1. THe learned, and therefore truly Noble Philoſopher, my Lord Viſcount St. Albans, in his Hiſtory of Life and Death, or prolongation of Life; as well conſidering the conſumption of the body of Man, as reparation of it; the one being as much to be prevented, as the other promoted; in the former of theſe makes the ambient Air of eminent concern; ſome ſorts of it being as predatory and waſtful of the body, as others again are comfortable and refreſhing: Whence it is that Perſons of plentiful Eſtates, that have (as we ſay) the world at will, and are not tyed to a ſingle Seat; either build or make choiſe of one for their moſt common reſidence, that is ſituat in a good and wholſome Air: where by Air they intend not the ſimple Element of the Ancients, for in this ſenſe all Air (if there be any ſuch thing) is equally pure; but that ſomwhat groſſer ſubſtance that immediatly incompaſſes the terraqueous Globe, wherein we daily breath, live, and have our being; which is commonly fill'd with all ſorts of Exhalations, and is comparatively good or bad, healthy or otherwiſe; as it partakes more or leſs, of wholſome or noxious, vapors or fumes; exhaled either from quick liveing ſtreams, or ſtagnant pooles and uliginous boggs; from dry wholſome Soils, or mineral Earths. Which ſeeming indeed the more immediat cauſes of ſickneſs or health than the pure Air, that being only the vehicle of diſeaſes, and not fundamentally good or bad, but by participation, as was hinted in Oxfordſhire Nat. Hiſt. of Oxfordſh. chap. 1. §. 32. ; 'tis plain that the conſideration of the health of this County, rather belongs to this place, and the following Chapter, than to the former of Air.

2. But that the Reader may not only be amuſed with generalls, let us treat of this matter more diſtinctly than uſual, and ſtrictly examin whether this Air we breath in, do indeed ſo much affect the body of Man as is commonly pretended; and if ſo, which it is that comforteth and conſerveth it moſt, and which moſt preyeth upon it, ſo as to haſten its conſumption; that certainly being to be eſteemed the moſt healthy, that prolongeth; and that the moſt unhealthy, that abridgeth its duration: Wherein I ſhall not need to trouble the Reader with any of the nice Experiments of the Air-Pump, whereof ſome not unfitly might have been reduced to this ſubject; nor with a profound explication of the flammula Cordis, or what ever elſe it is that continually gives accenſion to our blood, and is cheriſh't by the gentle refocillations of the Air: It being ſufficient for my purpoſe, and evident even to rural Obſervators; firſt that the Air, impregnated with vapors and fumes (ſuch as is the Atmoſphere wherein we breath) doth ſenſibly affect the body of Man; witneſs the common fumigations made in hyſterical diſeaſes to recall the Spirits, and the too too common Experiment of Drunkenneſs; with which no queſtion its more inartificial operations bear ſome proportion, though they are not ſo ſenſible.

3. It being plain then that the Air as it may be variouſly qualifyed does affect the Spirits and humors, and conſequently the whole Craſis of the body: it remains ſecondly that we ſhew which Airs they be, that moſt refreſh and preſerve it; and on the contrary which prey upon it, ſo as either to conſume it gradually, or deſtroy it on a ſudden: for the clearer diſquiſition of which matter I muſt premiſe ſome poſtulata, which I need not to doubt (I think) but will be eaſily granted, ſince they are ſuch only as are univerſally agreed on: As firſt that the blood principally, and other humors; are the ſubjectum in quo, or vehicle of the ſpirits by which the Animal operations of the body are performed; and 2. that the more the ſpirits, flammula, or heat do prey upon the humors, or the humors oppreſs the ſpirits, ſo much the ſhorter is the continuance of that body; and that therefore 3. in order to a laſting duration, the ſpirits ought to be kept in ſuch a moderate temper, that (as the Lord Bacon well obſervesHiſt. of Life and Death, Intent. 1. Operat. 1. Numb. 10. ) they ſhould be in their ſubſtance; denſe, not rare: in Quantity; ſufficient for the offices of life, not redundant or turgid: in heat; ſtrong, not eager: in motion; ſedate, not fluttering and unequal: And 4. that the humors ſhould alſo be moderatly denſe; not thick, or too fluid: ſufficient; and not multiplyed to exceſs, ſo as either to clog or extinguiſh the ſpirits: all which being granted (and I think no body will deny them) it will naturally follow

4. That Air too much heated either by the reflex beams of the Sun, or by Mineral fumes (above the heat of the ambient Air of the Clime) muſt be none of the healthieſt: for (to omit the inflamed ſcorching Air on the banks of Euphrates that ſometimes ſuddenly ſtifles paſſengers, and the burning-winds of Arabia and Perſia, in their Annals there call'd Bad Semum Bohuns diſc. of the Origine of Winds. p. 177, 178, 180. ) this even in Europe frequently exalts the ſpirits to ſuch a redundancy, that they become eager and violent in their motion, ſo as to occaſion Feavors, Frenſies, Calentures; which do not ſip, but rather carouſe upon the juices, till at length they are all exhauſted, and the body brought to a final Arefaction: Or at leaſt ſo opens the pores, and rarefies the ſpirits that ſome of them fly away, which thickens the blood and humors by a ſort of Evaporation, and ſo gradually deſiccates them, and at length brings the body to an early old Age, as it happens in Africa amongſt the Negroes, whoſe lives, ſays Leo, are are very ſhortLeo Afer his deſcription of Africa. Lib. 1. , their bodies undergoing through the heat of their Clime ſo quick an arefaction, that as Creſcentienſis reports, they are old at thirtyPetri Creſcentienſis de Agricultura, Lib. 1. cap. 5. To prevent theſe depredations of over heated Air, even in this temperat Zone, the Ancients were ſo careful, that they declined not either the trouble or charge, of anointing their bodies all over with Oile, thereby filling up the pores, and preventing both the flight of the ſpirits, and all manner of other injuries from the external Air.

5. Thus Pollio Romulus (and Johannes de temporibus, as my Lord Verulam alſo acquaints usHiſt. of Life and Death. Intent. 1. Operat 2. Numb. 13. ,) who was above a hundred years old, preſerved it ſeems his body to that extream old Age; for being ask't by Auguſtus (who then lodg'd at his houſe) what means he had uſed to maintain that vigor of body and mind, he ſaw, he enjoy'd; anſwer'd intus mulſo, foris oleo C. Plinii ſecundi Nat. Hiſt. Lib. 22. cap. 24. ; i. e. that he uſed Metheglin within, and Oile without: which, ſays Roger Bacon upon the place, in the MS. Preface before his book de Retardatione Senectutis (which was never printed with the book it ſelfe) was an Oile mentioned in the Chapter de his quae naturalem virtutem excitant, whither I refer the Reader for ſatisfaction about itIn Praefat. ad Libellum de Retardatione ſenect MS. in Bib. Bodl.. The ſame Roger Bacon alſo further acquaints us that a certain Britiſh Lady whom he calls Dominam de Tormeri Alias de Nemore in Epiſt. Baconi ad Pariſienſem, cap. 7. found an oyntment wherewith her Woodward having anointed himſelf all but the ſoles of his feet, lived three hundred years without any pain but in his feetIn Libello, de mirabili poteſtate Artis & Naturae, di • to.. The ancient Britans painted their bodies with woad and were exceeding long lived; and ſome have thought the Picts had their name from hence; 'tis certain the Braſilians paint themſelves at this day, and are very long liv'd; as if painting did preſerve the living body, as oile colours and varniſh do dead wood and Iron.

6. Yet much worſe is this Air if both heated by the Sun, and fill'd with noiſom ſtinking vapors, exhaled from ſtagnant waters, Moores or Boggs, nothing more quickly or certainly induceing putrefaction than the concurrent operations of exceſſive heat and moiſture; the former procuring a more eaſy acceſs for the vapors judicial than the primary ones could have poſſibly been without them; ſuch Foggs and Steams ſtagnating in the valleys and amongſt trees, and heating much more there than in any plain, the rays of the Sun being contracted and ſtrengthened in theſe hollowes, much after the manner we ſee they are by a Concave glaſs; whereas if either happen in an open Country, or upon riſeing ground, without woods or groves within a competent diſtance, there is ſeldom ſuch a calme, but that the Wind at leaſt will ventilate, if not ſtrongly diſperſe them, ſo that they can be little prejudicial to the adjacent Inhabitants: And therefore ſays Petrus Creſcentienſis, qui loca elegit habitabilia, cognoſcere debet quommodo ejus exiſlit diſpoſitio ſecundum altitudinem & profunditatem, diſcooperturam & cooperturam — & ſi ſit ventis expoſita, aut in terra profunda Pet. Creſcentienſis de Agricult. Lib. 1. cap. 5. i. e. That whoever makes choiſe of a ſeat, muſt be ſatisfyed how 'tis ſituat, whether on a Hill or in a Vale; open, or cloſe covered; whether expoſed to the winds, or in a deep hollow Country: whereof which is the better, is determined both by Varro M. Ter. Varronis de re Ruſtica, Lib. 1. cap. 12. and Baptiſta Porta J. Bapt. Portae, Villae Lib. 1. cap. 22. , potius in ſublimi loco aedificet, qui quod perflatur, &c. rather let him build, ſay they, in a high place that is continually ventilated, where if any thing incommode him it will eaſily be diſperſt by the brisk piercing gales. Which naturally brings me next

9. To the conſideration of that acute purifying air, which being neither heated above the uſual conſtitution of the Clime, nor fill'd with moiſt thick ſlimy vapors, but rarify'd by the Sun to a uſeful ſerenity, and ſharpened by an agreeable portion of Niter, ſo cooles and cheriſhes both the ſpirits and humors by a gentle ventilation (carrying off the fuligines ariſing from the accenſion of the blood whether in the Lungs or Heart) that both are kept in due temper; neither prevailing, but both mutually preſerving each other to a moſt laſting duration: And this it is we may juſtly call healthy Air, that ha's heat enough to cheriſh that Platonic flame Ignis ille qui 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Lumen & ſplendor nuncupatur, qui lucct, ſed non ardet. Plato in Timaeo. in the blood, ſo as to make it ſhine, but not burne; and moiſture enough to help to conſerve that gentle fire, but not drown or extinguiſh it; all which ſeems moſt evidently made out to be thus indeed by the Aerial Noctiluca of the Honourable Mr. Boyle, and by the ſolid Phoſphorus of my ingenious Friend Frederick Slare M. D. made for the moſt part out of Ʋrine, and might as well (He thinks) have been out of blood, could it have been procured in as great quantities, ſince Ʋrine is its Recrement ſeparated by the Kidneys; which whenever expoſed to the air in its ordinary temper (as I ſaw it in Nov. 1681.) only ſhines illuſtriouſly, but if held to the fire, breaks out into a violent flame, and if immerged into water, is preſently reſtinguiſht.

10. And this, I ſay this, is that ſubtile refined air, that refrigerates the ſpirits, that cheriſhes the humors, and gives them both their due condenſation; neither exalting the one or the other ſo far, as that the ſpirits either fly away or prey upon the humors; or the humors overwhelm or drown the ſpirits; that renders a Man long-liv'd, moſt healthful and free from all manner of infirmities both of body and mind; that keep him ſound, luſty, vegete and nimble; and makes him cheerful, quick, witty, ſubtile, and what not? Which whoever would enjoy in the higheſt perfection, muſt aſcend the dry gravelly barren hills, and place his ſeat there, as the Emperor Conſtantine adviſes, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Conſtantini Caeſaris Pogonati dict. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 .. We ought to build, ſays he, in high places where there is a delicate proſpect, where one may ſee all over the Country; where the reflected beams of the Sun are but of ſmall force, at leaſt not ſtrong enough to make the air any thing predatory by reaſon of heat; or of moiſture, upon account of the drought or barrenneſs. I know

11. Cato and Columella commend a rich fruitful Soile whereon to place their VillaColumellae de re Ruſtica Lib. 1. cap. 2. M. Porcii Catonis de re Ruſtica, Lib. 1. cap. 1. ; but they deſcribe the Farme, where indeed the commodity is commonly more regarded, than health; and not the Hall or Manor (as the Gentlemans ſeat is uſually call'd in this County) which ought to be ſituat, not upon or near the beſt Soile which commonly yields the worſt air, but on a dry riſeing ground at leaſt, if not on a Hill, where there are no ſtanding Waters or Mines in the valleys below, to occaſion vapors or fumes, nor thick woods or groves to hinder the diſperſing them, whenever they do (if at any time) happen, or preclude the pleaſure of a far and wide proſpect. Where by the way, let the Reader take notice, that I only exclude ſtagnant Waters, Mines in low and cloſe valleys and thick woods; and not ſo far miſtake me, as if I thought plenty of waters and mines, or large woods and groves a diſhonour to a County; for in theſe conſiſt both the pleaſures and riches of it; where the waters flow from quick and living ſprings, the Mines are work't on high or open Countrys, and the woods lye diſperſt at due diſtance, and if any thing large, have lawnes or viſta's cut through them; as they are uſually found all over this County, as ſhall be ſhewn of each in their reſpective places.

