A DISCOURSE OF WATERS.  
Showing the Particular Natures, various Uses, and wonderful Operations both in FOOD and PHYSIC, The Alwise Creator hath Endued this Cleansing Element with.  
I. Of Rain-Water.  
II. River or Running-Water.  
III. Spring or Fountainwater.  
IU. Well or Pump-Water.  
V Pond or Standing-Water, with something Concerning Purging-Waters. Published for the Benefit of Mankind.  
By THOMAS TRYON.  
Author of the Good Housewife Made a Doctor, Countryman's Companion, Monthly Observations for Health, etc.  
London: Printed and Sold by T. Sowle, near the Meetinghouse in White-Hart Court in Gracious-street. 1696.   

A DISCOURSE OF WATERS.  
Showing the particular Natures, various Uses, and wonderful Operations both in Food and Physic, the Alwise Creator hath Endued this Cleansing Element with.  
Published for the Benefit of Mankind.  

I. Of Rain-Water.  
II. River or Running-Water.  
III. Spring or Fountainwater.  
IU. Well or Pump-Water.  
V Pond or Standing-Water.   
THE Element of Water is not inferior to any other of the Elements, neither is Nature wanting to work wonderfully thereby; there is so great Necessity of Water, that without it no Animal can live, nor any Herb or Plant bring forth; for in it is the Seminary Virtue of all things, especially of Animals, whose Seed is manifestly Waterish. The Seeds also of all Herbs and Plants, although they are Earthy, must notwithstanding be rooted in moisture before they can be fruitful. The great and illuminated Prophet Moses tells us, that before the Creation, when the Earth was without Form, the Spirit of the Lord moved on the Face of the Waters; and in another place, that the Plants did not grow, because God had not caused it to Rain upon the Earth. Nay, so great is the Efficacy of this cleansing Element, that the spiritual Regeneration cannot be performed without it, as our Saviour Christ himself testified to Nicomedus; and very great have the Virtues of it been in Religious Worship in former Ages, among the Prophets and Wise Men in Expiations and Purifications. Innumerable are the Benefits, and so various the Uses thereof, both in the Generation, Nourishment and Increase of things, that some of the Wise Men have concluded, that Water was the beginning of all things, and first of all Elements, and the most Potent, because it hath the mastery over all the rest, for it swalloweth up the Earth, extinguishes Flames, ascends on high, and by a most wonderful Divine Hand, and the stretching forth of the Clouds, challengeth the Heavens for its Throne, whence falling down in gentle Showers and refreshing Dews, as from Nature's choicest Limbeck, impregnated with Celestial Virtues, it becomes the cause of all things that grow in the Earth.  
Nor is there scarce any part of Nature more full of Wonders than these liquid Regions. Josephus tells us of a River near Sina, which runneth with a full Channel all the Sabbath-Day, and then on a sudden it ceaseth, as if the Spring were stopped, and all the six days you may pass over it dryshod; but again on the seventh-day (no Man knowing the reason of it) the Waters return in abundance as before; wherefore the Inhabitants thereabouts call it the Sabbath days River. The Gospel testifies of a Sheep-Pool, into which whosoever stopped first, after the Waters were troubled by the Angel, was made whole of whatsoever Disease he had.  
Many secret and admirable Virtues the Creator hath endued this Element with, as in all Ages hath been manifested; for it being pure and clear in its own Nature, it is the only and alone thing by which all external things are purified, purged and cleansed: But if it be adulterated or incorporated with any other Liquor or Juice, than it becomes less pure, and will not so well perform its Office, yet it may make them better and more useful. Though it be a vulgar Proverb— As weak as Water: Yet I must tell you, Water is more strong and sublime that most imagine, for it contains a most ravishing and excellent Spirituous Balsamic Virtue, whence proceeds that pure sweet refreshing Quality, whereby it hath Power by its innate Virtue to digest and purify all sorts of Food: Also, in all Preparations it is so Innocent and Friendly that it dissipates the gross phlegmy Bodies, and preserves the more essential Parts and Virtues, and keeps the Spirituous Parts living.  
