First I sayde the tokenes of this infirmite .vij. thinges ought to be noted in the same The first is when in a sommers daye the weder often times chaungeth . as in the mornyng the wedyr appereth to payne / afterward it apperith cloudy & atte last wyndy in the south The .ij token is whan in sommer the dayes apperith all derke & like to mynr & yet it myneth not . & if many dayes so continue it is to drede of grete pestilence The .iij. tokyn is whan grete multitude of flies ben apon the eerthe thenne it is signe the ayer is venemous and infect The fourth token is whan the sterres semen ofte times to falle then it is token that the ayer ys infect with moche venemous vapours . The .v. token is whan a blasing sterre is see in the element then it is signe to be sone after grete pestilence or grete manslaghter in bataille The .vi. token is whan ther is grete lightnynge & thundre namely out of the south The .vij. token is whan grete wyndes passen out of the south they be foule & vnclene . therfore whan these tokenes appere it is to drede grete pestilence but god of his mercy wille remeue it

Here after folowen the causes of pestilence

The pestilence cometh of .iij. thinges somtime it cometh fro the rote bynethe Otherwhile fro the rote aboue so that we may fele sensibly how the chaunge of the ayer appereth vnto vs And somtyme it cometh of bothe to gider as well fro the rote aboue as fro the rote bynethe As we see a sege or preuy next to a chambre or of any other particuler thyng whyche corrupteth the ayer in his substaunce and qualite whiche is a thyng may happe euery daye : And thereof cometh the ague of pestylence . And aboute the same many physicions be deceyued : not supposing this axes to be a Pestilence / somtime it cometh of dede careyn / or corrupcion of standyng waters in diches or slouhes & other corrupt places & these thinges somtime be vniuersall & somtime particuler Fro the rote aboue : it fortuneth the causes of the bodyes aboue in thayer by whom the spirite of lyfe is corrupte in a man or in a beste : In like wyse as Auycenne sayth in his fourth boke / by the forme of thayer aboue / the bodyes benethe lightly be infecte : For thynpressyons aboue corrupteth the ayer and so the spirites of a man ben corrupt . This infirmyte cometh also from the rote aboue and bynethe : whanne of thynpressyons aboue / the ayer is corrupt & of the putrifaccion or rotyn caceyn of the vyle places benethe an infirmite is caused in a man . & suche an infirmyte somtime is an axes . somtime a postume or a swellyng & that is in many thynges . Also the ayer inspyred is venemous & corrupt hurting the herte that nature many wayes is greued so that he perceyueth not his harme : For the vryne appereth fayer & schewe●h gode digestion yet neuth●les the pacient is like to dye / wherfore many physicions seyng the vryn of their pacientes they speke suꝑficially & be deceyued : Therfore it is nede that euery pacient prouyde to him selfe a gode & experte physicion . These thinges wryton before are the causes of pestilence But aboute th●se thinges .ij. q̄stions be me●ued . The first ys wherfore one dyeth & another dyeth not in a towne where men be dede in one hous & in another hous ther dyeth none . The .ij. q̄stion is whether pestilence sores be contagious . To the first q̄stion I saye it may happe to be of .ii. causes that is to say of that thing that doth & of that thing that suffreth . An ensample of that thing that doth / the influence of the bodies aboue be holdeth that place or that place more than this place or this place . & the pacient is more disposed to die than another Therfore it is to be noted that bodies be more hote disposed of oopyn poorys than bodies infect hauing the pores stopped with many humours wher bodies be of resolucion or opening as men that abusen them self with wymmen or vsen ofte times bathes . or men that be hote with labour or grete angre their bodies be more disposed to this sekenes . To the .ij. q̄stion I say that pestilence sores be contagious because of enfect humours bodies & the reke or smoke of suche sores is venemous & corrupteth the ayer & therfore it is to flee fro suche persons as be infect In pestilence time no body sholde stande in grete prece of peple for som man of them may be infect Therfore wise phisiciens visiting seke folke stande ferre fro the pacient holding their face toward the dore or wyndowe & so shal the seruants of seke folke stande Also it is gode to a pacient euery day to change his chambre & often times to haue the wyndowes open ayenst the north & eest & to spere the wyndowes ayenst the south For the south winde hath two causes of putrifaccion The first is it maketh a man be in hole or seke feble in their bodies : The .ij. can is as it is writon in the .iij. of Amphorismie the south winde greueth the heering & hurteth the herte because it openeth the pooris of man & entreth into the herte wherfore it is gode in time of pestilence to an hole man whan the winde is in the south to be within the hous al day & if it nedeth to go out yet lete a man abide in his hous til the sonne be vp in the eest passing southward .

