A TREATISE OF THE PLAGUE, CONTAINING The Causes, Signs, Symptoms, Prognostics, and Cure thereof.  
Together with sundry other remarkable passages (for the prevention of, and preservation from the Pestilence) never yet published by any man.  
Collected out of the Works of the no less learned than experimented and renowned Chirurgeon  
AMBROSE PAREY.  PSAL. 91. 5, 6. 
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night,— nor for the Pestilence that walketh in darkness.  
LONDON, Printed by R. Y. and R. C. and are sold by Mich. Spark, in the green Arbour Court in little Old Bailey, at the blue Bible. 1630.   

To the Reader.  
REader; for a public good, I have adventured to undergo a public censure, in those times totally addicted to criticism; induced thereto by thinking it better to help with those small forces I have in this dangerusi nvasion, than through fear of censures to be silent; chiefly seeing those, who at other times show themselves prime leaders and soldiers to expel common and usual assailants, become the first and chief fugitives in these cases of extremity. And having found one whose knowledge and experience exceeds the greatest part of our common practitioners, I make bold here to present him to thy eye and use: he speaks plainly and honestly, and handles not nice controversies to small purpose, nor tires with tedious and impertinent discourses; wherefore if thou be destitute of counsel, it shall not repent thee to use his: In which if thou find comfort, give thanks to him to whom only all praise is due, who of his mercy divert, or if not, assist us in all times of his visitations▪ farewell.   

A Treatise of the Plague.  

CHAP. I.  
The description of the Plague.  
THe Plague is a cruel and contagious Disease, which everywhere, like a common Disease, invading Man and Beast, kills very many; being attended, and as it were associated with a continual Fever, Botches, Carbunkles, Spots, Nauseousness, Vomitings, and other such malign accidents. This Disease is not so pernicious or hurtful, by any Elementary quality, as from a certain poisonous and venenate malignity, the force whereof exceeds the condition of common putrefaction. Yet I will not deny, but that it is more hurtful in certain Bodies, Times, and Regions, as also many other Diseases, of which Hypocrates makes mention. But from hence we can only collect, that the force and malignity of the Plague may be increased, or diminished according to the condition of the Elementary qualities concurring with it, but not the whole nature and essence thereof to depend thereon.  
This pestiferous Poison principally assails the Vital Spirit, the Storehouse and original whereof is the Heart, so that if the Vital Spirit prove stronger, it drives it far from the Heart; but if weaker, it being overcome and weakened by the hostile assault, flies back into the Fortress of the Heart, by the like contagion infecting the Heart, and so the whole Body, being spread into it by the passages of the Arteries.  
Hence it is, pestilent Fevers are sometimes simple and solitary, otherwhiles associated with a troop of other affects, as Botches, Carbunkles, Blains, and Spots, of one or more colours.  
It is probable such affects have their original from the expulfive Faculty, whether strong or weak, provoked by the malignity of the raging matter: Yet assuredly diverse symptoms and changes arise according to the constitution of the Body of the Patient, and condition of the humour in which the virulency of the Plague is chiefly inherent, and lastly in the nature of the efficient cause.  
I thought good by this description to express 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 certain in Nature, yet it is not altogether certain and manifest in men's minds, because it never happens after one sort: so that in so great variety it is very difficult to set down any thing general and certain.   

CHAP. II.  
Of the Divine causes of an extraordinary Plague.  
IT is a confirmed, constant, and received opinion in all Ages amongst Christians, that the Plague and other Diseases which violently assail the life of Man, are often sent by the just anger of God punishing our offences. The Prophet Amos hath long since taught it, saying, Shall there be affliction, shall there be evil in a City, and the Lord hath not done it? On which truly we ought always to meditate, and that for two causes: The first is, that we always bear this in mind, that we enjoy health, live, move, and have our beings from God, and descends from that Father of Light: and for this cause we are always bound to give him great and exceeding thanks. The other is, that knowing the calamities, by sending whereof the Divine anger proceeds to revenge, we may at length repend, and leaving the way of wickedness, walk in the paths of godliness. For thus we shall learn to see in God, ourselves, the Heaven and Earth, the true knowledge of the causes of the Plague, and by a certain Divine Philosophy to teach, God to be the beginning and cause of the second causes, which well without the first cause cannot go about, nor attempt, much less perform any thing. for from hence they borrow their force, order, and constancy of order; so that they serve as Instruments for God, who rules and governs us, and the whole World, to perform all his works, by that constant course of order, which he hath appointed unchangeable from the beginning. Wherefore all the cause of a Plague is not to be attributed to these near and inferior causes or beginnings, as the Epicures, and Lucianists commonly do, who attributing too much, yea all things to Nature, have left nothing to God's Providence. On the contrary, we ought to think and believe in all our thoughts, That even as God by his omnipotent Power hath created all things of nothing, so he by his eternal Wisdom preserves and governs the same, leads and inclines them as he please, yea verily at his pleasure changes their order, and the whole course of Nature.  
This cause of an extraordinary Plague as we confess and acknowledge, so here we will not prosecute it any further but think fit to leave it to Divines, because it exceeds the bounds of Nature in which I will now contain myself. Wherefore let us come to the natural causes of the Plague.   

CHAP. III.  
Of the Natural causes of the Plague, and chiefly of the Seminary of the Plague by the corruption of the Air.  
THE general and natural causes of the Plague are absolutely two, that is, the infection of corrupt Air, and a preparation and fitness 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 equal the malignity of Poison.  
The Air is corrupted, when the four seasons of the year have not their seasonableness, or degenerate from themselves, either by alteration, or by alienation: as if the constitution of the whole year be moist and rainy by reason of gross and black Clouds; if the Winter be gentle and warm without any Northerly wind, which is cold and dry, and by that means contrary to putrefaction; if the Spring which should be temperate, shall be faulty in any excess of distemper; if the Autumn shall be ominous by Fires in the Air, with Stars shooting, and as it were falling down, or terrible Comets, never seen without some disaster; if the Summer be hot, cloudy and moist, and without Winds, and the Clouds fly from the South into the North. These and such like unnatural constitutions of the seasons of the year, were never better, or more excellently handled by any, then by Hypocrates in his Book Epidemion. Therefore the Air from hence draws the Seeds of Corruption and the Pestilence, which at the length, the like excess of qualities being brought in, it sends into the humours of our Bodies, chiefly such as are thin and serous. Although the Pestilence doth not always necessarily arise from hence, but somewhiles some other kind of cruel and infectious Disease.  
But neither is the Air only corrupted by these superior causes, but also by putrid and filthy stinking vapours spread abroad through the Air encompassing us, from the Bodies or Carcases of things not buried, gapings or hollownesses of the Earth, or Sinkes and such like places being opened: For the Sea often overflowing the Land in some places, and leaving in the Mud, or hollownesses of the Earth (caused by Earthquakes) the huge Bodies of monstrous Fishes, which it hides in its Waters, hath given both the occasion and matter of a Plague. For thus in our time a Whale cast upon the Tuscan shore, presently caused a Plague over all that Country.  
But as Fishes infect and breed a Plague in the Air, so the Air 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 under them, and rising into the Air through the Body of the Water, the latter whereof Aristotle saith, happeneth but seldom. But it often chances, that the Plague raging in any Country, many Fishes are cast up on all the Coast, and may be seen lying on great heaps. But sulphurous vapours, or such as partake of any other malign quality, sent forth from places under the ground by gapings and gulfs opened by Earthquakes, not only corrupt the Air, but also infect and taint the Seeds, Plants, and all the Fruits which we eat, and so transfer the pestilent corruption into us, and those Beasts on which we feed, together with our nourishment. The truth whereof, Empedocles made manifest, who by shutting up a great Gulf of the Earth opened in a Valley between two Mountains, freed all Sicily from a Plague caused from thence.  
If Winds rising suddenly shall drive such filthy exhalations from those Regions in which they were pestiferous, into other places, they also will carry the Plague with them thither.  
If it be thus, some will say, it should seem that wheresoever stinking and putrid exhalations arise, as about standing Pools, Sinkes, and Shambles, there should the Plague reign, and strait suffocate with its noisome Poison, the People which work in such places: but experience finds this false.  
We do answer, that the putrefaction of the Plague is far different, and of another kind than this common, as that which partakes of a certain secret malignity, and wholly contrary to our lives, and of which we cannot easily▪ give a plain and manifest reason. Yet that vulgar putrefaction wheresoever it be, doth easily and quickly entertain and welcome the pestiferous contagion as often as, and whensoever it comes, as joined unto it by a certain familiarity, and at the length, itself degenerating into a pestiferous malignity, certainly no otherwise then those Diseases which arise in the Plague time, the putrid Diseases in our Bodies, which at the first wanted virulency and contagion, as Ulcers, putrid Fevers, and other such Diseases raised by the peculiar default of the humours, easily degenerate into pestilence, presently receiving the tainture of the Plague, to which they had before a certain preparation. Wherefore in time of the Plague, I would advise all Men to shun such exceeding stinking places, as they would the Plague itself: that there may be no preparation in our Bodies, or humours to catch that infection, (without which, as Galen teaches, the Agent hath no power over the Subject, for otherwise in a Plague time the Sickness would equally seize upon all) so that the impression of the pestiferous quality may presently follow that disposition.  
But when we say the Air is pestilent, we do not understand that sincere, elementary, and simple as it is of its own nature, for such is not subject to putrefaction, but that which is polluted with ill vapours rising from the Earth, standing Waters, Vaults, or Sea, and degenerates, and is changed from its native purity and simplicity. But certainly amongst all the constitutions of the Air fit to receive a pestilent corruption, there is none more fit than a hot, moist, and still season: For the excess of such qualities easily causes putrefaction. Wherefore the South Wind reigning, which is hot and moist, and principally in places near the Sea, there Flesh cannot long be kept, but it presently is tainted and corrupted.  
Further, we must know, that the pestilent malignity which rises from the Carcases or Bodies of Men, is more easily communicated to Men; that which rises from Oxen, to Oxen; and that which comes from Sheep, to Sheep, by a certain sympathy & familiarity of Nature: no otherwise then the Plague which shall seize upon 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 Air thus altered and estranged from its goodness of nature necessarily drawn in by inspiration and transpiration, brings in the Seeds of the Plague, and so consequently the Plague itself, into Bodies prepared and made ready to receive it.   

CHAP. FOUR  
Of the preparation of humours to putrefaction, and admission of pestiferous impressions.  
Having showed the causes from which the Air doth putrefy, become corrupt, and is made partaker of a pestilent and poisonous constitution, we must now declare what things may cause the humours to putrefy, and make them so apt to receive and retain the pestilent Air and venenate quality.  
Humours putrefy either from fullness, which breeds obstruction, or by distemperate excess, or lastly, by admixture of corrupt matter and evil juice, which ill feeding doth specially cause to abound in the Body: For the Plague often follows the drinking of dead and musty Wines, muddy and standing Waters which receive the sinks and filth of a City, and Fruits and Pulls eaten without discretion in scarcity of other Corn, as Pease, Beanes, Lentiles, Vetches, Acorns, the Roots of Ferne, and Grass made into Bread. For such meats obstruct, heap up ill humours in the Body, and weaken the strength of the Faculties, from whence proceeds a putrefaction of humours, and in that putrefaction a preparation and disposition to receive, conceive, and bring forth the Seeds of the Plague: which the filthy Scabs, malign Sores, rebellious Ulcers, and putrid Fevers being all forerunners of greater putrefaction and corruption do testify. Vehement passions of the Mind, as Anger, Sorrow, Grief, Vexation, and Fear help forward this corruption of humours, all which hinder Nature's diligence and care of concoction: For as in the Dog-days the Lees of Wine subseding to the bottom are by the strength and efficacy of heat drawn up to the top, and mixed with the whole substance of the Wine, as it were by a certain ebullition, or working: So Melancholy humours being the Dregges or Lees of the Blood, stirred up by the Passions of the Mind, defile or taint all the Blood with their feculent impurity.  
We found that some years agone by experience, at the Battle of St Dennis, For all Wounds, by what Weapon soever they were made, degenerated into great and filthy putrefactions and corruptions with Fevers of the like nature, and were commonly determined by Death, what Medicines, and how diligently soever they were applied; which caused many to have a false suspicion that the Weapons on both sides were poisoned. But there were manifest signs of corruption and putrefaction, in the Blood let the same day that any were hurt, and in the principal parts dissected afterwards, that it was from no other cause, than an evil constitution of the Air, and the Minds of the Soldiers perverted by Hate, Anger, and Fear.   

CHAP. V.  
What signs in the Air and Earth prognosticate a Plague.  
WE may know a Plague to be at hand and hang over us, if at any time the Air, and Seasons of the year swerve from their natural constitution, after those ways I have mentioned before, if frequent and long continuing Meteors, or sulphurous Thunders infect the Air; If Fruits, Seeds, and Pulls be Worm-eaten; If Birds forsake their Nests, Eggs, or Young, without any manifest cause; If we perceive Women commonly to abort, by continual breathing in the vaporous Air, being corrupted and hurtful both to the Embryo and original of life, and by which it being suffocated is presently cast forth and expelled. Yet notwithstanding, those Airy impressions do not solely corrupt the Air, but there may be also others raised by the Sun from the filthy exhalations, and poisonous vapours of the Earth and Waters, or of dead Carcases, which by their unnatural mixture, easily corrupt the Air subject to alteration, as which is thin and moist, from whence diverse Epidemial Diseases, and such as everywhere seize upon the common sort, according to the several kinds of corruptions, such as that famous Catarrh with difficulty of breathing, which in the year 1510 going almost over the World, and raged over all the Cities and Towns of France, with great heaviness of the Head (whereupon the French named it Cucuita) with a straightness of the Heart and Lungs, and a Cough, a continual Fever, and sometimes raving.  
This although it seized upon many more than it killed, yet because they commonly died who were either let Blood, or purged, it showed itself pestilent by that violence and peculiar and unheard of kind of malignity.  
Such also was the English Sweating-sickness, or Sweating-feaver, which unusual with a great deal of terror invaded all the lower parts of Germany, and the Low Countries, from the year 1525 unto the year 1530, and that chiefly in Autumn.  
As soon as this pestilent Disease entered into any City, suddenly two or three hundred fell sick on one day, than it departing thence to some other place, the people strucken with it languishing, fell down in a swound, and lying in their Beds, sweat continually, having a Fever, a frequent, quick, and unequal Pulse, neither did they leave sweeting till the disease left them, which was in one or two days 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 years, and others all their life after.  
At the first beginning it killed many, before the force of it was known: but afterwards very few, when it was found out by practice and use, that those who furthered, and continued their sweats, and strengthened themselves with Cordials, were all restored. But at certain times many other popular Diseases spring up, as putrid Fevers, Fluxes, Bloody Fluxes, Catarrhs, Coughs, Frenzies, Sqinancies, Pleurisies, Inflammations of the Lungs, Inflammations of the Eyes, Apoplexies, Lethargies, small Pocks, and Measles, Scabs, Carbuncles, and malign Pustules. Wherefore the Plague is not always, nor everywhere of one and the same kind, but of diverse; which is the cause that diverse names are imposed upon it, according to the variety of the effects it brings, and symptoms which accompany it, and kinds of putrefaction, and hidden qualities of the Air.  
They affirm, when the Plague is at hand, that Mushrooms grow in greater abundance out of the Earth, and upon the surface thereof many kinds of poisonous insecta creep in great numbers, as Spiders, Caterpillars, Butterflies, Grasshoppers, Beetles, Hornets, Wasps, Flies, Scorpions, Snails, Locusts, Toads, Worms, & such things as are the offspring of putrefaction. And also wild Beasts tired with the vaporous malignity of their Dens, and Caves in the Earth, forsake them; and Moles, Toads, Vipers, Snakes, Lizards, Asps, and Crocodiles are seen to fly away, and remove their habitations in great troops. For these, as also some other Creatures, have a manifest power by the gift of God, and the instinct of Nature, to presage changes of Wether, as Rains, Showers, and fair Wether; and Seasons of the year, as the Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, which they testify by their Singing, Chirping, Crying, Flying, Playing, and Beating their Wings, and such like signs; so also they have a perception of a Plague at hand. And moreover, the Carcases of some of them which took less heed of themselves, suffocated by the pestiferous Poison of the ill Air contained in the Earth, may be everywhere found, not only in their Dens, but also in the plain Fields.  
These vapours corrupted not by a simple putrefaction, but an occult malignity, are drawn out of the Bowels of the Earth into the Air, by the force of the Sun and Stars, and thence condensed into Clouds, which by their falling upon Corn, Trees, and Grass, infect and corrupt all things, which the Earth produces, and also kills those Creatures which feed upon them; yet brute Beasts sooner than Men, as which stoop and hold their Heads down towards the Ground (the maintainer and breeder of this Poison) that they may get their Food from thence. Therefore at such times, skilful Husbandmen, taught by long experience, never drive their cattle or Sheep to pasture, before that the Sun by the force of his Beams, have wasted and dissipated into Air, this pestiferous dew hanging and abiding upon boughs and leaves of Trees, Herbs, Corn, and Fruits.  
But on the contrary, that Pestilence which proceeds from some malign quality from above, by reason of evil and certain conjunction of the Stars, is more hurtful to Men and Birds, as those, who are nearer to Heaven.   