It is not only the most plentiful and truly pleasant of all Drinks, but it supplies Nature with its friendly Moisture, and relieves Thirst beyond all other Liquors or Juices: It is so Simple, and endued with such Equality, that it insinuates its Virtue into all parts of the Body in an insensible way; it makes no Noise, nor causes any Tumults in the Brain, nor awakens any Inequality in the Body, but imparts its meek Life as it were in silence.  
And as Bread hath the first place of all Food, and may justly be called Concord, or a thing which God and his Handmaid Nature, hath befriended with all the united good Virtues both of the Vegetable and Animal Kingdoms, and therefore no sort of Food is comparable thereunto, nor will gratify Nature to the degree as it ought, without the help and mixture of Bread; though yet it is not the strongest of all Foods, nor hath the greatest Nourishment, but it is the most equal in its parts, and stands nearest the Unity, for which cause it is so much desired, and justly esteemed the Staff of Life; and we are taught to Pray for all outward Accommodations needful for our Bodies under that significant denomination of Our daily Bread, it being, besides its own nutritive faculty, a proper Ingredient to qualify the Inequality ofmost other sorts of Food, and is the Foundation to all good Nourishment: The like is to be understood of Water, that being the Radix of all moist Nourishment, which mixed or incorporated with any kind of Juices, renders them fit and profitable for Mankind.  
Nay, (if we may fly our Contemplations to an higher pitch) there is a Sympathetical agreement, or some Analogy between this External Water and that Internal, of which our Saviour Christ told the Woman of Samaria, that if she did drink, she should never thirst: This Internal Super-essential Water sustaineth every Being, and is the Radix and Life of the outward Water, which contains some Shadows of the secret Influences of the Water Internal; for which reason the Prophets and good Men of old have frequently compared the one with the other, and expressed the one by the other, and also have made use of Water in Religious Mysteries as a sign of Cleansing and Purifying the Soul from Sins, and for curing Diseases, etc. as the Scriptures▪ do testify.  
Thus much I thought fit to say of Water in general, to stir up men to praise and admire the Goodness and Wisdom of the All Creator, for the manifold Uses, Virtues and Benefits wherewith he hath endued this Element. But now let us consider the several sorts of Water.  

Of Rain-Water and its Nature.  
I name this Water first, because for several Reasons it is the best of all, if not defiled by Accidents, as by Tiles of Houses, or the Vessels 'tis kept in. For,  
1st. It is a light pure thin Water.  
2dly. It is drawn up into the Clouds by the power and virtue of the sweet Influences of the Sun Beams.  
3dly. Being carried to and fro with the Clouds by Gods Divine Power, it hath thereby had the greater benefit of Motion.  
4thly. 'Tis endued with wonderful Virtue from the Element of Air, and the sweet Influences of the Celestial Bodies, whereby it is made more Spirituous than other Waters, and of a fat unctuous Quality, of a light friendly mild Nature and Operation: Thus it mollifies the harsh Earth, making it light and tender, and causes all Plants to multiply and grow far better than any Artificial Watering can do; Rain Water being (among its other Virtues) like a Ferment or Leaven, that makes the hard compacted Earth more spirituous and penetrable, giving Life and Motion to all the Vegetable Kingdom.  
5thly. Rain-Water is not only exhaled by the Beams of Heaven from the most clear and subtle Fountains, and impregnated with the Celestial Influences, but also is, as it were, strained with the Airy Motions and Winds, which fill it with a Saline and Balsamic Virtue, when it descends (like the Tears of a repenting Sinner) in gentle reviving Showers, that give Virtue and Power to all Vegetables, and restore the gasping parched Earth and languishing Nature to the briskness of the Spring and Joys of Autumn.  
6thly. This is the lightest of all Waters, it cools and heats quickly; it oppresses not the Stomach, or any other part of the Body, but passeth suddenly into the ureters, having neither in Colour, Smell nor Taste any manifest Quality; it bindeth not the Belly as some other Waters do, and is the best to be used in all Physical Operations, if it be well received, and afterwards kept from defilement.  
7thly. It is to be preferred before all other Waters in House-wifery, for it Boils all sorts of Meats better and sooner, and makes them easier of Concoction; as likewise it Brews and Washes to greater advantage than others.   

Rain-Water hath likewise various other Uses and excellent Virtues, viz.  
