Britannia Baconica: or, The natural rarities of England, Scotland, & Wales. According as they are to be found in every shire. Historically related, according to the precepts of the Lord Bacon; methodically digested; and the causes of may of them philosophically attempted. With observations upon them, and deductions from them, whereby divers secrets in nature are discovered, and some things hitherto reckoned prodigies, are fain to confess the cause whence they proceed. Usefull for all ingenious men of what profession of quality soever. / By J. Childrey.

SOMERSETSHIRE.

IN this Shire the Air is mild, and the soil ge∣nerally very wet, miry, and moorish.

Of the hot Baths in this Shire (at the City of Bath) Johnson in his Mercurius Botanicus, gives us this description. Bath (saith he) lyes in a plain (not great) encompassed with Mountains almost of an equal height. The Baths are four; the King's Bath, the Queen's Bath, the Cross Bath, and the Hot Bath: The King's Bath lyes in the middle of the City, being about 60. feet square, and it hath about the middle of it many hot Springs rising, whence it hath the greater heat. The Queen's Bath hath no Spring in it, but on∣ly receives the Water from the King's Bath (from which it is onely divided by a Wall) for which reason it is more temperate then the Kings. In these two Baths there is a Pump to pump Water upon the diseased, where strong Embrocations (as Phisicians speak) are required; for often times the matter of the Disease is so contuma∣cious, that simple bathing wil not remove it. The Cross Bath and Hot Bath are in the West part of the City. The Cross Bath is Triangular, and about 25. foot long, and as broad at one end. It hath not so many Springs as the Kings Bath, and hot bath have; and therefore is of a more

gentle heat. About 22. paces from the Cross Bath, is the Hot Bath, so called, because former∣ly when it was not so large as now it is, it was much hotter then the rest. But now it is only as hot as the King's Bath, or but little hotter. It is 27. foot long, & 13, foot broad. The Water of all these Baths in a small quantity seems clear and pellucid; but if one look upon its surface in the Bath, it lookssomewhat green, (or of a blew or sea-colour, as Cambden saith) and it hath a Bitu∣minous unsavoury smell, but almost no tast, at least it is hardly perceivable to the palate. Once a week the Baths are empited, and swept clean; onely the Cross Bath, because of its frequent use and its narrowness, is sometimes cleansed twice a week. For the nature of the water is, that a∣bout 4. or 5. hours after the going out of the Baths, the water casts out a foamy scum or filth which swims on the top of it, and fouls it. The Minerals that are conceived by learned Writers to give these Waters their heat and Tincture, are Bitumen. Sulphur, and Nitre; and there is Bi∣tumen; Sulphur and Nitre being in less quantity: The Mineralness of these Waters appears also by a way that the people of Bath have to give Silver Money a Golden colour, which is done with a Composition made (as they say) of the mud of the Bath, and some of the Bath-Water and Urine mixed together, with which composi∣tion they rub the Money which they intend to gild; but the colour is but pale and faint, and will quickly wear off. Now that it is a Bituminous and Sulphury matter that gives this Water its

heat and tincture; besides its Medicinal Vertues, as that it dryes, heats, dissolves, softens, opens, attracts, digests, cuts, and is abstersive, &c. there is this manifest proof, that the Countrey herea∣bouts is full of Cole-Mines, especially about Bristol, and the southermost parts of Glocester∣shire, as Mengerfield, Westerley, &c. and so also un∣der Mendip-Hills, that part of them that lyes towards Frome-Selwood. And all Naturallists a∣gree (as they have reason) that Coale is a Bitumi∣nous and sulphury matter; For that it is a Bitu∣men, is manifest by its black pitchy viscosity, and its melting as it burns: And that there is a quantity of Sulphur in it, is as evident by the Brimstony smell the Embers of them give, as a∣ny one may find that will but hold his head a while over a pan of them; as also by their bur∣ning blew many times, especially when they hurn eagerly, as in frosty Weather; whence ma∣ny people reckon the fires burning blew, a slgne of frost and hard weather: And (which is yet a further argument, the Coale hereabouts hath abundance of Veins like Gold or Brass in it (as I have often observed my self, and it may be ob∣served every day; for indeed there is nothing more common) a thing which I could never ob∣serve in New-Castle Coal, though this Cake as that doth, and doth not burn all away to a white ashes, as the Coale which they dig about Staffordshire, and which I think they call Canell-Coale.