CHAP. VI  
By using what cautions in Air and Diet, one may prevent the Plague.  
Having declared the signs foreshowing a Pestilence: now we must show by what means we may shun the imminent danger thereof, and defend ourselves from it. No prevention seemed more certain to the Ancients, then most speedily to remove into places far distant from the infected place, and to be most slow in their return thither again. But those who by reason of their business, or employments cannot change their habitation, must principally have care of two things: The first is, that they strengthen their Bodies, and the principal parts thereof against the daily imminent invasions of the Poison, or the pestiferous and venenate Aire. The other, that they abate the force of it, that it may not imprint its virulency in the Body; which may be done by correcting the excess of the quality inclining towards it, by the opposition of its contrary. For if it be hotter, than is meet it must be tempered with cooling things; if too cold, with heating things: yet this will not suffice. For we ought beside, to amend and purge the corruptions of the venenate malignity diffused through it, by smells and perfumes resisting the Poison thereof. The Body will be strengthened and more powerfully resist the infected Air, if it want excrementitious humours, which may be procured by purging and bleeding, and for the rest a convenient diet appointed, as shunning much variety of Meats, and hot and moist things, and all such which are easily corrupted in the Stomach, and cause obstructions, such as those things which be made by Comfit-maker's; we must shun satiety and drunkenness, for both of them weakens the Powers, which are preserved by the moderate use of Meats of good juice.  
Let moderate exercises in a clear Air, and free from any venomous tainture, preceded your Meals.  
Let the Belly have due evacuation either by Nature or Art.  
Let the Heart, the seat of Life, and the rest of the Bowels be strengthened with Cordials and Antidotes applied and taken (as we shall hereafter show) in the form of Epithemes, Ointments, Emplasters, Waters, Pills, Powders, Tablets, Opiates, Fumigations, and such like.  
Make choice of a pure Air and free from all pollution, and far remote from stinking places, for such is most fit to preserve life, to recreate and repair the Spirits, whereas on the contrary a cloudy, or misty Air, and such as is infected with gross and stinking vapours, dulls the Spirits, dejects the Appetite, makes the Body faint and ill coloured, oppresses the Heart, and is the breeder of many diseases.  
The Northern Wind is healthful, because it is cold and dry. But on the contrary, the Southern Wind, because it is hot and moist, weakens the Body by sloth or dulness, opens the Pores, and makes them pervious to the pestiferous malignity. The Western Wind is also unwholesome, because it comes near to the nature of the Southern: wherefore the Windows must be shut up on that side of the House on which they blow, but opened on the North and East side, unless it happen the Plague come from thence.  
Kindle a clear Fire in all the Lodging Chambers of the House, and perfume the whole House with Aromatic things, as Frankincense, Myrrh, Benzoine, Laudanum, Styrax, Roses, Mirtle-leaves, Lavender, Rosemary, Sage, Savoury, Wild Time, Marierome, Broome, Pine Apples, pieces of Fir, juniper Berries, Cloves, Perfumes: and let your clothes be aired in the same.  
There be some, who think it a great preservative against the pestilent Air to keep a Goat in their houses, because the capacity of the Houses filled with the strong sent which the Goat sends forth, prohibits the entrance of the venomous Air: which same reason hath place also in sweet smells, and beside, it argues, that such as are hungry are apt to take the Plague, than those who have eaten moderately: for the Body is not only strengthened with Meat, but all the passages thereof are filled by the vapours diffused from thence, by which otherwise the infected Air would find a more easy entrance to the Heart.  
Yet the common sort of People yield another reason for the Goat, which is, That one ill sent drives away another, as one wedge drives forth another; which calls to my mind that which is recorded by Alexander Benedictus, that there was a Scythian Physician, which caused a Plague arising from the infection of the Air, to cease, by causing all the Dogs, Cats, and such like Beasts which were in the City, to be hilled, and casting their Carcases up and down the Streets, that so by the coming 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 Poisons have not only an antipathy with their Antidotes, but also with some other Poisons.  
Whilst the Plague is hot it is not good to stir out of door before the rising of the Sun: wherefore we must have patience, until he have cleansed the Air with the comfortable light of his Beams, and dispersed all the foggy and nocturnal pollutions, which commonly hang in the Air in dirty, and specially in low places and Valleys.  
All public and great meetings and assemblies must be shunned.  
If the Plague begin in Summer, and seem principally to rage, helped forward by the Summer's heat, it is the best to perform a journey begun, or undertaken for performance of necessary affairs, rather upon the night time, then on the day, because the Infection takes force, strength and subtlety of substance, by which it may more easily permeate and enter in, by the heat of the Sun; but by night men's Bodies are more strong, and all things are more gross and dense. But you must observe a clean contrary course if the malignity seem to borrow strength, and celerity from coldness. But you must always eschew the Beams of the Moon, but specially at the full: For than our Bodies are more languid and weak, and fuller of excrementitious humours. Even as Trees which for that cause must be cut down in their season of the Moon, that is, in the decrease thereof.  
After a little gentle walking in your Chamber, you must presently use some means that the principal 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 up from the Infection coming from without. Such as by the use of Garlic have not their Heads troubled, nor their inward parts inflamed, as Country people, and such as are used to it, to such there can be no more certain preservative and antidote against the pestiferous Fogs or Mists, and the nocturnal obscurity, then to take it in the morning with a draught of good Wine; for it being abundantly diffused presently over all the Body, fills up the passages thereof, and strengheneth it in a moment.  
For Water, if the Plague proceed from the tainture of the Air, we must wholly shun and avoid Rainwater, because it cannot but be infected by the contagion of the Air. Wherefore the Water of Springs, and of the deepest Welles are thought best. But if the malignity proceed from the vapours contained in the Earth, you must make choice of Rainwater. Yet it's more safe to digest every sort of Water by boiling it, and to prefer that Water before other, which is pure and clearer to the sight, and without either taste or smell, and which besides suddenly takes the extremest mutation of heat and cold.   

CHAP. VII.  
Of the Cordial Remedies by which we may preserve our Bodies in fear of the Plague, and cure those already infected therewith.  
Such as cannot eat without much labour, exercise, and hunger, and who are no lovers of Breakfasts, having evacuated their Excrements, before they go from home, must strengthen the Heart with some Antidote against the virulency of the Infection. Amongst which, Aqua Theriacalis, or Treacle Water, two Ounces, with the like quantity of Sack, is much commended being drunk, and rubbing the Nostrils, Mouth, and Ears with the same; for the Treacle Water strengthens the Heart, expels Poison, and is not only good for a preservative, but also to cure the Disease itself: For by sweat it drives forth the Poison contained within. It should be made in june, at which time all simple Medicines, by the vital heat of the Sun, are in their greatest efficacy.  
The composition whereof is thus: Take the Roots of Gentian, Cyperus, Tormentill, Diptam, or Fraxinella Elecampaine, of each one Ounce; the Leaves of Mullet, Carduus Benedictus, Divels-bit, Burnet, Scabious, Sheep's Sorrel, of each half a Handful; of the tops of Rue a little quantity; Myrtle Berry's one Ounce; of Red Rose Leaves, the Flowers of bugloss, Borage, and St john's Wurt, of each one Ounce: let them be all cleansed, dried, and macerated for the space of 24 hours in one pound of White Wine or Malmsey, and of Rose Water or Sorrell Water, then let them be put in a Vessel of Glass, and add thereto of Treacle and Mithridate, of each four Ounces, then distil them in Balneo Mariae, and let the distilled Water be received in a Glass vial, and let there be added thereto of Saffron two Dams, of Bole Armenicke, Terra Sigillata, Yellow Sanders, Shave of ivory and Hartshorn, of each half an Ounce, then let the Glass be well stopped and set in the Sun for the space of eight or ten days. Let the prescribed quantity be taken every morning so oft as shall be needful. It may be given without hurt to sucking Children, and to Women great with Child. But that it may be the more pleasant, it must be strained through an Hippocras Bag, adding thereto some Sugar and Cinnamon.  
Some think themselves sufficiently defended with a Root of Elecampaine, Zedoary, or Angelica, rolled in their Mouth, or chawed between their Teeth.  
Others drink every morning one Dram of the Root of Gentian bruised, being macerated for the space of one night in two Ounces of White Wine.  
Others do take Wormwood Wine.  
Others sup up in a rear Egg one Dram of Terra Sigillata, or of Hartshorn, with a little Saffron, and drink two Ounces of Wine after it.  
There be some that do infuse Bowl Armenicke, the Roots of Gentian, Tormentill, Diptam, the Berries of juniper, Cloves, Mace, Cinnamon, Saffron, and such like, in Aqua Vitae and strong White Wine, and so distil it in Balneo Mariae.  
This Cordial Water that followeth is of great virtue. Take of the Roots of the long and round Aristolochia, Tormentill, Diptam, of each three Dams, of Zedoary, two Dams, Lignum Aloes, Yellow Sanders, of each one Dram, of the Leaves of Scordium, St john's Wurt, Sorrell, Rue, Sage, of each half an Ounce, of Bay and juniper Berries, of each three Dams, Cytron Seeds one Dram, of Cloves, Mace, Nutmegs, of each two Dams, of Mastic, Olibanum, Bole Armenicke, Terra Sigillata, Shave of Hartshorn, and ivory, of each one Ounce, of Saffron one Scruple, of the Conserves of Roses, bugloss Flowers, Water Lillies, and old Treacle, of each one Ounce, of Camphire half a Dram, of Aqua Vitae half a pint, of White Wine two pints and a half, make thereof a distillation in Balneo Mariae. The use of this distilled Water is even as Treacle Water is.  
The Electuary following is very effectual. Take of the best Treacle three Ounces, juniper berries and Carduus Seeds of each one Dram and a half, of Bole Armenicke prepared half an Ounce, of the Powder of the Electuary De Gemmis, and Diamargariton Frigidum, the Powder of Hartshorn, and Red Coral, of each one Dram: mix them with the Syrup of the Rinds and juice of Pome-citrons as much as shall suffice, and make thereof a liquid Electuary in the form of an Opiate, let them take every morning the quantity of a Filberd, drinking after it two Dams of the Water of Scabions, Cherries, Carduus Benedictus, and of some such like cordial things, or of strong Wine.  
The following Opiate is also very profitable, which also may be made into Tablets. Take of the Roots of Angelica, Gentian, Zedoary, Elecampaine, of each two Dams; of Cytron and Sorrell Seeds of each half a Dram; of the dried Rinds of Citrus, Cinnamon, Bay and juniper Berries, and Saffron, of each one Scruple; of Conserve of Roses and bugloss, of each one Ounce; of fine hard Sugar as much as is sufficient: make thereof Tablets of the weight of half a Dram, let him take one of them two hours before meat: Or make thereof an Opiate with equal parts of Conserves of bugloss and Mel Anthosatum, and so adding all the rest dry and in Powder: Or take of the Roots of Valerian, Tormentill, Diptam, of the Leaves of Rue, of each half an Ounce; of Saffron, Mace, Nutmegs, of each half a Dram; of Bole Armenicke prepared half an Ounce; of Conserve of Roses, and Syrup of Lemons as much as will be sufficient to make thereof an Opiate liquid enough. Or take of the Roots of both the Aristolochia's, of Gentian, Tormentill, Diptam, of each one Dram and a half; of Ginger three Dams; of the Leaves of Rue, Sage, Mints, and Pennyroyal, of each two Dams; of Bay and juniper Berries, Citron Seeds, of each four Scruples; of Mace, Nutmegs, Cloves, Cinnamon, of each two Dams; of Lignum Aloes, and Yellow Saunders, of each one Dram; of Male Frankincense, i. Olibanum, Mastic, shave of Hartshorn and ivory, of each two Scruples; of Saffron half a Dram; of Bole Armenicke, Terra Sigillata, Red Coral, Pearl, of each one Dram; of Conserves of Roses, bugloss Flowers, Water Lillies, and old Treacle, of each one Ounce; of Loaf Sugar one pound and a quarter: A little before the end of the making it up, add two Dams of Confectio Alkermes, and of Camphire dissolved in Rose Water one Scruple: make thereof an Opiate according to Art, the Dose thereof is from half a Dram to half a Scruple.  
Treacle and Mithridate faithfully compounded excel all other Cordial Medicines, adding for every half ounce of each of them, one Ounce and a half of Conserves of Roses, or of bugloss, or of Violets, and three Dams of Bole Armenicke prepared: Of these being mixed with stirring, and incorporated together, make a Conserve: It must be taken in the morning the quantity of a Filberd: You must choose that Treacle that is not less than four years old, nor above twelve: That which is somewhat new, is judged to be most meet for Choleric persons, but that which is old for Phlegmatic and old Men. For at the beginning the strength of the Opium that enters into the composition thereof, remains in its full virtue for a year: but afterwards the more years old it waxeth, the strength thereof is more abolished, so that at length the whole composition becometh very hot.  
The Confection of Alkermes is very effectual both for a preservative against this Disease, and also for the Cure.  
The quantity of a Filberd of Rhubarb, with one Clove chawed or rolled in the Mouth, is supposed to repel the coming of the pestilent Air: As also this composition following.  
Take of preserved Citron and Orange Pills, of each one Dram; of Conserve of Roses, and of the Roots of bugloss, of each three Dams; of Citron Seeds half an Ounce; of Anis Seeds, and Fennell Seeds, of each one Dram; of Angelica Roots, four Scruples; Sugar of Roses, as much as suffices: Make a Confection, and cover it with Leaves of Gold, and take a little of it out of a Spoon before you go abroad every morning.  
Or take of Pine Apple Kernels, and Fistic Nuts, infused for the space of six hours in the Water of Scabious, and Roses of each two Ounces; of Almonds blanched in the forenamed Waters half a Pound; of preserved Citron and Orange Pills, of each one Dram and a half; of Angelica Roots four Scruples: Make them according to Art unto the form of Marchpane, or of any other such like Confection: And hold a little piece thereof often in your Mouth.  
The Tablets following are most effectual in such a case. Take of the Roots of Diptam, Tormentill, Valerian, Elecampaine, Eringoes, of each half a Dram; of Bole Armenicke, Terra Sigillata, of each one Scruple; of Camphire, Cinnamon, Sorrel Seeds, and Zedoary, of each one Scruple▪ of them Species of the Electuary Diamargariton Frigidum, two Scruples; of Conserve of Roses, bugloss, preserved Citron Pills, Mithridate, Treacle, of each one Dram; of fine Sugar dissolved in Scabious, and Carduus Water, as much as shall suffice: Make thereof Tablets of the weight of a Dram, or half a Dram, take them in the morning before you eat.  
The Pills of Ruffus are accounted most effectual preservatives, so that Ruffus himself saith, that he never knew any to be infected that used them: The composition of them is thus.  
Take of the best Aloes half a Dram; of Gum Ammoniacum two Dams; of Myrrh two Dams and an half; of Mastic two Dams; of Saffron seven Grains: Put them altogether, and incorporate them with the juice of Citrons, or the Syrup of Lemons, and make thereof a Mass, and let it be kept in Leather: Let the Patient take the weight of half a Dram every morning two or three hours before Meat, and let him drink the Water of Sorrell after it, which through its tartness, and the thinness of its parts, doth infringe the force and power of the malignity, or putrefaction: For experience hath taught us, that Sorrell being eaten, or chawed in the Mouth doth make the pricking of Scorpions unhurtful. And for those Ingredients which do enter into the composition of those Pills, Aloes doth cleanse and purge; Myrrh resisteth putrefaction; Mastic strengthens; Saffron exhilarates and makes lively the Spirits that govern the Body, especially the Vital and Animal.  
Those Pills that follow are also much approved. Take of Aloes one Ounce▪ of Myrrh half an Ounce; of Saffron one Scruple; of Agaricke in Trochisces, two Dams; of Rhubarb in powder, one Dram; of Cinnamon two Scruples; of Mastic one Dram and a half; of Citron Seeds twelve Grains: Powder them all as is requisite, and make thereof a Mass with the Syrup of Maiden Hair: Let it be used as aforesaid.  
If the Mass begin to wax hard, the Pills that must presently be taken, must be mollified with the Syrup of Lemons.  
Take of washed Aloes two Ounces; of Saffron one Dram; of Myrrh half an Ounce; of Ammoniacum dissolved in White Wine, one Ounce; of Honey of Roses, Zedoary, Red Saunders, of each one Dram; of Bole Armenicke prepared two Dams; of Red Coral half an Ounce; of Camphire half a Scruple: Make thereof Pills according to Art. But those that are subject or apt to the Haemorrhoides ought not at all, or very seldom to use those kinds of Pills that do receive much Aloes.  
They say, that King Mithridates affirmed by his own writing, that whosoever took the quantity of an Hasell Nut of the preservative following, and drank a little Wine after it, should be free from Poison that day. Take two Walnuts, those that be very dry, two Figs, twenty Leaves of Rue, and three Grains of Salt: beat them, and incorporate them together, and let them be used as is aforesaid.  
This remedy is also said to be profitable for those that are bitten or stung by some venomous Beast, and for this only, because it hath Rue in the composition thereof. But you must forbid Women that are with Child the use of this Medicine, for Rue is hot and dry in the third degree, and therefore it is said to purge the Womb, and provoke the Flowers, whereby the nourishment is drawn away from the Child.  
Of such variety of Medicines every one may make choice of that that is most agreeable to his taste, and as much thereof as shall be sufficient.   