It is a good remedy for all sorts of sore Eyes, they being washed often with it; or if a little white Bread be put into the Water with a small quantity of white Sugar, and then made boiling hot, being stirred all the time, then applied in the manner and form of a Pultess every two or three hours.  
This Water is also good to wash all sorts of Wounds and Sores, and if it be done often, it mightily forwards the Cure.  
The best Seasons to receive this Water in, are March, April, May, June, and July, it being put into Glass Bottles; let them stand in the Windows of airy Rooms, or without Doors open, that the Air may have its free Influence on them, which will preserve and keep the fine thin spirituous Qualities living; which if they are stopped, will in a short time become stagnated.  
This Water doth likewise make an excellent Pultess against the Gout, Pains in the Sides and other Infirmities of the like Nature.  
Take one Quart of this Water, half a Pint of Ale, a little Balm, Parsley and Mint, of each an equal quantity cut small, and as much good Bread as will make it thick; then add to this two Ounces of the best Sugar, mix them well, then make it boiling hot, stirring it all the time it is on the Fire; than it is done, spread this Pultess indifferent thick on a Linen Cloth as warm as Milk from the Cow, apply it every two or three hours, for one, two, or three Days, as we have treated more largely in the Good Housewife made a Doctor.   

Of Riverwater.  
This is next in Goodness, whose Original is Fountain or Spring Water, and yet there is rarely any Spring Water so good for common and general use at the Fountainhead as in the River. For,  
1st. Rivers or running Waters have great advantages by passing through various Soils and sorts of Earth, from whence it drains or sucks in a certain Unctuous Virtue, or Saline Fatness, which the surface of the Earth does plentifully contain, and from which Vegetation does chief proceed.  
2dly. This sort of Water has the benefit of Motion, with the benevolent Influences of the Sun, and the Element of the Air, which purge it from its harsh earthy Qualities, and as it were open its Body, enduing it with a pure Spirituous, Airy and Balsamic Virtue, of a warming friendly Nature and Operation: This is the chief reason why Riverwater is of a softer milder Nature, and will perform all Preparations in House-wifery to more advantages than Spring-Water taken from the Fountainhead; for there most Waters retain a Saturnine earthy Quality, which the Influences of the Sun and Air, with the help of Motion, do destroy.  
3dly. The New-River that supplies London, is some of the best Water in England (except Thames Water) it being a cut or made River that runs on the Surface of the Earth for above twenty Miles, and is not said or increased by hungry Springs, as many other Rivers are that run through Valleys, which is their own Natural way, but Land-Floods sometimes fall into it, which augment its Virtue and Goodness, for they are the richest of Waters, draining and sucking into themselves the fat Saline Virtue of the Earth: For this reason most Valleys that lie between the Hills are so fruitful; for the Waters that run off the Hills do wash or carry away the Salintral Virtue into them, and there it centres; and thus Hills come not to be so fruitful as Valleys or Plains, by reason of such disadvantages: Whereas on the contrary, do not Land Floods, and the overflowing of Rivers, make Meadows fruitful from the same causes? For when the Waters retire and sink away, they leave behind them the Saline or Spiritual Quality, that does Muck-hill such Ground, as tho' it had been overspread with substantial Dung. And indeed the very same is to be understood when a Man dungs his Land, it is not altogether the gross substance or matter that enricheth the Land, but it is the  fat Saline Quality, which the moisture of the Earth receives, and the Rains wash out of the Dung; for if you lay a load of Dung in a heap, and let it lie a Week, two or three, and then remove it clean away from that place, and spread it thick in another place, yet that spot which the Dung lay on two or three Weeks, will be more enriched than where the gross substance is spread; for the Earth, with the help of the Rains and Dews, sucked into itself the Salintral Virtue of the Dung. Therefore in most Fields, where such heaps of Dung do lie for a while before they are spread, both the Grass and Corn is not only greener, but also much stronger, and more in quantity than in other places of the Field.  
