The Governance and preservation of them that fear the Plague.  
Set forth by john Vandernote, Physician and Surgeon, admitted by the King his highness. Now newly set forth at the request of William Barnard, of London Draper. 1569.  
IMPRINTED at London, by William How, for Abraham veal, in Paul's churchyard at the sign of the Lamb.   

The preface.  
TO THE honour of Almighty GOD, and profit of all Christian people, and to maintain health in the hole bodies, and to remedy them that are corrupt and infect with the infections of the Pestilence, I john Vandernote, Physician and Surgeon admitted by the King his highness: and sworn unto my Lord of Suffolk his grace, now abiding at the late grey Friars in London do think it meet to wright certain things concerning the pestilence, aswell drawn out of divers authentic doctors and experimenters, as of mine own experience being conversant and a minister (under God) in the said infection, in Rome, Italy, Lomberdy, Napels, Poelles, and jowe countries, by the space of many years.  
And because gentle Reader that the great and long sermons and prolixity of sentences are often occasion of tediousness and small fruitfulness to the Reader, because so many circumstances are comprised in one matter wherefore gentle reader, I thought it meet and expedient, briefly without any ambiguity to wright chief the most substance and effect of this pestiferous disease, and to declare it shortly, to th'intent it may be borne by heart away of them that shall have need of it, as I pray God no person after this have, as grant us the holy trinity.   

The contents of this book are these.  
¶ The first. 
Of the prognostication of the Pestilence.  The second. 
Of the causes whereof the plague doth engender and come.  The third. 
Of the remedies against the Pestilence.  The fourth. 
Of the comforting and strengthening of the heart and other the spiritual parts.  The fift. 
Of the Fleobothomie or letting of blood in the time of Pestilence.  The sixth. 
Of meats, drinks, & sauces to be used in the time of the Pestilence.    


¶ The tokens and Signs which do Pronostyque the Plague or Pestilence to come are seven.  
i. The first token is, when the day in summer often doth change: as in the morning inclining to rain, after to darkness and after to wind, specially winds coming fourth of the south.  
ij. The second when the days in summer are dark, and like often to rain and do not rain.  
iij. The third, when upon the ground are many Flies fliing near the ground, that is a token that the air is corrupt.  
iiij. The fourth, when the stars are like oft to fall or slip, this is a token that the air is inflamed, and full of venomous vapours.  
v. The fift, when there doth appear in the air a Comet or a sliding Star, as Aristotle saith in Mytauris. It signifieth great war, shedding of blood, and the death of a great multitude of people, the destruction of many Towns, drowning of ships thorough great tempests of the Sea. And the darkness of the Sun, signifieth changing of Regions. And that the common people shall have dearth and Pestilence.  
vi. The sixth figure is, when it doth often lighten and thunder, and specially when it cometh out of the South.  
seven. The seventh, when many winds blow or come forth of the South, for they corrupt the air.  
When these for said signs do appear, than it is to be feared of a great Plague, or Pestilence for to come, without the great mercy of almighty God do it withstand.   

