Scarbrough Spaw, or, A description of the nature and vertues of the spaw at Scarbrough in Yorkshire. Also a treatise of the nature and use of water in general, and the several sorts thereof, as sea, rain, snow, pond, lake, spring, and river water, with the original causes and qualities. Where more largely the controversie among learned writers about the original of springs, is discussed. To which is added, a short discourse concerning mineral waters, especially that of the spaw. / By Robert Wittie, Dr. in Physick.

Scarbrough Spaw; OR, A deſcription of the Nature and Vertues of the Spaw at Scarbrough.

IN the South-Eaſt Corner of the north-riding of Yorkſhire, Sect. 1. upon the Coaſt of the Germane Ocean is ſituate the ancient Corporation of Scarbrough. It ſeems to have it's name from Scar, which ſignifies a cleft (as learned Cambden thinks, and Burgh a Town, as if it were ſaid,Britan: a Town in the cleft, being environed both on the Weſt, North, and Eaſt, with mighty hills and rocks. It may be ſaid of this place, as of moſt of our Corporations in England, Caput inter nubila condit: We know not it's Original. The Town is governed by 2 Bayliffs, 2 Ceronets, 4 Chamberlains, and 36 Burgeſſes, conſiſting of 3 Benches annually choſen, dignifyed with a right of electing two Repreſentatives in Parliament. It is fortifyed on the North-eaſt with an exceeding high and inacceſſible Rock, which ſtretches it ſelf at good diſtance into the Sea, containing about 18 or 20 Acres of good Medow on the top of it: although Cambden out of William of Newburgh ſpeaks of above 60 Acres; whether the greater part of it be waſhed away with the Sea, or the difference lyes in the various meaſure of Acres, I will not diſpute. The paſſage to the Rock is by a narrow neck of Land, on which is a draw Bridge over an exceeding deep trench; near which is the Caſtle, which hath been accounted very ſtrong, although it is now become uſeleſs, one half of it having fallen from the other through a battery of Guns in the ſiege, that was maintained againſt it by Sir John Meldram, againſt Sir Hugh Cholmley in the late unhappy Wars. The top of the Rock towards the Town, from the entrance into the gate to the Sea, is further fortifyed and adorned with a very ſtrong ſtone Wall, all the other ſides of the Rock are open to the Sea.

2 rarities. There are two Rarities which I obſerve on the top of this huge Rock; the one is an exceeding deep well made with Hewne ſtone, which ſeems to be dry at the bottome, through which it's thought there is a ſecret paſſage into the Town, (I had rather believe it then go to ſee.) The other is a ſpring of freſh Water, within half a yard of the edge of the Rock towards the Sea, which in the moſt droughty Summers never wanted water, and was of ſingular uſe to Sir Hugh Ghomley and his Gariſon in the ſiege, as alſo to the preſent Gariſon.

Peers of Stone.Another obſervable in this Town is, the mighty Peers of ſtone which have of old been made, and are repaired by the Corporation, (to which ſome other maritine Towns do contribute, knowing the benefit of the harbour, for their ſhipping on occaſion) conſiſting of mighty round ſtones, many of them of ſome tuns weight, which are laid looſe, and yet piled up together in ſuch comely order, ſtretching from the foot of the Caſtle Hill into the Sea, that they become a ſure defence againſt the raging waves of the Sea, and make a convenient harbour for their Ships.

That which adds further to the fame of the place, being the main Subject of my preſent diſcourſe,The Spaw-well. is the Spaw Well, which is a qui • k Spring about a quarter of a mi • e South from the Town, at the foot of an exceeding high cliff, ariſing upright out of the Earth like a boyling pot, near the level of the Spring tides, with which it is often overflown.

It is of that ſort of Springs which Aristot. cals 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , which in the moſt droughty years are never dry, but run continually, affording above twenty four gallons of water in an hour, the ſtones through which it flowes being emptyed every morning, containing more then twelve gallons will be full within halfe an hour. It was found out by accident about thirty four years ago, and hath by degrees come into uſe and reputation, not only among the inhabitants of the Eaſtriding and the • own of Hull, among whom I lived and managed my profeſſion near eighteen years, obſerving very much the operation and effects of this water, but alſo it hath of late years been well known to the Citizens of York, and the Gentry of the County, who do conſtantly frequent it; yea and to ſeverall perſons of quallity in the Nation, who upon the large commendations of ſuch as knew its opperration, have made triall of it, with whom it hath gained ſuch credit, that they come above an hundred miles to drink of it, preferring it before all other medicinal waters they had formerly frequented. Nay, I have met with ſome that had been at the Germane Spaws, both at Sauvenir and Ponhout, who prefer this for its ſpeedy paſſage both by ſeige and urine before them.

I having had a large opportunity for twenty 2. years laſt paſt, to obſerve the effects of this medicinall ſpring, not onely in my ſelfe, but very many others, whom I have known to drink of it in various caſes; I ſhall for the further benefit of my Country make out my experience, and will therefore firſt treat concerning its parts, and of what Mineralls it doth participate, with the nature of them, and then deſcend to its vertues and effects.

Galen ſaith, there are two things that do neceſſarily concur to the finding out of Arts and Sciences,Lib. 2. de Simp. med. fac. or any ſimple Medicine, vid. Experience and Reaſon; From whence did ariſe two Sects of Phyſicians in his days, Empiricks and Methodiſts: The former obſerved the operation of Medicines, not troubling themſelves to pry into the nature of them, to find out the reaſon of thoſe operations, and were wont to uſe them promiſcuouſly whom therefore he frequently chides, and charges of folly. The other though they had found out the virtue of a Medicine, yet were not ſatisfied with the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , but proceeded to the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , diving into the nature of it, that they might know from whence it had its virtue, & conſequently the reaſon of its working. Theſe he calls the two leggs of a Phyſician upon which hee ought to walk; and further adds, that he that would hope to attain to any competent perfection in the Art of Phyſick, muſt take care to uſe them both. My deſign ſhall bee to follow his advice as well as I may, and ſo to let the Reader know, that Experience hath found out that this Medicinall Spring doth work exceeding well both by ſeige and urine, and that it is found to bee effectuall in all diſeaſes that require ſuch evacuations.

But becauſe I would not have the ingenious to Content himſelf with this experimēcal notion, let him know that this water hath it's virtue from it's participation of Vitriol, Iron, allome, Its. Mineralls Nitre and Salt: the natures of which Mineralls I ſhall enquire into anon.

It is very tranſparent to the ſight, inclining ſomewhat to a Skey colour,As qualities it hath a pleaſant acid taſte from the Vitriol, and an inky ſmell.

If an equall quantity of boyling milk be put to it, it coagulates it, as do the Germane Spaws, and makes a very clear Poſſet-drink.

If half a grain of the powder of Gal be put into a quart of this water doth immediately turn it into a Clarret colour; or like unto ſirrup of Violets mixed with water, whereto ſome drops of ſpirit of Vitriol hath been put; which if it be ſuffered to ſtand ſome hours after it is ſo turned with the Gall, a red ſand will ſettle to the bottome, and the water will become clear and bright again.

I took 3. quarts of the Spaw water, & evaporated it all away upon the ſire in a clean Skellet, & there remained in the bottom a brown, ſaltiſh & biteriſh ſand, to the quantity of three drams or near upon; but becauſe I thought the ſediment might proceed from the mixture of ſand ariſing with the water, (although I could not diſcern any with my eye) I therefore took three quarts more, which I filtrated through a double thick wollen cloth, that I might be ſure to have no mixture of ſand, and ſet it on the fire as before to evaporate all the water, which when I had done there remained the ſame quantity of brackiſh ſediment as before, and of the ſame colour, ſo as it plainly appeared, it was not from any mixture of ſand in the water.

Then I ſet on three quarts filtrated as before in a clean Skellet, which after it had boiled a while, I diſcovered a reddiſh ſand at the bottome, (the very ſame that falls to the bottome, when it hath been colored by the gall) ſo I took it off the fire, and powred it into another veſſell, the ſand remaining behind which I found to be about a dram, ſomewhat ſoft to the touch, not ſharp as ſand, which I take to be no other then Rubrick, or Mater ferri, or as Dr. French calls it, Vitriol of Iron, ſeparated by the heat, whoſe property it is according to Phyloſophers congregare homogenea, & ſeparare heterogenea, it having a kind of S • iptick taſte not ſaltiſh at all. Then I ſet on the ſame water thus ſeparated from the Rubrick, to evaporate it as before, cleanſing off the ſcumme which aroſe, and at the • ottome there remained a whitiſh Sediment, ſomewhat bitter, and very ſharp in taſt, to the quantity of two Drams, which cleaved to the bottome of the Skellet as if it were parched meat, not without difficulty to bee ſcraped off.

I obſerved when the water was almoſt all ev • porated and ſpent, it roſe up in Bullas, making a bubbling noyſe, like the boyling of Allome in the Mines at Whitby within twelve miles of Scarbrough on the Sea c • ſt; of which Sir Thomas Gower a very ingenious and learned Gentleman, much delighted in Chimicall experiments, thinks this Spaw doth eminently participate.

I think alſo it is from the Allome that it is ſo fixed, and cleaves to the bottom, whereas otherwiſe the nitre would ſhoot in ſtir • as, and the Salt in teſſeras as Naturaliſts obſerve; and I take the greateſt part of this ſediment to be Nitre, and Salt to be leaſt predominant of all the reſt of the Mineralls, nor yet can they well be ſeparated, concerning all which I ſhall ſpeak more at large in the twelfth Section.

There may perhaps be ſome other Mineralls in it, but they are not diſcoverable, however theſe being moſt eminently conſpicuous, I ſhall content my ſelfe with them, and leave it to others to try experiments, and make what new diſcoveries they can.

Now ſince Water is the Vetucle of the Vertues of all the aforeſaid minerals,Of water in general, I think it proper for method ſake, to ſpeak ſomewhat concerning Water ingeneral, together with its ſeverall ſorts in particular, and the effects thereof, being taken inwardly into the bodies of men.

And hereby the way, I intend nothing concerning diſtilled waters, which are make out of green plants, nor to diſpute whither they have in them the vertue of the plant, out of which they are diſtilled, as Fernelius and Quercitanus think,De abdit▪ rer. cauſ. l. 2. Pharm. reſtituta. or whether they partake nothing of their virtue (eſpecia • ly ſuch as have nothing of the ſinell or taſte of the plant) but are onely the flegmatick juyce of them, and of the ſame vertue with our common water, and to be uſed indifferently in ſtead of it, as my learned and intimate friend Doctor Primeroſe thought; it ſufficeth that wee have them always ready and at hand in our Apothecarys Shops, to be a vehicle to others medicines which we have occaſion to uſe for preſent indications, when wholeſom common water would many times bee far to ſeek.

Nor do I intend to trouble the Reader or my ſelf, with a Phyloſophicall diſcourſe concerning the Element of water, lib. 2. de gen. c. 8. which is one of the four principles which Ariſtotle ſaith, do neceſſarily concurre to the making up of every compound body, and into which it is to be reſolved in it'ſ diſſolution, whether it be animate or inanimate. Neither indeed can that be found any where not being obvious to the externall ſenſes, or capable of attaining its qualities of cold and moyſture, without looſing its form.

Inſtead of it we have our common water, whoſe proper place is the ſuperficies or convex part of the earth, and is encompaſſed with the air, being alſo very near of kin to the Elementary water, although not the ſame,1▪ De Element & de ſimpl. med. fac. l. 1. Parac. de Elem. ag. as Galen and Paracelſus do aſſert, it being of the number of thoſe bodyes, which Ariſtotle calls imperfect mixed bodyes in his book of Meteors. It hath alſo the ſame qualities of cold and moiſture, in which yet it is capable of alteration (eſpecially in the former) from external cauſes, without any formal diminution.

This is called by Paracelſus the mother of all generations,Param. l. 3. & de peſt. tract. 1. and the matrix of all the creatures: without this, there would be no procreation of animalls or vegetables above the earth, or of mineralls within the bowells of the earth; This perhaps made Empedocles be of the opinion that all things were made of water.

But water is not only neceſſary by way of principle, and ſo an ingredient in the conſtitution of our bodyes, but alſo in Order to nouriſhment, for the conſervation of them in their being and growth; And therefore Plato called it of all liquors the moſt precious,In Euthydemo. although it may be had at a cheap rate.Lib. 2. Dypnoſ. c. 2.

I know Galen, Actuarius, and other learned men deny any nutritive quality to be in water, although Athenaeus is of a contrary judgment, becauſe ſome creatures feed on nothing elſe, as Graſhoppers: and ſo we ſee Horſeleaches, that are put into water in our Apothecaryes-ſhops, will grow bigger. But as for Graſhoppers, for ought I know they may feed as other inſects do of green plants, and it'ſ probable they do; and as touching the growing of the Horſeleaches, I think the water while it's new and uncorrupt pines them, and makes them hungry, not affording them any nouriſhment till it putrefyes, which it doth the ſooner by their being in it, and ſo they are nouriſhed aſwell as bred by putrefaction, which the water hath contracted, and not by ſimple and pure water it ſelf.

N • t n • uriſhing.Now the reaſon why it adds nothing to the • ouriſhment of our bodyes, I conceive to the this: That which is to nouriſh the body, is in proximâ potentiâ to be blood, and in remotâ a member, whereas water becauſe of it's ſuper-abundant coldneſs, as alſo becauſe it is a ſimple body, is not capable to become either the one or the other, and therefore it cannot have any nouriſhing vertue.

Yet neceſſa • y u • to nouriſhment.Notwithſtanding there is nothing more neceſſary unto nouriſhment, it being the beſt vehicle of nouriſhment, without which thoſe groſs meats which we daily eat, could not be aſſimilated, and turned into our ſubſtance: For how ſhould that chyle which the ſtomack makes, by concocting the ſolid meats which we daily feed on, be able to paſs into thoſe ſmall veins in the meſentery, and from thence to the Liver, if it had not a moiſt watery humidity mixed with it for it's vehicle, as ſaith Galen. lib 4. de uſu part. c. 5. Ob. Sol.

If any object that Wine or Beer will ſerve for this end, as well as water: I anſwer, Wine and Beer do it by their watery and thin ſubſtance, which they have from their abundant participation of water; beſides water is more generally uſed in the World both by men and beaſts, then either Wine or Beer, and doth better ſerve for other inward common ends. And as for Wine, Beer or Ale, the more they do recede from the nature of Water, the worſe and more unwholſom are they to be uſed for ordinary drink.

The uſe of wat •• .By the help of Water, or what is made out of it, is our natural heat kept in a mean, and our radical moiſture repaired, ſo as the latter is not exhauſted by the exceſs of the former: Alſo with this nature is ſatisfyed, and refreſhed as much when we are thirſty, as it is with meat when we are hungry, yet without any addition, or increaſe of the ſubſtance of our bodyes, as I ſaid before.

The firſt common drink.This was the common drink both of man and beaſt, during the firſt age of the World, from the Creation till the Flood, for above 16. hundred years, when mens lives were prolonged to almoſt a thouſand years. Not that I think the drinking of water was the cauſe of their ſo long living; but rather the good pleaſure of God for the more ſpeedy propagating of mankind upon the earth was the cauſe, and their temperance a great help, a vertue almoſt loſt in this declining age of the World: yet cert • inly it was the moſt proper drink which man could uſe, in order to the lengthening of his dayes, and preſerving his health, otherwiſe God would have ſhewn him a better.

And if circumſtances be weighed, we ſhall ſee that after the invention and uſe of wine, (which the Scripture attributes to Noah after the Flood) the age of man began to be contracted to near a tenth part, Pſal. 90.10. and yet ſtill became ſhorter, ſo as in Moſes his time, it was accounted but threeſcore and ten.

Nay long after Wine came to be known, I find water was in ordinary uſe.The ancient Romans uſed it. Julius Frontinus ſaith that the Romans were content with water as their only drink, for the ſpace of 440. years from the building of Rome. Yea, even to this day not only the common ſort of Citizens drink nothing elſe, but the wealthier alſo delight in it exceedingly, keeping it in Earthen Veſſels under the Earth, and in their cooleſt Cellers, that they may have it alwayes at hand.

Strabo ſaith,l. 15. Geogr. c. ult. that the Kings of Perſia drank the water of the River Eulaeus conſtantly, with whom it was in ſo high eſteem, that it was forbidden any of his Subjects to drink of the water of that River. Lib. 1. Herodotus tells the ſame Story, but calls it Choaſpes, which ſaith he, flowes by the City Suſa, where the Kings of Perſia were wont to keep their Courts in winter. And Agath • eles in Athenaeus further deſcribes it,l. 12. Dypn. c. 3. although he names not the River, it ſeems to have been a ſmall one, whoſe water was called by the Perſians aqua aurea, So the Perſian King • . or the golden water, which was fed by 70. Spring-heads, of which it was treaſon and puniſhed with death, for any man to drink except the King, and his eldeſt Son.

Water was accounted by the Ancients the fitteſt drink for all ages and Sexes, However in this age of ours it is fallen under contempt. Hence thoſe Laws which Plato mentions, that young men ſhould not ſo much as taſte any Wine, till they were 18. years of age, and women never: which was obſerved by the Roman Matrones with very great devotion, as ſaith Valerius Maximus, Lib. 1. they uſually drinking nothing but water, or ſometimes a drink called paſſum, which is made of Raiſins boyled in water, when they are not well.

Athenaeus tells of a cuſtome among the Roman women,l. 10. Dypn. c. 13. that they were wont at the firſt meeting with any of their husbands kindred, to ſalute thē with a kiſs, who not knowing how ſoon they muſt meet ſome of them, did drink no Wine at all, leaſt they ſhould ſmell of it and ſo be diſcovered, and have their names ſet up; that woman being accounted to want no fault, that would drink Wine.

And thus alſo the Italian Women drink nothing but Water;Italians. Ibid. concerning which I find a pretty Story mentioned by Athenaeus out of Alcuinus Siculus an old Italian Writer; He ſaith, that Hereùles as he was once travailing on the way towards Croton, being thirſty, turned into an Houſe near the way ſide, deſiring ſome Wine to drink, to quench his thirſt; now it happened that there was a Veſſel of Wine in the Houſe, which the good Wife had broached for her own tooth, her husband not knowing of it. The Maſter of the Houſe hearing when Hercules called for Wine, bade his wife go and broach the eask, and give him ſome, the good Wife not being willing her Husband ſhould know that it was already broached, pretending what a deal of trouble it would be to them both, did churhſhly bid him drink Water. Which Hercules (ſtanding at theh Door all the while) hearing, called the Husband to him, and commended him for his good will, and ſhewed him the womans deceit, and the cask which now was turned into a ſtone. This ſtory is well known among the Italians, and the ſtone is to be ſeen at this day ſaith my Author, as a warning againſt the womens drinking of Wine.

Likewiſe at this day in France, French. it is accounted a foul crime for Virgins to drink any thing but water, only their ancient women will mix a little wine with it, which is called by ſome, although with too much liberty of ſpeech, vinum baptizatum.

It were well if it were more in uſe in England, eſpecially among the younger ſort, as that drink which nature firſt aſſigned, it would prevent drunkenneſs which Athenaeus calls the metropolis of all miſchiefs,lib. Dypn. c. 1. • 5. de invent. rev l. 3. c. 3. and Polydorus Virgilius the moſt filthy debauchment of the life of a man, and the original of 600. other vices, (I ſuppoſe he intends a certain number for an uncertain) and indeed is the ſhame of our Nation.

I know it is objected,Ob. that the waters in England, in regard of the coldneſs of the climate, are more crude, and not ſo pure and wholſome as thoſe in Spain, France, and the hot Countries.

I confeſs great care ought to be had concerning the goodneſs of water,Sol. of which by and by. But certainly there is no cauſe for the objection, ſince there is no Country but it affords wholeſome water,The waters of England are good. even the moſt frozen Country of Greenland, as I have heard from our Seamen of Hull, who yearly continue there m •• moneths, and uſe it wiho •• any the leaſt harm.

I know the Objection ariſes from this, that they think becauſe of the coldneſs of our climate, the water is not ſo well concocted with the heat of the Sun, and ſo is hard of digeſtion.

1. But they muſt know, that the Sun by it's heat pierces no • far into the bowels of the earth in the hot Countries, where they ſuppoſe the beſt water to be; the heat thereof piercing not above 10. foot deep into the earth, according to the judgment of the beſt Philoſophers, the Springs ariſing much deeper, as we ſhall ſhew anon.

2. Again the Sun and the Planets have an influence into the bowels of the earth, where neither their heat nor their light can penetrate, to the concocting of minerals, that are above 100. fathome deep, as I might manifeſt at large, from the judgement of good Authors, and therefore we need not doubt concerning water, which perhaps lyes nearer the ſuperfices, and requires leſs concoction.

3. Moreover water (I mean Spring water which is in moſt ordinary uſe) hath it's concoction and preparation according to the temperature of heat and cold that is in the earth. Now if we may believe Philoſophy, which teaches that the earth is warmer in Winter, in the low cavernes of it then in Summer, becauſe of the cold aire and froſts, that ſhut the pores of it, which is alſo ratifyed by our own experience, that the Springs are warmer in winter froſty weather, then in an hot Summer; then it follows a pari, that in our cold climate, the Earth muſt be warmer then in thoſe hot climates, and conſeſequently the water rather better concocted.