4thly. Riverwater, for the Reason's aforesaid, is better for Men and Beasts to drink of, than Springs or Pump-Water; it boils all sorts of Herbs, Fish and Flesh better, and makes better and wholesomer Pottages; it brews Beer and Ale to more Advantage, both in Quality and Quantity, and washes all sorts of Linen and Woollen with less Pains, Charge and Damage to the things. This Water seems to be pretty equal in its parts, having no manifest' Taste, but a certain friendly mild sweetness predominates; and there is as much difference between the Nature and Operation of Riverwater and Pump or Well-Water, as there is between Beer and Ale; and the Excellency of the latter above the former, I shall demonstrate in its proper place.   

Of Spring or Fountainwater.  
There are various sorts of this Water, some Better, some Worse, according to the Nature of the Earth it passes through: If Springs or Fountains proceed from a Chalky Earth or some sorts of hot Sands, or run near the surface of the Earth, they are thereby endued with a meek soft friendly nature and operation, without any manifest harshness; but those that run in the deep Bowels of the Earth, and through cold hungry stony places, are more hard and Saturnine; neither so wholesome for Man or Beast to drink, nor to be used in Housewifery. But though it be thus at the Fountainhead, yet if the same run long afterwards through various soils in the open Air, etc. It may become very good for all uses, as aforesaid.  
And Note: Whereas some Riverwater will look of a wheyish whitish Colour, caused either by its long running without being fed by Plenty of Springs, or else by Land-floods, yet in either case it is not the worse to be liked, but rather the better; for all such Water is of great virtue, of a very mild fat opening Quality, caused by the saline virtue; which People not understanding, do often refuse either to drink or use in Housewifery, calling it dirty muddy Water; whereas the whiter any Waters look, the better they are for most uses, especially when Land-floods shall be the occasion of it, as appears by the Instances of Valleys and Meadows thereby enriched, which I mentioned but now.   

Of Pump or Well-Water.  
These likewise are capable of several degrees, better or worse, according to the nature of the Earth from whence they arise; but they are generally of a cold hungry hard nature, nothing so good as the former; and such Springs as lie deepest in the Bowels of the Earth, are of a lean Saturnine Quality, in comparison of that Water which runs near the surface, being deprived of that saline Nature which irritates Vegetation; for most Earth's, after you come two or three yards deep, are of a hard cold hungry Quality, and if a quantity of such Earth be exposed to the open Elements, and laid two or three foot thick, there will hardly any sort of Vegetable grow on it, until the Sun and Celestial Influences have endued it with a Salnitral Virtue; and as the Earth is, so is the Water, viz. of the same Nature, Gold and Hungry.  
2. Such Waters want the Celestial Influences and Air, nor have the benefit of Motion, or but in a very small degree; hence they are more unwholesome than the others before treated of, and generally bind the Body, and are subject to obstruct Nature, neither will they perform the like good Offices in Housewifery.  
The like is to be understood of most or all Purging Waters, which of late have been so mightily cried up for their Purgative Virtues. Now those Waters in general are Cold, Harsh, and Earthy, of a lean hungry Quality; being as it were wholly destitute of that Saline Nature, and Celestial Virtue, that other Waters are impregnated with, that run on the surface of the Earth, as is .  
Therefore the Purgative Qualities in these Waters do chief proceed from Coldness, Weight, and the not being accustomed to the drinking of Water, for when Nature is overcharged either with Drink or Food, she useth all possible Means and Methods, to discharge herself of those burdens; for this cause the common drinking of such Quantities of these Waters do prove dangerous, and many hundreds have found the remedy worse than the Disease by a full Experience.  
The first Finders and Drinkers of these Waters, did live and use them more regular and temperately, which by degrees most have degenerated from all sober Methods, into the highest Degrees of all kinds of Debauchery.  
Now as this Noble Element is the Original Foundation, and Springhead of all moist Nourishment; therefore it is not to be doubted, but that it is the only drink ordained both for Man and Beast, all other Liquors being not only Inferior, but as it were unnatural and disagreeing; the common Use and Drinking of all fermented Drinks, do generate the Stone, Gout, all Obstructions of the Ureters, Fevers, and a thousand Evils, which are not known in those Countries where the Natives Drink Water; and if English People would be so wise to Drink Water more, especially the Women, great numbers would certainly find the Benefit thereof; by being cured of various Diseases both of the Body and Mind.  