The remedies for the Pestilence

Now it is to wete by what remedies a man ma● pserue him self fro pestilence first see the writing of Ieremy the ꝓphete that a man ought to forsake euil thinges & do gode dedes & mekely to confesse his sinnes for whi it is the hiest remedie in time of pestilence penance & confession to be pferred al other medicines Neutheles I promitte you verely it is a gode remedy to voyde & chaunge th infect place : but som may not proffitably change their places therfore asmoche as to them is possible it is t eschewe euery cause of putrifaction & stinking & namely euery fleschely lust with wymmen shal be eschewed Also the sothern winde whiche is naturelly infectif therfor spere the windowes ayenst the south as it is sayde before til the first houre after the middes of the day then opene the wyndowes ayenst the north Of the same cause euy foule stinche is to be eschewed of stabyl stinkyng feldes wayes or stretes & namely of stinking dede careyn & moste of stynking wat where in many places wat is kepte .ij. dayes or .ij. nightes . or ellys ther be gutters of water casten vnder th erthe whiche causeth grete stinke & corrupcion & of this cause som deye in that hous where suche thynges happen & in another hous dye none as yt is sayd afore Like wise in that place wher the wurtes & coles putrefied it maketh a noyfull sauour & stynking . For like as by the swete odour of bawme the herte & the spirites laue recreacion so of euyl sauours they be made feble wherfor kepe your hons that an infect ayer entre not in . for an infect ayer most causeth putrifaccion in places & houses wher folk slipe therfore lette your hous be clene & make clere fire of wode flaming Lett your hous be made wich fumigacion of herbes whiche be the leuys of baye tree Ieneper vberiorgany it is in tha poticaue stoppes worm vode rewe nugwort & of the tree of aloes whiche is best but it is dere suche a fumee taken by the mouthe & eeris openeth th ynward partes of the body Also it is teschew all grete replecions because ful bodies be lightly infect as auycenne sayth in the fourth canon They that chargen their bodies with repleccion shorten their lyfe Also comyn bathes are to be eschewed for a litil crust corrupteth al the body Therfore the peple asmoche as is possible is to be eschewd lest of infect brethes som man be infect But whan the multitude of peple may not be eschewed then vse the remedies folowing , In the morning whan ye use wesshe a litil rewe & one or two filberd nottes clene with salte & ete them & if that can not be had then ete brede or a toste sopped in vinegre namely in troubelous & cloudy weder Also in time of pestilence it is better tabyde within the hous for it is not holsom to go in the cite or town . Also sprenkle your hows specially in sommer with vinegre & roses & with the leuys of vyn tree Also it is gode to wasshe often times in the day your handes with wat & vinegre & wipe your face with your handes & smelle to them Also it is gode alway to sauo aygre thinges . In the mount of pessulane I might not eschewe the conpany of peple for I went fro hous to hous became of my poute to cureseke folkes therfore brede or a sponge sopped in vinegre I toke with me holding it to my mouth & nose because al egre thinges stoppen the wayes of humours & suffreth no venemous thinges to enter into a mannys body & so I escaped the pestilence my felows supposing that I shold not liue These thinges I haue proued by my self

The confortes of the herte & the pncipal membres

The confortes of the herte be these / faffron Canifex planteyn with other herbes thy o●ē the inward spirite & these be gode emong the comyn peple where lightly it happeth that one is infect of another therfore beware the breth of another Also of infect ayer a mans eyen be made dymme yf he bere not these sayd thinges in his hande Also it is holsom to wasshe your mouth face eyen & handes often times in the day with rosewat medled with vinegre & if ye haue no rosewat take vinegre : & so these thinges vsed ye may go surely emong the peple Also a natural laxe of the bely is a grete remedy ellis prouoke a laxe by a suppository craftely Vse pipille pestilenciales for they be gode they be in th appoticary shoppes Also kepe fire al way in your hous . for it letteth moche thin pssions of the bodies aboue & clarefied thaier Also it is proffitable aswel for hole & seke folkes to drinke Triacle : therfore take it .ij. times a daye with clere wyn lymphat or with clere rosewater or with clere ale : Take a quantite of tryacle of a pese & .ij. sponeful of clere wyn or rosewater or ale dissolue the triacle in the cuppe & drynke hit : & dyne not til the middes of the daye so that the tryacle may haue his op̄eracion then chese a gode disshe with mete & drynke clere wyn & often times drynke in the daye but not moche to gider for moche habondaunce of drinke putrefieth the humours Also beware hote thinges in mete as pepir & garlik though pepere purgeth the brayn from flewme & specially the membres from viscous humours yet it maketh moche hete and hete falleth into putrifaccion / bittnes only is more to plese than hote odour or sauo . also garlik though it purgeth fleame & put out euyl humour & prouoked an appetite to ete & suffreth no drye ayer to entre : yet it troubleth the eyen & maketh the hede hote . therfore it is not gode to ete garlik The pestilence groweth of ten times of an hote cause therfore all metes the lighter they be of digestion somoche they be the better In the mornyng ete boilled mete / at euyn rosted / forbere broth & potage without they he eygre In the time of pestilence eygre metes be moche better thanne other metes . Also forbere al frutes but if they be eygre as cheryes or pomes garnates or a litil of a pere or apple by waye of medicine because al frute enduceth putrifaccion Ete conuenient spyces as gynger cynamum comyn matis & saffron These be the best sause that may be made for riche peple For poure take rewe sage filberdnuts ꝑcelly with vinegre mynst to gider . These be gode & letteth putrifaccion To be mery in the herte is a grete remedie for helth of body Therfore in time of pestilence beware ye drede not deth : but lyue merely & hope to lyue longe