4. Beſides it is a wrong to the God of nature, whoſe beams of Divine love are equally extended in his common providence, for the preſervation of mankind throughout the whole univerſe, as if we in England or they in other more Northern Countries, had not as good a proviſion of water, a thing ſo abſolutely and generally neceſſary, as they in the more Southern climates have. For my own part I believe, that our waters are as wholeſome for our bodies, as theirs are for them in thoſe hot climates, and much more then theirs would be for us; and I think that fluxes and calentures, which happen to Engliſhmen that travail into thoſe hot climates, do proceed rather from the ungreeableneſs of the waters to our bodies, then from any other one cauſe that can be aſſigned.

5. Again, theſe medicinal waters, with which England doth abound more then any Country, (ſuch as this at Scarbrough) do certainly require more heat, and concoction then any ordinary potable waters do, of which ſince England affords ſo many, if not better then others do, it is without reaſon to queſtion the concoction of other waters.

6. And laſtly, the waters of England do agree fully and exactly with that deſcription, and thoſe tokens of good water, which I find laid down in the writings, either of Philoſophers or Phyſicians, Grecian, Arabian or Latine. If any man require further ſatisfaction concerning this point, I referre him to my ever honoured and intimate friend, Dr. Primeroſe his Book of popular Errours. lib. 3. c. 1.

The ſum of what they all ſay accounts to this,Tokens of good water. that there muſt be a concurrence of the Verdict of 3. Senſes to prove the Water to be good, viz. Sight, Taſte and Smell; I will not trouble the Reader nor my ſelf with many quotations.

To the Sight, it muſt be exceeding tranſparent and clear, without any ſediment when it hath ſtood long; and which being ſhaken hath no ſhreds of any ſhape whatſoever, or motes, or ſand flying about.

To the Taſte, it muſt be void of all qualities, neither ſweet, nor ſowre, nor ſalt, nor acide, nor muſt it have any other taſt that can be diſcern'd by the tongue; the formality thereof conſiſting in cold and moiſture.

To the Smell, it muſt have no ſmell at all, nor yield any quality that can be diſcerned by the moſt accurate noſe.

Paulus Zachias a learned Roman Phyſician,l. 5. Med. leg. qu. tit. 4. will have the other two Senſes to give verdict alſo; even the ſenſe of hearing, accounting that bad which being poured from one veſſel to another poures like oyle with out noiſe, as being thick and unctuous, on which account • accius diſcommends the Water of Tiber, lib. 1. de Tib. aq. as alſo becauſe it is thick and oyly to the touch.

To the which I will add one tryal more, that which being boyled yields no ſcumme on the top, nor ſediment at the bottome, but all evaporates into air; there are other tokens which I ſhall reſerve for their due place.

This ſaith Montanus, is the common matter of all thoſe things with which it is mixed: And as the Aſtrologers ſay of Mercury among the Planets, ſo I may ſay of water, it is good with the good, and bad with the bad, it heats with hot things, and cools with the cold; yet it is to be obſerved, it ever dulls the heat of hot things, and ſuch as do attenuate.

Good in many caſes.Now cold ſimple water is not only the common drink, which the God of Nature hath provided for all his Creatures; for the ſuſtentation of them in their being, but alſo it is moſt healthfull being taken inwardly, and is preſcribed by Phyſicians in many caſes, both to prevent and cure diſeaſes, and tends much to preſerve us in our well being; Concerning which one Hermannus vander Heyden, a Dutch-man of very good worth, hath writ a peculiar Tractate, well worth the reading.

It tempers our natural heat,Meth. med. c. 5. which otherwiſe would ſcorch and dry up the humours of the body, as ſaith Fernelius, and doth excellently correct that preternatural heat which is cauſed by Fevers, as Galen and Avicen do affirm, and they both allow it to be drunk in a large quantity, eſpecially if there be ſigns of concoction in the veins, which a learned Phyſician is able to judge of, and then it helps the critical evacuations of nature by ſweat, ſeige or vomit.

Ariſtotle ſaith, that they that uſe to drink water do ſee the moſt clearly, which is agreeable to reaſon, becauſe it ſends no hot fumes up into the brain, but rather allayes them.

Eubulus commends it to help the invention, and ſaith that ſuch as drink water, are the beſt inventers of new things, whereas all ſtrong drinks do dull the underſtanding,lib. 2. din. c. 2. as Athenaeus cites him.

It is good againſt vomiting, when it proceeds from bilious humours; ſtayes the Hicket when it ariſes from choler, that corrodes and vellicates the Tunicles of the ſtomach; and ſtayes the flux; and being drunk warm it cauſes vomitting.

A glaſs of cold water being drunk after meat, is good for an hot ſtomack that concocts too faſt, and for ſuch as Hippocrates calls 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ; but it is not ſafe, when a man hath been toyling and is hot, as Cornelius Celſus ſaith:lib. 1. c. 3. nor can I approve of cold water for ſuch as are old, and have very feeble ſtomacks, leaſt it overcome their natural heat, and they find the ſame fate that Ariſtophanes relates of Tireſias, who drinking of the water of Tilphoſa a famous Spring in Baeotia, when he was very old,Ath. lib. 2. cap. 2. dyed immediately, the coldneſs of the water overcoming his feeble natural heat.

Water furthers procreation of the Species, and therefore it is obſervable in thoſe Countries where they drink altogether water, they multiply more then elſe where; and hence was the Law which I read of in Plato, Dialog. 2. de leg. that thoſe that were new marryed were to drink nothing but water: They indeed that drink Wine are more ſalacious, yet they are leſs prolifick.

Crato in Scoltzius tells of one,Conſ. med. 143. that by drinking every night and morning cold water, found very much benefit in freeing him from his uſual violent tormenting pain of the ſtone, (in the morning he ſwallowed ſome grains of Pepper in it unbruiſed, to correct it's coldneſs) which may very well be, becauſe it tempers the exceſſive heat of the kidneys, and corrects the ſharpneſs of urine.

Hermannus vander Heyden commends it highly againſt the Gout, as a moſt ſoveraign remedy, in his Book before cited.

It tempers the heat of the Liver, but it hurts the Spleen, being taken in too great a quantity, and fills it with ſerous humours; and therefore when we would uſe it for the hot diſtemper of the Liver, we ſhould have reſpect to the Spleen to remove it's obſtructions, as Capivaccius ſayes well.In Sco • t. Conſ. med. 156. And let this ſuffice concerning water in general, to beget it a little more credit among us, becauſe of it's antiquity and uſefulneſs.

Sect. 3.

I come now to ſpeak concerning the ſeveral ſorts of water in particular, as they lye in the order of nature, and are or may be the cauſes of each other: And firſt of Sea water, Of Sea water. as that which was firſt in Nature, and very bri • fly, not being of uſe to be taken inwardly, yet falling into our conſideration in the ſubſequent diſcourſe.

The Sea makes one Globe with the Earth, being yet not confuſed with it, but divided from it, and gathered together into one place by it ſelf, on the third day of the Creation: Gen. 1.7. The Earth is the center of the Globe, and contains the Sea water as in a veſſel, there being no water, which is not bottemed by the Earth, as naturaliſts averre. The Water being a lighter Element,lib. 2. met. cap. 3. it's proper place is to be above the Earth, ſo as the greater part by far of the ſuperfices of the Globe is covered with water; notwithſtanding which the higher places of the Earth ſtand out of the Water,2 Pet. 3.5. and appear above it, giving bounds to the Water which it cannot paſs over, as the Scripture ſaith,Pſal. v. 9. and ſo are become habitable for men and beaſts.

It's Nature.Sea Water is Salt and hot in operation, binds and dryes the body, if it be drunk, as do all ſalt waters according to the judgment of Hippocrates, De aere aquis & locis. which he ſayes are 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ,De remed. l. 2 c. 53. indomicable and hard, it rather increaſes then quenches thirſt, and hath been found deadly to ſuch as have drunk of it being exceeding thirſty, as ſaith Paulus Aegineta.

I would not be ſo underſtood, as if I thought all ſalt waters were to be r • j • cted from inward uſe, or as if no ſalt waters would purge the body; The Sulphur Well at Knaresbrough, a gallon whereof being vaporated away yields two ounces of ſalt, is dayly uſed inwardly with very good ſucceſs in many caſes, and purges the body, as I know by experience, and as Dr. Dean, and Dr. French do both witneſs in their Books upon that Subject; This Spring does the ſame and hath ſome ſalt in it: Notwithſtanding if ſalt waters do looſe the body, it is from other minerals of which they do participate, and not from the ſalt, on which account they rather dry up the humours, and are ſingular good even in hydropick conſtitutions; eſpecially in the beginning, the truth whereof I have proved by good experience in an Honourable Lady, to whom I commended the uſe of the Sulphur Well before mentioned in the Dropſy with good ſucceſs.

Hence it is that Hippocrates in the place afore cited, blames them for their ignorance, that upon any ſlight occaſion uſe ſalt waters inwardly, expecting to looſe the body with them, they having from the ſalt no ſuch vertue, but rather ſtay the belly, and cauſe the body to break out in Scabs, and make the fundament and lower parts troubled with checks,De ſimpl. c. 4. as Raſis ſaith:

The Sea water hath indeed ſome ſweet parts in it, which are thinner and lighter then the ſubſtance of the water is, from whence it comes to paſs, that the fleſh of thoſe fiſhes that live in the Sea, is as freſh as thoſe that are taken in freſh waters.

If one diſtill Sea water in a cold Still it yields freſh water. And I have read an experiment in Gamillus Flavius which is worthy a tryal,Paraph. in Hip. de aq. p. 43. and may be of uſe to ſuch as go on long voyages, and want ſometimes freſh water. He ſaith, that if a bottle bee made of Wax, and the mouth of it be cloſe ſtopped, ſo as no water can run into it, and it be caſt into the Sea and made to ſink, in a few dayes it will be found to have freſh water in it, very pleaſant and wholſome to be drunk. I have inſerted this for the Seamens ſake, to whom it may be beneficial.

Sect. 4.

In the next place I come to treat of Rain water, with it's original and qualities;Of Rain. the product or original is thus.

The Sun and the reſt of the Heavenly bodies do by their heat exhale,Its cauſe and draw forth out of the Sea, and other moiſt bodies that are on the Earth the vapours, (which are the more rare and thin part of the water and bodyes) theſe by their heat they do ſo rarify, that through their levity they fly upward towards the upper region of the aire next to the Element of fire, the proper place of ſuch light bodies; where they continue till according to the ordinary courſe of Providence, by the influence of the Moon, or ſome planetary Aſpect out of ſigns of the watery Triplicity, or ſome other cold and moiſt conſtellation, they become more groſs and moiſt, and ſo by their weight deſcend into the middle region of the aire, where by the exceſs of cold they are condenſed into waters, and now being become an heavy body, do fall down upon the Earth in ſhowers, making thereby a kind of circulation in Nature, through the aſcent of vapours and deſcent of ſhowers.

This I ſay is according to the ordinary courſe of Providence, when notwithſtanding without any of thoſe previous influences of the Celeſtial bodies, Almighty God who is a moſt free Agent, and doth what he will in the Heavens and the Earth, doth ſometimes by a ſpecial Providence cauſe it to rain;Exod. 9.18 and at other times alſo he doth ſo ſuſpend the aforeſaid influences,Jam. 5.17. that it rains not at all,Amos 4.7. as in the uſe of Elijahs prayer. Thus as the Prophet obſerves, he makes it to rain upon one City, and not upon another; and this he doeth that he may keep us in a conſtant dependance upon himſelf, as upon the firſt and primary cauſe, without whoſe concurrence ſecondary cauſes can produce no effects at all.

No this my judgment concerning the cauſes of rain, is agreeable to what is writ upon that ſubject, by the beſt Philoſophers and Phyſicians, the Scripture alſo being clear in it. Amos 9.6. He calleth for the Waters of the Sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the Earth: to which add that in Job 36.27, 28. He maketh ſmall the drops of water, they poure down rain according to the vapour thereof, which the clouds do drop.

And that the rain doth falls or is with-held from us in ordinary providence, according to the influence of the celeſtial bodyes, is deducible from another place in Job, Chap. 38. v. 25. and ſo forward; where God, expoſtulating with Iob concerning his mighty works of providence, reads a Lecture to him concerning the Meteors, of Rain, Lightening, Thunder, Dew, and Froſt, with their cauſes, and in the 31. Verſe he hath this queſtion to him: Canſt thou bind (or reſtrain) the influence of the Pleiades, or looſe the bands of Orion? with other expoſtulatory queſtions: The meaning thereof is this; Canſt thou ſtay the rain, and hinder it from falling? or canſt thou looſe the froſt and make it thaw? The Pleiades being a moiſt conſtellation in the ſhoulder of the ſign Taurus, which brings wet; and Orion a dry conſtellation in the laſt decade of Gemini, ariſing in the evenings in the beginning of the Winter, cauſing froſts. I might enlarge concerning Mazaroth, viz. the 12. ſigns, and Arcturus, which are mentioned in the 32. verſ. but I haſten. Nor is this my own private interpretation, but it's agreeable to the judgment of the moſt learned Interpreters upon the place, and particularly of thoſe that were Members of the late reverend Aſſembly of Divines, in that their excellent expoſition upon the Book of Iob.

Now from the conſideration of what bath been, ſaid concerning the concurrent cauſe of Rain, Its nature and quality it will follow, that Rain-water is the moſt light of all others, clear and of thin parts, and agreeable with the deſcription of the beſt water before laid down, being alſo moſt ethereal, and having the feweſt terreſtrial or earthly parts of all waters whatſoever.

Hence is it that Hippocrates prefers Rain-water before any other,Lib. 6. epid. & de aq. eſpecially that which falls in Summer out of white and thin clouds, and with Thunder or Winde, which do help to purify it more; but he diſcommends that which falls out of thick and black clouds, and in a ſtorm; nevertheleſs he would have it boyled before it be uſed, becauſe of all other waters it is moſt apt to putrefy and become corrupt.

It ſoon corrupts.Nor let any ſtartle at it, as that therefore it ſhould be the more unwholſome, becauſe it is ſubject to corrupt ſo ſoon, this being rather a token of it's goodneſs, in that it is ſo eaſily altered, according to the judgment of Paulus Aegineta, Oribaſius and others, although this alſo may be helped if it be kept in a cool place, and in a pure ſtone Ciſtern.

Only let me give this caution that it be not long kept before it be uſed, leaſt being corrupted it cauſes hourſneſs and difficulty of breathing, and breed Cholerick humours in the ſtomack, and weaken it's retentive faculty.

Raſis ſaith, it is ill for thoſe that are ſubject to Fevers when it hath been long kept. And ſo Aetius is of the ſame mind, forbidding it alſo to be uſed in Cholerick conſtitutions, and in the jaundice, becauſe it is eaſily turned into choler, but commends it to be uſed in Eye waters to ſtop a flux of humours, or to conſolidate Ulcers of the eyes, as being more aſtringent then Spring Water; which yet I cannot believe, becauſe it is as I ſaid before of thin and aerial parts, and not ſo terreſtriall as Spring Water is. And for this cauſe I think it the beſt of all others to be uſed in a perient or pectoral Apozemes, provided it be taken when it is new fallen, and ſtrained through a thick cloth or paper, the body alſo open.

Only to that of Aetius I'le add this, that of all other waters that are drunk cold, Rain water is the worſt for cachectick conſtitutions, which have an ill habit of body, and for ſuch as are Scorbutick, for though it be of thin parts, yet becauſe it is more ſubject to putrefy then other waters, and thoſe bodies not ſo pervious as ſound bodyes are, it is to be ſuſpected, leaſt it ſhould ſoon corrupt, before it can paſs through the body, and ſo encreaſe the maladyes.

This by it's admirable ſecundity refreſhes the Earth, and makes it to bring forth friut, filling it's lap with variety of vegetables, neceſſary for the ſuſtentation of man and beaſt, without which it could bring forth nothing at all, and ſo would not be habitable. And what falls more then is neceſſary for the production of vegetables, ſinkes further into the earth for the ſupply of Springs and ſubterreneall generations of mineralls and metalls, concerning uwhich we ſhall have occaſion to treat more anon.

Sect. 5.

Like unto Rain is Snow and Hail, eſpecially in their original cauſe, for they both proceed from the like vapours, which are exhaled (as I ſaid before) by the heavenly bodies, out of the Sea and the terreſtriall bodies, & elevated into the middle region of the ayr, whereby a greater and more intenſe degree of cold then that which produceth rain, they are condenſed into Snow and hail; only the hail is generated by a more remiſs degree of cold then ſnow; and therefore falls ordinarily in Summer, whereas Snow never falls but in winter, or very cold weather.

I find that ſnow was much in uſe among the Ancients, who carefully preſerved it all the year, to mixt it with their wine, to allay its heat, and give it a pleaſant coolneſs to the palate.

Thus Chares Mytilinaeus in his Hiſtory of Alexander the Great, tells how that in his Siege againſt Petra a City of Indiae, he was exceedingly delighted with Snow mixed in his Wine, and he relates his manner of preſerving it; viz. he cauſed many great and deep Trenches to be digged in the earth, which he covered over with Oak boughs, in which the Snow was laid, being gathered when it was new fallen, and preſerved for the uſe aforeſaid.

No leſs carefull are they at this day in Spain and Italy, and other the hot Countreys of Europe in preſerving Snow to mixt it with their Wine, to give it a pleaſant coolneſs, laying it up in their loweſt and cooleſt Cellars, and covering it as before ſaid, and ſo they keep it till winter come again.

De ſimp • . cap. 6. And thus the Arabians are wont alſo to put Snow into their Juleps for Acute Feavers, in which caſe Raſis commends it very much. And Piſanellus an Italian Writer tells that at Meſſana a City of Sicilie where the Climate is very hot,De eſcud. & potul. fac. p. 162. the Inhabitants were every year in Summer troubled with a peſtilential Feaver, that ſwept away thouſands, till they found out the uſe of Snow mixing it with their drink, and then it left them: And hence it is become a cuſtom among them, that every man, even the pooreſt of all, beſides other proviſion, which they make for their Families, are ſure to provide Snow.

Notwithſtanding which,De Spir. anim. nat. cap. 8. that water which comes of Snow, or Haile, is accounted by all unwholſom to be drunk alone, becauſe of its exceeding coldneſſe, as Actuarius obſerves, on which account he eſteemes it the worſt of all waters, as alſo becauſe of it's groſſe parts, for that which hath once been conjealed into Snow or Ice, can never return to it's priſtine eſtate, for whatever thin, ſweet or ſubtle parts were in it, before it was conjealed by the cold are now loſt and gone, and are turned into a vapour, nothing remaining but the groſſe and earthy parts: and this is eaſy to be diſcerned by a Veſſell full of water, which if it hath been once turned into Ice, and thawed again, ſhall be found to have loſt a good part of it's meaſure. Now the thin parts being gone and evaporated away the groſs body or caput mortuum becomes obſtructive, and ſo may produce many diſtempers, beſides the violence it offers the ſtomack and liver, by it's exceſſive coldneſſe;lih. de temper ſimpl. and therefore Averrhoes forbids it eſpecially to be drunk faſting while the ſtomack is empty, with this expreſſion; let no man preſume to drinke it faſting, &c.

But they that mixe it with Wine, do it ſafely and to very good purpoſe, the Wine and the Snow correcting one another, and ſo making up a wholeſome compoſition.

Another Uſe of Snow, is, that while it lies upon the ſuperfices of the earth, unmelted, it preſerves the earth, and the vegetables that grow thereon from the nipping, piercing cold of the air, which it alſo putrifies; and when it melteth it moiſtens the ground as doth rain, (although it fattens not ſo much) the ſuperfluity whereof is ſucked up by the earth (except that which runs into lakes and rivers) and is coverted to the ſame uſe as Rain; to wit, to the ſupply of ſprings and ſubterreneall generations, being corrected and better concocted by the moderate heat of the earth, which in Winter is warmer then in Summer, as I ſaid before.

Sect. 6.

The next in order to be ſpoken to, is Fenny pond or lake-maters, ſenne pond or lake water. which are made by a ſuperfluity of Rain or melted Snow, ſettling in ſome low places either above or elſe in ſome Caverns of the earth, which are to be avoyded from all inward uſe, as moſt unwholeſome and many times deadly and poyſonous.

And firſt for Fens and Ponds, they being made up of melted Snow, are upon that account bad enough, as I hinted before, nor are they amended by the mixtures of rain water;unwholeſome. beſides that in their paſſage they carry along with them ſlime and flith from which they can never be purged. To this adde, that they they are ſtanding waters, and lye open both to the heat of the Sun in Summer, which exhales all their thin parts, and leaves them groſs and fetid; and to the cold in winter, which freezes them, and makes them ſtil more groſſe and turbulent.

Rufus in Oribaſius indeed tells us that the Fennes in Aegypt, Col. Med. lib. 5. cap. above all Other Fenns that ever he met withall, are wholeſome being bred by the overflowing of Nilus, which is not ſo apt to corrupt and putrefie as other waters are, and will keep ſweet the longeſt.

