and necessary to wear upon the Region of the heart, some sweet Bag or
quilt that hath power to resist venome, and also to carry in your hand
some sweet Pomander, Nodule, or Nosegay, that will comfort the heart,
resist venom, and recreate the vitall spirits, as here following is
specified and set down.
_An excellent quilt or Bag._
℞. Arsenike cristaline, ℥. i. _Diamargaritum frigidum_, ℈ ii.
_Diambræ_, ℈ i.
You must grinde the Arsenike in small powder, and then with some of the
infusion of Gum Dragagant in Rose water, you must make a paste, then
spread it on a cloth which must be six inches long, and five inches
broad, and spread it thick: then cover it with another cloth, and
so quilt it together, which being done, fasten it in another bag of
crimson taffetie or Sarsenet, and so wear it against the heart all the
day time, but at night leave it off: and here you must take heed, that
when you sweat, you doe take it away, for otherwise it will cause the
skin to amper a little. There are some writers which doe utterly forbid
the wearing of Arsenike, but thus much I can say, that I have given
this bag unto divers to wear, with most happie and good successe, for
never did I yet know any one that hath worn this bag, and used any of
the Electuaries aforesaid, that hath been infected with the plague, but
for any inconvenience or accident that hath happened thereby, I never
found any hitherto, other then the ampring of the skin as aforesaid.
_Another Bag._
℞. _Ireos_, ℥ ß. _Calamus aromat. Ciperus_, _ana._ ʒ. i. ß. _Storax
Calam._ root of Angelica, _ana._ ʒ. iii, Cloves, Mace, _ana_ ʒ. i.
Red roses dried, ʒ. iii. Pellemountain, Penniroyall, Calamint, Elder
floures, _ana._ ʒ. i ß. Nutmegs, Cinnamon, Yellow Sanders, _ana_ ʒ. i.
_Nardi Italicæ_, ʒ. i. Amber greece and Musk, _ana._ six grains.
You must pound all these in powder, and then quilt them in a bag of
Crimson Taffatie as aforesaid.
_A Pomander good in the Summer time._
℞. The rind of Citrons, Red Roses, Nenuphare Roses, Yellow sanders,
_ana_ ʒ. ß. Storax liquid, Benjamin, _ana._ ʒ. i. Myrrh, ℈. ii.
_Ladanum_, ʒ. i. ß. Musk and Amber, _ana._ six grains.
Powder all that is to be powdered, and then work them together in a hot
morter with a hot pestell, adding unto it in the working some of the
Musselage of dragagant dissolved in sweet Rosewater, or Rosevinegar,
and so make your Pomander.
_Another good one for the winter time._
℞. Storax liquid, Benjamin, Storax calamint, _Ladanum_, and Myrrh,
_ana_, half a drachm, Cloves one scruple, Nutmegs, Cinnamon, of each
half a scruple. Red Roses, Yellow Sanders, _Lignum aloes_, and _Ireos_,
of each half a dram. _Calamus aromaticus_, rind of a Citron, _ana._
four grains, Amber greece, Musk and Civet, of each six grains.
You may make up this as the other before with some Musselage of the
infusion of Gum dragagant, infused in Rosewater.
_A good Nodule for the Summer season._
℞. Floures of Violets, red Roses, and Nenuphare, of each one drachm,
Red, White, and Yellow sanders, of each half a drachm. Camphire, xii
graines.
Cause all these to be beaten in grosse powder, then knit them all
together in a peece of Taffetie, and when you will use it, then wet it
in Rosewater and a little Vinegar, and so smell to it.
_Another Nodule for the Winter season._
℞. The dried leaves of Mints, Majoram, Thime, Penniroyall, Lavender,
Pellemountain and Balm, of each a little handfull. Nutmegs, Cloves,
Cinnamon, Angelica roots, _Lignum aloes_, of each one drachm. Saffron,
two scruples.
Cause all these to be infused in Rose-water and Vinegar one whole
night, then wet a spunge in the liquor thereof, and knit it in a peece
of Taffaty, or your handkerchief, whereunto you must smell oftentimes.
_A Nosegay for the same purpose._
℞. Hearb grace, three branches: Rosemary, Majoram, Mints, and Thime,
of either one branch: Red-Rose buds and Carnations, of either three or
four.
Make your nosegay herewith, then sprinkle him over with Rose-water, and
some rose-Vinegar, and smell often unto it. Also when you suspect to go
into any dangerous or infected company, do you alwaies carry in your
mouth a peice of the root of Angelica, the rind of a Citron dried, or a
great Clove, which must be first infused or steeped one whole night in
rosewater and Vinegar.
