THE COLD SPRING OF KINGHORNE CRAIG, HIS ADMIRABLE AND NEW TRIED PROPERTIES, SO FAR forth as yet are found true by Experience. Written BY PATRICK ANDERSON D. of Physic. Disco Orbi, quod quisque sibi. EDINBURGH, Printed by THOMAS FINLASON, Printer to the Kings most excellent Majesty. 1618. Psalm 78. vers. 15 and 16. The Lord clave the Rocks in the wilderness, and gave the people to drink, as of the great deeps. 16. He brought floods also out of the stony Rock, so that he made the waters to descend like the rivers. 17. Yet they sinned still against him, and provoked the highest in the wilderness. Kinghorn crag Kinghorn crag Wisdom of Solom. Cap. 11. When they were thirsty they called upon thee, and thou gave them water out of the high Rock, and their thirst was quenched out of the hard stone. AA TO THE RIGHT NOBLE AND ILLUSTRIOUS LORD, JOHNE earl OF MARTINO, LORD ERSKINE AND GARIOCH, etc. Lord high Thesaurer of SCOTLAND, Knight of the most noble order of the Garter, and one of his majesties most honourable Privy Counsel, of both Kingdoms. My singular good Lord, and Patron. Right noble Lord, THought Water be but a wairsh and taistles subject, whereof many like little to hear, far less to taste; yet is it of great worth and so necessare an element, that without it the most eminent could not Well consist. The great Emperor of Persia welcomed hairtlie one of his mean subjects, who in his progress propyned him with a drink of cold water, having no other riches whereby he might acknowledge his Prince. And I hope your L. as willingly will accept from your own servand not a drink, but a discourse of that rare water, which long hide, hath been of lait discovered for the good of many. But perhaps I have undertaken a war when I this way adventured to thrust myself into a Printers press, ad praelum quasi ad praelium, a plain discovery, perchance, of my own ignorance. For to speak in Print is to undergo a public censure. Yet I hope that such as mislike it, shall either judge favourably, or produce a better as speedily, Why may not mean wits in their follies have equal pains with learned Clerks in their fancies? Apollo yielded Oracles as well to poor men for prayers, as to Princes for their propynes▪ stars have their lights and Heirs their shadows; And mean scholars have even high minds, although low fortunes. But being loath to weary your L. with a long letter, I am thus emboldened to recomend this unworthy pamphlet to your Honour's patronage. For that a greater motive then that you are yourself, needeth not to encourage me to this dedicatioun, so far is my love engaged to your L. most honourable & ancient house. If it appear presumptioun in me to show my love, my duty urgeth me to it. But setting a part neidlesse fear, and resolving courageously upon your wonted and undeserved favour, I would even but request your L. to receive that which is not, for that which I would it were, letting my insufficiency be measured be my goodwill: that so weghing the mind and not the matter, my simple abilities may thrive under your L. protection, and happily lead me on to some worthier attempt. Take it then my noble Lord, in good pairt; it being from one who honoureth your worth, oweth you his love, and hath altogidder so resolved, and vowed himself to do your L. and all yours, true service all the days of his life. And thus from my heart wishing your L. and your most noble Lady a great portion of Methusalems' years for this life, and after it, eternal life. I humbly rest From my house at Edinb. the 8. of October 1618. Your L. most willing Physician, and obedient Servitor▪ P. Anderson D. THE CAULD SPRING OF KINGHORNE CRAIG HIS ADMIRABLE AND NEW tried properties, so far as yet are found true by experience. HARD by the shore side of Kinghorne, within a bow-draught or more to the heaven of Prettie-cur where the Botes arrive, direct west the Sands, is a great round steip Rock, whose forefront lying so open to the Sea, and opposite to the weather, is so beat therewith, as that his superficial parts are become so friable, and as it were rotten to every light twitching of ones hand. All this whole craig from the top to the foundation, is so seamed, and as it were embroidered with a number of white veins much resembling a soft & bruckle Alabast, & in many places glancing in the night, not unlyk to Crystal or some bastard Diamant. This white spar is accompanied (although but poor) with some mixture of sundry starnie metals, whereof the greatest pieces abounds of a certain glancing, clear, & skelflie stone called Gypsum, well known of the Apothecareiss, yea and is very ponderous and weighty. Upon the east side of the same Rock, in a hollow corner is perceived a certain white clear congealed water snotting through the moist cliffs of the Craig▪ much resembling the geile of fish, or representing the stryne of one evil roasted egg, called of those who are skilful in metals, Sperma, seu matter Metallorum. ☞ Out of the broad face of this foresaid Rock, springs most plesandly a very clear, & delicate cauld Water, which being drunk in great measure is never for all that, felt in the belly. This fair Spring (albeit but lately known) is approved by the people which drink thereof, to be one of the most rare remedies for the Stomach in the world, gives a good appetit to meat, maketh one that loathes of his meat to be hungry, and is the only remedy for Chronic, & lingering diseases, specially in those who having spoilled their stomach by superfluous drying of Cups. It is a most comfortable & refreshing drink in all hot fevers, pestilential agues, & where drought most abounds. It refresheth and cooleth a hot distemper of ye liver, helps all diseases proceeding therethrough, drieth up the Youk, and universal Scab, purgeth & correcteth all salt phlegm, abaiteth and tempereth the heat of the Reins, a great cause of confirmed stones: and is a most sovereign remedy for the pains of the Back, proceeding of Gravel or