12. Though it be true indeed that thoſe places that are ſituate higheſt, and enjoy the feweſt waters, mines and woods, muſt undoubtedly be the healthieſt, in proportion as they are free from one, more, or all of them; Upon which account I take Swynerton, the Village of Beech and all the Hill Country betwixt that and Trentham (being void of moſt, if not all of theſe) to be the healthieſt ſpot of Ground in all the County, which ſeems amply to be made out by an obſervation they have there, viz. that they have three Chriſtenings for one Buryal: Nor comes the Town of Wolverhampton far behind it, being ſituat high and where they have but four weak Springs to ſupply that large Town, which too riſe all together behind the Cock-Inn (ſo that they may be eſteemed but as one) having different names appropriated to their reſpective uſes, as the Pudding-well, the Horſe-well, the Waſhing-well, and the Meat-well, from which laſt they fetch all the water they uſe for Meat or Drink all over the Town in great leather Budgets or Boraccia's laid croſs a horſe with a tunnel at the top whereby to fill them, ſuch as they uſe much in Spain, and ſome other Towns in England as York, Worceſter, &c. bringing to the other three, their Tripes, Horſes and Linnen. From which ſcarcity of waters and high ſituation it is, that notwithſtanding the adjacent Cole-mines they enjoy a more ſetled health than moſt of their Neighbors, as breathing a more ſubtile and refined Air, and that too ſo lyable to ventilation that if at any time fumes do ariſe from the Mines, they are quickly diſperſt: Whence perhaps it comes to paſs, that the Plague ha's ſcarce ever been known in this place, but the ſmall Pox frequently, both ſignes of ſalubrity as ha's been ſhewn in Oxford-ſhire Nat. Hiſt. of Oxfordſh. cap. 2. §. 9. .

13. To which may be added the Pariſh of Cannock (vulgarly Cank) and all the dry hills and gravelly plains of Cank-wood, as Tropically ſo call'd as Lucus à non lucendo, now the woods are moſt deſtroyed, and the Wind and Sun admitted in ſo plentiful a manner between the Coppices, which at due diſtance now only crown the ſummits of ſome few hills, ſuch as Gentle-Shaw, Stile-Cop, &c. and afford a moſt pleaſant proſpect to Paſſengers: the Plains or Hays below in great part being covered only with the purple odoriferous Ling, as that excellent Poet, Mr. Maſters of New College in his Iter Boreale is pleaſed to call it, who (having paſt by Cank town) thus moſt exquiſitly deſcribes itTho. Maſteri Iter Boreale, pag. 5. . Hinc mihi mox ingens Ericetum complet ocellos, Sylva olim, paſſim Nymphis habitat a feriſque: (Condenſae quercus, domibus res nata ſtruendis, Ornandoque foco, & validae ſpes unica claſſis) Nunc umbris immiſſa dies; Namque aequore vaſto Ante, retro, dextra, laeva, quo lumina cunque Verteris, una humili conſurgit vertice planta, Purpureoque Erice tellurem veſtit amictu, Dum floret, ſuaves & naribus adflat odores: Haec ferimus ſaltem amiſſae ſolatia ſylvae. The Pariſh of Aldridge in the confines of Cank ſeems alſo to partake of the like dry gravelly conſtitution, lying high, and ſolo ſicco as Hippocrates would have itHippocrat. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 .; and Mr. Burton ſeems to commend the Pariſh of Hanbury in the Margin of Needwood for ſuch a lofty ſituation Anatomy of Melancholy, Part. 2. Sect. 2. Memb. 3. ſub finem. ;

14. Both which no doubt enjoy a freſh, pleaſant air, though I muſt confeſs I ſhould have liked them conſiderably better, had they been thinner beſet with trees and incloſures; unleſs the buildings had ſurmounted the tops of them all, ſo as to have been more expoſed to the ventilations of the Air, as at Dudley Caſtle whoſe magnificent ruins as well as habitable part (built on a lofty rock) notwithſtanding the ſhrubbs and trees all about it, are mounted ſo high above them all, as not only to afford a moſt wholſom air, but a delicat proſpect over the County below it, as the Reader cannot but be ſatisfyed it muſt needs do from the Sculpture of it Tab. 3. which notwithſtanding its ruins (the marks of its Loyalty in the late Civil war) yet remains the Seat of the right Honorable Edward Lord Ward Baron of Birmingham, a perſon of moſt exemplary fidelity to his Prince, and a moſt noble encourager of this Work, and is therefore here repreſented wrought off a Copper plate, that I might gratefully render his Lordſhips munificence as immortal as the braſs. Had, I ſay, Aldridg or Hanbury thus lifted themſelves up above the trees and incloſures, their Situations had certainly been much better; and therefore I much wonder that the obſerving Mr. Burton ſhould omit the Situation of Tutbury Caſtle, being ſo near a neighbor, mounted on a hill toping all the trees and buildings near it, and overlooking Darbyſhire and all the Country round to the Eaſt, Weſt and North, like Acrocorinthus the old Caſtle of Corinth, whence Greece, Peloponneſus, the Ionian and Aegean Seas were ſemel and ſimul at one view to be ſeen. Abbots, alias Apwood Caſtle in the Confines of Shropſhire has much ſuch another ſituation, overlooking that County to the South and Weſt to a vaſt diſtance: But that which excells them all for a proſpect is the old Caſtle hill above Beaudeſart, which is elevated ſo high above all the Country near, that it commands the Horizon almoſt all round, whence 'tis ſaid may be ſeen the nine ſeveral Counties of Stafford, Darby, Leiceſter, Warwick, Worceſter, Salop, Cheſter, Montgomery and Flint.

15. And indeed this County is full of ſuch high ſituations that muſt needs be happy in a cool, ſerene air, as Bentley, Bradwal, Aulton and Stone Lodges, and many others; but ſuch as theſe moſt commonly having too little water, and ſomtimes (in winter) too much Wind, for the coldneſs of our Clime: Others have thought more expedient to build their Seats ſomwhat lower, ſtill provided on a dry and gravelly Soil, as Gerards Bromley, Trentham, Drayton Manor, &c. of which more in due place: or elſe at moſt but on the ſides of hills, for the more conveniency of water and ſhelter from the wind when in ſome points of the Compaſs, as Beaudeſart and Ingeſtre-Hall; which is alſo agreeable to the Emperor Conſtantines directions, for ſays he 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Conſtantini Caeſaris Pogonati dict. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 .. The moſt healthy places are both on the tops and deſcents of hills faceing the North, the winds from thence blowing cool and dry, whereas thoſe from the South are hot and moiſt, and therefore unwholſome: Yet Baptiſta Porta on the contrary will by all means have the front of a houſe to ſtand to the South Joh. Baptiſt. Pertae, villae, Lib. 1. cap. 22. , to whom agrees Stephanus a Frenchman, approving eſpecially the deſcent of a hill to the South ot Southeaſt, with trees to the North Praedii ruſtic. Lib. 1. cap. 4.; which indeed may both be true or falſe, according to the different Clime for which each opinion was calculated, the Emperors being moſt agreeable to the Southern, and the other to the more frigid Northern regions, eſpecially where the Eaſt and South wind which in other places uſually brew rains, bring fair weather; as Mr. Camden obſerves they do in this County, unleſs (as was obſerved chap. 1. §. 50.) when the wind turns from Weſt to South.

16. For the South, ſays Porta, is not every where unhealthy Auſter non ubique inſalubris. Ibidem., but as Palladius alſo accounts it, moſt comfortable in the Winter and cool in the Summer, and therefore adviſes, Totius fabricae tractus unius lateris longitudine in quo frons erit meridianam partem reſpiciat, in primo angulo excipiens or tum ſolis hyberni, & paululum ab occidente avertatur hyemali; ita proveniet ut per hyemem ſole illuſtretur, & calores ejus aeſtate non ſentiat Rutilii Pallad •• de re Ruſtica, cap. 8. de Adificio., i. e. that the tract of the whole building all the length of that ſide in which the front is deſigned, be placed to the South, ſo as at the firſt corner or end to receive the rays of the riſeing Sun in winter, and that it be turned a little away from the winter Weſt; whence it will come to paſs that it ſhall enjoy the Sun all winter, and the ſhade all Summer. To which laſt preſcriptions there are two Seats in this County viz. Ingeſtre and Enfield Halls, ſo exactly conformable, that neither Stephanus or Palladius themſelves, had they had the building them, could have poſſibly contrived them more to their own minds; both being ſituat upon declivities, fronting the South and open to the Eaſt, and fenced to the Weſt (as all agree buildings ought to be, the weſtern winds being the moſt pernicious of any) with trees that are alſo fit for ſhade in the Summer, and both well water'd; which perhaps may be two as agreeable patterns for an Engliſh ſituation, as can any where be met with.

17. For whatever the ancients have written in commendation of the lofty, dry, and open ſituations (which perhaps may be beſt in hotter Climes) ours in England ought neither to be without trees for ſhade, which may be Oak, Aſh or Elm planted pretty thick and cloſe to the building to the Weſt and North, that they may ſerve too for ſhelter againſt the injuries of thoſe Quarters; and if it ſhall ſeem good to have any for walks or other ornaments to the Eaſt or South they ought to be ſet further off, and had beſt either be trimm'd Cypreſs or Yew, or beſt of all Firrs, theſe being moſt pervious to the wind, as at Ingeſtre Hall: Nor ought the Engliſh ſituation to be altogether dry, but water'd if poſſible with a quick and clear ſtream as at Enfield Hall; wherein theſe two delicat ſeats mutually excell one another: there being little danger of foggs riſeing at all, much leſs of their continuance, where the trees are planted ſparſim and always capable of ventilations, and the Currents be ſwift as they are generally in this County. which brings me next to

18. A more cloſe conſideration of waters, wherein perhaps it may be expected that I ſhould determin alſo their goodneſs and badneſs, as before of Air; but the healthyneſs and unhealthyneſs of the Air depending ſo much upon the goodneſs and badneſs of the waters as has been ſhewn above, it ſeems ſo far to have been performed already, that it may well ſuffice here to add in general (which perhaps may paſs for an Aphoriſme) that as that air is counted beſt that comes neareſt the pure Aether, and that the worſt which is fill'd moſt with Exhalations and comes neareſt water; ſo that is to be eſteemed the beſt water which comes neareſt air, and that the worſt which is ſtagnant, muddy, and fill'd with terreſtrieties, and comes neareſt Earth: In a word, wouldeſt thou have a wholſom water indeed for thy common uſe? chooſe that which has neither colour, taſt, or ſmell, from Salts or Sulphurs, or as little of them as may be; for theſe will ſome way or other affect thy meats or drinks, or whatever elſe thou employeſt them about, otherwiſe than thou did'ſt intend they ſhould. that is to ſay chooſe thoſe that will receive heat, and coole ſooner than others; into which a glaſs Hydrometer or water-Gage, or any other natant weighty body will ſink deepeſt; or which will cauſe leaſt refraction; all which argue a freedom from Salts and Sulphure, wherewith waters are ſomtimes ſo highly ſated, that an ordinary fire will ſcarce ſtir them; that they will bear an Egg, and much magnify and refract an object ſeen through them:

19. Whereas the waters that are thin, clear, and void of theſe, and come any thing near the nature of air, quickly boile; are leſs buoyant; and ſcarce will ſhew any ſenſible refraction; whereof Vitello gives us an eminent example of one that he ſaw in the ſubterranean cavity of a Mountain at a place called Cubalus between Padua and Vincentia that was ſo very thin and clear, that what ever was put in it, would appear of the ſame figure and magnitude to ſenſe, as if only air interpoſed Vitellonis Opticae, Lib. 10. Theorem. 42.: And we are told that the water of the River Silos in India, is ſo rare and tenuious that it will not ſupport the weight of Ships Lib. Fromondi Meteorolog. Lib. 5. cap. 3, artic. 3.. Both which no queſtion, and all others that come near them, muſt needs be excellent for all common uſes, being ſo indifferent to all; having few or no Salts or Sulphurs whereby to introduce any extraneous unagreeable taſts or odors: I ſay for all common uſes relating to meats or drinks, or other houſhold affairs; all the Saline and Sulphurious waters having alſo their uſes, variety of mixture commending the Medicinal, as much as purity does the ordinary ſprings: of both which in their order.

20. And firſt of thoſe of more common uſe; whereof though there be none indeed that come very near, much leſs equal thoſe of Cubalus and Silas; yet I am confident there are as many, perhaps more clear limpid Springs, as free from forraigne qualities, that riſe in this County, as in any part of England, of the like quantity of ground: For beſides that the great and profluent river of Trent (which ſays Camden is juſtly reputed the third River of England Camdens Britannia in Staffordſh.) riſeth in this County, out of New-poole (belonging to the right worſhipful and ingenious Gent. Sr. John Bowyer Baronet one of the nobleſt Promoters of this deſigne) and two other Springs near Mole Cop, and Horton Hay; its ſubſervient branches of Sow, Penk, Tame, Dove, Churnet, Blithe, Tene, Manyfold, Hans or Hamps, Rewle, Black-brook, Lyme, Swarbourn, Dunſmoore, Endon, and innumerable other Rindles that fall into them, alſo riſe within the County, and moſt of them within leſs than thirty miles of the Weſtern Sea; yet all make Eaſtward, and diſcharge themſelves with Trent into Humber, and ſo at length into the German Ocean, near an hundred miles from their firſt riſe. Whence the learned and ingenious Sr. Simon Degg Knight (whoſe aſſiſtances I muſt always gratefully acknowledge) has ſome thoughts that the Eaſtern, may be much lower than the Weſtern Sea; the deſcent of Trent through Staffordſhire, Derbyſhire, Nottinghamſhire and Lincolnſhire ſeeming much greater, than the Dane, and ſome other branches of the River Wever, that riſe about Biddulph, Talk on the hill, Audley, Betley, and Madeley, can poſſibly have through the level County of Cheſter into the Iriſh Sea. Of which perhaps more hereafter in due time and placeVid. §. §. 84, 85, 86. of this Chapter..