There are (saith Cambden) a kind of pit-coals digged near the River Frome, with which Smiths

use to soften Iron. These are the Coales I men∣tioned before, under Mendip Hills, toward Frome-Selwood: That they should soften Iron, is no wonder, since we see any Coal, or the like vio∣lent sire doth the same; but whether they have a singular power thatway above other coal, may be further enquired.

It is reported that about Uphill (Parish by the sea-side not far from Axbridge) within these half hundred years, a parcel of Land swelled up like a hil, and on a sudden clave asunder, and fel down again into the Earth, and in the place of it remains a great Pool.

At Keinsham in stone quarries, are found stones in the form of a Serpent, like the Whitbay stones (of which I shal speak more in Yorkshire) onely here is the difference between them; whereas those at Whitbay want heads, some of these have. Hereabouts also (saith Cambden) grows Percepier, or Parsley-break stone, an Herb proper to England, bitter, hot, biting and sowre, without stalk, with herby Flowers, never above a span high: It grows naturally all the yeer long; it is extreme∣ly dieuretical, and very quick in operation, Yet however Cambden puts it down as a special rarity in this place; our modern Herbarists make no such rarity of it; for Mercurius Botanicus saith indefinitely, that it grows in Agris Siccioribus, that is, in dry grounds; and others say that it is commonly to be found in airable fields after Harvest.

At Bristol it flows a 11. or 12. Ells in height e∣very Tide; an extraordinary proportion in

comparison of most places on the English shore. The cause I suppose is, the extreme wide and direct mouth of Severn, lying open to the Vast Atlantick Sea, where the Tide comes rolling in a-main, and being contracted as it comes in higher into the River, and land-locked, and not being able to fall back again (til it ebb without in the Main) by reason of the continual succes∣sion of Water, must needs swel to that height in the Severn, and by consequence very easily communicate part of his burden to the Avon of Bristol.

Not far from Bristol is the famous Rock cal∣led St. Vincents Rocks, ragged, and hanging over the bank of the River of Avon, where (saith Johnson) is a Well of warm Water, pleasing to the tast. It flows out of the Clest of a great Rock, & is overflowed every Tide, and left open to the air at the ebb; for its spring breaks out at the Root of the Rocks; the Water is much commended for Ulcers, and calculous affections of the reins, being taken inwardly. It is also often applied outwardly to cure old sores with very good success (saith he) as I have heard those say that have tried. There is moreover in this place a Vein of Iron in the Bowels of the Earth (saith the same Author) whence the wa∣ter gets its vertue, and a greater heat, which it loseth by running a great way before it can get out. But by my Authors leave, it cannot be con∣ceived how a vein of Iron should make water so hot, since we see that iron Mines in other pla∣ces work no such effect upon those Waters that

run through them. I rather conceive there it is some other Vein of Metal, or rather Mineral there, that is the cause of the heat, and likely the same Mineral that causeth the heat of the Bath-Waters. Much more I could say, but I am un∣willing to inlarge too far upon Plausibilities. Note that this hot Well is not above 12. miles from Bath.

On the upper side of these craggy Rocks of St. Vincent, are digged out pellucid stones, sex∣angular (or six cornered) and quadrangular, (or four cornered) which we call Diamonds. Some will have them to be Chrystal, but (saith Mr. Johnson) I think they are rather of the na∣ture of Fluores. For (saith he) I remember an Apothecary of Bristol told me, the Lord of the place would not have them taken out of the I∣ron Mine, (which was the womb in which they were formed) because the greater quantity of them make the Metal the more fluid. and apt to melt. And Agricola tells us, that Fluores are very like Diamonds, but not so hard, and that they are used in the melting and trying of Metals, till they be throughly tried; for (saith he) they make the matter in the fire much more fluid. And Kentmannus in his Catalogue of Fossils, rec∣kons Pellucid Fluores, sexangular, and like Cry∣stal. Of these St. Vincent Stones, Cambden speaks thus: They are (saith he) so plentiful there, that one may fill a bushel with them; and they are all either four cornered, or six cornered. And saith Speed, saving their hardness, they are as good as the Diamonds of India.

On another Rock more Western then St. Vin∣cents Rock, there are found Diamonds enclosed in hollow and reddish Flints after a wonderful ma∣ner, and the Earth it self is red there too.

