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Of the Imagination, and how the same cometh into it's exaltation.
WHat powerful operation the Imagination hath, and how the same cometh to its hight and exaltation, may be seen by an example taken from experience in the time of pestilence, where∣in the Imagination poysoneth more then any infected Aire; and against which, no Antidote, neither of Mithridate nor Treacle, nor any such preservative, can exhibit any helpe; unless that such an Imagination do pass away and be forgot∣ten, nothing else will helpe. So quick and swift a Runner and Messenger is the Imagination, that it doth not onely fly out of one house into another, out of one streete into another, but also most swiftly passeth from one City and Country into another; so that by the Imagination onely of one person, the Pestilence may come into some whole City or Country, and kill many thousands of men: as may be understood by this example. Put case there were two brethren dearly loving one another, and one of them lives in France and the other travels into Italy, who is taken away by the Pestilence in the middle way, and newes should be brought to the bro∣ther living in France, that his brother in Italy was dead of the Plague; at which he being af∣frighted, it pierceth through his Skin, into his Imagination, so that he cannot forget it; and it is