HARD by the shore syde of King­horne, within a bow-draught or more to the heaven of Prettie-cur where the Botes arriue, direct west the Sands, is a great round steip Rock, whose fore-front ly­ing so oppen to the Sea, and opposite to the wea­ther, is so beatten therewith, as that his superficiall parts are become so friable, and as it were rotten to everie light twitching of ones hand.

All this whole craig from the top to the foun­dation, is so seamed, and as it wer embroydered with a number of whyte veines much resembling a soft & bruckle Alabast, & in many places glaūcing in the night, not vnlyk to Cristall or some bastard Diamāt.

This white spar is accompanied (although but poore) with some mixture of sundrie starnie metalls, whereof the greatest pieces aboundes of a certaine glauncing, cleir, & skelflie stone called Gypsum, wel [Page] knowne of the Apothecareis, yea and is verie pon­derous and weghtie.

Upon the east syde of the same Rock, in a hol­low corner is perceived a certaine white cleir congealed water snotting through the moyst clifts of the Craig▪ much resembling the geile of fishe, or repre­senting the stryne of ane evill rosted egge, called of those who are skilfull in metalles, Sperma, seu ma­ter Metallorum.

☞ Out of the broade face of this foresaid Rock, springs most plesandly a verie cleir, & delicate cauld VVater, which being drunk in great measure is neuer for all that, felt in the belly.

This faire Spring (albeit but laitlie knowne) 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 meate, maketh one that loaths of his meate to be hungrie, and is the onlie remedie for Chronick, & lingring disseases, specialie in those who having spoilled their stomach by superfluous drying of Cuppes.

It is a most confortable & refreshing drink in all hote fevers, pestilential agues, & where drouth most abounds.

It refresheth and cooleth a hott distemper of ye Lever, helpes all disseases proceeding therethrough, dryeth vp the Youk, and vniversall Skab, purgeth & correcteth all salt flegme, abaiteth and tempereth the heat of the Reines, a great cause of confirmed stones: and is a most soveraine remedie for the pai­nes [Page] of the Back, proceeding of Gravell or sand, cau­sing the patient to pisse out many small stones, and making them to discend without paine.

To some it louseth the belly verie freelie, but not at the first. Others thinks it bindeth them. Yet it see­meth to louse moe then it bindeth.

I haue knowne some vomit therewith, but that I suspect proceedeth of surfet: for that the people doe as yet vse it, without rule or praescription.

It helpeth many that haue a dimme Sight, for being wel put in the eyes, it is more sharpe and byting thē commoun water; & is a singular remedie for those which are molested with Lippitudo or bleir-eyed, & stayeth itching and heat.

No liquor hath been tryed more excellent for itching, and heat of the face with plouks, & pustuls then this water, it being both drunck and put ther­vpon. And is also good for singing of the eares.

It is powerfull in helping extenuat and leane per­sons who are troubled with difficultie of drawing their Brath: gives vigour and strength to vithered and debilitat members; and is the onlie last remedie for all debilities which haue long vexed the body through a hote distemper of the Lever, such as a hote Gutte; it allayeth all Inflamations 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 [Page] coolleth & dryeth being gathered at tymes when it falleth, and the hands & face rubbed therwith, doth procure a verie faire & beautiefull skinne.

These bee the Physical properties of this faire Spring, so far foorth as the disseased haue as yet tryed by experience, & in whose companie I was somtimes present my selfe.

Now, what should bee the Physicall and naturall cause of those wonderfull effects, diverse of the learned are of diverse judgments. For my owne part, because I was the first of my profession that crossed the Forh to that Spring, being moved partlie to sa­tisfie the desire of my freinds and acquaintence, & partlie to content my owne curiositie in naturall things, wherunto from my youth I haue euer bein bent, as weell at home as abroad: I will onlie write my opinioun without contentioun, reserving the resolution thereof to my most learned colleagues, much more judicious than my selfe.

I, at the first, as also many others, thought it but ane idle toy, & a conceit of the people, and as some think it yet. Others, thought it a trick devysed by the Ferriers onlie for gaine. But seeing the fame there­of incresse and that not by the meanest, but euen of those of best credit, who long disseased, wonder­fullie recovered their vnexpected health in their owne persons. At length I begoud to think that al­beit it was no vncouth thing in others countreyes to haue such minerall waters, yet rare & but of laite knowne amongst vs. And althogh I call this a mi­nerall [Page] water: yet my meaning is not to conclude that it proceedeth of metall alone: for that as appeareth is very poore in this craige: Notwithstanding that al those riches of goulde and silver which are come into Spaine since the west Indies were discovered, haue beine drawne out of such barrane places which are full beare and fruitles, as this rotten rock seims to bee. Yea all the ponderous spar inclyneth rather towards the bottome, a signe doutles which argueth no rich metall. Ioseph Acesta Hist. natur. and Moral. Lib. 3. Cap. 3. For it is found be experience that where minerals are most ryfe, the higher the veines bee 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 Physicall pro­perties be reason of metals, Then all springs taking their course through the richest metals should far excell this, which runneth but through a verie poor metall by appearence: yea that wholsome & cauld spring of the brayes of Arthrey, perteining to the right honourable The Earle of Montrose should far excell this of Kinghorne. I haue drunk of both waters, and in my opinion the one, might by the like tryall prove as good as the other, & perhaps better.

