SADLERS New Tunbridge Wells NEAR ISLINGTON.  
A full Account how they were found out: The excellent Medicinal virtues of the Water, and Success in several Diseases: The manner of its Working, and Directions for the taking it.  
GReat and various are the Physical Properties of Waters in divers places: Not to amuse the Reader with Tales of Pliny or more Modern Mandevils, who tell us of a Fountain at Bonitta( an Isle not far from Hispaniola) which being Drank of, makes Old-Men Young again; of two others in Summatra, whereof one perpetually flows with pure natural balsam, and the other with incomparable good oil: Of the Sabbatical River that runs fiercely all the Week, but on the Seventh Day rests its Streams, and remains dry: Of the Fountain of the Sun in Lybra, that is almost Scalding hot at Midnight, Frozen at Noon, and but warm towards Night; we leave such Incredibles to the Foolish wonderments of those that Love to be Bubled with far-fetched Romances: Nor need we look so far abroad as the Spaw, or the Water of bourbon, since our own Happy britain, is as Richly furnished with those flowing Bounties of Nature, as perhaps any spot of the Universe, Witness our Sommerset-shire Baths, our York-shire Spaw, our Tunbridge, Epsom, Dullidge,( or rather Lewisham) Barnet and North-Hall Waters, &c. And as most of these were within Memory of Man discovered, so there may no doubt many others from time to time be found out, which on trial may prove of equal or more Noble concernment to the Interests of Health; Of this kind we have a Notable Instance in these Wells near Islington, which are the present Talk and Wonder of London, and all the parts adjacent, whence thousands daily Resort to them, and find much benefit by the use of the Water, which has been tried and considered by most of the Eminent Physitians about this City,( I Speak not of Quacks and empirics, but of the Learned Members of that Honourable and Renowned college, which at this day makes so great a Figure amongst the Votaries of Aesculapius throughout christendom) and is by them generally approved as of good use in divers Distempers.  
The manner how they were found out was thus, Mr. saddler at the Musick-House by the New-River, in the Foot-way from Clarkenwell to Islington, having sometime since employed Men to dig for Gravel in his Back-side, they lighted upon a large ston, and that being taken up, a kerb of Oak lay under it, almost consumed to Dust, then they found the Mouth of a very Fair Well, as if in Ancient times it had been much in use; They acquainting the Master of the House, and the Water being Tasted, and found to be of a taste Pleasant enough, yet different from Common-Water, he Brewed Drink with it, which was found to be of a Purging Quality, but the Boiling as 'tis believed causing those particles whence it derived its virtues, in a great Measure to Evaporate, it was not much taken Notice of till about three Weeks since, when several Persons Drinking quantities of it Raw, they soon found its excellent effects, which engaged others to try it, and the experience of all joining with the judgement of the Learned, to confirm its virtues, in few days it is advanced to General use, and two other Wells since discovered, one in a Cellar, and another in the Garden of the next House, whose virtues is not yet known.  
The Industrious Stow in his Survey of London, p. 8.9.& 10. Speaking of the Waters serving that City, and mentioning Clerken-Well, tells us, that the same took Name of the Parish-Clerks in London, who( of old time) were accustomend there Yearly to Assemble, and to Play some large History of Holy Scripture; and also, that near this Clerken-well there were four others, viz. Skinners-Well, Tod-Well, Loders-Well, and Rad-well, which are all decayed, and their places are hardly now( saith he) to be discerned; and he wrote about Fourscore Years since, for he Dedicated his Book to Sir Robert Lee Mayor, who was Mayor when King James came to the Crown: Now whether these Three Wells were those anciently so called, I will not determine: There is a Story abroad, grounded, 'tis said upon Tradition that in the times of Popery these Wells were in great Request, and one of them called Pardon-Well; For the Crafty Priests where ever they found a Physical excellency in the Water of any Spring, 'twas but attributing it to some Saint, and pretending the Natural virtues to be Miraculous, and obtained by Prayers, Masses, Offerings, and the like, and then they could make their Markets of it, as they do to this day of silly Roman Cathololicks at Winefreds-Well in Wales, and Patricks-Well in Ireland, &c. And 'tis said, that by reason of such abuses after the Reformation, those Wells were stopped up, and have so remained hidden ever since, but I cannot find this Story confirmed in any Author that I have met with further than as aforesaid.  
