The mourning-cross: or, England's Lord have mercy upon us Containing the certain causes of pestilential diseases; with an accompt of several modern plagues or visitation in times past, as well in other countries as in the city of London; as also, the number of those that then died, not onely on the plague, but of all diseases, Continued down to this present day, August 29. 1665. To which is likewise added, a necessary prayer for this present time.

The Mourning-Cross: or, England's Lord have Mercy upon Us.

Containing The certain causes of Pestilential Diseases; With an Accompt of several modern Plagues or Visitati∣ons in times past, as well in other Countries as in the City of London; as also, The Number of those that then died, not onely of the Plague, but of all Diseases. Continued down to this present day, August 29. 1665. To which is likewise added, A Necessary Prayer for this Present Time.

IT is no doubt, that the corruption of the Air, together with

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uncleanly and unwholsome keeping of dwelling, where many are pestred together; as also the not observing to have fires private and publikely made, as well within houses as without in the streets, at times when the Air is infected, are great occasions to increase, corrupt, and produce pesti∣lent Diseases. Neither can it be denyed, that the over-bold∣ness of many pressing into infected places, and the lewdness of others with sores upon them, presuming into the open Air, some of wilfulness, but truly many of necessity, contaminateth and corrupteth divers; as the Leprosie, the Pox, and sundry such unclean diseases do: as by drinking, lying in company, and other such means, where pure com∣plexions and clean bloods are defiled with such as are putrified; and therefore carefully to be avoided. But all these are accidental, and rather the effects then the cause. For it plainly appeareth in the Book of Exodus, that when it pleased the Almighty God to smite the Egyp∣tians, the children of Israel were appointed to dip Hyssop in the blood of the Paschal Lamb, and smite off that blood on the outward posts of their doors, that when the Slayer came to destroy in one night all the first-born in Egypt, he might pass over the houses of Gods children. So that it is plain, it was an Angel then sent to smite those cruel people with the Pestilence.

London is situated as pleasantly as Sodom, and her sister Cities, before they sunk, even for the same sins that we have committed: for the sin of Sodom (saith the Prophet Ezechiel) was pride, fulness of bread, and contempt of the poor. That these sins reign in London, who can de∣ny? To them adde, Fulness of Drink; for therein we exceed the ••••••∣tions, that within these fifty years we hated for Drunkenness: And I doubt that unnameable sin of Sodomy is used in too many places of the City. Yet London stands, and so God, grant with his mercy it long may.

In the City called the Grand Caire, there is a Plague once every seven years, which cometh with such fierceness, that the most part of the people there do die thereof: and divers of them that remain a∣live, lose their eye-sight with the vapours and great heat which co∣meth from the ground.

In the year 254. fifteen Provinces of the Roman Empire, were in a manner consumed with the Pestilence.

In the yea•• 530. there dyed in Constantinople five thousand a day, and divers times ten thousand: and at that time, in some other parts of Greece, there were not sufficient living men left to bury their dead.

And in the year 1569. there fell such a Plague in Constantinople, that there dyed in six Months space, seven hundred thousand persons, and the year following fell such a Famine, that a penny loaf of Bread of English money, was worth a Crown of Gold: by reason whereof, the people dyed as fast then of the Famine, as before of the Plague.

In the year 540. there began an Universal plague all over the that continued 50. years with great violence.

In the year 1348. in Paris in France, there dyed a hundred thou∣sand people of the Plague.

In the year 1359. so great a Pestilence there was in Italy, that there were scarce ten left of a thousand.

In the year 1521. there dyed in Rome a 100000. of the Pestilence.

In the years 1576. and 77. in Millan, Padua and Venice, there fell a hundred thousand in every City: and in Bohemia (being but a small Kingdom) there dyed three hundred thousand the same time.

In the Raign of King Edward the third, there fell a very great Pestilence in the East-Indies, among the Tartarians, Saracens and Turks, which lasted the space of seven years: through the fear whereof, many of the Heathens willingly offered themselves to become Christians. And shortly after, by reason of Passengers from one Province to another, the same Pestilence was dispersed in many Christian-Kingdoms, and amongst other places ••rought into England; where it was so forcible all over the Land, that not onely Men, but also Beasts, Birds and Fishes were smitten therewith, and sound dead with Botches upon them. Also a∣mong men, the numbers that were left alive, were scarcely sufficient to bury their dead. At which time, with the rest that then died of the Plague, Henry Duke of Lancaster, Blanch Dutchess of Lancaster, and the Earl of Warwick, ended their lives. So that in one year, in a little plot of ground of thirteen Acres compass, then called Spittle-croft, and now the Charter-house, was buried fifty thousand persons, besides all them that were buried in the Church-yards, and divers places in the fields. Yet our Visitations, though our sins exceed have been more gentle.

It is to be observed, That from the 25. of December, 1602. unto the 22. of December, 1603. there died of all Diseases, within London and the Liberties, thirty eight thousand, two hundred, forty four; whereof of the Plague, thirty thousand, five hundred seventy eight; and the next year following, London was cleer of that Infection, and then were all the Shires in England grievously visited. Let the Country-people especially, ☞ Note the Work of God. The particular numbers in each year in London and the Liberties, of all Diseases, are as followeth.