For there, (no doubt) is a riche metall whose seame and greate bodie reacheth directlie vpward to the superfice of the mountaine, and there visi­blie vncovers it selfe towards the South, the seame whereof is neere a foot and ane halfe in breadth, & consisteth in my judgement of Iron, Copper, and Vitrioll, and no doubt of some Silver, accompanied [Page] also with aboundance of a weghtie whyte spar, to­gidder with that glancing and emplastie stone cal­led Gypsum, verie vsuall amongst the learned for externall ruptures: which minerall spring (for no doubt it is one amongst diverse 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 confesse that all springs having their course through stōnie grounds and rocks, minerals & privie veines of the earth, cannot but contract & participat of one Phisicall qualitie or other, resembling the nature of the mettall through which it runneth.

Neither needeth any man of solid judgement to doubt, but that all springs of water taking their ishue and race through a hard rock, are to be preferred to any other water, taking way throgh a muddie earth: so consequentlie all springs passing through a mi­nerall Rock, (by reason) must farre excell that of no minerall, I meane for curing of disseases: for such waters are no wayes fit for dressing of meates, much lesse to bee mixed with wine, because no minerall water feedeth the bodie.

Now that mettals haue beene of old used for phy­sick, & yet are wonderfull in curing disseases, is no new thing, as lykewise the infinite works of lear­ned Physitions yet extant doe testifie.

For Iron, or Steell rightly prepared, then mixed either in liquid or solid forme, and given at con­venient houres, and tymes, after due preparation of the bodie, opneth all obstructions, opilations, & stop­pings [Page] of the noble parts, speciallie when the meseraick veines, betwix the Lever, gall & splen, are stuffed with a tuich, gla [...]use & vilccus flegme: and is a most so­veraine medecin, recomended of all the learned by long experience, for the vnplesand peale coloures in virgins, and other such lyke whatsomever, either in widowes or maried wyfes. Iron, or Steell haue also power to stop the Lask or Dysenterie and to heale inward Apostumes. And what I haue said of Iron or Steel, the lyke effects are to bee vnderstude of all springing waters running through the same.

Springes of Vitrioll, helpes too greate moysture of the Stomach, being moderatlie vsed stayes Nau­sea a continuall preasse to vomite, and vomiting it selfe: but being vsed in larger measure, provoketh vomite, and cleingeth the Stomach of whatsomever noysome humors. It healeth Stranguria, a painefull and faschious dissease, when one cannot pish but by drope and drope.

Springes of Silver, doe coole and drye.

Springs of Bruntstone are hote and whytish, smel­ling thereof, and the water boyleth hote. They ease cold disseases, heats the sinewes, consume humors betwix the skinne and the flesh. They cure the host. Helpe those who haue the falling siknesse, Heale scabbes, resiste venome, awaik men of the sleeping evill, and doe helpe the Gutt and Palsie. They cure inveterat vlcers, the hardnes of the Melt, Lever, and Matrice. But Springs of Bruntstone be not good for the Stomach.

[Page] Brassie Springs are not so wholsome, but they are good for disseases of the eyes, vlcers of the mouth, palate, or rufe thereof.

Copper Springs are good for dolors of the Gutte, short Braith, doloures of the Reins, and doe heale Vlcers.

Alume Springs, doe stay the spitting of Blood, stay Vomiting, stoppes immoderat flowing of the Hemor­rhoides, and hinders weomen to part with Chyld.

Springs of Tinne or Lead, doe heale all cancerous Vlcers, Schirrs or hard Tumoures, and are most pro­per for all disseases of the Skinne.

That Tinne or Lead be in this craig I greatlie dout, because Tinne nor Lead worke no such effects as this water doeth, neither are they so wholsome taken inwardlie as are any of the other, notwithstanding their cooling and detersive qualities externalie vsed, wherein verely they wōderfully excell. And althogh it hath beene ane old custome to make springes of water runne through spoutes of Lead, & that Tin bee lesse hurtfull, yea, neerer the qualitie of Silver, Yet neither Tin nor Lead are vsuallie taken at the mouth, as most of other metals bee, graunting that it participat some-what of Mercurie, whereof it is never a graine the better, but rather the more per­nicious for this pourpose.