sand, causing the patient to piss out many small stones, and making them to descend without pain. To some it looseth the belly very freely, but not at the first. Others thinks it bindeth them. Yet it seemeth to loose more than it bindeth. I have known some vomit therewith, but that I suspect proceedeth of surfeit: for that the people do as yet use it, without rule or prescription. It helpeth many that have a dim Sight, for being well put in the eyes, it is more sharp and biting than commoun water; & is a singular remedy for those which are molested with Lippitudo or bleir-eyed, & stayeth itching and heat. No liquor hath been tried more excellent for itching, and heat of the face with plouks, & pustuls then this water, it being both drunk and put thereupon. And is also good for singing of the ears. It is powerful in helping extenuat and lean persons who are troubled with difficulty of drawing their Brath: gives vigour and strength to vithered and debilitat members; and is the only last remedy for all debilities which have long vexed the body through a hot distemper of the liver, such as a hot Gut; it allayeth all Inflammations inward & outward. Guarisce encora il cancaro, i caruoli, i porri fighi della verga, & la scolatione virolenta di rene, Ambasciatori certi del mal Francese, ma non val niente a i tenconi, overo panochie nell inguinaglia. The geallie water, that sweateth out of the craig coolleth & drieth being gathered at times when it falleth, and the hands & face rubbed therewith, doth procure a very fair & beautiefull skin. These be the Physical properties of this fair Spring, so far forth as the deceased have as yet tried by experience, & in whose company I was sometimes present myself. Now, what should be the Physical and natural cause of those wonderful effects, divers of the learned are of divers judgements. For my own part, because I was the first of my profession that crossed the Forh to that Spring, being moved partly to satisfy the desire of my friends and acquaintence, & partly to content my own curiosity in natural things, whereunto from my youth I have ever bein bent, as we'll at home as abroad: I will only write my opinion without contentioun, reserving the resolution thereof to my most learned colleagues, much more judicious than myself. ay, at the first, as also many others, thought it but one idle toy, & a conceit of the people, and as some think it yet. Others, thought it a trick devised by the Ferriers only for gain. But seeing the fame thereof increase and that not by the meanest, but even of those of best credit, who long deceased, wonderfully recovered their unexpected health in their own persons. At length I begoud to think that albeit it was no uncouth thing in others countries to have such mineral waters, yet rare & but of laite known amongst us. And although I call this a mineral water: yet my meaning is not to conclude that it proceedeth of metal alone: for that as appeareth is very poor in this craige: Notwithstanding that all those riches of gold and silver which are come into Spain since the west Indies were discovered, have beine drawn out of such barrane places which are full bear and fruitless, as this rotten rock seims to be. Yea all the ponderous spar inclineth rather towards the bottom, a sign doubtless which argueth no rich metal. joseph Acesta Hist. nature. and Moral. Lib. 3. Cap. 3. For it is found be experience that where minerals are most rife, the higher the veins be to the superfice of the earth, the more rich they find it, and the deiper it goeth, the poorer it is. Further, if this water produce such Physical properties be reason of metals, Then all springs taking their course through the richest metals should far excel this, which runneth but through a very poor metal by appearance: yea that wholesome & cauld spring of the brayes of Arthrey, pertaining to the right honourable The Earl of Montrose should far excel this of Kinghorne. I have drunk of both waters, and in my opinion the one, might by the like trial prove as good as the other, & perhaps better. For there, (no doubt) is a rich metal whose seam and great body reacheth directly upward to the superfice of the mountain, and there visibly uncovers itself towards the South, the seam whereof is near a foot and one half in breadth, & consisteth in my judgement of Iron, Copper, and Vitriol, and no doubt of some Silver, accompanied also with abundance of a weighty white spar, togidder with that glancing and emplastie stone called Gypsum, very usual amongst the learned for external ruptures: which mineral spring (for no doubt it is one amongst divers others in this land) if it ran as pleasandlie from the Rock as that of Kinghorne, would be in as great request ere it were long. I must confess that all springs having their course through stonnie grounds and rocks, minerals & privy veins of the earth, cannot but contract & participate of one Physical quality or other, resembling the nature of the metal through which it runneth. Neither needeth any man of solid judgement to doubt, but that all springs of water taking their issue and race through a hard rock, are to be preferred to any other water, taking way through a muddy earth: so consequently all springs passing through a mineral Rock, (by reason) must far excel that of no mineral, I mean for curing of diseases: for such waters are no ways fit for dressing of meats, much less to be mixed with wine, because no mineral water feedeth the body. Now that metals have been of old used for physic, & yet are wonderful in curing diseases, is no new thing, as likewise the infinite works of learned Physicians yet extant do testify. For Iron, or steel rightly prepared, then mixed either in liquid or solid form, and given at convenient hours, and times, after due preparation of the body, opneth all obstructions, oppilations, & stops of the noble parts, specially when the meseraick veins, betwixt the Lever, gall & splen, are stuffed