Spadacrene Anglica Part 5

In his latter time, about 55 yeeres agoe it was his good fortune to live for a little while at a grange house very neare to this fountaine, and afterwards in _Bilton_ Parke all his life long. Who drinking of this water, found it in all things to agree with those at the _Spaw_.

Whereupon (greatly rejoycing at so good and fortunate an accident) he made some further triall and a.s.say: That done, he caused the fountaine to be well, and artificially walled about, and paved at the bottome (as it is now at this day) with two faire stone flags, with a fit hole in the side thereof, for the free pa.s.sage of the water through a little guttered stone. It is open at the top, and walled somewhat higher, then the earth, as well to keepe out filth, as Cattle for comming and approaching to it. It is foure-square, three foot wide, and the water within is about three quarters of a yard deepe.

First we caused it to be laded dry, as well to scoure it, as also to see the rising up of the water, which we found to spring up onely at the bottome at the c.h.i.n.ke or cranny, betweene two stones, so left purposely for the springing up of the water at the bottome: Which as _Pliny_ observeth in his 31 booke of his Naturall History and the third Chapter, is a signe above all of the goodnesse of a fountaine.

"And above all (saith he,) one thing would bee observed, and seene unto, that the source, which feedeth it, spring and boyle up directly from the bottome, and not issue forth at the sides: which also is a maine point that concerneth the perpetuity thereof, and whereby wee may collect, that it will hold still, and be never drawne drye."

The streame of water, which pa.s.seth away by the hole in the side thereof, is much one, and about the proportion of the current of the _Sauvenir_.

The above named Gentleman did drinke the water of this Fountaine every yeare after all his life time, for helping his infirmities, and maintaining of his health, and would oftentimes say and averre, that it was much better, and did excell the tart fountaines beyond the seas, as being more quicke and lively, and fuller of minerall spirits; effecting his operation more speedily, and sooner pa.s.sing through the body.

Moreover Doctor _Timothy Bright_ of happy memory, a learned Physitian, (while hee lived, my very kind friend, and familiar acquaintance) first gave the name of the _English Spaw_ unto this Fountaine about thirty yeares since, or more. For he also formerly had spent some time at the _Spaw_ in _Germany_; so that he was very able to compare those with this of ours. Nay, hee had futhermore so good an opinion, and so high a conceit of this, that hee did not onely direct, and advise others to it, but himselfe also (for most part) would use it in the Sommer season.

Likewise Doctor _Anthony Hunton_ lately of _Newarke_ upon _Trent_, a Physitian of no lesse worth and happy memory, (to whom for his true love to mee, and kind respect of mee, I was very much beholden) would often expostulate with mee at our meetings, and with other Gentlemen of _Yorkes.h.i.+re_, his patients, how it came to pa.s.se, that I, and the Physitians of _Yorke_, did not by publike writing make the fame and worth thereof better knowne to the world?

_CHAP_. 7.

_=Of the difference of this Fountaine from those at the_ Spaw, _to wit_, Sauvenir, _and_ Pouhon.=

This springeth almost at the top of the ascent (as formerly hath beene said) from a dry, and somewhat sandy earth: The water whereof running South-East, is very cleare, pure, full of life, and minerall exhalations.

We find it chiefly to consist of a vitrioline nature and quality, with a partic.i.p.ation also of those other minerals, which are said to be in the _Sauvenir_ fountaine; but in a more perfect, and exquisite mixture and temper (as wee deeme) and therefore to be supposed better and n.o.bler, then it. The difference betweene them will be found to be onely _secundum majus & minus_, that is, according to more, or lesse, which maketh no difference in kind, but in degrees. This partaketh in greater measure of the qualities, and lesser of the substances of the minerals, then that doth; and for that cause it is of a more quicke and speedy operation; as also for the same reason, his tenuity of body, and fulnesse of minerall spirits therein contained, it cannot be so farre transported from its owne source, and spring, without losse, and diminution of his strength, and goodnesse. For being caried no further, then to the towne it selfe (though the gla.s.se or vessell be closely stopt) it becommeth somewhat weaker: if as farre as to _Yorke_, much more: but if 20 or 30 miles further, it will then bee found to be of small force, or validity, as we have often observed.