¶ The cause of the Pestilence.  
¶ The cause of Pestilence are three manners.  
i. Sometimes it doth engender thorough the vapours and corruptions upon the earth.  
two. Sometimes it doth engender thorough the vapours and corruption of the Sky and Elements, or bodies above.  
iii. Sometimes it doth engender throw the mixting of them both.  
i. The plague is sometime engendered, thorough the vapours and corruptions coming of the earth, as we do daily see out of Prives, Dikes, filthy Cannels, standing muddy waters, being near the place where the people doth rest and sleep a nights, & thorough this the air becometh infect in her substance and quality, and that only in some places. And this particular corruption cometh every day. And thorough the same cometh often Pestilent Fevers, which often do deceive the Physician, which do not take them for to be the fever pestilentical. The Plague or Pestilence cometh likewise sometimes thorough the stink of dead bodies, aswell of mankind as of beasts. Also it cometh thorough standing Mud, stinking Pools and waters, and this doth corrupt the air, and this pestilence is sometimes universal, and sometimes particular.  
ij. secondarily, the Plague is sometime engendered thorough the vapours and corruptions of the Skies and Elements or Bodies above, and that thorough the virtues of the Stars and Bodies above, and thorough the same the spiritual living spirits and bodies beneath are infect. And of the same Avicen saith in his fourth book saying: that the bodies are often inflamed & corrupt thorough the infections of the bodies above, for the corrupt air doth infect the spirits beneath, and so the living spirits in mankind is often infect.  
iij. Thirdly, the Plague doth engender thorough the mixing of them both: that is when thorough the impression or influence of the bodies above, the air being corrupt, and thorough the putrefaction of carrion lying upon the earth and stinking air, a sickness is engendered in mankind. And the same sickness is often called Febris Pestilenci alis and sometimes & often an apostemation, for sometimes the air that we do draw in our bodies is corrupt and venomous. And so infecteth the heart, where thorough it is aggravate strongly, in so much that she doth eat & gnaw filthy infection: & then the urine & the digestion is then often like for to be good, notwithstanding that the patient is still declining toward death. And thorough the same many physicians are often deceived. And therefore it is needful that every body provide himself of a good and expert Physician: not only seen in learning, but also well and better in practise, concerning the premises.  

A question.  
Wherefore doth the one die and the other not, being both infect? likewise more in one place then an other.   

Answer  
¶ This may be thorough the means of two causes.  
i first thorough it, that is working.  
two. secondarily thorough it that is suffering.  
i first thorough it that is working, that when the heavenly influences regard more the one person then the other, and the one place more than the other.  
ij. secondarily, thorough it that is suffering, that is as when the one body is more inclined and disposed to the Plague than the other is.   

Nota.  
These bodies are most inclined or disposed to the Plague or Pestilence. first all those that are hot or warm, and those that have great sweating issues: and bodies that are corrupt. All those that hath their sweeting issues stopped. And therefore are the bodies fore-inclined unto the plague, wherein be come great resolutions: like as in them that are great meddlers in Lechery, and them that serve in hot houses: and all they that do lightly sweat thorough small labour or travail, or wax hot, and all they that lightly wax angry, hot and fumous, all such are inclined unto the plague.   

another question.  
Whether such infection of the Pestilence be contagious or infective or not?   

Answer.  
Such infection is infective and courageous. For through the bodies of the infect persons, cometh such venomous vapours and humours that do not only corrupt the other hole bodies: but also the air where thorough cometh infection. And therefore ought every person to eschew the infect persons. And moreover when the plague raineth, you shall not stand among many people for fear if any of them should be infect unknown. And therefore standeth the wise physicians (which do viset such in the Plague time) a far of from the pacientes, beholding with their face the window or door. Also they shall do likewise, that do serve them.   

Nota.  
It is very good for the patient that he do often change his chamber, and that his windows stand and open toward the east, and north east, but the windows which open toward the south, shall ever be closed or locked, for the south wind hath in him two causes of corruption.  
i first he debiliteth and weakeneth nature, as well of whole people as of sick.  
two. secondarily, like as it is written in tertio Aphrorismorum, the southwind aggravate the hearing, hurteth the heart, for he openeth the sweeting issues of mankind and so entereth into the heart. And therefore every hole person shall in the time of pestilence, when the south wind doth blow, tarry in the house the hole day. And he needs must go forth, yet shall he tarry within so long till the sun be high and long risen or up.    

