The duetie of a faithfull and wise magistrate, in preseruing and deliuering of the eommon [sic] wealth from infection, in the time of the plague or pestilence two bookes. Written in Latine by Iohn Ewich, ordinary phisition of the woorthie common wealth of Breame, and newlie turned into English by Iohn Stockwood schoolemaister of Tunbridge. ...

A register or brief rehearsall, conteining the orders set downe in these two bookes, Chap. 10.

AFter that hitherto wee haue set foorth such things as we thought to appertaine vnto the office of a faithfull and wise Magistrate, in preser∣uing and deliuering the com¦mon wealth from the infection in the time of the plague, and haue hādled many things somewhat at large: it seemeth not amisse, to repeate briefly, & after y^e maner of a register, the more profitable and chiefe orders: if hap∣pily any man haue not either leisure, or els like not to reade the whole discourse: for so he may both the more easily remember thē, and bee lesse wearie. [ 1]

Therefore when as we shalbe persuaded that it appertaineth vnto the office of the go∣uernours

of the common wealth, not only to furnish the citie with things necessarie, but also to keepe away things hurtful & discom∣modious (amongst which hurtful things are especially conteined common & generall di∣seases, which hurt men by infection, such as chiefly the plague is) the magistrates muste beware of this, that here they giue no place to slougth or negligence, but rather with all indeuour, studie, faithfulnes, & wisdom, per∣form y^e, which they shal vnderstād to cōcerne the profit and health of the whole felowship and all their subiects.

And first of al, y^t they cōmand vnto their sub∣iects [ 2] a publike repētance, & together with y^e people setting before thē amēdment of life, y^t they set thēselues before God y^e most boun∣teous & almightie, crauing earnestly at his hands pardon both for theyr sinful life past, & hotly desiring aid in their present miserie.

[ 3] Furthermore their conscience thus appro∣ued vnto god, being wel strēgthned in faith, hope, and charitie, let thē imploy all the ser∣uice of mā, that they let passe nothing, which either reason counsaileth, or neede requireth. And because y^e order in all things is necessa∣rie, whether we wil do any thing that is pro∣fitable, or hinder that which is hurtful: & dis∣order & confusion hated of God himselfe: it

shalbe great barbarousnes, in other thinges to haue good rules, & in y^e breaking in of dis∣eases as it were of cruel beasts to vse no wis∣dome, to make no lawes agreeable vnto rea∣son. Wherfore as the natural Philosophers do appoint vnto euery sphere of the heauen, his mouer, & as it were gouernor: & as cōmō wealthes doe set ouer euery office a seuerall ruler: so also in y^e care of y^e publike health, some certaine magistrates must be ordeined, who both indeed & name must be preseruers, & by their authoritie procure all matters of this treatise, & y^t in such order as followeth.

First, they shall prouide y^e cōmon wealth of [ 4] meet phisitions, Chirurgeās, Apothecaries, who sufficiently furnished with a blamelesse life, & skill of things, shall attend only vpon this sicknes of y^e plague, & shal (y^e Apotheca∣rie excepted) altogether abstain frō other di∣seased persōs & diseases. And as these are ho∣nestly & courteously to be maintained with a reasonable stipēd: so other runnagate stran∣gers as greedie cormorāts, gaping only for their pray, are to be banished. For when as they are treacherous betraiers of the life of man, vnlearned, and desperately bolde, they are easily inforced by Satā in this plight of things to any hainous offence: that whereas they ought to take away the infection, heere

being wicked persons they perswade them∣selues to spread and increase the same.

[ 5] Now after the common wealth shall bee prouided of phisitions for the body (for this care in our treatise, wherin prouision is had for health, after the vniuersall purging of our cōscience, I iudge to be the chief & first) likewise they must also make inquirie for Phisitions of the soules, men approued in all points: if any (whiche thing I disuade not but wish and exhort) will vse their helpe, or instruction and comfort, which is done by words and speech: or if the time so require, the receiuing & partaking of the sacramēts: These also must abstaine frō the companie of others, which are not visited w^t this sick∣nesse of the Plague.