Heurnius a man of great experience, Institut. Med. thoght never much of water whose course was through Lead, & speaking De potu communi these bee his words, At quae per tubulos plumbeos invehuntur pessimae habentur [Page] nam plumbi vim perniciosam corpori invehunt, vnde 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, vnde 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 ane Italian Phisition who verie skilfull of metals in his tyme, Cap. 11. de ther. Met. in his most learned and Philosophicall discourses of Minerall waters, sayeth cleirlie that Leaden springs ar no wayes whol­some taken inwardlie: Dicimus, (inquit) in vniver­sum 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, vt solet, hominem enecet, & ideo caveatis a potu talium aquarum, quae habent in se plumbum, & quae tamen ad purgandos morbos exteriores & insana­biles sunt praestantissimae, ita vt nihil reperiatur prae­stantius. & Cap. 7. Si velletis cognoscere quae sit sub­stantia aquae plumbeae, & stanni, qui sapor, qui (que) odor, & reliqua, possetis gustare, & videre, aquam illam fri­gidam & non medicatam. Sed nuncquid & aqua medica­ta [Page] reperiatur, quae haec in se contineat, equidem prorsus ignoro.

But least I digresse too far, I say that this water cannot but participat of mo metalles than one: Ios. Acosta Lib▪ 4 cap. 5 For where ever one mettall is found, there is also some o­ther with it. And althogh it seeme poore to our eyes without due tryall: yet the whole craige being of a straunge and vncouth mixture, and the sparre so ponderous and weghtie, might perchance after exquisit tryall, prove more heirin then is looked for.

Wee reade these words in the book of that holy man Iob, Chap. 28. That stone being molten with heat, is turned into Copper. Idem lib 4. [...]. 9 Finalie metals ar of diverse colours which seeme to such as knowe them not, to bee stones of no value. But the Miners doe presentlie know his qua­litie and perfection, by certaine signes & small vei­nes they find into them.

Now because (as I said before) the scaircetie of this metall (as appeareth) is not liklie to commu­nicate such Physicall faculties to this water alone, without some more helpe than the metall. What then? I take it to bee rather a kynd of doulce Ni­truse & semi-minerall mixture, wherwith these Cry­stalline and glauncing stones are obscurelie possessed, naturalie inherent & engendred, by long protract of tyme, within the whole bowels of the craige, from the top to the bottome.

This Nitre in substance, Nitre differs but litle from our Salpeter, and oftymes vsed in Physick the one for the other, the proofe whereof I haue often had. And [Page] it is of sundrie kynds, whereof one is minerall, one other artificiall, 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 Nitrū Bernicum, vsed of old in Bathes, which hath great power to extenuat thick and viscous humors, Auicenn. and so doeth our refined Salpeter. Hee speaketh also of a red Nitrum, whereof if any such bee in this Rock, I dar not affirme: onlie I see in a great hollow caue neer to the Spring, a red moyst tincture wherewith the vault within is all coloured, which appearantly cannot proceed from Tinne. Antidotar. Luminare majus spea­king of the kynds 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 fossile. & ex eo est quod est in minera sua sicut lapis, & ex eo est rubeum, & ex eo est album, & pulverulentū, & multorum colorum.

This Craig is also indued but with a soft Crystall. The reason hereof I conjecture to bee the low si­tuation thereof lying too warme, and often opposite to the Sunne, the speciall cause of the same. Hist. Simp. apud Indos nascent. 48. Gar­cias ab Orta a curious & learned Spainyard, speaking of the true Crystall, writeth thus: Amat inquit Cry­stallus loca frigida qualia sunt Alpes, 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 &c. So that Crystall is made of water materiallie, and that water of it selfe is fleeting: but by vehement cold is made stedfast Crystall. For [Page] so it is writen in Ecclesiasticus. Cap. 44. The north wind blew & made Crystall to frize. The experience whereof, wee may often see in water dropped from a Rock or other high place, which turneth into stones of diverse colours, caused by vertue of the vre and cold in that place, frizing the water the mate­riall substance of such stones. A number of visible proofes heirof wee haue at home amongst our sel­fes; Rattray cave. Such as in Rattray cave in the Barrnie of Slains perteining to the right Honourable the Earle of Erroll, high L. Constable of SCOTLAND.

The lyke also I remember this present yeere, by accident, Roslin chap. visiting that rare peece of Architecture, the old Chappell of Rosline, nothing inferiour to the old Roman worke, it was my good luck there, to meet with that honourable & auncient Baron, who (although vnacquented) amongst other courtesies, Roslin castel shewed me the double vaults of his Castell most curi­ouslie hewed out of a solid Rock; where admiring the work, I beheld the water by dropping congea­led into hard stones; a thing no lesse commone than true, as weel at home as abroad.