At Chedder near Axbridge, is a Spring so plen∣tiful of Water presently, that it drives twelve Mills within a quarrer of a mile of the head of it. The reason I suppose is, for that the head of it ariseth in a corner, been encompassed round with steep barren hills, (save onely that way which the stream runs) which pour out all that plenty of Water they contain in their bowels, into this head-spring, where it all meets as in a center, and there rusheth forth in a vast abun∣dance.

In the Isle of Athelney in this shire, was in an∣cient time a Monastry, which was so contrived, that the whole Frame thereof hanged upon four main Posts made fast in the ground. So saith Cambden out of William of Malmesbury.

It is credibly reported (saith the same Author Cambden) that there was a Walnut-Tree in the holy Church-yard at Glastenbury, that did never put out leaf before St. Barnabas day, and upon that very day was very rank & ful of leaves; but that is now gone, and a young Tree set in this place. Also that there is Hawthorn in Wirall Park hard by Glastenbury, that upon Christmas day sprouteth forth as if it were in May. This is reported (saith he) by very credible men that live thereabouts. But it is since (as credibly reported) that the malice and fury of the late wars, hath destroyed this Hawthorn too.

There is at Bristow a Church, called the Temple, the Tower whereof shakes to and fro when the bells ring, so that it hath divided it self from the rest of the Building from the top to the bottom the breadth of three Fingers, and openeth and shutteth whensoever the bell is rung.

`There is about a mile Eastward from Bath, a great hill, and on the top of it a very large bar∣ren Plain, called Landsdown, under which very probably, if search were made, would be found the Mineral or Furnace that heats the Bath-Wa∣ter; but no doubt it lies so deep, that it would not be worth the time, the pains, or the cost to search after it; it seems by the very sight of it to be pregnant of some such matter. These were my thoughts at first, touching the Bed of the Minerall that heats the Bath; but Dr. Meara of Bristow hath since taught me to lay down that conjecture, by shewing me the Copy of a Letter written by himself in Latine to Dr. Prujean of London, touching astrange thing that hap∣pened in July 1659. at the Bath; the abstract of which I shall take the boldness to give the Reader in the Do∣ctors own words, as followeth.

Aquis Calidis, 4^o nonas Aug. 1659

Amplissimo & Excellentissimo D. D. F. Prujean, Medicinae Doctori, &c. Ampl. & Excel. Domine.

QUod jamdudum factum oportuit, &c. hostiam autem adfero tibiz ut auguror, non ingratam for∣tuitam scilicit detectionem Zetematis non ignobilis de cansa Caloris Thermarum hujus loci, cujus investi∣gatio clarissimos medicos diu exercuit. Illustrissimus D. Fairfax qui cum Conjuge Valetudinari jam Aquis Calidis haeret, cum nudiustertius apricandi causa non procul ab urbe obequitaret, casu offendit cretam quan∣dam nivei candoris sparsime terrâ in exiguis cumulis emergentem ad instar terrae à talpis egestae. Hujus Por∣tionem domum attulit mihi{que} ostendit. Friabilis est, spontè ferè in scobem levissimam abit; saporem exhibet manifestè acidum sine astrictione; sed paulatim mordi∣cat, ac ixflammatoriam strangulationem in faucibus parit, ut non dubitem illam multo chalcantho abunda∣re, nec esse omnino Arsenici expertem. In frigidam à me effusa confestim ebullitionem vehementem excitavit, non secus as si calx esset viva; & pedetentim aqua tam insignem calorem concepit, ut ovis citò coquendis pares∣set. Quum haec Creta in Thermarum vicinia reperia∣tur, verisimile existimo aquam thermalem hoc igne ca∣lescere.

Non ignoro authores passim Thermarum calo∣rune Sulphuri aut Bitumini ascribere. Verùm, quam∣vis negari non possit Magnam Bituminis & Sulphuris copiam in his scaturaginibus reperiri, ijs{que} has thermas abunde impregnari convincat cura scabiei, ulcerum, tremoris paralyseos, &c. dubito tamen an eorum ali∣quod fermenti aquam calefacere nati rationem habere possit, quum utrum{que} aciditate, fermentationis opifice, destitutum sit: neutrum verò in aquam conjectum fer∣mentationem aut calorem producere possit; & quum eorum consistentia tenax sit & viscida, Bituminis prae∣sertim, ut aqua in minimas eorum particulas expeditè se insinuare non possit; fit ut ad ejusmodi fermentatio∣nem sint inepta; Cujus contrarium in consistentia fria∣bili, & minimè cohaerente hujus Cretae continget. Lo∣cus ubi hoc fossile fuit repertum, terra est spongiae instar porosa, ut facile appareat illud florem esse sive 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Mineralium fermentantium unà cum 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 spiritibus sursum eluctantem. Verùm quid in hàc obscuritate potiùs statuendun sit, tuo judicio ego libenter subijcio, grates{que} quam possum maximas hu∣manitati tuae refero &c.

