Green’s Dictionary of Slang

used in combs. to mean syphilis and as a general adj. referring to the disease; thus Neapolitan n., a person who has syphilis; note use as v. in the 1624 Davenport cit.

1591		Greene Notable Discovery of Coosnage in Grosart (1881–3) X 44: Some fond men are so farre in with these detestable trugs, that they consume what they haue vpon them, and find nothing but a Neapolitan fauor for their labor.
a.1600		in R. Nares Gloss. (1888) I 124: The Frenchmen at that siege got the buttons of Naples (as we terme them) which doth much annoy them at this day.
c.1602		Shakespeare Troilus and Cressida II iii: After this, the vengeance on the whole camp! or, rather, the Neapolitan bone-ache! for that, methinks, is the curse dependant on those that war for a placket.
1607		Dekker & Webster Westward Hoe I i: His cloak shrouding his face, as if he were a Neopolitan that had lost his beard in April.
1610		Rowlands Martin Mark-all 53: He had the pyning of the Poxe and the Neapolitane Scurffe.
1619–20		I.C. Two Merry Milke-Maids IV i: The Neopolitan Canker has searcht into his bones: and he lies buried in vicers.
1624		R. Davenport City-Night-Cap (1661) IV 39: mor.: Came this nice piece from Naples, with a pox to her? tim.: And she has not Neapolitanis’d him, I’ll be flead fo’t.
1624		T. Heywood Captives I i: The Frenshe monster Neapolitan Seignor, the man-makarel and merchant of madens-fleshe.
1633		Massinger Guardian III iv: The Neapolitan Court a place of exile Where thou art absent.
1635		H. Glapthorne Hollander II i: If I should obtain the Neapolitan beneach [i.e. ‘bone-ache’], a creeke ith’ backe, or so from her [...] I should be forc’d to swim ith tub for it, or be hang’d by the armes, and smoak’d like a bloat herring.
1643		Parliament Scout 18 20–27 Oct. 156: Prince Maurice ... dead of the Neopolliton disease, or the Armie disease.
1659		Greene & Lodge Lady Alimony I iii: I [...] got a snap by a Neapolitan Ferret at the very same time.
1660		Wandring Whore II 14: If any of our wanton Girles catch the Neapolitan disease,’tis a constant custom to send them to the Hospitals appointed where they are clarified [i.e. cured].
1683		Whores Rhetorick 178: If you would desire to maintain your Body in good order, you must be nicely cautious not to allow any commerce with Men noted to fly at all Games, and famous for never wanting a Neapolitan running-Nag.
1697		J. Dunton Night-Walker Feb. 2: Strangers, instead of saying the French Pox may [...] call it the English-Pox, and the London Disease, rather than the Neapolitan Disease.
1723		C. Walker Authentick Memoirs of Sally Salisbury 58: The chief Motive of my leaving her was the Present of a New-Year’s-Gift she made me; but whether French or Neopolitan, I leave to the Determination of the Sons of Galen.
1779		Nocturnal Revels 2 213: His Lady having (innocently, we will suppose) [...] conferred upon his Lordship a certain Neapolitan complaint, a favour she had received a few days before from a Foreign Minister.
1822		R. Nares Gloss. (1888) I 124: †buttons of naples. Syphilitic buboes.
1843		Sheffield Indep. 20 May 1/4: The Napolitaines Pills are sold in boxes [...] Dr Hallett’s Gold Anti-Venereal Pills [...] for the care of every stage and sympton of a Certain Complaint.
1851		(con. 1547) Huddersfield Chron. 23 Aug. 2/3: [She] now lies in the next apartment dying from the horrid Neapolitan disease.