Also in Peru where the mines of quick-silver bee, Acosta Hist. natr. & mor. Lib. 3. cap. 17 their is a fountaine that casteth foorth hote water, which presentlie turneth into a Rock, wherwith the people of that land doe build their houses. This stone is soft, and is cutte as wode with Iron. And if either men or beasts drinck thereof, they die, because it congealeth in their intralls and turneth into a stone. In a Farme neere Cusco, springeth a foūtane [Page] of Salt, which as it runneth, turneth into salt verie whyte & exceeding goode. The waters which run in Guajaquell in Peru, almost vnder the equinoctial lyne, are wholsome for the frensh pocks and such lyke, by reason of the aboundance of Sarsa-parilla growing in that place, and the people come thither a far off to be cured. At the Bathes of Ingua is a cou [...]se of water which runneth foorth all boylling, and joyning to it is ane other as cold as yee. They vse to temper the one with the other. At Dunbri­tone Dunbritone. Castle vpon that monstrous steep Rock, there bee two fountaines, distant two or three fute the one from the other. The vppermost course wherof springing from North to South, is a verie salt wa­ter. The other springing from south to north as ap­peareth, is a faire fresch water: A straung thing to see Springes of contrarie qualities so neere others. Morouer betwix the two great Rocks within the said Castle, is a Lake or standing pond of water, distant neere 50. fadoms from the Sea, yet no man seeth from whence it commeth. A wonderfull thing in nature, Ma [...]g. Philos. although weel knowne amongst vs.

And in Boetia are two springes, the one helpeth the memorie, the other ingenders forgetfulnes.

In Cicilia are two springs, the one maketh weo­men barren, the other able to conceaue. In Idu­mea is a spring which chaungeth colour foure tyms a yeere: for three moneths it seemeth troubled: three moneths red as blood: three moneths green: and three moneths blewish. The cuntrye-men ther [Page] call it Iobs Well. And haue wee not heere neere by our chiefe Citie of Edinburgh, the oylie Well, cal­led S: Margarits well, the fatte whereof is almost equall to naturall Baulme, and whose power hea­leth all aching of the bones, & all kinds of outbrea­king of the skinne. one of the rarest things in this I­sland. Also in Siloa at the foote of mont Syon, is a Well, which runneth not alway, but certaine dayes and houres. And many moe Springes drawing their medicinall and divers qualities from the vaines of minerals, or semi-minerals wherethrough they tak their course: now hote, now cold, some binding, some lowsing, others smelling of Bruntstone, some troubled, some cleir, some sharp, some sweet, or of no taist the most wholsome water of all

These waters ar not lyk the superstitious or mud­earth Wells of Menteith, or Lady Well of Strath-Erne, and our Ladie Well of Ruthven, with a num­ber of others in this cuntrie, all tapestried about with old rags, as certaine signes & sacraments wherwith they arle the divell with ane arls-pennie of their health; so subtile is that false knaue, making them beleeue, that it is only the vertue of the water, and no thing els. Such people can not say with David, The Lord is my helper, but the D.

Now after this long digression, having first exa­mined the materiall substance of this Rock: nixt declared the tryed power of this water. And third­lie as I promest giuen my opinion of the Metall, or semi-minerall wherwith this Rock seemeth to bee spirituallie tempered.

[Page] No thing resteth now, but to show by probable conjctures, how this sweet saltish Nitrositie, may agrie with the late effects of this cold spring.

To cleir this then, our disccurse shallbe vpon Crystall, Gypsum, & Nitrum: Because in this Rock litle more is seene, & I feare the Italian proverb be true, Tutto quell' che lucè non è oro, It's not all goulde that glisters. The Crystall & Gypsum is visible. The Nitre is occult & not seene: yet all three concur­ring & most sensiblie felt in operation: But some­what different in their particular qualities, yet litle or nothing by their mutuall cōmunication to this water; Crystall. And so this way mixed, turneth all to one effect.

1 Crystall after the learned is naturally cold, with a drying & binding facultie, almost lyke vnto Gyp­sum, (but more wholsome) and doeth all what cold thing may doe. It helpeth against thrist & burning heat in fevers. Matheol. & Andern. A button of Crystall holden in the mouth when the tongue is hask and dry in fevers, presentlie cooleth & moystneth the same, the experience whereof is tryed in this water. w [...]ker. antid. de Lap. [...]g. Ca. 6. It helpeth the Dysenterie or bloodie Flux, given with old red vine. It stoppeth & dryeth vp the faschious Q. F. in weo­men a greate lett to conception. The lyke doeth this water skilfullie vsed. It engendreth milk in nur­ses breasts▪ and tempereth the hote qualitie thereof, chaiffed by toomuch drincking of vnnecessarie li­cour which is a nurses cōmoun fault, & the death of many young infants.

2 Gypsum is a skelfie, Gypsum▪ cleir, & whyte emplasticke [Page] stone, verie commonlie found in minerall rocks of Copper, and Iron, and is of a verie binding and dry­ing qualitie onlie for externall things. It helpeth the Rupture of the Bowells when they fall doune, Hernel. meth. med. Lib. 6 cap. 12. it stayeth great sweatings, and all defluxions falling doun vpon the eyes in Opthalmia.