They that are forced to drink of Pond water are much to be pittyed, as I kow (ſome Townes that have no other; and thoſe Alewives that brew their Ale with it, when they may have better water, (as I have heard for certain ſome do, becauſe it makes ſtronger drink then good water) are much to be blamed; theſe ſorts of water being condemned by Phyſicians both ancient and modern,Hip. de ag. Valler. lib. 2 oom. loc. cap. 2. as poyſonous and peſtelential, having in them horſe-leeches and other filthy vermine; and therefore of all ſorts of waters theſe are moſt to be avoyded in times of common contagion, as Plagues and penitentiall Fevers.

Theſe being drunk do cauſe obſtructions in the liver,De aquis. Tetr. 1. Serm. 3. De ſimpl. c. 4. hardneſſe of the ſpleen, corrupt the blood, and ſpoil the complexion: they breed dropſies, dyſenteries, the Stone of the Kidneys, ſhortneſſe of breath, and rotten and peſtilentiall fevers, as Hyppocrates, Aetius, Raſis and others ſay.

Beſides they corrupt and infect the air,Corrupt the air. with the noyſome vapours which they ſend forth daily, to the breeding of very many deſeaſes: and therefore it is obſervable that moſt towns that are ſituate near unto Fens or lakes are more ſubject to malignant diſeaſes, which when Phyſicians come to meddle with,lib. 2. loc. com. c. 2. they find very rebellious ſcarcely admitting of a cure, as Valleriola had experience of, at the City Arles in France. Notwithſtanding if neceſſity enforce to the uſe of this ſort of water, it may be made much more wholeſome, if it be boyled before it be uſed.

2. As for lakes that are within the ground in the low cavern of the earth,Lakes under ground poyſonous. they are alſo unwhole ſome and ſomtimes deadly, becauſe they are ſtanding waters cloſe, not open to the air and ſo have no enventilation, tainted by the filthy damps and fogs that are in the earth, and are often found to have in them poyſonous vermine. I read of ſome that had fiſh in them which poyſoned thoſe that did eat of them.Sen. Nat. qu. l. 3 cig. Carp. l. 2. geog. c. 9. In Caria near about the City Lorus there aroſe out of the earth ſuddenly by reaſon of an Earthquake a great flood of Water, bringing out with it a great number of Creatures and fiſhes, which had been fatted under the earth, of which whoſoever chanced to eat, dyed preſently.

I am forced to mention theſe ſorts of waters by the way, yet briefly, having occaſion to refer to them in the following diſcourſe.

Sect. 7.

I now proceed to treat concerning Spring-water, Of Spring-water. as that which comes cloſer to the main subject of diſcourſe, to wit, the Spaw at Scarbrough, which is a conſtant flowing Spring or fountain: For the better underſtanding whereof in its vertues and operation, its needfull that I ſay ſomthing concerning the ſpring in generall, together with the cauſes, nature and variety of them, and that as briefly as the nature of the ſubject will bear, becauſe I would not weary my ſelf, or the Reader, with a long and tedious diſcourſe.

It is a great controverſie between the Stoicks and Peripateticks concerning the Originall of ſprings, 3. Originals of ſprings. alſo among ſeverall modern, learned Authors; and they pitch eſpecially upon 3. original cauſes, viz. the percolation of the Sea; the tranſumtation of aire within the bowels of the Earth; and the Rain and Snow.

The firſt is the moſt ancient being the opinion of Thales, and Plato with his followers; Seas percolation. de ſacr. Philoſo. Nat. Bath. c. 3. as alſo of Valeſias, and our learned Countrymen Mr. Lydiat, Mr. Carpenter, Dr. Iordan, and Dr. French.

York-ſhire Spaw.The reaſons of their opinion are principally theſe; becauſe firſt, there is nothing but the vaſt Ocean that can afford ſuch abundance of waters, as do ſpring from the Earth, the Sea being a ſufficient ſtore-houſe for all ends and uſes. Secondly, becauſe the Sea is not encreaſed by the multitude of Waters, which flow into it daily, as it muſt of neceſſity be, if they had not by the ſubteraneal chanels a recourſe to their Fountains. And to this opinion Solomon ſeems to give ground, 1 Eccleſ. 7. where he ſaith, All Rivers run into the Sea, and yet the Sea is not full, unto the place from whence the Rivers come, thither they return again.

But as for the place of Scripture, it proves not the point in hand, the queſtion being not about Rivers but Springs; Solomon ſpeaks of the ebbing and flowing of the Sea in great Rivers, into which the Tide runs, they being near the Sea, and they would interpret it of Springs and Fountains, that are perhaps many hundred miles of.

Not that I deny the Sea to contribute towards the making of Springs; the Sea ſends up vapours in abundance, which being converted into Rain and Snow in their ſeaſons, fall down upon the Earth, and afford matter for Springs, but I cannot believe that there is any ſuch percolation as they ſpeak of, whereby the water of the Sea is conveyed by occult cavities through the Earth to the Springs, which are many hundred miles in ſome places of the World diſtant from it, and many of them placed upon exceeding high Land, and Mountains much above the Sea.

I know ſome of them for the making out of their opinion, will have the Sea to be as high,Sea not higher then the earth. if not higher them the higheſt Mountains, depreſſed only upon the ſhore, as ſaith Ariſtotle, lib. 1. de Meteor. becauſe terminated by the dry Land. This Doctrine of the Sea's elevation above the Land being alſo defended by Tully (de nat. deorum,) where he ſaith that the Sea being placed above the Earth; yet coveting the place of the Earth, is congregated and collected, ſo as it cannot redouned or flow abroad;Scripture urged. as alſo by many learned Divines both ancient and moderne, who reducing moſt things to the ſupernatural and firſt cauſe, do many times neglect and overlook ſecond cauſes. And they ſeem to be warranted by ſome Scriptures, Pſal. 33. verſ. 7. He gathered the Waters thereof together as an heap. Pſ. 33.7, As alſo that place in Iob, where God himſelf profeſſeth, that he hath bounded the Waters of the Sea, in theſe words Iob 38.11. Hitherto ſhalt thou go but no further, Job. 38.11. and there ſhall thy proud waves be ſtayed. And having thus reſolved, they fancy a natural motion of the water from the top of the Sea to the tops of the Hills, although they are not all of this mind, as we ſhall examine by and by.

But we muſt know,de caelo l. 2. c. 4. De Geogr. p. 489 the Earth and the Sea (according to Ariſtotle, and a concurrence of Freigius and all Geographers) make up but one body of a global figures, the Sea being a moiſt fluid body keeps the figure exactly, its ſuperficies being alwayes equidiſtant to the Center of the Earth, ſo as in what part of the Sea ſoever a man can ſuppoſe himſelf to be, he muſt needs be in the higheſt part of the Globe, whether he be in the middle of the Sea or near the Shore, and out of this figure it cannot go without force. Whereas the Earth is not ſo exact in the figure, that part of it which appears above the Water of the Sea being extuberant, every Mountain and Valley ſtill further breaking the figure; Now if the water of the Sea ſhould ſo paſs from the Sea to the tops of the Springs, as they affirm, it ſhould ariſe beyond it's level, to wit, the Natural Sphericall figure, which is abſurd to be ſuppoſed without an extraneous force.

It is moſt certain, that Ships at Sea will at ſome leagues diſtance looſe the ſight of one another, ſo as they that are upon the deck in the one, can make no diſcovery of the other, but if they go up to the ſhrowds they may diſcern one another, and ſtill the higher they climbe the better diſcovery they make The reaſon of this is the Sphericall figure of the Sea, which terminates their ſight while they are upon the deck, untill overtopping the bank by climbing higher they have a clear view. And our Seamen obſerve no difference (ſuppoſing the ſame diſtants) from what quarter ſoever the Ships lie from one another, whither towards the Land or off at Sea. For exampel.

Suppoſe on the Eaſtern coaſt of England, which ſtretches North and South, three Ships ſigned A. B. C. of equal ſize. A. lyes under the ſhore; B. lies off at Sea full Eaſt from A. towards the Coaſt of Holland: C. rides Southerly from B. towards the Downs; and A. and C. at equal diſtance from B Our beſt Navigators tell me, that f B. loſe the ſight of C. that ſhe cannot be diſcerned without climbing into the Shrowds; A. ſhall in like manner loſe the ſight of B. which ſhould not be ſo,Lib. 1. M • t. Nat. Baths, p. 18. if according as Ariſtotle and Dr. Jordan tells us, the Sea were depreſſed at the ſhore, and elevated at diſtance, but rather B. ſhould appear clearly unto A. as if it were placed on a high Bank at full view. They ſay indeed, that B. ſhall ſooner loſe the ſight of A. becauſe of the dark ſhore under which A. lyes.

Now if it be thus, (as peritis in arte ſuâ credendum est) then is that conceit of the Seas elevation above the higheſt Land but a fancy.Nat. Baths c. 3. p. 18. And that alſo of Dr. Jordans will hold no water, when he ſaith as in Siphunculis, the water being put in at one end will riſe up in the other Pipe, as high as the level of the water, ſo he will have it to be in the bowels of the earth, between the ſuperficies of the Sea and the heads of the Springs.

Nor is their reaſon for the depreſsion of the Sea neer the ſhore of any validity; to wit, becauſe it is terminated by the dry land; the Argument of Demonſtration which they uſe to illuſtrate the thing, being of ſufficient validity for confutation of the Poſition. Cap. 3. p. 19 For ſaith Dr. Jordan, if a drop of water be put upon a dry Table, you ſhall l • e it depreſſed on the ſides, & elevated in the middle like an half G • obe, but take away the termination by moiſtening the Table, and the drop ſinks; and he further • dds, if this be evident in ſo ſm • ll a proportion, we may imagine it to be much more in the vaſt Ocean.

What! is not the ſand of the Sea moiſtened by every wave as much as the Table which makes the drop fall, and run out of its Global figure? why doth not then the Sea as well dilate it ſelf, as the drop upon the Table, and conſequently leaving its Spherical Figure drown the world? We ſee the dry Land does not ſo terminate the Sea, but it riſes according to the Tides, ſtill more and more, till the Spring be at the heighth▪ and notwithſtanding the moiſtening of the Shore, it returns again to its loweſt Ebb▪

Nor do the Scriptures beforecited make out any thing for their purpoſe. Pſa. 33.7. cleared. As for that in Pſal. 33.7. He gathereth the waters together as an heap. The Prophet is ſpeaking of the admirable power and wiſdom of GOD in the Creation of the world, as is evident in the 6. ver. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the hoſts of them by the breath of his mouth: And then follows, v. 7. He gathereth, &c. The beſt way therefore to interpret this, is to have recourſe to the ſtory of the Creation, and to ſee there what God did with the waters, Gen. 1.7. and 9. A • ter GOD had divided the waters that were under the Firmament from thoſe that were above; He ſaid, ver. 9. Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear; So that it lows, the gathering of the waters together as an heap, is no more then the putting them into one place, and the words that follow in that 7th. verſe of the Pſalm hint as much, which ſeem to be exegeticall and interpretative to the former, to wit, He layeth up the deep in ſtore-houſes. Unleſs they will have the Prophet to hint alſo at the Spherical Figure of the Sea, to which I can eaſily aſſent.

Beſides the words themſelves are worthy our conſidering, he doth not ſay on an heap, but as an heap, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 congregans ſicut acervum aquas maris; Whereas in the ſtory of the Iſraelites paſſing over Jordan, when the waters were divided before them, & ſtood up in an heap, the ſame word in Hebrew for a heap is uſed, to 〈◊〉 ▪ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ioſh. 3 16. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ſteterunt acervo uno. The Septuagint Tranſlating that in the Pſalm according to this ſenſe, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 gathering as in a veſſel the water of the Sea.

Job 38.11 cl • a •• d.As touching that place in Iob, I conceive it makes nothing for their opinion of the Seas elevation above the earth. I deny not Gods miraculous and extraordinary working in ſome things to manifeſt the glory of his wiſdom & power, yet I ſuppoſe the Sea to be confined by his providence within the ordinary bounds of nature: for it were very ſtrange to imagine that God in the firſt inſtitution of nature, ſhould impoſe a perpetual violence upon nature ſeeing we ſee the Creator in other things to uſe nature as his ordinary ſervant, & to adminiſter the regiments of matters by ſecond cauſes. I conceive no more is meant in that Scripture, but that Almighty God hath ſet certain limits & bounds which the waters ſhould not paſs theſe bounds and limits I take not to be ſupernatural, as if the water reſtrain'd by a miraculous word of cōmand, ſhould be forced to contain it ſelf within its circuit preſcribed to it; but natural as cliffs & hils, within wch the water ſeems to be intrenched; for we may ſee there is no ſuch force put upon it; but if the natural bounds of the Sea, to wit, the cliffs be removed, the Sea overruns the Land, and turns all into it ſelf.

But the Authors of this opinion urge further, Object. that according to the order of the Elements among themſelves, the earth ſhould be loweſt, and the water above it.

I Anſwer, if we conſider theſe Elements among themſelves,Sol. we muſt give the height to the water, for as much as the greateſt part by far of the Earth lyes drowned, for that which is above, bears no ſenſible proportion with that which lyes under the water. But here we are not comparing the two Elements intirely betwixt themſelves, but the ſuperficies of the water with the parts of the earth that are uncovered, and are habitable, which ſuperſicies of the Earth notwithſtanding this reaſon, may be higher then the water.

But they object further, becauſe Marriners coming from the main Ocean to the Land, Object. ſeem to ſee the Land far lower then the water.

This may eaſily be made out of Opticall principles,Sol. that it muſt appear ſo, by reaſon that the Sphericall ſigure and convexity of the Sea, interpoſed betwixt our ſight and the lower part of the Land, doth hide ſome parts from our ſight, whence it muſt needs appear lower, being couched almoſt under water; The like is diſcernable in another Ship at Sea, which ſeems to be depreſſed underwater at ſom Leagues diſtance, ſo as nothing appears but her top Sails. Beſides at diſtance all things ſeem lower even upon a levell at Land, which when we draw nigh unto, do better diſcover their height.

I read that in Noahs Flood, God brake open the springs of the deep, and opened the Cataracts of heaven, to pour down rain continually many days together upon the Earth, of which there had been no neceſſity at all, had the Sea been heaped up in ſuch ſort as they imagine; for the only withdrawing of his hand, and letting looſe the reins that the water might have run to an evenneſs, would have been ſufficient to have overwhelmed the whole earth.

Again, we find by experience, and our Mariners do all agree in it, that a like gale of Wind will ſerve to carry a Ship out of the Port to the open Sea, as from the Sea into the Port, which could not be, if the Sea were higher then the Land, for they would need a great and ſtiffe gale to carry them up the bank of the Sea, and none at all to run into the Land.

And thus I conceive wee are free'd from that abſurd conſequence, which their Doctrine of the Seas Elevation at diſtance, and depreſſion on the ſhore, doth neceſſarily infer; to wit, that the water which runs out of Rivers in the ebbe, as ſoon as it reaches to the Sea, muſt run up the hill in its own naturall motion, which is againſt the nature of heavy bodies, whoſe motion is ever downward to the Center of the Earth, as alſo Ariſtotle's own Doctrine elſe where.Lib. c. de coelo. c. 4.

Beſides, as Dr. French well obſerves, a man would think ſo many great Rivers terminated in the Sea, might be a ſufficient moyſture for the taking away of the termination made by the dryneſs of the Earth, and to make the Globus Sea ſink to an evenneſs.

Moreover tht manner of conveyance of the Sea water to the heads of Springs fancied by Dr. Jordan, through the ſecret channells of the Earth, requires a man of much credulity to believe him; to wit, that the water in thoſe his ſubterraneall crannyes ſhould without any force upon it, leave its naturall figure, and correſpond with its levell, and yet the ſame water being expoſed to the open air near the ſhore, ſhould both make and abide in a valley. It further implies much eaſineſs of pe • ſwaſion in him that can believe, that thoſe Springs which are two or three hundred miles from the Sea, as ſome are in great continents, muſt yet be ſupplyed with water from the Sea, by Channells of that length.

Beſides if there were ſuch Channells from the Sea to the Springs as he fancyes, that are hollow like pipes, the water of the Springs would certainly be brackiſh, according to the nature of the Sea water, which in ſuch length of time would have tainted the Channells through which it paſſes;Nat. Hiſt. cent. 9. exp. 882. as the Lord Bacon obſerves, that although pits digged near the Sea will bee found in time to have freſh water in them, yet afterwards they will become ſalt, the ſand through which the water is tranſcolated cōtracting ſaltneſs, ſo as new ones muſt be made, and ſo I think of Dr. Jordan's ſubterraneall Channells.

As for Divines who are of the opinion of the Seas height above the Land, I deſire them to conſider of that place in Pſal. 107. ver. 23. where it is called going down to the Sea in Ships, the words being 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 deſcendentes ad mare, Pſal. 107.23. coming from 〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉 the ſame root 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 deſcendit, with that word which is uſed, Micha 1.4. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which ſignifies locus declivis, or a ſteep place. Yet I deny not, but there may bee ſome Springs which at ſome ſmall diſtance have a ſupply of water from the Sea, but this makes nothing for their opinion concerning the ſupply of Springs at great diſtance, and upon the high mountains. lib. 2. c. 56. Pliny tells us of a Spring in the Gades which obſerves the Seas motion, in ebbing and flowing: and I am credily informed there is another in the Peak in Derbyſhire, which ebbs and flowes every twelve hours. So the Spring at Giggleſwick in Yorkſhire ebbs and flowes many times a day, even to the admiration, whether that of Plinies may have any correſpondence with the Sea or no, I know not,Lib. • . Nat Q •• ſt. I am ſure the other two have not, and I had rather with Seneca, look on ſuch as theſe as wonders of God, then trouble my ſelfe curiouſly to enquire into their cauſes, that are too hard for me.

Se ••• l concet • s.But theſe that are of opinion of the Seas percolation to be the cauſe of Springs, are not all for this way of conveyance, they ſay the water of the Se • is conveighed by tranſcolation into huge Caverns in the body of the earth indeed, but then they differ again in finding its paſſage to the Spring heads, each propounding a way according to their fancy: Of agitation by ſubtterraneall winds as Socrates in Plato. In Phoed. Compulſion by a Spirit or breath that is in the water as Pliny and Valeſius, Pl.l. 2. c. 65. of compreſſion,De ſac. phil. c. 1. & 63. and that either through the weight of the Sea it ſelf,Nat. Qu. lib. 3. a great part whereof he ſuppoſes to be out of its place in the air, as Seneca. ib. 2. The at. nat. Or of the earth as Bodinus and Thales. Or rarefaction and condenſation, as Dr. Fludd and Mr. Carpenter. Geograph. Or rarefaction and condenſation, as Dr. Fludd and Mr. Carpenter. Or attraction by the heat of the Sun and the heavenly bodies as Thomas Aquinas held. Or Belmonts Sabutum, or Virgins earth;Ag in Sum. p. 1. q. 69. all which as they ſeem at the very naiming to be nothing more then empty conceits, beſides the diſagreement that is among themſelves tenders it the more queſtionable, ſo they are ſufficiently confu • ed, ſome of them by Mr. Carpenter in his Geography, Lib. 3. Nat. Qu. and the reſt by Dr. French in his diſcourſe upon the Spaw of Knaresbrough.

There is another account given by Empedocles an ancient Greek Philoſopher, Spaw p. 21. 22. &c. as alſo Seneca for theebullition of Springs to which Gabriell Fallopius lib 1. de aquis medicatis c. 3. Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Lydiat, and Dr. French adhere, the laſt taking a great deal of pains to make it out, and that is by heat, wheareby he will have the water which is conveyed from the Sea into the Caverns of the Earth, to be elevated to the heads of Springs, after the ſame manner as from the Sea to the middle region of the air, and that is by reſolving the water into vapors,Dr. French opinion. nor matters he whether that heat be above or beneath the waters, if ſo be it turneth them into vapours, and maketh them aſcend as high as is requiſite they ſhould: And this heat he will have maintained by ſubterraneall fires, that are kindled and fed by Naphtha or ſome bituminous matter. And he makes two degrees of heat, one more intenſe in the deep Caverns, to rarefie the waters in the Caverns into vapours, the other more remiſs nearer the ſuperficies, which muſt condenſe them again into waters; which he illuſtrates by the head of an Alimbyck; and the cover of a boyling pot, whoſe more remiſſe degree of heat turns the vapours into water.

Although Ariſtotle who alſo will have water to be generated in the Earth,L. 1. Meteor c. 11. ſays it is condenſed by cold, and the Philoſopher ſeems as much to bee believed, eſpecially ſince its more agreeable to their own parallell of the middle region, where certainly the vapours are condenſed by cold.

That there are bituminous fires our own reaſon (beſides the teſtimony of good Authors) doth ſufficiently evince,Sol. they being the efficient cauſe of hot Springs, ſuch as are thoſe mentioned by Plato and Pliny the one in Sicily, the other at Somoſata; and our own at the City Bath in Somerſetſhire, beſides many others: from whence alſo are thoſe burning mountains Aetna and Veſuvius, beſides others that we read of in Athours.