CHAP. VIII.  
Of Local Medicines to be applied outwardly.  
THose Medicines that have proper and excellent virtues against the Pestilence are not to be neglected to be applied outwardly, or carried in the Hand. And such are all aromatical, astringent, or spirituous things which therefore are endued with virtue to repel the venomous and pestiferous Air from coming and entering into the Body, and to strengthen the Heart and the Brain. Of this kind are Rue, Balm, Rosemary, Scordium, Sage, Wormwood, Cloves, Nutmegs, Saffron, the Roots of Angelica, and Lovage, and such like, which must be macerated one night in sharp Vinegar and Aqua Vitae, and then tied in a knot as big as an Egg: Or rather let it be carried in a Sponge made wet or soaked in the said Infusion. For there is nothing that doth sooner and better hold the spirituous virtue and strength of aromatic things, than a Sponge. Wherefore it is of principal use either to keep or hold sweet things to the Nose, or to apply Epithemes, and Fomentationsto the Heart.  
Those sweet things ought to be hot or cold, as the season of the year, and kind of the Pestilence is. As for example, in the Summer you ought to infuse and macerate Cinnamon and Cloves beaten together with a little Saffron in equal parts, of Vinegar of Roses, and Rose Water, into which you must dip a Sponge, which rolled in a fair Linen Cloth you may carry in your Hand, and often smell to.  
Take of Wormwood half a Handful; ten Cloves; of the Roots of Gentian and Angelica, of each two Drams; of Vinegar and Rose Water, of each two Ounces; of Treacle and Mithrid te, of each one Dram: beat and mix them all well together, and let a Sponge be dipped therein, and used as abovesaid. They may also be enclosed in Boxes, made of sweet Wood, as of juniper, Cedar, or Cypress, and so carried for the same purpose.  
But there is nothing more easy to be carried then Pomanders: the form of which is thus. Take of Yellow Saunders, Mace, Citron Pills, Rose and Myrtle Leaves, of each two Dams; of Benzoin, Laudanum, Storax, of each half a Dram; of Cinnamon, and Saffron, of each two Scruples; of Camphire, and Amber Greece, of each one Scruple; of Musk three Grains: Make there of a Pomander, with Rose Water, with the infusion of Tragacanth. Or take Red Rose Leaves, the Flowers of Water Lillies, and Violets, of each one Ounce; of the three Saunders, Coriander Seeds, Citron Pills, of each half an Ounce; of Camphire one Dram: Let them all be Powders, and with Water of Roses, and Tragacanth make a Pomander.  
In the Winter it must be made thus: Take of Storax, Benzoin, of each one Dram and a half; of Musk half a Scruple; of Cloves, Lavender, and Cyperus, of each two Dams; of the Root of Orris, i Flower de Luce, and Calamus Aromaticus, of each two Dams and a half; of Amber Greece three Dams; of Gum Tragacanth dissolved in Rose Water and Aqua Vitae, as much as shall suffice: Make thereof a Pomander.  
And for the same purpose you may also use to carry about with you sweet Powders made of Amber Greece, Storax, Orris, Nutmegs, Cinnamon, Mace, Cloves, Saffron, Benzoin, Musk, Camphire, Roses, Violets, juncus Odoratus, Marjoram, and such like: Of which being mixed together, Powders may be compounded and made.  
Take of the Roots of Orris two Dams; of Cyperus, Calamus Aromaticus, Red Roses, of each half an Ounce; of Cloves half a Dram; of Storax one Dram; of Musk eight Grains: Mix them, and make a Powder for a Bag. Or take the Roots of Orris two Ounces; Red Rose Leaves, White Saunders, Storax, of each one Ounce; of Cyperus one Dram; of Calamus Aromaticus one Ounce; of Marierome half an Ounce; of Cloves three Dams; of Lavender half a Dram; of Coriander Seeds two Dams; of good Musk half a Scruple; of Laudanum and Benzoin, of each a Dram; of Nutmegs, and Cinnamon, of each two Dams: Make thereof a fine Powder, and sow it in a Bag.  
It will be very convenient also to apply to the Region of the Heart, a Bag filled with Yellow Saunders, Mace, Cloves, Cinnamon, Saffron, and Treacle, shaken together, and incorporated, and sprinkled over with strong Vinegar and Rose Water in Summer, and with strong Wine and Muskedine in the Winter.  
These sweet aromatic things that are so full of Spirits, smelling sweetly and strongly, have admirable virtues to strengthen the principal parts of the Body, and to stir up the expulsive faculty to expel the Poison.  
Contrariwise, those that are stinking and unsavoury procure a desire to vomit, and dissolution of the Powers, by which it is manifest how foolish and absurd their persuasion is, that council such as are in a pestilent constitution of the Air, to receive and take in the stinking and unsavoury vapours of Sinkes and Privies, and that especially in the morning.  
But it will not suffice to carry those Preseruatives alone without the use of any other thing, but will be also very profitable, to wash all the whole Body in Vinegar of the decoction of juniper and Bay Berries, the Roots of Gentian, Marigolds, St john's Wort, and such like, with Treacle or Mithridate also dissolved in it. For Vinegar is an enemy to all Poisons in general, whether they be hot or cold: For it resisteth and hindereth putrefaction, because it is cold and dry: Therefore in this, inanimate Bodies, as Flesh, Herbs, Fruits, and many other such like things may be kept a long time without putrefaction. Neither is it to be feared, that it should obstruct the Pores, by reason of its coldness, if the Body be bathed in it: For it is of subtle parts, and the Spices boiled in it have virtue to open.  
Whosoever accounteth it hurtful to wash his whole Body therewith, let him wash but only his Armholes, the Region of his Heart, his Temples, Groin parts of Generation, as having great and marvellous sympathy with the principal and noble parts.  
If any mislike bathing▪ let him anoint himself with the following Unguent.  
Take Oil of Roses four Ounces; Oil of Spike two Ounces; of the Powder of Cinnamon and Cloves, of each one Ounce and a half; of Benzoin half an Ounce; of Musk six Grains; of Treacle half a Dram; of Venice Turpentine one Dram and a half; of Wax as much as shall suffice: Make thereof a soft Unguent.  
You may also drop a few drops of Oil of Mastic, of Sage, or of Cloves, and such like, into the Ears, with a little Civet or Musk.   

CHAP. IX.  
Of the signs of such as are insected with the Plague.  
WE must not stay so long before we pronounce one to have the Plague, until there be pain and a tumour under his Armholes, or in his Groin, or Spots (vulgarly called Tokens) appear over all the Body, or Carbuncles arise: For many die through the venenate malignity, before these signs do appear. Wherefore the chiefest and truest signs of this Disease, are to be taken from the Heart, being the Mansion of Life, which chiefly, and first of all is wont to be assaulted by the force of the Poison. Therefore they that are infected with the Pestilence, are vexed with often swound, and fainting; their Pulse is feebler and slower than others, but sometimes more frequent, but that is specially in the night season; they feel prickings over all their Body, as if it were the pricking of Needles; but their Nostrils do itch especially▪ by occasion of the malign vapours rising upwards from the lower and inner, into the upper parts, their Breast burneth, their Heart beateth, with pain under the left Dug, difficulty of taking breath, Phthisic, Cough, pain of the Heart, & such an elation or puffing up of the Hypocondria or sides of the Belly distended with the abundance of vapours raised by the force of the feverish heat, that the Patient will in a manner seem to have the Tympany. They are molested with a desire to vomit, and oftentimes with much and painful vomiting, wherein green and black matter is seen, and always of diverse colours, answering in proportion to the excrements of the lower parts, the Stomach being drawn into a consent with the Heart, by reason of the vicinity and communion of the Vessels; oftentimes Blood alone, and that pure, is excluded and cast up in vomiting; and it is not only cast up by vomiting out of the Stomach, but also very often out of the Nostrils, Fundament, and in Women out of the Womb; the inward parts are often burned, and the outward parts are stiff with cold, the whole heat of the Patient being drawn violently inward, after the manner of a Cupping-glass, by the strong burning of the inner parts; then the Eyelids wax blue, as it were through some contusion, all the whole Face hath a horrid aspect, and as it were the colour of Lead, the Eyes are burning red, and, as it were, swollen or puffed up with Blood, or any other humour, shed tears; and to conclude, the whole habit of the Body is somewhat changed and turned yellow.  
Many have a burning Fever, which doth show itself by the Patients ulcerated jaws, unquenchable thirst, dryness and blackness of the Tongue, and it causeth such a Frenzy by inflaming the Brain, that the Patients running naked out of their Beads, seek to throw themselves out of Windows into the Pits and Rivers that are at hand. In some the joints of their Body are so weakened, that they cannot go nor stand, from the beginning they are as it were buried in a long swound and deep sleep, by reason that the Fever sendeth up to the Brain the gross vapours from the crude and cold humours, as it were from green Wood newly kindled to make a Fire.  
Such sleeping doth hold them especially while the matter of the Sore or Carbuncle is drawn together and beginneth to come to suppuration. Oftentimes when they are awaked out of sleep, there do spots and marks appear dispersed over the Skin, with a stinking sweat. But if those vapours be sharp that are stirred up unto the Head, in stead of sleep they cause great waking, and always there is much diversity of accidents in the Urine of those that are infected with the Plague, by reason of the diverse temperature and condition of Bodies: neither is the urine at all times, and in all Men of the same consistence and colour: For sometimes they are like unto the urine of those that are sound and in health, that is to say, laudable in colour and substance, because that when the Heart is affected by the venomous Air, that entereth in unto it, the Spirits are more greatly grieved and molested then the humours: but those, i. the Spirits, are infected and corrupted when these do begin to corrupt.  
But Urines only show the dispositions of the humours or parts in which they are made, collected together, and through which they do pass.  
This reason seemeth truer to me than theirs which say, that Nature terrified with the malignity of the Poison avoids contention, and doth not resist or labour to digest the matter that causeth the Disease.  
Many have their appetites so overthrown, that they can abstain from meat for the space of three days together.  
And to conclude, the variety of accidents is almost infinite, which appear and spring up in this kind of Disease, by reason of the diversity of the Poison and condition of the Bodies and grieved parts: but they do not all appear in each Man, but some in one, and some in another.   

CHAP. X.  
What signs in the Plague are mortal.  
TWO is a most deadly sign in the Pestilence, to have a continual and burning Fever, to have the Tongue dry, rough, and black, to breathe with difficulty, and to draw in a great quantity of breath, but breathe out little; to talk idly; to have the Frenzy and madness together, with unquenchable thirst, and great watching; to have Convulsions, the Hickit, Heart beating, and to swoon very often and vehemently; further, tossing and turning in the Bead, with a loathing of meats, and daily vomits of a green, black, and bloody colour; and the Face pale, black, of a horrid and cruel aspect, bedewed with a cold sweat, are very mortal signs.  
There are some which at the very beginning have vicerous and painful weariness, pricking under the Skin, with great torment of pain; the Eyeslooke cruelly and staringly, the voice waxeth hoarse, the Tongue rough and shutting, and the understanding decaying, the Patient uttereth and talketh of frivolous things. Truly those are very dangerously sick, no otherwise then those whose Urine is pale, black, and troubled like unto the Urine of carriage Beasts, or Lie, with diverse coloured clouds, or contents, as blue, green, black, fatty, and oily, as also resembling in show a Spider's Web, with a round body swimming on the top.  
If the Flesh of the Carbuncle be dry and black, as it were seared with a hot Iron, if the Flesh about it be black and blue, if the matter do flow back, and turn in, if they have a laske, with greatly stinking, liquid, thin, clammy, black, green, or bluish Ordure; If they avoid Worms by reason of the great corruption of the humours and yet for all this the Patient is never the better; If the Eyes wax often dim, if the Nostrils be contracted or drawn together, if they have a grievous cramp, the Mouth be drawn aside, the Muscles of the Face being drawn or contracted equally or unequally; If the Nails be black; If they be often troubled with the Hickit, or have a Convulsion and resolution over all the Body, than you may certainly prognosticate that Death is at hand, and you may use Cordial Medicines only, but it is too late to purge or let Blood.   