21. Nor has Trent only and Wever theſe great ſupplies of water from the fountains of this County, but many branches of the Severn (the ſecond River of England) have their riſe here alſo, as the Terne, Smeſtal, Flaſhbrook, and the others that come forth Aqualat and Snowdon poole: To which add that the Meeſe, Stour, and Severn it ſelf (the only navigable River in it) alſo paſs through this County: All which ſumm'd up together, we find at the foot of the account, that it is water'd with no leſs than 24. Rivers of name, though a Mediterranean County; beſides the endleſs number of anonymous Rindles and ſmall brooks that muſt needs attend them; a number perhaps that very few Countries of the like extent can be found to ſurpaſs, if any that equals, it. And ſome of theſe too of ſo rank precipitant ſtreams eſpecially the Dove and Dane (there being here and there in them, near the fountain heads ſome ſmall Caſcades) that in time of floods they break down Bridges, and remove ſtones of immenſe magnitude, and the Dove ſometimes will change its channel; which I ſuppoſe ha's been the cauſe that a part of Staffordſhire in the pariſh of Mathfield lyes on Derbyſhire ſide the River, and a little below (near the bridge you paſs over to Snelſton) a part of Derbyſhire on the Staffordſhire ſide: Nay ſo very ſharp too are ſome of the leſſer brooks upon ſudden rains; that, as I was ſeriouſly told by that ingenious Gent. Mr. Philip Hollins of Moſeleie, the little Rivulet called Cowms brook that runs betwixt his houſe and Basford, into Churnet; once removed a ſtone of three or four Tun, at leaſt a bows ſhoot.

22. The Currents alſo of moſt of the other Rivers are rapid enough, but ſome of them indeed muth quicker then others, as the Trent than Sow, and Sow than Penk; yet all of them ſo ſwift, as to prevent any vapid noiſom vapors from aſcending thence to infect the Air, though it muſt needs indeed be rateably better or worſe, according as their ſtreames be ſwifter or flower. Beſide the Rivers, the Meers and Pools of this County are many and large, whereof that at Aqualat is 1848 yards long, and 672 yards broad, which it holds within a trifle more or leſſe, almoſt from one end to the other; and Ladford poole is ſaid to contain about threeſcore Acres; to which add Cockmeer, Eccleſhall Caſtle pooles, New-poole, the poole at Mare, with divers others: All which either having Rivulets that continually paſs through them, or being fed with liveing Springs, and plentifully ſtock't with Fiſh which perpetually move the Waters, they are always kept ſo clear and free from ſtagnation, that in a manner they ſend up as few noxious exhalations as the Rivers themſelves.

23 Amongſt which we muſt not forget the Poole or Lake mentioned by Mr Camden out of Gervaſe of Tilbury, who in his Otia Imperialia to Otho the fourth, ſays that in the Biſhoprick of Coventry and County of Stafford, at the foot of a Hill, which the inborn people of the Country have named Mahull, there is a water ſpread abroad in manner of a Meere, in the territory of a Village which they terme Magdalea; in which Meer, or Marſh there is a moſt clear water, which hath ſuch an effectuall virtue in refreſhing of bodies, that ſo often as Hunters have chaſed ſtaggs, and other Deere untill their Horſes be tired, if in the greateſt heat of the ſcorching Sun they taſt of this water, and offer it unto their horſes for to drink, they recover their ſtrength of running again which they had loſt, and become ſo freſh as one would think they had not run at all. Camden's Britannia in Staffordſhire ſub finem.. But where about this ſhould be, ſays Mr Camden, I cannot yet learn, nor indeed could I hear of any ſuch Hill, though that at Heyley Caſtle having a great poole at the foot, ſeems agreeable enough to it, being near alſo to the village of Madeley, perhaps anciently called Magdalea; which I ſo little doubt will refreſh a Horſe if he drink thereof after he is tired with running, that I firmly beleive all the pooles in the County, will doe the very ſame, being generally clear & briſk; and but few flat or vapid.

24 Tis true indeed in the Moorelands where they burn much Peat, their pits are uſually fill'd by the frequent rains brought by the Tropaean winds from the Iriſh Seas in which the water being ſated with a crude Sulphur, and ſtagnating beſides, muſt needs emitt contagious vapors; yet are not theſe neither ſo bad as ſome have fancyed the water is of the black-Meer of Morridge, which I take to be nothing more than ſuch as thoſe in the peat-pits; though it be confidently reported that no Cattle will drink of it, no bird light on it, or fly over it; all which are as falſe as that it is bottomleſſe; it being found upon meaſure ſcarce four yards in the deepeſt place, my Horſe alſo drinking when I was there as freely of it as I ever ſaw Him at any other place, and the fowle ſo far from declining to fly over it, that I ſpake with ſeveral that had ſeen Geeſe upon it; ſo that I take this to be as good as the reſt, notwithſtanding the vulgar diſrepute it lyes under.

25. Though indeed they are all unwholſome enough in themſelves, and would be ſo to the Inhabitants, but that the Moorelands is an open Country lying high, and the Hills cloathed neither with woods or groves, ſo that being lyable to the ſmalleſt briſes of wind, the noxious exhalations whenever they ariſe (except in deep Calmes which are every where unwhoſom) are always diſperſed; which is ſo ſoveraign a remedy, that the Mooreland Country notwithſtanding their Boggs, is really as healthy perhaps as the beſt part of the County; if the great Age and conſtant health of the Inhabitants, that have been lately, and are now living there, may paſs (as ſure they ought) for ſufficient proof of the matter, of both which, were I put upon it, I could no where find ſuch pregnant inſtances; The Worſhipful Mr. Biddulph of Biddulph (as I was informed by divers) having not long ſince had twelve Tenants all living at a time within the two Pariſhes of Biddulph and Horton, whoſe Ages put together made up a thouſand years: And the Worſhipfull William Leveſon Gower of Trentham Eſq having now four Tenants all living at Cocknage in the edge of the Moorelands that one with another make 360 years; which I take for ſuch cogent and inſuperable Evidences (to omit many others of the like kind) that nothing more need be added in this place; the Longevity of perſons belonging to another.

26. And ſo much for the waters of more common uſe, as they are ordinarily found in Pooles, Springs, or Rivers; come we next to conſider thoſe that have ſomwhat unuſual in them, whether in their Exit, courſe, or ſaturation with Sulphurs or Mineral Salts, or howſoever remarkable upon any other account: And firſt of the Pooles; whereof there is one at Penford, which though a ſtanding Lake yet is ſeldom dry, and tolerably clear in ſetled fair weather, only againſt rain it becomes troubled, riſeing full of bubbles, and in a little time thickening at the top into a yellow Scum, which preſently as it rains vaniſhes away, and the water recovers again its former colour and clearneſs: All which has frequently been obſerved and found to be true by the worthy Mr. Fowler an inhabitant of the place, who freely confeſt that he had often been admoniſht by it in time of harveſt to fetch in his Corne, and at other times made the ſame uſe of it, as we do of weather-glaſſes or other Hygroſcopes, ſo that as to the matter of fact I doubt not at all, though I had not opportunity of makeing Experiment of it.

27. But how this ſhould come to paſs is the great queſtion? in order to the ſolution whereof I could not but call to mind that upon the approach of Rain there are few ſtanding pooles that do not riſe in bubbles, which ſome have attributed to the Eeles or other fiſh, which they would have to be as ſenſible of approaching ſtormes as we dayly ſee birds and beaſts are, and perhaps ſo they may: whether this Poole were ſtock't with fiſh or no I did not enquire, nor matters it much whether it be or no, ſince I am ſure the ſame happens where there are none; beſide, that it would be ſomwhat unaccountable too, how they ſhould raiſe a yellow Scumme: It ſeems therefore in my judgment much more probable, that the pores of the Earth being at ſuch times unlock't (bodies much more compact alſo yeilding and expanding themſelves againſt rain as we ſee it in our wainſcots, in the boards of Mr. Conniers's Philoſoph. Tranſact. Numb. 127. and 129., and coards of the Sieur Grillet's new Hygrometer Weekly Memorials, Numb. 1. p. 8.) many ſteams breath forth, which being as various as the earths from whence they proceed, produce as different fermentations in the mud and water, which thicken it and occaſion thoſe bubbles to aſcend; whence paſſing into the Air, and repelling its preſſure, they may be as likely too, to cauſe the falling of the Quicksilver in our Barometers, as any thing perhaps that has hitherto been thought of.

28. The aſcent of theſe ſteams that thus diſturb the Mud &c. I take alſo to be the occaſion that Ducks and other water fowle clap their wings and rejoyce upon approaching rains, and are after ſo buſy with their heads under water, I ſuppoſe, to ſee what they can catch by the way: Which if true in the general, let us now come home to the particular caſe in hand, and ſee how it comes to paſs that ſuch a yellow ſcumme ſhould be ſent up thus to cover the face of the water. Wherein though it cannot very well be expected that I ſhould allege very many, or very probable reaſons, being unhappily prevented of ſeeing the place, by ill weather and approach of night; yet perhaps I may not over much miſs of the mark, if I gueſs it may be done by the aſcent of Niter or ſome nitrous fume, that mixing with a Sulphur in the bottom of the Lake, and ſharply corroding and ſeparating its parts, may thus ſend them up to the ſurface of the water, which may be repell'd or diſperſt again upon the deſcent of the rain: in which conjecture I am not a little confirm'd, becauſe at Codſall not far off there is ſulphur enough in the earth as ſhall be ſhewn in due place, which yet I am not ſollicitous ſhould longer paſs for the reaſon, than till a better can be brought to ſupply its roome.

29. And as this foretells Rain, ſo there are ſeveral other Pooles that prognoſticat a dearth, either by riſeing, or overflowing: ſuch is the Moſs poole near Mearton in the pariſh of Forton; and Drudemeer in the pariſh of Aldridge; the riſeing of the former, and exundation of the latter, (which generally at other times is near dry) being taken for certain ſignes of a dearth of Corne: and perhaps ſo they may indeed not without reaſon, our dearths here in England being moſt frequently the conſequents of great Rains. But that which excells all the reſt in this feat is Hungry pit, ſituat in a field below the old fortification not far from Billington, but in the pariſh of Seighford, ſo called I ſuppoſe, for that contrary to the riſe of Nile upon the pillar of Mikias in the Iſle Roud or Garden F. Vanſlebius his preſent State of Egypt. Cap. of the Pillar Mikias. which brings plenty, this predicts ſcarcity by its riſe upon ſticks, ſet upright in the mud, which the people place there every one for their own particular obſervations; forejudging the riſe or fall of corne in the Mercats, by the riſe or fall of the water on theſe ſticks, and ſo either keeping or vending it accordingly: wherein it ſo little reguards the quality of the weather, that it overflowes ſometimes in the greateſt droughts (as I ſaw it do in the dry Spring Anno. 1680.) and as often has nothing in it after great falls of rain; as was teſtifyed to me from the frequent obſervations of divers ſober perſons now living thereabout: who alſo aſſured me that the remarks made upon it had been ſo profitable to ſome (whether by caſualty or not, they could not tell) that they had advanced their fortunes conſiderably by it.

30. How many concurrent cauſes and circumſtances attending them, may unite in produceing of ſuch an effect, though it be hard to determin, yet thus much I think we may pronounce for certain, that it muſt needs be done by the mediation of Springs: into which opinion I am the rather induced, becauſe I find the ſame intermiſſions in many fountains, particularly in the Well South of Whittington Church, which though it want not water at any time whatever, yet overflowes (they ſay) extreamly againſt a dearth of Corne: But in the Church field not far from thence, in a piece of ground call'd Hunger-moore-ſlade belonging to Mr. Nicholas Harvey of Whittington, there is a Spring that breaks forth (according to the opinion of the people) only before a time of great dearth, being at all other times dry though at the wetteſt ſeaſons, as I found it in Autumn An. 1680. after a full Moneths rain: And when it does break forth (which for the moſt part happens not in ſeveral years Nonnulli [fontes] ad multum tempus ceſſant effluere, deinde rurſus emergunt. Geo. Agricolae de Natura Eorum quae effluunt ex terra Lib. 3. it then ſeldom runs above thirty poles, at which diſtance it ſinks into the Earth again.