¶ The remedies against the Pestilence.  
Here shallbe said how every body shall preserve & keep him from the infection of the plague or Pestilence.  
i. And first for the same every christian creature shallbe advertised by the word of jeremy the prophet, which commandeth that every creature shall eschew the evil and follow the good ways, and that he repentantly with a meek heart shall confess him of his offences and this is the most surest medicine in the plague time.  
two. The second, that every person fly the places infect if it be possible. And they that can not avoid the place, let them abstain of all things causing putrefaction, asmuch as is possible, like as is overmuch copulation between man & woman, and the south wind which naturally is infective. And therefore shall every person keep the windows locked in the morning till eight of the clock standing against the south.  
Also they shall avoid all manner of stinking savours, as of stables, streets, kanels wells, standing mud waters, and specially of all manner of foul stinking carrion, or dead bodies. And most of all of all manner of old stinking Vrines and waters, for in some houses, they do keep it two or three days long, and in some houses are some kanels running under or above the ground: where great stink engendereth & remaineth, and all this doth engender great putrefaction. And that is the cause that more people be infected & diseased more in those places where such are, then in other places where none such is. Likewise do the people more die and be infect where places are where they do sell cabushe & wurtes, for that engendereth a dangerous humour which doth infect mankind, when they be rotten or perished. And as thorough odours aromatic or good savours are the hearts and other the spiritual parts recreated, renewed, comforted and strengthened: Likewise thorough evil foul savours, are they debelitated and infected.  
Therefore every person shall so use their houses, that no such air or savour come in being corrupt as is aforesaid, for the corrupt air is moist, and engendereth thorough his own nature a putrefaction in the house and in the places where they do sleep. And therefore shall you air and cleanse the houses and chambers with light flames of fire, being made with Oaken wood. Also you shall after that perfume the place with these herbs following, as Bays, juniper buries, Organum, wormwood, Ysope, Rue, and Moogworte. Lignum Aloes perfumed is best of all, were it not so costly or dear. All these airs and perfumes comfort and strengthen the inward part of the body, when the air entereth thorough the mouth or nostrils.  
You shall also cleanse and abstain of all manner of fulsumnesse or repletion of humours. For the bodies that are replete with humours are soon infected and inflamed. For Avicen saith in quarto canon. That people which will be often filled with meat and drink do shorten their life. Also you shall avoid much bathinge or sweeting in baumes or hot houses. Also for to be conversant among great congregation of people to the intent other being corrupt and infect: do not corrupt and infect you, you being clean. And when you come not among the congregation or company of people, then shall you use this following.  
i first in the morning, when you do rise, you shall eat a quantity of hearbe-grace or rue, well washed with a little salt and one or two cornels of nuts well cleansed. And when you can get none of this, then shall you take a crumb of bread depped in good vinegar and eat next your heart, and specially when the air is dark, misty and not clear. And it is not good in the plague time for to walk in the towns or villages, but rather to tarry at home with in the house, then to go forth.  
two. secondarily, you shall spread or sprinkle the house (and specially in summer) with vinegar, with roses, with vine leaves. And it is good that you do often wash your hands in water and vinegar, and then often to smell the hands when they be dried. Also all sour and sharp savours are then wholesome for to be smelled on, as well in winter as in summer. And it was for bodden me to show it unto the commons in Rome, where I was constrained for to go from house to house I being a student and prentes there, where I went daily to minister and dress the people, and took but only a crumb of bread, or a piece of a sponge being depped in strong vyneagre and the same held I before my mouth & nose for to smell. For all sour savours stop the flux of humours, and do not suffer the venemosite or corruption to enter the body. And this doing I was (thorough the help of God) & the premises, saved from the said infection, at which my companions did marvel.  
All these premises have I myself experimented and found true, in divers regions and countries, as in Rome, Italy, lombardy, Naples, Poyelles, Calabers, Almanye, Flaunders, and likewise in England this xvij years. I being sworn unto the noble late French Queens grace my Lady Mary, and my Lord of Suffolk his grace.   

