the same Means[25]: Whereas at _Naples_, where the _Plague_ was a little before, these _Religious Houses_, from their Neglect herein, did not escape so well[26]. Nay the Infection entered none of the _Prisons_ at _Rome_[27], though the Nastiness of those Places exposes them very much. But, to avoid Prolixity, I shall give only one Instance more. I think it cannot be explained in any other reasonable manner, how the last _Plague_ in the City of _London_, which broke out in the parish of St. _Giles's in the Fields_ towards the latter end of the Year 1664, should lie a-sleep from _Christmas_ to the middle of _February_, and then break out again in the same Parish; and after another long rest till _April_, shew itself again in the same Place[28]. TO proceed: Whoever examines the Histories of _Plagues_ in all times, which have been described with any Exactness, will find very few, that do not agree in these essential Marks, whereby the _Plague_ may be distinguished from other _Fevers_. I confess an Instance or two may be found to the contrary; perhaps the History of our own Country furnishes the most remarkable of any[29]. But Examples of this kind are so very rare, that I think it must be concluded, that the _Plague_ is usually one and the same Distemper. IN the next place I shall endeavour to shew, that the _Plague_ has always the same Original, and is brought from _Africa_, the Country which has entail'd upon us two other infectious Distempers, the _Small-Pox_ and _Measles_. In all Countries indeed _Epidemic Diseases_ extraordinarily mortal, are frequently bred in _Goals_, _Sieges_, _Camps_, &c. which Authors have often in a large Sense called _Pestilential_: But the true _Plague_, which is attended with the distinguishing Symptoms before described, and which spreads from Country to Country, I take to be an _African_ Fever bred in _Æthiopia_ or _Egypt_, and the _Infection_ of it carried by Trade into the other Parts of the World. IT is the Observation of _Pliny_, that the _Pestilence_ always travels from the _Southern_ Parts of the World to the _Western_, that is, in his Phrase, into _Europe_[30]. And the most accurate Accounts in all Times of this Disease, wherever it has raged, bring it from _Africa_. _Thucydides_[31], in his admirable Description of the famous _Plague_ of _Athens_, says, that it began in Upper _Æthiopia_, then came into _Egypt_, from whence it was spread first into _Persia_, and afterwards into _Greece_. THERE is in all ancient History no Account of any _Plague_ so dreadful as that, which broke out at _Constantinople_ in the time of the Emperor _Justinian A. D._ 543. This is said to have spread its Infection over all the Earth, and to have lasted fifty two Years. The History of it is very well told by _Evagrius_[32], and yet more learnedly by _Procopius_[33]: and they both observe, that the Distemper had its Birth in _Æthiopia_ or _Egypt_.