A Briefe treatise of the plague vvherein is shewed, the [brace] naturall cause of the plague, preseruations from the infection, way to cure the infected. 1603 Approx. 20 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 7 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A14593 STC 24905.7 ESTC S123186 24103832 ocm 24103832 27188 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A14593) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 27188) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1843:18) A Briefe treatise of the plague vvherein is shewed, the [brace] naturall cause of the plague, preseruations from the infection, way to cure the infected. I. W. Newly corrected [14] p. By Valentine Si[mmes], Printed at London : 1603. Dedication signed: I.W. Signatures: A⁴(-A1) B⁴. Imperfect: print show-through. Reproduction of original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Plague -- Early works to 1800. 2006-03 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-03 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-03 Ali Jakobson Sampled and proofread 2007-03 Ali Jakobson Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A Briefe Treatise of the Plague VVherein is shewed , The Naturall cause of the Plague . Preseruations from the infection . Way to cure the infected . Newly corrected with new additions , and many approoued Remedies . Printed at London by Valen●●●e Si●●●● . 1603. To the Reader . GOD most merci●●●ly chastineth his Children for their sinnes when they forget him : sometime with warre , sometime with famine , and sometime with the pestilence and other diseases , that they might forsake their sinnes , and flee vnto him for help : but the wicked , to their vtter destruction . Yet he neuer sendeth a plague or punishment but he continually preserueth some . Yea , and those al●o he preserueth by meanes . Therefore they worthily are consumed which neglect that lawfull meanes God hath appointed , euen as they were iustly drowned that would not enter Noahs ark . And Lots sonnes worthily consumed , because they would not forsake Sodome , and they iustly partakers of the plagues of Egypt which forsooke the land of Goshen , and their first borne deseruedly slaine , which marked not the postes of their dores with the blood of the Lambe . And were they not iustly scourged to death , which would not behold the Brazen Serpent Moses set vp ? Doth not the whole Historie of the Bible , both the old and new Testament comm●nd ●nto vs the law●ull meanes whereby we are to be preserued from dangers . Therfore they are greatly too blame that contemne the good meanes which God hath appointed for their safetie , and doe wilfully , rashly , and foolishly runne themselues into all kinde of dangers , saying , GOD is able to preserue them if it please him , themselues neither vsing the lawfull meanes God hath appointed , not yet eschewing the danger : which meanes according to the iudgement of the best Writers vpon this matter , thou shalt heere finde briefely , which I pray God may be profitable vnto thee , and that he will keepe vs from all plagues and dangers which wee haue iustly deserued . Val● . I. W. ¶ Of the naturall causes of the infection of the aire , and of the plague . OF all the diseases whereunto the body of man is subiect , the Plague or Pestilence is the most terrible and fearefull , and most contagious , therefore we must séeke all meanes , both naturall and artificiall , to preserue our selues and families from it : therefore first we wil speake of the naturall causes of this infection . There be two especiall causes of the Pestilence . The first is , an infected , corrupted and putrified Ayre . The second is , euill and corrupt hu●●●● ingendred in the ●●●y . The aire is corrupted and infected diuerse wayes as Astronomers say , by the influences , aspects , coniunctions , and opposition of ill planets , the Eclipse of the Sunne and Moone , through the i●●oderate heate of the aire , where the temperature of the aire is turned from his naturall state to excessiue heate and moisture , which is the worst temperament of the aire , 〈◊〉 being drawne vp by the heate of the Sunne , remaining vnconsumed , doe rot , putrifie , and corrupt , and so with the veneme ●he aire beco●●eth corrupted and infected . Also the ayre is often corrupted by the euaporation of dea● c●rcasses ly●●g ●●●●ried , as it 〈…〉 in the ●●rres , 〈◊〉 also by the euaporation of p●●les , 〈◊〉 marishes , stinking and noysome sinkes and kennells . A man falleth into the Pestilence by disordering of himselfe , 〈◊〉 in diet , or wi●h other exercises . Therefore , during the time of 〈…〉 sickenesse 〈◊〉 must haue a speciall regard , to kéep● himselfe from all 〈◊〉 , and 〈◊〉 ( to wit ) from all excesse of meate , drinke , sweating , bathes , lechery , and all other things that open the pores of the body , and causeth the bad ayres to enter , which entering , inuenome the liuely spirits of man , and infect , and indanger the whole body . And seeing it is euident , that the plague as pestilence is not caused , but through the breathing in of pestilent and corrupt ayre , there cannot be a more ●a●e and present remedy to preserue one , then by ●ying from that corrupt