Nitre after the auncients, hath beene a warsh & sweetish salt, Dioscorides. differing litle or nothing from our most refined Salpeter. And howbeit some of our Tag [...]t. & VVe [...]ker. &c. Neotericks haue beene somewhat scrupulous to vse the one for the other: Yet by cōmoun experience in our dayes wee haue observed neither danger nor difference, but that Salpeter most exquisitlie refined, Mes. Lib. 2. cap▪ 12. may weel serve for the same. It is of a deter­siue, scouring, and drying qualitie, inclined somewhat to heat, which notheles mixed with cooling and re­freshing things, worketh many cold effects. It exte­nuateth and cutteth flegme, Dioscorides Lib. 5. cap 78. purgeth grosse and clāmie humors, even some tyme by vomite, evacuateth crude and raw humors cleeving fast to the entrals, and is ve­rie good to giue for the Colick, & grinding of the belly through wind.

Penotus à Portu, à learned and famouse Chymist, Lib. de vera prepar. Nitri. amongst his other Philosophicall extractiouns, so vseth this Nitre, as that hee maketh it a salue for al sores. Hee calcineth it, prepareth it, draweth the oyle of it, and fixeth it. Jn end, hee concludeth with these words. Nitrum inquit ad haec omnia praestantissimum re­medium esse experimento constat, sive fumatur internè, sive adhibeatur in fomentationibus, balneis, seu empla­stris [Page] dividit, discutit, subtiliat, laxat, rarificat, ampliat, extenuat, aperit, lubricat. And besyde all this, so far doeth hee extoll it for procuring of a good appe­tite, (a power proclaimed peculiarlie to this water) that hee is not aschamed to prescryue it for this same purpose, to bee given to a horse.

To bee short, there is no propertie which the ancients hath attribute to Nitre, which with the helpe & cooling qualities of Crystall, & Gypsum, may not bee appropriat to this cold Spring: for what can this water doe as yet, which is not in them; or what can these simples doe, which in some measure this wa­ter doeth not performe.

Is Niter, Penotus de viribus Nitri. deulie prepared, good to expell gravel and sand both from the reines & blader? so is this water. Is it good being disolved to apply outwardlie and for heat in those parts? This water doeth even the same. Hath not N [...]tre a Diaphoretick power, and maketh some to breck out? so also proveth this water but in some. And doeth Niter composed and applyed to the stones, stay their inflammation? No lesse power hath this water. Dioscorides Lib. 5. cap, 78. Is it not good for the Hydropsie, the Colik and Iliack 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 Lever, paines of the Stomach, and suffocations of the lungs or lights? So no doubt may this water bee found.

I heare also this cold Spring hath helped paraly­tick members, the stupiditie, and inhabilitie of the sinewes, contractions of the nerves in the fingers, [Page] and such lyke, by bathing and drinking thereof. And that it hath a coroboratiue power to strenthen all the nervall and ligamentall parts of the bodie, mo­ving also a gentle Diaphoretick & evaporatiue sweat, which (maketh me yet suspect that the Rock is possessed with some silver, althogh but litle to our eyes; for silver even Philosophicallie prepared, is likwayes Diaphoretick,) confirmeth also weried & feble mem­bers, yea & hath ane occult propertie to stay much sweating in tabide and consumed bodies, and that because of his mixt qualities with Gypsum, both coo­ling and drying, and which two qualities to this effect are verie requisite.

Further, hath it not vnstopped the Lunges to ma­ny persons, and helped a short braith? How many people haue beene helped this same last yeere there with, and oppenlie affirmed against all those who say the cōtrarie? P [...] Now why may not Niter doe all this? and what simple or miner all doeth so much agree with these properties as Niter? And who doubteth what refreshing power this cold Spring hath in hote fe­vers, in thirst, and in all internall and externall in­flammations? Fallo [...]. VV [...]ker. and may not water taking his course through cold Crystalline stones, haue more cooling & refreshing qualities than commoune water, may it not coole, I say, all inflammations and heat of the Lever? And doeth not common water even coole & ease inward paines? [...]nsil. med. ex Schol.141. then let vs see if the words of that Imperiall Physition Crato bee true, speaking De do­loribus renum: Multi (inquit) post primum somnum, [Page] jam perfecta coctione, hauriunt aquam frigidam, & in signe juvamentum percipiunt. Ze [...]chil conf. Med. cap. 13. And ane Italian Phy­sition sayeth by his common practick in Nephre­tick dolours, Illud nunquam è memoria excidat, nihil praestantius pro arcendis renum calculis esse, quam aqua tepida quinque vel sex vnciarum mensura, immedia­tè ante cibum mane, & vesperi modicè calidum pota­tum. And a litle after speaking of thirst, hee sayeth A pastu ventriculo valde sitiente & astuante gelide modicè binas tantum vel ternas ad summum vncias bi­bere licebit.