with a tuich, gla●●use & vilccus phlegm: and is a most sovereign medicine, recommended of all the learned by long experience, for the unplesand peal colours in virgins, and other such like whatsomever, either in widows or married wives. Iron, or steel have also power to stop the Lask or dysentery and to heal inward Apostumes. And what I have said of Iron or Steel, the like effects are to be understand of all springing waters running through the same. Springs of Vitriol, helps too great moisture of the Stomach, being moderately used stays Nausea a continual press to vomit, and vomiting itself: but being used in larger measure, provoketh vomit, and cleingeth the Stomach of whatsomever noisome humours. It healeth Stranguria, a painful and faschious disease, when one cannot pish but by drop and drop. Springs of Silver, do cool and dry. Springs of Bruntstone are hot and whitish, smelling thereof, and the water boileth hot. They ease cold diseases, heats the sinews, consume humours betwixt the skin and the flesh. They cure the host. Help those who have the falling sickness, heal scabs, resist venom, awaik men of the sleeping evil, and do help the Gut and Palsy. They cure inveterat ulcers, the hardness of the Melt, Lever, and Matrice. But Springs of Bruntstone be not good for the Stomach. Brassy Springs are not so wholesome, but they are good for diseases of the eyes, ulcers of the mouth, palate, or rufe thereof. Copper Springs are good for dolours of the Gut, short Braith, dolors of the Reins, and do heal Ulcers. Alum Springs, do stay the spitting of Blood, stay Vomiting, stops immoderate flowing of the hemorrhoids, and hinders women to part with Child. Springs of Tin or Lead, do heal all cancerous Ulcers, Schirrs or hard Tumoures, and are most proper for all diseases of the Skin. That Tin or Led be in this craig I greatly doubt, because Tin nor Lead work no such effects as this water doth, neither are they so wholesome taken inwardly as are any of the other, notwithstanding their cooling and detersive qualities externalie used, wherein verily they wonderfully excel. And although it hath been one old custom to make springs of water run through spouts of Lead, & that Tin be less hurtful, yea, nearer the quality of Silver, Yet neither Tin nor Lead are usually taken at the mouth, as most of other metals be, granting that it participate somewhat of Mercury, whereof it is never a grain the better, but rather the more pernicious for this purpose. Heurnius a man of great experience, Institut. Med. thought never much of water whose course was through Lead, & speaking De potu communi these be his words, At quae per tubulos plumbeos invehuntur pessimae habentur nam plumbi vim perniciosam corpori invehunt, unde viscerum gravitates & dysenteria: etiam Columella prohibet Gallinas potari ex plumbeis vasis. And citing Galen who componing a medicine ex capitibus papaveris, aquam pluvialem commendat quae non per plumbeos tubulos fluxit: quòd recrementa quaedam plumbi illi immittantur, unde inquit, eo utentibus dysenteriam adfert, cerussam enim habet. Hinc malè medici eliquant remedia per plumbea vasa: etenim Galenus stannea vasa vitat ad conservationem remediorum. Thus far Heurnius. And Fallopius one Italian Physician who very skilful of metals in his time, Cap. 11. de ther. Met. in his most learned and Philosophical discourses of Mineral waters, sayeth clearly that Leaden springs are no ways wholesome taken inwardly: Dicimus, (inquit) in universum omnes illas aquas, quae habent in se metallicum aliquid noxium, esse omnino ineptas in potu, cujusmodi sunt quae habent plumbum, quales sunt Thermales aquae in Germania plumbeae vel plumbares vocatae, quae in potum nullo modo sunt exhibendae, quia periculum est ne naturae plumbi conversa vel in Lithargyrum, vel in aliud simile, ut solet, hominem enecet, & ideo caveatis a potu talium aquarum, quae habent in se plumbum, & quae tamen ad purgandos morbos exteriores & insanabiles sunt praestantissimae, ita ut nihil reperiatur praestantius. & Cap. 7. Si velletis cognoscere quae sit substantia aquae plumbeae, & stanni, qui sapor, quique odor, & reliqua, possetis gustare, & videre, aquam illam frigidam & non medicatam. Sed nuncquid & aqua medicata reperiatur, quae haec in se contineat, equidem prorsus ignoro. But lest I digress too far, I say that this water cannot but participate of more metals than one: jos. Acosta Lib▪ 4 cap. 5 For where ever one metal is found, there is also some other with it. And although it seem poor to our eyes without due trial: yet the whole craige being of a strange and uncouth mixture, and the spar so ponderous and weighty, might perchance after exquisite trial, prove more heirin then is looked for. We read these words in the book of that holy man job, Chap. 28. That stone being molten with heat, is turned into Copper. Idem lib 4. ●. 9 Finally metals are of divers colours which seem to such as know them not, to be stones of no value. But the Miners do presently know his quality and perfection, by certain signs & small veins they find into them. Now because (as I said before) the scaircetie of this metal (as appeareth) is not likely to communicate such Physical faculties to this water alone, without some more help than the metal. What then? I take it to be rather a kind of doulce Nitruse & semi-minerall mixture, wherewith these Crystalline and glancing stones are obscurely possessed, naturally inherent & engendered, by long protract of time, within the whole bowels of the craige, from the top to the bottom. This Nitre in substance, Nitre differs but little from our Salpeter, and oft-times used in Physic the one for the other, the proof whereof I have often had. And it is of sundry kinds, whereof one is mineral, one other artificial, * Pars est nitri Opt. natura producta & non at te parata 〈◊〉 falso putavit Mes. Aphronitrum or spuma Nitri, Flos parietis & flos Salis: Galen maketh mention of Nitrun Bernicum, used of old