THE KING'S Medicines for the Plague, Prescribed for the year 1604. by the whole College of Physicians, both Spiritual and Temporal. And now most fitting for this dangerous time of Infection, to be used all England over.  
LONDON, Printed for Henry Gosson, and are to be sold by F. Coules, at his Shop in the upper end of the Old Bailie near Newgate 1636.   

The King's Medicine of the former year, against the Plague of the Body.  
The first part.  
TAke Sage of virtue, Rue, (otherwise called Herbgrace) Elder-leaves, red Bramble leaves, and Wormwood, of each of them a good handful, stamp them all together, and then strain them thorough a fine linen cloth: & put to the juice a quart of perfect good white Wine, and a good quantity of white wine Vinegar: mingle them all together, and put thereto a quarter of an ounce of white Ginger, beaten to small powder, use todrink this Medicine every morning fasting (for the space of nine days together) the quantity of a spoonful at a time, and this will (by God's help) preserve you 〈◊〉 the space of a whole year.  

The King's Medicine for this present year against the Plague of the soul, and the effect thereof.  
TAke the herb of Virtue, (the doing of good, Psal. 34. 14.) and the herb of Patience (otherwise called a waiting upon the Lord, Psal. 37. 7.) wherewith possess your souls, Luke 21. 19 In steed of Herbgrace, take another, called Christ's grace: and in the place of Elder-leaves, Elders Examples, following and imitating the Elders of Israel, 1 Chron. 21. prostrating yourselves before the Majesty of God. Let not two things be the ingredients of this Spiritual King's Medicine, which are in the corporal, the Bramble and the Wormwood. Leave out the proud Bramble, and his leaves, for he would exalt himself above the other trees, judges 9 15. Secondly leave out also the hitter wormwood of hate, anger and envy: and according to the counsel of God (the best Physician) Deut. 29. 18. Let there not be among you any root of bitterness and Wormwood. In steed of these two, take the humble Figgetree and his leaves, who would not exalt himself above others, judge's 9 11. Mingle herein the broad Figge-leaves of lowliness, humbling yourselves under the mighty hand of God, 1. Peter 5. 6. Covering your good works (as the Figtrée his sweet fruit) with the broad leaves of humility. Take of each of those a good quantity, and be abundant in good works, and in the Work of the Lord (as the Apostle speaketh) being filled with all fullness of God, Ephc. 3. 9 Strain these through the fine strainer of uprightness and integrity, walking uprightly, Psal. 15. Avoiding all hypocrisy, and laying aside all guile and dissimulation, 1 Pet. 2. 1. In steed of white Ginger, out thereunto the hot Ginger of love towards God & thy neighbour: let it be white and pure, loving without dissimulation, Rom. 12. 9 Further, hot and fervent. Above all things, having fervent love among you, I Pet. 4. 8. Break with the stamper of obedience and humility, the hardness of thy heart: Let it smite thee as david's did, make as it were a small powder of it through humility: & if to day thou hearest the voice of the Lord, ●arden not thy heart, Heb. 3. In steed of white Wine, put to the juice of these: The perfect white and pure Wine, that is, the blood of jesus Christ: and the sour Uinegar of his death and passion: For, only by the virtue of this, the Medicine must operate. Use to take in this Medicine every day fasting: sometime outwardly and corporally (when in public calamity it is appointed by the superior power, to reprove a present judgement) but always inwardly and Spiritually, losing the hands of wickedness, taking off the heavy burdens, letting the oppressed go free: covering the naked, dealing thy bread to the hungry, Esay 5. 8. Use this (I say) not for the space of nine days together, but the whole year, yea all the days of thy life. So continuing in the Lord, Phil. 4. 1. and being not weary of well doing, 2 Thes. 3. 13. And this will (by God's help) preserve you from the Plague of the soul, and the infection of the world. I say, not a whole year; but all thy life time, till against the future resurrection, both with body and soul, thou mayest live eternally.    