¶ Here followeth of the comfoting and strengthening of the heart, and the other spiritual and special members of the body.  
THe comforters of the heart are Safferon, Camphir, and Plantain with other herbs, which do cleanse the living spirits within, and comfort. And these are good for the common people, which are lightly infected one of an other. And therefore shall every one beware that they do not receive the breath coming out of the mouth or nostrils of an other, Also the sight is darkened thorough the infect air, when they do not bear such like herbs in their hands.  
It is very good that you do wash your face, mouth, eyes, & hands with rose-water mixed with vyneagre. And when you have none of the premisses, & must needs go among the people, then take & use good vinegar, & then boldly go among the people. Also solubelnesse of the womb is a great help in this case. And when you can not have by the way of nature solubelnesse, then provoke him with suppositories: or after the counsel of learned and expert Physicians. And likewise shall you find at the apothecaries Pillule Pestilenci ales, which are very good. And you shall always keep your houses good fire, for that letteth the impression of the sky, & clarifieth the air,  
Item fine treacle is best for the same, as well for them that are in health as for them that are infect, of this shall you take twice a day in clear wine, or with rose-water, or with clear ale or bear. And every time that you take treacle, you shall not exceed the quantity of a common pease at ones, and of the water ale or bear, the quantity of two spoonfuls. The treacle shallbe first dissolved in a cup with the wine, water, ale or bear, and then shall you not eat after by the space of four or five hours, to the intent the treacle may have her due operation within the body.  
Then you shall eat good meats & drink good drinks, as good clear Wine, Ale or Bear, and that shallbe soberly, for superfluity causeth corruption and putrefaction of the humours. Also you shall abstain from all manner of thing engendering heat, as Pepper, Garlic. And yet notwithstanding that Pepper doth purge the phlegm of the brains, and the other membres of viscose humours, yet it doth to much inflame and cause heat. And to much heat gendereth putrefaction. And therefore is the bitterness better than the heat, smelling or savouring of the Pepper, and Garlic purgeth the Flegmata and evil humours, and provoketh appetite to eat, and suffer not the dry air to enter into the body. Notwithstanding, because the Garlic perturbeth the eyes and the head with heat, to them that do often eat or use it, therefore it shall be in this time abhorred and abstained.  

¶ The Plague is oftentimes augmented and increased thorough hot causes.  
Such meats as are soonest digested are best, the sooner the better, & in the morning and at none shall they eat sodden meats, and at nights roasted. All manner of pape meats and caudles shall be abstained and eschewed, except they be acetouse, or somewhat sour. For sour or sharp things are better in this season of pestilence, than any other medicines. Also you shall abstain of all manner of fruits being not sharp, nor having no sourness in them, except Cherries, Pomegranates, Oranges and few pears or apples dressed in stead of a medicine, for all manner of fruits doth engender putrefaction.  
Spices being apt & good in this time, are ginger, Cinnamon, common, Macis, Saffron, and of the same are made good preservatives for the rich people. And the poor shall occupy Rue, Salge, Nuts, Parsley, and this shall they mix with salt and vinegar. And the mean people of substance, shall take comen and Saffron & mix them with vyneagre. This is marvelous good for to be taken inward, for it defendeth inward the putrefaction.  
Mirth of heart is a great comfort and help of health in the body. And therefore fear of death is a dangerous case in this time, but only to be merry, and set the hole hope and confidence upon God, and to commend him to his godly pleasure.    

¶ Here followeth of the blood letting in the Plague tyme.  
One's in a month you must be let blood, when age, strength, or any other cause doth not let, like pilgrims, sick and extenuated people, and such as are very solubel, or lax. And the Fleobothomis should be done in the left or right arm, in the Liver vain, Baselica, in the arm before meat. And when the liver vain is stricken then shall you be merry, & drink good drink, as good Wine, Bear or Ale, temperately, and that same day shall you not sleep, and specially when the Liver vain is let blood.  
Item, when any doth feel himself infect or any curnell or Apostumations appear or prick, then shall he wholly abstain from sleep. But go walking abroad, for the sleep leadeth the venomous hotness to the heart: and to the other special members, in so much that no Herbs can resolve the same, and bring it to the first estate, which would not be so, if the body were walking and stirring.  