in Baths, which hath great power to extenuat thick and viscous humours, * Auicenn. and so doth our refined Salpeter. He speaketh also of a red Nitrum, whereof if any such be in this Rock, I dare not affirm: only I see in a great hollow cave near to the Spring, a red moist tincture wherewith the vault within is all coloured, which appearantly cannot proceed from Tin. Antidotar. Luminare majus speaking of the kinds of Nitrum calleth them species Baurach, Arab. Bau●ach absolute dicitur. & minerae ipsius sunt sicut minerae salis: Nam ex eo est admodum aquae fluens, deinde petrificatur, Borax non excoct. nitri genus est fossil. & ex eo est quod est in minera sua sicut lapis, & ex eo est rubeum, & ex eo est album, & pulverulentum, & multorum colorum. This Craig is also endued but with a soft Crystal. The reason hereof I conjecture to be the low situation thereof lying too warm, and often opposite to the Sun, the special cause of the same. Hist. Simp. apud Indos nascent. 48. Garcias ab Orta a curious & learned Spainyard, speaking of the true Crystal, writeth thus: Amat inquit Crystallus loca frigida qualia sunt Alps, Germaniam ab Italiâ separantes. And as another of the learned sayeth: Andern. Gignitur ex humore omnium purissimo in terrae visceribus condito; necnon marinorum metallorum fodinis Germaniae etc. So that Crystal is made of water materially, and that water of itself is fleeting: but by vehement cold is made steadfast Crystal. For so it is written in Ecclesiasticus. Cap. 44. The north wind blue & made Crystal to freeze. The experience whereof, we may often see in water dropped from a Rock or other high place, which turneth into stones of divers colours, caused by virtue of the ure and cold in that place, frizing the water the material substance of such stones. A number of visible proofs heirof we have at home amongst ourselves; Rattray cave. Such as in Rattray cave in the Barrnie of Slains pertaining to the right Honourable the Earl of Erroll, high L. Constable of SCOTLAND. The like also I remember this present year, by accident, Roslin chap. visiting that rare piece of Architecture, the old Chapel of Rosline, nothing inferior to the old Roman work, it was my good luck there, to meet with that honourable & ancient Baron, who (although unacquented) amongst other courtesies, Roslin castle showed me the double vaults of his Castle most curiously hewed out of a solid Rock; where admiring the work, I beheld the water by dropping congealed into hard stones; a thing no less common than true, as we'll at home as abroad. Also in Peru where the mines of quicksilver be, Acosta Hist. natr. & mor. Lib. 3. cap. 17 their is a fountain that casteth forth hot water, which presently turneth into a Rock, wherewith the people of that land do build their houses. This stone is soft, and is cut as wode with Iron. And if either men or beasts drink thereof, they die, because it congealeth in their entrails and turneth into a stone. In a Farm near Cusco, springeth a fountane of Salt, which as it runneth, turneth into salt very white & exceeding good. The waters which run in Guajaquell in Peru, almost under the equinoctial line, are wholesome for the french pocks and such like, by reason of the abundance of Sarsa-parilla growing in that place, and the people come thither a far off to be cured. At the Baths of Ingua is a course of water which runneth forth all boylling, and joining to it is one other as cold as ye. They use to temper the one with the other. At Dunbritone Dunbritone. Castle upon that monstrous steep Rock, there be two fountains, distant two or three fute the one from the other. The uppermost course whereof springing from North to South, is a very salt water. The other springing from south to north as appeareth, is a fair fresch water: A strange thing to see Springs of contrary qualities so near others. moreover betwixt the two great Rocks within the said Castle, is a Lake or standing pond of water, distant near 50. fathoms from the Sea, yet no man seeth from whence it cometh. A wonderful thing in nature, Ma●g. Philos. although we'll known amongst us. And in Boetia are two springs, the one helpeth the memory, the other engenders forgetfulness. In Cicilia are two springs, the one maketh women barren, the other able to conceive. In Idumea is a spring which changeth colour four times a year: for three months it seemeth troubled: three months red as blood: three months green: and three months bluish. The cuntrye-men there call it jobs Well. And have we not here near by our chief City of Edinburgh, the oily Well, called S: Margarits well, the fat whereof is almost equal to natural Balm, and whose power healeth all aching of the bones, & all kinds of outbreaking of the skin. one of the rarest things in this Island. Also in Siloa at the foot of mont Zion, is a Well, which runneth not always, but certain days and hours. And many more Springs drawing their medicinal and diverse qualities from the veins of minerals, or semi-minerals wherethrough they take their course: now hot, now cold, some binding, some lousing, others smelling of Bruntstone, some troubled, some clear, some sharp, some sweet, or of no taste the most wholesome water of all These waters are not lyk the superstitious or mudearth Wells of Menteith, or Lady Well of Strath-Erne, and our Lady Well of Ruthven, with a number of others in this country, all tapestry about with old rags, as certain signs & sacraments wherewith they arle the devil with one arls-pennie of their health; so subtle is that false knave, making them believe, that it is only the virtue of the water, and no thing else. Such people can not say with David, The Lord is my helper, but the D. Now after this long digression, having first examined the material substance of this Rock: next declared the tried power of this water. And thirdly as I promised given my opinion of the Metal, or semi-minerall wherewith this Rock seemeth to be spiritually tempered. No thing resteth now, but to show by probable conjctures, how this sweet saltish Nitrosity, may agrie with the late effects of this cold spring. To cleir this then, our disccurse shallbe upon Crystal, Gypsum, & Nitrum: Because in this Rock little more is seen, & I fear the Italian proverb be true, Tutto quell' che lucè non è oro, It's not all gold that glisters. The Crystal & Gypsum is visible. The Nitre is occult & not seen: yet all three concurring & most sensibly felt in operation: But somewhat different in their particular qualities, yet little or nothing by their mutual communication to this water; Crystal. And so this way mixed, turneth all to one effect. 