The King's bodily Me dicine after Infection.  
The second part.  
IF it fortune, that one be stricken with the Plague before he have taken the former Medicines: then take the things rehearsed and put thereto a spoonful of Bettony water, and as much Scabious water, and a pretty quantity of fine Treacle and temper them well together, and let the Patient use to drink it often, and it will expel the venom or poison forthwith. But if the Botch do happen to appear, then take a good quantity of Elder-leaves, red Bramble leaves, and Mustardseed: stamp them well together, and make a Plaster thereof: apply it to the sore, and it will draw forth all the venom and corruption.  

The second part of the Spiritual Medicine.  
IF it fortune, that thou art stricken with the Plague, before thou hast taken in the former King's Medicine of repentance, then take the things afore rehearsed: and lest in thy affliction thou wax impatient, put thereunto, not the Balm of Gilead, Jerem. 46. 11. But the Spiritual Treacle and Mithridate of the consideration of Gods will and Providence, Psal. 39 9 opening not thy Mouth because he doth it: and holding that, nothing can happen unto thee without his appointment. Further, that thou shouldest not distrust or despair of the remission of thy sins, of the health of thy soul, and of the goodness and power of God the Physician; In steed of Betony water, put thereunto a good quantity of that Aqua Benedicta, of that blessed water of God's mercy, praying with David, Take away, O Lord, the trespass of thy servant, 2. Sam. 24. 10. and wash me that I may be whiter than snow, Psal. 51. This will cool the heat of thy conscience, and comfort thy weary bones. Add as much of the water of life, joh. 4. 10. which is poured into our hearts by the holy Ghost, unto everlasting life. Fetch it by prayer, of Christ the Physician and Doctor of our souls: for he doth give it to quench our thirst, John 4. 14. Put hereunto thy Baptism water, representing the blood of Christ jesus: It is one of the three witnesses 1 john 5. Assuring thee of the remission of thy sins. Leave out Scabious water: I mean that Scabby-holy-water, with the Bulls and Indulgences of the Anti-christ: for it will make thee to get scabs and sores in thy soul, and be unto thee, not the water of Life, but the water of Death. Add also a good quantity of that comfortable Treacle of hope, with the consideration of the future glory, being sure that thy Redeemer liveth, and that thou shalt see him with thine eyes, job 19 25. Mingle and temper thus well together, this Patience, Faith, Confidence and Hope, and let the Patient that is infected with either of them both, use to drink this King's Medicine often: let all his life (in health or in sickness) be a continual repentance and Meditation of those things, & it will expel the venom of his sin, of impatience, distrustfulness, and immoderate fear. But if the filthy botch of impatience, distrustfulness, and immoderate fear do happen to appear: then in steed of Elder-leaves, take a good quantity of Elders examples: the Faith of Abraham, Patience of job, the hope of David, and take (my brethren) the Prophets for an example of patience in suffering adversity, Sam. 5. 10. Further, take also the Mustardseed of God's word, Math. 13. 31. with the excellent commandments, admonitions, promises, and comforts contained therein: mingle these together, consider upon them, make a Plaster of them, apply it to thy sore, it will draw forth the venom and corruption of impatience, distrustfulness, and immoderate fear. The Mustard seed, as Pliny doth witness, is both purgativum, & Curativum, it purgeth the body of ill humours, and cureth the venomous biting of a Serpent: Even so the Spiritual Mustard seed of the Word, purgeth and avoideth the evil humours of the soul, and healeth the venomous biting of that old Serpent the Devil.    

Sundry Medicines for the Plague.  
Those that fear the Plague, and are not Infected, let them take of this drink hereafter following, which is twice in every week half a spoonful at a time: it hath been observed, that never any one died of the Sickness, that did take it in time.  
TAke three Pints of Malmesy, a handful of Rue, as much of Sage, boil these to a quart: then strain out the herbs, & then take an ounce of Long Pepper, Vinegar and Nutmegs, all beaten small in a Mortar, and put into the Wine, and boil it a little, then take it off, and put into it one ounce of Mithridate, two ounces of the best Treacle, and a quarter of a pint of Aqita-vitae, and put all into the Wine and so keep it.  