Morover, common water tempereth great heat, and conserveth the naturall humiditie of the body: for which cause Hippocrates calleth water, the bodies temper. And auncient histories sufficientlie testifie, that water was the first drinck that men vniuersalie vsed of old, & wherewith they contented them selues a long tyme, to vse it onlie for quenshing of their thirst▪ but afterwards when voluptuousnes seased vpon mens appetites, they invented & set before them diuerse sorts of drincks, because they thoght water but a taistles and vnsavorie thing. And yet if wee will giue credite to experience and heare but what the writes of the learned doe say, Ro [...]e [...]. a Fon [...] Lusitan. de tuend. valetu. Cap. 12. That water not onlie groweth the bodie, but euen maketh men to liue longer, & in better health, yea, and to haue a quic­ker fight, than wine. But now a dayes our queasie sto­maches are become so tender, and so kitle, that if wee but ones in a yeere taiste water, wee are in dan­ger to catch the Colick; no, we must haue a litle Seck [Page] and Sugger, or else our stomach is gone; let Ma­noahs wife drinck what shee pleaseth, I [...]dg. cap. 13. the bellie now a dayes hath no eares for such grammer rules. And yet to speake the truth; cold water is as vnfit for a wo­man with childe and for such as are accustomed with frequent birth, as strong wine is vnmixed.

Then seing that cōmoun water, either cold or hote, hath such evident, and anodine properties: what shall wee thinck of the best sort of these wa­ters correspondent in all respects to the true nottes which Dioscorides hath left vnto vs? and what ac­compt shall wee make of this crystalline or semi­minerall water, Lib. 5. cap. 9. which not onlie is answerable om­ni-modo to the best? but also excelleth so far footth as the qualities of these forsaid mixtures may mak it.

But to returne to our purpose concerning Niter. Who then thincks that these Nitrous qualities, for the most part doe not agree competentli with this faire Spring; hath not well remarcked the obser­vations of the disseased: for how oppenlie is it known to expell sand, and bring doune small stones both from the reines and bladder, to coole the heate of the back, burning of the vrine, and to aswage all pai­nes thereabout? experience of the people can testi­fie, and which aperitiue and diuretick power belon­geth both to Crystall, and Niter. I haue knowne it to helpe Sciatick dolours given warme in a Cly­ster with Salt. To helpe sore eyes, clenge a dimme sight, to aswage the paines and singing of the eares, and to scoure them from filth: all which doe well [Page] aggree with Niter. It helpeth the dolour of the head drawen vp as an Errhin at the nose, & clengeth the teeth more then cōmoun water, maketh the haire faire and cleene, healeth a reiffie and leprouse skine, and in a word, maketh even Ladyes faire.

Why may not then, I say, such detersiue and scou­ring qualities appeare rather to proceed of a drying and saltish Nitrositie, than of any apparent mettall in that place; in respect it not onlie purgeth, and clengeth the bodie, as well inward as outward, but also clengeth and purgeth tasches and spottes, both from linning & wollen, and which detersive power doeth more agree with the vse of Niter, than with any metall that can bee found in a Rock.

Monavius ane expert and learned Physition 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, etiā vnanimis medicorum consensus testatur. The which also the holie Scripture approveth by the mouth of the Prophet saying, Etiamsi laveris te nitro, & mul­tiplicaueris tibi herbam Borith, tamen signata est ini­quitas tua &c. I [...]. cap. 2. Saponaria.

But which is worse of all, I heare it hath swelled the bellie of Cacochymick and vnwholsome people, and stopped their water: So doeth Niter takē before the bodie bee well prepared and purged. And hath it done good to one, and evill to another? So will any good thing doe, (although good in it selfe) if [Page] it bee not vsed with rule and moderation▪ yea & to some also, one man's meate is another man's poyson, a proverb cōmoun amongst vs.

And hath it constipat some, and loosed others? No wonder, for the Spring is possessed with con­trarie qualities, a vertue proper to best medecines: for if it did not bind, it could not helpe the lask & Dysenterie: And if it did not loose, it could not re­moue their causes. Hath it not cured some without preparation, and others which Physitions could not cure? let them thank GOD and sing, Te Deum lau­damus: Vna enim Hyrundo non facit ver: Then blesse the Spring with a famous report, and say, Beatus medicus qui venit in fine morbi.