1 Crystal after the learned is naturally cold, with a drying & binding faculty, almost like unto Gypsum, (but more wholesome) and doth all what cold thing may do. It helpeth against thirst & burning heat in fevers. Matheol. & Andern. A button of Crystal holden in the mouth when the tongue is hask and dry in fevers, presently cooleth & moisteneth the same, the experience whereof is tried in this water. w●●ker. antid. de Lap. ●●g. Ca 6. It helpeth the dysentery or bloody Flux, given with old red vine. It stoppeth & drieth up the faschious Q. F. in women a great let to conception. The like doth this water skilfully used. It engendereth milk in nurse's breasts▪ and tempereth the hot quality thereof, chaiffed by toomuch drinking of unnecessary liquor which is a nurses commoun fault, & the death of many young infants. 2 Gypsum is a skelfie, Gypsum. clear, & white emplastic stone, very commonly found in mineral rocks of Copper, and Iron, and is of a very binding and drying quality only for external things. It helpeth the Rupture of the Bowels when they fall down, Hernel. meth. med. Lib. 6 cap. 12. it stayeth great sweatings, and all defluxions falling down upon the eyes in Opthalmia. Nitre after the ancients, hath been a warsh & sweetish salt, Dioscorides. differing little or nothing from our most refined Salpeter. And howbeit some of our * Tag●●t. & We●ker. etc. neoterics have been somewhat scrupulous to use the one for the other: Yet by commoun experience in our days we have observed neither danger nor difference, but that Salpeter most exquisitlie refined, Mes. Lib. 2. cap.▪ 12. may we'll serve for the same. It is of a detersive, scouring, and drying quality, inclined somewhat to heat, which notheles mixed with cooling and refreshing things, worketh many cold effects. It extenuateth and cutteth phlegm, Dioscorides Lib. 5. cap 78. purgeth gross and clammy humours, even some time by vomit, evacuateth crude and raw humours cleeving fast to the entrails, and is very good to give for the Colic, & grinding of the belly through wind. Penotus à Portu, à learned and famous Chemist, Lib. de vera prepar. Nitri. amongst his other Philosophical extractiouns, so useth this Nitre, as that he maketh it a salve for all sores. He calcineth it, prepareth it, draweth the oil of it, and fixeth it. In end, he concludeth with these words. Nitrum inquit ad haec omnia praestantissimum remedium esse experimento constat, sive fumatur internè, sive adhibeatur in fomentationibus, balneis, seu emplastris dividit, discutit, subtiliat, laxat, rarificat, ampliat, extenuat, aperit, lubricat. And beside all this, so far doth he extol it for procuring of a good appetite, (a power proclaimed peculiarly to this water) that he is not aschamed to prescryve it for this same purpose, to be given to a horse. To be short, there is no property which the ancients hath attribute to Nitre, which with the help & cooling qualities of Crystal, & Gypsum, may not be appropriate to this cold Spring: for what can this water do as yet, which is not in them; or what can these simples do, which in some measure this water doth not perform. Is Niter, Penotus de viribus Nitri. deulie prepared, good to expel gravel and sand both from the reins & bladder? so is this water. Is it good being dissolved to apply outwardly and for heat in those parts? This water doth even the same. Hath not N●tre a diaphoretic power, and maketh some to breck out? so also proveth this water but in some. And doth Niter composed and applied to the stones, stay their inflammation? No less power hath this water. Dioscorides Lib. 5. cap, 78. Is it not good for the hydropsy, the Colik and iliac passion? Is it not good, I say, for the duretie of the Splen or Milt given with steiled water, for oppilations or obstructions of the liver, pains of the Stomach, and suffocations of the lungs or lights? So no doubt may this water be found. I hear also this cold Spring hath helped paralytic members, the stupidity, and inability of the sinews, contractions of the nerves in the fingers, and such like, by bathing and drinking thereof. And that it hath a coroborative power to strengthen all the nerval and ligamental parts of the body, moving also a gentle Diaphoretic & evaporative sweat, which (maketh me yet suspect that the Rock is possessed with some silver, although but little to our eyes; for silver even philosophically prepared, is likwayes Diaphoretic,) confirmeth also wearied & feeble members, yea & hath one occult property to stay much sweeting in tabide and consumed bodies, and that because of his mixed qualities with Gypsum, both cooling and drying, and which two qualities to this effect are very requisite. Further, hath it not unstopped the Lungs to many persons, and helped a short braith? How many people have been helped this same last year there with, and oppenlie affirmed against all those who say the contrary? P 〈…〉 Now why may not Niter do all this? and what simple or miner all doth so much agree with these properties as Niter? And who doubteth what refreshing power this cold Spring hath in hot fevers, in thirst, and in all internal and external inflammations? Fallo●. W●●ker. and may not water taking his course through cold Crystalline stones, have more cooling & refreshing qualities than commoune