CHAP. VII.
For that there is not a greater enemy to the health of our bodies then
costiveness, both in the time of the Plague and otherwise, I have here
set down how and by what meanes you may keep your self soluble, which
you must use once four and twenty hours, if otherwise you have not the
benefit of nature by custome.
_A Suppository._
Take two spoonfulls of Honey, and one spoonfull of Bay-Salt small
pounded, boyle them together untill it grow thick, alwaies stirring it
in the boyling, then take it from the fire, and if you list you may add
one drachm of _Ihera picra simplex_ unto it, and so stirre them well
together, and when it is almost cold, make up your suppositories of
what length and bignesse you list: and when you minister any, you must
first annoint it with Butter or Sallet oyle: you may keep these a whole
year if you put them in Barrowes mort or grease, and so cover them up
close therein.
_A good Glister._
℞. Mallowes, Mercury, Beets, Violets, Red-Fennell, of either one
handfull: Seeds of Fennell, Annis, Coriander, of either one drachm.
Boyle all these in a sufficient quantity of Water, untill half the
water be consumed, then straine it, and keep it in a glasse close
stopt untill you need, for it will keep a whole week. Take of the same
decoction, a pint.
℞. _Mel Rosarum_, or common Honey, one spoonfull: Oyle of Violets or
oyle of Olives, three ounces, Salt, one drachm, The yolk of an Egg or
two.
Mixe all these together in a morter and so give it warm in the morning,
or two hours before supper: and if you add unto this one ounce of
_Diacatholicon_ it will be the better.
_Raisins laxative how to make them._
℞. White-Wine, three pints and a half, _Sennæ_, half a pound, Fine
white sugar, one pound, Currants, two pound. You must infuse the
_Sennæ_ in the wine in a pot close stopt, and let it stand in a warm
place four and twenty hours, then strein it and add to the straining
the Currants, being clean pickt and washt, and lastly the Sugar, boyle
all together on an easie fire, untill the wine be consumed, having care
that you do alwaies stirr it about in the boyling for feare of burning,
then take them from the fire, and put them up into a clean galley pot,
you may eat one spoonfull or two of them a little before dinner, at any
time.
_A good Oyntment to keep one Sollible._
The gaule of an Oxe, Oyle of Violets, of either one ounce: Sheeps
tallow, six drachms.
Boyle them together on a soft fire untill they be incorporated, then
take it from the fire and adde thereto _Alloes cicatrine_, one ounce.
Bay-Salt half an ounce.
The Alloes and Salt must be both made into fine powder before you put
them into the oyle, then stirr them together untill it be cold, and
when you are disposed to have a stoole, then annoint your fundament
therewith, both within side and without, and if you annoint your navell
therewith, it will work the better.
_Good pills to keep one soluble, and they do also resist the
Pestilence._
℞. _Alloes Cicatrine_, one ounce, Chosen Myrrh, three drachms, Saffron,
one drachm and half, Amber Greece, six graines: Sirrup of Lemons or
Citrons, so much as shall be sufficient to make the masse.
You must grinde the Aloes, Myrrhe, and Saffron into small powder
severally by themselves, then incorporate them together with the
sirrup: you may give half a drachme or two scruples thereof in the
evening half an hour before supper twise or thrise in a week: _Rases_
would have you to take half a drachme or two scruples of these Pills
every day, without using any other preservative at all, and he hath
great reason so to esteem of them, for _Galen_, _Avicen_, and all
ancient Writers in Physick do hold opinion, that Aloes doth not onely
comfort, but purge the stomack from all raw and chollerick humors, and
doth also purge and open the veines called Miserayick, and resisteth
putrefaction: Myrrh doth altogether resist, neither will it suffer
putrefaction in the stomack: Saffron doth comfort the heart, and hath
also a propriety in it to carry any medicine that is given therewith
unto the heart, but to conclude, these Pills will purge all superfluous
humors in the stomack, and principall members, and preserveth the bloud
from corruption.
CHAP. VIII.
