VOL. XXX.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 36Q 



was known among us much earlier than the sera which has been generally as- 

 signed for its rise by modern authors ; for it is believed not to have been known, 

 at least in Europe, till about the year 1494. Yet it appears from the following 

 papers, that it was frequent among us some centuries before that date. I shall 

 in these, and some following papers, laying aside all foreign aids, trace out the 

 symptoms of the disease, as they naturally arise, from the first infection to the 

 last destructive period, and show that, by searching into our own antiquities, 

 we may be furnished with instances of the frequency of the distemper among 

 us, in all its respective stages, long before our modern authors suppose it ap- 

 peared in Europe. 



I shall begin with the first degree of this disease, and prove from authentic 

 evidences, that it was anciently called the brenning or burning ; and that this 

 word has been successively continued for many centuries, to signify the same 

 disease we now call a clap ; and that it was not discontinued till that appellation 

 first began to have its rise. For this purpose I shall examine those records that 

 relate to the stews, which were by authority allowed to be kept on the Bank- 

 side in South wark, under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Winchester, and 

 which were suppressed by an act of the 37th of Henry the 8th. For it is im- 

 possible but that, if there were any such distemper in being at that time, it 

 must be pretty common among those lewd women who had a licence for enter- 

 taining their paramours, notwithstanding any rules or orders which might be 

 established to prevent its increase : but if we shall find that there were orders 

 established to prevent the spreading of such a disease, that persons might be 

 secure from any contagious malady after their entertainment at those houses 

 (which were anciently ]8 in number, but in the reign of Hen. the 7th reduced 

 to 12) we may be assured that it was the frequency of the disease that oc- 

 casioned the necessity of making such rules and orders. For the same powers 

 that granted a liberty for keeping open such lewd houses, must find it their in- 

 terest to secure, as much as possible, all persons from receiving any injury there; 

 lest the frequency of such misfortunes should deter others from frequenting 

 them, and so the original design of their institution cease ; from the entire 

 sinking of the revenues. Now I find that, as early as the year 11 62, divers 

 constitutions relating to the Lordship of Winchester, were to be kept for ever, 

 according to the old customs from time immemorial. Among which these were 

 some, viz. No stew-holder to take more for a woman's chamber in the week 

 than I4d ; not to keep open his doors on holidays; no single woman to be kept 

 against her will ; no single woman to take money to lie with any man, unless 

 she lie with him all night till the morning; no stew-holder to keep any woman 



VOL. VI. 3 B 