water, may it not cool, I say, all inflammations and heat of the liver? And doth not common water even cool & ease inward pains? ●●nsil. med. ex Scholar 141. then let us see if the words of that Imperial Physician Crato be true, speaking De doloribus renum: Multi (inquit) post primum somnum, jam perfecta coctione, hauriunt aquam frigidam, & in sign juvamentum percipiunt. Ze●chil conf. Med. cap. 13. And one Italian Physician sayeth by his common practic in Nephretick dolours, Illud nunquam è memoria excidat, nihil praestantius pro arcendis renum calculis esse, quam aqua tepida quinque vel sex unciarum mensura, immediatè ante cibum mane, & vesperi modicè calidum potatum. And a little after speaking of thirst, he sayeth A pastu ventriculo valde sitiente & astuante gelide modicè binas tantum vel ternas ad summum uncias bibere licebit. Morover, common water tempereth great heat, and conserveth the natural humidity of the body: for which cause Hypocrates calleth water, the body's temper. And ancient histories sufficiently testify, that water was the first drink that men universally used of old, & wherewith they contented themselves a long time, to use it only for quenshing of their thirst▪ but afterwards when voluptuousness seized upon men's appetites, they invented & set before them diverse sorts of drink, because they thought water but a taistles and unsavoury thing. And yet if we will give credit to experience and hear but what the writes of the learned do say, Ro●e●. a Fon● Lusitan. de tuend. valetu. Cap. 12. That water not only groweth the body, but even maketh men to live longer, & in better health, yea, and to have a quicker fight, than wine. But now a days our queasy stomachs are become so tender, and so kitle, that if we but ones in a year taiste water, we are in danger to catch the Colic; no, we must have a little Seck and Sugger, or else our stomach is gone; let Manoahs' wife drink what she pleaseth, Judge. cap. 13. the belly now a days hath no ears for such grammar rules. And yet to speak the truth; cold water is as unfit for a woman with child and for such as are accustomed with frequent birth, as strong wine is unmixed. Then seeing that commoun water, either cold or hot, hath such evident, and anodine properties: what shall we think of the best sort of these waters correspondent in all respects to the true nots which Dioscorides hath left unto us? and what account shall we make of this crystalline or semi-minerall water, Lib. 5. cap. 9 which not only is answerable omni-modo to the best? but also excelleth so far footth as the qualities of these foresaid mixtures may make it. But to return to our purpose concerning Niter. Who then thinks that these Nitrous qualities, for the most part do not agree competentli with this fair Spring; hath not well remarcked the observations of the deceased: for how oppenlie is it known to expel sand, and bring down small stones both from the reins and bladder, to cool the heat of the back, burning of the urine, and to assuage all pains thereabout? experience of the people can testify, and which aperitive and diuretic power belongeth both to Crystal, and Niter. I have known it to help Sciatick dolours given warm in a Clyster with Salt. To help sore eyes, clang a dim sight, to assuage the pains and singing of the ears, and to scour them from filth: all which do well agree with Niter. It helpeth the dolour of the head drawn up as an Errhin at the nose, & clengeth the teeth more than commoun water, maketh the hair fair and clean, healeth a reiffie and leprous skin, and in a word, maketh even Ladies fair. Why may not then, I say, such detersive and scouring qualities appear rather to proceed of a drying and saltish Nitrosity, than of any apparent metal in that place; in respect it not only purgeth, and clengeth the body, as well inward as outward, but also clengeth and purgeth tasches and spots, both from linen & woollen, and which detersive power doth more agree with the use of Niter, than with any metal that can be found in a Rock. Monavius one expert and learned Physician writing of the qualities of Salt, Epist. med. Craton. 215. sayeth thus: Salem (in quit) detergere, & salsa nitrosa omnia, non solum intra corpus sumpta, sed & extra admota, praeter experientiam quotidianam in eluendis sordium strigmentis, etiam unanimis medicorum consensus testatur. The which also the holy Scripture approveth by the mouth of the Prophet saying, Etiamsi laveris te nitro, & multiplicaveris tibi herbam Borith, tamen signata est iniquitas tua etc. I●●●●. cap. 2. Saponaria. But which is worse of all, I hear it hath swelled the belly of cacochymic and unwholesome people, and stopped their water: So doth Niter taken before the body be well prepared and purged. And hath it done good to one, and evil to another? So will any good thing do, (although good in itself) if it be not used with rule and moderation▪ yea & to some also, one man's meat is another man's poison, a proverb commoun amongst us. And hath it constipat some, and loosed others? No wonder, for the Spring is possessed with contrary qualities, a virtue proper to best medicines: for if it did not bind, it could not help the lask & dysentery: And if it did not loose, it could not remove their causes. Hath it not cured some without preparation, and others which Physicians could not cure? let them thank GOD and sing, Te Deum laudamus: una enim Hyrundo non facit ver: Then bless the Spring with a famous report, and say, Beatus medicus qui venit in fine morbi. Then to conclude, I perceive my very learned friend and old Parisien acquentance Mr William Barclay, would have all the effects of this water to proceed from Tin: Fallop. de foss. atque metal. cap. 22. which effects, sayeth he, the Paracelsians ascryve to Saturn, and so concludeth, Sacharum Saturni to be the Salt of Tin, confounding two metals in one, as if jupiter were Saturn, and Saturn jupiter: Stannnm Plumbum, and plumbum stannum. Tin