[ 6] They must cōmaund such order to be obser∣ued, or kept among the citizens, that all pub∣like assemblies bee auoided, as marriages, games, dauncings, bathes, common fayres, pompous funerals or burials. Churche assē∣blies may be vsed, if they be deuided into di∣uers places, that they come not together in great heapes, and sit close one by another. Great schooles are to bee remoued into a place & ayre more conuenient: lesser scholes, and for children, are so long to be shut vp vn∣till the sicknes cease raging.

In thinges concerning meate and drink, [ 7] to be bought and solde, this foresight is to be followed, that it bee not lawfull neyther to sell in the Citie, nor bring in what things soeuer are hurtfull, and may bring daunger of infection (and what are such, wee haue se∣uerally set downe in the Treatise it selfe, as occasion serued) but holsome and necessarye thinges are to be procured, and to bee solde, euery thing in his place, and at his appointed price. Manye markettes, and a reasonable price for euerye thing muste bee appoynted,* 1.1 according vnto the natures of the things and countryes, and abilitie of the buyars. Concerning which notwithstanding it is not easie by certaine lawes to make prouiso, or exactly enough to prescribe, but only cha∣ritie must needs appoint the measure & rule of this equitie.

Kyne, Hogges, Geese, and other filthye [ 8] beastes, which doe make much stenche and vncleannesse, are not to bee suffered in the Citie, but there must bee made stables for them in some place out of the Citie, especial∣ly by some Brooke, if it may be, which maye carry away all the filth, or from whence the vncleane reekes breath not into the Citie. Because that their doung and excrementes

doth greatly defile the ayre, and yeeldeth no∣rishment vnto the infection.

[ 9] The streetes also must be cleansed of all filth, and nothing caste in them eyther grie∣uous in smell, or abhominable in sight: but what kinde of such stuffe soeuer there is, it must bee caryed out of the Citie, that of the streetes there bee not made common pry∣uies, as it were: naye, that the whole Ci∣tie seeme not as it were a certayne filthye Iakes, which in some Cities is most shame∣fullye suffered. Wherefore without the Citie in places conuenient there must hou∣ses of office bee made at the charge of the common wealth, and that by a ryuer side, if there be any there, that such excrementes may bee carryed away with the force of the water, or in some open place, that they may be dried vp with the winde.

And heere the custome of the Sarmati∣ons shall nothing moue vs, who in the time of the plague vse to cast dead Dogges eue∣ry where in the streetes, to quench infec∣tion with infection. For this is barbarous, and peraduenture commodious onelye for that place. But wee must rather amend our ayre with sweete thinges: and chiefe∣lye by makinge euerye where great and

bright fiers and flames. For in a generall sickenesse the purenes of the ayre is a chiefe remedie, as Hippocrates and Galen, and all auncient wise men doe witnesse. And the fire dooth cleanse, drye vppe and purifie all thinges, and is vnto the ayre, as it were the Sunne, soule, and lyfe:* 1.2 Inso∣much as looke what that notable preserua∣tiue Triacle dooth vnto compound bodies, that dooth fire vnto the ayre, of all simple bodyes, as in place, so also in vertue the highest elemente:* 1.3 the which let it be lawe∣full for me to speak with the leaue of Car∣danus, who denyeth the fire to bee an ele∣ment. And it is very pretily sayd,* 1.4 By howe much the ayre is better, by so much the minde is better. For men for the most part are disposed according vnto the qualitie of the ayre.

Dogges also, Cattes, Goates, and other [ 10] tame beastes, which are woont to runne vp and downe, and euery where to wander in the streetes, are not to be suffered, or at least wise must be kept at home, for such may cary about & bring vnto others y^e aire of y^e plague, albeit they them selues many times remaine vnhurt: the which is manifest both by natu∣ral reason, and also histories worthy credit.

