉 which is accidentall to this sicknes : it is good to eate 〈◊〉 flesh but litle chickens 〈◊〉 with fresh water , but it is best to giue 〈◊〉 him the breath of a chicken two or three houres after he ha●● 〈◊〉 , and often , according to his strength , for the sicke and weake must be norished and refreshed by little and little : If the breath haue in it the iuice of lemons , orenges , ●eriuice , or vineger , it is the better .

Preseruatiues against the Plague or Pestilence .

TAke 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 , of each a little , and lay them in a little Vineger , then take a spunge and wett it therein , and this you 〈◊〉 carry about you in a 〈◊〉 or any thing else , to smell thereon , and this will preserue you from the infected .

Another .

ALso take Angelli●s roote , and hold in your mouth , for it is excellent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 keepe your body that no corrupted ayre came therein : likewise 〈◊〉 pilles is very good to hold in your mouth , or Cloues .

Another .

IT is good to kéepe the head and stomake cleane p●●ged , and not to ouerlay it with eating and drinking , nor to eate grose meates , but to abstaine from all manner of 〈◊〉 and grose meats , and to purge your self as oft as you can with some gentle purge , as 〈◊〉 pilles , or such like .

Another excellent preseruatiue .

TAke a Figge or a Walnut , and in a morning fasting , take a little Rew and a corne of bay salt , and eate them together , 〈◊〉 this will preserue you , that you néede not feare the infection .

Another preseruatiue by purging the blood .

TAke in your pottage , Buglase , B●rr●ge , Suckory , ●ettyse , and such like hearbs : It shall be also very good at your meate to eate the inside of a ●ytteron , with a little ●nger , at morning , at noone , and at night when you got to bed : and it would be very good to wash your hands , and to bathe your temples & your pulses with Vineger Rosset , and it would be good to perfume your houses with Vineger and Rew vpon a tyle stone being heated in the fire : it is very good to hold your head ouer it : it is excellent good to keepe your body that no infected eyre enter therein .

A prooued Remedie for the plague .

TAKE an Oinion , and cut him ouerthwart , or a sunder , then make a little hole in each péece , the which ye shall fill with fine treakle and set the peeces together againe , then wrap them in a wet lynnen cloth , cutting it as you would a warden and so roste him in the embers , séeing it be couered with embers , and when it is rosted inough , stra●●e out all the Iuice thereof , and giue the patient a spoonefull thereof to drinke , and it wil heale him by the grace of God .

Take sorrell and lay it in steep in vineger a day , & then 〈…〉 , & when the patient feeleth himselfe 〈◊〉 , giue him a draught therof , and 〈◊〉 he brooke it , two or three houres after giue him more thereof to drinke , and by the grace of God he shal be healed .

Another for these that feele themselues infected .

TAKE Card●●s Benedictus , the leafe , and dry it , then beate it to powder , and giue the patient to drinke of it , and then let him sweate , and it will heale him by the grace of God .

A preseruatiue .

TAKE London Treakel , which you shall haue ▪ at diuers Apoticaries shops , in London , which do make it themselues ▪