A question.  
What shall a man do, that hath his natural sleep after he be infect?   

Answer.  
In the time when plague doth reign when you will sleep after your meat, you shall prolong it with walking in the Field or Gardens, and then sleep an hour after meat. And therefore Avicen saith: when you be disposed for to sleep, it shall be wholesome then after the sleep, to drink a good draft of drink. For that person that is sleeping draweth unto him many humours, and such evil humours are letted thorough a good draft of drink.   

A question.  
How shall you know whether any be infect or no?   

Answer.  
He that is infect doth eat that day but little, for he is full of evil humours. And when he doth eat he doth covet sleep and doth feel great hotness with cold and hath a great pain in the forparte of the head & thus shall he bring away by walking and going abroad. And that person that is infect doth holy abhor walking, or to ride a horseback, or otherways, thorough slothfulness and heaviness.  
Every person that is infect, doth require, desire, and covet sleep every hour for that inward venom perturbeth the living spirits, in such wise that they ever require rest. And of the same signs may every person know whether they be infected or not. And when any doth not believe this, let him tarry half a day after, and then shall he feel an impostome in his arm holes, in his gruinde or behind his ears. And the best remedy is when they do feel any of these in the time of Pestilence, not for to sleep. For in the sleep do the living spirits rest, as is aforesaid, and then all the infections spreadeth thorough the whole members of the body. All these premises have I proved before.  
When any man or person feeleth himself infect that same day shall he immediately after, be let blood plenteously till swoninge, so soon as it be possible, or else till he wax faint, for a small voiding of blood doth stir and move the blood. And when the person will open but one vain, and not many, so shall he let her blood so long as she will, for a small voiding doth stir the venomous infection, as is aforesaid.  
Item every person that is let blood: infect or whole person, shall beware that he do not sleep that day till midnight. And the said letting of blood shall ever be done, in the same side where the apostemation doth appear. And when the apostemation doth appear under the right arm then shall they be let blood in the same arm, in the mediane. And when the apostemation doth appear under the left arm, then shall the letting of blood be in the said left arm, in the median, or liver vain, upon the hand next the ear finger.  
And when the apostemation doth appear by the grynd or privy members, then shall they be let blood in the same side under the ankle or nearer the heel. And when then the letting of blood shallbe done in the head vain, near the thumb, in the same side where the Apostemation appeareth, or in the Mediane of the same arm, or else by the ear finger. And when the Apostemation doth appear by the ears, than the letting of blood shallbe done in the head vain in the same side, or else in the vain between the thumb and the next finger, to the intent that the venomous infection do not desturbe the brains, or in the vain by the ear finger, or else in the vain, Basilica named.  
And when the Apostemation doth appear in the shoulders, then shall the blood be taken forth, with Boxing and Sacrification, howbeit afore shall the Mediane be opened: or the Heart vain. And when the Apostemation doth appear upon the back then the letting of blood shallbe by the great Toe, called Sugar pedican magnam, all the foresaid Fleobothomyes' or letting of blood shallbe done before the infect person hath slept, or before the appearing in the pricking of the apostumations.  
When any doth feel the Apostemation after that they have slept, then shall the Fleobothomies be in the contrary side, in the side where the Apostemation doth not appear, like as here, if the Apostemation doth appear after the sleapinge in the right arm, than the letting of blood shallbe in the left arm, in the Liver vain, or Mediane, or else in the hand in the vain called Basilica.  
And when the Apostemation doth appear under the left arm, then shall the letting of blood be in the right arm, like as is said of the left arm. And likewise shall you do of all other apostumations; in what places they do appear, all times in the contrary side, if it do appear after sleep.  
When the patient is very faint & weak which is let blood, than he may sleep somewhat, or else half a day, but every space of a half day must the patient be stirring, softly riding or walking. And when the apostemation doth wax big and great, that is a good sign, the nature doth expel the venemosite outward, and maketh the body whole.  
And to the intent the Apostemation may be the sooner ripened, matured and opened you shall make this medicine: Stamp the leaves of Elder, and do to it powder of Mustered seed, and make of this a plaster, and lay it upon the apostemation. Some Surgeons do mix unto this treacle, which I do not like, for the treacle will repercusse inward again the said rising and venemosite, howbeit I do counsel that they shall drink it, to the intent the venemosite may be driven outward.  
another remedy, take Barbam iovis or Houseleke, or Senegren, scerpillum plantain & a little Rye flower, and rub all these together till you perceive water coming forth, then mix that water with woman's milk, & give it him to drink that hath the apostemation, but this must he done before they have slept, in an empty stomach or fasting, for than it doth work better in the body.  
As soon as any doth perceive the kernels or apostumations, they shall take hazel nuts, Figs and Rue, and stamp them together and eat it, or lay it upon it.  
And every person that doth govern him after the premises, shall well enough avoid the dangers of the Plague or Pestilence with the help and aid of God, without whom nothing can be.    

