Spadacrene Anglica Part 4

_Gnaresbrugh_ (commonly called _Knaresborow_) is a very ancient Market towne in the West-Riding of _Yorkeshire_, distant 14 miles from the City of _Yorke_; where the Pole is elevated 54 degrees, and 20 odde minutes.

On the South-west part thereof is that faire, and goodly Fort, so much renowned, both for the pleasant situation, and remarkable strength, knowne by the name of _Knaresborow Castle_, seated on a most ragged and rough Rock; whence (as learned Mr. _Camden_ saith) it is so named.

Both the Castle and the Towne are fenced on the South and West parts with the River _Nid_: which is beautified here with two faire Bridges of stone, which lead from the Towne into the Forest adjoyning, as also unto a large empaled Park of his Majesties, called _Bilton-parke_, well stored with fallow Deere: part whereof is bordered with the said river.

The Towne it selfe standeth on a hill, having almost on every side an ascent to it; and about it are divers fruitfull valleyes well replenished with gra.s.se, corne, and wood. The waters there are wholesome and cleare; the ayre dry and pure. In briefe, there is nothing wanting, that may fitly serve for a good and commodious habitation, and the content and entertainment of strangers.

Many things are very observable in this place, which because they rather do appertaine to the volumes of Geographers, & Antiquaries, then to the purpose intended in this little treatise, are here omitted.

_CHAP_. 2.

_=Of the severall earths, stones, and mineralls found neere and about this place.=_

Although there are in sundry places of this Kingdome as many, or moe severall kinds, and sorts of earths quarreyes of stone, minerals, and mines of mettalls, then in any other Realme whatsoever; notwithstanding no one place hath beene observed to have them either in such plentie, or variety in so small a distance, as this. For here is found not onely white and yellow marle, plaister, oker, rudd, or rubricke, free-stone, an hard greet-stone, a soft reddish stone, iron-stone, brimstone, vitreall, nitre, allum, lead, copper, (and without doubt diverse mixtures of these) but also many other mineralls might (perhaps) be found out by the diligent search and skilfull industrie of those, who would take paines to labour a little herein.

All which do manifestly demonstrate, that nature hath stored this little territorie with a greater diversitie of hidden benefits, then great and s.p.a.cious Countries otherwise abounding in outward native commodities, and that the fountaines, or springs of water hereabouts cannot otherwise then partic.i.p.ate of their severall natures, and properties.

_CHAP_. 3.

_=Of the fountaines, of pure and simple waters neere, and about the Towne.=_

As generally most parts of the West Riding of _Yorkeshire_ (especially the hilly and more mountaineous places thereof) are stored with fountaines and springs of cleare, limpide, and pure simple waters; so likewise the territorie here abouts is not without plenty of them. Two whereof have gotten and purchased that reputation, as to be saincted: The one called by the name of Saint _Magnus_, or _Mugnus-Well_: th'

other, that of Saint _Roberts_.

These, formerly for a yeere, or two, have beene in great request in these parts amongst the common sort, much sought unto by many, and great concourse of people have daily gathered and flocked to them both neere, and a farre off, as is most commonly seene, when any new thing is first found out. _Fama enim grescit eundo_, even unto incredible wonders and miracles, or rather fictions, and lyes. All which commeth to pa.s.se as wee may well suppose, through our overmuch English credulity, or (as I may better say) rather superst.i.tion. For to any such like Well, will swarme at first both yong and old (especially the female s.e.xe, as ever more apt to bee deluded) halt, lame, blind, deafe, dumbe, yea, almost all, and that for all manner of maladies and diseases, both inward and outward.

But for as much, as these are springs of pure, and simple waters meerely, without any mixture at all of minerals to make them become medicinable, it is verily thought, that the many & severall cures, which have bin attributed unto them in those times, when they were so frequented, were rather fained, and imaginary, then true, and reall; and that those, who then visited them, were desirous (either to uphold, and maintaine the credit, and reputation of their Saints, or else, to avoyd the scorne and derision of their owne delusion) to have others likewise deceived.

Time hath quite worne all their strength, and consumed all their vertues; so that nothing of worth now remaines with them, saving onely their bare names and t.i.tles: _Sic magna sua mole ruunt_.

Wherefore to omit these, as scarce worthy the mentioning; those are chiefly here to be described, which doe partic.i.p.ate of minerall vertues, and faculties.

_CHAP_. 4.

_=Of five fountaines neare unto the town, which doe partic.i.p.ate of minerall vertues.=_

Out of the divers Fountaines springing hereabouts, five are worthy the observation of Physitians. The first whereof is very neare unto the river banke, over against the Castle, called by the name of the _Dropping-well_, for that it droppeth, distilleth, and trickleth downe from the hanging rocke above. The water whereof hath a certaine quality or property to turne any thing, that lieth in it, into a stony substance in a very short s.p.a.ce.

