Here beginneth a litil book necessary & behoveful aghenst the Pestilence  
●T the reverence & worship of the blessed trinity & of the glorious virgin saint mary & the conservation of the common weal of all christian people/ aswell for them that been hole as for remedy of them that been seek. I the Bishop of Arusiens in the royalme of Denmark doctor of Physic will write by the most expert & famous doctors authorised in Physic some things of the infirmity of pestilence which daily infecteth & soon suffereth us to depart out of this life.  


First I will write the tokens of this infirmyte  
The second the causes whereof it cometh  
The third remedies for the same  
The fourth comfort for the heart & the pncipal members of the body  
The .v. when it schal be season to be let blood    

First I said the tokens of this infirmity vij things ought to be noted in the same The first is when in a summers day the weather often times changeth. as in the morning the weather appeareth to pain/ afterward it appeareth cloudy & at last windy in the south The ij token is when in summer the days appeareth all dark & like to mynr & yet it myneth not. & if many days so continue it is to dread of great pestilence The three token is when great multitude of flies been upon the eerthe then it is sign the air is venomous and infect The fourth token is when the stars semen oft times to fall than it is token that the air is infect with moche venomous vapours. The .v. token is when a blazing star is see in the element than it is sign to be soon after great pestilence or great manslaughter in battle The vi token is when there is great lightning & thunder namely out of the south The vij token is when great winds passen out of the south they be foul & unclean. therefore when these tokens appear it is to dread great pestilence but god of his mercy will remove it   

Here after followen the causes of pestilence  
The pestilence cometh of three things sometime it cometh fro the rote beneath Otherwhile fro the rote above so that we may feel sensibly how the change of the air appeareth unto us And sometime it cometh of both together as well fro the rote above as fro the rote beneath As we see a siege or privy next to a chamber or of any other particular thing which corrupteth the air in his substance and quality which is a thing may hap every day: And thereof cometh the ague of pestilence. And about the same many physicians be deceived: not supposing this axes to be a Pestilence/ sometime it cometh of deed carrion/ or corruption of standing waters in ditches or slouhes & other corrupt places & these things sometime be universal & sometime particular From the rote above: it fortuneth the causes of the bodies above in thayer by whom the spirit of life is corrupt in a man or in a best: In like wise as Auycenne saith in his fourth book/ by the form of thayer above/ the bodies beneath lightly be infect: For thynpressyons above corrupteth the air and so the spirits of a man been corrupt. This infirmity cometh also from the rote above and beneath: when of thynpressyons above/ the air is corrupt & of the putrefaction or rotten caceyn of the vile places beneath an infirmity is caused in a man. & such an infirmity sometime is an axes. sometime a postume or a swelling & that is in many things. Also the air inspired is venomous & corrupt hurting the heart that nature many ways is grieved so that he perceiveth not his harm: For the urine appeareth fair & schewe●h good digestion yet neuth●les the patient is like to die/ wherefore many physicians seeing the urine of their pacientes they speak suꝑficially & be deceived: Therefore it is need that every patient provide to himself a good & expert physician. These things written before are the causes of pestilence But about th●se things two qnstions be me●ued. The first is wherefore one dieth & another dieth not in a town where men be deed in one house & in another house there dieth none. The two question is whether pestilence sores be contagious. To the first question I say it may hap to be of ii causes that is to say of that thing that doth & of that thing that suffereth. An ensample of that thing that doth/ the influence of the bodies above be holdeth that place or that place more than this place or this place. & the patient is more disposed to die than another Therefore it is to be noted that bodies be more hot disposed of oopyn poories than bodies infect having the pores stopped with many humours where bodies be of resolution or opening as men that abusen themself with women or usen oft times baths. or men that be hot with labour or great anger their bodies be more disposed to this sickness. To the two question I say that pestilence sores be contagious because of infect humours bodies & the reek or smoke of such sores is venomous & corrupteth the air & therefore it is to flee fro such persons as be infect In pestilence time no body should stand in great prece of people for some man of them may be infect Therefore wise phisiciens visiting seek folk stand far fro the patient holding their face toward the door or window & so shall the servants of seek folk stand Also it is good to a patient every day to change his chamber & often times to have the windows open against the north & east & to spear the windows against the south For the south wind hath two causes of putrefaction The first is it maketh a man be in hole or seek feeble in their bodies: The two can is as it is written in the three of Amphorismie the south wind grieveth the hearing & hurteth the heart because it openeth the pooris of man & entereth into the heart wherefore it is good in time of pestilence to an hole man when the wind is in the south to be within the house all day & if it needeth to go out yet let a man abide in his house till the son be up in the east passing southward.   

