I shall begin with the _first_ Degree of this Disease, and prove from authentic Evidences, it was anciently call’d the _Brenning_ or _Burning_; and that this Word has been successively continu’d for many Hundreds of Years, to signify the same Disease we now call a _Clap_; and that it was not discontinu’d till that Appellation first began to have its Rise. The most likely Method to accomplish my Design, will be first to examine those Records that relate to the _Stews_, which were by Authority allowed to be kept on the _Bank-Side_ in _Southwark_, under the Jurisdiction of the Bp. of _Winchester_, and which were suppressed the _37th_ of _Hen._ VIII. For it is impossible but, 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 entertaining their Paramours, notwithstanding any Rules or Orders which might be establish’d to prevent its Increase: But if we shall find that there were Orders establish’d 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 18 in Number, but in the Reign of _Hen._ VII. reduced to 12) we may then securely depend upon it, that it was the Frequency of the Disease that put those who had the Authority, under a necessity of making such Rules and Orders. For the same Powers, who granted a Liberty for keeping open such lewd Houses, must find it their Interest 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 1162, divers Constitutions relating to the Lordship of _Winchester_, (being also confirmed by the King) were to be kept for ever, according to the old Customs that had been Time out of Mind. Among which these were some, _viz._ 1. _No Stew-holder to take more for a Woman’s Chamber in the Week than 14 d._ 2. _Not to keep open his Doors upon Holy Days._ 3. _No single Woman to be kept against her Will, that would leave her Sin._ 4. _No single Woman to take Money to be with any Man, except she lie with him all Night till the Morning._ 5. _No Stew-holder to keep any Woman that hath the perilous Infirmity of Burning._ These and many more Orders were to be strictly observed, or the Offenders to be severely punished. Now we are assured, there is no other Disease that can be communicated by _Carnal-Conversation_ with Women, but that which is _Venereal_, by reason that only is contagious; and its evident the _Burning_ was certainly so: For, had it been nothing else but some simple Ulceration, Heat, or Inflammation, there would have been no Contagion; and that affecting only the Woman, could not be communicated by any _Venereal Congress_, and so not infer a Necessity of her being