I must here give you to understand that the infection doth oftentimes
lie hidden within us, without any manifest sign or knowledge thereof at
the first, and therefore were it good for sanguine bodies, and such as
do abound with bloud, in the summer season to draw six or eight ounces
of bloud out of the Basilica vein in the right arme, which is a good
meanes to prevent a further danger, (as _Avicen_ witnesseth) but for
full and plethorick bodies, it were best to purge themselves once in
seven or eight daies with some easie and gentle purgation, as hereafter
I will shew you: but for leane and spare bodies, once in fourteen dayes
will be enough at most: for wisely saith _Rondoletius_, that it is
not onely the venemous and contagious ayre which we receive that doth
kill us, but it is the present communicating of that contagion with
some superfluous humours in our bodies, as in his treatise _De Peste_
appeareth: therfore now will I shew you how to purge the body.
_Pills good to purge._
℞. _Alloes Cicatrine_, ten drachms, _Agarick_ of the whitest, ℥. iiii.
Myrrh, Mastick, of either two drachms: Saffron two scruples.
Make these into fine powder, then compound them together in a morter,
with so much Oximell simplex, Sirrup of Lemons, or of Stæcados, as
shall be sufficient, you may give one drachm, or a drachm and half of
these Pills, half an hour before supper: but for a cholerick body, you
must leave out two drachms of the Agarick in making of the receipt, and
in place thereof add two drachms of Rubarb, and for the melancholie,
two drachms of Epithimum, and give the same quantity in weight.
_A good purging potion._
℞ Raisins, the stones being pickt out and washt, of either one ounce:
Polipode of the Oak, Elecampane root dried, roots of wild small
Sorrel, Succory roots cleansed, of either half an ounce: Leaves of
Burrage, Bugloss, Burnet, Scabios, Morsus diaboli, of either a little
handfull: Floures of Burrage, Bugloss, Rosemary, Violets, Broom, of
either a little handfull: Seeds of Fennell, sowr Citrons, of either two
scruples: Shaving of Harts horn, half a drachm.
Boyle all these in a sufficient quantity of faire water untill half be
consumed, then strain it. Take of the decoction aforesaid, three ounces.
Rubarb, two drachms and half, Cinnamon, half a drachm.
Slice them both, and put them with the liquor in a close cup, and so
let it stand to infuse in a warm place twelve hours, then strain it out
strongly, and add thereto one ounce of the Sirrup of Maiden-haire, and
so drink it warm in the morning about six of the clock, and refrain
from meat, drink, or sleep two hours after it, this is good in lean and
spare bodies: you may for the phlegmatick body, add in the infusion,
one drachm of Aggarick Trosciscated.
_A purging powder for such as cannot take Pills._
℞. _Alloes Ciccatrine_, one ounce, Myrrh, Cinnamon, of either two
drachms, Saffron, one scruple.
Make them all in fine powder, and give one drachm in a draught of
White-wine.
_Floures stopt, how to provok them._
For that women which have not their naturall course on them, are most
prone to receive and take the infection, I have here set down good
Pills, which I have alwaies found excellent not onely for that purpose,
but will also resist the danger of infection.
℞. _Alloes Ciccatrine_, one ounce, Roots of Gentian, _Aristolochia
rotunda_, _Dittander_, Saffron, of either half a drachm: Roots of
garden Madder, Methridate, of either one drachm.
Cause them all to be ground in small powder, then mix it with the
Methridate and some sirrup of _Artemesia_, or Mugwort, give one drachm
of these Pills every morning twelve dayes together, or untill her
tearms break.
_Issues commended against the Plague._
In plethorick and full bodies, I have found nothing more safer in the
time of the Plague, then to make them an artificiall Issue, either
in the leg or arm, for never hitherto have I known any one which hath
had an Issue, or Ulcer running on him that hath been infected with the
plague. _Palmarius_ and _Forestus_, doe both affirm it to be true and
certain, but here some ignorant people doe hold opinion that having
once an Issue, he must be constrained to keep it alwaies, which is most
erronious, for then those which have had Ulcers running upon them, some
six, ten, yea sixteen yeers, may not be cured without some Issue to be
made in some other place, but therein they deceive themselves, for my
self by good proof have often found the contrary in divers people which
I have cured, some six, some ten, yea sixteen yeers past, and yet to
this day doe remain in perfect good health without any Issues.
CHAP. IX.