But firſt Dr. French ſuppoſes great Caverns of waters to be in the earth which come from the Sea, pag. 16, 17. pag. 23. the heat alſo to be of like proportion with the water; what a conflict this would make in nature wee may eaſily judge, when theſe two enemies fire and water muſt be ſo immured together. I wonder the water being of like proportion which the fire doth not quench it, or that the fire conſumes not the water, and ſo in both caſes we ſhould want water in our Springs, and the world would be deſtroyed: but it ſeems they do better agree and combine to bring about his end, and he tells us how they both dwell together in the Caverns.

Secondly, L. 1. meteor c. 10. this ſuppoſes the earth to be almoſt nothing but Caverns: for if that be true that Ariſtotle ſaith concerning Springs, that if all water that runs out of them in one year could bee kept in a veſſell, it would almoſt equalize the whole bulk of the earth; and Dr. French tells us, there is a like proportion of fire and water in the Caverns; and reaſon tells us, that fire cannot be kept in without a greater quantity of air, which it continually conſumes, then what may wee judge concerning the Caverns.

Thirdly, this implyes the Earth to be almoſt nothing but bitumen or Naphtha, nor will his new generations be enough to maintain the expence.

Fourthly, this ſuppoſes all the Earth to be on fire, ſince almoſt in all places there are Springs, and conſequently contradicts the whole ſuffrage of Philoſophers, who call the Earth Elementum Frigidisſimum.

Fifthly, the Earth would in time be conſumed by ſo many fires, as ſaith Agricola, it being of a calcinable and combuſtible matter.

Sixtly, If it were ſo, then the water would have a bituminous taſte or ſmell, which we know it hath not ordinarily, it not differing in quality from thoſe waters which are wont to break in the manner of Springs after great rains, of which ſort we have many break out yearly on the Wolds in York-ſhire, commonly called by the name of Gypſies.

Laſtly, its not probable that there are ſo many fires in the earth, becauſe thoſe that dig in Mines in ſeveral Countries, do meet uſually with water which moleſt them, but no fires.

But to proceed, if the percolation of the Sea were the cauſe of Springs, then we ſhould uſually have the moſt plentifull Springs near the Sea, by reaſon of the nearneſs to their Fountain; when as to the contrary we find, that thoſe Towns wch are ſcituate neer the Sea, are more deſtitute of water, then others that are more remote. Again thoſe Springs that are upon the Sea ſhore ſhould probably ſympathize in their growth, or decreaſe with the Sea, and ſo at the Spring-Tides ſhould flow more plentifully, and at Neap-Tides more ſparingly, as thoſe Springs I juſt now ſpake of, the Gypſies, are more or leſs according to the rain, whereas no ſuch thing is obſervable in the other. Nor is this Spring of which we treat, to wit, the Spaw, which is upon the level of the Spring-tides, and ſometimes overflow by them, in the leaſt wiſe altered by them,The Spaw not altered by the Tides. as ever I could obſerve to flow more freely at the Spring-Tides, and ſlower at the Neap-Tides, when the Sea is at ſomewhat a further diſtance; nor yet is its taſte altered in the leaſt, or its efficacy in working, (notwithſtanding wch I think it hath ſome Salt in it from the Sea, and is thereby exalted in ſome qualities.) Whereas it is very obſervable, notwithſtanding it breaks out of the ground, within three or four yards of the foot of the cliffe, which is near 40 yards high, & within a quarter of a mile there is another hill, that is more then as high again above the Cliffe, and a deſcent all the way to the Cliffe, ſo as the rain water cannot lie long upon the ground: I ſay nevertheleſs it is obſervable that after a great rain the water is altered in its taſte,But is altered by rain. & leſſenened in its operation. Indeed a rainy day or two will not hurt it all.

But to return to the ground of the opinion, which is built upon the Seas ſole ſufficiency, to afford ſo great and conſtant a ſupply of waters to feed the Springs: I eaſily grant it to be the beſt Store-houſe, and do only diſſent about the manner of conveyance, of which I ſhall have occaſion to ſpeak by and by.

And for the other ground, becauſe the Sea is not increaſed by the multitude of waters that flow into it daily, which it muſt of neceſſity be, if they had not by their ſubterraneal Channels a recourſe to their Foun • ains: Plato indeed hath a ready anſwer to it, telling of I know not what great Abyſs, which he calls Tartarus, and makes it the original Fountain of all waters, into which by Caverns of the earth, he will have the Sea to empty it ſelf of its ſuperfluity. If this Tartarus be Hell he is ſurely miſtaken, for Dives found no water.De Sac. Phil. c. 63. Valeſius indeed interprets it to be the ſame with Moſes his Abyſſe, or elſe ſome hidden part of the Sea. But this I paſs over as one of the Philoſophers dreams, being alſo confuted by his Scholar Ariſtotle, who gives a full anſwer,lib. 2. Met. c. 4. which may ſatisfie any man, with whom agrees Freigius in his Hydrographie. An immenſe quantity thereof, Hydrog. p. 442. they ſay, is ſpent in vapours, which by the Sun, and the heavenly bodies are drawn out of it daily, and converted into rain, ſnow, and hail, as alſo much is dryed up with the wind, to which Mr. Lydiat conſents. Another large quantity is ſucked up by the earth,In praelect. Astron. as is evidently ſeen neer great Rivers, where the adjacent grounds are ſo much moiſtened, that neer them there is a more ſignal fertility, then in places more remote.Ibid. And then again, Ariſtotle ſaith, that the Sea is not ſo much the end of the waters to which they run, and wherein they are ſpent, as the beginning and fountain of them, from which they flow; and ſo what was ſpent in exhalations is but regained by the deſcent of ſhowers of rain and ſnow, the Springs and Rivers paying Tribute according to their receit, and hence it comes to paſs that the Sea is neither fuller nor emptier. And beſides, Valeſius gives another anſwer, viz. De Sac. Philoſ. c. 63. The Sea is as much extenuated & diſſipated under the Zodiack by the exceeding heat, as it is augmented and increaſed under the Poles with rain and ſnow. And this may ſuffice to be ſaid, concerning the firſt opinion of the Original of Springs, to wit, the percolation of the Sea.

Sect. 8.

The ſecond opinion is, That Spring water is generated in the Earth, and that either by tranſmutation of earth into water, or of ayr, The ſecond Original. Li • . 3 Nat. quaeſt. c. 7. as others. Of the former opinion was Seneca the Philoſopher, who as he was the Author of that fancy, ſo I think he is alone, for I finde none of his judgement.

That the Elements may be tranſmuted one into another, eſpecially thoſe that are placed neereſt one another, agreeing together more in quality then the reſt, is the doctrine of Ariſtotle, Lib 2. de gener. c. 8. and agreeable with reaſon, and very obvious to the ſenſes. I can eaſily believe, that the thinner parts of earth may be turned into water, as alſo the groſſer parts of water into earth; ſo the thinner and more ſubtile parts of water into air, and the groſſer parts of air into water, and therefore it may be true that Seneca ſaith, although it is rejected by Mr. Lydiat, de Origin, font. but that the earth which is a dry body, and accounted by Philoſophers Elementum Siccisſimum, ſhould by tranſmutation afford ſo much water, or the hundred part of what flowes out of Springs, is a thing ſo voyd of reaſon, as it needs no arguments to diſprove it, and is not likely to gain many followers.

I therefore paſs on to the other of the tranſmutation of air into water, performed in the Caverns of the earth, which by cold converts the air into water; an opinion much more plauſible then the other, having alſo the authority of Ariſtotle to defend it, 〈◊〉 M ••• 〈◊〉 who will have it made in the earth, as it is in the middle region of the air, when by condenſation of vapors water is made, an • he is followed by Dr. Fulk in his book of Meteors and H. ab Heers.

But this opinion leads alſo into inextricable difficulties and abſurdities.Spadacr. And firſt, he told us in the end of the tenth Chapter, that ſo much water runs out of the earth in one year, as if it were kept in a veſſell, it would equalize the bulk of the whole earth, (notwithſtanding he is ſufficiently ſcourged by Agricola, Cardane, Scaliger, and others for it) and reaſon tells that more then ten parts of air will not ſerve for the making but of one part of water, as Scaliger, In ſubt exere 46. de or font. and M. Lydiat do both obſerve, (I think twenty would be too little) then it would follow neceſſarily from theſe premiſes, that the earth ſhould be almoſt nothing but empty Caverns of air, when nevertheleſs thoſe that dig mines in all Countries, ſometime two or three hundred fathom deep, do find no ſuch thing, but a ſolid body all along.

Secondly, this implyes ſuch an expenſe of air, as the whole Element of air would not ſuffice to feed that gulfe. Bodinus ſaith it would not be ſufficient for one day, and therefore he laughs at the Philoſopher.Lib. 2. The. at. nat. But certainly it had been long ſince extinct out of the meſs of Elements, if Ariſtotle had been in the right in this contrverſie.

Thirdly, for a continuall ſupply of ſo much air, as is requiſite to bee converted into water, to ſupply all the Springs there ſhould bee found in ſeverall parts of the earth, great and conſtant in draughts and ſucktion of air into the Caverns, with exceeding great celerity and violence, which no man ever did find, nor any Geographer make mention of.

Fourthly, how comes it to paſſe that any winds break out of the earth, as Ariſtotle teaches in his book de mundo, which he terms by the names of Apogei and Encolpiae, de mund: c. 6. and and that all the air is not rather turned into water, to ſupply his conſtant generation of Spring water? And how can two ſuch violent motions of the air ſtand together, eſpecially ſeeing he tells us elſewhere, that it is contrary to the nature of the wind (which is nothing but Aer moius) to blow contrary ways at once.L. 2. meteor c. 12.

I ſhall therefore paſſe over this Originall alſo as not ſoundly principled, and proceed to examine the laſt opinion.

Sect. 9.

The third and laſt opinion that I meet withall in the controverſie about the Originall of Springs and Fountains, is that they are cauſed by Rain and Snow; of which I find Albertus Magnus, 〈…〉 and Georgius Agricola the moſt eminent Patrons The ſum of what they ſay is thus.

The Snow and rain falling from the clouds in great abundancy upon the earth,Lib. 2. de ort. & cauſe. ſubter. c. 3. do by moiſtning the ſuperficies cauſe it to bring forth vegetables, whereas otherwiſe it would be barren through dryneſs,The 3. Originall. and conſequently not habitable: The remaining part (except what ſuddenly runs into Rivers) ſinks down by ſecret paſſages into the earth with which the ſuperficies doth abound; (which are like unto ſmall ſibres of veins, not diſcernable by the eye,Rain and Snow the true originall of Springs. terminating in the skin in all the parts of our bodies) and in rocky ground it runsthrough the clefts, and by them is conveighed to the ſubterraneall channells more or leſs deep in the earth, where it is concocted by the earth, and moves as blood in the veins, receiving many times a tincture, according to the nature of earth, and the Mineralls, or Metalls by which it paſſes, helping forward alſo their generation.

What a Spring is?This water at length in its paſſage through the veins of the earth finds vent and runs forth, which place of eruption we call a Spring or Fountain.

Whence its ebullitionAnd this ſpringing forth or eruption of the water. I conceive to bee made not by any forcible Agitation, compu • ſion, or violence, that is put upon it ab extra within the earth, or by ſuction from the Sun and the heavenly bodies, or by heat which which may be in the earth, or by any ſpirits that are in the water it ſelfe, but from its own naturall inclination and tendency towards its proper place aſſigned to it by the Creator, which as I ſaid in the ſecond Section, is the convex part of the earth, it not reſting till it meets with its naturall correſpondent the Air. And this I think to be the naturall reaſon of its ebullition out of the earth, and I find scaliger in his ſubtilities of the ſame judgement, Exere 100. it freeing nature from a violent force which the working fancies of men would put upon it, who yet cannot agree among themſelves.

Subterraneall lakes contribute nothing.But as for ſubterraneal lakes that are found in the bottome of great Caverns of the Earth, they are ſtanding waters, oftentimes of poyſonous quality, as I hinted in the 6th Section, which having room enough and ſupplyed with air above them, I think they incline not to motion, and do contribute nothing to Springs, nor can any ſubterraneal heat which Dr. French ſuppoſes to be in theſe Caverns, extract a wholeſome water out of them.

And this Rain or Snow water in the Channells, where-ever it finds vent, it continues to flow, ſo long as the Channells by which ſuch a Spring is fed, have any water to ſupply it, and that is more or leſs according to the wideneſs or length of the Channells, or otherwiſe according to the number that meet together, it not reſting till it meets with the air; And therefore it is obſervable in pipes that convey water from one veſſell to another, the water will flow till all its ſtore bee ſpent, whether the motion bee upward or tranſverſe, till it meet with air, and then it ceaſes to flow, for if one bore a hole in the pipe, and let in air, the motion is done.

Theſe Channells alſo are furniſhed according to the quantity of Rain that falls, and the advantages they have of receiving it, by the ſmall and ſecret paſſages that come from the ſuperficies of the earth, which concenter in thoſe Channells.

Now this opinion of Rain and Snow water to bee the Originall of Springs,Argumēts to prove. is illuſtrated with many arguments of demonſtration by the Authors before mentioned, and others of this judgement, the principall whereof are theſe.

First, Becauſe it is found by experience, that fountains and conſequently rivers, are greater and do abound more with water in Winter, and moyſt weather then in Summer.

Secondly, in thoſe years when great Rain do falls in Summer, and great ſtore of Snow in Winter, wee find Springs durable, whereas in droughty ſeaſons when there is but little or no Rain or snow, the Springs dry up. A ſure proof whereof we had in England in the years 1654, 55, and 56. when our climate was dryer then ever any ſtoryes mention, ſo as we had very little Rain in Summer, or Snow in Winter, moſt of our Springs were dryed up, even ſuch as in the memory of the Eldeſt men living had never wanted water, but were of thoſe ſorts Springs which we call fontes perennes, or at leaſt were eſteemed ſo; which if they had received their ſupply of water from the Sea, or from the air in the earth converted into water, they could not have failed of water.

A third reaſon which perſwades to this Originall is, becauſe in thoſe Climates and Countries where little Rain falls, few or no Springs and Rivers are ſeen. As in the deſerts Aethiopia, and in moſt parts of Africa neer the equinoctial they have little water, and many times in two or three days journey can hardly find enough to quench their thirſt and their Camells, as Hiſtorians relate. and ſo in Egypt where it rains very ſeldom, but they are ſupplyed inſtead of it by the overflowing of Nilus, there are no Springs at all. Whereas in Britain, Germany, and France, and other Northern parts of Europe, there are great plenty of Springs and Rivers, in regard they do abound in the moyſture of the air, and great falls of Rain and Snow.

To the firſt our Carpenter object, Object. Georg. lib. 2. c. 9. that the abounding of Rivers with water in Winter, is from the ſtore of Rain or Snow water, that runs into them from the higher grounds, and not from any great quantity of water that falls into them out of Springs and Fountains.

I deny not but the Rivers are inſtantly heightned in Winter from Rain,Sol. ſo as on the ſudden they will often overflow their banks, but that water is ſoon ſpent in the Sea; It is ſufficient for defence of the point in hand, if after that water in reaſon ſhould be ſpent, they be yet maintained more plentifully by the Springs, then uſually they are in Summer; at which ſeaſon of the year, though they be filled with a ſudden flood of Rain, yet wanting the conſtant benevolence of the Springs, they ſuddenly fall as low as they were before.

Another Objection I find ſtarted by Seneca, Object. Lib. 3. Nat. Queſt. c. 7. as alſo by M. Carpenter in the place before cited; to wit, that the greateſt Rain that can fall never ſinks above ten foot into the ground; and Seneca cites his own obſervation for it in the digging of Vineyards, and he gives this reaſon for it, becauſe when the earth is once ſatisfied with ſhowers, it oppoſes it ſelf againſt the overplus by ſhutting its pores.

I own it thus far,Sol. that into the ſolid earth the Rain ſinks not above ten foot, although learned Cardane allows it ten paces or fathomes, his words being non ultra decem paſſus deſcendere. De var rev c. 6. But what becomes of that immenſe quantity of rain, which often continues for many weeks together, nay oft times ſome months, wherein we have ſcarce a fair and dry day, beſides the infinite quantity of wet and Snow that is falling all Winter long, cauſing inundations of water over all the Country round about, not only upon higher grounds neer unto rivers, into which it may run per declive, but in plains from whence it can have no current at all, can it be ſuppoſed that ten foot of earth will drink up all this water, which who ſo ſhall dig ſoon after the water is drunk up, ſhall not find it very moiſt or muddy, which it would aſſuredly be if it had not ſome ſecret paſſage into the Caverns of the earth, much deeper then they ſpeak of? And therefore Cardane in the place before cited, adds, that the earth is ſadned with the Rain, ſo as it lyes above, unleſs by ſome empty crevice, or cleft, it ſink deeper into the earth, which is all I contend for, and which being granted will be ſufficient to quicken and continue the Springs.

And to Seneca's obſervation before mentioned let me oppoſe Albertus his experience,Lib. 2 met. tract. de orig. ſlum. who tells us that at the bottome of a ſolid rock, 120 fathome deep, he ſaw drops of water diſtill from it in a rainy ſeaſon.

Another Obj • ction that Seneca makes againſt the point in hand is this, Object. • ib 3. Nat. queſt. c. 7. on which he layes much ſtreſs; That the great mountains of Rock and Stone which have little or no earth on them, and on that account not capable of receiving much rain, do nevertheleſs yield great and laſting Springs, which are never drawn dry.

This makes nothing againſt, but rather for the point in controverfie.Solut. There are no Rocks but they have their Commiſſure, joints or clefts: now the Rain and Snow water can run more plentifully into thoſe joints and clefts of the Rocks, and and more ſpeedily, then when it falls upon the ſolid earth; And in that he faith they are not covered with much earth, they are the leſs robbed of what falls from the clouds, and ſo are better ſupplyed. To this I'le further add, that Rocks have more large and ſpacious Caverns, that are fit receptacles for the water, the ſolid earth hath. Adde to this that Rocks are uſually many together, covering much ground, ordinarily a whole Country is nothing but Rocks, and ſo can receive much wet, and their ſtore by their nakedneſs of earth hath a freſh ſupply from every ſhower that falls. And therefore on all theſe accounts, as they have advantages of ſpeedy reception of what falls without diminution, and ca pacities for admiſſion of greater quantities of wet then other ſoyles have, ſo they may very well afford more plentiful and durable fountains.

Beſides it is obſervable, that in the ſolid clay ſoyles it is very rare to find any eruption of water, becauſe ſuch are ſad earth, and have few or no Caverns or Channells in them, but our Springs break out ordinarily in Rocky, gravelly ground, eſpecially the beſt water, and moſt laſting Springs, ſuch as we call fontes perennes.

Another Objection that Seneca makes againſt it is this, Object. Ibid. that in the dryeſt ſoyle, where they dig pits two or three hundred foot deep, there is often found great plenty of water, which no man can ſuppoſe to have come from the clouds, but he thinks it of that ſort which is wont to bee called living water.

From whence then ſhould it come,Solut. from the Sea? perhaps the Sea is as many miles from that water as the ſuperficies of the earth is feet from it, and may much more bee queſtioned. But we may remember Seneca's judgement concerning the originall of Springs is, that they are generated by tranſumtation of earth into water;de Origin. font. an aſſertion ſo ridiculous, as he is laughed at by M. Lydiat, and never had any as yet to take his part. Perhaps it may come from the tranſmutation of air into water, for ſuch tranſmutation I cannot deny, wee ſee Churches become wet before rain falls from this cauſe: But its moſt probable to come from Rain, which may poſſibly peirce by its crannyes much deeper then he ſpeaks of, as I have ſhewen already. Our Miners will tell him that in Winter after great inundations of Rain, they are much troubled with water in the bottome of their Mines, finding it frequently diſtilling through the ſolid earth upon their heads by the ſecret capillar veins, (as I may call them) that come from the ſuperſicies of the earth, whereas in Summer or dry ſeaſons they find no interruption at all. Touching the terme living water which is uſed by Seneca, I think no more is meant by it, then ſuch as flowes from everrunning fountains, which therefore in Engliſh we commonly call quick Springs.

But to preceed, Object. York Spaw. p. 4. Dr. French Objects concerning the increaſing of Springs in Winter, that its not univerſally true, and he inſtances in St. Mugnus well, concerning which he was informed by the woman that keeps it.Nat. Hiſt. that it begins to riſe about May, and falls in October; as alſo that of Pliny in Cydenia before Leſbon, that flowes onely at the Spring.

There is no rule ſo generall but it may admit of an exception;Sol. its enough if it be generally true though not univerſally ſo. He inſtances in two only, although ſuppoſes others: I might without much ado inſtance two hundred, and ſuppoſe very many more, and an induction of ſo many particulars is accounted by Logicians an Argument of great force. Moreover as for that of St. Mugnus well, he doth not ſpeak upon his own knowledg, if he had I would not have queſtioned it, for I honour his memory & learning, he onely cites the woman for his Author whom he truſted too far. I have enquired of the Honorable Knight and his Lady who own the ground, Sir. T. H. and they never heard it obſerved by any, that the Well ſhould riſe in May or the Summer months, and decreaſe towards Winter. M. R. W. Likewiſe of another Gentleman that lives hard by the place, having good advantages to know it, being brought up from his childhood within a mile of it, and he aſſures me upon his own knowledge it is not ſo.