¶ Here followeth a governance or preservation for all them that fear the Plague, in using themselves in meats and drinks.  
first, the substance of their bread shallbe white, one or two days old, well leavened, and of pure wheat, well bolted from the Bran. In this bread shallbe baken the Aniseed & salt, and shallbe well baken.  
Your drink shallbe white Wine, clear shining, of good savour, not to red nor to hot, nor to fumous, to the intent that the quick spirits and the humours wax not to hot, the wine likewise shall not be to small. And if it be possible, drink old Wine, for that is best, for he cleanseth and drieth best. And is not so waterish as the new wine is, and this wine shallbe mixed with sothen water, and that more in summer then in winter.  
Item it is good that you shall take and drink a draft of Malmsey, or of other strong Wine, before you go into the air for by the mean of this, many evil airs & vapours be dried up, the spirits be quickened and comforted.  
Item your sothen water, shallbe running water, or else that cometh from the rocks or sandy ground, or Well water, and the savour of this water shallbe sweet.  

¶ The governance of savours and sauces.  
ALl manner of Sauces in this time shallbe made with leman's, Orynges, with sour garnate apples, mixed with this powder: Take the best Cinnamon that can be had, ginger, Cloves, of each half a dagma, Be white and red of each a dragma Coral white and red of each a dragma, Cardamomi two dragmas, Saffron half a dragma, and as much fine Sugar, as of all the first, of all this shall you make a subtel powder, and of this powder shall you use in your meats, and more in Summer then in Winter.  
And when there is no letting or impediment, that do hinder, as coldness of the stomach, then shall you use Orynges, Pomegranates, and Sitrins. And the seeds of the aforesaid have a special property in the premises. And therefore in the Pestilent time shall you often occupy the powder of these seeds with Sugar like a dredge, or else seeth the seeds with flesh or other meat or supping, when the stomach is not hindered by the same, thorough coldness.   

Of Vyneager.  
When there is no impediment, then shall you use good vyneager, and with that season your meat. And this vyneager shall be best, when it is made of good white wine or Malmsey. Save those that have impediment in the Breast, or Lungs, or Throat or Cough, or short wind, and those that have cold stomachs, shall not so much occupy of the vineager, but moderately.   

Of Pottage in this time.  
The Pottage which shallbe eaten in this time shallbe made with wheat flower, or rise, or of lenttes. Howbeit, the first water shallbe cast away. Or else you shall eat aleberies made with bear & bread or with red Cicers with the shells. The root of Fenel of Smallach are good in pottage, & eaten, and all manner of meat made with eggs, Save potaige made with dough or other common potaiges are not good, save potaige of Spiniage, of Percele, of Burrage, harttestonge, are very good. And all manner of herbs that have a sundry virtue, as Rue, Scabiousse, Isop, Marubin, & such like.   