Whereas contrariwise the water of the lower fountaine at the _Spaw_, called _Pouhon_, is frequently and usually caried and conveyed into other Countries farre off, and remote, as into _France_, _England_, _Scotland_, _Ireland_, divers parts of _Germany_, and some parts of _Italy_; yea, and that of _Sauvenir_, (which is the better fountaine, and whose water cannot be caried so farre away, as the other may) is oftentimes used nowadayes at _Paris_, the chiefe City of _France_.

But this of ours cannot be sent away any whit so farre off without losse and decay of his efficacy, and vertue; so ayrie, subtill, and piercing are its spirits, and minerall exhalations, that they soone pa.s.se, vanish, and flye away. Which thing wee have esteemed to be a princ.i.p.all good signe of the worthy properties of this rare Fountaine. So that this water, being newly taken up at the Well, and presently after drunke, cannot otherwise, but sooner pa.s.se by the Hypochondries and through the body, and cause a speedier effect, then those in _Germany_ can. Whereby any one may easily collect, and gather, that this getteth his soveraign faculties better in its pa.s.sage by and through the variety of minerals, included in the earth (which only afford unto it an halitious body) then those doe.

If then wee bee desirous to have this of ours become commodious either for preserving of our healths, or for altering any distemper, or curing any infirmity (for which it is proper and availeable) it ought chiefly to bee taken at the fountaine it selfe, before the minerall spirits bee dissipated.

_CHAP_. 8.

_=That Vitriol is here more predominant, then any other minerall.=_

We have sufficiently beene satisfied by experience and trialls, through what minerals this water doth pa.s.se: but to know in what proportion they are exactly mixed therewith, it is beyond humane invention to find out; nature having reserved this secret to her selfe alone. Neverthelesse it may very well be conjectured, that as in the frame, and composition of the most n.o.ble creature, Man (the lesser world) there is a temper of the foure elements rather _ad just.i.tiam_ (as Philosophers say) then _ad pondus_; so nature in the mixture of these minerals, hath likewise taken more of some, and lesse of others, as shee thought to be most fit, and expedient for the good and behoofe of mans health, and the recovery and rest.i.tution of it decayed; being indeed such a worke, as no Art is able to imitate.

That _Vitriolum_ (otherwise called _Chalcanthum_) is here most predominant, there needs no other proofe, then from the a.s.say of the water it selfe; which both in the tart and inky smack thereof, joyned with a piercing and a p.r.i.c.king quality, and in the savour (which is somewhat a little vitrioline,) is altogether like unto the ancient _Spaw_ waters; which according to the consent of all those, who have considered their naturall compositions, doe most of all, and chiefly partic.i.p.ate of vitrioll.

Notwithstanding, for a more manifest, and fuller tryall hereof, put as much powder of galls, as will lye on two-pence, or three-pence, into a gla.s.se full of this water newly taken up at the fountaine, you shall see it by and by turned into the right and perfect colour of Claret wine, that is fully ripe, cleare, and well fined, which may easily deceive the eye of the skilfullest Vintner.

This demonstration hath beene often made, not without the admiration of those, who first did see it. For the same quant.i.ty of galles mingled with so much common water, or any other fountaine water thereabouts, will not alter it any thing at all; unlesse to these you also adde Vitrioll, and then the colour will appeare to be of a blewish violet, somewhat inkish, not reddish, as in the former, which hath an exquisite and accurate conjunction of other minerall exhalations, besides the vitrioline. But this probation will not hold, if so be you make triall with the said water being caried farre from the well; by reason of the present dissipation of his spirits.

_CHAP_. 9.

_=Of the properties, and effects of Vitrioll, according to the ancient and moderne Writers.=_

The qualities of Vitrioll, according to _Dioscorides, Galen, aetius, Paulus aegineta_, and _Oribasius_, are to heate and dry, to bind, to resist putrefaction, to give strength and vigour to the interiour parts, to kill the flat wormes of the belly, to remedy venemous mushromes, to preserve flesh over moyst from corruption, consuming the moysture thereof by its heat, and constipating by his astriction the substance of it, and pressing forth the serous humidity.

And according to _Matthiolus_ in his Commentaries upon _Dioscorides_, it is very profitable against the plague and pestilence, and the chymicall oyle thereof is very availeable (as himselfe affirmeth to have sufficiently proved) against the stone and stopping of urine, and many other outward maladies and diseases, (_Andernaeus_ and _Gesner_ adde to these the Apoplexy) all which, for avoyding of prolixity, I doe here purposely omit.

