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 Balsom , and the other with incomparable good Oyl : 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-fetcht Romances : Nor need we look so far abroad as the Spaw , or the Water of Burbon , since our own Happy Brittain , is as Richly Furnish'd 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 Tryal 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 tryed and considered by most of the Eminent Physitians about this City , ( I Speak not of Quacks and Empericks , but of the Learned Members of that Honourable and Renowned Colledge , which at this day makes so great a Figure amongst the Votaries of Aesculapius throughout Christendome ) and is by them generally approved as of good use in divers Distempers .

The manner how they were found out was thus , Mr. Sadler at the Musick-House by the New-River , in the Foot-way from Clarkenwell to Islington , having sometime since Imployed Men to Digg for Gravel in his Back-side , they lighted upon a large Stone , and that being taken up , a Curb 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 Tast 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 't is believed causing those particles whence it derived its Vertues , 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 Joyning with the Judgment of the Learned , to confirm its Vertues , 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 Vertues 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 accustomed 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 Antiently so called , I will not determine : There is a Story abroad , grounded , 't is 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 , 't was but attributing it to some Saint , and pretending the Natural Vertues 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 't is said , that by reason of such abuses after the Reformation , those Wells were stopt 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 inquired whence some Waters come to acquire these Natural Vertues 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 Clay , Marle , Chalk , Brimstone , Bitumen ; or , Concrete Juices , as Vitriol , Allum , 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 Ting'd or impregnated with diverse properties adapted to such or such intentions of the Art of Healing ; Nor is it to be wondred at , that such Waters should acquire a Tincture of those things , for as some of them are wash't away and incorporated with , and others Swim along on the Topp of them ; so for Minerals , since every Dabbler in Chymistry can prepare such a penetrating Menstruum as shall dissolve the hardest Metalls , and Cloath it self with their qualities : 't is 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 Enfranchis'd Vertues are suck'd in by those Streams that pass that way .

These New-Springs by their tast seem to have a Tincture of Iron , and a Nitrous Salt , and some Sulphur , 't is much of the Nature of those other Waters , as Tunbridge , Epsom , &c. but somewhat more moderate , and for weak Bodies and tender Natures , 't is better than any of them , and for stronger Constitutions , 't is 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 Stone in the Bladder or Kidnies , and all difficulties of Urine , as also Fits of the Mother , the Virgins Feaver , 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 ; 't is 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 Mony 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 .

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 ) 't will be requisite to have the Directions of an able Physitian , 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 .