¶ Of Fruits and other meats that shallbe eaten in the pestilent tyme.  
Capers made with vinegar, are good to eat at the beginning of the meal. But in winter shall you mixed to it some of the spices beforesaid. A small quantity of Onions with vinegar eaten likewise is very good, for the Onion doth engender certain humores which do corrode the poison, & consume. Avicen saith in secundo canon that all other scharp meats save Onions in the pestilent time, shallbe abhorred, and forborn. The yolk of eggs potched in fair water, are very good.  
You shall abstain from all manner of fish thorough their moistness, and specially those that have great scales. You may sometime use small fishes of rivers, or small sea fishes, how be it you must scrape of the scales and cast forth their intraelles, and they shallbe well washed, and rubbed with anisseed and vinegar. And then shall they be roasted and not fried in butter or oil, and and after that they shallbe eaten with the foresaid spices, and in the winter shallbe put more spices to it then in summer. And when you have eaten of this fish, then shall you drink thereupon good strong wine, and like wise you shall eat with it almonds or hazel nuts.  
You shall abstine of all manner of milk for thorough her cometh soon corruption.  
After the meat or drink you may eat these, for he comforteth the digestive strength. All manner of fruits are evil that time & in the stead of fruit: it is good to to take confits of Coriander Avicen saith in secundo canon, that this is specially good and profitable.  
In the beginning of the meal, that is to wit dinner or supper, it is good to eat iii leaves of Rue two dry figs & one nut together for this is a special medicine for the plague, and against all poison. And therefore all they that fear poison or pestilence let them use it.   

Of the superfluity of meats and drinks.  
EVery one shallbe beware of to much meat or drink in the time of Plague, but shall be sober in meat or drink, more than you be used unto in other times, for many superfluities are engendered thorough much eating and drinking.  
Many and sundry meats in one meal is not good, every one shallbe content with one dish. And if you be where many dishes are, yet feed upon one which is light of digestion, you shall keep yourself solubel, when nature will not, with glisters Suppositories, or Pylles, which are said in this present book. Also you shall hold open the veins of urine with drinks or opening medicines.  
Also you shall fastinig rub your skin to open the sweat holes in the skin, or with clawing.  
Also you shall purge your brains thorough the nostrils and mouth.  
Also you shall purge your body of all superfluity, as far as possible shallbe.   

Of the Fleobothomy.  
When the blood is superfluous in the body, then shall you be let blood, to the intent it be to the better complexion, and specially you shallbe let blood in the pestilent time once in a month, and that but little, and that is good and healthful. And when the other humours of the body are superfluous, like as is Melancholy adust of the colour, which is mixed with the blood. So shall you be diligent in driing, in evacuation or purging the same, and all such pacientes shall beware of such things as do engender the same.   

¶ The first medicine.  
THe first shallbe a certain of Pills written by Avicen, in the fourth Canon de preseruatione a Pestilentia, and are made thus. Take Aloe Epitacum two drams, of Myrrh and Saffron, of each a dragma, and make of this foresaid Pills with the juice of Mints.  
Take of these pills every morning fasting, for they do resolve and dry up the evil humours, and letteth the putrefying.  
Item when any that doth use those pylles, is inclined or apt to take the sickness, in summer shall take and put to the said confection of pylles, sealed clay, called terra sigillata one dragma, and those Pills shallbe made with rose-water.  
In other seasons the Pills shallbe made as is aforesaid.   

The second medicine.  
Shall be good and fine treacle, at the least ten years old, of this shallbe taken one dragma every week in summer with Rose water, and in Winter with good strong Wine, or with the juice of Roses, or with water of Citrie. And this shallbe done two hours before meat fasting in an empty stomach.   