This Liquid Region is the Menstrum of the great World, which doth impregnate all things with Virtue, Power, and Strength, and it is the only Moisture that is most agreeable to that digesting Liquor of Man's Sromack called the Menstrum, whose Office it is to temper and digest our Foods, and as Water has no manifest taste or predominate Quality, viz. it is neither Astringent, Salt, Bitter, Sharp, nor Sweet; and therefore it bows and assimilates itself to all things, even as the Menstrum of Man's Stomach to all Foods, for this cause Water being drank after Sweet, Bitter, Salt, or Sharp Food, it still retains its entire natural Taste.  
The like is to be understood in Sickness, when the palate has lost or forfeited its Taste as to all made Drinks, but still Water is the same as in Health; the Reason is plain, good Water hath in it no extreme Qualities, so that it bedues the Body with its mild and friendly Moisture, giving Life and Power by Virtue of the fine, spirituous, thin, sweet, Vapours of the Air, which are the refreshing Zephyrus of Nature, and keeps the Elements of the Bodies free from heat and disorders; which renders the Body full of Spirits, brisk, vigorous and sprightly, which pleasant Condition is seldom or never felt by them, that give themselves to the drinking of Strong Liquors; therefore the common use of them are Friends to Viciousness, and Mortal Enemies to Virtue, and there is nothing doth deprave Mankind, and separate him from God and all goodness more, than the continu-Gormandizing of unclean gross Food, and Guzzelling down Strong Drink into their foolish Hogsheads.  
Strong Drink doth render the Drinkers thereof liable to all kind of Evil, but Water keeps the Body in due temper, and the Mind Sedate, and fortifying a Man Sedate, and fortifying a Man against many Evils, and makes the Body pleasant, healthful, and fit to discharge all the Functions both of the Body and Mind, for it is the Meats and Drinks that are simple and natural, that renders the Spirits many in Quantity, and fine in Quality, from whence arises lightsomeness to the Body, and Vigour to the Mind.   

Of Ponds or Standing-Waters.  
Such standing-Waters as are in a kind of springy Grounds are the best, but still much inferior to running-Waters, because they have not the benefit of Motion, nor the like advantage of passing through various Soils. Such Pools or Waters as are chief maintained by Rain or Land-floods are better or worse, according as the season is wet or dry; for in dry seasons they not only become thick and slimy, but awaken a gross fulsome Saturnine Quality in the muddy Earth, that suffocates the pure thin spirituous parts; so that such Waters become of a strong gross Earthy taste and smell, which is altogether contrary to the Nature of Water, and such Waters are not wholesome for Men nor Beasts. Some Husbandmen do suppose these Waters to be very good for Cattle to drink, having no other reason but that they will rather drink them than others; which is no reason at all; for this came through Custom and Use; which makes any sort of Water familiar to Nature; and those Cattle that are used to drink Pond-Water, will refuss better Water for that, for two Reasons; First, Because their Stomaches and Palates are adulterated, and made familiar to it, so that they cannot distinguish the evil taste from the good, Secondly, Because such Pond-Waters are of an hotter and warmer Nature than others, and Cattle used to them will for that very cause refuse others, just as men that accustom themselves to warm Beer cannot drink cold without some trouble to the Mouth and Teeth, though cold Beer and Ale is warmer in Operation, and will more cheer the Stomach, and make the Spirits more brisk than the hot, because no fermented Liquors, whether they be Beer Ale, Cider or Wine, will admit of the heat of fires, without violence to the pure spirituous parts; they are so volatile, that they will presently evaparate; therefore warm Beer or Ale will sooner become flat than that which has not been warmed; for when the spirituous parts are evaporated or suffocated, the sweet brisk Balsamic Virtue dies.  
But this hot sulphurous Quality in Pond-Water, which through custom most Cattle like, is of an evil Nature and Operation, because the spirituous vapours of the Air cannot so easily penetrate through its gross thickness, whence it dulls the edge of the Appetite and Stomach, breeds gross thick Blood, often is the occasion of many Diseases, and very injurious to the Milk of Cows. Besides, do not Pools and standing-Waters generate various sorts of Vermin and Infects, which is caused through the Contraction of gross thick fulsome Matter for want of Motion, all which running Waters are not subject to.  
But although Water be Nature's common drink for Man as well as Beasts, yet since now a days Men generally betake themselves to other Liquors, we shall briefly treat of them likewise.   