The remedies for the Pestilence  
Now it is to weet by what remedies a man ma● pserue himself fro pestilence first see the writing of jeremy the prophet that a man ought to forsake evil things & do good deeds & meekly to confess his sins for why it is the highest remedy in time of pestilence penance & confession to be pferred all other medicines Neutheles I promit you verily it is a good remedy to void & change thinfect place: but some may not proffitably change their places therefore asmuch as to them is possible it is t'eschew every cause of putrefaction & stinking & namely every fleschely lust with women shallbe eschewed Also the southern wind which is naturally infectif therefore spear the windows against the south as it is said before till the first hour after the mids of the day than open the windows against the north Of the same cause evy foul stench is to be eschewed of stabyl stinking fields ways or streets & namely of stinking deed carrion & most of stinking whatwhere in many places what is kept two days or two nights. or else there be gutters of water casten under th'earth which causeth great stink & corruption & of this cause some die in that house where such things happen & in another house die none as it is said afore Like wise in that place where the wurtes & coals putrefied it maketh a noyful savour & stinking. For like as by the sweet odour of balm the heart & the spirits lave recreation so of evil savours they be made feeble wherefore keep your hons that an infect air enter not in. for an infect air most causeth putrefaction in places & houses where folk slip therefore let your house be clean & make clear fire of wood flaming Let your house be made which fumigation of herbs which be the leaves of bay tree juniper uberiorgany it is in tha poticave stops worm vode rue nugwort & of the tree of aloes which is best but it is dear such a fume taken by the mouth & eeris openeth thinward parts of the body Also it is teschew all great repletions because full bodies be lightly infect as avycenne saith in the fourth canon They that chargen their bodies with replection shorten their life Also common baths are to be eschewed for a little crust corrupteth all the body Therefore the people asmuch as is possible is to be eschewd lest of infect breathes some man be infect But when the multitude of people may not be eschewed then use the remedies following, In the morning when ye use wash a little rue & one or two filbert nots clean with salt & eat them & if that can not be had then eat breed or a toast sopped in vinegar namely in troubelous & cloudy weather Also in time of pestilence it is better tabyde within the house for it is not wholesome to go in the cite or town. Also sprenkle your house specially in summer with vinegar & roses & with the leaves of vyn tree Also it is good to wash often times in the day your hands with wat & vinegar & wipe your face with your hands & smell to them Also it is good always to savo aygre things. In the mount of pessulane I might not eschew the conpany of people for I went fro house to house became of my poute to cureseke folks therefore breed or a sponge sopped in vinegar I took with me holding it to my mouth & nose because all eager things stoppen the ways of humours & suffereth no venomous things to enter into a man's body & so I escaped the pestilence my fellows supposing that I should not live These things I have proved by myself   

The confortes of the heart & the pncipal membres  
The confortes of the heart be these/ faffron Canifex planteyn with other herbs thy o●ē the inward spirit & these be good among the common people where lightly it happeth that one is infect of another therefore beware the breath of another Also of infect air a man's eyen be made dim if he bear not these said things in his hand Also it is wholesome to wash your mouth face eyen & hands often times in the day with rosewat meddled with vinegar & if ye have no rosewat take vinegar: & so these things used ye may go surely among the people Also a natural lax of the belly is a great remedy elliss provoke a lax by a suppository craftily Use pipille pestilenciales for they be good they be in thapothecary shops Also keep fire all way in your house. for it letteth much thin pssions of the bodies above & clarefied thaier Also it is profitable aswell for hole & seek folks to drink treacle: therefore take it two times a day with clear win lymphat or with clear rose-water or with clear ale: Take a quantity of treacle of a pese & two spoonful of clear win or rose-water or ale dissolve the treacle in the cup & drink it: & dine not till the mids of the day so that the treacle may have his operation then cheese a good dish with meet & drink clear win & often times drink in the day but not much together for moche abundance of drink putrefieth the humours Also beware hot things in meet as pepir & garlic though pepere purgeth the brain from phlegm & specially the membres from viscous humours yet it maketh moche heat and heat falleth into putrefaction/ bittnes only is more to please than hot odour or savo. also garlic though it purgeth phlegm & put out evil humour & provoked an appetite to eat & suffereth no dry air to enter: yet it troubleth the eyen & maketh the heed hot. therefore it is not good to eat garlic The pestilence groweth of ten times of an hot cause therefore all meats the lighter they be of digestion so much they be the better In the morning eat boilled meet/ at even roasted/ forbear broth & pottage without they he eager In the time of pestilence eager meats be much better than other meats. Also forbear all fruits but if they be eager as cherries or pomes garnates or a little of a peer or apple by way of medicine because all fruit enduceth putrefaction Eat convenient spices as ginger cynamum common matis & saffron These be the best sauce that may be made for rich people For pour take rue sage filberdnuts ꝑcelly with vinegar mynst together. These be good & letteth putrefaction To be merry in the heart is a great remedy for health of body Therefore in time of pestilence beware ye dread not death: but live merely & hope to live long   

