Page:Busbecq, Travels into Turkey (1744).pdf/88

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had recommended some of their Retinue to me, which were weary of living in Turkey, that they might be of my Train, in returning to their own Country. I granted their Request, and having travelled two Day's Journey, I perceiv'd one that was Chief among them, (called a Vaivode, from his Office,) was carried sick in a Coach; one of his Feet being bare, without any Stockings, he would not suffer it to be covered, for he had in it a Plague-sore, which he found more easy to keep open. We were much troubled at this sight, as fearing that infectious Disease would spread farther; but the poor Man liv'd till we came to Adrianople, and there departed this Life. Upon his Death another Mischief did succeed; as soon as the Breath was out of his Body, the rest of the Hungarians ran in greedily to the Prey, one caught up his Stockings, another his Doublet, a third his Shirt, a fourth his other Linnen; thus casting themselves, and us too, into a great deal of Danger. Nor was there any way in the World to hinder them.

'Tis true, my Physician, like an honest Man, ran in amongst them, and intreated them, for God's sake, to throw the Things away, because they would infect us all; but they were deaf to his Advice. The Day after we left Adrianople, those very Persons came to him, and complain'd of a Pain in their Heads, with a dejection of their Spirits, and a Listlessness both of Body and Mind, and desired his Advice; he, suspecting the Symptoms of the Plague in the case, told them, they were well enough serv'd, for not harkening to his Counsel; yet he would do them what good he could, only, being on his Journey, he was unprovided of proper Medicines. The same Day I walked abroad into the Field, as I us'd to do, as soon as ever I came to my Inn, to see if I could find any thing