The use of it.  
If any be infected, take one spoonful of it as soon as the party doth presume himself infected, lukewarm, and so go to bed, and sweat two or three hours, and then dry the body well, and keep warm, and drink no cold drink, but warm drink and Caudles, and Posset drink with Marigold leaves, and flowers, when the party hath sweat & is well dried with warm clothes, and so long as the party is ill, take a spoonful morning and evening.   

These things ought duly to be looked unto, viz.  
IT is very convenient that you keep your houses, streets, yards, backsides, sinks, and kennels sweet and clean, from all standing puddles, Dunghills, and corrupt moistures, which engender stinking savours that may be noisome, or breed Infection: nor suffer no dogs to come running into your houses: neither keep any (except it be backward in same place of open air, for they are very dangerous, and not sufferable in time of sickness, by reason they run from place to place, and from one house to another, feeding upon the uncleanest things that are cast forth in the streets, and are a most apt cattle to take infection of any sickness, and then to bring it into the house.   

For airing your Rooms.  
Air your several Rooms with Charcole-fires, made in stone pans or Chasing-dishes, and not in Chimneys: set your Pans in the middle of the Rooms: air every Room once a week (at the least) and put into your fire a little quantity of Francincense, juniper, dried Rosemary, or of Bayleaves.   

To smell to.  
The root of Enula-Campana, steeped in Vinegar, and lapped in a Handkerchief, is a special thing to smell unto, if you come where the Sickness is.   

To taste or chew in the mouth.  
The root of Angelica, Setwall, Gencian, Valerian, or Cinnamon, is a special preseruasive against the Plague, being chewed in the mouth.   

To eat.  
Eat Sorrell steeped in Uinegar, in the morning fasting, with a little bread and butter: Sorrell sauce is also very wholesome against the same.   

To drink.  
Take Rue, Wormwood, and Scabius, sleeped in Ale a whole night, and drink it fasting every morning.   

Another.  
The root of Enula-Campana, beaten to powder, is a special remedy against the Plague, being drunk fasting.   

Another.  
If any feel themselves already infected, take Angelica water mixed with Mithridatum, drink it off, then go to bed and sweat thereon.   

Another special Preservative.  
Take an Egg, make a hole in the top of it, take out the white and the yolk, and fill the shell only with Saffron, roast the shell and Saffron together, in embers of Charcoles' until the shell war yellow: then beat shell and all together in a Mortar, with half a spoonful of Mustardseed: Now so soon as any suspicion is had of Infection dissolve the weight of a French Crown in ten spoonfuls of Posset Ale, drink it lukewarm, and sweat upon it in your naked bed.   

Drink for ordinary Diet.  
So near as you can, let the Patients ordinary drink be good small Ale of eight days old.   

For Vomiting.  
Vomiting is better than bleeding in this ●ase, and therefore provoke to Vomit so near ●s you can.   

To provoke Vomit.  
Take three leaves of Eastrabecca, stamp it, and drink it in Rhenish wine, Ale, or Posset Ale.   

For Purging.  
If the party be full of gross humours, let him blood immediately upon the right arm, on the Liver vein, or on the median vein, in the same arine: so as no sore appear the first day.   

A very wholesome water to be distilled.  
Steep Sorrel in Vinegar four and twenty hours, then take it out, and dry it with a linen cloth, than still it in a Limbeck, drink four spoonfuls with a little Sugar, than milk upon it till you sweat, if you may: if not, keep your bed, and sweat upon it. Use this before supper on any evening.  
If the Patient happen to be troubled with any Swellings, Botches, Carbuncles, let him sweat moderately now and then.   

Outward Medicines to ripen the Sore.  
Take the root of a white Lily, roast it in a good handful of Sorrell, stamp it, and apply it thereto very hot, let it lie four and twenty hours, and it will break the sore.   

Another.  
Take a small quantity of Leaven, handful of Mallows, a little quantity of Scabias', cut a white Onion into pieces with half a dozen heads of Garlic, boil these together in running water, make Poultus of it, and then lay it hot to the sore   

Another.  
Take a hot Loaf, new taken forth of the Oven, apply it to the sore, and it will doubtless break the same: but afterward bury the same Loaf deep enough in the ground for fear of any Infection: for if either Dog or any other thing do feed thereon, it will infect a great many.   