¶ The third medicine.  
Shallbe Mythridatum a confection so named and of this shall you take more in quantity then of the treacle, & every week shall you take of it a dragma, howbeit you must fast after it five hours, and it must be taken in an empty stomach, this Mithridatum or confection so called, must at the least be a year old.   

¶ The fourth medicine.  
Shallbe Coriander confittes, and of this shallbe taken every morning a small spoonful fasting, and thereupon, or after immediately shallbe drunken the third part of a Goblet of good wine. And also when any great heat is or great warm wether, then shall they take Sugar of Roses.   

¶ The fift medicine.  
Shallbe against the worms, wherefore all they that are inclined toward the breeding of worms, shall seeth wormwood in good Wine, till half be sothen in.   

¶ The sixth medicine.  
Shallbe a precious syroupe, allowed and made by divers authors and experimenters in the said sicknesses, & I myself have found this true, for she doth cleanse the body of all superfluity, and drieth likewise the body, comforting the heart, the brains and liver, and all other interior parts of the body, howbeit of this syrup shallbe taken but an ounce and an half at ones.  
And this is the syrup, and is made thus Recipe cortici citri, Radicum Caparis, Berbaris, Sandalorum utriusque Spodij of each two dragmus, Gariofilate bugloss, Melisse, Boraginis, chicory, of each one ounce Acetose, Epatice, Marubij, of each half an ounce, Lactucesyluestris two dragmus, seminum Communim, Violarum, of each i ounce, Thimi epithimi, Seine Polipodij, of each a dragma, Succi Absinthij, succi Fumiterre, succi Rebulorun, of each one ounce Diagredij, two dragmas, Succare albe ii pound. Of this shall you make a Siroppe, and this shall you cleanse with the juice Citoniorum or Quinshes till it be enough, and this shall you occupy.   

¶ The using of these foresaid six medicines.  
The first day early in the morning shall you take of the Syrup, & after sleep upon it one hour or twain.  
The second day shall you take a dragma of the treacle.  
The third day shall you take a spoonful of Corianders confite.  
The fourth day, shall you take the decoction against worms.  
The fift day shall you take a dragma of the Pylles.  
The sixth day shall you rest.  
The seventh day shall you take any of these.  
And it is very good, for to take ones in a week one dragma of these Pills.  
When soever you do take any of these Pills, that day you shall take none other medicine.   

¶ Of sleaping and watching.  
Beware of to much sleep and specially in the day, also you shall not sleep immediately after you have taken your meat before the meat be digested, or before the first digestion is done or passed. It is very evil to sleep upon your back. In the first sleep lie upon the right side, and there after two hours upon the left side. And then again the whole night upon the right side Also you shall lie high with your head, and be well covered with clothes. It is good that you keep you waking two or three hours after your meat before you sleep.   

¶ Of resting, or waking, or moving.  
When the pestilence strongly reigneth, then must you beware of great travail and labour, and specially in the open air. And when you will labour, so shall you do it fasting and in a close air. And in time of Pestilence shall you keep you temperate in labour, for to much quietness, and to much labour is nought.   

¶ Of the accidents.  
Every man shallbe beware of anger, of sorrowfulness, of dredefulnesse, and of such like, but you shallbe merry, glad, & be among mynstrels haps, Lutes, and other melodies, read fond and merry stories and songs.   

A medicine of King Henry for the Plague or Pestilence.  
TAke Marigolds, Sorrel, and Burnet, of every of them a handful, Rew and Fetherfew of every of them an other half handful, and of Dragons a quantity of the crop or of the root, and wash them in running water all clean, and seeth all them softly in a pot, with a pottle of running water, till it come to a quart of licker, and then set it back till it be cold, and then strain it in a fair linen cloth, and then drink it, if you cannot drink it for bitterness, put thereto Sugar Candy. And if this drink be taken before the marks of God be upon them, he shallbe whole by the grace of God.  
FJNIS.