If it be enquired whence some Waters come to acquire these Natural virtues above others, and to have such various Operations, and to be appropriated to this or that Disease, I answer briefly, because such Springs in their Currents pass by or through several sorts of Earths, as day, Marle, Chalk, Brimstone, Bitumen; or, Concrete Juices, as Vitriol, alum, Salt, Nitre, or Metals, as Gold, Silver, Iron, Copper, Tin, or the like, with which, or some of which, the Bowels of the Earth are almost every where Replenish't, but much more in some places than others; Now the Water passing through these, does partake of the quality of each respectively, and so become tinged or impregnated with divers properties adapted to such or such intentions of the Art of Healing; Nor is it to be wondered at, that such Waters should acquire a Tincture of those things, for as some of them are waked away and incorporated with, and others Swim along on the top of them; so for Minerals, since every Dabbler in chemistry can prepare such a penetrating Menstruum as shall dissolve the hardest metals, and Cloath itself with their qualities: 'tis not to be doubted but Natures lower Laboratory is productive by several Ferments of such powerful Menstruums, as are able to unlock the Bosom of Minerals, whereby their enfranchised virtues are sucked in by those Streams that pass that way.  
These New-Springs by their taste seem to have a Tincture of Iron, and a Nitrous Salt, and some Sulphur, 'tis much of the Nature of those other Waters, as Tunbridge, Epsom, &c. but somewhat more moderate, and for weak Bodies and tender Natures, 'tis better than any of them, and for stronger Constitutions, 'tis but taking the larger Dose: Its sensible Operation is chiefly by Urine and Stool,( but not violently) of which it causes a plentiful Evacuation; And therefore cannot but be an excellent Remedy in Diseases caused by Obstructions, as the Schirrus( or hard Tumours) of the Liver or Spleen, the ston in the Bladder or kidneys, and all difficulties of Urine, as also Fits of the Mother, the Virgins fever, and many Distempers of the Fair Sex, not convenient here to be mentioned; also in Dropsies, Jaundice of both sorts, and several other tedious Diseases; 'tis not doubted but Experience will find these Waters of singular good use, which many prove of unspeakable benefit to Inhabitants of this Populous City, especially the Poor, who have not money either to Fee Doctors or Apothecaries, or to maintain themselves at places Remote; whereas now, only for the charge of a moderate delicate walk, they may have the benefit of these happy Fountains and wash away their Diseases, without drowning their Purses.  
I shall conclude with certain Directions for such as make use of this Water.  

1. For the time of the Year, when ever the Weather is clear or dry, you may take of it as well in the Winter as Summer, for in the Winter the Water is Strongest by an Antiperistasis, and as for Coldness, I hold it the best way at all times, to drink it warm; I do not mean by boiling of it, for that may Evaporate its virtues, but by mixing Milk therewith, of which a quarter of a pint scalding hot, put to three pints of the Water, will make it a convenient warmth to be drunk, so as not to offend the Stomach, and this will be a competent Dose for most People at first, those that will drink more or less may proportion it accordingly.  
2. The best way will be to follow it constantly for a fortnight or three weeks together, and begin with a smaller quantity, and increase every day to the highest quantity you intend to Drink, and then decrease again for several days before you leave it off proportionably.  
3. Your walk from any part of London thither gently, will excite the Natural Heat and prepare the Body; and after you have drank, it will be good to walk a while, but not so violently as to Sweat; have a care of Lying down on the ground, and of drinking soon after it, at least immoderately, and especially avoid( that Bane of Englishmen) Brandy, which in this case will be very pernicious.  
4. Remember to take with you a few Carraway Comfits, or a little preserved Angelica or Elecampane, to comfort the Stomach.   
Lastly, let your food be Light, and of good quick Digestion, and after you have used the Waters as long as you thing fit, be sparing in your Diet for three or four weeks at least, to prevent Crudities, which Excess of Food will be apt to generate; But in dangerous Diseases( and indeed in all cases if you can afford it) 'twill be requisite to have the Directions of an able physician, who by his skill from your particular Constitution and Habit of Body, may so order you, as much to Improve the benefit of the Waters, and prevent all ill accidents.   
FINIS.  

LONDON, Printed for B. Harris at the Royal-Exchange in Cornhill.