Then to conclude, I perceiue my verie lerned frend and old Parisien acquentance M ^r VVilliam Barclay, wold haue all the effects of this water to proceede from Tinne: Fallop. de foss. atque metal. cap. 22. which effects, sayeth hee, the Paracel­sians ascryue to Saturne, and so concludeth, Sacha­rum Saturni to bee the Salt of Tinne, confounding two metalls in one, as if Iupiter were Saturne, and Saturne Iupiter: Stannnm Plumbum, and plumbum stannum. Tinne to bee Lead, and Lead to be Tin, Which ouersight I can not think to haue proceided of ignorance, because I know him to bee more ler­ned than my selfe. I suspect it may bee imputed to his haist (as hee writeth to the Printer) in making for the tyde. Or else it may bee that hee thinketh the difference betwix stannum & plumbum to bee so litle, that propter similitudinem in ardore scribendi, hee [Page] might vse the name of the one for the other without scruple, because of their affinitie; which if so bee, as it is liklie, I think there is no oversight at all.

Finalie amongst all the wholsum qualities where with this water seemeth to bee so secreitlie indued, the corroboration of the Stomach is not the least: a great ayde in curing of all disseases, and a power so oppenlie knowne in this water to steir vp lust to meate, that few or none haue as yet retourned with out the proofe heirof.

But that Springs taking their course through Tin or Lead, can giue appetite to the Stomach, I cānot beleeue: nether hath any of the learned ever as yet remarked such a thing. For Fuschius the most lear­ned German Physition in his dayes, De cōpo [...]. Med cap. 20 recompting the Physicall properties of minerall waters both into France and Germanie, writeth thus of the Plumbiers or leaden Baines of Loraine. Baignes of Loraine. 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 vlceribus cancro, phaged [...]nis, fistulis, elephantiae recens caeptae, & omnibus cutis vitiis. Heir is no mention made of the stomach, much lesse of other inward infirmities this way cured, either by Tinne or Lead.

How then can it bee any thing, but a detersiue & drying semi-minerall Nitrositie, which this water seemeth to haue spirituallie contracted, whose na­turall & sweetish scharpnes is so tempered by com­munication [Page] of the refreshing qualities of Crystall and Gypsum, and whose qualities are also detersiue and drying. The effects whereof bewrayeth it selfe more in bellifying, and skouring the superficiall de­formities of the skinne, (then in curing of vlcers proper to Tinne or Lead) such as are pustules, red plowks of the face, ytching, and roughnes of the skinne, proceeding of a dry melancholious & salt blood, Tetters, Ring wormes, and that sort which the Frensh men call les Dartres de Naples, the Graecians [...], the Latines Impetigines, and with our selfs is a dry ytching scruffe, or hote fla, oftymes chan­cing on the face, or on the back of ones hand, which (as Paulus, Aegineta testifieth) turneth to those of an ill dyet, into a scabbe or leprosie. Lib. 6. meth. med. cap. 20. The which also that most eloquent and learned Physition Fernel, hath well remarked in the properties of Niter, in these wor­des Nitrum, inquit, quanquam vehementer tergit, non tamen vlceribus, sed lepris, alphis, impetiginibus, aliis (que) cutis vitiis expurgandis aptum.

And old Plinius who was so curious in naturall things, sayeth, it heateth, biteth, and vlcerateth. Which affects, say our Chyrugions, are no way fit for vl­cers: & therefore may be the cause, perchance, why Tabide or cōsumed people by an vlcer of the lungs, after the immoderat vse of this water, became day­lie worse and worse by too muche loosing of thee bellie (a power proper in this water to some, Hippocrates. albeit vnproper for Tabides) Phthisici enim per alvum rarò aut nuncquam purgandi.

[Page] Now because that some may object: if this water had any Nitrous qualitie, it wold (no dout) bewray it self, either in taist, colour, or savour? to which I answer, that Physicall waters possesse either spiri­tuall qualities, or substantiall quantities, & as there bee diverse kynds of Salt, so are they diverse kynds of saltish waters, which differ in their qualities by degreis. For some be stronger, others mylder, some sharper, and some sweeter, & others so insipide that skairslie are they felt on the tongue. And least I shuld seeme to bee alone of this opinion without warrand of the learned, Cap. 9. de Therm. atque Metallis. Heare 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 vllo modo cognoscitur aquam habere Nitrum. Tactu au­tem aliquo modo, quia aquae Nitrosae detergunt nec re­linquunt aliquam asperitatem.

Againe hee sayeth in an other place: Idem. Saepe enim Sal & Alumen sunt cum aquis ita commixta vt im­possile sit per dissolutionem naturalem ipsa cognoscere. Item Nitrum non cognscimus in aliqua aqua esse, nisi insit ipsamet Nitri substantia. Idem.

To bee short then let none think, but Springs of waters may bee indued with diverse Physicall pro­perties, minerall or semi-minerall qualities, althogh they nether bewray them selfes in taist, colour, nor savour.

But how the, say others, can waters possessed [Page] with saltish and Nitrous faculties, refresh, moysten, and coole? I answer that a thousand effects in na­turall causes, may also proceed of cōtrarie qualities: for there be many exceptions even in naturall rules, so that sometymes wee see by experience subtile na­ture so to ouerreach and surpasse the skill of arte in these kynds of mixtures, that simples, natuallie hote & dry of them selfes, by the companie of others which coole and refresh, are sensiblie felt to excute colde ffects.

