CHAP. X. Of the Office of Magistrates in time of the Plague.
MAgistrates ought to have a special care that no filth be heaped up, either in private or publick places: let all things be kept neat in every house, and let all the streets be kept clean, the dung and filth be carried forth of the City, as also the dead carcasses of killed dogs and cats, for because they oft-times lick and devour the excrements of such as have the sick∣ness,* 1.1 therefore they may by their familiar entry into sound houses, there propagate the Plague: Wherefore they must either be driven forth of the City, or killed, and so be carried forth and buri∣ed deep in the ground. Wells, springs, and rivers themselves, must be freed and cleansed from all impurity. Care must be had that musty corn, tainted flesh, nor stinking fish be not set to sale. Pub∣lick baths and hot-houses must be prohibited, for that in these, mens bodies are weakned, and made more yielding and pervious to the pestiferous air. They shall commit the cure of such as have the plague, to learned, skilful and honest Physicians and Apothecaries and Surgeons.
Such as are known to have the Plague, shall be separated from such as are free there-from, and be sent to such fit places as shall be provided for them; for this is better and more humanely done then to shut up every man in his own house. They shall provide and fore-see that the houshold∣stuff of such as have the plague be not set to sale. They shal set signs and noted marks upon the houses seized upon by this disease, least they should unawares run into danger: Wherefore to the same pur∣pose they shall procure that the Surgeons and others that visit the sick of the Plague may be known by some conspicuous mark, that such as pass by them may be admonished of the danger, they shall also take care that the bodies of the dead be buried as speedily as may be.* 1.2 For they sooner and more grievously putrefie in a short time, then the bodies of others of what death soever they dye. Wherefore, neither birds, nor ravenous beasts dare once touch their bodies, though unbu∣ried; for by tasting them they should quickly come to their deaths. The keepers of the gates of the City shall be admonished, that they take special care that such as are infected, or come from a visited place, do not enter into the City; for from one, the evill may come to spread it self further: for one spark may set a whole City on fire, and one scabby sheep infect a whole flock. And be∣cause there is nothing which may more perfectly purge the air, and cleanse it from all manner of noisomness and infection, then fire; they shall command that there be kindled, and perpetually kept burning, fires made with odoriferous and strong-smelling things, as Juniper, Turpentine, Broom, and the like.
* 1.3In stead hereof Leuinus tells, that the Souldiers of the Garrison of Torny used in a Plague-time, to discharge their Canons laded only with powder, turning their mouths upon the City, and that morning & evening; that by the vehemency of the moved air, the pestiferous fogs might be chased away;* 1.4 and by the heat of the burned powder, the venenate and noisom quality of the air might be amended. Lastly, I judge it fit to admonish Magistrates, that they have their eies and minds atten∣tive upon a murderous and impious kind of Bearers and Nurs-keepers; which allured with a desire of gain (which whilst the Plague reins, they get abundantly) annoint the walls, doors, thresh∣olds, knockers of gates and locks with the filth and ointments taken from such as have the Plague, that the Plague within a while after seizing upon these also, the masters of them flying away, and the family dispersed, they may there reign alone, and freely and without punishment carry thence what they please; oft-times strangling such as lie ready to die, least recovering, they might be their accusers. This I remember happened at Lions, Anno Dom. 1565.