Wherefore suche as cannot easilye bee kepte at home, as Cattes, it is better that they bee killed, then suffered, and in the roome of them, to vse ginnes and mouse trappes.

[ 11] No straungers, nor Citizens which come out of infected places, are to be receyued into the Citie, without a testimoniall of health. And such testimonialles in papers sealed or written, they muste require of the Preseruers: But if this order of our polly∣cie be not yet receiued in some places, they then must be craued at the handes of the ma∣gistrate or Minister. Such as haue none, must keepe them selues without the Citie a conuenient time of certaine daies. For there muste greater care bee had for the publike health, then priuate wealth. That whiche I haue said of y^e mē, must also be vnderstood of the thinges which they bring with them: as wares, packes, housholde, &c. For in these many tymes there doe lye great daun∣gers. For the ayre of the plague may hange a long time in them, as it is most euidente concerning woollen garments. For wool is woont marueilously to nourish & increase this infection. And it is knowne of many lewd persons, whoe by this meanes haue

scattered the presente sickenesse farre and wide.

Into whose houses the Plague is ligh∣ted, [ 12] they forthwith by the commaundement of the Preseruers, ought to keepe thēselues within, and must not haue leaue to go abrod, vnlesse they goe noted with some especiall marke, which shall please the Preseruers: whereby notwithstanding they shall not bee yet at libertie, to shuffle them selues into the companies of men, or to go into other mens houses. The houses also them selues must be noted with some markes, namelye by hanging before the doore a blacke, redde, or white sheete: or setting vp of clubbes, or swathes of straw, or torches vnlighted: al which are signes of sickenesse or death. If any also of his owne accorde haue gone in∣to such houses, in like manner hee shall not come abroad by the space of 14. dayes, with∣out some marke. The sicke and those of the house must prouide for them selues, the one by healing, and the other by preseruing me∣dicines: either vpō their own charges, which be able to beare it, or by the publike charges, which are poore. For Phisicke is the gifte of GOD, and Phisitions the Ministers of God, by whose seruice the Lord many times

giueth health: albeit when hee wil, hee can doe it without them, which can do al things. But it is not lawfull to tempt him, neyther ought wee to aske myracles, when as with∣out miracles, wee maye obtaine the thinge which we require.

Hereunto also appertaineth, that regard be had of women in trauell, which are not to be forsaken for feare of infection, but if they be suspected, they are faithfully to be holpen, especially of the midwiues & other women, which by a publike stipend must be hired for this purpose.

Two houses, called Plague houses must [ 13] be built, large inough, of sound matter, situ∣ated towards the North, of an apt forme, in some out corner of the Citie, or rather with∣out the Cittie by the running waters side: The one for the vse of the hole, but yet su∣spected, and the other for the sicke: not ioy∣ninge together, nor hindering one another in receiuing the North winde: with Cham∣bers somewhat high, but not darkishe, with windowes open vnto the East. For the close aire is very hurtfull, of the which there haue beene seene fearefull examples. And these thinges must bee looked vnto in the begin∣ning of the sicknes, when the number of the

infected is smaller. For in a great compa∣nie of sicke persons, and in an vniuersall vi∣sitation of the citie, these things wil scarse be sufficient, albeit al things be well obserued.

The Magistrate, when as the necessarye persons and matters of the common wealth [ 14] be prouided for, may giue leaue vnto certain to go aside, as vnto women, Children, tender persons, and old men, and other vnprofitable folke, which can doe no good, but maye doe great harm, as it vseth to be done in com∣mon burninges and firinges, or besiegings of Cities: and he that shall then departe, is not to be condemned of reproch, or forsa∣king of brotherlye charitie. Otherwise it is lawefull for no man to flie, especially if by famine, which is an other plague, he bee not driuen to seeke an other place.

