Spadacrene Anglica Or, the English spavv-fountaine. Being a briefe treatise of the acide, or tart fountaine in the forest of Knaresborow, in the west-riding of Yorkshire. As also a relation of other medicinall waters in the said forest. By Edmund Deane, Dr. in Physicke, Oxon. dwelling in the city of Yorke.

CHAP. 6.

A more particular description of the fift, or last fountaine, cal∣led the English Spaw.

THis, being the principall subiect 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 Sauue∣nir. This here springeth out of a mountainous ground, and almost at the height of the ascent, at Haregate-head; hauing a great descent on both sides the ridge thereof; and the Country thereabouts somewhat resembleth that at the Spaw in Germany.

The first discouerer of it to haue any medicinall quality (so far forth as I can learn) was one M^r. William Slingesby, a

Gentleman of many good parts, of an ancient, and wor∣thy Family neere thereby; who hauing trauelled in his younger time, was throughly acquainted with the taste, vse, and faculties of the two Spaw fountaines.

In his latter time, about 55 yeeres agoe, it was his good fortune to liue 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. Whereu∣pon (greatly reioycing at so good and fortunate an acci∣dent) he made some further tr all and assay: that done, he caused the founta ne to be well, and ar••••••cially walled about, and paued at the bottome (as it is now at this day) with two faire stone flags, with a sit hole in the side there∣of, for the free passage of the water through a little gut∣tered stone. It is open at the top, and walled somewhat higher, then the earth, as well to keepe out filth, as Cat∣tle 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 vp of the water, which we found to spring vp onely at the bottome at the chinke, or cranny, betweene two stones, so left purposely for the springing vp of the water at the bottome: Which as Yli∣ny obserueth in his 31 booke of his Naturall History, and the third Chapter, is a signe aboue all of the good∣nesse of a fountaine.

And about all (saith he) one thing would bee obser∣ued, and seene vnto, that the source, which feedeth it, spring and boyle vp directly from the bottome, and not ••ssue forth at the sides: which also is a maine point that concerneth the perpetuity thereof, and whereby wee ••y collect, ••hat it will hold still and be neuer drawne drye.

The streame of water, which passeth away by the

hole in the side thereof, is much one, and about the pro∣portion of the current of Sauuenir.

The aboue named Gentleman did drinke the water of this Fountaine euery yeare after all his life time, for helping his infirmities, and maintaining of his he••lth, and would oftentimes say and auerre, that it was much better, and did excell the tart fountaines beyond the seas, as being more quicke and liuely, and fuller of minerall spirits; effecting his operation more speedily, and sooner passing through the body.

Moreouer, Doctor Timothy Bright of happy memo∣ry, a learned Physitian, (while hee liued, my very kind friend, and familiar acquaintance) first gaue the name of the English Spaw vnto 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 furthermore so good an opinion, and so high a con∣ceit of this, that hee did not onely direct, and aduise others to it, but himselfe also (for most part) would vse it in the Sommer season.

Likewise Doctor Anthony Hunton lately of Newarke vpon Trent, a Physitian of no lesse worth and happy memory, (to whom for his true loue to mee, and kind respect of mee, I was very much beholden) would often expostulate with mee at our meetings, and wi h other Gentlemen of Yorkeshire, his patients, how it came to passe, that I, and the Physitians of Yorke, did not by publi••e writing make the fame and worth thereof better knowne to the world?