On the contrary, though we have had several Strokes of this kind, yet there are Instances of bad _Contagions_ from abroad being brought over to us, which have proved less malignant here by our Air not being disposed to receive such Impressions. The _Sweating Sickness_, called the _Sudor Anglicus_ and _Febris Ephemera Britannica_, because it was commonly thought to have taken its Rise here, was most probably of a foreign Original, and no other than a _Plague_ abated in its Violence by the mild Temperament of our Climate. For, we learn from Histories, that the first time this was felt here, which was in the Year 1485, it began in the Army, with which King _Henry_ VII. came from _France_, and landed in _Wales_[4]; and it was then thought to have been brought into _France_ from the famous Siege of _Rhodes_ by the _Turks_ 3 or 4 Years before. And of the four Returns, which this has made since that Time; two, viz. _those_ in the Years 1527, and 1528, may very justly be suspected to have been owing to the _Pestilence_, which at those Times raged in _Italy_, particularly at _Florence_ and _Naples_[5]. And the others were very probably from a _Turkish_ Infection. I call this Distemper a _Plague_ with lessened Force, because the Symptoms of it were of that kind, though in a less Degree; as great _Faintness_ and _Inquietudes_, inward _Burning_, _Pain_ in the _Head_, a _Delirium_ &c. All which were accompanied with profuse _Sweats_, and the Disease lasted but 24 hours. And though for want of Care and due Management many died of it; yet, as a learned and wise _Historian_[6] observes, _It appeared rather to be a surprize of Nature than obstinate to Remedies, for if the Patient was kept warm with temperate Cordials, he commonly recovered_. And I cannot but take Notice, as a Confirmation of what I have been advancing, that we had here the same kind of Fever in the Year 1713, about the Month of _September_, which was called the _Dunkirk Fever_, as being brought by our Soldiers from that Place; where it was indeed a Malignant Disease attended with a _Diarrhœa_, _Vomiting_, &c. and probably had its Original from the Pestilential Distemper, which some time before broke out at _Dantzick_ and _Hamburgh_: But with us was much more mild, beginning only with a Pain in the Head, and by very easy Means went off in large _Sweats_, after a Day's Confinement. There being in every Air a greater Disposition to _Contagion_ at one Time than another, we have indeed sometimes felt this Calamity with greater Fury; as particularly the last time in the Year 1665; when it continued in this _City_ about ten Months, and swept away by computation 97306 Persons: But it was generally allowed, that the _Contagion_ came by _Cotton_ imported from _Turkey_[7]; and the long Duration of it, I believe, may justly be charged up the unhappy Management of infected Houses, which was then directed by Publick Authority; as I shall shew anon.