CHAP. XI.  
Of the Prognostication that is to be instituted in the Plague.  
WHen you thoroughly know the nature of the Disease, and accidents thereof, and the condition, function, and excellency of the Body and grieved parts, you may well foretell the future motions and events of Diseases: Although that this may be spoken in general, that there is no certain prediction in pestilent Diseases, either to health or death, for they have very unconstant motions, sometimes swift and quick, sometimes slow, and sometimes choking or suffocating in a moment while one breaths in the venomous Air, as he is going about any of his necessary affairs, having Pustles rising in the Skin with sharp pain, and as though the whole Body were pricked all over with Needles, or the stings of Bees. Which I have seen with my Eyes in the Plague that was at Lions when Charles the French King lay there. It many times cometh to pass that the accidents that were very vehement and raging a little before, are suddenly assuaged, and the Patients do think themselves better, or almost perfectly sound. Which happened to Mary one of the Queen-mother her Maids in that notable pestilent constitution of the Air that year when Charles the French Kinglay at the Castle of Rossilion: For when she was infected, a great Tumour or Bubo arose in her Groin, and suddenly it went in again, so that the third day of her sickness, she said she was without any grief or disease at all, but that she was somewhat troubled with a difficulty of making Water, and I think it was, because the Bladder was inflamed by the reflux of the matter; but she was sound in Mind and Body, and walked up and down the Chamber on the same day that she died. The strangeness of which thing made the King so fearful, that he hasted to depart thence.  
Although this Disease doth spare no Man, of what age, temperature, complexion, diet, and condition soever, yet it assaulteth young Men that are Choleric and Sanguine, more often then old Men that are cold and dry, in whom the moisture that is the nourisher of putrefaction by reason of their age is consumed, and the ways, passages, and pores of the Skin whereby the venomous Air should enter and pierce in, are more straight and narrow. And moreover, because old men do always stay at home, but young men for their necessary business, and also for their delight and pleasure, are always abroad on the day time in the Air, wherehence the pollution of the Pestilence cometh more often.  
That Pestilence that cometh by the corruption of the humours, is not so contagious as that which cometh by the default of the Air. But those that are Phlegmatic and Melancholy are most commonly grieved with that kind of Pestilence, because in them the humours are more clammy and gross, and their Bodies more cold and less perspirable, for which causes the humours sooner and more speedily putrefy.  
Men that are of an ill juice are also most apt to this kind of Pestilence, for in the naughty quality of the juice there is a great preparation of the humours unto putrefaction: You may know it by this, that when the Pestilence reigneth, there are no other Diseases among the common People, which have their original of any ill juice but they all degenerate into the Plague. Therefore when they begin to appear and wander up and down, it is a token that the Pestilence will shortly cease, or is almost at an end.  
But here also I would have you to understand those to be of an ill juice, which have no Pores in their Skin, by which, as it were by Rivers, the evil juice which is contrary to Nature, may be evacuated and purged. And I have noted and observed, that those are less in danger of the Pestilence which have cancerous Ulcers, and stinking Sores in their Noses, and such as are infected with the French Pox, have by reason thereof, tumors and rotten Ulcers, or have the King's Evil running upon them, the Leprosy, or the Scab: And to conclude, all those that have Fistulous and running Ulcers in their Bodies.  
I think those that have Quartain Fevers are the better privileged for the same, because that by the Fit causing sweat, that cometh every fourth day, they avoid much of the ill juice that was engendered.  
This is more like to be true, then to think that the Poison that cometh from without, may be driven away by that which lurketh within.  
Contrariwise, Women that are great with Child, as I have noted, because they have much ill juice, being prohibited from their accustomed evacuations, are very apt to take this Disease, and do seldom recover after they are infected.  
Black or blue Impostumes, and Spots and Pustules of the same colour dispersed over the Skin, argue that the Disease is altogether uncurable and mortal.  
When the Swelling or Sore goeth or cometh before the Fever, it is a good sign, for it declareth that the malignity is very weak and feeble, and that Nature hath overcome it, which of itself is able to drive so great portion thereof from the inner parts. But if the Sore or Tumour come after the Fever, it is a mortal & deadly sign, for it is certain that that cometh of the venomous matter not translated, but dispersed, not by the victory of Nature, but through the multitude of the matter, with the weight whereof Nature is overcome.  
When the Moon decreaseth, those that are infected with the Pestilence are in great doubt and danger of death, because then the humours that were collected and gathered together before the full of the Moon, through delay and abundance, do swell the more, and the Faculties by which the Body is governed, become more weak and feeble, because of the imbecility of the native heat, which before was nourished and augmented by the light, and so consequently by the heat of the full Moon: For as it is noted by Aristotle, the wanings of the Moon are more cold and weak: and thence it is that Women have their menstrual Fluxes chiefly or most commonly at that time.  
In a gross and cloudy Air the pestilent Infection is less vehement and contagious then in a thin and subtle Air; whether that thinness of the Air proceed from the heat of the Sun, or from the North Wind and cold. Therefore at Paris where naturally, and also through the abundance of filth that is about the City, the Air is dark and gross, the pestilent Infection is less fierce and contagious than it is in Province, for the subtlety of the Air stimulates or helps forward the Plague.  
But this Disease is mortal and pernicious wheresoever it be, because it suddenly assaulteth the Heart, which is the Mansion, or as it were the Fortress or Castle of Life: but commonly not before the signs and tokens of it appear on the Body: and yet you shall scarce find any Man that thinketh of calling the Physician to help to preserve him from so great danger before the signs thereof be evident to be seen and felt: but then the Heart is assaulted. And when the Heart is so assaulted, what hope of life is there, or health to be looked for? Therefore because Medicines come ofttimes too late, and this Malady is as it were a sudden and a winged Messenger of our death, it cometh to pass that so many die thereof. And moreover because at the first suspicion of this so dire and cruel a Disease, the imagination and mind (whose force in the diversely stirring up of the humours is great and almost incredible) is so troubled with fear of imminent death, and despair of health, that together with the perturbed humours, all the strength and power of Nature falls and sinks down.  
This you may perceive and know, by reason that the Keepers of such as are sick, and the Bearers which are not fearful, but very confident, although they do all the basest offices which may be for the sick, are commonly not infected, and seldom dye thereof if infected.   

CHAP. XII.  
Into what place the Patient ought to betake himself so soon as he finds himself infected.  
WE have said that the perpetual and first original of the Pestilence cometh of the Air, therefore so soon as one is blasted with the pestiferous Air, after he hath taken some preservative against the malignity thereof, he must withdraw himself into some wholesome Air, that is clean and pure from any venomous Infection or Contagion for there is great hope of health by the alteration of the Air, for we do most frequently and abundantly draw in the Air of all things, so that we cannot want it for a minute of time: therefore of the Air that is drawn in, dependeth the correction, amendment, or increase of the Poison or malignity that is received, as the Air is pure, sincere, or corrupted. There be some that do think it good to shut the Patient in a close Chamber, shutting the Windows to prohibit the entrance of the Air as much as they are able: But I think it more convenient that those Windows should be open from whence that Wind bloweth that is directly contrary unto that which brought in the venomous Air: For although there be no other cause, yet if the Air be not moved, or agitated, but shut up in a close place, it will soon be corrupted. Therefore in a close and quiet place that is not subject to the entrance of the Air, I would wish the Patient to make Wind, or to procure Air with a thick and great Cloth dipped or macerated in Water and Vinegar mixed together, and tied to a long Staff, that by tossing it up and down the close Chamber, the Wind or Air thereof may cool and recreate the Patient. The Patient must every day be carried into a fresh Chamber, and the Beds and the Linen clothes must be changed: There must always be a clear and bright Fire in the Patient's Chamber, and especially in the night, whereby the Air may be made more pure, clean, and void of nightly vapours, and of the filthy and pestilent breath proceeding from the Patient, or his Excrements. In the mean time, lest (if it be in hot weather) the Patient should be weakened or made more faint by reason that the heat of the Fire doth disperse and waste his Spirits, the Floor or Ground of the Chamber must be sprinkled or watered with Vinegar and Water, or strewed with the branches of Vines made moist in cold Water, with the Leaves and Flowers of Water Lillies, or Poplar, or such like. In the fervent heat of Summer he must abstain from strong Fumigations that do smell too strongly, because that by assaulting the Head, they increase the pain. If the Patient could go to that cost, it were good to hang all the Chamber where he lieth, and also the Bed, with thick or corpse Linen clothes moisted in Vinegar and Water of Roses. Those Linen clothes ought not to be very white, but something brown, because much and great whiteness doth disperse the sight, and by wasting the Spirits doth increase the pain of the Head: for which cause also the Chamber ought not to be very lightsome.  
chose on the night season there ought to be Fires and Perfumes made, which by their moderate light, may moderately call forth the Spirits.  
Sweet Fires may be made of little pieces of the Wood of juniper, Broome, Ash, Tamarisk, of the Rind of Oranges, Lemons, Cloves, Benzoin, Gum Arabic, Orris Roots, Myrrh grossly beaten together, and laid on the burning Coals put into a Chase Dish. Truly the breath or smoke of the Wood or Berries of juniper, is thought to drive Serpents a great way from the place where it is burnt. The virtue of the Ash Tree against venom is so great, as Pliny testifieth, that a Serpent will not come under the shadow thereof, no not in the morning nor evening, when the shadow of any thing is most great and long, but she will run from it. I myself have proved that if a circle or compass be made with the Boughs of an Ash Tree, and a Fire made in the midst thereof, and a Serpent put within the compass of the Boughs, that the Serpent will rather run into the Fire then thorough the Ashes Boughs.  
There is also another means to correct the Air. You may sprinkle Vinegar of the decoction of Rue, Sage, Rosemary, Bay Berries, juniper Berries, Cyperus Nuts, and such like, on Stones or Bricks made red hot, and put in a Pot or Pan, that all the whole Chamber where the Patient lieth may be perfumed with the vapour thereof.  
Also Fumigations may be made of some matter that is more gross and clammy, that by the force of the Fire the sum may continue the longer, as are Laudanum, Myrrh, Mastic, Rosine, Turpentine, Storax, Olibanum, Benzoin, Bay Berries, juniper Berries, Cloves, Sage, Rosemary, and Marjoram stamped together, and such like.  
Those that are rich and wealthy may have Candles and Fumes made of Wax, or Tallow mixed with some sweet things.  
A Spong macerated in Vinegar of Roses and Water of the same, and a little of the decoction of Cloves, and of Camphire added thereto, ought always to be ready at the Patient's hand, that by often smelling unto it, the Animal Spirits may be recreated and strengthened.  
The Water following is very effectual for this matter. Take of Orris fourė Ounces; of Zedoary, Spikenard, of each six Dams; of Storax, Benzoin, Cinnamon, Nutmegs, Cloves, of each one Ounce and a half; of old Treacle half an Ounce: Bruise them into a gross Powder, and macerate them for the space of twelve hours in 4 pound of white and strong Wine, then distil them in a Limbeck of Glass on hot Ashes, and in the distilled Liquor wet a Spong, and then let it be tied in a Linen Cloth, or closed in a Box, and so often put unto the Nostrils. Or take of the Vinegar and Water of Roses, of each four Ounces; of Camphire six Grains; of Treacle half a Dram: let them be dissolved together, and put into a Vial of Glass, which the Patient may often put unto his Nose.  
This Nodula following is more meet for this matter. Take of Rose Leaves two Pugils; of Orris half an Ounce; of Calamus Aromaticus, Cinnamon, Cloves, of each two Dams; of Storax and Benzoin, of each one Dram and a half; of Cyperus half a Dram: beat them into a gross Powder, make thereof a Nodula between two pieces of Cambric or Lawn of the bigness of an Hand Ball, then let it be moistened in 8 Ounces of Rose Water, and two Ounces of Rose Vinegar, and let the Patient smell unto it often. These things must be varied according to the time: For in the Summer you must use neither Musk nor Civet, nor such like hot things: and moreover women that are subject to fits of the Mother, & those that have Fevers or the Head ache ought not to use those things that are so strong smelling & hot, but you must make choice of things more gentle: Therefore things that are made with a little Camphire and Cloves bruised and macerated together in Rose Water and Vinegar of Roses shall be sufficient.   

CHAP. XIII.  
What Diet ought to be observed, and first of the choice of Meats.  
THE order of Diet in a Pestilent disease ought to be cooling and drying: not slender, but somewhat full. Because by this kind of Disease there cometh wasting of the Spirits, and exolution of the Faculties, which inferreth often swooning, therefore that loss must be repaired as soon as may be with more quantity of Meats that are of easy concoction and digestion. Therefore I never saw any being infected with the Pestilence that kept a slender diet that recovered his health but died, and few that had a good stomach and fed well died.  
Sweet, gross, moist, and clammy Meats, which are altogether, and exquisitely of subtle parts, are to be avoided; for the sweet do easily take Fire, and are soon inflamed; the moist will putrefy; the gross and clammy obstruct, and therefore engender putrefaction; those meats that are of subtle parts, overmuch attenuate the humours and inflame them, and do stir up hot and sharp vapours into the Brain, whereof cometh the Fever. Therefore we must eschew Garlic, Onions, Mustard, Salted and spiced Meats, and all kinds of Pulls must also be avoided, because they engender gross winds, which are the authors of obstruction: but the decoction of them is not always to be refused, because it is a provoker of Urine. Therefore let this be their order of Diet: Let their Bread be of Wheat or Barley, well wrought, well leavened and salted neither too new nor too stale: Let them be fed with such Meat as may be easily concocted and digested, and may engender much laudable juice, and very little excremental, as are the Flesh of Wether Lambs, Calves, Kids, Leverets, Pullet's, Partridges, Pigeons, Thrushes, Larks, Quails, Black Birds, Turtle Doves, Moor Hens, Pheasants, and such like, avoiding Water Foules. Let the Flesh be moistened in Verivyce of un-ripe Grapes, Vinegar, or the juice of Lemons, Oranges, Citrons, tart Pomegranates, Barberries, Gooseberries, or red Currants, or of Garden and wild Sorrel: for all these sour things are very wholesome in this kind of Disease, for they do stir up the appetite, resist the venomous quality and putrefaction of the humours, restrain the heat of the Fever, and prohibit the corruption of the meats in the stomach. Although that those that have a more weak stomach▪ and are endued with a more exact sense, & are subject to the Cough and Diseases of the Lungs, must not use these unless they be mixed with Sugar and Cinnamon.  
If the Patient at any time be fed with sodden Meats, let the Broths be made with Lettuce, Purslane, Succory, Borage, Sorrell, Hops, bugloss, Cresses, Burnet, Marigolds, chervil, the cooling Seeds, Barley and Oates cleansed, with a little Saffron, for Saffron doth engender many Spirits, and resisteth Poison. To these opening Roots may be added for to avoid obstruction; yet much Broth must be refused by reason of moisture. The Fruit of Capers being eaten in the beginning of the Meal provoke the appetite, and prohibit obstructions, but they ought not to be seasoned with overmuch Oil & Salt, they may also with good success be put in Broths.  
Fishes are altogether to be avoided, because they do soon corrupt in the Stomach: but if the Patient be delighted with them, those that live in stony places must be chosen, that is to say, those that do live in pure and sandy Water, and about Rocks, and Stones, as are Trout, Pikes, Perches, Gudgeons, and Cravises boiled in Milk, Wilks, and such like. And concerning Sea-Fish, he may be fed with Giltheads, Gurnarts, with all the kinds of Codfish, Whiting not seasoned with Salt, and Turbuts.  
Fagges potched and eaten with the juice of Sorrell, are very good. Likewise Barley Water seasoned with the Grains of a tart Pomegranate, and if the Fever be vehement, with the Seeds of white Poppey. Such Barley Water is easy to be concocted and digested, it cleanses greatly, and moistens and mollifies the Belly. But in some it procures an appetite to vomit, and pain of the Head, and those must abstain from it. But in stead of Barley Water they may use Pap, and Bread crumbed in the decoction of a Capon.  
For the second course let him have Raisins of the Sun, newly sodden in Rose Water with Sugar, sour Damask Prunes, tart Cherries, Pippins, and Katherine Pears.  
And in the latter end of the Meal, Quinces roasted in Embers, Marmelate of Quinces, & Conserves of bugloss or of Roses, and such like may be taken: Or else this Powder following.  
Take of Coriander Seeds prepared two Dams; of Pearl, Rose Leaves, shave of Harts-Horne and ivory, of each half a Dram; of Amber two Scruples; of Cinnamon one Scruple; of Unicorn's Horn, and the Bone in a Stag's Heart, of each half a Scruple; of Sugar of Roses four Ounces: Make thereof a Powder, and use it after Meats.  
If the Patient be somewhat weak, he must be fed with Jelly made of the Flesh of a Capon, and Veal sodden together in the Water of Sorrell, Carduus Benedictus, with a little quantity of Rose Vinegar, Cinnamon, Sugar, and other such like, as the present necessity shall seem to require.  
In the night season for all events and mischances, the Patient must have ready prepared Broth of Meats of good digestion, with a little of the juice of Citrons, or Pomegranates.  
This Restaurative that followeth may serve for all. Take of the Conserve of bugloss, Borage, Violets, Water Lillies, and Succory, of each two Ounces; of the Powder of the Electuary Diamargaritum Frigidum, of the Trochisces of Camphire, of each three drams; of Citron seeds, Carduus seeds, Sorrel seeds, the roots of Diptamnus, Tormentill, of each two drams; of the broth of a young Capon, made with Lettuce, Purslane, bugloss, and Borraged boil in it, six pints; put them in a Limbeck of glass with the flesh of two Pullet's, of so many Partridges, and with fifteen leaves of pure gold: make thereof a distillation over a soft fire. Then take of the distilled liquor half a pint, strain it through a woollen bag, with two ounces of white Sugar, and half a dram of Cinnamon: let the patient use this when he is thirsty. Or else put the flesh of one old Capon, and of a leg of Veal, two minced Partridges, and two drams of whole Cinnamon without any liquor in a limbeck of glass, well luted and covered, and so let them boil in Balueo Mariae unto the perfect concoction. For so the flesh's will be boiled in their own juice without any hurt of the fire; then let the juice be pressed out therehence with a press: give the patient for every dose one ounce of the juice with some cordial waters, some Trisantalum, and Diamargaritum frigidum. The preserves of sweet fruits are to be avoided, because that sweet things turn into choler; but the confections of tart Prunes, Cherries, and such like may be fitly used. But because there is no kind of sickness that so weakens the strength as the Plague; it is always necessary, but yet sparingly and often, to feed the patient, still having respect unto his custom, age, the region, and the time: for through emptiness there is great danger, lest that the venomous matter that is driven out to the superficial parts of the body, should be called back unto the inward parts, by an hungry stomach, and the stomach itself should be filled with choleric, hot, thin, and sharp excremental humours, whereof cometh biting of the stomach, and gripings in the guts.   

