All which do manifestly demonstrate, that nature hath stored this little territorie with a greater diversitie of hidden benefits, then great and spacious Countries otherwise abounding in outward native commodities, and that the fountaines, or springs of water hereabouts cannot otherwise then participate 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 passe as wee may well suppose, through our overmuch English credulity, or (as I may better say) rather superstition.  For to any such like Well, will swarme at first both yong and old (especially the female sexe, 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 titles:  Sic magna sua mole ruunt.

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

CHAP. 4.

_=Of five fountaines neare unto the town, which doe participate 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 space.