31. Near Aſhwood bridg in the pariſh of Kings-Swinford and not far from Swyndon, I was ſhewed another Spring with a ſmall Lake before it, by my worthy friend Mr. John Paſton Rector of Himley, ſomwhat agreeable to this, commonly called Hunger-wall, becauſe it is uſually either quite dry, or at moſt ſtagnats and runs not at all, but (as the vulgar will have it) againſt a dearth of Corne: which how true it may be I ſhall not here diſpute, but moſt certain it is, it does not always run; and when it does, it ſometimes they ſay comes forth with ſuch a noiſe, that it ha's frightened people, that have then happen'd to be near it, as particularly they will tell you it did ſome Rabbit-ſtealers, that were not far off, when it once thus happen'd to burſt out: much after the ſame manner I ſuppoſe as at that celebrated Spring in the Peak of Derbyſhire called Weeding Well, which as my worthy, learned, and moſt ingenious friend, the Worſhipful Charles Cotton of Beresford Eſq in his hiſtorical Poem of the wonders of the Peak, alſo acquaints us, ſends forth a hollow murmering noiſe Wonders of the Peak, p. 26. , before the approach of the waters, that it emitts in like manner but at certain times; and that too at ſuch inequal periods, that 'tis a hard matter to hit the time of its flowing; ſo untruly is it ſaid to keep correſpondence with the Sea, ſo as to obſerve its Tides; and ſo abuſively for that reaſon do ſome call it Tides-well; for ſays the ingenious Mr. Hobbs Fons hic temporibus nec tollitur (ut mare) certis; Aeſtibus his nullam praefigit Ephemeris horamThomae Hobbs de mirabilibus Pecci Carm..

32. And quickly after he tells us, that it is ſo uncertain, that it ebbs and flows ſometimes thrice in an hour, and ſometimes again not above once in a Moneth; which frequency of ebbing and flowing he aſcribes to the rains, and the infrequency to droughts, to whom the ingenious Mr. Cotton objects, Though here it might be ſaid if this were ſo It never would but in wet weather flow; Yet in the greateſt drought the Earth abides It never fails to yeild leſs frequent Tides, Which always clear and unpolluted are, And nothing of the waſh of Tempeſt ſhareWonders of the Peak p. 29. ſo wholy independent thinks that ingenious Gentleman this Spring to be of the temper of the ſeaſon, though it has not indeed the repute of foretelling dearths, and other ſtrange Revolutions, as this of ours has; for which very reaſon and its breaking forth with a noiſe, I take it to be the Lake of Alexander Neckham, to which he aſcribes the very ſame qualities, and expreſly ſays it is in this County, the Title of his Poem concerning it being De Lacu Staffordiae. Rugitu Lacus eſt Eventus praeco futuri, Cujus aquae fera ſe credere nulla ſolet, Inſtet odora Canum virtus, mors inſtet acerba, Non tamen intrabit exagitata Lacum Camden in Staffordſh. ſub finem. of which other quality, that no wild beaſt will in any wiſe enter it, though I muſt confeſs I heard nothing, yet this being the moſt agreeable to it of any I could hear of in the County, muſt either be it, or perhaps (which is more probable) there is none ſuch at all.

33. Walter of Hemingburgh tells us of ſuch intermitting prophetic waters called Ʋipſe's, which Gulielimus Neubrigenſis ſays were in the Province of Deira near the place of his birth, and that he knew them from his childhood to run but now and then againſt a time of dearth, non quidem jugiter ſed annis interpoſitis, ſeveral years being interpoſed wherein they were dry, which drought too they eſteemed as a certain ſigne of plenty Guliel. Nubrigenſis Rerum Angl. Lib. 1. cap. 28.. And I was told of ſuch a Spring near Spot-Grange not far from Hilderſton that breaks forth only againſt a dearth, which had then been dry for three or four years. The little fountain in Cank-wood ſo much obſerved by the right Worſhipful Sir Brian Broughton Bar t. may alſo be reckoned another of this kind; it running as well in dry, as wet weather, and ſometimes in neither: All which put together: with ſome others hereafter to be mention'd, may paſs I ſuppoſe for evidence enough, that there are indeed in the World ſuch intermitting ſprings, that have no dependance at all upon the weather: but whither there be any ſuch connexion between the profluence of theſe, and dearths, wars, plagues, and many other like prodigious Events as are ſaid to follow them, I am very diffident, and want confidence either to aſſert, or inſert them here.

34. For quite contrary to theſe I find St. Hellens well at Ruſhton Spencer ſo plentiful a ſpring that joyned with another but of equal force, they ſupply an overſhot Mill not far diſtant from their riſe, for many years together; yet ſo ſometimes it comes to paſs that this well will grow dry, after a conſtant profluence perhaps of eight or ten years, and this not by degrees, but altogether of a ſudden; as well in wet, as dry years; and always about the begining of May when the ſprings are commonly eſteemed higheſt, and ſo uſually continues, as I was credibly informed by the Worſhipful the ingenious Robert Wilmot of Eardley Eſq till about Martin maſs following: And this the vulgar too imagin, never happens but before ſome ſtupendous Calamity, of dearth, Warrs, or other grand Revolution: thus they will tell you it grew dry before the laſt Civil-warr; again before the Martyrdom of K. Charles the firſt of ever bleſſed memory; again about 10 years ſince before a great dearth of Corne; and laſtly in An. 79. upon our late diſturbances. Now that the ſame things ſhould be portended, by the contrary operations of the ſame cauſe, upon the ſame Subject, ſeems prety hard, that I ſay not unreaſoneable, to be allowed; ſo that I fear there is more of Caſualty and credulity in the matter, than of any dependence that can probably intercede, the flowing and dry'th of theſe Springs, and ſuch deplorable Events.

35. Much better therefore will it be, and much more inſtructive to the Reader; wholy to wave all conſideration of theſe ruſtick opinions, impoſed gratis on the incurious Multitude, and apply my ſelf cloſely to a further conſideration of theſe temporary Springs; and the rather, becauſe they ſeem to conduce not a little (together with ſome others hereafter to be mention'd) to the illuſtration of the Queſtion ſo much controverted by the Learned, viz. Whether the Springs are ſupplyed with that great Expence of water, that we ſee they dayly vent, from Rains, Miſts, Dews, Snows, Haile &c. received into the Spungy tops of Mountains and ſent forth again at the feet of them, or ſomwhere in their declivities; or whether they are furniſh't from the Sea through ſubterraneous paſsages, as from the great Treaſury of the waters, and are return'd again thither by the Rindles, Brooks, and Rivers? Or in ſhort, whether they have their Origine from the Sea by a ſuperior Circulation through the Clouds; or by an inferior, through Channels in the bowells of the Earth? or from both? which though it be ſtated by ſo very many Authors, and ſo fully too, as that ſome of them have written whole Treatiſes about it, ſo that one would think there ſhould nothing material remain unſaid upon this Subject, Yet having ſeen in my travels great variety of Springs, and obſerved many particulars in this County relating to them perhaps altogether unknown, at leaſt not minded by others; I make bold to produce them, ſince it muſt be of concern that any thing can be added, to a Subject that has ſo fully been enlarg'd upon already.

36. And this that I might doe with as much brevity as may be, I have excluded all the wild extravagant opinions of Nicholas Papin and others, in the very propoſal of the Queſtion; ſuppoſing all others that have any tolerable pretence may be reduced to one or other of it's branches, without much force or conſtraint: To come then cloſe to the matter without further preface, let us firſt conſider (that we may do't too with perſpicuity) how many ſorts of fountains we have to treat of, for by this means it will be evident, whether all ſorts of Springs belong either to this, or that Member of the Queſtion? or wherher ſome to the one, and the reſt to the other? which upon weighing the whole matter as they ſtand related to this Problem I find beſt diſtinguiſh't by the manner of their Exits, time of duration, and their ſaturation with mineral Salts, ſulphurs, or bitumen's; from which Topics they naturally divide themſelves, into Springs that are Either Temporary, ſuch as have no conſtant flux, and theſe again are either Regular, and theſe too are either uncertain, which yet conſtantly follow Rains. certain and periodical, that conſtantly obſerve a certain time of the year. Irregular, which too are either annual, that happen every year, but at uncertain times of that year. ſeptennial, decennial, &c. that run or ſtop in 7, 8, or 10 years. Perennial, that have a conſtant flux, and theſe again are either Pure clear water, which too are either weak, and weeping. ſtrong, and profluent. Mixt, and theſe are either Saline, whereof ſome are Hot, as in Bathes. Cold, as in the Saltworks, and ſome medicated waters. Sulphureous. Bitumenous. under ſome of which heads I ſuppoſe there is no ſort of fountain whatever but may be moſt comodiouſly reduced without ſtraining of Courteſie, at leaſt none in Staffordſhire, which whether they all come from rains, miſts, dews, &c? or all from the Sea? or ſome from one, & ſome from the other? is the Queſtion to be debated.

37. In the deciſion whereof, I think I may be peremptory that amongſt the Springs that have no conſtant flux, thoſe which in the Summer time are commonly dryed up, but after plentiful falls of rain, or competent moiſt weather, are conſtantly either profluent, or have a moderat ſtream; in ſhort, that the temporary regular uncertain Springs, muſt certainly depend on rains, dews, &c. And I beleive moſt of thoſe perennial Springs that are near the tops of Hills (whereof I have had the opportunity of viewing many) which I generally find to be but weak and weeping rather than runing, ſuch as that upon the Bruff hill in the Pariſh of Mare, in all probability too muſt either come from rains, or the miſts that we ſee uſualy hang on the Summits of them, when it is clear and dry weather below in the valleys: And not only theſe, but as Vitruvius, Peter Martyr, Cardan, Molina, Bernard Paliſſy, Gaſſendus, Le Pere Iean Francois, and another Anonymus French Author, Printed at Paris An. 1674. Mr. Ray, Mr. Hook, &c. are of opinion, all other Springs and runing waters whatever, owe their origine and continuation chiefly to rains, dews, &c. The probability whereof they inſinuat principally by the following reaſons, which I ſhall here repeat as faithfully and as ſuccinctly as may be.

38. Firſt becauſe great inundations or overflowing of Rivers manifeſtly proceed either from the rain that immediatly falls, or from the melting of Snow or Ice that hath formerly fallen upon the more eminent parts of Mountains. 2, Becauſe many Springs quite fail in dry Summers, and generally all abate conſiderably of their waters. 3, Becauſe no Springs break out either on the top of a hill, or ſo near the top, but that there is always earth enough above them to afford a ſupply, conſidering the condition of high Mountains which are almoſt continually moiſtened with Clouds, and on which the Sun beams have but little force. 4, Becauſe 'tis obſerved that there are no Springs riſe in any plain, unleſs there be hills ſo near that one may reaſonably conclude they are fed from thence. 5, Becauſe in Clay Grounds into which water ſinks with difficulty, we ſeldom find any Springs, whereas in ſandy, gravelly, rocky, ſtony, or other grounds into which rain can eaſily make its way, we ſeldom fail of them. 6, Becauſe we are aſſured by thoſe that have experimented and calculated it, that communibus annis & locis there falls water enough from the Heavens in actual rain, miſts, dews, ſnow or hail, upon the ſurface of any Country, to ſupply all the water that runs into the Sea by the rivers of that Country. 7, Becauſe they who would have Fountains to ariſe from, and to be continnually fed from the Sea, have not as yet given any ſatisfactory account,

39. Firſt, that there are any ſuch Caverns or ſubterraneous paſſages in the Earth that come from the Sea; or 2. If there be, how water can aſcend to the tops of Mountains and have its efflux there, ſince the Sea can have no ſuch protuberances or elevated parts above the reſt, as the earth ha's; and that no water will aſcend above its owne Level. or 3, How the water (if from the Sea) ſhould become thus freſh, ſince it ſeems ſo far from being done by tranſcolation, that it cannot be ſo done by diſtillation though frequently repeated, but it will retain a brackiſh taſt; for that ſeawater, as Varenius aſſerts, ha's a volatil as well as a fixt ſalt, which latter though it can be ſeparated either by percolation or diſtillation, yet the volatil cannot, it being ſo ſpirituous that it will aſcend with the moſt rarifyed water. Nor 4. do they give any ſatisfactory account, why the paſſages through which theſe percolations are made (if the ſalt be continually left behind in them) are not long ſince ſtopt up with the ſalt that ha's perpetually been left behind in them from the begining of the World. Nor 5. why the Sea is not long before this become all freſh, ſince we cannot but ſuppoſe that the whole maſs of water ha's once at leaſt paſt through the body of the earth ſince the Creation of the World, if not many more times than there are years ſince the begining, as thoſe that do hold the contrary opinion do freely admit. And theſe are the chief reaſons (nor are they ſlight ones) upon which the Authors above mention'd have grounded their opinion, which is the moſt applauded one too, and moſt univerſally received; in relation whereof I have been ſo far from abateing any thing of their ſtrength, that I think I have propoſed ſome of them with more advantage than the Authors themſelves.

40. And yet this opinion ſeems to be preſt with more, and more inſuperable difficulties than the other of Homer, Plato, Ariſtotle, Virgil, Seneca, Pliny, the Philoſophers of Conimbra, Scaliger, Dobrzenzki, Van Helmont, Lydiat, Pierre Davity, Des Cartes, Du Hamel, Le Pere Schottus, M. Jaques Rohault, Petrus Barbay, and the Reverend and Learned Dr. Stillingfleet Dean of St. Pauls, who all hold with little difference that ſome Springs at leaſt are furniſh't from other waters in the bowels of the Earth, which moſt of them agree too muſt be ſupplyed from the Sea by ſubterraneous paſſages, and that they are returned again thither by the Rindles, Brooks, and Rivers, by the inferior Circulation: It is preſt I ſay with far more inexplicable difficulties, than that of Homer, Plato, &c. for beſide that 'tis altogether unreaſonable to admit that any of thoſe temporary irregular Springs mention'd in the § § 30, 31, 32, 33, 34. of this Chapter, (conſidering their circumſtances) ſhould by any means poſſible come from rains, dews, &c. though the waters they ſend forth indeed are but few and inconſiderable; it is altogether as improbable (that I ſay not impoſſible) that the temporary regular periodical Springs ſhould have their origine thence: for beſides that they conſtantly obſerve their terms whether in wet or dry weather, ſome of them happen at leaſt (if not ſo directed by ſome unknown ſecret operation of Nature) either to flow only in the dry Summer quarter, or to be moſt profluent then, though in an extream drought.

