From hence it appears, the _Burning_, by its Consequents, was _Venereal_; since every Day’s Experience makes it evident, that the ill Treatment of the first Symptoms of the Disease, either by astringent Medicines, or the removing them by cooling and healing the excoriated Parts, will generally be attended with such Swellings in the Groin, which we rarely observe to happen from any other Cause whatsoever.
I shall give a few more Instances of this Disease being call’d the _Burning_, and conclude. In a Manuscript I have of the Vocation of _John Bale_ to the Bishoprick of _Ossory_ in _Ireland_, written by himself, he speaks of Dr. _Hugh Weston_ (who was Dean of _Windsor_ in 1556. but deprived by Cardinal _Pole_ for Adultery) as follows; “At this Day is lecherous _Weston_, who is more practised in the Art of _Brech-Burning_ than all the _Whores_ of the _Stews_. And again, speaking of the same Person, he says, “He not long ago _brent_ a _Beggar_ in St. _Botolph_’s Parish. The same Author says of him elsewhere, “He had ben _sore Bitten_ with a _Winchester Goose_, and was not yet healed thereof; which was a common Phrase for the Pox at that Time, because the _Stews_ were under the Jurisdiction of the Bishop of _Winchester_. _Mich. Wood_, in his _Epistle_ before _Stephen Gardiner_’s Oration _de vera Obedientia_, printed at _Rhoan_, 1553. gives another Evidence of the _Burning_. And _William Bullein_, a Physician in the Reign of Queen _Eliz._ in a Book he publish’d, call’d _The Bulwark of Defence, &c._ printed in 1562. bringing in _Sickness_ demanding of _Health_ what he should do with a Disease call’d the _French Pockes_, _Health_ answers, “_He would not that any should fishe for this Disease, or to be bold when he is bitten to thynke thereby to be helped, but rather to eschewe the Cause of thys Infirmity, and filthy rotten Burning of Harlots._
_London_, Feb. 4. WILLIAM BECKETT, 1717–18.
_A Second Letter on the same Subject to_ WILLIAM WAGSTAFFE, M. D.