For the letting of blood  
Letting of blood once in the month may be made but age or other thing forbid it as pilgrims or feeble persons which have the flux suffer to be let blood in the wine called basilica on the right or lift side before eating & after incision of basilica be merry & drink wine or ale temperately: sleep not that day when basilica is cut If ye feel you grieved to be infect than eschew sleep & be walking & moeving For by sleep thinward heat induced poison to the heart & to other special membres that uneath any herb may take away such poison which should not be if a man would be moving to & fro But some would axe wherefore sleep shall be eschewd. I say that in pestilence time anon after meet if a body list to sleep then such lust shallbe forborn by a space walking in the gardens or fields & then make a natural sleep by the space of an hour & therefore Auycenne writeth that if a man would sleep he must drink a good draft of ale or win before because a man being a sleep draweth many humours & the evil humours be put down by thumours of a good draft But some would ask how may a man feel when he is infect. I say that a man which is infect that day eateth not moche meet for he is replenished with evil humour & forthwith after din he hath lust to sleep & feeleth great heat under cold. also he hath great pain in the forehead/ but all th●se things he may put away by moving of a space hither & thither to ride or to walk he may not for sleuth of the body & the weight of the same Also a man that is infect hath lust to sleep every hour of the day & night For the venom being within the body troubleth the spirit of life so that alway he would rest & sleep And also of these tokens a man schal know & feel himself infect. & if a body will not believe this/ abide the mids of the day & then he shall feel a swelling under the arm or about the share or about the ears & therefore see an high & a good medeane/ forbear sleep because of though things afore said & y● is plain that the spirit of life resteth in sleep & all the body here & there is venomed: All th●se things I have proved by myself These things known when a man feeleth himself infect assoon as he may let him be let blood plenteously till he be swoon then stop the wine For a little letting of blood moveth or stirreth venom: & if it be so that a man will not have many wines cut together/ then let him suffer the wine cut to run till the blood withdraw for a little bleeding moveth strongly the venom as it is said afore Also a man whether he be infect or not if he be let blood/ let him forbear sleep all that day till midnight following & allway let blood that wine upon that side of the body where the swelling apꝑeth Therefore if a swelling appear under the right arm let blood in the mids of the same arm in the wine called mediana/ if it appear under the lift arm let him blood in the mids of the same or in the vain of the lyu which is about that litil fingers/ & if it be about the share/ let him blood about the heel upon the same side if the swelling he in the neck let him blood in the vain called Cephalica about the thumb in the hand of the same side or in the vain called mediana of the same arm: or in the hand of the same side about the little fingers. And if the swelling appear about the ear/ let him blood in the vain called cephalica of the same side or in the vain which is between the long fingers & the thumb lest many venomous veins go into the brain or let blood the vain which is about the little finger named by the physicians Basilica. & if a swelling appear in the shoulders less it with ventosete & first less the vain called Mediana ●f the swelling be on the back: less it upon the vain called pedica mag & all these things be made if a man sleep not before the knowledge of the swelling But if ye feel such swelling after sleep then on the contrary part the letinge of blood must be made As if the swelling appear in the right arm let him blood in the lift arm in Epate or basilica or mediana. & if a swelling appear under the lift arm let him blood in the right arm like as it is said of the lift arm: & so of other places of the body let blood on the contrary part of such swelling. & if the letting of blood be very little & feeble then let the patient sleep after the mids of the day and always in the mids of the day he must be in continual moving riding or going moderately. & afterward if the swelling grow let him not be afeard of death be cause such a swelling putteth out all evil & maketh a man very hole. & that the sooner a swelling may be made ripe/ take this medicine as followeth Brose the leaves of an elder tree & put thereto ground mustard & make a plaster thereof and put it upon the swelling Some surgeons will put treacle upon the swelling but do not so for treacle putteth out venom: therefore drink treacle for that putteth out the same: Also there is another medicine Take sengrene hylworth otherwise called wild time maudelyn grass planteyn & a little rye flower & break all these together till ye see water come out thereof Medyl● that water with woman's milk & give it to the patient fasting before sleep & it will work to better for to remove the swelling. Also for the swelling when it appeared Take filbert nuts figs & rue: bruise them together & lay it upon the swelling These remedies be sufficient to eschew this great sickness with the help of god to whom be eulasting laud & praising world withouten end AMEN