41. Thus the famous horary Fountain Lers, that riſes out of a vaſt deep Cave in the mountains of Foix, near Beleſtat in Languedoc, and waters the Mazerean plains near Tholouſe, Hic (ſays Emanuel Maignan) per aeſtatem ſingulis horis, quadrante paulatim ſuccreſcit, non ſine multo aquarum immugientium fragore, mox quadrante in uberrimum fluvium exundat; deinde alio quadrante ſubſidet, ac demum quadrante etiam inter quieſcens, aret Emanuelis Maignan Tol • ſati Perſpectivae horariae Lib. 1. Prop. 1. §. 3. . i. e. that this Spring in Summer (which Du Bartas ſays holds for four Months, Gaſſendus but three, and that it firſt breaks forth in May, June, or July) ebbs and flowes every hour, riſeing and increaſing with a great noiſe the firſt quarter, and flowing plentifully the ſecond; then ſubſideing again the third quarter, and growing dry the fourth: in both which exceſſes it is ſo conſiderable, that as Du Bartas teſtifies, for one half hour one may paſs it dryſhod, and the next ſcarce at all; part of whoſe Poem upon it, Gabriel Lermeus ha's thus tranſlated, Per menſes aliquot dum Sol utramque reviſit Thetida, ſex quater ille vices oriturque caditque; Nunc ſiccis pedibus ſiccae calcantur arenae, Nec mora dimidiae ſpatium uix fluxerit horae, Ecce tibi ſubito ruit impete Lerſus abundans Spumeus, & Curſus magnarum imitatur aquarumGaſſendus tells us of another of this kind, which he calls Fontem Collis Martienſis, that Ebbs and Flows 8. times in an hour. Phyſ. Sect. 3. Memb. pr. Lib. 1. cap. 7. And Dr. Merret acquaints us with one near Kilken in Flintſhire that ebbs and flows 4 times in an hour, Pinax Rerum Nat. p. 222. .

42. Amongſt theſe temporary regular periodical waters, we may alſo reckon thoſe of Niger, Ganges, and Rio de la Plata, theſe having their riſe at ſtated times, as well as thoſe of the great River Nile, which begining its decreaſe on the 24 of September, and ſo continuing till May following, is then ſo low and weak, that it ſeems rather to ſtagnat than run; but preciſely about Sun riſeing on the 12 of June or Baoni of the Copties, which is the 17th of ours, in the height of Summer, it begins to increaſe, and ſo continues till the 17 of their September which is our 24th, in the mean time overflowing and ſtrangely fertilizing the whole Country of Egypt: The Origine of which increaſe the learned Vanſlebius (who lived there ſome years and carefully obſerved it) thinks chiefly to proceed from the fall of certain drops, ſomewhat like dew, that mixing with the waters cauſe ſuch a fermentation and corruption in them, that they expand themſelves and ſwell to a great height, long before it can any way be poſſibly effected by the great rains in Habeſſia, which according as Ludolfus was informed by the Habeſſian Abbot Gregory do not fall till their winter, which begins not till the 25 of June Jobi Ludolfi Hiſt. Aethiop. Lib. 1. cap. 5. §. 34., and muſt have ſome time did they preciſely fall on that day (and were not ſtopt by the Cataracts) to run that vaſt tract of Land between Goiam (where the Nile riſes) and Egypt; though Vanſlebius ſays they fall not till July, Auguſt, and September, ſo that they can neither be the firſt nor ſole cauſe of its increaſeVanſlebius's preſent State of Egypt, Chap. of the River Nile..

43. During this riſe, occaſion'd by the fermentation, there is a green kind of Scumme ſuperinduced upon the water, which endures betwixt twenty and forty days, more or leſs according as the great rains fall ſooner or later in Habeſſinia, which when they come down into Egypt turne the River red, being ſo tinged with the earth by the way before they come thither, the Soil of Egypt being black and therefore unlikly to do it. The learned Cambraeus as cited by Gaſſendus thinks this fermentation to be cauſed by Niter, wherewith the Country and eſpecially the Channel of the River is acknowledged to abound, which being heated by the Sun, thus dilates it ſelf and makes the River to ſwell Petri Gaſſendi Phyſicae Sect. 3. Memb. pr. cap. 3. & 5. : Wherein if he intend that ſort of Niter which we call Borax (I mean the natural and not the factitious) otherwiſe call'd Chryſocolla, deſcribed by Rulandus and others to be a green ſort of Earth Mart. Rulandi Lexicon Alchemiae in verbo Chryſocolla., and that every body knows (though we have none but the factitious) huffs and ſwells with heat, I readily ſubſcribe to him: And the rather becauſe we find it mention'd to be plentiful in Egypt, and that the waters in the Rivers cauſe an itching over the body, as Vanſlebius informes us upon its firſt increaſeVanſlebius's prejent State of Egypt, Chap, of the River Nile,, which ſeems alſo to argue that the pungent particles of Niter, or perhaps of the Natron of Egypt, which too is a ſpecies of Niter Obſervations Sur les Eaux Minerales par le Sieur Du Clos. p. 83. , are then very active: And thirdly becauſe hence we can give ſome rational account of the green ſcumme, which I take to be nothing but the froth of the fermentation made by the heat of the Sun whilſt it works on the Borax or green Earth, which ſays Wormius is the better, by how much the nearer it comes to the colour of a true Smaragd Muſei Wormiani. Lib. 1. Sect. 3. cap. 10.. Not but that I know too that common Niter in its detonation or alcaliſation with coales, acquires a green colour, which perhaps it may alſo yield, upon the exceſſive heats of the Sun, in that Country.

44. Nor is the River only lyable to this remarkable fermentation, but the Ponds and Lakes too any where near it, and they are alſo covered with the ſame green Scumme, which Vanſlebius ſays in the year 72. was thicker than it had been known to be, for many years before; more particularly the waters of the Well of Argenus or Gernus a Monaſtery of the Copties near Benheſe a Towne in the middle of Egypt, is obſerv'd to be ſenſible of the fall of the drops or dew, and to riſe the very ſame night, and in the ſame manner with the River, which having no poſſible communication with the rains in Habeſſia, ſhews evidently that the increaſe of the water in the River, comes partly at leaſt from another cauſe, and moſt likely from the fermentation made by the Niter, which however it comes to paſs ſeems to leave its owne pits (whereof there are abundance in Egypt) at the time of the increaſe and goe into the River; Pliny ſaying expreſly that whilſt Nile riſes and flows, all their Niter pits are dry, and that when it falls again and returns within its channel, then they yield their nitrous juice again for 40. days together.Excedente Nilo ſiccantur, decedente madent ſucco Nitri. Nat. Hiſt. Lib. 31. cap. 10 Which too is further confirmed by this one very ſtrange, but true Experiment viz. that if you take of the Earth of Egypt adjoyning to the River; and preſerve it carefully, that it never come to be wet, nor any way waſted, and weigh it dayly, you ſhall never find it more or leſs heavy till the 17. of June, at which day it begins to be more ponderous, and augmenteth with the increaſe of the River, whereby they have as infallible knowledg of the ſtate of the future Deluge, as by the River it ſelfe: the humidity of the Air no queſtion having recourſe through all paſſable places and mixing with the ſame Niter in the Earth, increaſeth the ſame as it does the water, as was confirm'd to Alpinus from the frequent Experiments ſeen of it, by Paulus Marianus Ʋenetus the French Kings Conſul there, Bapt: Elianus a Jeſuit, Franciſcus Saxus, Franciſcus Bonus, and one John Varot an Engliſh GentlemanProſp. Alpini de Medicina Aegyptiorum. Lib. 1. cap. 8. ; which has put me upon deliberation whether there may not fall ſuch diurnal as well as annual dews (that may alſo vary with the changes of the Moone) which in ſome meaſure may cauſe the flux & reflux of the green Sea (in proportion to the parts of the World where the Tides are great, ſmall, or none at all) by ſuch fermentations.

45. Nor leſs unlikely are the wonderful periodical waters of the Zirchnitzer ſee, or rather Lake of Carniola, to depend upon rains; of which though Georgius Wernerus has written at large,Geo. Wernerus de admirandis Hungariae aquis. ſub finem. and made a Map of the Lake; yet the learned and ingenious Dr. Edward Browne has much better, and I believe more truly deſcribed it: Which He ſays is about 2 German miles long, and one broad; unequal in the bottom, being in ſome places but 4 foot, but in the Ʋalleys (whereof there are 7 more eminent that have names) twenty yards deep; in theſe valleys there are many fiſh as Carps, Tench, Eeles &c. which together with the water, ſome time in the Month of June, all deſcend annually under ground through many great holes at the bottom; the Earth while the waters are thus ſunk, makeing a ſpeedy production of graſs yielding food for their Cattle in the Winter ſeaſon: which in the Month of September following, as certainly return again by the ſame holes, the waters ſpringing or mounting up to the height of a Pike, and runing and overſpreading the whole place again (as Wernerus deſcribes it) with that velocity, that they will overtake a ſwift Horſeman. It being remarkable too, that this receſs of water (as the riſe of Nile) is foreknown to them by a ſtone there is in it, called the Fiſhers ſtone; the Prince of Eckenberg, whoſe Lake it is, giveing all people Liberty then to take the fiſh, which they do by ſtanding in the water by the holes, and intercepting their paſſageDr. Brown's account of his Travels into Hungary, &c. p. 127, 128. .

46. But we need not run ſo far either as France, Egypt, or Carniola, to find out intermitting periodical waters that have no dependence on weather, for (though I find none in Staffordſhire) goe we but to Lambourn in Berks & there we have a Rivulet as remarkably ſuch, as any of the foremention'd, as I have been inform'd by many, but more particularly by the ingenious J. Hippiſley Eſq an Inhabitant of the place, and late high Sheriff of the County, who ha's been pleaſed to favour me with divers Letters concerning it; importing chiefly that the Rivulet there called Lambs-bourn, which very likely as Mr Camden thinks gives name to the Towne, runs much more plentifully in the Summer than Winter, and that the Springs in the Towne it ſelfe are ſometimes ſo low in the latter Seaſon, that they are commonly forced to digg their Wells deeper for want of Water: And expreſsly writing to Him to know how the Springs held the laſt great drought in 81, He ſent me word that they were ſo far, from fayling, that (if there were any ſenſible difference) the Springs and Rivulet then were rather higher than ordinary, and fayled not till about the middle of September (the uſual time) before which there had fallen rain enough, yet then not a drop to be ſeen in the Channel, till about the middle of Febr. when the ſprings as cuſtomarily, began to recover themſelves again.

47. Nor has this been only obſerved of late, but admired and celebrated alſo in former Ages, though by none ſo ſignally as the Poet Sylveſter in his Tranſlation of Du Bartas, who lived long at Lambourn in a houſe now of Mr. Hippiſleys, in quality of a Steward to the antient family of the Eſſexes, which for many Generations flouriſh't there; where He compares it to the foremention'd Lers of Du Bartas, and deſcribes its Qualities as followeth, And little Lambourn though thou match not Lers, Nor had'ſt the Honor of Du Bartas verſe; If mine have any thou muſt needs pertake,See Nat. Hiſt. of Oxfordſh. chap. 2. §. 17. Both for thy owne, and for thy Owners Sr. William Eſſex. ſake, Whoſe kind Exceſſes thee ſo nearly touch, That yearly for them thou doſt weep ſo much, All Summer long (while all thy Siſters ſhrink) That of thy tears a million dayly drink, Beſides thy Waaſt; which then in haſt doth run To waſh the feet of Chaucers Donnington Dennington Caſtle upon this Rivulet, once a ſeat of Sr. Geofry Chaucer's, our famous Engliſh Poet.. But (while the reſt are full unto the top) All Winter long thou never ſhow'ſt a drop Nor ſend'ſt a doit of needleſs ſubſidie To Cram the Kennet's wantleſs Treaſury. Before her ſtores be ſpent and Springs be ſtaid: Then, then alone, thou lend'ſt a liberal aid, Teaching thy wealthy neighours (mine of late) How, when, and where, to right participate Their ſtreams of comfort, to the poor that pine, And not to greaſe ſtill the too greaſy Swine: Neither for fame nor forme (when others doe) To give a morſel or a mite or two, But ſeverally, and of a ſelfly motion, When others miſs, to give the moſt devotionSylveſter's Tranſlation of Du Bartas the third day of the firſt Week. p. 55. .