But if it be plaine by euident tokens, that this punishment is sent immediately by god, without the negligence of men, and natu∣rall causes, so farre of is it that wee shoulde flye awaye, that wee ought rather patiently to abide his fatherly correction, and humbly to pray for mitigation and slacking of the same. But euery plague cannot properlye be called the plague of God, but commeth sometimes by nature, somtimes by our neg∣ligence

and rashnes. In such a case there is no doubt but that wee may desire and followe al hol∣some counsailes and remedies.

[ 15] If there dye any (which at that time is a daily thing) they ought neither too slowely, nor too hastily to be carried forth and buried. For on both sides there is daunger and incō∣uenience. Wherefore a moderation and meane must be vsed. This shall be doone by such as are thereunto especially appoynted, as Bursars, Grauemakers, Cleansers: who ought quietly and modestlye to execute this charge, folowing holy men in times paste, and, that which is more, the Angels of God, who themselues also sometimes did this of∣fice. It must also be done without any com∣panies of men: and if so be that any solem∣nitie must be vsed, the same must be finished with as little comming together and char∣ges as may be, least ambition and pride may seeme to be sought in death, and the old spit∣tle of pompous funeralles or buryalles be licked vp againe.

[ 16] The Church yarde, in which they are to be buryed, must be builded without the terri∣tories of the Citie, of a conuenient largnes, in a place neither lowe nor moyst, towardes the North, of around figure, compassed with

a stone wall, with grates at the entry, and doores falling too of their own accord after they be opened, to keepe out cattel.

After that the Corse is carryed forth, [ 17] the infected house, & al thinges in it, are with singular diligence to bee cleansed & purged, setting open the windowes, to be perfumed with fire, and the walles to be whited with lyme. Thinges of no great value are to be burnt, others to be washed in lye. Lastly, al things are to be strowed with sweet hearbs, flowers and fruites. And these things must be done by those whom we haue named O∣uerseears about buryals, Cleansers, & Car∣ryars forth to burying, or by those of the houshold, if they be there. [ 18]

All those which are left aliue, must be by certaine lawes kept in, such in manner, as hath beene sayd of them houshold seruantes, which haue beene with the sicke. Those therfore which shal be in health among thē, if they will go abroad, must, aswell as they, carry a white rod in their hand.

Those which haue beene infected, and so so recouered, but yet not fully, maye not ra∣shlye goe abroad, vntill they bee throughlye cleansed, vnto the which the space of two moneths is requisite at the least. But such as

indeede are nowe presentlye sicke of this di∣sease, may in no case be found amongest the assemblies of men, as in the old testament it was not lawfull for the leprous to be in the company of the cleane.

[ 19] These orders euery one according to his abilitie and office, must indeuour diligently to obserue, as most profitable and necessarye both priuatelye for him selfe, and for the whole societie and fellowshippe. He that of conscience and religion shall be perswa∣ded to thinke that hee resisteth the wyll of God, if by the helpe of man hee labour to auoyde his punishment, hee must suffer him selfe to bee better taught, and not to laye a snare vpon his owne conscience. But he that of slouthfulnesse or waywardnes shall con∣temne the publike health, let him know, that he greatly hurteth charitie, and as it were sinneth against his own body.

[ 20] Last of all hee that shall bee founde slacke and vnfaythfull in his office, muste bee pu∣nished accordinge vnto the qualitie of his faulte: Which punishment the Preseruers shal rule and sette downe, eyther by some penaltie of money, or of reproach, or by suspention, or depryuation from dignitie and offyce, or by imprisonmente, or by

the laste punyshmente of putting to death.