_What Diet we ought to keep._
For our diet as _Hippocrates_ teacheth us, we must have a care not
to exceed in eating and drinking but to keep a mean therein, and in
any case to beware of surfeting and drunkenness, which are enemies
both to the body and soule, but as we may not exceed in eating and
drinking, so to endure great hunger and thirst is most dangerous, our
meat ought to be of a facile and easie digestion, partly tending to a
drying qualitie; as Cocks, Capons, Hens, Pullets, Partridge, Pheasants,
Quailes, Pigeons, Rabbets, Kid, Veal, Mutton, Birds of the Mountains,
and such like; but Beef, Pork, Venison, Hare and Goats flesh is to be
refused, and so are all water fowls, as Duck, Swan, Goose, Widgen,
Teal, and such like, because they are hard to digest, and do increase
ill blood, and naughtie juyce in the bodie: Lambs flesh, because of his
exceeding moisture is also to be refused, Eggs in the Summer not good,
but in Winter tolerable: All Fishes which are of a hard flesh, whether
they be of the Sea, or fresh Rivers are to be allowed. In fresh Rivers
the Perch, Barble, Gudgeon, Loch, Cool, Trout, and Pike are good; and
for Sea fish, the Gilthed, Turbet, Sole, Rochet, Gurnard, Lobster,
Crab, Praunes, Shrimps, Whiting, and such like eaten with vinegar.
There are some Authors which hold opinion, that Fish is better to be
eaten then flesh in the great fervent heat of the year, because they
doe make a more cold bloud in the body then flesh; another reason is,
because they doe live under the water, they are not infected with any
contagion of the aire, as Beasts and birds may be, and therefore more
wholsome, but in my judgement flesh is more wholsome, because it doth
breed a more pure, and fine Juyce in the body then any Fish whatsoever;
your bread ought to be made of pure wheat, not too new, nor too old,
but of one dayes baking, or two at most is best: Rie bread is to be
eschewed, because of his great moisture: your drink is best beer or
ale, not too strong or new, but the staler and clearer it is the
better, at your meals a draught or two of Claret wine is tolerable, but
in hot weather it were good to allay it with a little water, for wine
doth warm the stomack, help digestion, and comfort the heart.
_For your Pottage you may take in the Summer._
Parsly, Lettice, Sorrell, Endive, Succorie, Sperage, Hop-buds, Burnet,
Burrage, Buglosse, Thime, Mints, Hysop, but in Winter, Balm, Bittanie,
Thime, Marigold, Hysop, Majoram, Mints and Rue are good. For your
Sallets take Pimpernell, Purslane, Mints, Sorrell, Hore-hound, Yong
cole, Hop-buds, Sperage, Thime, Tops of Fennell, Tarregon, Lettice, and
Water-cresses are good.
Capers are greatly commended being preserved in Vinegar, and eaten with
a little oyle and vinegar, and so are Olives very good also.
For your sauce, the juyce of a Limon, Citron, or Orange is best, the
juyce of Sorrell and Vinegar is also good.
All raw fruits are to be refused, except those which tend to sour tast,
as Pomgranates, damask Prunes, Pippins, red and sour Cherries, and
Wallnuts, Quinces, and Peares preserved are very good eaten after meals.
All kind of Pulse is to be refused, as Beans, Pease, and such like,
because they increase winde, and make raw humours and ill juyce in the
bodie.
Refrain from Garlick, Onyons, Leeks, Pepper, Mustard, and Rocket,
because they doe over-heat the body, make adustion of the bloud, and
cause fumes to ascend into the head.
Cheese is not good, because it doth ingender grosse and thick humors.
Milk is also to be refused, because it doth quickly corrupt in the
stomack.
CHAP. X.
_Sheweth what Exercise and Order is to be kept._
You must beware of all vehement and immoderate exercise, which doth
provoke sweat, as is Tennis, dancing, leaping, running, foot-ball,
hurling, and such like, because they doe over-much heat the body, and
open the Pores of respiration, whereby the infected aire hath the more
scope to enter our bodies, but moderate exercise is very convenient,
the use of hot houses at this time I thinke very dangerous, because it
doth too much open the pores.
Walk not into the open ayre in the morning before the Sun hath had some
power to cleanse and clear the same, and in any case goe not abroad
when great fogs and mists are upon the earth, for it is dangerous: but
if urgent occasions move you, then before you goe forth of your doors
be sure to eat some preservative first, and then take some good and
odoriferous Pomander, Nodule, or Nosegay in your hand, as before is
shewed you. The extream heat of the day is likewise to be refused to
walk in, because it chafeth the bloud; as also in the evening after
the Sun is set, for then unsavory and unwholsome Fogs arise out of the
earth, and in any case if you can avoid it come not neer any place
infected, but use to walk in the open aire and dry ground.