For the lettyng of blode

Letting of blode ones in the moneth may be made but aage or other thing forbede it as pilgryms or feble persons whiche haue the flixe suffre to be lett blode in the wyne called basilica on the right or lift side before eting & after incision of basilica be mery & drinke wyne or ale temperatly : slepe not that daye whan basilica is cutt Yf ye fele yow greued to be infect than eschewe slepe & be walking & moeuing For by slepe thīward hete induced poyson to the hert & to other special membres that vnethe any herbe may take away suche poyson whiche shold not be if a man wold be meuing to & fro But som wold axe wherfore slepe shal be eschewd . I say that in pestilence time anon after mete yf a body list to slepe then suche lust shal be forborn̄ by a space walking in the gardyns or feldes & then make a naturell slepe by the space of an houre & therfore Auycenne writeth that if a man wold slepe he must drinke a gode draught of ale or wyn befor because a man being a slepe draweth many humours & the euil humours be putt doun by t humours of a gode draught But som wold aske how may a man fele when he is infect . I say that a man whiche is enfect that day eteth not moche mete for he is replenisshed with euyl humoure & forthwith after dyn he hath lust to slepe & feleth grete hete vnder colde . also he hath grete payne in the forhede / but all th●se thinges he may putte away by moeuyng of a space hider & thider to ride or to walke he maye not for sleuthe of the body & the weyghte of the same Also a man that is enfect hath lust to slepe euery houre of the day & night For the venym being within the body troubleth the spirite of lyff so that alwaye he wolde reste & slepe And also of these tokenes a man schal knowe & fele him self enfect . & yf a body will not beleue this / abide the middes of the daye & then he shal fele a swelling vnder the arme or aboute the share or aboute the eerys & therfore see an hye & a gode medeane / forbere slepe because of tho thinges afore sayde & y● is playne that the spirite of life resteth in slepe & all the body here & there is venymed : All th●se thinges I haue proued by my selfe These thinges knowen whan a man feleth him self infect assone as he may lett him be lett blode plenteously tyl he be swoune then stoppe the wyne For a litil lettyng of blode moeueth or styreth venym : & yf it be so that a man wil not haue many wynes cutte to geder / then lett him suffre the wyne cut to renne til the blode withdrawe for a litil bledyng meueth strongly the venym as yt is sayde afore Also a man whether he be infect or not yf he be lett blode / lett him forbere slepe al that day til midnight folowing & allewaye lett blode that wyne vpon that side of the body where the swellyng apꝑeth Therfor yf a swellyng appere vnder the right arme lett blode in the middes of the same arme in the wyne called mediana / yf it appere vnder the lift arme lett him blode in the middes of the same or in the vayne of the lyu whiche is aboute that litill fingre / & yf it be about the share / let him blode about the hele vpon the same side yf the swelling he in the necke let him blode in the vayne called Cephalica about the thombe in the hande of the same side or in the vayne called mediana of the same arme : or in the hande of the same side about the litil fingre . And yf the swelling appere about the eere / let him blode in the vayn called cephalica of the same side or in the vayne whiche is betwene the longe fingre & the thombe lest many venemous vaynes go into the brayn or let blode the vayn whiche is about the litil finger named by the phisicions Basilica . & if a swelling appere in the sholdres lesse it with ventosete & first lesse the vayne called Mediana ●f the swelling be on the backe : lesse it upon the vayn called pedica maḡ & al these thinges be made yf a man slepe not before the knowleche of the swelling But yf ye fele suche swellyng after slepe then on the contrarie part the letinge of blode must be made As if the swelling appere in the right arme let him blode in the lifte arme in Epate or basilica or mediana . & yf a swelling appere vnder the lift arme let him blode in the right arme like as it is sayd of the lift arme : & so of other places of the body let blode on the contrarie part of suche swelling . & if the letting of blode be verray litil & feble then lette the pacient slepe after the middes of the daye and alway in the middes of the daye he must be in continuell meuyng ridynge or goynge moderatly . & afterward yf the swelling growe lete him not be aferde of deth be cause suche a swelling putteth out all euyll & maketh a man verray hole . & that the soner a swellyng maye be made rype / take this medicine as foloweth Brose the leuys of an elder tree & putte therto grounde mustard & make a playster therof and put it vpon the swelling Some surgeons wil put triacle vpon the swelling but do not so for triacle putteth out venym : therfore drinke triacle for that putteth out the same : Also ther is another medicine Take sengrene hylworth otherwise called wilde time maudelyn gras planteyn & a litil rye floure & breke all these to gider til ye see water come out therof Medyl● that water with womans mylke & gyue it to the pacient fasting before slepe & it wil werke to better for to remeue the swelling . Also for the swelling whan it appered Take filberd nottes fygges & rewe : bruse them to gider & laye it vpon the swelling These remedies be sufficient to eschewe this grete sekenesse with the helpe of god to whom be eulastīg laude & praysing worlde withouten ende AMEN