Three of the others (being all of them much of one, and the same nature) are termed by the country people thereabouts the _Stinking-wels_, in regard they have an ill, and fetide smell, consisting most of Sulphure-vive, or quicke brimstone. One of them, and that which hath the greatest current, or streame of water, is in _Bilton park_.

The other two are in the sayd Forest; one is neare unto the towne; the other is further off, almost two miles from it, beyond a place called _Haregate head_, in a bottome on the right hand of it, as you goe, and almost in the side of a little brooke.

The fift, and last (for which I have princ.i.p.ally undertaken to write this short Discourse) is an acide, or tart fountaine in the said Forest, commonly named by the vulgar sort, _Tuewhit-well_, and the _English Spaw_, by those of the better rank, in imitation of those two most famous acide fountaines at the _Spaw_ in _Germany_, to wit, _Sauvenir_, and _Pouhon_: whereof the first (being the prime one) is halfe a league from the _Spa_, or _Spaw_ village; the other is in the middle of the towne.

_CHAP_. 5.

_=A more particular recitall of the first foure Wells.=_

I purpose to speake somewhat more in this place of the first foure Springs mentioned in the former Chapter, in regard the consideration of them may perhaps give some light to those, who shall hereafter search further into the secrets, which nature may seeme to afford in the Country hereabouts.

The first is the _Dropping-well_, knowne almost to all, who have travelled unto this place. The water whereof distilleth and trickleth downe from the hanging Rocke over it, not onely dropping wise, but also falling in many pretty little streames.

This water issueth at first out of the earth, not farre from the said hanging rocke, and running a while in one entire current, continueth so, till it commeth almost to the brim of the cragg; where being opposed by a damme (as it were artificiall) of certaine spongy stones, is afterwards divided into many smaller branches, and falleth from on high in manner aforesaid.

It is therefore very likely, that Mr. _Camden_ in person did not see this Fountaine, but rather that hee had it by relation from others; or at least wise (if he did see it) that hee did not marke, and duly observe the originall springing up of the water, when in his _Britannia_ he saith thus: _The waters thereof spring not up out of the veines of the earth_, &c.

Concerning the properties and qualities thereof, I have nothing more to write at this time (there being formerly little tryall had of it) saving that divers inhabitants thereabouts say, and affirme, that it hath beene found to bee very effectuall in staying any flux of the body: which thing I easily beleeve.

The other three are sulphureous fountaines, and cast forth a stinking smell a farre off, especially in the winter season, and when the weather is coldest. They are all noysome to smell to, and cold to touch, without any manifest, or actuall heat at all; by reason (as may most probably be thought) their mynes, and veines of brimstone, are not kindled under the earth; being (perhaps) hindred by the mixture of salt therewith.

Those, who drinke of their waters, relate, they verily thinke there is gunpowder in them, and that now and then they vomit after drinking thereof.

The waters, as they runne along the earth, doe leave behind them on the gra.s.se and leaves a gray slimy substance, which being set on fire, hath the right savour of common brimstone. They are much haunted with Pigeons, an argument of much salt in them; of which in the evaporation of the water by fire, wee found a good quant.i.ty remaining in the bottome of the vessell.

One thing further was worth observation; that white mettall (as silver) dipped into them, presently seemeth to resemble copper: which we first noted by putting a silver porrenger into one of these; unto which _Sir Francis Trapps_ did first bring us. Which tincture these waters give by reason of their sulphur.

Touching their vertues, and effects, there may in generall the like properties be ascribed unto them, as are attributed unto other sulphureous Bathes actually cold, partic.i.p.ating also of salt.

The vulgar sort drinke these waters (as they say) to expell reefe, and fellon; yea, many, who are much troubled with itches, scabs, morphewes, tetters, ring-wormes, and the like, are soone holpen, and cured by washing the parts ill affected therewith. Which thing they might much more conveniently, and more commodiously doe, if at that in _Bilton_ parke were framed 2 capacious Bathes, the one cold, the other to be made hot, or warme, by art, for certaine knowne howers a day.

_CHAP_. 6.

_=A more particular description of the fift, or last fountaine, called the_ English Spaw.=

This, being the princ.i.p.all subject of this whole Treatise, is in the said forest, about halfe a league, or a mile and a halfe west from the towne; from whence there is almost a continuall rising to it, but nothing so great, as the ascent is from the _Spaw_ village to the _Sauvenir_. This here springeth out of a mountainous ground, and almost at the height of the ascent, at _Haregate-head_; having a great descent on both sides the ridge thereof; and the Country thereabouts somewhat resembleth that at the _Spaw_ in _Germany_.

The first discoverer of it to have any medicinall quality (so far forth as I can learn) was one Mr. _William Slingesby_, a Gentleman of many good parts, of an ancient, and worthy Family neere thereby; who having travelled in his younger time, was throughly acquainted with the taste, use, and faculties of the two Spaw fountaines.