THE _Black Assise_ at _Oxford_, held in the Castle there in the Year 1577, will never be forgot[84]; at which the _Judges_, _Gentry_, and almost all that were present, to the Number of three hundred, were killed by a _poisonous Steam_, thought by some to have broken forth from the _Earth_; but by a _noble_ and _great_ Philosopher[85] more justly supposed to have been brought by the _Prisoners_ out of the _Goal_ into _Court_; it being observed, that they alone were not injured by it. AT the same Time, that this Care is taken of _Houses_, the proper Officers should be strictly charged to see that the _Streets_ be washed and kept clean from _Filth_, _Carrion_, and all manner of _Nusances_; which should be carried away in the _Night Time_: nor should the _Laystalls_ be suffered to be too near the City. _Beggers_ and _idle Persons_ should be taken up, and such miserable Objects, as are neither fit for the common _Hospitals_, nor _Work-Houses_, should be provided for in an _Hospital of Incurables_. ORDERS indeed of this Kind are necessary to be observed at all Times, especially in populous Cities; and therefore I am sorry to take Notice, that in these of _London_ and _Westminster_ there is no good _Police_ established in these Respects: for want of which the Citizens and Gentry are every Day annoyed more ways than one. IF these early _Precautions_, we have mentioned, prove successful, there will be no need of any Methods for _Correcting the Air_, _Purifying Houses_, or of _Rules for preserving particular Persons from Infection_: to all which, if the _Plague_ get head, so that the _Sick_ are too many to be removed (as they will be when the Disease has raged for a considerable Time) Regard must be had.