CHAP. XIV.  
What drink the Patient infected aught to use.  
IF the Fever be great and burning, the patient must abstain from wine, unless that he be subject to swooning; and he may drink the Oxymell following in stead thereof.  
Take of fair water three quarts, wherein boil four ounces of honey until the third part be consumed, scumming it continually; then strain it and put it into a clean vessel, and add thereto four ounces of vinegar, and as much cinnamon as will suffice to give it a taste. Or else a sugared water as followeth. Take two quarts of fair water, of hard sugar six ounces, of cinnamon two ounces, strain it through a woollen bag or cloth without any boiling: and when the patient will use it, put thereto a little of the juice of Citrons. The syrup of the juice of Citrons excelleth amongst all others that are used against the Pestilence.  
The use of the julep following is also very wholesome. Take of the juice of Sorrell well clarified half a pint, of the juice of Lettuce so clarified four ounces, of the best hard Sugar one pound, boil them together unto a perfection, let them be strained and clarified, adding a little before the end a little vinegar, let it be used between meals, with boiled water, or with equal portions of the water of Sorrell, Lettuce, Scabious, and bugloss: or take of this former described julep strained and clarified four ounces, let it be mixed with one pound of the forenamed cordial waters, and boil them together a little. And when they are taken from the fire, put thereto of yellow Sanders one dram, of beaten Cinnamon half a dram, strain it through a cloth: when it is cold, let it be given unto the patient to drink with the juice of Citrons. Those that have accustomed to drink Cider, Perrie, Beer, or Ale, aught to use that drink still, so that it be clear, transparent, and thin, and made of those fruits that are somewhat tart; for troubled and dreggish drink doth not only engender gross humours, but also crudities, windiness, and obstructions of the first region of the body, whereof comes a fever. Oxycrate being given in manner following, doth assuage the heat of the fever, and repress the putrefaction of the humours, and the fierceness of the venom, and also expelleth the water through the veins, if so be that the patients are not troubled with spitting of blood, cough, yexing, and altogether weak of stomach: for such must avoid all tart things. Take of fair water one quart; of white or red Vinegar three ounces; of fine Sugar four ounces; of Sirup of Roses two ounces: boil them alittle, and then give the patient thereof to drink. Or, Take of the juice of Lemons and Citrons, of each half an ounce; of juice of sour Pomegranates two ounces; of the water of Sorrell and Roses, of each one ounce; of fair water boiled, as much as shall suffice: make thereof a julep, and use it between meals. Or take of Sirup of Lemons and of red Currants, of each one ounce, of the water of Lilies four ounces; of fair water boiled half a pint▪ make thereof a julep. Or, Take of the syrups of water Lilies, and Vinegar, of each half an ounce, dissolve it in five ounces of the water of sorrel; of fair water one pint: make thereof a julep. But if the patient be young and have a strong and good stomach, and choleric by natnre, I think it not unmeet for him to drink a full and large draught of fountain water cold; for that is effectual to restrain and quench the heat of the fever, and chose they that drink cold water often, and a very small quantity at a time, as the Smith doth sprinkle water on the fire at his forge, do increase the heat and burning, and thereby make it endure the longer. Therefore by the judgement of Celsus, when the disease is in the chief increase, and the patient hath endured thirst for the space of three or four days, cold water must be given unto him in great quantity, so that he may drink past his satiety, that when his belly and stomach are filled beyond measure, and sufficiently cooled, he may vomit. Some do not drink so much thereof as may cause them to vomit, but do drink even unto satiety, and so use it for a cooling medicine; but when either of these is done, the patient must be covered with many clothes, and so placed that he may sleep, and for the most part, after long thirst and watching, and after long fullness, and long and great heat sound sleep cometh, by which great sweat is sent out, and that is a present help. But thirst must sometimes be quenched with little pieces of Melons, Gourds, Cucumbers, with the leaves of Lettuce, Sorrell, and purslane made moist or soaked in cold water, or with a little square piece of a Citron, Lemon, or Orange macerated in Rose water, and sprinkled with sugar, and so held in the mouth, and then changed. But if the patient be aged, his strength weak, phlegmatic by nature, and given to wine, when the state of the fever is somewhat past, and the chief heat beginning to assuage, he may drink wine very much delayed at his meat, for to restore his strength and to supply the want of the wasted Spirits. The patient ought not by any means to suffer great thirst, but must mitigate it by drinking, or else allay it by washing his mouth with Oxicrate, and such like, and he may therein also wash his hands and his face, for that doth recreate the strength. If the Flux or Laske troubel him, he may very well use to drink steeled water, and also boiled milk, wherein many stones coming red hot out of the fire have been many times quenched. For the dryness and roughness of the mouth it is very good to have a cooling, moistening and lenifying lotion of the mucilaginous water of the infusion of the seeds of Quinces, Psilium, id est, Flea-wurt, adding thereto a little Camphor, with the water of Plantain and Roses, then cleanse and wipe out the filth, and then moisten the mouth, by holding therein a little oil of sweet Almonds mixed with a little sirup of Violets. If the roughness do breed or degenerate into Ulcers, they must be touched with the water of the infusion of sublimate, or Aqua fortis.   

CHAP. XV.  
Of Antidotes to be used in the Plague.  
NOw we must entreat of the proper cure of this disease, which must be used as soon as may be possible, because this kind of poison in swiftness exceeds the celerity of the medicine. Therefore it is better to err in this, that you should think every disease to be pestilent in a pestilent season, and to cure it as the Pestilence: because that so long as the air is polluted with the seeds of the Pestilence, the humours in the body are soon infected with the vicinity of such an air, so that then there happeneth no disease void of the Pestilence, that is to say, which is not pestilent from the beginning by his own nature, or which is not made pestilent. Many begin the cure with blood-letting, some with purging, and some with Antidotes. We taking a consideration of the substance of that part that is assaulted, first of all begin the cure with an Antidote, because that by its specific property, it defends the heart from poison, as much as it is offended therewith. Although there are also other Antidotes which preserve and keep the heart and the patient from the danger of Poison and the Pestilence, not only because they do infringe the power of the poison in their whole substance, but also because they drive it and expel it out of all the body by sweat, vomiting, scouring, and such other kinds of evacuations. The Antidote must be given in such a quantity as may be sufficient to overcome the poison; but because it is not good to use it in greater quantity than needeth, lest it should overthrow our nature, for whose preservation only it is used, therefore that which cannot be taken together and at once, must be taken at several times, that some portion thereof may daily be used so long, until all the accidents, effects, and impressions of the poison be past, and that there be nothing to be feared. Some of those Antidotes consist of portions of venomous things, being tempered together, and mixed in an apt proportion with other medicines, whose power is contrary to the venom: as Treacle, which hath for an ingredient the flesh of Vipers, that it being thereto mixed may serve as guide to bring all the Antidote unto the place where the venenate malignity hath made the chief impression; because by the similitude of nature and sympathy, one poison is suddenly snatched and carried unto another. There are other absolute poisonous, which nevertheless are Antidotes one unto another: as a Scorpion himself cureth the prick of a Scorpion. But Treacle and Mithridate excel all other Antidotes: for by strengthening the noblest part, and the mansion of life, they repair and recreate the wasted Spirits, and overcome the poison, not only being taken inwardly, but also applied outwardly to the region of the heart, Botches and Carbuncles: for by an hidden property they draw the poisons unto them, as Amber doth Chaff, and digest it when it is drawn, and spoil and rob it of all its deadly force; as it is declared at large by Galen, in his book de Theriaca ad Pisonem, by most true reasons, and experiments. But you will say, that these things are hot, and that the Plague is often accompanied with a burning Fever. But therereto I answer, there is not so great danger in the Fever as in the Pestilence, although in the giving of Treacle I would not altogether seem to neglect the Fever, but think it good to minister or apply it mixed with cordial cooling medicines, as with the Trochisces of Camphire, Sirup of Lemons, of water Lilies, the water of Sorrell, and such like. And for the same cause we ought not to choose old Treacle, but that which is of a middle age, as of one or two years old: to those that are strong, you may give half a dram, and to those that are more weak a dram. The patient aught to walk presently after that he hath taken Treacle, Mithridate, or any other Antidote; but yet as moderately as he can: not like unto many, which when they perceive themselves to be infected, do not cease to course and run up and down, until they have no strength to sustain their bodies, for so they do dissolve nature, so that it cannot suffice to overcome the contagion. After moderate walking, the patient must be put warm to bed, and covered with many clothes, and warm brickbats, or tiles applied to the soles of his feet; or in stead thereof you may use swine's bladders filled with hot water, and apply them to the grinds and armholes to provoke sweat: for sweeting in this disease is a most excellent remedy, both for to evacuate the humours in the Fever, and also to drive forth the malignity in the Pestilence, although every sweat brings not forth the fruit of health. For George Agricola saith, that he saw a woman at Misnia in Germany that did sweat so for the space of three days, that the blood came forth at her head and breast, and yet nevertheless she died.  
This potion following will provoke sweat. Take the roots of China shaved in thin pieces one ounce and half; of Guaiacum two ounces; of the bark of Tamariske one ounce; of Angelica roots two drams; of the shave of Hartshorn one ounce; of juniper berries three drams; put them into a vial of glass that will contain six quarts; put thereto four quarts of running or river water that is pure and clear, macerate them for the space of one whole night on the hot ashes: and in the morning boil them all in Balneo Mariae until the half be consumed, which will be done in the space of six hours; then let them be strained through a bag, and then strained again, but let that be with six ounces of sugar of Roses, and a little Treacle; let the patient take eight ounces or fewer of that liquor, and it will provoke sweat. The powder following is also very profitable. Take of the leaves of Dictamnus, the roots of Tormentill, Betoni, of each half an ounce; of bowl Armenicke prepared one ounce; of Terra Sigillata three drams; of Aloes and Myrrh of each half a dram; of Saffron one dram; of Mastic two dams: powder them all according to Art, and give one dram thereof dissolved in Rose-water, or the water of wild sorrel, and let the patient walk so soon as he hath taken that powder; then let him be laid in his bed to sweat as I have showed before. The water following is greatly commended against poison. Take the roots of Gentian and Cyperus, of each three drams; of Carduus benedictus, Burnet, of each one handful; of Sorrell seeds, and Divels-bit, of each two pugils; of Ivy and juniper berries, of each half an ounce; of the flowers of bugloss, Violets, and red Roses, of each two pugils, powder them somewhat grossly; then soak or steep them for a night in white wine and Rose water; then add thereto of Bole Armenicke one ounce; of Treacle half an ounce, distil them all in Balneo Mariae, and keep the distilled liquor in a vial of glass well covered or close stopped for your use: let the patient take six ounces thereof with Sugar and a little Cinnamon and Saffron: then let him walk, and then sweat, as is aforesaid: the Treacle and cordial water formerly prescribed are very profitable for this purpose. Also the water following is greatly commended. Take of Sorrel six handfuls: of Rue one handful: dry them, and macerate them in Vinegar for the space of four and twenty hours, adding thereto four ounces of Treacle: make thereof a distillation in Balneo Mariae, and let the distilled water be kept for your use; and so soon as the patient doth think himself to be infected, let him take four ounces of that liquor, then let him walk and sweat. He must leave sweeting when he beginneth to wax faint and weak, or when the humour that runs down his body begins to wax cold, than his body must be wiped with warm clothes, and dried. The patient ought not to sweat with a full stomach, for so the heat is called away from performing the office of concoction: also he must not sleep when he is in his sweat, lest the malignity, go inwardly with the heat and spirits unto the principal parts; but if the patient be much inclined to sleep, he must be kept from it with hard rubbing, and bands tied about the extreme parts of his body, and with much noise of those that are about him, and let his friends comfort him with the good hope that they have of his recovery; but if allthiss will not keep him from sleepee, dissolve Castoreum in tart Vinegar, and Aqua vitae, and let it be injected into his nostrils: and let him be kept continually waking the first day, and on the second and third, even unto the fourth; that is to say, unto the perfect expulsion of the venom; & let him not sleep above three or four hours on a day and night. In the mean time let the Physician that shall be present consider all things by his strength: for it is to be feared, that great watchings will dissolve the strength, and make the patient weak: you must not let him eat within three hours after his sweeting; in the mean season, as his strength shall require, let him take the rind of a preserved Citron, conserve of Roses, bread toasted and steeped in wine, the meat of a preserved Myrabolane, or some such like thing.   

CHAP. XVI.  
Whether purging and blood-letting be necessary in the beginning of pestilent diseases.  
SO soon as the heart is strengthened and corroborated with cordials & Antidotes, we must come unto phlebotomy and purging. As concerning blood-letting in this case, there is a great controversy among Physicians. Those that wish it to be used, say or affirm that the pestilent Fever doth infix itself in the blood, and therein also the pestilent malignity taketh its seat; and therefore it will soon infect the other humours, unless that the blood be evacuated, and the infection that remaineth in the blood be thereby taken away. chose those that do allow phlebotomy in this case, allege that it often cometh to pass that the blood is void of malignity when the other humours are infected with the venomous contagion. If any man require my judgement in this doubtful question, I say, that the Pestilence sometimes doth depend on the default of the air: This default being drawn through the passages of the body, doth at length pierce unto the entrails, as we may understand by the abscesses which break out one while behind the ears, sometimes in the armholes, and sometimes in the groins, as the brain, heart, or liver are infected. And hereof also come Carbuncles, and other collections of matter and eruptions, which are seen in all parts of the body, by reason that nature using the strength of the expulsive faculty, doth drive forth whatsoever is noisome or hurtful. Therefore if the Physician will follow this motion of nature, he must neither purge, nor let blood, lest that by a contrary motion, that is, by drawing in from without, the motion of nature which proceeds outwardly from within, should be troubled. So we often see in those who are purged or let blood for such Buboes as come through unlawful copulation, that the matter is thereby made contumacious, and by drawing it inwardly it speedily causeth the French Pox. Wherefore when Buboes, Carbuncles, and other pestilent eruptions appear, which come through the default of the air, we ought to abstain from purging and phlebotomy; but it is sufficient to forearm the heart inwardly and outwardly with Antidotes that are endued with a proper virtue of resisting the poison. For it is not to be doubted, but that when nature is debilitated with both kinds of evacuation, and when the spirits together with the blood are exhausted, the venomous air will soon pierce, and be received into the empty body, where it exerciseth its tyranny to the utter destruction thereof.  
In the year of our Lord God 1565. in which year there was great mortality through out all France, by reaso nof the Pestilence, and pestilent diseases, I earnestly and diligently enquired of all the Physicians, and Chirurgeons of all the Cities (through whom King Charles the ninth passed in his progress unto Bayon) what success their patients had after they were let blood & purged, whereunto they all answered alike, that they had diligently observed, that all that were infected with the Pestilence, and were let bleed some good quantity of blood, or had their bodies somewhat strongly purged, thenceforwards waxed weaker and weaker, and so at length died; but others which were not let blood, nor purged, but took cordial Antidotes inwardly and applied them outwardly, for the most part escaped and recovered their health: for that kind of Pestilence took its original of the primative and solitary default of the air, and not of the corruption of the humours. The like event was noted in the hoarseness that we spoke of before: that is to say, that the patients waxed worse and worse by purging, and phlebotomy; but yet I do not disallow either of those remedies, if there be great fullness in the body, especially in the beginning, and if the matter have a cruel violence, whereof may be feared the breaking in unto some noble part. For we know that it is confirmed by Hypocrates, that what disease soever is caused by repletion, must be cured by evacuation: and that in diseases that are very sharp, if the matter do swell, it ought to be remedied the same day, for delay in such diseases is dangerous; but such diseases are not caused or inflicted upon man's body by reason or occasion of the Pestilence, but of the diseased bodies and diseases themselves commixed together with the Pestilence; therefore then peradventure it is lawful to purge strongly, and to let a good quantity of blood, lest that the pestilentvenome should take hold of the matter that is prepared, and so infect it with a contagion, whereby the pestilence taketh new and far greater strength; especially as Celsus admonisheth us, where he saith; that, By how much the sooner those sudden invasions do happen, by so much the sooner remedies must be used, yea or rather rashly applied; therefore if the veins swell, the face wax fiery red, if the arteries of the temples beat strongly, if the patient can very hardly breath by reason of a weight in his stomach, if his spittle be bloody, then ought he to be let blood without delay, for the causes before mentioned. It seems best to open the liver vein on the left arm, whereby the heart and the spleen may be better discharged of their abundant matter; yet blood letting is not good at all times, for it is not expedient when the body beginneth to wax stiff by reason of the coming of the Fever; for then by drawing back the heat and spirits inwardly, the outward parts being destitute of blood wax stiff and cold; therefore blood cannot be let then without great loss of the strength, and perturbation of the humours. And it is to be noted, that when those plethoric causes are present, there is one Indication of blood-letting in a simple pestilent Fever, and another in that which hath a Bubo, id est, a Botch or a Carbuncle joined therewith. For in one or both of these being joined with a vehement and strong burning Fever, blood must be let by opening the vein that is nearest unto the tumour or swelling against nature, keeping the straightness of the fibres, that this being open the blood might be drawn more directly from the part affected; for all and every retraction of putrified blood unto the noble parts is to be avoided, because it is noisome and hurtful to nature, and to the patient. Therefore for examples sake, admit the patient be plethoric by repletion which is called Ad vasa, id est, unto the vessels, and Ad vires, id est, unto the strength: and therewithal he hath a tumour that is pestilent in the parts belonging unto his head or neck, the blood must be let out of the cephalic or median vein, or out of one of their branches dispersed in the arm on the greened side. But if through occasion of fat, or any other such like cause those veins do not appear in the arm, there be some that give counsel in such a case to open the vein that is between the forefinger and the thumb, the hand being put into warm water, whereby that vein may swell and be filled with blood, gathered thither by means of the heat. If the tumour be under the armhole or about those places, the liver vein, or the median must be opened which runneth alongst the hand: if it be in the groin, the vein of the ham, or Saphena, or any other vein above the foot that apreareth well, but always on the grieved fide. And phlebotomy must be performed before the third day: for this disease is of the kind or nature of sharp diseases; because that within four and twenty hours it runneth past help. In letting of blood you must have consideration of the strength. You may perceive that the patient is ready to swoon when that his forehead waxeth moist, with a small sweat suddenly arising, by the aching or pain at the stomach, with an appetite to vomit, and desire to go to stool, gaping, blackness of the lips, and sudden alteration of the face unto paleness: and lastly most certainly by a small and slow pulse: and then you must lay your finger on the vein, and stop it until the patient come to himself again, either by nature; or else restored by Art, that is to say, by giving unto him bread dipped in wine, or any other such like thing: then if you have not taken blood enough, you must let it go again and bleed so much as the greatness of the disease, or the strength of the patient will permit or require: which being done, some one of the Antidotes that are prescribed before will be very profitable to be drunk, which may repair the strength and infrigne the force of the malignity.   