For Airing Apparel.  
Let the Apparel of the diseased person be well and often washed, be it linen or woollen: or let it be ayred in the Sun, or ●uer Pans of fire, or over a Chasingdish of Coals, and fume the same with Frankincense, juniper, or dried Rosemary.   

To preserve from the Infection of the Plague.  
Take Garlick, and péele it, and mince it ●mall, put it into new milk, and eat it ●asting.   

To take the Infection from a house Infected.  
Take large Onions, peel them, and lay three of four of them upon the ground: let them lie ten days, and those peeled Onions will gather all the Infection into them that is in one of those Rooms: but bury those Onions afterward deep in the ground.   

Against the new burning Fever.  
If the Patient be in great heat, as most commonly they will: take of fair running water a pretty quantity: put it on a Chasingdish of Coals, than put thereinto a good quantity of Sunders beaten to powder, and let it boil half an hour between two dishes: that done, put a couple of soft linen clothes into a dish, wet the clothes well in water and Sunders, and apply the same so hot as you can suffer it to your belly.   

To procure sleep to the sick Persons that are diseased, either with the Plague or the hot Fever.  
Take of woman's breast-milke a good quantity, put thereunto of the like quantity of Aquavitae, stir them well together, and moisten therewith the Temples of the Patient, and his Nostrils, lay it on with some feather, or some fine thin rag.  
Buttermilk in this contagious time is generally wholesome to be eaten, and is a good Preservative against either the Plague or the pestilent Fever.    

A Prayer for those that are not Visited.  
OH most mighty and merciful Lord God, in whose hands are health and sickness, who at thy pleasure canst kill and comfort: I do confess that my sins call louder for justice, than I can cry for mercy, and I deserve all Plagues and punishments in this life, and the Plague of Plagues in the life to come, damnation both of body and soul: but Oh Lord, been thou more merciful, than I can be sinful, and in jesus Christ be reconciled unto me, and purge me, and cleanse me from all my sins: and I beseech thee Oh heavenly Father, at whose Commandment the Angels passed over the houses of the Israelites, when it struck the Egyptians, (if it be thy blessed will) that this present Sickness may pass ●uer me and my Family. We do confess, Oh Lord, that I and others have deserved the Plagues of Egypt: but Oh Lord, howsoever keep us from the greatest Plague, which is hardness of heart: and if it be thy pleasure, withhold thy heavy hand from us: Do not correct us in thine anger, nor yet chastise us in thy heavy displeasure, but in thy mercy release us, and if it be good unto thee, that I and others should taste of this bitter Cup, strengthen our Faith, increase our Hope, augment our Patience, that so was may rest in thy peace, rise in thy power, and remain in thy glory, and that for Christ jesus sake in whose name we further call upon thee, Our Father which art in Heaven, etc.   

A Prayer for those that are Visited.  
OH Lord God, thou best Physician, both of our souls & bodies, who canst bring to the Grave, & pull back again whom thou ●easest, which wert moved at the Prayers of Moses for others: of Ezekiah for himself: Oh Lord hear me for others, others for me, and all of us for thy Son: and look with the ●ye of mercy upon me whom it hath pleased ●●ée at this time to visit with the Plague and Sickness. O Lord, I am held in thy fetters: Oh thou which hast bound me, lose me, and if it tend unto thy glory and my good, restore my health unto me. Oh Lord, I have ●éene an unprofitable servant all my life time: Oh then let me not then be bereft of the ●●fe of nature, when I begin the life of grace: ●ut if thou hast disposed of me otherwise, increase my Patience with my pains: show ●●y strength in sustaining my weakness: and be my strong fortress in this hour of my trial: give me grace to apprehend, and apply all the merits and mercies of Christ unto my soul: and oh Lord, let thy Comforter oppose the Tempter, in such a measure, that he may not prevail against me, but as thou makest me like Lazarus, full of sores, so also let thy Angels carry me into Abraham's bosom Oh Lord, I entreat, let me obtain even for his sake, for whom thou hast promised and bound thyself, to hear and help the afflicted, even thy Son, and my Saviour, Christ jesus: To whom with thee and thy blessed Spirit, be all praise, etc.  
FINIS.