48. I know Mr. Ray ſays that the Rivers which flow from the Alps run loweſt in the Winter, and abound moſt with water in the Summer time, ſo that ſometimes they overflow in the hoteſt Months when no rain falls; and that He teſtifies the ſame of the River Rhodanus; but attributes it wholy to the melting of the Snows at that time of Year, which lye thick on thoſe Mountains for 6 months together, no rain falling on them all the winter Seaſon (excepting the lower parts) but only Snow, and perhaps indeed it may be ſoObſervations Topogrophical, &c. p. 103. : I know alſo that Gaſſendus alleges the ſame cauſe for the flowing of the Lers in the Summer Months Pet. Gaſſendi Phyſicae §. 3. Memb. pr Lib. 1. cap. 7. : However it may be with thoſe, I am ſure there is no pretence for the ſame cauſe at Lambourn, for having ſtrictly enquired, as there are no Hills thereabout conſiderable enough to preſerve Snow on their tops any longer than in other parts of England, nor large Clefts or Caverns in them that might conſerve it ſo long as to be melted only in Summer, and then to make this copious flux; So could I not hear of any other known means whereby this might be done, More than for the great River of St. Francis the chief of Pharnambuck, which as Piſo acquaints us, by ſome hidden cauſe in Nature overflowes in this manner in the Summer time when all other Rivers are loweſtGuil. Piſ • nis de Med. Braſil. Lib. 1. p. 7. : Or for the fountain near Peſquera in Spain which as Cardan informes us begins to run in the Spring, overflowes in the Summer, begins to fail in Autumn, and is quite dry in Winter Hieron. Cardani de ſubtilitate, Lib. 2. ſub finem.. To which let me add the Gips upon the Woolds in Yorkſhire, which ſays the Worſhipful Edward Leigh of Ruſhall Eſq in the drought of Summer, when all other Springs ſeem to be dryed up, burſt out and riſe up five or ſix yards in height and ſo fall into the Dales and make a little River, by which the Townes near refreſh their Cattle, when the Valley Springs failEngland deſcribed by Edw. Leigh, in Yorkſhire, p. 219. .

49. Of which ſort of Springs and Rivers there are ſo many in the World that the day will ſcarce ſerve me to recount them all: The wells near the Lake Aſcanius ſays Agricola, Hyeme ſiccari, aeſtate uſque ad labra repleri ſolent, i. e. that they uſe to be dry in winter, but in ſummer full to the very brim; he tells us alſo of the Valeſian Spring ad calidas Lucenſes that runs plentifully all the ſummer from May to September but then grows dry *: And Varenius acquaints us that at the Towne of Villa nova in Portugal there is a fountain that flows only from the Kalends of May, to the Kalends of November, and then growes dry; and of another in Walliſland near the bathes of Leuckerbad that ceaſes to run in Autumn, and begins not again till the May following; Another of this kind he ſays there is in Spain 2 miles from Valladolid; and another near the Church of St. Iean d' Angely ſomewhere in Aquitan in France Bernh. Varenti Geograph. Gen. Lib. 1. cap. 17. prop. 17.: To which Wernerus adds one at Pſevers a towne of the Griſons, which conſtantly failes in October, and ſprings forth not again till May; and another in Switzerland that always becomes dry in Auguſt, and runs no more till June followingGeo. Wernerus de admirandis Hungariae Aquis ſub finem.; with many others that I omit, leaſt I hurt the patience of the Reader.

50 And as it is improbable that any of theſe Temporary Springs (Except ſuch as never run but after rains, and fail upon all droughts) ſo it is altogether as unlikely that Conſtant waters that abate not at all in the greateſt ſiccity, ſhould wholy depend upon ſo uncertain principles as Rains Snows &c whereof there are plenty in this County; particularly of a ſort of fountains which Agricola mentions, Qui ſemper abundant Aqua, ſed nunquam effluunt Geo. Agricolae de natura Eorum quae effluunt ex terra, Lib. 3. , that are always full of water but never overflow ſo as to make any ſtreame; ſuch are thoſe pits of water in the mooriſh ground near Eccleſhall Caſtle, which they will tell you are bottomleſs becauſe always full and never failing, yet never runing over: There areGeo. Agricolae de natura Eorum quae effluunt ex terra, Lib. 3. much ſuch wells too in Dunſmoore Meddowes near the village of Rudyerd over againſt Heracles in the pariſh of Leek, which all ſtand equally full in the greateſt drought and the wetteſt ſeaſon; when I was there in July 79 they were all brim full, though the Rivulets near them were in a manner dry; they are 8 or 10 in number, and all very deep, yet none of them empties it ſelf into the River, but the bigeſt which my worthy friend Mr. Thomas Gent found by the plummet to be but 9 or 10 yards deep, though they had always before been eſteemed bottomleſs. And

51. Dr. Boat informes us that the Springs in Ireland (where there are very many) for the moſt part of them are of this faſhion, like to a ſmall pit full of water to the brim, and runing forth at the lower ſide, without noiſe or bublingGer. Boat's Nat. Hiſt. of Ireland, Chap. 7. Sect. 1. , as the biggeſt of thoſe at Dunſmoore does; and another of this kind on Alrewas Hays near the North-Weſt Angle of the Plate courſe, which thus always overflowes, and by the vulgar is falſly reputed bottomleſs; though indeed it be not inconſiderable, that being 4 foot ſquare at the top, which it holds for as many foot deep, and after turning into a round of two foot and ½ diameter, and ſituat in a fine plain almoſt level, without any thing deſerving the name of a hill to aſſiſt it, the forementioned ingenious Mr. Wolferſtan found the plummet to deſcend in it 42 foot, before it reacht the bottom: For if the greateſt rains as Seneca aſſerts ſink into the Earth never above ten footL. An. Senecae Nat. Quaeſt. Lib. 3. cap. 7. , or if as the Anonymous French Author believes, who ſeems to have taken a great deal of care in this matter, they never wet above a foot and a halfDe L'Origine des fontains Partie ſeconde, p. 167. ; and if as the ſame Author thinks all rains that fall upon plains are ſpent in the nouriſhment of Plants, &c. I ſee not how this ſort of Springs, whether they run or not, that lye ſo deep, and are conſtantly full if they do not run, as well in droughts as wet weather, ſhould have their ſupply from rains, ſnows, &c. or from any other place, but ſome Magazine of waters in the bowels of the Earth.

52. But it may be it will be objected that though theſe Springs are conſtant, yet they are but weak, and ſome of them never profluent, ſo that a very ſmall ſupply even from the ſuperficies of the Earth may keep them ſo; which though ſcarce to be granted, yet let us admit for once that it may be ſo; but what then ſhall we ſay to thoſe mighty perennial Springs that conſtantly throw forth great quantities of water, without ſenſible abatement in what ſeaſon ſoever? whereof there is one near Acton Truſſel, and Forwel Spring in Cank wood may paſs for another, that do conſtantly ſo; but thoſe which excell all the reſt of this County (as well upon this, as other accounts hereafter to be mention'd) are the Springs at Willowbridge, belonging to the Right Honorable the Virtuous and moſt Accompliſh't Lady, Jane Lady Gerard Baroneſs Gerard of Gerards Bromley, the firſt actual Encourager of this Deſigne, the Proſpect of whoſe Paternal Seat, is here moſt deſervedly added, Tab. 4. whereof there is one, that (notwithſtanding it is oppreſt with a vaſt weight of water always lying upon it) throws out conſtantly at leaſt 6 cubick Inches of water (and ſo does the Spring at the foot of Berry bank near the Village of Darlaſton) beſide 60 more great and ſmall (that yield from ſix to one cubic Inch of water) which all riſe beſide it, within leſs than 20 yards ſquare; and yet no conſiderable Hills near, like to receive rain enough to ſupply theſe waters; that from the Wells to the Lodg being but an eaſy aſcent, and thoſe 'twixt Madley Park and Mare, and of Aſhley heath, at too great a diſtance; and (if they do contribute any thing) ſupplying the Expence of other Rivulets either flowing from them, or runing between them and theſe Springs, as the River Tern does between Willowbridge, and all the Hills near Madeley and Mare.

53. I know that the right Worſhipful the Learned Sr. Chriſtopher Wren the now worthy Preſident of the Royal Society ha's contrived a Rain-bucket to meaſure the quantity of Rain that falls, which as ſoon as 'tis full, empties it ſelf into a Ciſtern, and ſo receives more; which how often it performs is recorded by a Weather Clock, as may be ſeen in the Repoſitory of the R. Society at Greſham College Hiſt. of the Royal Society part. 2. ſub finem., by which it might eaſily be computed whether ſufficient rain falls communibus annis upon the declivities of ground toward any Spring, to ſupply the conſtant flux of it; which yet I think ha's never been duely obſerved for a whole year round: But the forecited anonymous French Author ha's been ſo induſtrious and curious in this point, that he computed the riſe of rain-water in a Conſervatory for divers years, and found the mean riſe to amount to 19 Inches and 2⅓ lines; He made alſo an Eſtimat of the courſe of the River Seine from the ſpring head to Ainay le Duc, 3 miles off (where there enters another Rivulet that ſwells it) with the declivities of the ground for a mile on each ſide, which was all he could reaſonably think might contribute to its flux, and this ſpace of three miles long and two broad, he made the Conſervatory of the rain-water to furniſh the River for a whole year: Upon which Tract of ground, being ſix miles ſquare in ſurface, ſuppoſeing that during a whole year, there have fallen rain to the height of 19 Inches and 2⅓ lines as aforeſaid, it amounts he ſays to 280 Millions 899942 Muids of water.

54. Now that he might give a groſs Eſtimat (for he pretends not at all to be preciſe in it) of the Quantity of the water runing away in this River, compared with the quantity of rain that fell upon that tract of ground before mention'd, he computed (from compariſon made with the River of the Gobelines near Ʋerſailles where it hath 50 Inches of water by meaſure) that this River could not have above 1000 or 1200 Inches of water always runing, compenſating the leſſer quantity that it hath at its ſource, with the greater that it hath towards Ainay le Duc: And following thoſe that make profeſſion of governing and conveying ſpring waters., he judg'd that a cubick Inch of water yielded in 24 hours 83 Muids, agreeing with thoſe that ſay that a cubical veſſel whoſe ſide is two foot Paris meaſure holds one Muid of water: Or (which is the ſame thing) that a veſſel which contains 83 Muids of water will make an Inch of water run continually for 24 hours; ſo that for a whole year (which is near 366 times as much) there will be required 30378. Muids to make an inch water flow conſtantly: which 83 Muids (to put them into Engliſh meaſure) make 68 Hogsheads and 42 Gallons, Ale or Beer meaſure; every French Muid containing 16777 216/1000 cubic Inches Engliſh, which is 59 49 • /1000 or 59 Ale or beer Gallons and ½ proxime; ſo that accounting 72 Gallons to the Hogshead, the Muid contains ſcarce 5/6 of a Hogshead.

55. Theſe particulars being granted him, he concludes that if one Inch of water require 83 Muids for a day, then 1200 Inches require 99600 Muids, wherefore for a whole year, which is near 366 times as much, there, will be required 36453600 Muids; which being deducted from the 280899942 Muids, which he ſuppoſed to fall annually upon the Conſervatory or tract of Land of ſix miles ſquare that he judg'd might contribute to the flux of that river, there remains 244446342 Muids, i. e. 'twixt 6 and 7 times as much as was ſpent in the maintenance of the River: which he thinks ſo abundantly exceeds what is ordinarily required for other occaſions and loſſes, ſuch as the nouriſhment of Plants, ſupply for vopors, extraordinary ſwellings of the River whil'ſt it rains, and deviations of the water other ways, that there needs but the ſixt, at moſt but the fift part of the rain and ſnow water that falls, to make a River run the whole yearDe L' Origine des Fontains ſeconde partie. from pag. 198. to pag. 207. . Which indeed is ſo vaſt a diſproportion, that one would think at firſt ſight that the queſtion were determin'd; and there is no queſtion but it had been ſo, did all the Conſervatories and Springs in the world hold ſuch a diſproportion, though it were leſs by one half.

56. But let us ſee what this Author muſt very likely have concluded in caſe he had conſidered ſuch Springs as thoſe above mention'd at Willowbridge § 52, where the bigeſt conſtantly throws out (without any ſenſible abatement) at leaſt ſix cubick Inches of water, beſide 60 more that yeild other different proportions, from 6 inches down to one, and all theſe within (perhaps little more) than 10 yards ſquare ſo that they may all without difficulty be eſteem'd as one; Had, I ſay, this Author but lighted on ſuch Springs as theſe, whoſe Conſervatory too muſt be very narrow, for the River Tern running cloſe by them, cuts of all contribution from one ſide, and receives in great meaſure what elſe might have been ſuppoſed to come from the other, he had found perhaps near as great a diſproportion between the Spring and the Conſervatory, as he did before between the Conſervatory and the Spring: For granting Willowbridg Park to be the Conſervatory for theſe Springs, whoſe ſurface we will alſo allow to be a mile ſquare, and that the rain annually falling upon its ſuperficies doth amount to 19 Inches and 2⅓ lines, yet ſuppoſing too (what cannot be reaſonably denyed) that great part of the water that this tract of ground contributes is received all along into the River both above and below the Springs, it cannot well be thought (the whole Conſervatory being but ⅙ part of that for the Seine) that it can furniſh 1/100 part of water in 10 yards ſquare, for which the French Author allowed no leſs than three miles in length.