to be Lead, and Led to be Tin, Which oversight I can not think to have proceided of ignorance, because I know him to be more learned than myself. I suspect it may be imputed to his haist (as he writeth to the Printer) in making for the tide. Or else it may be that he thinketh the difference betwixt stannum & plumbum to be so little, that propter similitudinem in ardore scribendi, he might use the name of the one for the other without scruple, because of their affinity; which if so be, as it is likely, I think there is no oversight at all. Finally amongst all the wholsum qualities where with this water seemeth to be so secretly endued, the corroboration of the Stomach is not the least: a great aid in curing of all diseases, and a power so oppenlie known in this water to steir up lust to meat, that few or none have as yet returned with out the proof heirof. But that Springs taking their course through Tin or Lead, can give appetite to the Stomach, I cannot believe: neither hath any of the learned ever as yet remarked such a thing. For Fuschius the most learned Germane Physician in his days, De cōpo●●. Med cap. 20 recompting the Physical properties of mineral waters both into France and Germany, writeth thus of the Plumbiers or leaden Baines of Lorraine. * Baignes of Lorraine. In Lotharingiae, inquit montanis, Balnea sunt quae plumbiers, quasi plumbea, ob nimirum copiosam plumbi mixturam, vocantur. Constant ex plumbi, Sulphuris & Aluminis commixtione. Auxiliatur malignis & curatu difficilibus ulceribus cancro, phaged●nis, fistulis, elephantiae recens caeptae, & omnibus cutis vitiis. Heir is no mention made of the stomach, much less of other inward infirmities this way cured, either by Tin or Lead. How then can it be any thing, but a detersive & drying semi-minerall Nitrosity, which this water seemeth to have spiritually contracted, whose natural & sweetish scharpnes is so tempered by communication of the refreshing qualities of Crystal and Gypsum, and whose qualities are also detersive and drying. The effects whereof bewrayeth itself more in bellifying, and scouring the superficial deformities of the skin, (then in curing of ulcers proper to Tin or Lead) such as are pustules, red plowks of the face, itching, and roughness of the skin, proceeding of a dry melancholious & salted blood, Tetters, Ring worms, and that sort which the French men call les Dartres de Naples, the Grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, the Latins Impetigines, and with ourselves is a dry ytching scruffe, or hot fla, oft-times chancing on the face, or on the back of ones hand, which (as Paulus, Aegineta testifieth) turneth to those of an ill diet, into a scab or leprosy. Lib. 6. meth. med. cap. 20. The which also that most eloquent and learned Physician Fernel, hath well remarked in the properties of Niter, in these words Nitrum, inquit, quanquam vehementer tergit, non tamen ulceribus, sed lepris, alphis, impetiginibus, aliisque cutis vitiis expurgandis aptum. And old Plinius who was so curious in natural things, sayeth, it heateth, biteth, and ulcerateth. Which affects, say our Chyrugions, are no way fit for ulcers: & therefore may be the cause, perchance, why Tabide or consumed people by an ulcer of the lungs, after the immoderate use of this water, became daily worse and worse by too much losing of thee belly (a power proper in this water to some, Hypocrates. albeit unproper for Tabides) Phthisici enim per alvum rarò aut nuncquam purgandi. Now because that some may object: if this water had any Nitrous quality, it would (no doubt) bewray itself, either in taste, colour, or savour? to which I answer, that Physical waters possess either spiritual qualities, or substantial quantities, & as there be divers kinds of Salt, so are they divers kinds of saltish waters, which differ in their qualities by degreiss. For some be stronger, others milder, some sharper, and some sweeter, & others so insipid that skairslie are they felt on the tongue. And lest I should seem to be alone of this opinion without warrant of the learned, Cap. 9 de Therm. atque Metallis. Hear what Fallopius sayeth of this same subject: Nitrum quidem ipsum, gustu cognoscitur: difficile tamen est ex gustu discernere, an aqua habeat in se Nitrum, quia Nitri sapor in ejusmodi aquis frigidis, non discernitur. Item visu nec olfactu ullo modo cognoscitur aquam habere Nitrum. Tactu autem aliquo modo, quia aquae Nitrosae detergunt nec relinquunt aliquam asperitatem. Again he sayeth in an other place: Idem. Saepe enim Sal & Alumen sunt cum aquis ita commixta ut impossile sit per dissolutionem naturalem ipsa cognoscere. Item Nitrum non cognscimus in aliqua aqua esse, nisi insit ipsamet Nitri substantia. Idem. To be short then let none think, but Springs of waters may be endued with divers Physical properties, mineral or semi-minerall qualities, although they neither bewray themselves in taste, colour, nor savour. But how the, say others, can waters possessed with saltish and Nitrous faculties, refresh, moisten, and cool? I answer that a thousand effects in natural causes, may also proceed of contrary qualities: for there be many exceptions even in natural rules, so that sometimes we see by experience subtle nature so to overreach and surpass the skill of art in these kinds of mixtures, that simples, natuallie hot & dry of themselves, by the company of others which cool and refresh, are sensibly felt to execute cold ffects. josephus Acosta a worthy and judicious Spaniard in his natural and moral history which he writeth of the East and West Indies, Cap. 11, Nature Hist. discoursing upon the natural quality of the Sea, writeth in these terms: Although, sayeth he, the water be salt, yet it is always water, whose nature is ever to cool, and it is a remarkable thing in nature, that in the midst of the deep of the ocean, the water is not made hot, by the violent heat of the Sun, as in rivers: even as Salpeter (sayeth he) although