Treatise of the Plague 2, Title page – Dedication
A LEARNED TREATISE OF THE PLAGUE: WHEREIN, The two Queſtions: Whether the PLAGUE be Infectious, or no: And Whether, and how farr it may be ſhunned of Chriſtians, by going aſide? are reſolved.
Written in Latine by the famous Theodore Beza Vezelian.
LONDON, Printed by Thomas Ratcliffe, and are to be ſold by Edward Thomas at the Adam and Eve in Little Britain 1665
To the Honorable Sir JOHN ROBINSON, Lieutenant of his Majeſtie's Principal Fortreſs, the Tower of London.
Honourable Sir,
THE confidence of a Stranger will (I hope) eaſily meet your pardon, when the worth of the Author, and the occaſional Subject of the Diſcourſe (in theſe contagious and calamitous times) have given me too ſad an opportunity of preſenting it to your Honour, whoſe concerns for the Publick Welfare, (even in this Great City) are as eminently great as any others. The matter of the Diſcourſe is a Confutation, and reconciling the onelyonly two destructive Opinions, that in all Ages (in Contagious and Infectious times) have ever proved fatal to the World: the one too much preſuming and relying upon this bold Opinion, That the PLAGUE is not Infectious: and the other, Tum pavor ſapientiam omnem mihi ex animo expectorat: out of a weak and unſpirited Precipitation, without exception, flye away from it; both of which are ſo contrarie to Humanity; that as they are utter Enemies to each other, ſo (like the diſ-agreeing Brothers) they are both in oppoſition to Chriſtian duplicate page duplicate page Community and Charity. To ſay more, were too great a wrong to the Judicious Beza, and to anticipate Your Honours Judgement; To whoſe Noble Approbation I commend the Author; and hope from Your Noble Candour, You will eaſily cenſure this Preſumption in,
Honourable Sir, Your Honours (though unknown) moſt devoted, and moſt humble Servant, Edward Percivall.