57. But we will grant notwithſtanding the differences of the latitudes of the Conſetvatories, and of the longitudes for the iſſues of the waters, that the waters of the Conſervatory of Willowbridg do ſo concenter (which is very improbable) as to furniſh • /10 part within that little ſpace, of what the French Authors did in 3 miles in length, that is 28089994 Muids of water in a whole year, yet the diſproportion will be great between theſe Springs and their Conſervatory: For the greateſt of theſe Springs alone (at the rate of 83 Muids for every cubic Inch) vents 2988. Muids or 2469 Hogsheads dayly; that is, 1093608 Muids, or 903654 Hogsheads yearly; to which add the other 60 Springs venting different proportions from 6 cubic Inches down to one, the mean whereof will be each 3 cubic inches, they vent each 546804 Muids, or 451827 Hogsheads yearly; that is all of them together 32808240 Muids, or 27109620 Hogsheads; which 32808240 Muids being added to the 1093608 Muids of the greateſt Spring, amounts to 33901848 Muids, which is 4811854 Muids more then 'twas ſuppoſed the Conſervatory could furniſh in a year: without allowance made for the great quantities that muſt needs be ſpent in the nouriſhment of Trees and other Plants, and the much greater in Exhalations: For if we may believe experience, the vapors that are exhaled into the Air for Clouds and diſtill again in rains, come not ſo much from the Seas, as from the moiſture of the Earth; thus we ſee that in uliginous boggy Countrys (ſuch as Ireland) the rains are frequent, whereas in the Sandy deſerts of Afric and Arabia they have no rains at all: Not to mention with what difficulty ſalt waters do evaporat, or that our moſt laſting rains come from the Eaſt and South i. e. from the Landward and not from the Sea: to which add that the greateſt rains obſtruct the pores of the Earth by filling them with dirt, ſo that they cannot deſcend above a foot and ½ (which is owned by this Author) and are therefore for the moſt part carryed away in floods: Whence 'tis yet plainer how unlikely it is that ſuch mighty Springs as theſe ſhould be maintained by rains falling on ſuch a Conſervatory.

58. And yet how inconſiderable are theſe Springs at Willowbridg, in compariſon of ſome others there are in the world, and particularly of one in the French Authors owne Country, the fountain head of the River la Sorgue in the County of Venaiſſin; which ſays Gaſſendus, ab ipſa ſtatim ſcaturigine evadit navigabilis, i.e. that comes from ſo great a Spring, that it is navigable preſently at its very riſePet. Gaſſendi Phyſ. Sect. 3. Memb. pr. Lib. 1. cap. 3. near Blawbeher in the Dukedom of of Wurt • mberg in Schwabenland is much ſuch another, that vomits up water in ſo great abundance that the River at the mouth of it is a furlong broad, Joh. Herbinii de Cataractis. Lib. 1. cap. 11. : whereof had he delivered us ſo nice an account as he ha's done of the other, he had certainly given himſelf and the world better ſatisfaction. But for clearer evidence of the matter in hand, becauſe the Conſervatories for ſingle Springs are always as uncertain as they are unequal, let us conſider the immenſe quantities of water that are diſembogued into the Sea by all the Rivers, and make an eſtimat whether an annual riſe of 19 inches and 2 ⅓ lines over the whole face of the Earth will ſuffice for them; the queſtion ſeeming to be rendred much leſs difficult, by how much 'tis enlarged, there being now but one, an t'other, to be conſider'd, whereas before every little Spring was a new queſtion. To come then quick and cloſe to the buſineſs,

59. I will found my computation upon that of Ricciolus in his Almageſtum novum, where he tells us that the Eridanus or Po being but 1000 paces broad, and 15 foot or 3 paces deep (a very inconſiderable River in reſpect of ſome others) pours forth into the Adriatic 18000000 of cubical paces of water every hour (ſuppoſeing it to run but ſix miles in that time) that is 432000000 per diem, which is near 15552000000 of cubic paces per Annum Joh. Bapt. Riccioli Almageſti novi, Lib 2. cap. 13. , and yet I take this to be a River of the third and loweſt Claſs of great Rivers, ſcarce ſo big as the Thames or Severn in England, or the Rhoſne in France, whereof there may perhaps be above a hundred in the world (as well as theſe) not thought conſiderable enough to be numbred by Varenius in his ſecond Claſs: In which he places the Rhine, the Elve, Euphrates, Tanais, Boryſthenes, Petzora, Peſida, Tabab, Yrtiis &c, to the number of twenty: And in his firſt, the Nile, Niger, Danow, Oby, Ganges, Jeniſcea, Parana, Rio de la Plata, Orellana, Maragnon, Omaranna, Canada or of St. Laurence, Janſu, Volga, &c. to the number of 16 or 17Bernh. Varenit Geograph. General. Lib. 1. cap. 16. Prop. 27. : The laſt whereof [the Volga] alone (as the ſame Varenius ha's computed it) throws forth water ſufficient within a year into the Caſpian Sea to cover the whole Earth Ibid. Prop. 5. ; which allowing for the depth of the innumerable Valleys, will amount at leaſt to as much as the 19 inches and 2⅓ lines can come too: Nor ſurely can that of St. Laurence pour forth leſs, it runing as the ſame Author informs us 600 German miles, and being broad at the mouth as Ricciolus declares, no leſs than 60 (I ſuppoſe he means Italian) milesJoh. Bapt. Riccioli Geograph. & Hydrograph. reformatae, Lib. 6. cap. 19. .

60. Now if the Po do vent into the Adriatic Sea 15552000000 of cubic paces in a year, the River of St. Laurence being 60 times as broad (not to mention the likelyhood of its being much deeper) muſt vent at leaſt nine hundred thirty three thouſand, one hundred and twenty Millions of cubical paces of water, which (to depend upon Varenius's ſupputation, and the near equality of the two rivers, to avoid multiplicity of Arithmetic) muſt either of them expend water enough to cover the ſuperficies of the whole Earth to the height at leaſt of 19 Inches and 2⅓ lines: But if neither of theſe will be thought ſufficient to do it, certainly it cannot be denyed to the Argyropotamus or Rio de la Plata otherwiſe call'd St. Chriſtophers which I take to be the bigeſt River in the World, the ſame Ricciolus expreſly aſſerting that Nilus, Ganges, and Euphrates put all together will not equal it; its mouth being 90 miles broad, and runing with ſuch violence into the Sea, that it makes it freſh for 200 miles forwardIbidem.. Yet if any Man will be ſo unreaſonable as to grant it to neither of theſe, nor to all three together, ſurely it will be difficult to find one, that will be ſo hardy as to deny it theſe, and 1000 more at leaſt that there are in the World of all magnitudes, which put together, in my weak judgment cannot but exceed the 19 Inches &c. upon a modeſt account leſs than three, if not five hundred times over: Whence the Reader may be ſatisfyed that a Conſervatory of water over the ſurface of the Earth of ſuch a height, is not like to ſupply all the Rivers of the World.

61. And if the cold freſh water Rivers be not furniſh't from rains, much leſs ſure can the hot, Salt, or bitter ones have their origine thence; for ſuch we find there are in very good Authors: Whereof Peter Martyr ſays there is one in Cuba ſo large that it is navigable, and yet ſo hot that one can hardly endure to touch itSommario de L' Indie Occidentali del S. Don Pietro Martire cap. 7. p. 6. Stamp. Venet. L' Anno 1565, ; and there is a Spring in Ireland that is as hot as water can poſſibly be made with fire; and in Japan another yet much hotter, it retaining heat as Caronius writes 3 times longer than other water heated with fire Bernh. Varenti Geograph. Gen. Lib. 1. cap. 17. Prop. 7. : As unlikely too are the Salt or bitter Rivers ſuch as Exampeus near Callipadum in Aſia minor Ibid. prop. 9., to have their maintenance from rains; or any Bathes, Saltworks, or other Medicated waters; nay ſo far are they from it, that by the fall of rains, they are all much prejudic'd, if not rendered wholy uſeleſs by them, at leaſt for ſometime; the Bathes being cooled, the brine weakened by the mixture with the freſhes, and all Medicinal Springs ſo diluted, that they become thence ineffectual, till theſe rain waters are carryed off again.

62. Not that the rains deſcend ſo low as where the waters are heated by fermentations or otherwiſe, or made ſalt by the Mineral glebes they paſs through; but by mixing with them here above at their exit: for it is plain that moſt of the rain-waters (as ſhall be further proved hereafter) which are not preſently carryed away by the Rivulets, ſtand in ponds, high-ways, or other hollows in the ground, till the Sun exhales them into Clouds again; and never deſcend into the ſolid Earth (which is ſufficient for the nouriſhment of all ſorts of Plants) above ten foot at moſt; whereas the heats for the Bathes lie very deep: For who ever met with any near the ſurface of the Earth ſufficient to make waters ſo hot as they are here in England at the Bath, or St. Vincents rock, or at Porcet near Aken in Germany, where they have a little hole in the ſtreet which they call Hell cover'd with a moveable Grate, the water whereof is ſo hot, that the neighbours round about in the Summer time, when they have no fire, boyle their Eggs in it (letting them down in a Net) which it will do to hardneſs, in a little ſpaceLod. Rowzce M. D. Treatiſe of Tunbridg waters. cap. 4. : Or whoever met with any rocks of natural ſalt ſo near the day (as they call it) like to make ſuch brine as they have at the ſaltworks in Cheſhire, or at the Brine pits in the Pariſh of Weſton in this County: The Medicated waters indeed are very weak in compariſon of theſe, yet being ſpoiled with rains as well as the reſt, 'tis probable at leaſt that none of them come from rains, dews, &c.

63. Further add that if it be ſo unlikely that the cold or hot, freſh or Salt Springs come from rains where there fall plenty of them; more improbable is it ſtill (that I ſay not impoſſible) that the Springs in ſuch Countrys where there falls little rain ſhould be ſupplyed from it: and yet we are credibly informed that the Springs in ſuch places flow as plentifully as elſewhere. In the Iſle Mayo (one of thoſe of Cape Verd) which lyeth in the Torrid Zone 13 degr. and 30 m. North of the Aequator, it never rains but 3 weeks in July in the whole year, yet there riſes a Spring of pure freſh water, makeing a Rivulet about 14 foot wide and two deep in the middle of the Iſland, before it has run above half way to the Sea; of which dimenſions it was found by the ingenious Mr. James Young of Plimouth after ten months drought; nor could he perceive by the banks that it could run much larger after the ſhowers in July, than it did then after ſo long a want of themLecturae Cutlerianae de potentia Reſ • itutiva p. 28. : Whence 'tis evident there may continue a conſtant large flux of water for ten or eleven months together without recruits from rains. Which being ſo remarkable a caſe, I cannot but recommend it to the examination of our curious French Author, deſireing him to let us know, after allowance made for what the dry and parched Earth doth drink up of the ſhowers (the Iſland being ſithat in the Torrid Zone) how many Inches there will be left (and lines too, for I know he muſt be critical) to ſupply ſuch a Current. And after he has done with that, let him next conſider another at Rotunda in the Weſt Indies where it rains in like manner but once a year, which though a very ſmall Iſland, has a Spring riſeing in the middle of it, ſo very profluent, that as we are told the whole Iſland would be ſhort in proportion for a Conſervatory ſufficient to ſupply it, though it rain'd there conſtantly all the year round Ibid. p. 32.. As perhaps might the Strophades, which as the learned and ingenious Sr. George Wheeler tells us, are Iſlands judg'd diſtant about fifty miles from Zant and thirty from the Morea, lying very low, and the biggeſt not above five miles in circuit; nevertheleſs they report (ſays he) that there is ſuch plenty of freſh water there, that one cannot thruſt a ſtick into the ground but the water guſhes out in the place. Much leſs ſtill would the rock in the Thracic Boſphorus, on which ſtands the Sconce call'd the Maiden-Tower, be ſufficient for this purpoſe, which, as the ſame worthy Author alſo tells us, though not above 30 yards about, and encompaſſed with a deep Sea, yet has a fountain of freſh water ſpringing from itSr. Geo. Wheelers ••• ages p. 45, 46. and 208. vide etiam • ardanum de varietate Lib. 1. cap. 6. in initio, ubi d • 〈◊〉 du • cis aquae in Maris ſcopulo: of which • ee § 77. of this Chapter..

64. And as there are Springs where there is little or no rain, ſo in many places in the World there are no Springs at all, though there fall rain enough, and all other requiſites in being that this Hypotheſis demands, ſuch as loſe pervious Earth to receive, Mountains to contain, and a well luted bottom to ſupport; as the ſame ingenious Mr Iames Young obſerved at Lipari an Iſle near Sicily where all theſe concurred, and yet there Springs in it not one drop of water Ibidem. p. 30.; whence it manifeſtly appears (whatever is pretended) how unapt rains are to cauſe Springs, though they may and doe ſometimes accidentally increaſe them: But we need not goe ſo far as the fruitfull Iſle of Lipari for ſatisfaction in this point, it being plainly ſo in a large tract of ground in the County of Kent, there riſeing not one Spring all along between the Dover road to London and the ridge of hills above Charing, Lenham, and Maidſtone; from Oſpringe to the banks of the River Medway; which I take to be about 17 miles in length, and about 5 in bredth, and yet the Earth in all this Country is bibulons enough of rain, and has Hills (if they be ſo requiſit) for Ciſterns to contain it, and a cloſe firm bed of Chalk at 10 or 15 foot diſtance underneath to ſupport it, that it ſink not too deep into the Earth: Underneath which Chalk 'tis true there are plentiful Springs enough; but no man that knows the place, or is well inform'd about it, can imagin that theſe can come from the rains; the bed of Chalk underneath the uppermoſt mould, being altogether impervious, and ſometimes threeſcore, but very ſeldom leſs than ten or twenty fathom thick: which too certainly muſt be the reaſon that the Sea Springs doe not riſe here as in other places, the bed of Chalk being as impenetrable to them below, as to the Rains from above.

