Part 4 (1/2)
_Gnaresbrugh_ (commonly called _Knaresborow_) is a very ancient Market towne in the West-Riding of _Yorkes.h.i.+re_, distant 14 miles from the City of _Yorke_; where the Pole is elevated 54 degrees, and 20 odde minutes.
On the South-west part thereof is that faire, and goodly Fort, so much renowned, both for the pleasant situation, and remarkable strength, knowne by the name of _Knaresborow Castle_, seated on a most ragged and rough Rock; whence (as learned Mr. _Camden_ saith) it is so named.
Both the Castle and the Towne are fenced on the South and West parts with the River _Nid_: which is beautified here with two faire Bridges of stone, which lead from the Towne into the Forest adjoyning, as also unto a large empaled Park of his Majesties, called _Bilton-parke_, well stored with fallow Deere: part whereof is bordered with the said river.
The Towne it selfe standeth on a hill, having almost on every side an ascent to it; and about it are divers fruitfull valleyes well replenished with gra.s.se, corne, and wood. The waters there are wholesome and cleare; the ayre dry and pure. In briefe, there is nothing wanting, that may fitly serve for a good and commodious habitation, and the content and entertainment of strangers.
Many things are very observable in this place, which because they rather do appertaine to the volumes of Geographers, & Antiquaries, then to the purpose intended in this little treatise, are here omitted.
_CHAP_. 2.
_=Of the severall earths, stones, and mineralls found neere and about this place.=_
Although there are in sundry places of this Kingdome as many, or moe severall kinds, and sorts of earths quarreyes of stone, minerals, and mines of mettalls, then in any other Realme whatsoever; notwithstanding no one place hath beene observed to have them either in such plentie, or variety in so small a distance, as this. For here is found not onely white and yellow marle, plaister, oker, rudd, or rubricke, free-stone, an hard greet-stone, a soft reddish stone, iron-stone, brimstone, vitreall, nitre, allum, lead, copper, (and without doubt diverse mixtures of these) but also many other mineralls might (perhaps) be found out by the diligent search and skilfull industrie of those, who would take paines to labour a little herein.
All which do manifestly demonstrate, that nature hath stored this little territorie with a greater diversitie of hidden benefits, then great and s.p.a.cious Countries otherwise abounding in outward native commodities, and that the fountaines, or springs of water hereabouts cannot otherwise then partic.i.p.ate of their severall natures, and properties.
_CHAP_. 3.
_=Of the fountaines, of pure and simple waters neere, and about the Towne.=_
As generally most parts of the West Riding of _Yorkes.h.i.+re_ (especially the hilly and more mountaineous places thereof) are stored with fountaines and springs of cleare, limpide, and pure simple waters; so likewise the territorie here abouts is not without plenty of them. Two whereof have gotten and purchased that reputation, as to be saincted: The one called by the name of Saint _Magnus_, or _Mugnus-Well_: th'
other, that of Saint _Roberts_.
These, formerly for a yeere, or two, have beene in great request in these parts amongst the common sort, much sought unto by many, and great concourse of people have daily gathered and flocked to them both neere, and a farre off, as is most commonly seene, when any new thing is first found out. _Fama enim grescit eundo_, even unto incredible wonders and miracles, or rather fictions, and lyes. All which commeth to pa.s.se as wee may well suppose, through our overmuch English credulity, or (as I may better say) rather superst.i.tion. For to any such like Well, will swarme at first both yong and old (especially the female s.e.xe, as ever more apt to bee deluded) halt, lame, blind, deafe, dumbe, yea, almost all, and that for all manner of maladies and diseases, both inward and outward.
But for as much, as these are springs of pure, and simple waters meerely, without any mixture at all of minerals to make them become medicinable, it is verily thought, that the many & severall cures, which have bin attributed unto them in those times, when they were so frequented, were rather fained, and imaginary, then true, and reall; and that those, who then visited them, were desirous (either to uphold, and maintaine the credit, and reputation of their Saints, or else, to avoyd the scorne and derision of their owne delusion) to have others likewise deceived.
Time hath quite worne all their strength, and consumed all their vertues; so that nothing of worth now remaines with them, saving onely their bare names and t.i.tles: _Sic magna sua mole ruunt_.
Wherefore to omit these, as scarce worthy the mentioning; those are chiefly here to be described, which doe partic.i.p.ate of minerall vertues, and faculties.
_CHAP_. 4.
_=Of five fountaines neare unto the town, which doe partic.i.p.ate of minerall vertues.=_
Out of the divers Fountaines springing hereabouts, five are worthy the observation of Physitians. The first whereof is very neare unto the river banke, over against the Castle, called by the name of the _Dropping-well_, for that it droppeth, distilleth, and trickleth downe from the hanging rocke above. The water whereof hath a certaine quality or property to turne any thing, that lieth in it, into a stony substance in a very short s.p.a.ce.
Three of the others (being all of them much of one, and the same nature) are termed by the country people thereabouts the _Stinking-wels_, in regard they have an ill, and fetide smell, consisting most of Sulphure-vive, or quicke brimstone. One of them, and that which hath the greatest current, or streame of water, is in _Bilton park_.