The emergence of syphilis at the end of the 15th century, had a profound effect on the history of Western civilization during the Renaissance. Working from primary sources, the author shows how syphilis spread across England, what its effects were, the range of cures used, and what preventive measures were taken against it. He shows how syphilis brought about a profound change of manners and morals during the Renaissance, leading to an emphasis on monogamy, premarital chastity and absolute fidelity within marriage. He suggests that, in many ways, syphilis presents a paradigm for our latest venereal epidemic becaouse of the numerous parallels between syphilis and AIDS. Fabricius" other publications include "Alchemy: The Medieval Alchemists and Their Royal Art" (1976), and "Shakespeare"s Hidden World: A Study of His Unconscious" (1989).