And thus farre hath hytherto beene spo∣ken of the duetie of a faythfull and wise Ma∣gistrate to be vsed in the time of the plague. Which if it shall seeme peraduenture newe vnto any man, albeit that in manye places it is not altogether vnusuall: let him vnder∣stande that wee goe about a newe woorke: Newe, I say, in some place perchaunce, or at least wise in some parte newe, but yet notwithstanding not vnprofitable, or not ne∣cessarye. And holsome counsayles are not therefore to bee despysed,* 1.5 beecause they are newe: For all thinges, which nowe are olde, and with reason long agoe orday∣ned, were once newe. Neyther doth it fol∣lowe: this is newe, therefore it is to be re∣fused. For is the hande of GOD short∣ned, so that in our times hee canne reueale nothing, which was not knowne of our fore∣fathers? Do there not dayly come abroad new medicins, the vse whereof beeing vn∣knowen vnto our Elders, hath beene with great fruite and profite knowen vnto vs?

Wherefore they which iudge thus, that which is vnto anye man straung and vnusu∣all, the same by no meanes is to bee receiued and allowed: do tye the Magistrate vnto too

streight bandes, to cutte away from him all libertie, to take aduice vpon most weighty matters, and such as hee neuer before heard of: Far disagreeing from the counsayle of that Prince in Homer, who (necessitie en∣forcing) saieth Hee that can better coun∣sayle geue, who so hee bee, now let him come, for be he young, or be hee olde, moste willingly the same I take.

When as therefore there are some Ru∣lars ouer al offyces of the common wealth, who especiallye take charg of those things, the dooinge whereof is committed vnto them, leaste anye thinge shoulde bee doone amisse, or disorderlye: I hope that wyse Magistrates will heerein easily also agree, to receiue this newenesse into their com∣mon wealth. The whiche albeit it shall peraduenture seeme somewhat harde vnto such as are not acquainted with it: yet by vse it will waxe milde, and by the profite thereof make it selfe by litle and litle more commendable. But if quarrellars shall crye out, that I haue taken some thinges out of other Authours into this Treatise, I haue examples, by which examples I thinke it lawefull for mee to doe that, which they haue doone. Howe many thinges, naye

almost al things hath Terence taken into his Commedies out of Menander?* 1.6 And Virgil into his poesie out of Homer, Cicero although of singuler wit & eloquence,* 1.7 nay the father of eloquence, was not ashamed e∣uery where out of the Greekes, to conueigh so many things into his writings, that hee may seeme rather the Translator then Au∣thour of some things. In the law, Phisicke, Diuinitie, the new writers haue almost no∣thing, or very little, the which they haue not taken from the olde: out of whose bookes also they are not afraide to write out many thinges worde for worde, and to stuffe them in their workes for the maintenance of their cause, albeit sometimes not without suspiti∣on of falshood. And these thinges they often do in the same matter which hath sometimes beene handeled before by others: with how much more right I then who doe handle a matter not perhaps so verye newe, yet throughly & as it were from point by point, set foorth hitherto by no man, that I knowe, if out of the workes of good Authours I haue fitted to my purpose suche thinges as seeme to serue the turne. It is no hanging matter, to take from others that whiche a man may profitably vse without wronging

any body.* 1.8 It is the part of Aesop his Crowe vnbesittingly to garnishe her selfe with the fethers of other byrdes not agreeing vnto her, and vainely to boast of the same: and it is the point of a wise man, from euery where to take, & rightly to apply to his matter, such things as are fit and profitable for the thing in hand. For it is a great prayse diligently to search the writings of our Elders: but a greater, faithfully to keepe the things found out: for they haue by their vertues opened the way of labour, and by theyr wisedome left vnto vs the path of vnderstanding.

