Part of a Letter from Mr. Macky, Professor of History, to Mr. Mac Laurin, Professor of Mathematics in the University of Edinburgh, and by Him Communicated to the President of the Royal Society; Being an Extract from the Books of the Town-Council of Edinburgh, Relating to a Disease There, Supposed to be Venereal, in the Year 1497

V. Part of a Letter from Mr. Macky, Professor of History, to Mr. Mac Laurin, Professor of Mathematics in the University of Edinburgh, and by him communicated to the President of the Royal Society; being an Extract from the Books of the Town-Council of Edinburgh, relating to a Disease there, supposed to be Venereal, in the Year 1497. Read March 17, 1742-3. If the Venereal Disease was never known in Europe till the Siege of Naples 1495, it must have made a very quick Progress through Europe in a short time; for in 1497, I find it raging in Edinburgh, and our King and his Council terribly alarmed at this contagious Distemper, as appears from a Proclamation of King James the IVth, in the Records of the Town-Council of Edinburgh. The Minute of Council is dated the 22d of September. I have taken a Copy of it for your Amusement, and, if you please, you may communicate it to the Society. I have pretty nearly observed the old Spelling, except in Numbers. "22. Septr. 1497. "It is our Soverane Lords Will and the Command of the Lordis of his Counsale send to the Provest and Baillies within this burt that this Proclamation followand be put till execution for the eschewing of the greit appearand danger of the Infection of his Leiges fra this contagious sickness callit the "Grandgor "Grandgor and the greit uther Skayth that may occur to his Leiges and Inhabitans within this burt; that is to say, we charge straitly and commands be the Authority above writtin, that all manner of personis being within the freedom of this burt quilks are infectit or hes been infectit uncurit with this said contagious plague callit the Grandgor, devoyd, red and pass furt of this Town and compeir apon the sandis of Leith at ten hours before none and thair fall thai have and fynd Botis reddie in the havin ordanit to them be the Officeris of this burt reddely furneist with victuals to have thame to the Inche*, and thair to remane quhill God proviyd for thair Health: And that all uther personis the quilks taks upon thame to hale the said contagious insirmitie and taks the cure thairof that they devoyd and pass with thame sua that nane of their personis quhilks taks sic cure upon thame use the samyn cure within this burt in pns nor peirt any manner of way. And wha sa beis foundin infectit and not passand to the Inche as said is be Mononday at the Sone ganging to, and in lykways the said personis that takis the sd Cure of sanitie upon thame gif they will use the samyn thai and ilk ane of thame saffe be brynt on the cheik with the marking Irne that thai may be kennit in tym to cum and thairafter gif any of tham remanis that thai fall be banift but favors." * An Island in the Frith of Edinburgh over-against Leith.