Vir Ampl. & Excel. Famulus Devinctissimus,

Edm. Meara.

The English thus in effect:

Bath, August the 2^d 1659.

To the Worshipful his very much honored friend Fran. Prujean D. of Physick, &c.

W. and H. Sir,

WHat I should have done long since, &c. The Sacrifice I bring to your Altar, will not I conceive be ungratefull. It is the strange accidentall discovery of a noble Mistery touch∣ing the cause of the heat of the Baths here; the search into which hath long exercised the most famous Physi∣cians, the manner of it was thus. The right Honoura∣ble the Lord Fairfax, who continues still at the Bath with his Lady, riding abroad not far from this City two days ago, to take the air, by chance found a kind of Chalke as white as snow, working here and there out of the ground in little heaps, like earth cast up by Moles. A piece of this he brought home, and shewed me. It is a crumbling matter, and almost of its self turns to a small light dust: its tast is manifestly acide without astriction, but by little and little biting, and causing an extream hot strangulation in the mouth, so that I am perswaded it hath much Chalcanthus in it, and is not altogether without Arsenick. I put it into cold wa∣ter, and presently it fell a boiling, and bubbling apace, just as if it had been quick Lime; and by degrees the

water grew so very hot that it would quickly have boil∣ed an Egge. Now seeing that this Chalk is found near the Bath, I conoeive it not unlikely that it is this, that heats the Bath-water, I know very well that Authors generally attribute the heat of Baths to Sulphur or Bi∣tumen. Nevertheless, though it cannot be denyed that there is a great quantity of Bitumen and Sulphur found in these Springs, and the cure of Scabbiness, Ul∣cers, Trembling, the Palsey, and the like diseases doth evince that the Baths are plentifully impregnated with them; yet I doubt whether either of them hath any thing of a fermentative power in them to heat water, seeing both of them want acidity, the efficient cause of fermentation; and neither of them being put into wa∣ter can produce any fermentation or heat. And since their consistance is clammy and viseid (especially that of Bitumen) that water cannot readily insinuate it self into the minute particles of them, they must needs be unfit for any such fermentation; The contrary of which will follow upon the crumbling and incoherent consistence of this Chalk. The place where this Fossile was found, is an earth porous like a spunge, so that it planly appears to be (as it were) the flos, or excri∣scence of fermenting Minerall, working up out of the Earth with those Spirits, that cause the fermentation. But what to determine, and say positively on this dark riddle, I know not; and therefore humbly submit it to your judgement; returning you most cordial thanks, &c.

W. and H. Sir,

Your most obliged servant Ed. Meara.

Mendip-Hills in this shire afford great abun∣dance of Lead. I have heard it reported, that the Lead Ore in these hills is found by a very strange means. There are men; they say, that go up and down upon the hils with forked hazle-wands in their hands near the places, where they suspect the Ore to be; And the na∣ture of the wands is, that when they pass over a place where Ore is, they bend and draw down to the Earth toward the Ore of their own ac∣cord; and so they Ore is found. They say like∣wise, that any hazle wand wil not do it, but that these we speak of, are prepared after a secret manner, the mystery of which is kown but to some very few men there who make a living out of this Art of theirs, by finding out the Ore for the owners. This story is very strange, and un∣likely to be true: nor could I have given any credit to it, had I not read in Sebastian Munsters Cosmography, that in the Silvermines in Germany the place where the Ore lies, and the veins run, is found by this very means of Hazle-wands. And in one of the figures of his Book he gives us the picture of a fellow going along upon the hills, with a forked wand, or stick in his hand, ad explorandum metallum. Besides this I remem∣ber very well that the Necromancers have a kind of rodds, called Mosaicall rodds (which are no∣thing but Hazle-wands, cut upon such a day of the week, under such a constellation, and per∣pared with abundance of ceremonies and cir∣cumstances

partly Sottish, partly impious) the vertue whereof they say, is to find out treasure hidden in the groand.