Use _Venus_ combates moderately, but none at all were better, the best
time to use them is three or four hours after supper, before you sleep,
and then rest upon them.
Beware of anger, fear, and pensiveness of the minde, for by their means
the body is made more apt to receive the infection.
Use pleasant and merry recreations, either with musick, pleasant
company to talke withall, or reading some good books.
Bewar of sleeping at noon, but specially in the Winter season, but
in Summer to take after dinner a nap of half an hour or an hour is
tollerable in elderly bodies.
Watch not long in the evenings but two or three hours after supper is a
good time to take your rest.
CHAP. XI.
_Teacheth what orders Magistrates, and Rulers of Cities and Townes,
should cause to be observed,_
First, To command that no stinking dunghills be suffered near the City.
Secondly, Every evening and morning in hot weather to cause cold water
to be cast in the streets, especially where the infection is, and every
day to cause the streets to be kept clean and sweet, and cleansed from
all filthy things which lye in the same.
Thirdly, And whereas the infection is entered, there to cause fires
to be made in the streets every morning and evening, and if some
Frankincense, Pitch, or some other sweet thing be burnt therein, it
will be much the better.
Fourthly, Suffer not any Doggs, Catts, or Pigs to run about the
streets, for they are very dangerous, and apt to carry the infection
from place to place.
Fifthly, Command that the excrements and filthy things which are voided
from the infected places be not cast into the streets or rivers which
are daily in use to make drink, or dresse meat.
Sixtly, That no Chirurgians, or Barbars which use to let bloud, do cast
the same into the streets or rivers.
Seventhly, That no Vauts or Privies be then emptied, for it is a most
dangerous thing.
Eighthly, That all Inholders do every day make clean their stables, and
cause the dung and filth therein to be carried away out of the City:
for by suffering it in their houses, as some do use to do, a whole week
or a fortnight, it doth so putrifie that when it is removed, there is
such a stinking and unwholsome smell, as is able to infect the whole
street where it is.
Ninthly, To command that no Hemp or Flax be kept in water near the City
or Town, for that will cause a very dangerous and infectious savour.
Tenthly to have a speciall care, that good and wholsome Victuals and
Corn be sold in the markets, and so to provide, that no want thereof
be in the City, and for such as have not wherewithall to buy necessary
food, that there to extend their charitable and godly devotion: for
there is nothing that will more increase the Plague, then want and
scarsity of necessary food.
Eleventhly, To command that all those which do visite and attend the
sick, as also all those which have the sicknesse on them and do walk
abroad, that they do carry something in their hands, thereby to be
known from other people. And here I must advertise you of one thing
more which I had almost forgotten (which is) that when the infection
is but in few places, there to keep the people in their houses, not
suffering any one of them to go abroad, and so to provide, that all
such necessaries as they shall need may be brought unto them during the
time of their visitation: and when it is staied, then to cause all the
clothes, bedding, and other such things as were used about the sick, to
be all burnt, although at the charge of the rest of the Inhabitants you
buy them all new, for fear least the danger which may ensue thereby,
do put you to a far greater charge and grief: all these aforesaid
things are most dangerous, and may cause a generall infection, to the
destroying of a whole City, and therefore I do wish that great care be
had thereof.
CHAP. XII.
_Doth shew what you must do when you go to visit the sick._
First before you enter into the house, command that a great fire be
made in the chamber where the sick lieth, and that some odoriferous
perfume be burnt in the midest of the chamber, and before you go to
him, eat some cordiall preservative, and smother your clothes with
some sweet perfume, then wet your temples, eares, nose, and mouth,
with Rose-water and Vinegar mixt together, then take in your mouth
a peice of the root of _Angelica_, the rind of a sower Citron, or a
Clove prepared as before is shewed, and have some Nosegay, Nodule, or
Pomander, appropriate in your hand, which you must alwaies smell unto,
so may you the more bouldlier perform your intent: but herewithall
you must have a speciall care, that during the time you are with the
sick, you stand not betwixt the sick body and the fire, for that is
dangerous; because that the fire of his nature draweth all vapors unto
it self; but keep you alwaies on the contrary side, so that the sick
may be betwixt you and the fire: and for such as are to let any sick
infected body to bleed, it were good they did cause the keeper of the
sick body to lay open that arme or legg which is to be let bloud before
he approach near: the reason is, for that most commonly all that are
sick in this contagious disease, are for the most part in a sweat,
and therefore suddenly to receive the breath thereof, would be very
dangerous.