If any would know more concerning this Well, I refer him to Dr. Dean and Dr. St. Mugnus well French their Books upon the Spaw at Knaresbrough. It is a quick Spring that runs plentifully over, within fourteen miles Weſt of York, of great repute for curing the rickets in children, whom they dip into it naked, and hold them in it a little while; but they muſt obſerve to dip five, ſeven, or nine times, more or leſs, according to cuſtome, or ſome think it wil not do, and this they continue for ſeverall days together, when they take them out they put them into a warm bed, where they ſweat a while. Its alſo uſed for Cramps in the joints, and lameneſs for elder people, who will ſometimes ſtay in it halfe an hour or more at a time, for a few days together, and many think it hath done good in both caſes: Whether it partake of any Mineralls or no its doubted. Dr. Dean thinks it doth not, Dr. French thinks it doth, onely becauſe of the effects of it, for it ſeems not to have any preceptible quality different from our ordinary and beſt ſort of Springs, being exceeding cold in Summer when they uſe to battle in it, and warm in Winter. But whether theſe effects proceed from a ſuperſtitious conceit of this Sainted Well, which raiſes the imagination of ſome, or ſome Minerall quality, or rather (which I moſt incline to) from the exceſſive c • leneſs of the water, which repells the naturall heat from the joints to the inward parts, till coming out of the Wel into the warmer air, or a bed, it recoyles to the joints again with more force, and makes a new fermentation in the humours which is furthered by ſweat; I ſay from which of theſe I wil not determine. If any think fit to make triall in the likecaſes with any other cold Spring they may perhaps find as much benefit, as ſome have done in another Spring within half a mile of this City of York for the Rickets in Children, from which they report they found ſome good for that diſeaſe.

As for the other of Plinies mentioning that flows onely at the Spring, I queſtion not the truth of it. But this is to be obſerved, that in the ſouthern parts of Europe, as alſo elſewhere, they have but little rain in Summer, yet having many exceeding high mountains, as the Alps and the Pirenaenas, which are elevated near the middle region of the air, theſe are receptacles of great quantities of Snow, which lyes all Winter, and melts not becauſe of the intenſe coldneſs of the air, till the Sun come near to the Equinoctiall point, which is about the eleventh of March, and thence it may come to paſs, that ſuch Springs as are ſupplyed from that melted Snow, do begin only to flow at the Spring, which having but ſcant and narrow receptacles, may ſoon bee drawn and ceaſe flowing.

And here let me obſerve as I paſſe▪ that the greateſt Rivers in Europe have their beginning in thoſe hills, and do begin to flow moſt violeatly at the Spring when the Snow melts, to wit, Danubius otherwiſe called Iſter the greateſt Rive • in Germany, as Auſonicus in his E •• grams relates, which Franciſcus Ju • ius in his deſcription of Germany ſeems to equalize with Nilus; Lie. 〈◊〉 . c. 〈◊〉 . and Rhodanus and Rhenus two Rivers of France, which ſtretch themſelves from the Alps, the one to the Mediterranean Sea, C •• G • o • . M • nd. 12. pa • . the other to the Germane Ocean, as Caſſaneus mentions, and perhaps this Spring of Plinies may come from ſome ſuch cauſe.

But Dr. French Objects further, Object. pag. 4. that notwithſtanding that which can bee ſaid, though the Springs which were before dryed up in Summer, do break out again after Rain, yet it doth not follow that Rain is the materiall cauſe of Springs, for (ſays he) their drying up was not for want of Rain to ſupply them, but by reaſon of the dryneſs of the earth towards its ſuperficies, which attracts to it ſelfe the water of the Springs to ſatisfie its drought, which it doth again let go, when it hath drunk plentifully of the ſhowers from heaven: And he inſtances in Rivers, which in Summer will many times be dryed up, although ſome fountains at the ſame time do run plentifully.

Perhaps the Earth may drink up a great part of the water of Rivers as they paſs along,Solut. and thence it comes to paſs, that near Rivers the earth is more fertile, and in Summer thoſe meadows not ſo much parched with heat as elſewhere, and thence it is that they flow low, having probably but a few Springs to ſupply them, in compariſon of what they had, many being dryed up by reaſon of the heat of the weather and want of Rain. And that the ſuperficies of the earth near Springs may drink up ſome of their moyſture, we may well ſuppoſe, but that cannot be much, nor the attraction of ſuch force as to draw from far, ſo as to weaken the current of a Spring conſiderably, much leſs to dry it up, for as much as the water of the Spring is not diffuſed abroad as the water of Rivers is, but pent up in a narrow Channell through which it paſſes.

Again, ſince it is true as naturaliſts tell us, that the heart of the Sun peirces not above ten foot into the earth to dry it, the water that ſuch a little quantity of earth may need, or can draw, will not be in any proportion towards the drying up a Spring, eſpecially ſeeing it lyes in a narrow channel, and alſo perhaps riſes upright out of the earth like a boyling pot.

And whereas he objects again, that the moſt part of the Rain that falls on high places runs into plains, and from thence into Rivers, and where it cannot ſo run, it remains upon the ſuperficies till it be exhaled by the Sun.

I anſwer, we ſee a great quantity of water runs into Rivers after great Rains, when they are nigh at hand; but what becomes of all that which falls in a whole Country far from Rivers, and of the infinite quantity of Snow which covered the ſurface of the ground, and ſets all the Country in a flood when it melts, ſo as a man would think it could not be dryed up in many months, and this where there is no current at all into Rivers? The moderate heat of the Sun in rainy weather, eſpecially in the Winter months, is ſuch as it cannot be thought to exhale the tenth part of it into vapours, and yet in a few days its all gone, and no footſteps of it left ſave in the roads, whereby the continual beating of the horſes, it is ſo ſadned that it cannot ſink of a long time.

As for that place of Seneca which he urges, I have anſwered it already in this Section; And for the digging of the Well, where ſometimes no water can be got two or three hundred foot deep, before we come at Springs: That may be, and yet make nothing againſt the waters ſinking much deeper, ſince though there be many Channells of water in the earth, yet it is poſſible to miſs them in ſuch a narrow compaſs as a Well, and yet there may be ſtore of water near hand.

Nor can the duſt or dirt, which he ſaith, may be conveyed by the water into the veins or crannyes, by which it ſhould paſs down into the earth, hinder it any more, then the excrementitious humors that are in the bowels, do hinder the chyle from paſſing into the Lactaea, or Meſentery veins, and ſo to the Liver; both which may be thereby hindered in part; ſo as they cannot paſs ſo ſpeedily, yet it is not ſo in all bodies, nor all over the ground, only in ſome places it lyes above the earth a while, before it can finde paſſage down.

Another Objection which ſome make againſt this opinion of the Original of Springs by Rain and Snow is this, Object. that although all this ſhould be granted, yet they think there doth not ſo much Rain and Snow fall, as may ſuffice to ſupply them with ſuch abundance of water as they vent.

I would have ſuch to conſider what hath been already ſaid concerning the immenſe quantity of wet that falls in Winter, beſides the great Spouts of Rain, that ordinarily every year at ſome time or other are falling in Summer, which often ſets the whole Country in a Flood, together with other frequent ſhowers, and whether there is not a reaſonable proportion of wet for ſupply of the Springs, eſpecially while we conſider the paucity of great Springs, and the diſtance that is betwixt one Spring & another, ſometimes two or three miles of ground affording but a few Springs, and thoſe perhaps of very ſmal currents, moſt Towns being ſupplied with Well water, of which very little is loſt.

Again, it is very obſervable, that a great quantity of that water which runs out of Springs that are placed on high ground neer hill • , is in its paſſage ſucked up by the earth, as is alſo the waters of Rivers, and ſo is conveyed by ſecret veins into the ſubterraneal chanels, and ſerves to give being to nether Springs that break out in lower grounds. Nor need this aſſertion ſeem ſtrange to any, ſeeing we read of great Rivers that hide their channels in the earth for many miles together ſometimes, and break out again, as the Rhine in Germany, cited by Seneca; Lib. 3. Nat. Queſt. Eraſenus in Arg • lica; Padus in the Alps; but more remarkable, Grimſton States and Empires. is that of the river Guadiana in Spain, which runs under the ground for the ſpace of thirteen leagues, & neer to a Town called Villa Horta breaks up again, which gives occaſion to that brag of the Spaniards, concerning a bridge in Spain, on which is daily fed ten thouſand ſheep. Nor doth our own Country want ſuch preſidents; the river Rye in York-ſhire runs under ground a quarter of a mile together and breaks out again neer Helmſley, and I am informed of the like neer Grantham in Lincolnſhire. Yea and thoſe great Seas in Aſia are thought to have ſubterraneal paſſages from one to another; the Caſpian into the black Sea, that into the Aegean, and this into the Mediterranean.

Sect. 10.

Having thus weighed and anſwered the moſt material exceptions, that are made againſt this Original by learned men, I cannot but joyn in judgement with Albertus and Agricola, yet not altogether excluding the other two, eſpecially that of the percolation of the Sea to Springs neer adjoyning; but how ſuch as break out on high Lands, and at great diſtance from the Sea, can be thought to be ſupplied from thence, or otherwiſe then by the ſhowers that fall from heaven, I confeſs I ſee not, notwithſtanding the Arguments they produce to make it out. And therefore learned Dr. Jordan, notwithſtanding hee inclines ſtrongly to the Seas Originall,pag. 19. nat. Baths. as wee have heard already, yet is forced to grant at length, that if any Springs bee higher then the Sea, (and I have proved they art all ſo) they may then proceed from Rain and Snow.

Nevertheleſs we muſt not forget from whence Rain & Snow do naturally proceed, & that the Sea is the principal ſtorehouſe for the generation of vapours, out of which they are made by condenſation, the Earth and the moyſt bodies thereon not affording any proportionable quantity to the wet that falls from the clouds.

I ſhall now haſten to a period of this diſpute, being only willing to illuſtrate what hath been ſaid, by a quotation out of learned and laboborious Dr. Heylin, Coſmog. p. 677. in his Coſmography the ſecond Edition p. 667. where treating of Cyprus an Iſland in the Mediterranean Sea, in length two hundred miles, and ſixty miles broad, he tells that in the days of Conſtantine the great, there was an exceeding long drought, ſo as for thirty ſix years they had no rain, in ſo much as all the Springs and torrents or Rivers were dryed up, ſo as the inhabitants were forced to forſake the Iſland, and ſeek for new habitations for want of freſh water. Now if the Sea had been the Originall of the Springs, they could not have wanted water, it being an Iſland and not very great; or if the tranſmutation of air into water in the Caverns of the Earth, there could have been no defect; ſince the Caverns were the ſame; ſo that its evident the Springs proceeded from the Rain, which failing they were dryed up.

Likewiſe whoſoever ſhall compare the water which flowes out of Springs, with that which immediately falls from the clouds, ſhall find ſuch a full and perfect agreement betwixt them in all qualities perceptible to the ſenſes, as its hard to diſtinguiſh the one from the other. Beſides that ex • er identity of the water of ever flowing Springs and of the Gypſies I mentioned before, which break out in the Wolds in York-ſhire, and elſe where, after a great inundation of Rain, which if they proceeded from ſeveral cauſes, muſt probably differ in their qualities and effects.

Laſtly the two rarities I mentioned in the beginning, that are to be found upon the Caſtle hill in Scarbrough; to wit, the deep Well that reaches to the bottom of the Rock, which hath no water, & the Spring Well which is within half a yard of the edg of the Rock towards the Sea, which never wants water, do ſomewhat illuſtrate the point in hand. For the deep Well being ſo neer the Sea, ſhould probably have water in it, if there were any ſuch percolation as is ſpoken of; or if air were ſo plentifully tranſmuted in water, it ſhould not be dry; which yet it is, there being no Channells that empty themſelves into it; while the other which is upon the top of the Rock, not many yards deep, and alſo upon the very edge of the cliffe is ſupplyed, which doubtleſs is done by ſecret Channells within the ground that convey the Rain and ſhowers into it, being placed on a dependant part of the Rock; near unto which there are alſo Cellars under an old ruinated Chappell, which after a great rain are full of water, but are dryed up in a long drought.

I now proceed to confider of the nature of Spring water, The nature of Spring water De ſimpl. med. fac. c. 4. which doubtleſs is the beſt of all others for general uſe, eminently excelling in the eſſentiall parts of water, viz. cold and moyſture, as Galen ſaith. Nevertheleſs ſome Springs are better then others. Hyppocrates prefers ſuch as flow out of Rocksand Hils of gravell or ſtone, as more clear and white then what coms out of other ſoyls; as alſo ſuch Springs as are cold in summer and warm in Winter, which is aſſuredly ſound in them if their fountains be deep in the Rock, and this is a ſure token whereby wee may diſtinguiſh of Well water alſo. And to this of Hyppocrates I might join the whole ſuffrage of all Philoſophers and Phyſicians that may have writ upon this Subject. To ſum up all in a word, beſides what was ſaid in the ſecond Section: The principall token of good and wholeſome water is, that it be ſimple or unmixed, and then it loads not the ſtomach, and eaſily paſſes through the Hypechondres, being alſo ſoon hot and ſoon cold.

I find ſome of the Ancients were wont to weigh their water, and accounted that the beſt which was the lighteſt, and for this cauſe it ſeems it was, that the Perſian Kings would drink of no water but of the River Eulaeus an Attick ſaucer whereof weighed leſſe by a Dram then other waters, as Strabo ſaith. Now Pliny tells that an Attick ſaucer was a meaſure of fifteen drams;Lib 15. Geograph. c. ult. Lib. 21. c. ult. ſo then it was a fifteenth part lighter then the other waters of Perſia. And the Parthian Kings on the ſame account drank of the Rivers Choaſpes and Eulaeus as the ſame Pliny witneſſes. And thus Athenaeus commends a Spring neer Corinth, Lib. 31. N. Hiſt. cap. 3. which he calls Pirenes, for its levity above all the waters of Greece. Lib. 2. dup. c. 2. And there ſeems to be good reaſon for it, becauſe its levity is a token of its purity and ſimplicity, and that it bath no earthy parts, and conſequently is eaſier of concoction.

Now among the ſeverall ſorts of fountains Hyppocrates commends moſt thoſe that open towards the Eaſt, Aph. 26. Sect 5. as the lighteſt and fitteſt for all ages and conſtitutions; and next to them ſuch as run towards the Weſt, but as for thoſe that open towards the North, he thinks them to be cold and hard of digeſtion, in that they want the heat of the Sun; and he accounts thoſe the worſt that run ſoutherly, becauſe their thin parts are exhaled by the heat,de aquis. and ſo the water becomes groſſe. But we need not fear that in this our Climate, where the Sun is not ſo hot, nor need thoſe that are healthfull, bee ſo ſcrupulous concerning their water, if it bee Spring water eſpe • ially, nor whether it runs Eaſt, Weſt, North, or South, they being all indifferently good and wholeſome.

Now ſometimes it happens that Springs break out where there was never any before,The Reaſons of the breaking forth of new ſprings. as in great floods of Rain and Snow, which the ſubterraneall channells can • ot receive, but theſe are but of ſhort continuance.Lib. 3. Nat. qu. c. 11. So after Earthquakes as Seneca mentions, and ſo Theophraſtus, that in the mountain Corycus after an Earthquake many Springs broke out. And thus after the cutting down of Woods and Groves as Pliny tells us in his Nat. Hiſt. Spadac. p. 1 • . And H. ab Heers cites a paſſage to this purpoſe out of Ambroſius Perez, who writes that in the City Baja, a great Tree being torn up, to make room for the building of a Colledge for the Jeſuites, there brake out a Spring of good and wholeſome water; a channell of water running under it, was it ſeems broken up. So alſo the ſtopping of the mouth of a Spring in one place, may cauſe it to break out in another, as wee ſee by ordinary experience.

Of like nature with Springs, is Well water, onely not ſo good, and among theſe ſuch as are open to the air are better then thoſe that are ſhut, whoſe water is fetched up by pumping, and the more they are drawn, the better and more wholeſome is the water.

Many • ratities in Spring • .There are alſo many rarities to be diſcovered in Springs, both in their operations on thoſe that drink them, as Dr. French hath obſerved, and I might multiply out of good Authors: as alſo in their motions in ebbing and flowing, concerning all which its very hard to give a reaſon.

There is a fountain in Idumaea called Job, which is every three months of a ſeverall colour; to wit, duskie, red, green, and clear.

Another among the Troglodites, which is three times a day bitter & ſweet again.

The Fountain Silva that flowes out of the foot of Mount Sion runs not continually, but on certain days and hours. A like to which we have at Giggleſwick near a Market Town called Settle in York-ſhire, which I mentioned before, that ebbs and flowes many times a day; whether ſuch as theſe proceed from a ſpongious earth, which reſiſts it a while, being but a ſlow Spring, till it rally new force, and break through the obſtruction; or it bee from a Spirit in the water, whoſe impulſe puts it forward, but being a penurious Spring it ſettles again, as Saxo Grammaticus thinks,In praefat. Da • iae ſuae. I will not undertake to drtermine having not ſeen it, till when I will bee content to admire it as a ſecret.

I read alſo of a Fountain in Judaea, which flowes ſix dayes and reſts on the Sabbath, and is therefore called fons S • bb • ticus.

Alſo of a Fountain in Epyrus, which will quench a lighted torch, and light one whoſe flame is out.

So among the Garamantes there is a Spring which is ſo cold in the day time, that one cannot drink of it, and in the night ſo hot, that it cannot bee touched.

Catal gl • r. mund. p. 12 In inst. rei pub. l. 7. tit. 9. Theſe and many more of like nat • te I meet withall in good Authors, eſpecially in Caſſanaeus and Patricius, where the learned Reader may abundantly ſatisfie his curioſity: like wiſe in D. Fulks book of Meteors, concerning which no reaſon can be given, ſo as I think it better ſilently to admire the power and wiſedome of Almighty God in them, then too curiouſly to pry into the cauſes of theſe deep myſteries in nature, which are wrought in the lower parts of the earth; It being the Prophe: D • vids expreſſion in his contemplation upon the ſecret myſtery of his forming in the womb, Pſal. 139.15.

Sect. 11. Of River Waters

The next ſort of water which fal • under our conſideration, is River water. Firſt therefore concerning the Originall of Rivers, and then of the nature of that ſort of water.

In Original.The Scripture tells us, that all Rivers come from the Sea, Eccleſ. 17. ſo as we need not go further to ſearch out their Original; nevertheleſs they conſiſting of two ſorts of water, to wit, ſalt and freſh, we may diſtinguiſh, and call the Sea the original of the Salt water, and trace the freſh up to its Springs and Fountains, and determine that the freſh water in Rivers comes from the Springs; and in this we are not without a preſident in Scripture, Gen. 2.10. Where its ſaid a River went out of Eden, which divided it ſelfe into four ſtreams; which intimates that the Spring from whence thoſe ſour Rivers had their Original was in Eden. Notwithſtanding Rivers have alſo an additional ſupply from Rain and Snow, which falling from higher places, do carry down with them the water that is in Lakes, Ponds, and Ditches, and fills their Danks.

Hippocrates will have River water to be altogether unwholſom,Its natu •• . being made up of ſo many ſeveral ſorts of water, and moſt of them bad, as alſo mixt with mud, dirt and ſlime,De aquis & locis. breeding diſeaſes of various kinds, according to the nature of the waters, and therefore it is very obſervable, that thoſe Cities and Towns, that are forced to drink of the water of Rivers, are more peſtered with Epidemical ſickneſs then others that have better water, wch Valleriola obſerved at the City of Arles in France, Lib 2. loc. com. c. 7. which ſtands in a low and Fenny ſoyl, having no Springs at all, but the inhabitants are forced to drink the water of Rhone.

Notwithſtanding I finde ſome Rivers commended to have wholſom water, as Eulaeus and Choaſpes which I mentioned before, which the Kings of Perſia and Parthia preferred before any other ſort whatſoever. But above all other the water of Nilus is commended by Aetius, Tetrab. 1. c. 165. as having all the properties of the beſt ſort of water. And hence it was that Philadelphus the ſecond King of Egypt, having married his daughter Berenice to Antiochus King of Aſſyria, cauſed the water of Nilus to be carried to her into Aſſyria, that ſhe might drink of no other water but that,Lib. 2. dypn. cap. 2. as Athenaeus ſaith out of Polybius.

Yea the water of Nilus ſeems to be equalized with wine, if not preferred before it; for Scaliger relates out of Spartianus: that when the Egyptian Army was ready to mutiny becauſe they had no Wine,De ſubt. exerc. 48. Peſcenninae Niger their General appeaſed them with this anſwer, what do you grumble for wine, and have the River Nilus at hand?

But I muſt not wade too far into this ſtream, leaſt I loſe my ſelf and my Subject, eſpecially ſince River water contributes nothing to the Spaw at Scarborough, there being none acer it. Nor have we the water of Nilus here; our Rivers in England are compounded of ſeveral ſorts of waters, and therefore not ſo wholſom; and yet it is the beſt or only water that ſome Towne have for their ordinary uſe; the water of Owſe being alſo moſt commonly uſed by this City of York, for whoſe cauſe eſpecially I will ſay ſomething more concerning it.