aire , there is no other meanes to 〈◊〉 pestilent ayre , because , whether 〈…〉 we must draw in such ayre , vnlesse we get vs away into some other place where the ayre is not corrupted nor infected , but pure and good , neither must you returne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from that place 〈◊〉 . Obseruations to be vsed , preseruing from the Plague . BVt if vpon ●rgent occasio● of bu●●ne●●e you may not 〈◊〉 then haue a speciall care that the hou●e in which you must tarry , be kept clea●● and 〈◊〉 , without 〈…〉 or ●●u●●ishnesse , let the windowes be kept close , and 〈◊〉 especially in clowdy and rainie wether , that the pestilent ayre enter not in , but if you will open them , doe it obout mid-day . You must come abroade as seldome as you can , and not ( if you may ) except the element be cleare and bright , but before you come abroade , you must take 〈◊〉 ●e●icine , which is able to preserue you f●om infections , as the roote of Ang●●ca , Pimper●ell , &c. chewes in the mouth . chewed in the mouth . Also you must make ●ires dayly in your house● , 〈…〉 the corrupt ayre that is in the house , may be the better purged and 〈…〉 of the ayre . Also if you Iuniper , Ta●●●●is●●● , Bay lea●●●s , Rosemary , and such like are very good to purge the house of ●ll aires , and to 〈…〉 and from ●pon it the p●●●er of Rosemary , Sage , Rew , Be●on●e , wormewood , Mai●ram , Orig●n , Iuniper berries , M●●h , Frankensence and Ma●●●ke , Cipres●e barkes , Angeli●● the r●●ts or ●ea●●s , Lau●nder , 〈◊〉 of Aloes , Gall●● Mus●h●●a , C●oues , any one of all these are very good to aire your house withall . It is best in hote weather to corr●●● and puri●●● the aire with co●● 〈◊〉 , as with ●word : 〈…〉 leaues , and branches of Willowes , &c. and to sprinckle the ●l●●re with coldwater mixt with Viniger , Roses , or 〈◊〉 , &c. It is very good when out goeth abroad to haue something in their hands to 〈◊〉 to , the better to auoide those noysome 〈◊〉 and filthy 〈◊〉 which are in euery corner , therefore it is very good to carry in the hand a branch of Rew , Rosemary , Roses , or Camphir● and the smel of Viniger is very 〈…〉 something like this . Take of , Lapdanum , three drachmes . Storax calamintae , two drachmes . of each a drachme . Cinomon , Cloues , Nutmegs , Wood of Aloes , a scruple . Spiknard , halfe a scruple . of each halfe a drachme . Mirh , Mastik , Frankencense , of each three graines . Muske , Amber . Make them to powder and ●earce them , and take 〈◊〉 water , and Rose viniger , wherein 〈…〉 is dissolued , and so make it vp in a Pomander . Séeing also , that gluttony , excesse , and drunkennesse , is at al times to be shunned , so at this time of infection is most dangerous , breeding the humors , and corrupting the body : Therfore they y t loue their health , let them vse temperance in theyr diet , and choose such meats as engender good blood , and bee not ready to putrifie and rot , but be of easie digestion , and eate with them sharpe sauces , as vinigere , or the iuyces of sharpe things , as veri●yce , iuyce of Citrons , Lemonds , Oringes , &c. Also vse for pot-herbs , sage , or otherwise , Parcely , Maioram , Balme , Hysops , B●glose , Endine , Succorie , and Lettice . Also hee must refraine from eating of much fruite , for it doth bréede corrupt blood , and if he eate any it must be 〈◊〉 . Also hee must eate little garlik , onions , or 〈◊〉 , for these cause vnkinde heate . Also suffer not thirst greatly , and when thou doest thirst , drinke but measurably , and that but smal and thinne drinke , or barly water , 〈…〉 with 〈…〉 . Ano●●er special regard must be had in exercises , vbi , qu●●od● , & 〈◊〉 . The place where , must be in a 〈◊〉 and pure ayre , and 〈◊〉 must ●se them temperately and moderately , and 〈…〉 of violent exercises , as dancing , running , leaping : and wh●●soeuer such like kinde of exercise that causeth after breathing in of Ayre , ●e must refraine in the extreame heate of the day , and in places where is much con●●urse of people . As for his sleepe and 〈◊〉 , let them be meane and moderate , onely his sleepe must be sufficient to suffice Nature , and in a close Chamber , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and the windowes and doores , close shut , lest the ill ayre enter into it , and hée must haue regard that his sheetes be cleane and swéete ●agges in chests where they kéepe linnen . It is good also at night afore you goe in bed to ayre the chamber with a good fire , or with a cha●●ng dish of coles , wherein it were good to ●●ro some powder of Rew , Sage , Be●onie , or of Iuniper and such like . When you walke in the morning , first empty the body of all super●●uities and excremen●s , and take heed : and beware the body , be not too 〈◊〉 at any time . Therefore , if of thy selfe n●●●rally at any time thou canst not voyde out excrements , thou shalt take ●yther a potion of pils , or else a glister o● suppos●●●ry o● 〈…〉 : or el●e take of Aloes epatick , two parts , of each one part . Amon●ia●●m , Mirrh . With white wine or with the Water of scabious make pills of them , which minister daylie , if you will one scruple at a time . These pils 〈◊〉 most resist putrifaction , and haue a very great vertue against the infecting of