Iosephus Acosta a worthie and judicious Spanyard in his naturall and morall historie which he writeth of the East and West Indies, Cap. 11, Natur Hist. discoursing vpon the naturall qualitie of the Sea, writteth in these termes: Althogh, sayeth hee, the water bee salt, yet it is al­wayes water, whose nature is ever to coole, and it is a remarkable thing in nature, that in the midst of the deepe of the Oceane, the water is not made hote, by the violent heat of the Sunne, as in rivers: even as Salpeter (sayeth hee) althogh it bee natu­rallie salt) hath a propertie to coole water, even so wee see by experience, that in some ports and hea­vens, the salt water refresheth, which wee haue ob­served in that of Callao in Peru, whereas they put the water or wyne which they drinck into the Sea in flaggons to bee refreshed, whereby wee may vn­doubtedlie beleeue, that the Ocean hath this pro­pertie, to temper and moderat the excessiue heate: for this cause wee find greater heat at land then at sea, ( caeteris paribus) and cōmonlie countryes lying [Page] neere the Sea, ar colder thē those that ar foorther off.

But to illustrat this by many examples, wer no lesse needlesse then endlesse: for the mater is cleer of it selfe: and therefore I will ende this colde discourse, contenting me onlie with the experience of that famous & learned Empyrick Rulandus in his tract at which hee 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. vnum. Ilico liquatur aquae limpidiss. instar, & dum ita bullit, injice sulphuris puri & triti, zs. elicies flammā. caerulei coloris: quae vbi evanuerit, & tertio bullire Ni­trum videris, repete Sulphuris adjectionem, & hoc ter tium reiterato. Demum pilae mundae, aut vasi figulino pedetentim infundito, exsurgent albi trochisci seu rotu­lae coagulatae. Has denno terito in pulverē tenuiss. vsus Conserv. Rosar. cochleari pulveris adde triplum ejus quanto satis ovo satiendo adhibetur.

Praebeatur aegro aestu fere enecto, quoties voluerit. Nostratum quidam multis in aqua fontana frigid. dis­soluti hujus ex Nitro remedii portiunculam, iterum at (que) 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: [Page] modo ritè administretur & curandi methodus potior non susque deque habeatur.

Goe then with boldnesse, & drinck of this whol­some and Physicall water, and say not to your selfs, the Physitions envyeth it, speaketh against it, they approve it not, and it hindereth their gaine. Onlie but carie with you these few directions following. and so faire yee well.

THat none drinck of such waters, who haue their back and reines verie hote, Fallopi [...]s de Th [...] c. 31. and the stomach and whole habite of the bodie cold. For that were euen as much to destroy a whole ludging, for the gaine onlie of one cōmodious chamber.

2 That no disseased person drinck thereof, before his bodie bee well prepared and purged, for by this meanes no man shall haue harme therby, and it is the counsell of the learned. But aboue all things, Idem. and which most importeth, that none drinck of the same w [...]th a bund bellie: for I haue not obserued it as yet, to doe harme to any so much as to those. To he [...]pe this then, and for such as can take no Physick, no thing is more excellent or more reddie for this pourpose, then to carie with you a box of Grana Angelica, and to swellou viij▪ or ix. of them hid in a vere or potched egg, which you may doe without harme at any tyme a day, but especiallie at meate in the beg [...]nning or mids of dinner or supper: for then they work best the next day ther­after, and make not the bodie seike, & is a most familiare & so­ueraine remedie for all disseases proceeding of constipation.

3 It is not good to take it cupe, Idem. for cupe, without intermis­sion but to walk moderatlie vp and doune, betwix each draucht, and that yee grow nether hote nor sweat.

4 It wold bee onlie taken in the morning fasting, Idem. and not at mea [...]es, as many er [...]oniouslie doe, for it is diuretick.

5 It is not so good being caryed a farr of, Idem. as taken from the Rok althogh it bee tryed to keep longer vncorrupt then other water.

6 The seike should drinck it seaven dayes togidder at least, and some longer as the di [...]ease requyreth, eating in the meane tyme meat o [...] easie digest [...]on.

7 It wold be onlie taken (as the learned doe prescriue) in the hotest moneths, Idem. specialie in Iune, Iulie, and August: Yea euen in [Page] the verie tyme of our dogg-dayes, so much regairded of amongst vs without cause. The reason of this is not onlie because the wa­ter is best then: but also for that it is requisite, the whole ha­bite of the bodie bee patent and oppen, that such cold springes may haue the more frie passage without stoppe, which opning & free Ishue in our bodies (as the learned say) is not but in hotest moneths and seasons, and which heate with vs is but a tempe­rat heat in regaird of that of other nations.