it be naturally salt) hath a property to cool water, even so we see by experience, that in some ports and heavens, the salt water refresheth, which we have observed in that of Callao in Peru, whereas they put the water or wine which they drink into the Sea in flagons to be refreshed, whereby we may undoubtedly believe, that the Ocean hath this property, to temper and moderate the excessive heat: for this cause we find greater heat at land then at sea, (caeteris paribus) and commonly countries lying near the Sea, are colder than those that are foorther off. But to illustrat this by many examples, were no less needless than endless: for the matter is clear of itself: and therefore I will end this cold discourse, contenting me only with the experience of that famous & learned Empiric Rulandus in his tract at which he writeth de curatione luis Hungaricoe, whose words are these: Inflamationi inquit, Cap. 6. scabritieique faucium & confinium parcium extinguendae, tum aestui restinguendo nullum efficatius remedium nostrates putant insequenti. Cape Nitri puri albiss. q. v. pila munda in tenuem pulv. Trochis. de Nitro ●ord●. comminuito: adsit sartago aenea fundi crassiss. hanc prunis impone, donec incanduerit tota: injice Nitri tusi M. unum. Ilico liquatur aquae limpidiss. instar, & dum ita bullit, injice sulphuris puri & triti, zs. elicies flamman. caerulei coloris: quae ubi evanuerit, & tertio bullire Nitrum videris, repeat Sulphuris adjectionem, & hoc ter tium reiterato. Demum pilae mundae, aut vasi figulino pedetentim infundito, exsurgent albi trochisci seu rotulae coagulatae. Has denno terito in pulveren tenuiss. usus Conserv. Rosar. cochleari pulveris add triplum ejus quanto satis ovo satiendo adhibetur. Praebeatur aegro aestu fere enecto, quoties volverit. Nostratum quidam multis in aqua fontana frigid. dissoluti hujus ex Nitro remedii portiunculam, iterum atque iterum exhibendo, multos se sanitati restituisse pristinae gloriantur, parantes idem remedium & secretum sibi imaginantes. Minimè aspernandum est remedium nobis nec aliis esse debet, nisi Nitri qualitates ignorantibus: modo ritè administretur & curandi methodus potior non susque deque habeatur. Go then with boldness, & drink of this wholesome and Physical water, and say not to yourselves, the Physicians envieth it, speaketh against it, they approve it not, and it hindereth their gain. Only but carry with you these few directions following. and so fair ye well. ☞ What we should observe, before we go to drink of such Waters. THat none drink of such waters, who have their back and reins very hot, Fallopi●s de Th' 〈…〉 c. 31. and the stomach and whole habit of the body cold. For that were even as much to destroy a whole ludging, for the gain only of one commodious chamber. 2 That no deceased person drink thereof, before his body be well prepared and purged, for by this means no man shall have harm thereby, and it is the counsel of the learned. But above all things, Idem. and which most importeth, that none drink of the same w●th a bund belly: for I have not observed it as yet, to do harm to any so much as to those. To he●pe this then, and for such as can take no Physic, no thing is more excellent or more ready for this purpose, then to carry with you a box of Grana Angelica, and to swellou viii▪ or ix. of them hid in a vere or potched egg, which you may do without harm at any time a day, but especially at meat in the beginning or mids of dinner or supper: for than they work best the next day thereafter, and make not the body seike, & is a most familiar & sovereign remedy for all diseases proceeding of constipation. 3 It is not good to take it cupe, Idem. for cup, without intermission but to walk moderately up and down, betwixt each draucht, and that ye grow neither hot nor sweat. 4 It would be only taken in the morning fasting, Idem. and not at mea●es, as many er●oniouslie do, for it is diuretic. 5 It is not so good being carried a far of, Idem. as taken from the rock although it be tried to keep longer uncorrupt than other water. 6 The seike should drink it seven days togidder at least, and some longer as the disease requireth, eating in the mean time meat o● easy digestion. 7 It would be only taken (as the learned do prescriue) in the hottest months, Idem. specially in june, julie, and August: Yea even in the very time of our dogg-dayes, so much regairded of amongst us without cause. The reason of this is not only because the water is best then: but also for that it is requisite, the whole habit of the body be patent and open, that such cold springs may have the more fry passage without stop, which opening & free issue in our bodies (as the learned say) is not but in hottest months and seasons, and which heat with us is but a temperate heat in regaird of that of other nations. TO THE COURTEOUS READER. GEntle Reader, this Discourse hath been the birth of my Idle hours this last vacance, which I penned more for your particular use, then for any gain to myself. If you have found any thing herein to your content, think well of the Author for his pains. If nothing which you have red hath liked you, my luck hath been nought: for in nothing, there can be no great thing. An other before me hath written his opinion, and so have I. if I have erred & said amiss, I am but a man. If not well enough, I wish it were better. But if well and truly, GOD be praised, I deserve no blame. I have done offence to none, but shown my mind, for the which I crave no man pardon, nor further friendship than I deserve, nor greater thanks than may requite goodwill, who wisheth well to you all that are well minded, craving only your courtesy to commend what ye think worthy, and not to disdain without desert. So if I have offended in any thing that the wise can mislike, I am ready to make a mends accordingly, and shall Godwilling drink to you at the Well the next Summer, with a promise also to do you greater service heir after, and so I end.