River water is not ſo good as Rain or Spring Water, the Sun having exhaled the thin parts it is become more groſs, yet it will keep longer then either of the other, and will make ſtronger Bear then either of them, it being more eaſily impregnated with the ſtrength of the Malt by reaſon of its groſs parts; but it is not ſo good for Medicines as the other. Now the reaſon why it will keep longer then Rain or Spring water is, becauſe it hath paſſed already ſome degrees of fermentation by the heat of the Sun, yet the water of ſome Rivers will keep longer then other. Baccius ſaith the water of Tiber wil keep an hundred years and not corrupt,Lib. 1. de ag teber. c. 2. the reaſon is becauſe it is groſſe and thick like Oyle, on which account its unwholeſome to be drunk.

River water is not to be uſed after rain till it hath purged it ſelfe, and doth become clear, and its the beſt when it is taken out of the middle of the River, which if that cannot bee done, then let it be taken out of ſome deep place, and not where it is ſhallow, alſo above the Cities and Towns, before the filth of the channels run into it. Great care likewiſe ſhould be taken by the Governours of Cities that no Carrion be caſt into Rivers, both becauſe it corrupts the water, and deſtroyes the fiſhes; likewiſe that no cloaths be waſhed, or boyes bathe, or horſes be watered above thoſe places where the water is taken up, eſpecially in times of common contagion and peſtilential diſeaſes. In which particulars the Antient Law-makers were exceeding carefull, appointing certain Officers for the preſerving of their waters, whom they called Hydrophylaces, which were perſons of the beſt quality, and had great immunities conferred on them, and were to ſee to the putting of the Laws in execution concerning waters,Cat. glor. muud. par. 12. p. 259. as Caſſanaeus relates out of Franciſcus de Ripa.

This water being taken up ſhould be kept in large Stone Ceſterns, (not leaden which are apt to breed dyſenterie fluxes) and thoſe very clean, into which if ſome gravell ſtones gathered out of a freſh River were put, it would preſerve it longer and cooler.Lib. 2. loc. com. c. 7. Valleriola would have alſo ſome little fiſhes put in to keep in motion; and when it is firſt put in the Ceſterns, it ſhould be poured through a thick woollen cloth, that no ſandy or ſlimy ſubſtance may paſs through, River water being very ſubject to have ſediment more then other ſorts.

Paulus Zachias a famous Roman Phyſician tells of a pretty device which was uſed by Cardinall Franciſco Maria de Monte, L. 5. quaeſt. med. leg. tit, 4. q. 2. one much delighted in Chymicall experiments, whereby he puryfied the water of Tyber, and made it wholeſome to be drunk. He had two large Ceſterns of an Hollands ſort of Stone, that was of a porous ſubſtance, which would hold fifteen gallons a piece, theſe were ſo placed that the water that was put into the one, might in ſome convenient ſpace of time diſtil through the ſtone into the other, under which he had a third, which received what dropped through the ſecond. Neither of the uppermoſt was perforated at all, but the water paſſed through the pores of them, in the bottoms of both which there was ever found ſuch ſediment; This water ſo tranſcolated was ſo pure and thin, that it would eaſily paſſe through the Hypochondres, and the Cardinall told my Author, that he found much benefit in it againſt the ſtone, and that it provoked urine quickly.

I conceive this to be very rationall and a neat way eaſie to be experimented, and very proper for ſuch as have weak bodies, and yet are forced to make uſe of ſome of the groſſer ſorts of water, whereby they may ſo purifie them, as they may become much more wholſome for whoſe ſakes I have thought fit to inſert the experiment.

Sect. 12.

Of Minerall watersHAving thus as briefly as I could run through the ſeverall ſorts of ordinary waters, with thei • Originall cauſes, natures, and eff • cts being taking inwardly, which may ſerve as Polycletus his rule the better to judge of Minerall waters, this being as Mathematicians ſay of linea recta index ſui & obliqui; I muſt again reſume the ſubject, which is the principall occaſion of this diſcourſe, viz. The Spaw at Scarbrough, which though it be a quick Spring or Fountain, yet differs in quality and operation from our ordinary springs, in regard it hath imbibed the vertues of certain Mineralls through which it paſſes, as I hinted in the firſt Section; to wit, Vitriol, Iron, Allome, Nitre, and Salt; Concerning the nature of which Mineralls I ſhall ſay ſomething, and then proceed to the nature and vertures of the Spaw it ſelfe.

Agricola, De re metall. 2. a learned Germane, and very judicious in the nature of Mineralls and Metalls, reckons up ſix ſorts of ſimple Minerall waters; to wit, Salt, Nitrous, Aluminous, Atramentarious, Sulphureous, and Bituminous; this which we treat of is mixed or compound, partaking of ſeverall of theſe together.

Water may imbibe the nature of Mineralls.Now there are ſeverall wayes whereby water may imbibe the nature and vertue of a Minerall or Metall.

Firſt, by receiving its vapour, and thus let water ſtand ſome while in a braſſe skellet, (or ſome other Metall as Iron) and it will taſte of braſs or Iron, and the ſooner if it bee warm, when yet the skellet hath loſt nothing of its ſubſtance, and that water would all evaporate into Air.

Secondly, when ſome of their juyce is diſſolved in the water, and that is while the Mineralls are but yet young & in fieri, or as Chymiſts ſpeak in ſolutis principiis, for at that time their concrete juyces are diſſoluble in water,In ſyntag. p. 221. as Libavius ſaith.

Thirdly, another way is by Corroſion of the ſubſtance of the Mineralls mentioned by Galen, Lib. 1 de ſimpl. med. fac. and this is performed by the help of the concrete juyces we now mentioned diſſolved in the water, which corrode and extract Mineral ſubſtances. And this commonly is done by ſuch waters as have imbibed Vitrioll at the firſt, for they do thereby become hungry and corroſive, and ſo the fitter to take in to them any other Minerall that lyes in their way: an example whereof we ſee in aqua fortis, which will corrode the ſubſtance of another Metall, and convert it into its own nature, the difference only lyes in a magis and minus. The like we ſee in vegetable acide juyces, as vinegar, as juice of Lemmons, which will corrode Iron, and cauſe a ruſtinſes to grow upon it, which will ſoon waſt its ſubſtance, at leaſt make it more eaſie to diſſolve.

Fourthly and laſtly, by confuſion, changing the ſubſtance of the Minerall into water; and this is when the Minerall is of ſuch a nature, and that it is capable of being converted into water, as Salt and Nitre will both ſo perfectly turn into water (and Allom alſo although its not ſo fuſible as the other) a little being put to them, as if they were nothing elſe. And this they wil do the more quickly, if the water hath imbibed a vitrioline juyce, but then take the water and evaporate it away, and the Mineralls will be found remaining in the bottome. An example whereof we have in this our Spaw water, three quarts whereof being evaporated over the fire, there will be found in the bottome three Drams of a brown brackiſh ſediment, which being ſeparated as was ſaid in the firſt Section, two Drams will be found to be Allome, Nitre and Salt, the reſt the ſubſtance of an Iron Minerall.

But becauſe I ſpake now of Minerall juyces, while the Mineralls are but young and in fieri, its requiſite I ſay ſomething concerning their production.

Some have imagined that Mineralls and Metalls were created perfect at the firſt,Fallop. de met. c. 11. ſeeing there appears not any ſeed of them manifeſtly, as there doth of animalls and vegetables,Lib • v. de nat. met. c. 12 and becauſe their ſubſtances are not ſo fluxible but firm and permanent. But as they are ſubject to corruption in time, by reaſon of many impurities and differing parts in them, beſides other accidentall decays, ſo they have need to be repaired and preſerved by generation, as learned Dr. Jordan obſerves.Nat. 〈◊〉 .

It appears in Geneſis that plants were not created perfect at firſt, but onely in their ſeminaries: for in the 2. of Gen. 5. Moſes gives a reaſon why plants were not come forth of the earth; to wit, becauſe (as Tremelius tranſlates it) there had as yet neither any rain fallen, nor any dew aſcended from the earth, whereby they might be produced: The like we may judge of Minerals, that they were not at firſt created perfect, but in their Seminaries alſo for the ſame reaſon, moyſture being as neceſſary for the production of Mineralls within the earth, as of vegetables above, as I ſaid in the ſecond Section,Deort. ſubt. 5. c. 1. l. ib. and to this do conſent Agricola and Dr. Jordan.

And therefofe it hath been always a received maxime among Philoſophers, that Mineralls are generated, and our own daily experience confirms it. Our Salt Petermen, when they have extracted Salt Peter out of a floor of earth one year, within three or four years after, do find more generated there, and do work it over again. The like is obſerved of Allome & Copperas; And ſo of Iron, Gaudentius Merula reports of Ilva an Iſland in the Adriatick Sea, where Iron breeds as faſt as they work it, which is confirmed by Agricola and Baccius, and by Virgil who ſaith of it.

Ilva inexh • uſtis Chalybum generoſa metallis. Lib. 10 A •• id.

The like we ſee confirmed in our own Mines both of Iron and Lead, yea, and co • l too, at leaſt in ſome places as I have heard the Miners affirm. Only the difference is, the plants are increaſed by an extenſion of the parts generated in all proportions, by the ingreſs of nouriſhment and the Mineralls are augmented externally upon the ſuperficies, as naturaliſts ſay juxta poſitionem, by ſuperaddition of new matter, concocted by the ſame vertue and ſpirits into the ſame ſpecies.

If any demand of me, which of theſe ways this water comes to be impregnated with the vertues of theſe Mineralls;How the Spaw hath imbibed the Mineralls. I anſwer, by them all, according to the nature and capacity of each Minerall. Of Vitriol it partakes by the firſt way eminently; to wit, by receiving its vapour, and ſo of Iron, yet ſo as it hath alſo ſomething of the concrete juyces and ſubſtance of them both. From the vapours of Vitriol it hath its inky ſmell and acid taſte, which after it hath been heated by the fire are gone at leaſt in ſome degree, for it is not ſo ſtrong as before. From the concrete juyces of Vitriol, Iron and Allome, I think it hath its colour being ſomething of a bright azure or sky colour. And that it wants not the ſubſtance of Iron is apparent, in that after it hath been boyled a while, there appears a reddiſh ſand, which is nothing elſe but mater ferri, or rubrick, or as Dr. French calls it, a Vitriol of Iron: which is alſo diſcoverable by putting a little powder of Gall to i • , as I hinted in the firſt Section. Laſtly Nitre and Salt being apt to diſſolv • and turn to water, as alſo Allome, are mixed and confounded with it, as hath been already made out.

I now proceed to ſpeak ſomething concerning the nature of all theſe Mineralls which I find in the water.Vitriol.

Vitriol is a name uſed by modern writers,De temp. ſimp. c. 376 Lib. 5. cap. 74. whereas the Ancients called it Atramentum Sutorium▪ Serapio and Dioſcorides reckon two ſorts of Vitriol which they call by an Arabick name Zeg; to wit, Babylonian which being broken hath white ſpecks in it; And Cyprian which is of the colour of braſſe. But our later writers name three ſorts;Toll. in Stock. pr. c. 9. to wit, Romane, Vitriol, or Copperas; Cyprian which is that of blew colour found in Mines in Germany, partaking of the nature of braſſe, which they call Calcanthum; and another ſort, which is found in Liguria, ſomewhat black, by which Iron may be turned in Braſſe or copper, called Colcotar. Vadianus in his Commentaries upon Pomponius Mela ſaith, Lib. 3. this ſort was found in Poland, not far from Cracovia, in which he ſays if Iron be infuſed, and ſo melted once and again, it turns it into Cyprian braſs. Galen found them all together in a Cave at Cyprus.

Vitriol is eminently hot,Lib. 4. de ſimpl. med. facult. and of a biting and aduſtive quality, and yet is alſo Stiptick and aſtrictive, and therefore dryes up ſuperfluous humidity, and is uſed in diſeaſes of the eyes, being good in all moyſt diſeaſes, it ſtays bleeding, provokes vomit, kills all manner of worms and expells them, but when it is mixed with water it is much more moderate in all its qualities. This is the account given by Galen, Dioſcorides, Serapio, Paulus, Oribaſius, Aeetius, Actuarius, Fernelius, and others, as I could cite at large out of their writings.

Iron called by Averrhoes Veffaf, Iron. and Nadid by Serapio, is dry in the third degree: It is alſo Stiptick drying up the ſuperfluous humidities of the body, ſomewhat like to Vitriol; many preparations being made of it againſt the moyſt diſtempers of ſeveral parts, and particularly of the belly and womb, and ſtrengthens the ſeminal veſſels. It is alſo opening, and good againſt the obſtructions of the Liver and Spleen, and is commended againſt the hard ſwellings of them, and againſt the Dropſie, alſo it ſtrengthens a relaxed and debilitated ſtomach eſpecially if it ariſe from Choler: as Galen, Paulus Aegineta, Oribaſius, Averrhoes, Ser. de temp. ſimpl. c 393. and Serapio do witneſs, to whom eſpecially, I refer the learned Reader.

Dioſcorides will have it alſo to looſe the belly, but eſpecially he commends the flower or filings of Braſs to that purpoſe: Now Iron being joyned with Vitriol in this water, partakes of the nature of Braſs, as I ſaid before; and is therefore the more purging and ope • ing, from which conjunction I think • t is that moſt of our vitrioline waters in England do looſe the belly.

Allom is called by the Arabians Sceb. Allom. Dioſcorides • eckons up many ſorts of it, Galen but three, to wit, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , and ſaith, they are all of groſ • parts and very Stiptick, abſterſive, heating, and ſomething corroſive; i • hinders the generation of ulcers in the body, and ſtays womens fluxes, and is uſ • d in many ſorts of Medicines to dry up ſuperfluous humidity, good againſt fretting Ulcers and Impoſthumes of the Gums, Matrix and teſticles, as ſay, Galen, Oribaſius Paulus, Aetius, Serapio, Fernelius, and others.

Nitre or Baurach as the Arabians called it,Nitre. is thought by ſome to be nothing more then effloreſcentia terrae, or a certain fatneſs in the earth, tending to the production of vegetables,Lib. 3. obſervat. cap. 76.77. Lib. 3. N. H. c. x. and that there are no Mines of it in the earth, of which opinion Bellonius ſeems to have bin, as alſo Pliny. But Serapio and Dioſcorides make out better experiences, telling of Mines of Nitre in Armenia and Arcadia. I think Bellonius and Pliny meant rather Aphronitrum, or the ſpume of Nitre, then Nitre it ſelf.

I alſo think this Spaw of ours proceeds from a Nitrous Mineral within the earth, as elſe I ſee not how it ſhould imbibe ſo great a quantity as it doth, three quarts affording above a dram of Nitre, when it is evaporated, the reſt being Allom and Salt.

Our beſt writers ſay there are two ſorts of Nitre, Natural and Artificial; the Natural tends to a reddiſh colour as ſaith Serapio: Galen ſaith, there is alſo a white ſort; but all agree in this, that it is of a drying, digeſtive, abſterſive and reſolving quality, cutting groſs and clammy humours very ſtrongly, its taſte is a mean betwixt ſalt and ſowre, inclining to bitter. It is commended for ſuch as have eaten poyſonous Muſhrums, and cures them preſently. Being mixed with water Dioſcorides ſaith, it corrects the ſharpneſſe of Urine, and ulceration of the bladder cauſed by Cantharides.

It is wont alſo to be mixed in other Medicines when we would attenuate and deterge; its added to Cerats and Plaiſters in diſtempers of the Nerves, as the Palſie and Convulſion; and is good to be put into the Bread of ſuch as are troubled with the Palſie of the tongue. If any require further ſatisfaction concerning the vertue of Nitre, let them conſult Galen, Dioſcorides, P. Aegineta, Oribaſius, Aetius, and Serapio.

Salt or Melch as the Arabians call it is of two ſorts, • alt. viz. Foſſile ſuch as is digged out of Mines; and Marine ſuch as is made of the Sea-water, or other brackiſh water, the former is of a more groſs, earthy and compact ſubſtance then the latter, yet they are both of one nature, of a deterſive, cleanſing, reſolving, purging quality, drying up ſuperfluous humours, and preſerving from putrefaction, kills all manner of worms, and being heated becomes bitter in taſte.

Many other vertues are reckoned up by Galen, Serapio, Dioſcorides, and others, to be in Salt, to whom I will rather • efer the learned Reader, then trouble him with a large recital at preſent, becauſe there is not much Salt in our Spring, yet ſome there is, which I think it receives from the Sea, rather then from any ſalt Mineral.

It ſufficeth to have ſaid ſomwhat concerning the nature of theſe Minerals ſeverally; doubtleſs there muſt ſome qualities ariſe from their mixture, and that with water, which was not before in any one particular, I ſhall now therefore haſten to Treat concerning the nature & effects of this moſt excellent compound Mineral water, and then ſay ſomething concerning preparation to it, and right ordering of the body in drinking, and ſo conclude.

Sect. 13.

Of the Spaw. THe Spaw water according to its manifeſt qualities is cold & moiſt, and being drunk doth immediatly cool and moyſten the body, and quench thirſt, having thoſe qualities which ſimple water hath, as I have reckoned up at large in the ſecond Section, & may indifferently be uſed for it. Although having imbibed the aforeſaid Minerals of Vitriol, Iron, Alom, Nitre, & Salt, it is impregnated with the qualities & natures of the ſaid Minerals, & conſequently is hot and dry in operation, being found by due and daily uſe thereof, to correct cold & moiſt bodies, and cure ſuch diſeaſes as proceed from the exceſs of cold and moyſture.

Its nature.Nor let any ſtartle at this aſſertion, that I affirm this Spaw water to be cold and moiſt, and alſo hot & dry, which are contrary qualities, ſince it is cold & moiſt actually in the inſtantaneous uſe of it, but doth heat and dry virtually, & in proceſs of time. Who knows not that wine, though it be cold & moiſt actually, yet is potentially hot & dry, the ordinary uſe whereof doth heat & dry the body.

Now as all bodies incline to a preedominancy of theſe four qualities, and moſt diſeaſes conſiſt in the exceſs of ſome one or more of them, each quality ſo exceeding is tempered by its contrary in the water, ſo as nature, which is ever ſollicitous for its own preſervation, cloſes with thoſe qualities in the water (as alſo in all other remedies) which correct its own exceſs, and arms it ſelf (unleſs it be very feeble) againſt thoſe other qualities that might increaſe its malady, & hence it is, as D. French well obſerves, that a diſtemper will rather be altered by its contrary, then increaſed by its like.

But becauſe theſe four firſt qualities are found in this water but in a remiſs degree, the heat and dryneſs being ſo corrected with cold & moiſture, and the contrary, that a forcible operation in reſpect of any of them cannot be expected from it, I think ſitter means may be found out for thoſe intentions: As if a man would only cool and moyſten, it may be better done with ſimple water, which has no potential heat or dryneſs in it, and may be found in every village; or if he would only heat and dry up humors, it may better be performed by other Medicines that are more eminently hot and dry, then by this cold & moyſt water, ſo as no man need goto Scarbrough for theſe intentions. I therefore paſs on to the other qualities of this water, in which it doth eminently excell, through its participation of the aforeſaid Minerals.

An operation.It is of thin parts peircing into the moſt narrow and ſecret paſſages of the body, & is excellent in opening obſtructions, which are the cauſes of moſt diſeaſes. It doth attenuate, cut, and diſſolve viſcous, lentous, & clammy flegm in the ſtomack, bowells, meſentery, reins and bladder, and is alſo cleanſing and deterging, caſting them forth both by ſiege and urine, as it findes them by their poſition moſt to encline: For ſuch humours as are in primis viis in the bowells, it purges out by ſiege, and ſuch as lye in the meſentery veins, or venae lacteae, porta, liver, reins, or bladder, it cleanſes by urine; and both ways ſo plentifully, as if all the humours went but one way, for it purges ſo well, as if it would leave nothing to paſs by urine, and yet paſſes ſo plentifully by the bladder, as if it found no vent by ſtool; performing theſe two operations the more plentifully, by reaſon of the quantity that is to be drunk. And of ſuch working it doth very rarely fail, nor ſcarce ever, unleſs in exceedingly conſtipated bodies, although it be taken without any preparation, as very many do though not ſo ſafely, as ſhall be ſaid in the next Section: and this it doth without any griping at all, caſting forth plentifully both it ſelfe and the excrementitious humours, wch I have often experimented both in my ſelf and others.

An in •• ance.I drank one morning, without taking any preparative at all, three quarts of the water, factâ prius retrogradatione matutinâ pro ſolito, having alſo weighed my ſelf before I drank, that I might diſcern what alteration it would make in my weight. I drunk a pint every halfe hour, walking about betwixt one draught and another, till I had taken all the three quarts. After I had taken three pints it began to work, and ſo continued an evacuation both ways, viz. ſeven times by ſiege liberally within eight hours. I alſo meaſured the quantity of Urine which I had kept by it ſelf, ſo as within the ſpace of five hours, I had made a pottle of Urine, within leſs then halfe a gill, as clear as the Spaw Water it ſelfe, having neither ſmel nor taſt like Urine. I took the Urine and evaporated it all away, that I might try whether it had yet remaining in it any of the ſubſtance of the Minerals, but it afforded nothing but a filthy ſlimy Sediment of a ſandy colour.

