A learned treatise of the plague

I therefore say, that it is an absurd and fond thing, to confound these things, so far severed asunder, and distinguished by their most diverse, yet not contrary ends, but only such as are placed, the one under the other. And because that in this Argument they contend, that the Plague therefore is not infectious, for that it is often called the hand, and sword, and arrow of God, I demand of them, whether the Leprosy were not the hand of God? and whether it were not therefore infectious; and the rather, because it was infectious whether therefore the Leprous were not commanded to depart aside from the rest that were clean? I demand this also, If there be no evil in the City, which the Lord doth not, whether at this day, notwithstanding, the foul black sporty and scurvy Leprosy called the Elephantiasis be not accounted infectious. And I would gladly ask of them which ⟨p. 6⟩find fault with our going aside in the Plague time, whether they think that those which are infected with it, are to be suffered in the Common company and society of men? And if they suppose that they are to be suffered, why they declaim not, and cry out against them also by whom they are shut out? if not, and think them to be avoided for fear of the Infection, why without all exceptions do they blame those that shun the infections of the Plague, as the most hurtful to all persons? But they will peradventure deny that kind of Leprosy to be the hand of God: Let us speak of the Pox, whether it be the French, or the Spanish, I would to God it were not also the English, That it is a punishment sent of God for Whoredom, which in these times is accounted as a sportive recreation; I think there is no man which dareth to deny that it is indeed the hand, sword, or arrow of God, which striketh Whoremongers. But is it not therefore infectious? And doth not a Whore even infect many with this disease, who again bewray one another? So that this most filthy Sickness is gotten, not only with lying together, but also by breathing and handling, and is sucked out by infants from their Nurses Breasts; and the Nurses get this Disease by giving suck unto the Infant, which is is either conceived by an unclean Father, or born of an unclean Mother: Those Arguments also are therefore such, as do indeed need no confutation.

I therefore say, that it is an absurd and fond thing, to confound these things, so far severed asunder, and distinguished by their most diverse, yet not contrary ends, but onely such as are placed, the one under the other. And because that in this Argument they contend, that the Plague therefore is not infectious, for that it is often called the hand, and sword, and arrow of God, I demand of them, whether the Leprosie were not the hand of God? and whether it were not therefore infectious; and the rather, because it was infectious whether therefore the Leprous were not commanded to depart aside from the rest that were clean? I demand this also, If there be no evil in the City, which the Lord doth not, whether at this day, notwithstanding, the foul black sporty and scurvy Leprosie called the Elephantiasis be not accounted infectious. And I would gladly ask of them which