the pestilent ayre . Blood-letting also is very wholsome for yong folke , and such as 〈◊〉 great store o● blood , for it doth much coole the state of the body , and bringeth it to a moderate heare , and letteth out the corrupt humors , which doe make the body more subi●ct to infection : bloud-letting is very necessary in the time of infection , and doth much profit , and preserue health . Also it is very 〈◊〉 to be too passionate or melancholy : for the passions of sadnesse , Anger , hatred , feare , great cares , and heauie thoughts and sighing , do much distemper the body and make it 〈…〉 to withstand the infection : but on the contrary it is very good to vse ioy and mirth with temperance . Signes to know the infected . HAuing before shewed the natural and original causes of the plague and pestilence , with the best meanes for the preseruation of a mans selfe from it , we wil proceed and shew , first the ●●gnes whereby a man may best iudge of himselfe , whether he be already infected , or not , and the meanes to cure the ●●ck . As concerning the signes that declare one to be already infe●●●● , they are many . First when the outward members are cold , and the inward parts burning hot , when there is a paine and heauinesse of the head , and a great inclination to ●eepe . A wearines , heauines , and difficulty in breathing . A sadnesse and carefulnesse of the minde : a change of countenance , with a frowning looke of the eyes : losse of stomake and appetit● : immoderate thirst and often vomiting : a bitternesse and drienesse of the mouth : The Pulse frequent , smal and déepe , the vrine troublous , thicke , and stinking like beasts vrine . The surest token of al to know the infected of the plague , is ▪ if there doe arise and engender botches behind the eares , or vnder the armeholes , or about the share : or also if Carbuncles do arise in any member sodainely , for when they doe appeare they betoken strength of Nature : Which being strong and mighty , doth labour to driue the poyson out of the body , but if botches do not appeare , it is more perillous and daungerous : for it betokeneth that nature is weake and feeble , and not able to expell and driue out the venemous humors , and then you must haue respect to the signes before rehearsed . Also 〈◊〉 botches which do appeare , they do declare which members of the body be infected aboue any other , and doe ●●rust out veni●ous humors from them . The infection of the plague entereth into a man in this 〈◊〉 . In a 〈◊〉 are three principall parts ( that i● ) the heart , lyuer , and armes , and each of the●● hath his cleansing place : Therefore if they do appeare in the necke , they doe shew the braines to be chiefely vexed : if vnder the arme-holes , the heart , but if they appeare in the share , the lyuer is most infected . For a man hauing taken same venome , it is mingled with the blood , and runnes to the heart , which is the chiefe parte of man : and the heart by kinde putteth the venome to his clensing place which is the arme-holes ▪ and it being stopt , putteth to the next princip●ll part , that is the Liuer , and it passeth it to his cleansing place which is the Ihigh-holes or share : Likewise they b●ing stopt , passe it to the next principall place ( that is ) the armes , and to their clensing places which are vnder the eares , or vnder the throate , and they being stopped , suffer it not to passe out , th●● it is 〈◊〉 xii . houres before it rest in any place , and if it be 〈◊〉 let out within the space of xxiiii . houres by bléeding , it castes a man into an ague , and maketh a bot●● in one of the thrée places , or néere them . The cure of the infected of the plague . The best way to cure the plague is in this , when thou findest thy selfe to be infected , and féelest the bloud flickering , bleed in the first houre , or within sixe houres after drinck not , 〈◊〉 tarry not aboue twelue houres from bleeding , for when thy bloud is so flickering , the venome is then mouing and not yet settled , and after it is to late : those that are fatte may be lette bl●●d , or else not . If the matter be gathered vnder the armeholes , it comes from the heart by the veine cardiall , then bleed on the same side : on the innermost veyne of the arme comonly called B●sollica : but bleed not on both sides , except it be in both armeholes , for that is dangerous , and losse of good bloud . And if the boch doth appeare behind the eares , or aboue the 〈◊〉 , or in any other parts of the face , or neck , you must let blo●d out of veine Cephali●a , on the same side let blood with c●pping glasse● for that is the best , or a horse ●each , or horse 〈◊〉 . But if the botch appeare in the share , you must then bleed in the ●●uckle of the same 〈◊〉 , and then in any case bleed not in the Arme , for it will draw vp the matter againe . But if there app●●re no botch outwardly , you must then draw bloud out of the same side where is felt the greatest paine and heauines , and out of which veine the paine & griefe of the members aflicted wil declare . For if the members aboue the breast be most grieued and afflicted , cut the Cephalica vein . But if the parts about the necke be most grieued , bleed in the Basillica , or middle veyne . And