CHAP. XVII.  
Of purging medicines in a pestilent disease.  
IF you call to mind the proper indications, purging shall seem necessary in this kind of disease, and that must be prescribed as the present case and necessity requireth; rightly considering that the disease is sudden, and doth require medicines that may with all speed drive out of the body the hurtful humour wherein the noisome quality doth lurk and is hidden; which medicines are divers by reason of the diversity of the kind of the humour, and the condition, or temperature of the patient. For this purpose six grains of Scammony beaten into powder, or else ten grains are commonly ministered to the patient with one dram of Treacle. Also pills may be made in this form: Take of Treacle and Mithridate, of each one dram; of Sulphur vinum finely powdered half a dram; of Diagridium four grains: make thereof Pills. Or, Take three drams of Aloes; of Myrrh and Saffron, of each one dram; of white Hellebore and Asarabacca, of each four scruples: make thereof a masle with old Treacle, and let the patient take four scruples thereof for a dose, three hours before meat. Ruffus' his Pills may be profitably given to those that are weak. The ancient Physicians have greatly commended Agarick for this disease, because it doth draw the noisome humours out of all the members: and the virtues thereof are like unto those of Treacle; for it is thought to strengthen the heart and to draw out the malignity by purging. To those that are strong the weight of two dams may be given, and to those that are more weak half a dram. It is better to give the infusion in a decoction, than in substance; for being elected and prepared truly into Trochises, it may be called a most divine kind of medicine. Antimonium is highly praised by the experience of many; but because I know the use thereof is condemned by the counsel and decree of the School of Physicians at Paris, I will here cease to speak of it. Those medicines that cause sweats are thought to excel all others, when the Pestilence cometh of the venomous air: among whom the efficacy of that which followeth hath been proved, to the great good of many in that Pestilence which was lately throughout all Germany, as Mathias Rodler, Chancellor to Duke George the Count Palatine, signified unto me by letters. They do take a bundle of Mugwort, and of the ashes thereof after it is burnt they make a lie thereof with four pints of water; then they do set it over the fire and boil it in a vessel of earth well leaded until the liquor be consumed, the earthy dregges falling unto the bottom like unto salt, whereof they make Trochises of the weight of a crown of gold: then they dissolve one or two of those Trochises, according to the strength of the patient, in good Muskadine, and give it the patient to drink, and let him walk after that he hath drunk it for the space of half an hour; then lay him in his bed, and there sweat him two or three hours, and then he will vomit, and his belly will be loosed as if he had taken Antimony; and so they were all for the most part cured, especially all those that took that remedy betimes, and before the disease went unto their heart, as I myself have proved in some that were sick at Paris, with most happy success: Truly Mugwort is highly commended by the ancient Physicians, being taken and applied inwardly or outwardly against the bitings of venomous creatures, so that it is not to be doubted but that it hath great virtue against the Pestilence. I have heard it most certainly reported by Gilbertus Heroaldus Physician of Mompilier▪ that eight ounces of the pickle of Anchovies drunk at one draught is a most certain and approved remedy against the Pestilence, as he and many other have often found by experience. For the Plague is no other thing but a very great putrefaction, for the correction and amendment whereof, there is nothing more apt or fit than this pickle or substance of the Anchovies, being melted by the sun & force of the salt that is strawed thereon. There be some which infuse one dram of Walewort seed in white wine, and affirm that it drunken will perform the like effect as Antimony. Others dissolve a little weight of the seed of Rue being bruised in Muskadine, with the quantity of a Bean of Treacle, and so drink it. Others beat or bruise an handful of the leaves or tops of Broome in half a pint of white wine, and so give it to the patient to drink to cause him to vomit, lose his belly, and make him to sweat. Truly, those that are wounded or bit with venomous beasts, if they bind broom above the wound it will prohibit or hinder the venom from dispersing itself, or going any farther: therefore a drink made thereof will prohibit the venom from going any nearer the heart. Some take of the root of Elecampane, Gentian, Tormentill, Kermesberries, and broom; of the powder of ivory and Hartshorn, of each half a dram, they do bruise and beat all these, and infuse them for the space of four and twenty hours in white Wine and Aquavita on the warm embers, and then strain it, and give the patient three or four ounces thereof to drink; this provokes sweat, and infringes the power of the poison, and the potion following hath the same virtue.  
Take good Mustard half an ounce; of Treacle or Mithridate the weight of a Bean, dissolve them in white Wine and a little Aqua vita, and let the patient drink it and sweat thereon with walking. You may also roast a great Onion made hollow, and filled with half a dram of Treacle and Vinegar under the embers; and then strain it, and mix the juice that is pressed out of it with the water of Sorrell, Carduus Benedictus, or any other cordial thing, and with strong wine, and give the patient to drink thereof to provoke sweat, and to repel the malignity. Or else take as much Garlic as the quantity of a big Nut; of Rue and Celandine, of each twenty leaves, bruise them all in white Wine and a little Aqua vita; then strain it, and give the patient thereof to drink. There be some that do drink the juice that is pressed out of Celandine and Mallows, with three ounces of Vinegar, and half an ounce of the oil of Walenuts, and then by much walking do unburden their stomach and belly upwards and downwards, and so are helped. When the venomous air hath already crept into and infected the humours, one dram of the dried leaves of the Bay tree macerated for the space of two days in Vinegar and drunk, is thought to be a most sovereign medicine to provoke sweat, looseness of the belly, and vomiting. Matthiolus in his Treatise de Morbo Gallico writeth, that the powder of Mercury ministered unto the patient with the juice of Carduus Benedictus, or with the electuary de Gemmis, will drive away the Pestilence before it be confirmed in the body, by provoking vomit, looseness of the belly, and sweat: one dram of Calchanthum or white Copperas dissolved in Rose-water, performeth the like effect in the same disease. Some do give the patient a little quantity of the oil of Scorpions with white wine to expel the poison by vomit, and therewithal they do anoint the region of the heart, the breast, and the wrists of the hands. I think these very meet to be used often in bodies that are strong and well exercised, because weaker medicines do evacuate little or nothing at all, but only move the humours, whereby cometh a Fever. When a sufficient quantity of the malignity is evacuated, than you must minister things that may strengthen the belly and stomach, and withhold the agitation or working of the humours: and such is confection of Alkermes.   

CHAP. XVIII.  
Of maute Symptoms which happen together with the Plague: and first of the pain of the head.  
IF the malignity be carried into the brain, and nature be not able to expel it, it inflames not only it, but also the membranes that do cover it: which inflammation doth one while hurt, trouble, or abolish the imagination, another while the judgement, and sometimes the memory, according to the situation of the inflammation, whether it be in the former, hinder, or middle part of the head; but hereof cometh always a Frenzy, with fiery redness of the eyes and face, and heaviness and burning of the whole head. If this will not be amended with Clysters, and with opening the Cephalic vein in the arm, the arteries of the temples must be opened, taking so much blood out of them, as the greatness of the Symptoms and the strength of the patient shall require and permit. Truly the incision that is made in opening of an artery will close and join together as readily, and with as little difficulty, as the incision of a vein. And of such an incision of an artery cometh present help, by reason that the tensive and sharp vapours do plentifully breathe out together with the arterious blood. It were also very good to provoke a flux of blood at the nose, if nature be apt to exonerate herself that way. For, as Hypocrates saith, when the head is grieved, or generally acheth; if matter, water, or blood flow cut at the nostrils, mouth, or ears, it presently cures the disease. Such bleeding is to be provoked by strong blowing, or striving to cleanse the nose, by scratching or picking of the inner sides of the nostrils, by pricking with an horse hair, and long holding down of the head. The Lord of Fontaines, a Knight of the Order, when we were at Bayon, had a bleeding at the nose, which came naturally for the space of two days, and thereby he was freed of a pestilent Fever which he had before, a great sweat rising therewithal, and shortly after his Carbuncles came to suppuration, and by God's grace he recovered his health being under my cure. If the blood do flow out and cannot be stopped when it ought, the hands, arms, and legs must be tied with bands, and sponges wet in Oxycrate must be put under the armholes, cupping-glasses must be applied unto the dugs, the region of the liver and spleen; and you must put into the nostrils the down of the Willow tree, or any other astringent medicine, incorporated with the hairs plucked from the flank, belly, or throat of a Hare, bowl Armenicke, Terra sigillata, the juice of Plantain and Knotgrass mixed together; and furthermore the patient must be placed or laid in a cool place. But if the pain be nothing mitigated, notwithstanding all these fluxes of blood, we must come to medicines that procure sleep, whose forms are these:  
Take of green Lettuce one handful, flowers of water Lilies and Violets, of each two pugils; one head of white Poppy bruised; of the four cold seeds, of each two drams; of Liquoris and Raisins, of each one dram: make thereof a decoction, and in the straining dissolve one ounce and an half of Diacodion: make thereof a large potion, to be given when they go to rest. Also a Barley-cream may be prepared in the water of water Lilies and Sorrel, of each two ounces, adding thereto six or eight grains of Opium: of the four cold seeds, and of white Poppy seeds, of each half an ounce, and let the same be boiled in broths with Lettuce and Purslane; also the Pills de Cynoglosso, idest, Hound's tongue may be given. Clysters that provoke sleep must be used, which may be thus prepared:  
Take of Barleywater half a pint; oil of Violets and waterlillies, of each two ounces; of the water of Plantain and Purslane, or rather of their ivices, three ounces; of Camphire seven grains, and the whites of three eggs: make thereof a Clyster. The head must be fomented with Rose-vinegar, the hair being first shaved away, leaving a double cloth wet therein on the same, and often renewed. Sheep's lungs taken warm out of the bodies, may be applied to the head, as long as they are warm. Cupping-glasses with scarification and without scarification, may be applied unto the neck and shoulderblades. The arms and legs must be strongly bound, being first well rubbed to divert the sharp vapours and humours from the head. Frontals may also be made on this manner. Take of the oil of Roses and waterlillies, of each two ounces; of the oil of Poppey half an ounce; of Opium one dram; of Rose-vinegar one ounce, of Camphire half a dram, mix them together. Also Nodules may be made of the flowers of Poppies, Henbane, waterlillies, Mandrakes beaten in Rose-water with a little Vinegar, and a little Camphire, and let them be often applied to the nostrils: for this purpose Cataplasms also may be laid to the forehead. As, Take of the mucilage of the seeds of Psilium, id est, Fleawort, and Quince seeds extracted in Rose-water, three ounces; of Barley meal four ounces; of the powder of Rose leaves, the flowers of waterlillies and Violets, of each half an ounce; of the seeds of Poppies and Purslane, of each two ounces; of the water and vinegar of Roses, of each three ounces: make thereof a Cataplasine, and apply it warm unto the head. Or, Take of the juice of Lettuce, waterlillies, Henbane, Purslane, of each half a pint; of Rose▪ leaves in powder, the seeds of Poppy, of each half an ounce; oil of Roses three ounces; of Vinegar two ounces; of Barley meal as much as shall suffice: make thereof a Cataplasm in the form of a liquid Pultis. When the heat of the head is mitigated by these medicines, & the inflammation of the brain assuaged, we must come unto digesting and resolving fomentations, which may disperse the matter of the vapours. But commonly in pain of the head, they do use to bind the forehead and hinder part of the head very strongly, which in this case must be avoided.   

CHAP. XIX.  
Of the Erruptiou and spots which commonly are called by the name of Purples and Tokens.  
IN Pestilent fevers, the skin is marked and variegated in divers places with spots, like unto the bitings of Fleas or Gnats, which are not always simple, but many times arise in form like unto a grain of millet. The more spots appear, the better it is for the patient: they are of divers colours according to the virulency of the malignity and condition of the matter, as red, yellow, brown, violet, or purple, blue & black. And because for the most part they are of a purple colour, therefore we callthem Purples. Others call them Lenticulae, because they have the colour and form of lentils. They are also called Papiliones (i) Butterflies, because they do suddenly seize or fall upon divers regions of the body, like unto winged Butterflies, sometimes the face, sometimes the arms and legs, and sometimes all the whole body; oftentimes they do not only affect the upper part of the skin, but go deeper into the flesh, specially when they proceed of matter that is gross and adust. They do sometimes appear great and broad, affecting the whole arm, leg or face like unto an Erysipelas: to conclude, they are divers according to the variety of the humour that offends in quality or quantity. If they are of a purple or black colour, with often sounding, and sink in suddenly without any manifest cause, they foreshow death. The cause of the breaking out of those spots, is the working, or heat of the blood, by reason of the cruelty of the venom received, or admitted. They often arise at the beginning of a Pestilent fever: many times before the breaking out of the Sore, or Botch, or Carbuncle, and many times after: but then they show so greata corruption of the humours in the body, that neither the Sores, nor Carbuncles will suffice to receive them, and therefore they appear as forerunners of death. Sometimes they break out alone, without a Botch or Carbuncle: which if they be red and have no evil Symptoms joined with them, they are not wont to prove deadly: they appear for the most part on the third or fourth day of the disease, and sometimes later, and sometimes they appear not before the patient be dead, because the working, or heat of the humours, being the offspring of putrefaction is not as yet restrained and ceased. Wherefore then principally the putrid heat, which is greatest a little before the death of the patient, drives the excremental humours, which are the matter of the spots, unto the skin; or else because nature in the last conflict hath contended with some greater endeavour then before (which is common to all things, that are ready to dye.) a little before the instant time of death, the Pestilent humour being presently driven unto the skin; and nature thus weakened by this extreme conflict, falleth down prostrate and is quite overthrown by the remnant of the matter.   

