In his latter time, about 55 yeeres agoe it was his good fortune to live for a little while at a grange house very neare to this fountaine, and afterwards in Bilton Parke all his life long. Who drinking of this water, found it in all things to agree with those at the Spaw. Whereupon (greatly rejoycing at so good and fortunate an accident) he made some further triall and assay: That done, he caused the fountaine to be well, and artificially walled about, and paved at the bottome (as it is now at this day) with two faire stone flags, with a fit hole in the side thereof, for the free passage of the water through a little guttered stone. It is open at the top, and walled somewhat higher, then the earth, as well to keepe out filth, as Cattle for comming and approaching to it. It is foure-square, three foot wide, and the water within is about three quarters of a yard deepe.
First we caused it to be laded dry, as well to scoure it, as also to see the rising up of the water, which we found to spring up onely at the bottome at the chinke or cranny, betweene two stones, so left purposely for the springing up of the water at the bottome: Which as Pliny observeth in his 31 booke of his Naturall History and the third Chapter, is a signe above all of the goodnesse of a fountaine.
"And above all (saith he,) one thing would bee observed, and seene unto, that the source, which feedeth it, spring and boyle up directly from the bottome, and not issue forth at the sides: which also is a maine point that concerneth the perpetuity thereof, and whereby wee may collect, that it will hold still, and be never drawne drye."
The streame of water, which passeth away by the hole in the side thereof, is much one, and about the proportion of the current of the Sauvenir.
The above named Gentleman did drinke the water of this Fountaine every yeare after all his life time, for helping his infirmities, and maintaining of his health, and would oftentimes say and averre, that it was much better, and did excell the tart fountaines beyond the seas, as being more quicke and lively, and fuller of minerall spirits; effecting his operation more speedily, and sooner passing through the body.
Moreover Doctor Timothy Bright of happy memory, a learned Physitian, (while hee lived, my very kind friend, and familiar acquaintance) first gave the name of the English Spaw unto this Fountaine about thirty yeares since, or more. For he also formerly had spent some time at the Spaw in Germany; so that he was very able to compare those with this of ours. Nay, hee had futhermore so good an opinion, and so high a conceit of this, that hee did not onely direct, and advise others to it, but himselfe also (for most part) would use it in the Sommer season.
Likewise Doctor Anthony Hunton lately of Newarke upon Trent, a Physitian of no lesse worth and happy memory, (to whom for his true love to mee, and kind respect of mee, I was very much beholden) would often expostulate with mee at our meetings, and with other Gentlemen of Yorkeshire, his patients, how it came to passe, that I, and the Physitians of Yorke, did not by publike writing make the fame and worth thereof better knowne to the world?
CHAP. 7.
Of the difference of this Fountaine from those at the Spaw, to wit, Sauvenir, and Pouhon.