To the honourable House of COMMONS assembled in Parliament, The humble Petition of Peter chamberlain, Doctor in physic,  
Humbly sheweth,  
THat if the lives of men, if the health and strength of your own selves and the Nation, both in peace and war, promised you by a cloud of witnesses of ancient and modern Physicians and Historians, demonstrated by arguments and experience in the use of artificial baths and Bathe-stoves,( beside other matters of consequence) be a subject worthy your grave and serious consultation: Or, if the preventing remedy of the Plague be as worthy your care, as the danger of it in the midst of all your troubles; then be pleased to admit this Paper into the press of businesses, humbly to beg for one minutes audience, for two or three of this honourable House to be spared as a Committee, to receive a more full account of the Premises, and accordingly to make report. And if then the matters offered shall answer expectation, and savour of Above, may your wisdoms cheerfully give them life and being for the public good. If otherwise, let them be blasted with the doom due to such importunate presumption.  

Annotations on the design of baths.  
THese are no low dishonourable designs having been( formerly) the profuse Magnificence of mighty 
Vespasian, Dioclesian, and Maximian, Trajan, Antonine, Constantine, Septimius Severus, Nero, and Alexander Severus, Aurelian, &c.  Cesars.  
They are no foolish Novelties, nor antiquated chimaera's or Absurdities, having been used and approved in all ages, and now lately an Octroy of them granted from the States of the 
The States Octroy.  Low-Countries, the wisdom of whose councils manifest daily how solid they are, in being honoured, feared, and loved of neighbours at home, and famed and obeied abroad in both the Indies.  
They are not confined to hot or could Countries, since they abound both in turkey, Persia, Germany, Hungary, Denmark, Swedeland, Poland, and Moscovia, whose 
Sands Travels, Hackluits Voyages.  strong, great bodied, healthful people, beautiful children, and easy births, give no small testimony to the use of baths. Nor are they limited to Winter or Summer, the Emperour 
Jacobus Laurus.  Aurelian having made his Trans-tiburine baths particularly for Winter, the rest being more for Summer. And 
Lib. de salub. vict. ratione.  Hippocrates prescribeth the often use of them in Summer, less in Winter.  
They can be no prejudice to the State, since the example of all Countries( almost) in the World will vindicate their wisdoms in approving or building them: nor can they be at any loss, if it fall to the Authors share to undertake them, which he is willing to do, when enabled by a Grant from the Parliament, considerable to the great expense and time of finishing so great a work. Which kind of encouragement hath not been wanting from former Parliaments unto public spirits, who have endeavoured a common good.  
They can be no grievance or Monopoly: 1. Because there are yet none in England, except the famous baths of Somersetshire, which are natural, and differ in virtue; nor can each weak body or purse be conveyed to them. 2. None can be compelled to use them, but every one is left free to his own choice and discretion. 3. They entrench not upon the privilege of Bathing Tubs, or sweeting Cradles, any other piddling way; but bequeath them all to their old inconvenient uses.  
4. The Author humbly presents this public design to the public purse for what magnificence shall be thought fit; and wholly●… mits his service in, or reward for the same to the wisdom of the Parliament. If this be refused, then he desires, that all Physicians, Surgeons, or Apothecaries, or any Noblemen or Gentlemen would join in partnership with him, allowing him such a proportion in regard of his former and future expense, study, and care in the contriving and ordering the same, as may be agreed on between them, if the Parliament shall think good so to grant it. But if all refuse, it can be no injustice to grant that to the Author and his heires( being his own adventure and design for the public good) which no man else will accept or undertake. 5. All Physicians, Surgeons, and Apothecaries,( paying the common price) are to have as free use of them for their Patients, as the Author, and appoint and provide what other ingredients they please. 6. Reasonable prices are intended. 7. All licentious incivilities will be prevented by several places and times for men and women: And men to be attended by men, women by women. Lastly, whatsoever else may be thought fitting, may receive its order and encouragement from the wisdom and power of Parliament. And if the fear of abuse be objected: Epicures will be Epicures do men what they can; therefore all men must not be forbidden meat, because some will be Gluttons: nor all men turn 
Turkes may drink no wine.  Turkes, because some will be drunk. Thus much negatively to prevent Objections. Now to affirm Truths( according to the merit of the thing) would exact a Volume; but that is not intended here, onely some few heads are offered, and some principal authorities, reserving the rest, together with all the demonstrative Arguments, to future leisure or command.  
1. In the first place, we may safely affirm the benefit of cleanliness, which( certainly) will be controverted by none. Hence follows the prevention of the Plague, which naturally breeds and is contagious through 
Ambros. Paraeus de Peste. The college of Physicians Book of remedies against the Plague.  nastiness, and want of washings, or of ordinary transpirations.  
2. No Gentlemen or Merchants frequenting them in other part●, but will affirm their benefit against all 
Hip. de rat. vict. in morb. acut. Avicen. f. 115. Athen. lib. 7. Dipnos.  weariness of mind and body, able to revive the spirits of the sedentary counsellor or Scholar, able to restore the limbs of the laborious soldier, countryman, or Traveller.  
3. They make for the preservation of 
Gal. 3. de sand. ●uend. 3.  health, and to that end frequented of old, and now so continued, where used.  
Fourthly, for the cure of 
Hip. de rat. vict. in 4. morb. acut.  most sort of diseases, 
Avicen. f. 115. Gal.  Dropsies, Consumptions, fevers, &c. which if Physicians may have but the proverbial privilege of a cobbler( to be believed in their own Art) will be abundantly proved by all the most authentic Authors.  
Hence result these Conclusions:  
1. That as they beautify the Cities where they are built, so they magnify the wisdom of the Nations where they are, in providing so for the health and strength of the people.  
2. In regard of so many benefits of preservation of health, prevention of the Plague, and cure of sicknesses, they may be constantly the saving of many thousand lives a year.  
3. That the longer they are deferred, the more lives must perish; the sooner they are m●●e, the more lives may be saved.  
4. That in regard of saving so many lives, they make much fo●●he glory of God.  
Therefore what is prejudicial to none, what is beneficial to ●ll, cannot but hope for a● indulgent acceptation from the wisdom and ingenuity of Parliament.