CHAP. XX.  
Of the cure of Eruptions and spots.  
YOu must first of all take heed lest you drive in the humour that is coming outwards with repercussives: Therefore beware of cold, all purging things, Phlebotomy, and drowsy or sound sleeping. For all such things do draw the humours inwardly, and work contrary to nature. But it is better to provoke the motion of nature outwardly, by applying of drawing medicines outwardly, and ministering medicines to provoke sweat inwardly for otherwise by repelling and stopping the matter of the eruptions there will be great danger lest the heart be oppressed with the abundance of the venom flowing back: or else by turning into the belly it infers a mortal bloody flux: which discommodities that they may be avoided, I have thought good to set down this remedy, whose Efficacy I have known and proved many times and on divers persons, when by reason of the weakness of the expulsive faculty and the thickness of the skin, the matter of the spots cannot break forth, but is constrained to surke under the skin, lifting it up into bunches and knobs. I was brought unto the invention of this remedy by comparison of the like. For when I understood that the essence of the French Poxs' (and likewise of the Pestilence) consisted in a certain hidden virulency and venomous quality, I soon descended unto that opinion, that even as by the anointing of the body with the unguent compounded of Quicksilver, the gross & clammy humours which are fixed in the bones, and unmoveable are dissolved, relaxed, and drawn from the centre into the superficial parts of the body, by strengthening and stirring up the expulsive faculty, and evacuated by sweeting and fluxing at the mouth; That so it should come to pass in Pestilent fevers, that nature being strengthened with the same kind of unction, might unloade herself of some portion of the venomous and Pestilent humour by opening the pores and passages and letting it break forth into spots and pustles and into all kind of eruptions. Therefore I have anointed many in whom nature seemed to make passage for the venomous matter very slowly, first losing their belly with a Clyster and then giving them Treacle water to drink, which might defend the vital faculty of the heart, but yet not distend the stomach, as though they had had the French Pox, and I obtained my expected purpose; in stead of the Treacle water, you may use the decoction of Guaiacum, which doth heat, dry, provoke sweat and repel putrefaction, adding thereto also vinegar, that by the subtlety thereof it may pierce the better, and withstand the putrefaction. This is the description of the unguent. Take of Hogs grease one pound, boil it a little with the leaves of Sage, Time, Rosmary, of each half an handful, strain it, and in the straining extinguish five ounces of Quicksilver, which hath been first boiled in Vinegar with the forenamed herbs, of Sal Nitrum 3 drams, the yolks of three eggs boiled until they be hard, of Treacle and Mithridate of each half an ounce, of Venice Turpentine, oil of Scorpions and Bays, of each three ounces, incorporate them altogether in a mortar, and make thereof an unguent, wherewith anoint the patients arm-holes and groin, avoiding the parts that belong to the head, breast and back bone, then let him be laid in his bed and covered warm, and let him sweat there for the space of two hours, and then let his body be wiped and cleansed, and if it may be let him be laid in another bed, and there let him be refreshed with the broth of the decoction of a Capon, rear Eggs, and with such like meats of good juice that are easy to be concocted and digested; let him be anointed the second and the third day, unless the spots appear before. If the patient flux at the mouth it must not be stopped: when the spots and pustles do all appear and the patient hath made an end of sweeting, it shall be convenient to use diuretic medicines, for by these the remainant of the matter of the spots, which happily could not all breath forth, may easily be purged and avoided by the urine. If any noble or gentlemen refuse to be anointed with this unguent, let them be enclosed in the body of a Mule or Horse that is newly killed, and when that is cold let them be laid in another, until the pustles and eruptions do break forth, being drawn by that natural heat. For so Matthiolus writeth, that Valentinus the son of Pope Alexander the sixth was delivered from the danger of most deadly poison which he had drunk.   

CHAP. XXI.  
Of a Pestilent Bubo, or Plague-sore.  
A Pestilent Bubo is a tumour at the beginning long and movable, and in the state and full perfection copped and with a sharp head, unmoveable and fixed deeply in the glandules, or kernels, by which the brain exonerates itself of the venomous and pestiferous matter into the kernels that are behind the ears, and in the neck: the heart into those that are in the arm-holes: and the liver into those that are in the groin; that is, when all the matter is gross and clammy, so that it cannot be drawn out by spots and pustles breaking out on the skin; and so the matter of a Carbuncle is sharp and so fervent that it maketh an Eschar on the place where it is fixed. In the beginning while the Bubo is breeding it maketh the patient to feel as it were a cord or rope stretched in the place, or a hardened nerve with pricking pain: and shortly after the matter is raised up as it were into a knob, and by little and little it groweth bigger and is inflamed, these accidents before mentioned accompanying it. If the tumour be red and increase by little and little, it is a good and salutary sign: but if it be livide or black, and come very slowly unto its just bigness, it is a deadly sign: It is also a deadly sign if it increase suddenly and come unto his just bigness as it were with a swift violence, & as in a moment have all the Symptoms in the highest excess, as pain, swelling and burning. Buboes or Sores appear sometimes of a natural colour like unto the skin, and in all other things like unto an oedematous tumour, which notwithstanding will suddenly bring the patient to destruction, like those that are livide and black, wherefore it is not good to trust too much to those kinds of tumours.   

CHAP. XXII.  
Of the cure of Buboes, or Plague-sores.  
SO soon as the Bubo appears, apply a Cupping-glass with a great flame unto it; unless it be that kind of Bubo which will suddenly have all the accidents of burning and swelling in the highest nature; but first the skin must be anointed with oil of Lilies, that so it being made more loose the Cupping-glass may draw the stronger and more powerfully: it ought to stick to the part for the space of a quarter of an hour, and to be renewed and applied again every three quarters of an hour, for so at the length the venom shall be the better drawn forth from any noble part that is weak, and the work of suppuration or resolution, whichsoever nature hath assayed, will the better and sooner be absolved and perfected: which may be also done by the application of the following ointment.  
Take of Vnguentum Dialthaea one ounce and a half; oil of Scorpions half an ounce; of Mithridate dissolved in Aquavitae half a dram: this lineament will very well relax and loosen the skin, open the pores thereof, and spend forth portion of that matter which the Cupping-glass hath drawn thither: in stead thereof mollifying fomentations may be made, and other drawing and suppurating medicines, which shall be described hereafter. A Vesicatory applied in a meet place below the Bubo profits very much, but not above; as for example. If the Bubo be in the throat, the Vesicatory must be applied unto the shoulder blade on the same side: if it be in the armholes, it must be applied in the midst of the arm, or of the shoulder bone on the inner side: if in the groin, in the midst of the thigh on the inner side, that by the double passage that is open for to draw out the matter, the part wherein the venom is gathered together may be the better exonerated. Spurge, Crowfoot, Arsmart, Bear-foot, bryony, the middle bark of Travellers-ioy, the rinds of mullet, Flammula or upright Virgins-bower, are fit for raising blisters. If you cannot come by those simple medicines, you may apply this that followeth, which may be prepared at all times.  
Take Cantharideses, Pepper, Euphorbium, Pellitory of Spain, of each half a dram; of sour Leaven two drams; of Mustard one dram, and a little Vinegar; the Vinegar is added thereto to withhold or restrain the vehemency of the Cantharideses; but in want of this medicine it shall suffice to drop scalding oil or water, or a burning candle, or to lay a burning coal on the place: for so you may raise blisters, which must presently be cut away, and you must see that you keep the ulcers open and flowing as long as you can by applying the leaves of red Coleworts, Beets, or ivy dipped in warm water, and anointed with oil or fresh butter. Some apply Cauteries, but Vesicatories work with more speed: for before the Eschar of the Cauteries will fall away the patient may die: therefore the ulcers that are made with vesicatories will suffice to evacuate the pestilent venom; because that doth work rather by its quality than its quantity. Let the abscess be fomented as it is showed before: and then let the medicine following, which hath virtue to draw, be applied, Fill a great onion, being hollowed, with Treacle and the leaves of Rue; then roast it under the hot embers, beat it with a little Leaven and a little Swine's grease, and so apply it warm unto the abscess or sore; let it be changed every six hours. Or, Take the roots of Marshmallows and Lilies, of each half a pound; of Line, Foenigreeke, and Mustard seeds, of each half an ounce; of Treacle one dram; ten figs, and as much hog's grease as shall suffice: make thereof a Cataplasm according to Arte. Or, Take of Onions and Garlic roasted in the embers, of each three ounces; bruise them with one ounce of sour Leaven, adding thereto Vuguentum Basilicon one ounce; Treacle one dram; Mithridate half a dram; of old hog's grease one ounce; of Cantharideses in powder one scruple; of Pigeons dung two drams; beat them and mix them together into the form of a Cataplafme. Hereunto old Rennet is very profitable; for it is hot and therefore attractive being mixed with old Leaven & Basilicon: you ought to use these until the abscess be grown unto its full ripeness and bigness; but if presently after the beginning there be great inflammation, with sharp pain, as it often happeneth, especially when the abscesses be of the kind of Carbuncles, we must abstain from those remedies that are hot and attractive, and also from these that are very emplastic and clammy; because they do altogether close the pores of the skin, or because they do resolve the thinner part of the collected matter, which if it might remain would bring the other sooner to suppuration: or else because they may perchance draw more quantity of the hot matter than the part can bear, whereof cometh rather corruption than maturation: and last of all because they increase the Fever and pain, which inferreth danger of a Convulsion or mortal Gangrene. Therefore in such a case it is best to use cold and temperate local medicines; as the leaves of Henbane and Sorrel roasted under the coals, Galens pultis, and such like. There are many that for fear of death have with their own hands pulled away the Bubo with a pair of Smith's pincers: others have digged the flesh round about it, and so gotten it wholly out. And to conclude, others have become so mad, that they have thrust an hot iron into it with their own hand, that the venom might have a passage forth: of all which I do not allow one; for such abscesses do not come from without, as the bitings of virulent beasts, but from within, and moreover because pain is by these means increased, and the humour is made more malign and fierce. Therefore I think it sufficient to use medicines that do relax, open the pores of the skin, and digest portion of the venom by transpiration, as are these that follow. Take the roots of Marshmallows and Lilies, of each six ounces; of Chamomill and Melilote flowers, of each half an handful; of Linne seeds half an ounce; of the leaves of Rue half an handful; boil them and strain them, dip sponges in the straining, and there with let the rumour be fomented a long time. Or, Take the crumb of hot bread, and sprinkle it with Treacle-water, or with Aqud vitae, and Cow's milk or Goat's milk, and the yolks of three eggs, put them all on stupes or flax, and apply them warm unto the place. Or, Take of sour Rye leaven four ounces; of Basilicon two ounces, three yolks of eggs, oil of Lilies two ounces, Treacle one dram; let it be received on stupes and applied in like manner. Or, Take of Diachylon and Basilicon, of each two ounces, oil of Lilies one ounce and half; let them be melted and mixed together, and let it be applied as is abovesaid. When you see, feel, and know, according to reason, that the Bubo is come to perfect suppuration, it must be opened with an incision knife, or an actual or potential Cautery, but it is best to be done with a potential Cautery, unless that happily there be great inflammation, because it doth draw the venom from beneath unto the superficial parts, and maketh a larger orifice for the matter that is contained therein: neither must it be looked for, that nature should open it of herself, for than it were danger that lest while nature doth work slowly a venomous vapour should be stirred up, which striking the heart by the arteries, the brain by the nerves, and the liver by the veins, causeth a new increase of the venomous infection. For fear whereof there be some that will not expect the perfect maturation and suppuration, but as it were in the midst of the crudity and maturity will make an orifice for it to pass forth at: yet if it be done before the tumour be at his perfect maturity, pain, a fever, and all accidents are stirred up and enraged, whereof cometh a malign ulcer that often degenerates into a Gangrene. For the most part about the tenth or eleventh day the work of suppuration seemeth perfected and finished; but it may be sooner or later by reason of the application of medicines, the condition of the matter and state of the part▪ when the matter cometh forth, you must yet use suppurative and mollifying medicines to maturate the remains thereof, in the mean while cleansing the vicer by putting mundificatives into it, as we shall declare in the cure of Carbuncles. But if the tumour seem to sink in or hide itself again, it must be revoked and procured to come forth again, by applying of Cupping-glasses with scarification, & with sharp medicines, yea and with Cauteries both actual and potential. When the Cauteries are applied it shall be very good to apply a vesicatory a little below it, that there may be some passage open for the venom while the Eschar is in falling away. For so they that are troubled with the french Pox, so long as they have open and flowing ulcers, so long are they void of any pain that is worth the speaking of; which ulcers being closed and cicatriced, they doc presently complain of great pain. If you suspect that the Bubo is more malign by reason that it is of a green, or black, and inflamed colour, as are those that come of a melancholy humour by adustion, turned into a gross and rebellious melancholy humour, so that by the more copious influx thereof into the part, there is danger of a Gangrene and mortification; then the places about the abscess must be armed with repercussives, but not the abscess itself: and this may be the form of the repercussives: Take of the juice of houseleek, Purslane, Sorrell, Nightshade, of each two ounces; of Vinegar one ounce; the whites of three eggs; of oil of Roses and waterlillies, of each two ounces and a half; stir them together, and apply it about the Bubo, and renew it often: or boil a Pomegranate in Vinegar, beat it with Vnguentum Rosatum, or Populin newly made, and applied as is aforesaid. If these things do not stop the influx of other humours, the abscess itself and the places round about it must be scarified round about, if the part will permit it; that the part exonerated of portion of the venom may not stand in danger of the extinction of the proper and natural heat, by the greater quantity and malignity of the humours that flow unto it. In scarifying you must have care of the great vessels for fear of an irrepugnable flux of blood, which in this case is very hard to be stayed or resisted; both because the part itself is greatly inflamed, and the humour very fierce; for the expulsion whereof, nature, careful for the preservation of the part and all the body beside, seemeth to labour and work. But yet you must suffer so much of the blood and humour to flow out as the Patient is able to abide without the loss of his strength. Moreover you may spend forth the superfluous portion of the malignity, with relaxing, mollifying, and resolving fomentations: as, Take the roots of Marsh Mallows, Lilies and Elecampane, of each one pound, of Linseeds and Faenigreek, of each one ounce, of Fennell-seeds and Annifeeds, of each half an ounce, of the leaves of Rue, Sage, Rosemary, of each one handful, of Chamomill and Melilote flowers, of each three handfuls; boil them altogether, and make thereof a decoction for a fomentation; use it with a sponge according to Art. Also after the aforesaid scarification, we may put Hens, or Turkeys that lay eggs (which therefore have their fundaments more wide and open, and for the same purpose put a little salt into their fundaments) upon the sharp top of the Bubo, that by shutting their bills at several times they may draw & suck the venom into their bodies, far more strongly and better than cupping glasses, because they are endued with a natural property against poison, for they eat and concoct Toads, Efts, and such like virulent beasts: when one hen is killed with the poison that she hath drawn into her body you must apply another, and then the third, fourth, fifth and sixth within the space of half an hour. There be some that will rather cut them, or else whelps in the midst, and apply them warm unto the place, that by the heat of the creature that is yet scarce dead, portion of the venom may be dissipated and exhaled. But if never thelesse there be any fear of a Gangrene at hand, you must cut the flesh with a deeper scarification, not only annoying the greater vessels, but also the nerves for fear of convulsion: and after the scarification and a sufficient flux of blood, you must wash it with Aegyptiacum, Treacle and Mithridate dissolved in sea-water, Aquavita and Vinegar. For such a lotion hath virtue to stay putrefaction, repel the venom, and prohibit the blood from concretion: but if the Gangrene cannot be avoided so, cauteries may be applied to the part: especially actual, because they do more effectually repel the force of the poison and strengthen the part. Presently after the impression of the hot iron, the eschar must be cut away even unto the quick flesh, that the venomous vapours, and the humours may have a free passage forth, for it is not to be looked for that they will come forth of themselves. With these injunctions they are wont to hasten the falling away of the Eschar. Take of the mucilage of Marshmallows and Linseedes, of each 2 ounces, fresh Butter or Hogs-grease one ounce, the yolks of three eggs, incorporate them together and make thereof an ointment: Butter, Swines-grease, oil of roses, with the yolks of eggs, perform the self same thing. When the Eschar is fallen away, we must use digestives. As, Take of the juice of Plantain water, Betonie, and Smallage, of each three ounces, Honey of Roses four ounces, Venice Turpentine five ounces, Barley flower three drams, Aloes two drams, oil of Roses four ounces, Treacle half a dram, make a mundificative according to Arte. Or, Take Venice Turpentine four ounces, Syrup of dried Roses and Wormwood of each one ounce, of the powder of Aloes, Mastic, Myrrh, Barley flower, of each one dram, of Mithridate half an ounce, incorporate them together. This unguent that followeth is very meet for putrified and corroding ulcers, Take red Orpiment one ounce, of unquenched Lime, burnt Alum, Pomegranate pills, of each six drams, of Olibanus, Galls, of each two drams, of Wax and Oil as much as shall suffice, make thereof an unguent. This doth mundify strongly, consume putrefied flesh, and dry up virulent humidities that engender Gangrenes. But there is not a more excellent unguent than Aegyptiacum increased in strength, for besides many other virtues that it hath, it doth consume and waste the proud flesh, for there is neither oil nor wax that goeth into the composition thereof, with which things the virtue of sharp medicines convenient for such ulcers is delayed, and as it were dulled and hindered from their perfect operation so long as the ulcer is kept open. There are many that being deceased with this disease, who have had much matter and venomous filth come out at their abscesses, so that it seemeth sufficient, and they have been thought well recovered, yet have died suddenly. In the mean while when these things are in doing cordial medicines are not to be omitted to strengthen the heart. And purgations must be renewed at certain seasons, that nature may be every way unloaded of the burden of the venenate humours.   