The Excellent Virtues and Uses of Cold Water-Gruel made as followeth, viz.  
Take one Quart of Water, two small Spoonfuls of New Ground or beaten Oatmeal, stir or brew it well together, than it is done;— This is not only a brave noble exhilerating Drink for general Use, and most agreeable to all Persons, to allay all droughty, hot, feverish Indispositions; but the constant Use thereof, does not only preserve Mankind from the following Diseases, but Cures them too, when they have already invaded the Body; this cleansing Liquor fortifies the Stomach, fines the Blood, gives it a free Circulation, generates brisk lively Spirits, being a good Remedy against Fumes and Vapours; likewise purgeth powerfully by Urine, prevents and Cures the Gravel, Stone, Gout, and all sorts of Obstructions of the Ureters; and more especially this is an excellent Liquor for Women and Children to make their constant drink, and for such as gives Suck, frees their Milk from heat, Windiness and other Crudities; I could produce many living Testimonies of its success, but it is needless, since every one's Experience that tries it, will soon confirm the Truth of what is here delivered. It is the Consideration of the Public Good it may do to many thousands that languish under miserable Circumstances as to their Health, that prompts me to Publish the excellent Virtues of this Cleansing Gruel, but whether you will practise or observe these Methods or not, I have done my Duty in offering my Talents that God hath given me, and therefore am satisfied.   
THE END.   

Books Printed by Andrew Sowle, at the Crooked-Biilet in Holy well-Lane, in Shoreditch.  
1. THe Ethiopoians Complaints: Or a Dialogue between an Indian Sophy and a Europian Philosopher, wherein the most material points of the Christian Religion are Theosophically unfolded. With a brief Treatise of the principal Fruits and Herbs that grow in the East & West-Indies, giving account of their Respective Virtues, both for Food and Physic, what Planet and Sign they are under. Together with Directions, and a particular Method how every one may preserve their Healths in hot Climates: Published for the Benefit of Travellers, Merchants and Seamen.  
2. The Way to make all People Rich, or, Wisdom's Call to Temperance and Frugality, in a Dialogue between Sophronio and Guloso, one a Lover of Sobriety, the other addicted to Gluttony and Excess.  
3. The Country-Man's Companion: Or a New Method of ordering Horses and Sheep, so as to preserve them both from Diseases and Causaulties, or to Recover them if fallen ill, and also to render them much more Serviceable and Useful to their Owners, than has yet been discovered, known or practised. And particularly to preserve Sheep from that Monstrous, Mortifying Distemper, Th● Rot.  
4. There is now in the Press, the second Edition, The Good Housewife made a Doctor, or Health's choice and sure Friend: Being a Plain Way of Nature's own prescribing, to Prevent and Cure most Diseases incident to Men, Women and Children, by Diet and Kitchen-physic only. With some Remarks on the Practice of Physic and Chemistry.  
All four by Tho. Tyron, Student in Physic; and Author of the Way to Health, Long Life and Happiness.  
5. A New Treatise of Artificial Wines, or a Bacchean Magazine, in three parts. The first Plain and Useful Directions, in the Doctrine of Fermentation, by which variety of Artificial Wines are made from various growths, giving an account of their respective Virtues and Medicinal Office, both as Physic and Drink Part 2. Containing short, but effectual directions for making Low Wines into Proof-Spirits, with their several Uses, in a Way never so plainly published before. Part 3. Some useful Curiosities and Medicinal Observations; written on purpose to answer the request of those that desire to be satisfied in things of this Nature. By W. Y. a Spagyrical Physician and Philosopher by Fire.  
6. A Discourse about Trade, Wherein the Reduction of Interest of Money to 4 l. per Centum, is Recommended. Methods for the Employment & Maintenance of the Poor are proposed. Several weighty Points relating to Companies of Merchants. The Act of Navigation. Naturalisation of Strangers. Our Wollen-Mannfactures. The balance of Trade. And the Nature of Plantations, and their Consequences in relation to the Kingdom are seriously Discussed. And some Arguments for erecting a Court of Merchants for determining Controversies relating to Maritime affairs, and for a Law for transferrance of Bills of Debts, are humbly Offered.