Now if many of the things which I here require shall seeme hard to be compassed, be∣cause that some lacke wealth, some oppor∣tunitie, some wisdome: yet is it not to bee disalowed, y^t the best rule be set down, accor∣ding vnto the which, euery man so farr as he may, may order his matters. For y^e example and pattern, according vnto y^e which a thing ought to bee done, ought in euery point to bee most perfect,* 1.9 that the following of the same may be most commodious. For wher∣as in a manner nothing by following may bee so set out as that it bee made like to the first patterne, nay that it will not many wayes be thereunto inferiour, this shalbe a

great prayse vnto the follower, y^t in the next degree he come neere vnto that whiche hee hath purposed to follow. The Poet saith: Looke what wee can attaine vnto, some praise it is, though that we can performe no more: And of the wise men in the gos∣pell it is saide in a common verse: They went so farre as they could goe, where that they coulde no further passe, there stoode they still. I know it to be more ea∣sie to giue counsaile then to follow y^e same: yet notwitstanding the best counsaile is to be giuen. For if some thing bee wanting in the setting downe how a thing should bee done, no doubt some thing will bee wanting in the action it selfe, that must according to that rule be performed. There was neuer such an Oratour as Cicero and Quintilian do describe vnto vs: Nor such a Phisition, as Galen requireth: nor such a cōmon wealth as Plato shapeth, nor such a Preacher, as E∣rasmus painteth out: Nor finally such a Church as Christ desireth. These, I say, albeit at no time they haue beene founde so perfect, as of thē they are perfectly portrai∣tured, yet they thought good to set a moste perfect patterne of them all before our eies, by the viewe whereof all our thoughts and

actions should be gouerned. Which things sith they are so, who can iustly finde faulte with mee, for that I require some thinges more exactly peraduenture then some com∣mon wealthes by following can bee able to performe? Wherefore those whiche can pleade no other let but want of abilitie, wyll at leastwise take in good part that good and holsome counsaile, which commeth from a good heart: And concerning the rest, muste pray earnestly with me vnto God the father, and Iesus Christe his sonne, the true tur∣ner away, and driuer backe of all euill, y^t he will maintaine sound in vs the gift of life, w^c hee hath bestowed vpō vs, & preserue or deliuer vs frō this infectiō of the plague, vnto the glory of his name, the amendement of our liues, and health of our soules: cal∣ling vpon him after this maner.

A Prayer.

O God in all aduersitie the onelie hope and stay, Th'assured helpe and certayne ayde of life of mine alway: Vnmindfull of deserued ire, O Father helpe at neede,

Spare and beholde of people thine the teares which they doe sheede. Regarde vs for thy Christes sake, with humble voyce wee craue: And deale not with vs giltie soules, as wee deserue to haue. Howe some time Dauid for his sinne committed, greeuous paine Did suffer, holy scripture doth report vnto vs plaine. When seuen thousande ten times tolde (a miserable sight) With rage of plague in three daies space did loose this ioyfull light. But when with teares hee did againe his sinne confesse and wayle, Of frindly pardon at thy handes foorthwith hee did not faile. His wickednesse, and also guilt of wickednesse committed, Which vseth to prouoke thy wrath, was by and by remitted. Wee also now haue made the like, or greater farre offence, To which of paine is likewise due as iust a recompence. But yet O God & father deere with humble suite wee pray,

That vs most wretched wights, in wrath so great thou wilt not pay. Haue pitie Lorde on vs, on vs that humblie sue to thee: And suffer not our prayers made, in vaine or voide to bee. Vnmindful of deserued yre, O father helpe at need, Spare, and behold of people thine the teares which they doe sheede. Beholde I pray for Chirste his sake, in name of whom who vse All prayers vnto thee to make, thou cannest not refuse. To whom, as coeternall God with thee, like laud and prayse, Like honour, equall glory, renowme is due alwayes.

Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Theo. Tabe. de pest. ca. 8.
• * 1.2

  Pli. hist. nat. 56. cap. vlt.
• * 1.3

  De var. rer. lib. 1.
• * 1.4

  Le. Lem. de ocul. nat. mir. 3.
• * 1.5

  Al new thinges are not to be despised.
• * 1.6

  Terence.
• * 1.7

  Virgill.
• * 1.8

  Aesops crow.
• * 1.9

  The most per∣fect way is in euery thing to be set downe, though it cannot be by others at∣tained vnto.