CHAP. XXIII.  
Of the Nature, Causes and Signs of a pestilent Carbuncle.  
A Pestilent Carbuncle is a small tumour, or rather a malign pustle, hot and raging, consisting of blood vitiated by the corruption of the proper substance. It often cometh to pass through the occasion of this untameable malignity, that the Carbuncle cannot be governed or contained within the dominion of nature. In the beginning it is scarce so big as a seed or grain of Millet or a Pease, sticking firmly unto the part and unmovable, so that the skin cannot be pulled from the flesh; but shortly after it increaseth like unto a Bubo unto a round and sharp head, with great heat, pricking pain, as if it were with needles, burning and intolerable, especially a little before night, and while the meat is in concocting, more than when it is perfectly concocted. In the midst thereof appeareth a bladder puffed up and filled with sanious matter. If you cut this bladder you shall find the flesh under it parched, burned, and black, as if there had been a burning coal laid there, whereby it seemeth that it took the name of Carbuncle; but the flesh that is about the place is like a Rainbow, of diverse colours, as red, dark, green, purple, livide, and black; but yet always with a shining blackness, like unto stone pitch, or like unto the true precious stone which they call a Carbuncle, whereof some also say it took the name. Some call it a Nail, because it inferreth like pain as a nail driven into the flesh. There are many Carbuncles which take their beginning with a crusty ulcer without a pustle, like to the burning of an hot iron: and these are of a black colour, they increase quickly, according to the condition of the matter whereof they are made. All pestilent Carbuncles have a Fever joined with them, and the grieved part seemeth to be so heavy, as if it were covered or pressed with lead tied hard with a ligature: there cometh mortal swound, faintings, tossing, turning, idle talking, raging, Gangrenes, and mortifications, not only to the part, but also to the whole body, by reason (as I think) of the oppression of the spirits of the part, and the suffocation of the natural heat, as we see also in many that have a pestilent Bubo. For a Bubo and Carbuncle are tumours of a near affinity, so that the one doth scarce come without the other, consisting of one kind of matter, unless that which maketh the Bubo is more gross and clammy, and that which causeth the Carbuncle more sharp, burning, and raging, by reason of its greater subtlety, so that it maketh an Eschar on the place where it is, as we noted before.   

CHAP. XXIV.  
What Prognostickes may be made in pestilent Buboes and Carbuncles.  
SOme having the Pestilence have but one Carbuncle, and some more in diverse parts of their body. And in many it happeneth that they have the Bubo & Carbuncle before they have any Fever; which giveth better hope of health, if there be no other malign accident therewith: for it is a sign that nature is the victor, and hath gotten the upper hand, which excluded the pestilent venom before it could come to assault the heart. But if a Carbuncle and Bubo come after the Fever, it is mortal; for it is a token that the heart is affected, moved, and incensed with the furious rage of the venom; whereof presently cometh a feverish heat or burning, and corruption of the humours, sent as it were from the centre unto the superficies of the body. It is a good sign when the patient's mind is not troubled from the beginning until the seventh day; but when the Bubo or Carbuncle finketh down again shortly after that it is risen, it is a mortal sign, especially if ill accidents follow it. If after they are brought to suppuration they presently wax dry without any reason thereof, it is an ill sign: Those Carbuncles that are generated of blood have a greater Eschar than those that are made of choler, because that blood is of a more gross consistence, and therefore occupieth a greater room in the flesh: chose a choleric humour is more small in quantity and thy nne, and it taketh little room in the upper part of the flesh only, as you may see in an Erysipelas. And I have seen Carbuncles whose Eichars were as broad and as large as half the back: also I have seen others, which going up by the shoulders to the throat, did so eat away the flesh that was under them, that the rough artery or windpipe might be seen bare, when the Eschar was fallen away: I had once a Carbuncle which was in the midst of my belly, so that when the Eschar was fallen away, I might very plainly see the Peritonaum or Rim: and the cicatrice that remaineth is as broad as my hand: but they do not spread themselves so far without the great danger or death of the patient. There are also some Carbuncles which beginning at the parts under the chin, disperse themselves by little & little unto the patel bones, and so strangle the patient. So in many, the Buboes in the groin arise above a great part of the muscles of the Epigastrium. Truly of those abscesses that are so large and great in quantity, and so terrible to be seen, there is great danger of death to the patient, or at least to the grieved part. For after the consolidation the part remaineth as if it were leprous, which abolisheth the action of the part, as I have seen in many. Oftentimes also the corruption of the matter is so great, that the flesh leaveth the bones bare: but Carbuncles often leave the joints and ligaments quite resolved through the occasion of the moisture that is soaked and sunk in unto them; for they often cast out putrefied and virulent sanious matter: whereby eating and creeping ulcers are bred, many blisters and pustles arising up in the parts round about it; which shortly breaking into one, make a great ulcer. These do come very seldom and slowly unto suppuration, or at least to cast out laudable matter, especially if they have their original of choler, because the matter is sooner burned with heat, than suppurated. Therefore then, if they can be brought to suppuration by no medicines, if the tumour still remain black, if when they are opened nothing at all, or else a very little sharp moisture doth come forth, they are altogether mortal: and there is scarce one of a thousand who hath these accidents that recovereth their health: dispersed small blisters coming of vapours stirred up by the matter that is under the skin, and are there stayed and kept from passage forth, do not necessarily foreshow death in Carbuncles. But if the part be swollen or puffed up, if it be of a green or black colour, and if it feel neither pricking nor burning, it is a sign of a mortal Gangrene. Buboes or Carbuncles seldom or never come without a fever: but the fever is more vehement when they are in the emunctories, or nervous parts, than when they are in the fleshy parts, yet it is less, and all Symptoms are less and more tolerable in a man that is strong and of a good temperature: Carbuncles do not only affect the outward but also the inward parts, and oftentimes both together. If the heart be vexed in such sort with a Carbuncle that nothing thereof appeareth forth on the superficial parts, all hope of life is past, and those die suddenly, eating, drinking, or walking, and not thinking any thing of death. If the Carbuncle be in the midriff or lungs they are soon suffocated: If it be in the brain the patient becometh frantic, and so dyeth. If it be in the parts appointed for the passage of the urine, they die of the suppression of their water, as it happened in the Queen mother's waiting maid at the Castle of Rossilion, of whom I spoke before. If it be in the stomach it inferreth the accidents that are showed in this history following. While I was Surgeon in the Hospital of Paris, a young and strong Monk of the order of S. Victor being overseer of the women that kept the sick people of that place, fell into a continual fever very suddenly with his tongue black, dry, rough, (by reason of the putrefied and corrupted humours, and the vapours rising from the whole body unto that place) and hanging out like unto an hounds, with unquenchable thirst, oftensounding and desire to vomit. He had convulsions over all his body through the vehemency and malignity of the disease, and so he died the third day, wherefore those that kept the sick people in the Hospital thought that he had been poisoned, for the certain knowledge whereof, the governors of the Hospital commanded his body to be opened.  
I therefore calling to me a Physician and Surgeon, we found in the bottom of his stomach a print or impression, as if it had been made with an hot Iron or potential Cautery, with an Eschar or crust as broad as one's nail, all the rest of his stomach was greatly contracted and shrunk up together, and as it were horny; which we considering, and especially the Eschar which was deep in the substance of the stomach, we all said with one voice that he was poisoned with Sublimate or Arsenic. But behold while I was sowing up his belly I perceived many black spots dispersed diverfly throughout the skin: then I asked my company what they thought of those spots; truly (said I) it seemeth unto me that they are like unto the purple spots or marks that are in the Pestilence. The Physician and the Chirurgeon denied it, and said that they were the bitings of fleas. But I persuaded them to consider the number of them over all the whole body, and also their great depth and depression into the flesh; for when we had thrust needles deep into the flesh in the midst of them, and so cut away the flesh about the needle, we found the flesh about the needle to be black: moreover his nostrils, nails, and ears were livide, and all the constitution of his body was contrary and far unlike to the bodies of those that died of other sicknesses or diseases. Also it was credibly reported unto us by those that kept him, that his face was altered a little before he died that his familiar friends could hardly know him. We, so persuaded by these proofs, revoked our former opinion and sentence, and made a certificate to be sent unto the Governors and Masters of the Hospital, setting our hands and seals unto it, to certify them that he died of a pestistent Carbuncle.   

CHAP. XXV.  
Of the cure of a pestilent Carbuncle.  
BY the forenamed signs of a pestilent Carbuncle, and especially by the bitterness of the pain, malignity of the venomous matter, and by the burning fever that is therewithal annexed I think it manifest, that very hot, emplastic, and drawing medicines should not be applied to this kind of tumour; because they prohibit or hinder the exhalation, or wasting forth of the venenate malignity; because that by stopping the pores of the skin, they increase and cause a greater heat in the part than there was before. Therefore it is better to use resolving medicines, which may assuage heat, and resolve the pores of the skin. Therefore first the place must be fomented with water and oil mixed together, wherein a little Treacle hath been dissolved, leaving thereon stupes wet therein: you may also use the decoction of Mallows, the roots of Lilies, Linseedes, Figs, with oil of Hypericon for to make the skinnethinne, and to draw forth the matter; and the day following you must apply the Cataplasm following. Take the leaves of Sorrel and Henbane, roast them under the hot ashes; afterwards beat them with four yolks of eggs, two dams of Treacle, oil of Lilies three ounces, Barley meal as much as shall suffice; make thereof a Cataplasm in the form of a liquid pultis; this assuages heat & furthers suppuration. Or, Take the roots of Marshmallows & Lilies, of each four ounces, Linseeds half an ounce, boil them, beat them, and then strain them through a searse, adding thereto of fresh butter one ounce and an half, of Mithridate one dram, of Barley-meal as much as shall suffice; make thereof a Cataplasm according to Art: those Cataplasms that follow are most effectual to draw the venomous matter forth, and to make a perfect suppuration, especially when the flux of the matter is not so great but that the part may bear it. Take the roots of white Lilies, Onions, Leaven, of each half an ounce; Mustard-seeds, Pigeons dung, Soap, of each one dram; six Snails in their shells; of fine Sugar, Treacle, and Mithridate, of each half a dram, beat them altogether, and incorporate them with the yolks of eggs, make thereof a Cataplasm, and apply it warm. Or, Take the yolks of six eggs; of salt powdered one ounce; of oil of Lilies and Treacle, of each half a dram; Barley-meal as much as shall suffice; make thereof a Cataplasm. Take of ordinary Diachylon four ounces; of Vnguentum Basilicon two ounces, oil of Violets half an ounce; make thereof a medicine. Many ancient Professors greatly commend Scabious ground or brayed between two stones, and mixed with old Hogs-grease, the yolks of eggs and a little salt; for it will cause suppuration in Carbuncles: also an egg itself being mixed with Barley-meal, and oil of Violets doth mitigate pain and suppurate. A Radish root cut in slices, and so the slices laid one after one unto a Carbuncle or pestilent tumour, doth mightily draw out the poison. The juice of Colt's foot doth extinguish the heat of Carbuncles: the herb called Divels-bit, being bruised, worketh the like effect: I have often used the medicine following unto the heat of Carbuncles with very good success; it doth also assuage pain and cause suppuration. Take of the soot scraped from a chimney four ounces, of common salt two ounces, beat them into small powder, adding thereto the yolks of two eggs, and stir them well together until it come to have the consistence of a pultis, and let it be applied warm unto the Carbuncle. In the beginning the point or head of the Carbuncle must be burned, if it be black, by dropping thereinto scalding hot oil, or Aquafortis: for by such a burning the venom is suffocated as touched by lightning, and the pain is much lessened, as I have proved oftentimes: neither is it to be feared lest that this burning should be too painful, for it toucheth nothing but the point of the carbuncle, which by reason of the eschar that is there, is void of sense. After this burning, you must go forward with the former described medicines, until the eschar seemeth to separate itself from the flesh round about it, which is a token of the patient's recovery, for it signifieth that nature is strong and able to resist the poison. After the fall of the Eschar you must use gentle mundificatives, as those which we have prescribed in a pestilent Bubo, not omitting sometimes the use of suppurative and mollifying medicines, that while the gross matter is cleansed, that which is as yet rude may be brought to suppuration; for then the indication is twofold, the one to suppurate that which remaineth as yet crude and raw in the part, and the other to cleanse that which remaineth concocted and perfectly digested in the vicer.   

CHAP. XXVI.  
How to cure Infants and Children taken with the Plague.  
IF that it happen that sucking or weaned children be infected with the pestilence, they must be cured after another order than is yet described. The Nurse of the sucking child must govern herself so in diet and the use of medicines as she were infected with the pestilence herself: Her diet consisteth in the use of the six things not natural. Therefore let it be moderate, for the fruit or profit of that moderation in diet cannot choose but come unto the nurse's milk, and so unto the infant who liveth only by the milk. And the infant itself must keep the same diet as near as he can in sleep, waking, and expulsion, or avoiding of superfluous humours and excrements of the body. Let the nurse be fed with those things that do mitigate the violence of the feverish heat: as cooling broths, cooling herbs, and meats of a moderate temperature: she must wholly abstain from wine, and anoint her nipples, as often as she giveth the infant suck, with water, or juice of sorrel tempered with sugar of roses. But the infant's heart must be fortified against the violence of the increasing venom, by giving it one scruple of treacle in the nurse's milk, the broth of a pullet or some other cordial water. It is also very necessary to anoint the region of the heart, the emunctories and both the wrists with the same medicine: neither were it unprofitable to smell often unto Treacle dissolved in rose water, vinegar of roses and a little Aquavita, that so nature may be strengthened against the malignity of the venom. When the children are weaned and somewhat well grown, they may take medicines by the mouth, for when they are able to concoct and turn into blood meats that are more gross and firm than milk, they may easily activate a gentle medicine. Therefore a potion must be prepared for them of twelve grains of treacle dissolved with a little of the syrup of succory in some cordial water, or the broth of a capon: unless that any had rather give it with conserve of roses in form of a bowl: but treacle must be given to children in very small quantity, for if it be taken in any large quantity there is great danger lest that by inflamming the humours it infer a fever. Furthermore broth may be prepared to be taken often, made of a capon seasoned with sorrel, lettuce, purslane, and cooling seeds, adding thereto bowl armenic and terrae sigillata, of each one ounce, being tied in a rag and sometimes pressed out from the decoction. For bowl armenic, whether it be by its marvelous faculty of drying, or by some hidden property, hath this virtue, that being drunken (according as Galen witnesseth) it cureth those that are infected with the pestilence, if so be that they may be cured by physic: so that those that cannot be cured with bowl armenic, cannot be preserved by any other medicines. But because the bodies of children are warm, moist and vaporous, they are easily delivered of some portion of the venenate matter through the pores of the skin by provoking sweat, with a decoction of parsley seeds, prunes, figs, and the roots of sorrel, with a little of the powder of heart's horn, or ivory. But that the sweat may be more abundant and copious, apply sponges dipped and pressed out in the decoction of sage, rosemary, lavender, bays, chamomyle, melilote and mallows; or else swine's bladders half filled with the same decoction, to the armholes, and to the groins. In the time that they sweat let their faces be fanned to cool them. Also let a nodule of Treacle dissolved in vinegar and water of Roses be applied to the nostrils, but always use a moderation in sweeting, because that children are of a substance that is easy to be dissipated and resolved: so that oftentimes although they do not sweat, yet they feel the commodities of sweeting, the matter of the venom being dissipated by the force of the heat through the pores of the skin, But in the sweeting while the face is fanned, and sweet and cordial things applied to the nostrils, nature must be recreated and strengthened, which otherwise would be debilitated through sweeting, that it may be better able to expel the venom. After that the sweat is wiped away it is very profitable to take a potion of conserve of Roses, with the powder of an Heart's horn or of ivory dissolved in the waters of bugloss and Sorrel, the better to cool and defend the heart. If there appear any tumour under the armholes or in the groin, let it be brought to maturation with a mollifying, relaxing, drawing, and then with a suppurative fomentation, or Cataplasm; always using and handling it as gently as you may, considering the tender age of the infant. If you have need to purge the patient, the purgation following may be prescribed with great profit. Take of Rhubarb in powder one dram, infuse it in the watet of Carduus Benedictus, with one scruple of Cinnamon, in the straining dissolve two drams of Diaratholicon, of syrup of Roses laxative three drams; make thereof a small potion. This is the cure of the Pestilence and of the pestilent Fever, as far as I could learn from the most learned Physicians, and have observed myself by manifold experience by the grace and permission of God: of whom alone, as the author of all good things that mortal men enjoy, the true and certain preservatives against the Pestilence are to be desired and hoped for.  
FINIS.