Hence it may appear how diuretick this water is, when two third parts or near hand, ſhould in ſo ſhort a ſpace paſſe through thoſe ſecret crannyes of nature by Urine, and yet at the ſame time work by ſiege ſo freely, as I could not have expected from Pil. Coch. dram one. Herein exceeding if I miſtake not moſt of the waters of Europe, (not excepting the German Spaws) ſome of which paſſe very well and plentifully by ſiege, others of them by Urine, but ſcarce any ſo well both ways, as I have from the teſtimony of divers perſons of quality that have tryed them.

Having thus obſerved the through operation of the water both ways for that one day, I weighed my ſelf again the next morning as before,

I had loſt two pound and a half o • my weight: now I think the humours being rarified by the water, ſome of them were evaporated by inſenſible tranſpiration. And although I was in my ordinary ſtate of health when I drank this one doſe, yet I found after it a better agility of body, and alacrity of Spirit then before. I have cauſed others to make tryall alſo as I did, and it hath in ſome fluid bodies wrought more plentifully both ways, then it did with me.

Now this water doth not onely thus throughly cleanſe the body by ſiege and urine, in the parts through which it paſſeth, but doth alſo draw from diſtant parts, as the head, joints, and breaſt, and helps to the preventing and curing their diſtempers, moreover to this evacuating is alſo joined a corroberating or ſtrengthening quality, whe •••• it fortifies the parts, and ſo armse •• ture with new ſtrength to the preventing of relapſes.

It is found to be good againſt diſeaſes of the head, as the Apoplexy, Epilepſie, Catalepſie, Vertigo, inveterate head ach, eſpecially when they proceed from Sympathy with the ſtomack or lower belly, as many times they do in cacochymick conſtitutions.

It is good againſt the diſeaſes of the Nerves, as the Convulſion, eſpecially when it proceeds from ſharp and bilious humours, which do vellicate the tunicles of the ſtomack or the beginning of the Nerves; or from worms, as is ordinary in Children, and others of the younger ſort: alſo againſt the Palſie, eſpecially if it proceed from the ſcurvy, which therefore is called Paralyſis Scorbutica, and is obſerved by our modern writers, occurring dayly in our practiſe, although not obſerved by the Princes in Phyſick, or the Ancient writers. And of this particularly I have had good experience in ſerverall,Mr. K. eſpecially of late in a Miniſter who found much benefit in the uſe of it againſt the Palſie; although not without other ſpeciſicall remedies which I added, to fortifie the Nervs and the animall faculty.

It cleanſes the ſtomack from tough and ſlimy flegm, ſometimes cauſing vomit, if the ſtomack be prone thereto, otherwiſe not, unleſs one drink too faſt before it hath time to go down. It furthers concoction of the meat, by ſtrengthening the digeſtive faculty; and provokes an appetite as large experience ſhews, ſo as many that have come hither with feeble ſtomacks, either in craving or concocting meat, have in a very few days found themſelves with hungry appetites to crave, and ability to concoct any meat that could be ſet before them.

It opens the Lungs and cleanſes them, being good in all diſeaſes of the breaſt, that need or can admit purgation. Its good againſt difficulty of breathing, provided it be not accompanied with an Ulcer in the Lungs.

It cures the Asthma, if the patient labour not under the incurable diſeaſe of old age, or an exceeding feeble and cold diſtemper of the bowels.Mr. H.D. I know a Gentleman of Hull, that had been long and ſore afflicted with the Aſthma, who was perfectly cured with drinking of it in a few days.

Mr is. B. A Gentlewoman of York had been much troubled with Rhumes which had reſiſted all remedies, found very much benefit by the uſe of this water, more then all other methods that had been preſcribed.

It cures the Palpitation of the heart, and helps ſuch as are ſubject to frequent fainting through Melancholick vapours that oppreſs the vitalls, and ſuch as are troubled with the Night-Mare, or finde an opreſſive load at their breſt.

It is good againſt indiſpoſition of the body unto motion which wee call Spontanea laſſitudo, which ſome that otherwiſe are healthfull are troubled withall, that they have no lift to ſtir, or not without ſhort breathing; ſo as I have obſerved ſome who at firſt coming, have not been able to walk a quarter of a mile upon the plain ground without wearineſs, have after a few days drinking, been able to walk up to the Caſtle hill without a reſt.

It is ſingular good in opening even the old and inveterate obſtructions of the Liver and Spleen, and conſequently prevents a Dropſie or cures it, if it bd taken in time or before the Liver be too much weakned. It prevents or cures a Schirrus of theſe parts, if it be taken in the beginning before it be confirmed, it corroberates the naturall faculty of them exceedingly, and ſtrengthens the Liver in its work of ſanguification and corrects its intemperate heat.

It purifies the blood and cures the Scurvy, even ſuch as have been tainted with it in a high degree, a large triall whereof I had in the late wars, when the Garriſon that was kept by Sr Hugh Cholmley on the top of this Caſtle hill, after a few weeks ſiege, whither from the air of the Sea, or a bad dyet, or want of exerciſe, were moſt of them • allen into the Scurvy, eſpecially the Country Gentleman who had fled in thither, who were miſerably troubled with it, as many of them as drank and the Spaw Water were perfectly and ſpeedily cured, which ſome of them uſed without any other means.

It cures the Jaunders both yellow and black, the Leproſie in which caſe its needful the patient ſhould bathe in it, and cleanſes the body from the remainders of the French Pox, and conſummates the cure▪

I have known Inveterate Quartanes often cured by it, and other ſorts of Agues alſo, which have long reſiſted medicine, have been conquered by the uſe hereof in a ſhort time, but it muſt be drunk only upon their days of intermiſſion. It is very good to purge away the reliques of the Small Pox, Agues, and other diſeaſes, and conſequently to prevent relapſes, which are wont to enſue through a new fermentation of their matter.

It is a moſt Soveraign remedy againſt Hypo chondriack Melancholly and Windineſs, ſuppreſſing the vapours which fly up to the head, and cheering the heart, as I might inſtance at large. I know a reverend Miniſter who for help in this diſeaſe hath travelled through all the Spaws in England, Mr. L. till at length after tryall made of this, hee found ſo much benefit, that leaving all the reſt he comes yearly one hundr • d and fifty miles to drink of it.Mr. B. Likewiſe another Miniſter in York-Shrie, that was a long time both in his own apprehenſion and others, in a languiſhing condition through a Melancholy diſtemper, being full of fears and fancies, was perfectly cured with it, and is become a very healthfull and cheerful man.

It helps the Colick and Iliack paſſion, if it doth not proceed from a cold diſtemper of the bowells, but in this caſeit ſhould be drunk a little warm, and the patient ſh • uld alſo bathe in it.

It helps ſuch as are ſubject to frequent Fluxes of the belly, and ſtrengthens the bowells, expells all ſorts of worms and vermine out of the body, and the matter of which they breed.

It is very good againſt diſeaſes of the skin, cures the Itch and the Scab, and helps ſuch as are wont to break out into Botches.

It it peculiar againſt the Inflammation and Ʋlcer of the Reins, corrects the heat & Sharpneſs of Ʋrine, diſſolveth the Stone in the Kidneys, expelling it in gravell, and the mucous matter of which it is bred by Urine; & cleanſes all the paſſages of Urine; It furthers expulſion of the Stone in the Bladder without pain, if it be not too big for the paſſage, and the tartarous matter of which it is bred, which of times cauſeth the ſame ſymptomes with the ſtone in the bladder, when yet there is no ſtone at all; it helpeth the piſſing of blood and the Gonorrhaea, and ſtrengthens the ſeminall veſſells.

It is good againſt many diſea▪ of the Womb, opening the obſtructions thereof, and cures the Green Sickneſs in Maids; it cures the overflowings thereof both white and red, and helps thoſe that are ſubject to abortions, and Fits of the Mother; takes away ſome cauſes of barrenneſs, and ſtrengtheneth the Womb; amends the complexions of Women, making them look with a ruddy freſh colour. In ſome of theſe diſtempers it ſhould be uſed by way of inceſſion, or injection, according to the nature of the malady, and the judgment and advice of ſome learned and prudent Phyſician, and then all i • s qualities act more immediately upon the parts, and ſo it better corrects hot and ſharp humours, and is more cleanſing and healing.

It is good for ſuch as are wont to Bleed often, and for the inflamations of the eyes, an • ſudden fluſhings in the face, correcting the heat and acrimony of the blood.

It is very beneficiall to be uſed by ſuch as through obſtructions, or abundance of viſcous humours have incorrigible bodies that will not be moved by anordinary Doſe of Phyſick; as alſo for ſuch as have been long detained in a courſe of Phyſick, for the cure of ſome rebellious and Chronicall diſeaſe, to conſummate the cure.

In a word if any intentions be to be performed in a medicinall way, by allaying or mitigating ſome hot diſtemper, opening obſtructions, evacuating morbifick humours by Urine or Seige, and ſtrengthening the inward parts of the body, it may be fully and compleatly effected by this water, wherein it operates ſo ſafely, as I have very rarely obſerved any ill Symptomes to ariſe: nor have I ſcarce named any diſtemper, of which I have not made particular obſervation, and moſt of them many times over, or been certainly informed by credible Authors.

Spaw at Malton.Of like vertue with this is the Spaw at Malton within fourteen miles. North Eaſt from York, but it is not ſo pleaſant to the Palate, and alſo nauſeous to the stomack, by reaſon of a muddy taſte it hath, being a very flow Spring, not affording water enough for many drinkers, although in operation it is as quick and ſtrong as this.

If it be demanded whether Children, old people, Queſt. and women with child may drink of this Spaw water or no.

To the firſt, I know H. ab Heers ſaith he ſaw a ſucking child drink of the Germane Spaw with good ſucceſs,Solut. and Dr. French allowes that at Knaresbrough to bee given to children of a year old; but I think it to no purpoſe to trouble them with it ſo young,Children. ſince either they wil not drink at al, or not above a ſpoonfull or two, which can make no operation at all, more then by cooling and moyſtning, which may be done as wel by other Spring water. But if a child be of four or five years, & be troubled with the ſtone or gravell, or ſome ſuch diſtemper, and will be perſwaded to drink of it, it may be very beneficiall, as I know by experience in ſeveral, that at four or five years old have been enticed to drink a quart of it in a morning with good ſucceſs, and ſo continued for ſeverall days. Nevertheleſs if a younger child will drink of it, it will do no harm at all.

Old peple.2 As for old people, they are to be judged of according to the temper & conſtitution of their bodies eſpecially the ſtomack and bowells, for ſome are more vigorous then others that are younger by much, and of ſuch there needs no ſcruple; but if any old people do labour under a very feeble ſtomack, and a cold diſtemper of the bowells, and that upon triall made, they find their ſtomack not able to receive it without a manifeſt dejection of appetite, or ſome other ill Symptome, they ſhal do well to refrain: but for ſuch as find no inconvenience they may go on to drink, onely in a leſſe quantity and ſomewhat warm. But as for thoſe that labour under the incurable Symptomes of decrepit old age, whoſe naturall heat is ſmall, let them not meddle with it, but content themſelvs with a good dyet, and a warm bed, and ſuch cordialls or Kitchin Phyſick, as may help to repair their feeble Nature.

Women with childTouching women with child, difference is to be made according to the time they are gone with childe, as alſo according to the conſtitution of their bodies. For the water being both purgative and diuretick, it ſeems not to be ſo ſafe for them, yet it is well known that many have drunk of it without the leaſt detriment, ſome of whom have been young with child, and others many moneths gone, even neer the time of their delivery.

I intend not here to enter into the controverſie, whither at all, or how far women with child may be purged,Aph. 1. Sect. 4. & Aph. 29. Sect. 5. , Hippocrates forbids it in the three firſt and three laſt moneths, but allows it in the three middle moneths. And elſewhere he ſays, Aph. 34. Sect. 5 that if a great Lask happen to a woman with child, it puts her in danger of miſcarrying, which we find true in our daily experience. Now I conceive purging muſt hurt them, becauſe of the great agitation of the humors which is cauſed thereby, and the expulſive faculty of Nature which is then irritated, eſpecially if it be cauſed by a Medicine that hath an acrimonious or malignant quality: and thus Hippocrates tells of one, that in her ſecond moneth, having taken a Pill of Elaterium, fell into a violent Flux and died. But this water makes no ſuch agitation of the humours, nor cauſes griping, nor hath any acrimonious or Malignant quality, to give any ground for ſuch fears: Nevertheleſs becauſe in the firſt moneths of gravidity Natures cords are tender, and ſo eaſily broken; and in the laſt moneths the motions of the childe are more ſtrong, frequent and violent, and like fruit that is neer ripe, which ſoon f • lls if the Tree be but a little ſhaken; I conceive it ſafeſt in the middle months; to wit, in the fourth, fifth, and ſixth. And yet in theſe alſo regard is to be had of the conſtitution of the body; for ſome are of ſuch tender ſlippery bodies, eſpecially ſuch as have been ſubject to frequent abortions, that they can endure nothing; notwithſtanding ſome cauſes of abortion may be cured by the Spaw: Herein I adviſe them to conſult ſome prudent Phyſician before they drink of it. But certainly in ordinary bodies if there be a redundancy of Gacochymick humours, it is a moſt proper and ſafe medicine, and may ſerve either to cure or prevent diſtempers that proceed from thence, in any month of their reckoning. And thus not onely the Spaw water, but ſome other purging remedies we find may ſafely be adminiſtred to them, in ſuch a caſe if need be in any month,Lib. 4. de morb. mul. c. de reggravid. as alſo ſaith Dr. Primroſe, yet it muſt be done by a wiſe hand, although more ſafely in the middle months for the reaſons aboveſaid.

Sect. 14.

IT now remains that I give ſome directions concerning the uſe of this Spaw water, Drections for the uſe of the Spaw. and that in reference to a preparation of the body for it, right management during the time of drinking it, and what may bee requiſite to bee done after it.

I know many go to Spaws not for neceſſity but pleaſure, to withdraw themſelves a while from their ſerious imployments, and ſolace with their friends; ſuch are but whets not lets to buſineſs,Such as ••• in •••• th ••• ed no ••• paration. and like the whetting of a tool, which ſharpens it, and makes it cut the better. If ſuch do drink without any preparation, it matters not, onely let them not drink too much at the firſt, till it hath found paſſage, which perhaps it may do in an ordinary body within three or four hours, it being a ſure working water. I have often drunk my ſelf not for need but company, and •••• r took preparatory, and yet never failed of working the firſt day, both by ſeige and urine, a touch whereof I have given in the foregoing Section.

It may do good even to thoſe that find no need, in regard there may be ſome latent obſtructions in the body, or ſome lurking humours that may breed diſtempers afterwards, upon the acceſſe of ſome procatarctick or externall cauſe, which being taken away by this water may prevent a diſeaſe. And it is very ordinary in corpulent bodies eſpecially to have ſuch humours and obſtructions, for whom this water is very proper, although they find no ſenſible need at all, for as much as ſuch as are near to a diſeaſe or ſickneſs, Sect. 1. Aph. 3. as Hippocrates ſaith, and do need purgation.

But as for ſuch as find ſome decay of their health, by reaſon of ſome diſtemper hanging on them, there may be need of preparation, and that with reference to the nature of the malady, whether ſimple or complicated, the parts principally affected, the age and conſtitution of the Patient, the time of the diſeaſe whether in its growth, height, or declination, and the time of the year,The fickly muſt take advice. all which are conſiderable. My advice is that no man go to the Spaw in ſuch a caſe, but that he firſt know what be goes for, by a right underſtanding of his condition, and a due comparing the diſeaſe and the remedy together, that he may have ſome grounds to hope for good, and ſo drink cheerfully and not doubtingly, for queſtionleſs it is not good for all things; ſome diſeaſes, as alſo ſome bodies not admitting of ſuch evacuation, as they muſt expect that drink of this water.

The beſt is therefore to adviſe with ſome learned Phyſician, who underſtanding the nature of the malady and of the water, will bee able throughly to inſtruct him, whether it be a proper remedy or no for his condition. For though the water will not probably hurt any man that is in perfect health, yet it may do harm to ſuch as are ſickly, if it be not uſed aright. And its hard, nay almoſt imp • ſſible for me, to lay down rules that may ſute every mans particular caſe, there being as great variety & difference among them, almoſt as there are men.

Amongſt theſe ſome perhaps will need no preparation at all, before they drink of the Spaw; to wit, ſuch whoſe bodies are fluid, or humours not many, the malady lying perhaps in intemperie: Or at leaſt ſome gentle eccoproticks may ſerve the turn, being given the night before the Patient begin to drink. Others whoſe obſtructions are rebellious, and humours tenacious, or nature dul and ſlow may need ſome courſe of Phyſick, or at the leaſt ſome ſtrong cattarticks to make way for the water, for want of a right underſtanding whereof, ſome have got more harm then good, and have bought repentance at too dear a rate; eſpecially ſuch whoſe bodies have been weak, and tender for whom purging was not • a fit remedy.

Again, whereas I commend this water in ſeverall caſes, as in diſeaſes of the head, breſt, or lower belly,Other medicines needfull. I mean not as if it were to bee uſed alone, and nothing elſe; It may be requiſite many times to furniſh the Patient, with ſome ſpeciſick remedies, that relate more peculiarly to the partaffected, with reference it may be to ſome complication of maladies, which I cannot ſo perfectly diſcribe, without making this ſwell into a voluminous bulk, which I intend not.

Let blood.In ſome caſes alſo it may bee fit to let blood, either before or after ſome few days drinking, eſpecially in plethorical bodies, or hot diſtempers, without which many times obſtructions will not yield to remedies. All theſe cannot bee ſo well predetermined, but are beſt judged of by view and conference with the party.

It wil be ſufficient to the wiſe, that I have ſaid ſo much of the nature and operation of this medicinall water, as that Phyſicians that never ſaw nor heard of it before, may be able well to judge of it, and give good advice to ſuch as conſult them with reference thereto.

The due manner of drinking.Theſe things being premiſed, let ſuch as drink of the water, bergin with it in the morning, by ſix of the Clock or ſeven at the furtheſt, taking two glaſſes of halfe a pint a piece, intermitting a little ſpace of time betwixt one and the other; after which let the Patient walk about upon the ſands halfe an hour,by degrees (or otherwiſe ride on horſeback, or in a Coach) till he finds his ſtomack is a little emptier, the water being paſſed down into the bowells, then let him drink two glaſſes more and ſo walk again, which will help to warm the water in the ſtomack, and further both its concoction and deſcent; or let him uſe ſome gentle exerciſe, ſo as he do not provoke ſweat, becauſe that throws the water into the habit of the body, and hinders its paſſage through the bowells. And then after he finds his ſtomack capable of receiving more, let him drink other two glaſſes as before, not exceeding a pottle or five pints the firſt day in ordinary bodies, nor yet ſo much in weak bodies, unleſs they ſhall find it to paſſe freely, as uſually it begins to do within two or three hours, and then ſuch as have ſtrong bodies, & capacious ſtomacks, may go a littlefurther.

Not good to take too faſt.I cannot approve of taking the waters too faſt, leaſt the coldneſs thereof enfeeble the naturall heat of the ſtomack, and provoke vomit, which otherwiſe it is not apt to do, unleſs the ſtomack be prone thereto, or full of flegmatick humours; and then though one do vomit, it doth no harm at all but good in cleanſing the ſtomack.

The next day the Patient may go higher to two or three pints more, he having found a free paſſage the firſt day both by ſiege and urine, ſo as he finds no diſtention in the hypochondres. Onely it will be needfull to have ſome ſtomachicall Lozenges, or powder to correct the win • ineſs of the water, and preſerve the naturall heat of the ſtomack, or at leaſt ſome Caraway Comfirs, which he may take ſome quantity of, betwixt every two glaſſes.

Have done by 9. or 10I would alſo have every one to take his full doſe of water, by nine or ten of the Clock at furtheſt, that it may have time to paſs down before dinner, leaſt if the meat mix with the water, it do float in the ſtomack, and be waſhed down into the bowells unconcocted. Now its a token that the water hath paſſed through when the urine, which was pale and clear as the Spaw water it ſelf, begins to look with a higher colour, which will uſually be within 2 or 3 hours at moſt after the laſt doſe: at leaſt it will have done its work in the ſtomack, ſo as the whole company may go to dinner by twelve of the Clock: But if any have ſuch feeble ſtomacks that they cannot faſt ſo long, they may take a meſſe of warm broth which is ever ready in the Innes.

Feeble ſtomacks.And if any have ſuch feeble bodies that they cannot walk to the Spaw, being about a quarter of a mile from the Town, ſuch may drink it in their Chambers. And thoſe whoſe ſtomacks are not able to take it cold, may air it a little, obſerving the directions already laid down.

It is good to eat ſomewhat ſparingly at dinner, and not too freely at ſupper: alſo let the meat bee of eaſie gideſtion, and not too many diſhes, which are apt to breed an heterogeneous juyce, not ſo fit for nouriſhment, and alſo makes nature toyle too much to concoct them.

