whereof hauing no farther proofe then as yet I can attaine vnto I leaue it as doubtfull as the former But I will proceede with the further explication of the late effects of this Water which since the great repaire and concourse which people of all sorts haue made vnto it is found to bee profitable not onely against Agues which was the first virtue reuealed in it but also against all manner of coldes stoppings grypings gnawings collicks aches ruptures and inward infirmities and no lesse soueraigne against sores and outward anguishes wounds swellings vlcers festers impostumes and hurts of the seuerall ioynts and members besides that it hath done no small number of straunge cures against sorenes of eyes and eares blindnesse deafenesse lamenesse stifnesse of sinnewes numbnesse weakenesse and feeblenesse all which I am able to auerre and proue by vndeniable demonstration from the seuerall effects of infinite numbers of people that haue giuen witnesse thereof in these three or foure moneths now last past I call them infinite numbers because indeede the resort thither immediatlie after the first rumour of the Well grew vncountable and the people as well of Cheshire as all the bordering shires thereabouts trauelling thither daily in greater and greater multitudes euen till they amounted by estimation to more than two thousand in a daie Master Done euen then at the first although it were great disturbance to her Highnesse Deere in the Forrest occasion of much other inconuenience to the countrie yet in regard of the notable comfort that sicke and diseased and pleasure that healthfull and sound persons receiued by it hath been contented to allow free accesse and permitted all manner of meete prouision to be brought vnto it with most carefull and Worshipfull foresight and heede as well that no money nor see should be exacted for the vse of the water which God had freelie bestowed on poore and rich as also that there should be order and gouernment warilie taken ouer all such as resorted thither so that no manner of misdemeanor or disorder should growe in that place whereunto such great assemblies are apt and prone enough if good heede and preuention be not vsed To which purpose it happened well that the Well it selfe falleth within the limits of a walke in the Forrest which hath long time been kept and watched by one Iohn Frodsham the keeper of that walke who as he was a very fit and meete person both for his good discretion and estimation to take the gouernment and ordering of people of the inferiour sort and for the entertainment of the better sort as they resorted thither so hath he taken great paines and care in discharging the trust in him reposed for satisfaction of all manner of resorters thither and daily endeuoureth himselfe by all waies and meanes possible that his Masters good and forward inclination to doe all both poore and rich equall furtherance in their desires may honestly and respectiuely be accomplished Now by that which hath been before set downe it appeareth what diuersitie of cure this Well water hath made vpon sundrie persons as shall be more largely proued to such as make doubt of the trueth of these reports For as it consequently followeth that these things being graunted then is this Water found beneficiall and medicinable against more seuerall sorts of diseases and infirmities then any one remedie that hath been commonly knowne heard of or experimented which report is indeede wonderfull and scarcely to be beleeued to such as haue not been eye-witnesses thereof so were it a great boldnesse and an enterprise of a very brainsicke disposition in me that should affirme the same vnlesse I were warranted by the experience of so many so credible so wise so graue so sufficient persons both in Cheshire Lancashire Darbishire Staffordshire Shropshire Flintshire Denbighshire and others from whence men women and children hauing resorted hither in such abundance there is not any but haue giuen ample testimonie that they found some extraordinarie pleasure by drinking or other vse of the water especially those who vpon any cause of griefe haue receiued it as more at large I might very well make manifest if I thought it conuenient or much necessarie for me to publish that approbation and testimonie vnder their seuerall names which many of the best ranke of the inhabitants of these adioyning countries haue and doe freely and trulie giue of it And least it should be expected that I should insist vpon some particular instances or otherwise suspected I dealt not plainelie but sought to beguile persons remote and farre dwellers with words whereof I had no proofe I thinke it not impertinent to set downe the particulars of some of the cures made vpon diuers diseases in diuers persons of diuers habitations which though they be skant an hundreth part of those which might be registred to haue receiued benefit by the Well yet it shall be sufficient to any reasonable minde to take viewe and note by these of what power and force the water is found to be wherein I cannot in any sort be conuinced