if the nether parts be most grieued and vexed bl●●d in the hamme or ankles . And if nature be strong , and other things not letting draw out bloud aboundantly . But if through age or for other causes you may not vse bl●●d letting , then you must fasten cupping glasses and 〈◊〉 them . And if you perceiue the pestilence to infect or inuade you at meate , or vpon a full stomacke , then vomitt straiteway , and when the body and stomack is empty , then take some medicine that can resist poyson as methrydate or Triacle . When the patient hath taken som medcines that wil expel the venome , lay him in a warmed bed , being made with soft she●●s , and well couered with cloathes , that there he may sweate well , for the space of foure or fiue houres , or more , according to his strength . But if by this meanes you can scarsly prouoke him to sweate , you may vse some other meanes , as by the heating of tiles , and laying them hote to the feete of the patient , or with stone bottles filled with hot water , and being close stopt with corke , that the water spil not , and so put into the bed to the sick , they wil by their beat prouoke him readily to sweat . And all the time the sicke doth sweate , you must take heed that he neither sleep , eate , nor drinke . And after hee hath sweat , you must wipe diligently off the sweat , with very cleane and fine linnen clothes . Then afterward let the sicke rise from his bed , if he either will or can : But let him not come into the open ayre , but eschew it asmuch as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Also let the ayre of the chamber in the which the sicke doth ●ie , be 〈◊〉 and amended and purified with odo●●●ro●● things and wi●h sweet smelling perfumes , such as are before declared . Lastly , the principall 〈◊〉 whole body bring cleansed by bleeding , or cupping and sweating , the patient must be very ●ary , and measurable in his diet , for in the 〈…〉 which is accidentall to this sicknes : it is good to eate 〈◊〉 flesh but litle chickens 〈◊〉 with fresh water , but it is best to giue 〈◊〉 him the breath of a chicken two or three houres after he ha●● 〈◊〉 , and often , according to his strength , for the sicke and weake must be norished and refreshed by little and little : If the breath haue in it the iuice of lemons , orenges , ●eriuice , or vineger , it is the better . Preseruatiues against the Plague or Pestilence . TAke 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 , of each a little , and lay them in a little Vineger , then take a spunge and wett it therein , and this you 〈◊〉 carry about you in a 〈◊〉 or any thing else , to smell thereon , and this will preserue you from the infected . Another . ALso take Angelli●s roote , and hold in your mouth , for it is excellent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 keepe your body that no corrupted ayre came therein : likewise 〈◊〉 pilles is very good to hold in your mouth , or Cloues . Another . IT is good to kéepe the head and stomake cleane p●●ged , and not to ouerlay it with eating and drinking , nor to eate grose meates , but to abstaine from all manner of 〈◊〉 and grose meats , and to purge your self as oft as you can with some gentle purge , as 〈◊〉 pilles , or such like . Another excellent preseruatiue . TAke a Figge or a Walnut , and in a morning fasting , take a little Rew and a corne of bay salt , and eate them together , 〈◊〉 this will preserue you , that you néede not feare the infection . Another preseruatiue by purging the blood . TAke in your pottage , Buglase , B●rr●ge , Suckory , ●ettyse , and such like hearbs : It shall be also very good at your meate to eate the inside of a ●ytteron , with a little ●nger , at morning , at noone , and at night when you got to bed : and it would be very good to wash your hands , and to bathe your temples & your pulses with Vineger Rosset , and it would be good to perfume your houses with Vineger and Rew vpon a tyle stone being heated in the fire : it is very good to hold your head ouer it : it is excellent good to keepe your body that no infected eyre enter therein . A prooued Remedie for the plague . TAKE an Oinion , and cut him ouerthwart , or a sunder , then make a little hole in each péece , the which ye shall fill with fine treakle and set the peeces together againe , then wrap them in a wet lynnen cloth , cutting it as you would a warden and so roste him in the embers , séeing it be couered with embers , and when it is rosted inough , stra●●e out all the Iuice thereof , and giue the patient a spoonefull thereof to drinke , and it wil heale him by the grace of God. Take sorrell and lay it in steep in vineger a day , & then 〈…〉 , & when the patient feeleth himselfe 〈◊〉 , giue him a draught therof , and 〈◊〉 he brooke it , two or three houres after giue him more thereof to drinke , and by the grace of God he shal be healed . Another for these that feele themselues infected . TAKE Card●●s Benedictus , the leafe , and dry it , then beate it to powder , and giue the patient to drinke of it , and then let him sweate , and it will heale him by the grace of God. A preseruatiue . TAKE London Treakel , which you shall haue ▪ at diuers Apoticaries shops , in London , which do make it themselues ▪