Journal of the Plague Year
by a Gentleman
It is ſayed that a great Peſtilence hath broken out among the Heathen, in the Province or Diſtrict or City or Town or Hamlet or Perſon of Woo-Han in China, which is doubtleſs a place of moſt outlandiſh Cuſtom and Diet.
It is ſayed among the Common Folk that the Peſtilence hath reſulted from an unhealthy Diet compriſing Battes and wild Armadilloes with Rice ſeveral times a day. Of the cleanlineſse of wild Armadilloes I have no reliable information, but I am informed by a gentleman at the Bloater & Blueſtocking Coffee-houſe that a Batte properly plucked and garniſhed with ſalted Prunes will furniſh an excellent Repaſt and cleanſe the Palate and the Bowels moſt merrily and with conſiderable Diſpatche.
The Biſhop maintaineth however that the Plague erupted as a Retribution upon the infidels for their hideous Idolatries, wherein it is proclaimed that a ſtone Monkey once journeyed to the Indies in company with a Fiſh, an Hogge and one of their Devil-worſhipping Prieſtes. This is undoubtedlie ſome corrupt and diſtorted ſlant upon the true Word as preached by the Miſsionaries, as is ſhowne by the perſiſting preſence of the Fiſh, the five Loaves and the other Fiſh having each been ſubjected to a cunning and inſidious tranſmogrification.
There is much talk of the Blacke Death which is likewiſe ſayed to have proceeded from the depths of China, where the infidel god Zen teacheth the way of Apathie and Reſignation, and which killed a third portion of the Populace of Europe, where the true God teacheth the way of Reſignation and Proſperitie.
Still it ſeemeth moſte unlike that the Woo-Han plague ſhould reach theſe Shores, though Woo-Han whether a Peaſant or a Province is doubtleſs home to every ſort of horrid ſtench and Miaſma, as are all foreign Places and many in England and most of the ſervants and Neighbours.
It is ſayed that a great Peſtilence hath broken out among the Heathen, in the Province or Diſtrict or City or Town or Hamlet or Perſon of Woo-Han in China, which is doubtleſs a place of moſt outlandiſh Cuſtom and Diet.
It is ſayed among the Common Folk that the Peſtilence hath reſulted from an unhealthy Diet compriſing Battes and wild Armadilloes with Rice ſeveral times a day. Of the cleanlineſse of wild Armadilloes I have no reliable information, but I am informed by a gentleman at the Bloater & Blueſtocking Coffee-houſe that a Batte properly plucked and garniſhed with ſalted Prunes will furniſh an excellent Repaſt and cleanſe the Palate and the Bowels moſt merrily and with conſiderable Diſpatche.
The Biſhop maintaineth however that the Plague erupted as a Retribution upon the infidels for their hideous Idolatries, wherein it is proclaimed that a ſtone Monkey once journeyed to the Indies in company with a Fiſh, an Hogge and one of their Devil-worſhipping Prieſtes. This is undoubtedlie ſome corrupt and diſtorted ſlant upon the true Word as preached by the Miſsionaries, as is ſhowne by the perſiſting preſence of the Fiſh, the five Loaves and the other Fiſh having each been ſubjected to a cunning and inſidious tranſmogrification.
There is much talk of the Blacke Death which is likewiſe ſayed to have proceeded from the depths of China, where the infidel god Zen teacheth the way of Apathie and Reſignation, and which killed a third portion of the Populace of Europe, where the true God teacheth the way of Reſignation and Proſperitie.
Still it ſeemeth moſte unlike that the Woo-Han plague ſhould reach theſe Shores, though Woo-Han whether a Peaſant or a Province is doubtleſs home to every ſort of horrid ſtench and Miaſma, as are all foreign Places and many in England and most of the ſervants and Neighbours.
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