Neither will I further trouble the Reader with the recitall of divers and sundry excellent remedies, and medicines, found out and made of it in these latter times, by the Spagyricke Physitians, and others: In so much that _Joseph Querceta.n.u.s_, one of those, is verily of opinion, that out of this one individuall minerall, well and exquisitely prepared, there might be made all manner of remedies and medicines sufficient for the storing and furnis.h.i.+ng of a whole Apothecaries shop.

But it will (perhaps) be objected by some one or other in this manner: If vitrioll, which as most doe hold, is hote and dry in the third degree, or beginning of the fourth, nay, of a causticke quality, and nature (as _Discorides_ is of opinion) should here be predominant, then the water of this fountaine must needs bee of great heat and acrimony; and so become not onely unprofitable, but also very hurtfull for mans use to be drunke, or inwardly taken.

To which objection (not to take any advantage of the answer, which many learned Physitians doe give, _viz_. that vitrioll is not hot, but cold) I say:

First, that although all medicinall waters doe partic.i.p.ate of those mineralls, by which they doe pa.s.se, yet they have them but weakly (_viribus refractis_) especially when in their pa.s.sages they touch, and meet with divers others minerals of opposite tempers and natures.

Secondly I answer, that in all such medicinall fountaines, as this, simple water doth farre surpa.s.se and exceed in quant.i.ty, whatsoever is therewith intermixed; by whose coldnesse it commeth to pa.s.se, that the contrary is scarce, or hardly perceived. For example, take one proportion of any boyling liquor to 100. or more, of the same cold, and you will hardly find in it any heat at all. Suppose then vitrioll to be hot in the third degree, it doth not therefore follow, that the water, which hath his vertue chiefly from it, should heat in the same degree.

This is plainly manifest not onely in this fountaine, but also in all others, which have an acide taste, being indeed rather cold, then hot, for the reasons above mentioned.

_CHAP_. 10.

_=Of the effects, which this fountaine worketh, and produceth in those who drinke of it.=_.

Experience sheweth sufficiently, besides reason, that this water first, and in the beginning cooleth such, as use it: But being continued it heateth and dryeth; and this for the most part it doth in all, yet not alwayes. For (as we shall more fully declare afterwards) it effecteth cures of opposite, and quite contrary natures, by the second and third qualities, wherewith it is endowed, curing diseases both hot, cold, dry, and moist.

Those waters (saith _Renodaeus_) which are replenished with a vitrioline quality, as those at the _Spaw_, doe presently heale, and (as it were) miraculously cure diseases, which are without all hope of recovery; having that notable power, and faculty from vitrioll; by the vertue and efficacy whereof, they pa.s.se through the meanders, turnings, and windings of all parts of the whole body. Whatsoever is hurtfull, or endammageth it, that they sweepe and carie away: what is profitable and commodious, they touch not, nor hurt; that, which is flaccid, and loose, they bind and fasten: that, which is fastened, and strictly tyed, they loose: what is too grosse and thicke, they incide, dissolve, attenuate, and expell.

More particularly, the water of this fountaine hath an incisive and abstersive faculty to cut, and loosen the viscous and clammy humours of the body, and to make meable the grosse: as also by its piercing and penetrating power, subtilty of parts, and by his deterging and desiccative qualities to open all the obstructions, or oppilations of the mesentery (from whence the seeds of most diseases doe arise and spring) liver, splen, kidneis, and other interiour parts, and (which is more to be noted and observed) to coole and contemperate their unnaturall heat, helping, and removing also all the griefes and infirmities depending thereupon.

Besides all this, it comforteth the stomacke by the astriction it hath from other minerals, especially iron, so that (without doubt) of a thousand, who shall use it discreetly and with good advice (their bodies first being well and orderly prepared by some learned and skilfull Physitian, according to the states thereof, and as their infirmities shall require) there will scarcely be any one found who shall not receive great profit thereby.

Moreover, it clenseth, and purifieth the whole ma.s.se of blood contained in the veynes, by purging it from the seresity peccant, and from cholericke, phlegmaticke, and melancholike humours; and that princ.i.p.ally by urine, which pa.s.seth through the body very cleare, and in great quant.i.ty, leaving behind it the minerall forces, and vertues.

Their stooles, who drinke of it, are commonly of a blackish, or dark greene colour, partly because it emptieth the liver and splen from adult humours, and melancholy, or the sediment of blood: but more especially, because the mineralls intermixed doe produce and give such a tincture.

_CHAP_. 11.

_=In what diseases the water of this Fountaine is most usefull and beneficiall.=_