Salt meat not ſo good.I cannot approve of ſalt meats either beef or fiſh, although I diſcommend not that which is a little powdered, eſpecially for ſuch as have ſtrong ſtomacks & are healthfull, who need not be criticall. But as for ſuch as are ſickly they muſt be more wary, eſpecially ſuch whoſe ſtomacks are feeble in the concoctive faculty, ſince they are like here to fal into large temptation of great varieties of Sea-fiſh new and very well dreſſed,Va • iety to be avoyded. as Tucbut, Codde, Conger, Soles, Plaice, Whiting, Skate, Herring, Macke • ill, Lobster, Crab, &c. which are brought in by the Fiſher men two or three times a week, only let ſuch drink a glaſſe or two of Sack or Clarret to further concoction, wch I cannot but commend to all ſuch as drink of theſe waters, to preſerve the naturall heat of the Stomack; unleſs it be thoſe that labour under a hot diſtemper of the Liver, for whom dry medicines in form of an Electuary or Lozenges are more proper, which do moderately warm the ſtomack, and not at all inflame the Liver.

Sallets not good.I altogether diſallow of Sallets of cold herbs, in regard they are hard of digeſtion, and are apt to float in the ſtomack with the water, and paſſe down unconcocted, and breed many diſeaſes. Raſis ſaith, that a long uſe of water after the eating of Sallets and pot herbs,Cap. 70. l. ult. for ſuch as are not accuſtomed to it, breeds the Scab, Itch, Morphew, Eriſipelas, and other diſeaſes of the Skin.

Neither can I like of Sūme fruits to be eaten after dinner, as Cherries,Nor ſummer fruit. Plums, Rasberries, Apples, Pears, &c. they are beſt to be eaten after compleat concoction, or an hour or two before Supper, & yet the more ſparingly the better.

Not good to drink in the afternoon.Nor do I approve of drinking at all of the Spaw in the afternoon, both becauſe it uſually works ſufficiently with what was drunk in the morning, moving the body even all the day: as alſo becauſe it doth precipitate the meat out of the ſtomach too ſoon, before compleat concoction be made, & wil not be caſt off the ſtomack before ſupper; as alſo diſturb the Patient in the night, or fly into the habit of the body, & breed the Gout or ſom other moiſt diſeaſe of the joints: on which account I cannot allow it to be drunk at bed time; Pag. 104. although Dr. French commends a glaſs of the Spaw at Knaresbrough to be taken then to cloſe the ſtomack, and ſuppreſs fumes; which I think are rather raiſed by it,I would have the afternoon ſpent either in ſome pleaſant diſcourſe, or walking about or riding, or ſome innocent recreation, and ſleep to be avoyded. ſince through ſleep it muſt of neceſſity lie the longer in the ſtomack, and gathering heat ſend up vapours, which will oppreſs the brain.

If at any time it ſhall ſo happen, that the water doth not find a free paſſage, ſo as it cauſes diſtention & pain in the belly, d • fficulty of breathing, or gidineſs in the head, it may be helped by a carminative clyſter made of the Spaw water, in which may be decocted or infuſed ſome Hydragogue, or ſome Species may be diſſolved in it, which we uſe for purging of watery humours, according as the greatneſs and urgency of the Symptome, or the ſtrength of the patient ſhall admit. Or if ſome Phyſician bee preſent, he may adminiſter ſome Pills or other purging medicine, that may anſwer the indication.How long it is fit to drink.

As for the time how long it may be convenient to drink, that muſt be ſuted according to the greatneſs of the malady, and the ſtrength of the Patient. Such as have cacochymick bodies, which are full of bad humours; or melancholick, or others whoſe obſtructions are great, and humours tenacious, may ſtay longer then others that have thin bodies, and which are eaſily moved. I have ſomtimes drunk of it not for neceſſiry but company, or to make ſome little evacuation from flegmatick humours, being of an athletick conſtitution, when within three days I found ſo great an agility and cheerfulneſs of body and mind more then I had before, as I have wondred at it, that if I had ſtayed a fortnight, I could not have expected more benefit.

I know the Germane Spaws are wont to be drunk for many weeks, yea moneths together. Learned Dr. Heers in his Spadacrene, tells of one Ludovicus Hager •• , Cap. 8. They ſtay long at the Germane Spaw. who for the ſtone in the bladder drank of the Spaw every morning three hundred and fifty ounces, which is more then three gallons for above ten weeks together, and found much benefit in it, it carrying away the mucous matter with which the ſtone was inveloped, and waſted the ſtone into gravel.Ibid. Alſo of an old man of Antwerp, that had been long troubled with an ulcer in his kidneys, for which he had frequented the Spaw three years, and drank abundantly of it ſix moneths together each year, and found a Cure. And Frambeſarius, who was Phyſician to the French King, thinks the more any one drinks of the Spaw the better, if it doth but paſs away freely: And in my own obſervation, I have ſeen more inconve niences in drinking ſparingly (for whom it was fit) then in plentifull drinking.

The German work nor ſo well as this.But I cannot approve of ſo long a ſtay at this water of Scarbrough for any one, in regard I think it conſtantly paſſes through both by ſeige and urine more freely then the German Spaws, which I perceive by Dr. Heers own confeſſion, in ſome bodies provokes not a ſtool once in eight dayes, even in thoſe that before were wont to retrograde once or twice a day ordinarily, without taking any thing to ſtimulate nature: And therefore although I can agree with Frambeſarius, that a greater quantity may be drunk of it, becauſe it paſſes ſo freely, yet I think it not needfull to ſtay ſo long, it perfecting its operation in a leſs time. Beſides the danger there may be in ſome bodies eſpecially, of cooling and moiſtening too much, and of cauſing a wan and pale colour over the whole body.

Good to intermit ſometimes.I think it much better if a diſeaſe be rebellious, that the Patient after a continuance at the Spaw a moneth or five weeks, do leave off the waters a while, and return to his ordinary Diet and ſtate of living, and then after ſuch reſpite given to nature, apply himſelf to the waters again.

A few days may ſuffice ſome.Nor can I here define, how long it may be needfull for every particular perſon to ſtay at the waters; four or five days may be ſufficient for ſuch as have thin bodies, and whoſe humors do move eaſily, that have no great diſtemper, but perhaps a ſpontaneous laſſitude or wearineſs; whereas others who repair to them for the cure of ſome malady already begun, or feared, or whoſe obſtructions are great, and humours rebellious, or ſuch whoſe diſtempers lie not in the direct paſſages of the water, but in ſome remote part muſt ſtay three or four weeks or more.

When fit to leave of.If any man finds, that after benefit once had by the waters, he begins to decline again in his health, as that his appetite or concoction decay, or the waters paſs not ſo well as formerly, but cauſe diſtention either in the belly or the veins, and ſo bring on a difficulty of breathing, or pain in the head, or the like; it is then time to deſiſt, and proceed no further, or at leaſt to take the advice of ſome Phyſician, who may remove the obſtruction.

When the b • ſt ſeaſon to drink.As touching the ſeaſon of the year, when it may be moſt commodious to drink of the Spaw: The Summer months are the beſt, when the weather is warm and the ſeaſon dry, to wit, from the middle of May to the middle of September, it being uſually the dryeſt ſeaſon, and that for ſeveral reaſons.

Summer the fitteſt Seaſon.Firſt, becauſe in Summer the water is ordinarily more ſtrong of the Minerals, then at other Seaſons, when plenty of wet falls, for in dry weather there is no mixture of new moyſture, but the Water comes immediatley from the Minerall fully and ſtrongly impregnated, whereas it is very obſervable that after a great rain, the water is weaker, notwithſtanding it lyes ſo deep within the earth.

The Spaw ſtrongeſt in Winter.I confeſs the water is ſtrongeſt, of the Minerals in Winter after a long and durable Froſt, which having a long time together ſhut the pores of the earth, ſo as no moiſture could deſcend, and the heat thereby increaſed in the ſubterraneal Channels, and conſequently a better concoction wrought, muſt upon that account be ſtrouger both in taſt and operation,And may be taken then. of which I have had frequent experience. I adviſed it this laſt Winter in January to a Lady of good quality,Lady M. to cleanſe her after a recovery of the ſmall Pox, ſhe having an incorrigible body for Phyſick, ſo as a ſtrong doſe enough for any man would ſcarce move her at all, and the water wrought effectually, ſhe drinking about a gallon every day. The like I experienced two years ago in a Gentlewoman of York for the ſtone,Mr is B. who had by my advice drunk of it in the Summer preceding, and ſtill found it at Chriſtmas to work as well as it did in Summer, and with deſired ſucceſs.

The Germane Spaws are wont alſo to be drunk in Winter frequētly, ſome chooſing that ſeaſon rather then any other, becauſe of the ſtrength of the water. And hence it was that the Duke of Mantua gave it in charge to Ryetitus and H. ab Heers, two Germane Phyſicians that lived near the Spaw, to ſend him every Chriſtmas Eve two hundred flagons of Spaw water, taken out freſh after a long froſt, which they conſtantly did obſerve, finding the water at that time ſtronger, then at any time in the hotteſt Summer. It was the laſt Winter alſo during the froſt, that I made the experiments I mentioned in the firſt Section, when I found very near three Drams of Mineralls in three quarts, ſettling in the bottome of the veſſell, beſides what ſpirits might be ſuppoſed to have evaporated, the operations alſo being performed at my houſe at York, which is thirty miles from the Fountain.

Another reaſon why I think it beſt to be drunk in Summer is, becauſe at that ſeaſon the inward paſſages of our bodies are more open and pervious then in Winter, ſo as water may paſſe more freely.

And laſtly, becauſe one may drink more liberally in Summer, our bodies being more dry, and conſequently wee more thirſty then in Winter; beſides it is more pleaſant travelling and reſiding at Scarbrongh in Summer then in Winter.

I know the grand Objection which wee meet with too frequently in our other practiſe alſo, Object. concerning the Dog-days, that they are not ſo fit a time for Phyſick, taking its riſe from an Aphoriſm of Hippocrates, Aph. 5. Sect. 4. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , thereby forbidding purging of the body, as they ſay, ſo as neither the preparatives nor the water it ſelf can be ſafely taken.

This hath been found a killing Objection to many in England, Solut. Of the Dogdays. who falling ſick of accute Fevers, which at this ſeaſon of the year, are more frequent then at other times, are wont to defer the looking for help (a fault too common at all ſeaſons) becauſe of the Dog days, till that which at the beginning might eaſily have been cured, by delay doth many times become incurable. Sure I am Hippocrates never ſaid or thought that the Dog days are unfit time for Phyſick, Hippocrates explained. nor did Galen in his Comment underſtand him in that ſenſe; He onely ſays, purgation are difficult about that time of the year, that is, they cauſe ill Symptomes, as Fevers, Gripings, diſſolution of the Spirits, which are already enfeebled by the exceſſive heat of the weather, imputing it not to the influence of that Star, but to the heat that is wont to happen at that time, the heat alſo not ariſing in the leaſt reſpect from the nature of the Star, but from the Sun it ſelf, which is now again running over the ſame degrees of the Ecliptick in Leo, that it had done before in Taurus, in July and Auguſt, which it did in Aprill and May.

It cannot be from an extraordinary malignant influence that is in the Dog-ſtar more then others,Dog ſtar has no malignant influence. it being agreed on all hands by thoſe that are verſed in Aſtrology, that there are many other conſtellations, and parts of heaven, which are more full of malignity then it is; as Corſcorpionis, which ariſes with the Sun in the later end of November, being alſo within a few degrees of the body of the Sun. So Caput Meduſae or Argol, neer unto which the Sun paſles in the latter end of of Aprill. And the Dragons Taile and imaginary point of heaven full of enmity, by which the Sun tranſits once a year, beſides the monthly conjunction of the Moon with them all: I ſay Hipocrates cannot be thought to intend the Malignant influence of the Dog. Star to hinder the working of Phyſick, while he that knew the reſt as well as this, never mentions them at all, which if they were obſerved would imply the unfitneſſe of every ſeaſon, and conſequently very few days in the year would be proper for Phyſick.

It was indeed the heat of the weather which hee reſpected, which happens with us about the Coſmicall riſing of the Dog Star with the Sun, to wit,Phyfick may be uſed in the Dog days. towards the later end of July. But neither is the heat ſo intenſe in this our climate, as that for it we ſhould abſtain from uſing remedies when there is need, our July and Auguſt not being ſo hot as April and May are in the Iſland of Coos, (which is called in Maps Laugo, and by its owners Turks Stancera, not far from Rhodes) where Hippocrates lived. Now although nothing is more neceſſary to be obſerved by Phyſicians then the diſpoſition, riſing and ſetting of eminent Stars, the bodies and ſtomacks of men receiving mutation according to their motions, to which reſpect is heedfully to be had in giving of Phyſick,De aerc in principio. as ſaith Hippocrates elſe where; yet there is not ſo much regard to be had, as that either this Star or the heat ſhould make us wholly abſtain, when a diſeaſe requires it. Learned Phyſicians knowing well enough how to muzzle that Dog, and temper the heat with medicines ſutable, we having purging remedies as fit for hot weather as for cold and temperate, ſuch as if Hippocrates had known, I verily think hee had never mentioned that Aphoriſme; his purging medicines being exceeding hot, violent, and of a malignant and coroding nature, which wee have very rarely any occaſion to uſe (and then every better corrected) and do wholly lay aſide in the heat of Summer.

Neither is Hippocrates in that Aphoriſm laying down rules for giving of Phyſick, but only reporting his obſervation concerning the māner of working of medicines, wch he ſays, is with ſome difficulty and bad Symptomes, & well might it be ſo wth his medicines in that Climate; but what is that to us, while our own obſervations are, that ours do operate without any difficulty; And whoſoever ſhal obſerve the operations of medicines in the hand of any able Phyſician at this time of theWithgood ſucceſs. year, ſhall acknowledge them as ſafe and ſucceſsfull, as that which he gives at any other ſeaſon. And more particularly this is found true in Mineral waters, ſuch as I am now treating of, which are (as I ſaid) the beſt in hot weather, both in regard of their more eminent participation of the ſtrength of the Minerals; as alſo becauſe of our bodies, which are more open and free for their paſſage; and we can alſo drink more plentifully in the Summer moneths, which is neceſſarily to be done by ſuch as go to the Spaws. It any require further ſatisfaction concerning this point of the Dog-dayes, I referre him to Dr Primeroſe his Book of Popular Errors: Lib. 4. c. 11 as alſo to Doctor Browns elaborate and learned Tractate concerning Vulgar Errours, Lib. 4. e. 13 where he may be abundantly convinced.

Nevertheleſs, if any mans condition require his drinking in Winter,Directions for ſuch as drink in, winter. let the water be a little ayred, that the extremity of the cold may be taken off, and let a good fire be made to warm the Chamber, leaſt it happen to him, as Fallopius found in himſelf andothers, by drinking of the German Spaws in winter exceſſively cold, who felt ſome paralytick and convulſive motions after it.

It any enquire of me, whether this Spaw-water will endure to be carried into the Country at diſtance, Queſt. and keep it vertue.

I anſwer, Puriù ex ipſo fonte bibuntur aquae. Anſw. It is the beſt when it is drunk at the Fountain, for I think ſome of its Spirits do evaporate being carried far, it ſeeming to have a purer azure colour, and a more acid taſte alſo at the Fountain; yet it may be carried many miles without out any ſenſible decay of its ſtrength and operation, being conſtantly brought by the Fiſhermen in Caggs,It hath alſo been carryed to London, and was found good as far as York, and Hull, which is thirty miles, yea often many miles further. It hath alſo been carried to London, and was found good: I have drunk of it after it had been ten days in the Cagge, and have always found it to work very well; and I think if it were filled at the Fountain into Bottles, and well ſtopped, it would keep its vertue and ſweetneſs much longer, being ſet in Sand or Earth in a cold Cellar, and might be carried perhaps as far as the German.

Nevertheleſs, I think it much better to drink it at Scarbrough, for thoſe that are able of body to travel thither, and in purſe; eſpecially for Students, who being here withdrawn from their Books, and all occaſions of Study (then which nothing is more prejudicial to ſuch as drink waters, or purſue any other courſe of Phyſick) may enjoy the ſociety of their acquaintance, and lead a more chearfull & active life, which will help to refreſh their ſpirits, and promote the more ſpeedy paſſage of the water. But as for ſuch as through feebleneſs of body or eſtate, are not able to travel,It may be carried abroad. they may get it brought to them into the Country, having been incouraged to the uſe of it by ſome able Phyſician, and they need not doubt its operation, it being impregnated not only with the ſpirits of the Minerals, which being carried far are ſubject to evaporation, but with the ſubſtance of them, or concrete juyce, which will continue as long as the Water it ſelf remaines ſweet.

Compared with the Germane.And this ſeems to be of like nature with the principal Spaw, in Germany, called by the name of Powhont, which is wont to be carried into ſeveral Countries, and was brought into England to Count Bellemont, when he was ſent Embaſſador from France to King James, and was found as good as at the Fountain, which might well be ſuppoſed to be done in leſs then ten days. And they both ariſe out of the bottom of a great Rock, having imbibed almoſt the very ſame Minerals, only I think this has no lead, and I ſuppoſe is not the worſe for it, having alſo more ſtrength of the Minerals then the Powhont: For when Doctor Paddy our Countrymen, and Doctor Heers diſtilled it, they found nothing but Rubrich, Ocher and a little Vitriol, as Doctor Heers himſelf relates, whereas three quarts of this affords, when the Rubrick is ſeparated from it, well nigh two drams of other Minerals.

The other which they call Sauvenir partakes much of the ſpirits of the Minerals, but hath very little of their juyce or ſubſtance, ſo as it is good at the Fountain, but looſes its ſpirits and vertue being carried abroad, in as much as Frambeſarius after two days journey found it like common water, whereas that of Powhont was ſtrong and quick.

There are two other Spaws in Germany not long ſince diſcovered, viz. Geronſter and Tonnelet, but they are ſhort of the other in vertue: the former cauſing vomit often, and dizzyneſs in the head, as if a man were drunk; and the other muddy, and ſlimy, and nauſeous to the Palate, yet they do each of them alſo purge the belly. Theſe do the inhabitants of the Towns neer adjoining make uſe of inwardly, both for the preparing of their meat and drink, as ordinary water, eſpecially the two firſt, and its obſerved by the German Writers , that in no place of Germany are there to be found older, and more healthfull people, then thereabouts.

It is obſervable that the Stones by which this water paſſes at the Fountains (as alſo in all other Spaws I read of) are of a reddiſh colour; as alſo it turns the execrements of ſuch as drink of it into a ſad green or blackiſh colour, both which Doctor Heers thinks to proceed from Rubrick or mater ferri, becauſe all chalybeat Medicines after what manner ſoever they be taken inwardly do the like. Cap. 8. p. 79. But Doctor French, though he grants Iron may and doth cauſe a black tincture, yet he ſeems rather to impute it to the Vitrioll. For better ſatisfaction in this ſcruple both to my ſelf and others, I made a ſeparation of the Rubrick from the teſt of the Minerals with gall, and drank the clear water, which though I find it purges not a whit the leſs, yet the excretions were not changed at all, which is an experiment obſerved by neither of them, ſo as it plainly appears that change of color proceeds from the Rubrick or Iron. And I alſo think it is the colour which receives the Tincture, which if it be awanting the excrements are not tinged at all: as in thoſe that have the Jaunders, whoſe Choler by reaſon of obſtructions doth not paſſe into the guts, they do find their excrements black, till after they have drunk a day or two, the obſtructions begin to open, and the choler is ſent down into the bowells. So alſo they that tarry long at the waters obſerve their excrements that before were blackiſh, to become more pale, which ariſes from the greateſt part of the choler which hath been purged away, except what is daily generated, which being but little cannot give ſo deep a tincture.

Leave off by degreesMy advice to them that drink long of it is, that they leave by degrees as they began, taking a leſſe quantity every day then other for two or three days, and to purge watry humours, as ſoon as they have done, either at Scarbrough, or when they come at home,

It any after the uſe there of, find a watry moyſture upon his ſtomack more then ordinary,Wine and Water correct each other. or ſome other moyſt diſtemper, which happens to thoſe whoſe ſtomacks and concective faculty are feeble, it may eaſily be corrected by drinking a glaſſe or two of Wine more then ordinary at meals, for ſome little while, Wine and water fitly amending the diſtempers that proceed from a more then uſual drinking of each other, as Herilacus obſerves well,De vinor qd effect 2. ſo as he that is inflamed with Wine may be cooled with water, and all cold diſtempers that come by the immoderate uſe of water, may bee amended with Wine.

And whereas perhaps there may be ſome that think it an empiricall thing, and to exceed belief, that this Spaw water ſhould cure ſo many maladies, as I have reckoned up, and ſeverall of them of contrary qualities, I refer ſuch to the writings of Fallowpius, Solenander, Geringus, Ryetius, Bezanſonius, H. ab Heers, who have treated of the Waters of Germany, and elſe where; as alſo to ſeveral of our own Country men, as Dr. Dean, Mr. Stanhope, Dr. Fiend, and many others, who have writ of ſeverall Spaws in England; moreover let them inform themſelves well, concernig the cures that have been done by the waters at Epſam, Tunbridge, Barnet, Bristol, Knaresbrough, &c. This of ours coming not ſhort of (if not much exceeding) the beſt of them all either Germane or Engliſh.

Felix qui potuit boni Fontem viſere lucidum.

Boeth. de conſolat.

Philos metr. 12. l. 4.