65. Thus haveing made it probable at leaſt that moſt Springs doe not ſo much depend upon rain as ſome would have us beleive, let us proceed from negative to poſitive arguments, and ſee whether we cannot prove that the Springs are actually furniſh't by ſubterraneous paſſages from the Sea, or that there is really ſuch an inferior Circulation of waters between them, as that the Rivers never fail, nor the Sea ever grows full. That ſome Springs are maintained immediatly from the Sea, I take to be ſo certain, that there is ſcarce a maritime Towne in any nation but will readily ſubſcribe it, their waters being generally brackiſh, but more or leſs according as they are nearer, or more remote from the Sea: Putei effoſſi quo magis à mari diſtant, eo minus ſunt ſalſi ſays Cardan Hieron. Cardani de ſubtilitate Lib. 2. p. 166. Edit. Baſil. An. 1582., and ſo the aforeſaid Mr. James Young found it at Plimouth Lect. Cutlerian. de potentia reſtitut. p. 31. , and thus I know it to be upon moſt of the Sea-coaſts of England; thus Caeſar in his diſtreſs at Alexandria, digging on the Shores found great quantities of freſh water ſpringing into his pits in one nights timeA. Hirtii Panſae Commentar. Lib. de Bello Alexandrino cap. 9. ; and the ſame Mr. Young tells us, that the River at the Iſle Mayo diſembogueing it ſelf into the Sea, remote from the Roads at an inconvenient place for boats, the Mariners are conſtrained to dig wells in a bank of ſand, which though between the Ocean and the pickle of a Salt pond that lyes between this bank and the Iſland, yet in 24 hours they can get 3 or 4 foot in depth of clear water, which viſibly trickles through the ſand and cannot poſſibly be other than Sea water, by reaſon of the ſituation of the bank and Well; yet taſting ſo little of Salt, that it is drinkable, and fit to boile meat inLectur. Cutler. de potentia reſtitut. p. 29. & 32. : From all which I think 'tis pretty manifeſt in the firſt place, that Salt water will gradually become freſh by tranſcolation.

66. So that it only remains to ſhew, that it may and does convey it ſelf to great diſtances not only by this means, but by mighty indroughts, which perhaps are after divided into ſmaller paſſages, that at length diminiſh (before they come very near the Spring head) into capillaries, and laſtly being ſomwhat more obſtructed, become the Calenders themſelves; which that it really does, it is more than probable, from the ſudden ſtoppage, and intermiſſions of Rivers without mention of droughts, and from the change of freſh water Rivers into Salt ones: For how ſhould ſuch Rivers as the great River Trent that riſes in this County become dry of a ſudden as it was obſerved to be at Nottingham (and no queſtion was ſo at other places) An. 1110. temp. H. 1. from the morning till 3 in the afternoon as Knighton informs usHen. Knighton Canonici Leyceſtrenſis de Eventibus Angliae Lib. 2. , had not its Springs been ſupplyed by ſuch ſubterraneous paſſages, which being caſually ſtopt by the fall of Earth, could not furniſh water till ſuch time as it could work its way again, through that fallen Earth, or find ſome other paſſage. Four years after on the ſixt of the Ides of Octob. An. 1114. as Simeon Dunelmenſis and John Bromton acquaint us, the River Medway in Kent for ſeveral miles together did ſo fail of water, that for two whole days the ſmalleſt veſſels could not paſs upon itSimeon Dunelmenſis Hiſt. de geſtis Regum Ang. & Chronicon Joh. Bromton. in Anno 1114. : The ſame Authors alſo tell us that the River Thames ſuffer'd the ſame lack of water at the ſame time, but Matthew Paris ſays expreſsly it was on the fourth of the Kalends of April half a year before, when he relates it was ſo dry for two days that the Sea it ſelf alſo failed of reaching the ſhore for 12 miles forward, alſo for the ſame two daysMatth. Paris Hiſt. Ang. in Hen. 1. An. 1114. ; the other Authors adding, that Children could wade over between the Bridg and the Tower, and that it was not above the knee under the Bridg it ſelf.

67. And yet they give us no account of any drought that occaſion'd any of theſe; nor indeed was it likely ſince their durance was ſo ſhort; they muſt moſt probably therefore happen upon ſome ſtoppage of the great maſter Pipes that ſupplyed them, which lye deep in the Earth, ſo that they could not run again till they had forced their paſſage: which perhaps may be alſo the true natural cauſe of the ſudden ſtanding of the Rivers Elva, Motala, and Gulſpang in Sweden ſometimes for 2 or 3 days, which Biazius, Herbinius, and Loccenius tell us, happen'd in the years 1566. 1632Joh. Loccenii Hiſtoriae Suecanae Lib. 7. p. 370. & Lib. 8. p. 606. Edit. Franc. & Lipſiae An. 1676. . 1638, 1639Joh. Biazai Senioris Hiſtoriae Eccleſ. Su • c. Lib. 8. cap. 14. . 1665Joh. Herbinii de admirandis mundi Cataractis Lib. 4. Diſſert. 8. cap. 17. . For we cannot well ſuppoſe that ſuch mighty things ſhould happen from any ſtoppage of the ſmall ductus's of rains and dews, which are many, and lye diſperſt at great diſtances, and cannot in any likelyhood be ſtopt thus together: whereas upon the obſtruction of any of the great Canales that lye deep and come immediatly from the ſea; it is eaſy to apprehend how the capillary Tubes proceeding from them may be all ſtopt together. And as the Communication between the ſprings and ſea ſeems probable from the obſtructions of the paſſages between them, ſo it ſeems to be manifeſt from the too much opening of them: Whence it is that ſometimes freſh water ſprings have turned to ſalt ones; the ſea water which ſupplyed them (having gotten a wide open Channel) being upon this account not ſufficiently percolated, and ſo remaining ſalt: as it happen'd once in Caria as Pliny reports, where the River near the Temple of Neptune which was known before to be freſh and potable, turned all upon a ſudden into ſalt water C. Plinii ſecundi Nat. Hiſt. Lib. 31. cap. 5. , which it could hardly have done (I think) had it been ſupplyed by rains.

68. But theſe ſubterraneous communications appear yet more manifeſt, from the many Springs in the World that ebb and flow with the Sea, ſuch as that mentioned by Camden in the Cantred of Bichan in Caermarthinſhire, upon the Hill where Careg Caſtle ſtoodCamden in Caermarthynſh.; that of Marſac in Gaſcony, which ſays Varenius exactly obſerves the Tides of the Garonne at Burdeaux B. Varenii Geograph. Gen. Lib. 1. cap. 17. prop. 17. ; and another that Gaſſendus mentions in a little Iſland at the mouth of the River Timavus Pet. Gaſſendi Phyſ. §. 3. Memb. pr. Lib. 1. cap. 7. : But theſe are inconſiderable in compariſon of that on the top of a high Mountain in the Province of Connaght in Ireland which though it punctually obſerve the motions of the Sea, yet we are told is a Spring of freſh water; and ſo is that call'd Lou-Zara among the mountains of Cabret in Gallaecia in Spain, which alſo ebbs and flowes, though it be diſtant no leſs than 20 leagues from the Sea Bern. Varenii Geogr. Gen. Lib. 1. cap. 17. prop. 17. ; To which let me add (what exceeds all the reſt) that on the top of that part of the Mount Erminius in Portugal, which lifts it ſelf up above all the reſt in the manner of a Pyramid, (which part the Inhabitants for diſtinction call Mount Cantari) ſummo in cacumine in the very top of this ſays Vaſconcellius, there is a Lake (many paces about) that moſt accuratly obſerves the reciprocation of the Sea Ant. Vaſconcellii Deſcriptio Regni Luſitan. cap. 5. . Which I ſuppoſe may be enough to juſtify my ſentence, ſhould I pronounce it for certain, that there are ſuch communications between the Springs and Seas.

69. Yet for further Evidence it muſt not be omitted, that there are many Lakes in the World of Salt water, that have no ſuperterraneous Vents into the Sea, and ſome of them full of Sharks and other Sea fiſh; as that in the Valley of Cajovani in the Province of Baeinoa in Hiſpaniola called Haguygabon, which ſays Peter Martyr is 30 miles long and 12 broad, and though it ſwallow no leſs than 24 Rivers of freſh water that flow from the Mountains, yet ſuch mighty quantities of ſea waters ſometimes boyle into it (which bring Sharks and other ſea fiſh along with them) that it is ſalt notwithſtanding; And as it ſomtimes throws forth, ſo at other times again it ingulfes the waters with that mighty violence, that it often draws in the Fiſhermen, boats and all, which it never throws up again upon the ſhoars, as things uſually are that are ſwallowed by the ſea. He tells us alſo of another of this kind in the ſame Iſland, that anſwers the former in all reſpects, but in greatneſsPetri Martyris Anglerii de Orbe novo Dec. 3. cap. 8. . And Varenius informs us that there is another in the Iſle Cuba two leagues round, that is alſo ſalt, and has ſea fiſh in it, though it likewiſe receive freſh Rivers. He tells us alſo of another in Peru; another in Madagaſcar; and the Lake Aſphaltites, though it receive the freſh water River of Jordan, is not ſweet; and may paſs for anotherBernh. Varenii Geograph. Gen. Lib. 1. cap. 15. prop. 7. .

70. To which add the vaſt Lake or rather Caſpian Sea, which though it take in all the waters of the Volga which as has been ſaid before throws into it enough in a year to cover the whole Terraqueous globe, beſide many other great Rivers; yet is ſalt water, has Sea fiſh in it, and never overflowes; No more than the Mediterranean ſea it ſelf, which in regard it never vents it ſelf into the ſea, but receives water from it at both ends, from the Atlantic by the ſtraights of Gibraltar, and from the Euxin through the Thracic Boſphorus, as it were from two Rivers; may paſs too for a Lake: and yet I ſay though this Sea perpetually receives thoſe vaſt influxes of water, it never overflowes ſo much as the low Country of Egypt. Hither too may be referred all Rivers that are ſwallowed by the Earth and never riſe again, ſuch as thoſe in the Province of Caizimu in Hiſpaniola, where there are ſeveral, that after they have run fourſcore and ten miles, fall all into a great Cave, under the root of a very high Mountain Petri Martyris Anglerii de novo Orbe Decad. 3. cap. 7. . Now how theſe Lakes ſhould come at all to be ſalt, or how Sea fiſh ſhould be brought into them? or what ſhould become of the mighty quantities of water received into ſuch vaſt Lakes as the Caſpian and Mediterranean Seas that never overflow, or into that great Cave in the Province of Caizimu? unleſs there are ſuch cummunications between the Seas and ſuch Lakes, for the conveyance of ſalt waters and fiſh, and for expence of the others, in ſupplying of Rivers; will be difficult I am afraid to be reſolved to ſatiſfaction.

71. Again that there are ſuch paſſages is further evident, from the many heterogeneous bodies belonging to the ſea, that are many times found by diging in the bowels of the Earth, ſuch as the ſhells of Sea fiſh, Maſts, Anchors, parts of Ships &c. ſuch were the ſubterraneous Cockle, Muſcle, and Oyſter ſhells found in the diging of a Well at Sr. William D'Oylies in Norfolk many foot under ground, and at conſiderable diſtance from the ſea, of which the ingenious Author of Mercurius Centralis has given us an account; and ſuch was the Maſt He mentions dug out of the top of a high hill in Greenland with a pulley hanging to itMercurius Centralis. p. 74. : But the moſt prodigious ſtory that we have of this kind, is that of Baptiſta Fulgoſus, Ludovicus Moſcardus, and Theodorus Moretus, who tell us that at the village of Bern in Switzerland An. 1460. in a Mine 50 fathoms deep, there was dug up a whole Ship, with its Anchors and broken Maſts, in which were the Carcaſes of 40 Mariners, together with their Merchandiſe: which Fulgoſus more particularly tells us, as a thing done in his owne time, and ſeen by many grave and ſober men, from whom (qui in repraeſentes fuere) He ſays He received a perſonal account of itBapt. Fulgoſi Dict. & Fact. Mem. Collect. Lib. 1. c. 6. Muſeo di Lud. Moſcardo, Lib. 2. cap. 111. Theo. Moreti Tract. de Aeſtu maris cap. 21. §. 275.278. . And yet this will not ſeem ſo very ſtrange neither, if we conſider what mighty Charybdes there are in the World, whereof Andreas Moralis informes us He met with one upon the coaſt of Hiſpaniola (which no doubt was it that ſupplyed the Lake aforemention'd §. 69. of this Chapter) where the water was drawn with that violence into the Earth, that notwithſtanding their utmoſt endeavours, the Ship hardly eſcaped being ſucked into itAnd. Moral. Decad. 7. cap. 8. .