The Chronicle of John Harding

The Chronicle of John Harding is in Tudor Books.

1485 Sweating Sickness Outbreak

1506 Sweating Sickness Outbreak

1528 Sweating Sickness Outbreak

Tudor Books, The Chronicle of John Harding: Henry VII

Sep 1485. In this year a new sickness did reign, and is1 so painfull as never was suffered before, the which was called the burning sweate. And this was so intollerable, that men could not keep their beds, but as lunatic like persons and out of their wittes, ran about naked, so that none escaped and were infected therewith. At the length, after the great death of many a thousand men, they learned a present remedy for the same disease, that is if he were sick of the sweat in the day, that he should straight lie down with his cloths and vestures; if in the night he should not rise for the space of twenty-four hours, and eat no meat at all, if he could forbear, and drink as little as he might.

This disease reigned throughout all England, whereof also ensued a plague, as a token, and as the people judged a plain argument that King Henry should never be out of fear and dread of some mischance, seeing that he was in such great vexation at the seditious tumulte that was risen at2 the claim or the crown

Note 1. that. ed. alt.

Note 2. this word appears as 'al' in the text. The editor has suggested at which makes more sense.

1506. After this, the King had peace, aswell with foreign princes as also of civil battle for the space of three years, but then the King being diseased with a certain infirmity and weakness of body, thrice every year about the spring tide, was again stirred up by the reason of a great plague of the sweate that reigned through the whole realm, howbeit by of reason of the remedy that was invented for it the last time before it did the less hurt.

Jun 1528. In this nineteenth year was the sweatyng sickenesse, for the which cause there was no watch at Midsummer.