of lying or misreporting because they are testimonies taken from the confession of all the parties themselues and witnessed by the beholders being many scores yea hundreds of people of all these Countries who haue seene the proceedings as here is deliuered First for the curing of Agues there is none within any reasonable distance from the place but know what numbers haue been and are dailie cured of that infirmitie especiallie of such as dwell neere the Well or haue staied a competent space to take benefite by the water in the best kinde which is to receiue it fresh from the Fountaine it selfe let it suffice to name these fewe for example The aforenamed Iohn Greenwaie VVilliam Thomas and Ralphe his sonnes all honest young men and credible persons One VVilliam Iohnson a seruant to Ralphe Smethers extreamelie vexed with an Ague was vpon May day last speedily and perfectly restored to his health by drinking that Well water One Master Haworth of Congerton an honest Gentleman deliuered from the fits within once or twice washing and drinking One Ioan Gorst a substantiail honest mans daughter likewise perfectly cured of an Ague which had handled her in such extremitie that through weakenes she could not be brought on horsebacke butas she was staied and held vpon the horse she recouered health by three or foure times drinking and washing For sorenes and blindnes of eyes consider these fewe reports Hugh Rowe of Darnall a man of good wealth and very honest credit hauing been quite depriued of the sight of one eye for three yeares space by washing oft in this water hath welneere recouered sight in the same againe a cure that among the rest hath much confirmed both mine and many others beleefe of the effectuall operation of this water being well acquainted with the losse of his sayd eye and knowing well the mans worth of credit in that behalfe Thomas Leonard borne at Salisburie and
latelie blind for the space of two yeares hath with washing in this water about twelue dayes receiued sight againe Ralphe Hichenson a poore labourer fallen of late yeares very blinde as hath been well knowne to many of the Worshipfull Gentlemen in the countrey who thereupon haue caused reliefe and prouision for him according to the statute hath by the vse of this water recouered sight againe which serueth him well to goe without leading which before he could not doe One Robert Bradley who came out of Darbishire the 24. of Iuly being borne at Chappell in the Frith was led hither blind hath here recouered sight and the fourth of August is gone home without leading One of Edge in Cheshire hauing had a pearle fifteene or sixteene yeeres in one eye by this water got remedie for it Cures of aches and griefes in the ioints and body haue beene such as follow One Anne the wife of William Wield of Rushton hauing such paine in her backe and hippes that she was altogether vnable to go is by vsing this water become perfectly sound and goeth well One Anthony Bigges a souldier late in the Regiment of Sir Samuell Bagnall came forth of Ireland verie lame sicke and feeble not able to mooue farther then he was supported by crouches on the 24. of Iuly began to vse this water the 29. of the same had recouered strength and went lustily homeward toward Somersetshire with onely a walking staffe in his hand Roger Nickson a substantiall man now Maior of Ouer confesseth himselfe to be cured of a sore paine he had in one of his legs One Ralph Lightfoot of the same corporation saith he had a certain griping in his body which would take him three or foure times a day and almost plucke him to the ground and in short time now hath beene fully cured thereof George Blacamore of the same society saith that by twice washing he was cured of an issue of water which came from his knee by a cut with an axe which before would haue drenched through nine-fold of cloth in lesse then a quarter of an houre One Iames Kelsall cured of a legge which had beene sore for many yeeres before and would be holpen by no meanes till now One Edward Billington of Middlewich parish hauing a straunge disease in his body that he was not able almost to mooue himselfe is now able to go to the Well with ease being almost foure miles distant One Mistres Drakeford of Congerford was here cured of some infirmities in her bodie as by her husband was credibly reported One Hugh Fairechild of Prescot Parish in Lancashire affirmeth himselfe to be hereby cured of a Rupture One Randol Phitheon of Warmincham Yeoman was long time benummed by a poyson that he could almost hold nothing in his hand auoucheth that he hath receiued great comfort by this water Robert Hall of the parish of Whitegate Wheelewright had of late a disease fell into one hand which brake and issued at fifteene or sixteene holes and is with this water made fish whole witnessed by the sight and knowledge of the Vicar of Ouer a very honest gentleman One Master VVilliam Iohnes a gentleman of worth and good reputation dwelling neere Wrixham in Denbighshire came very sicke and lame to this Well where recouering health and soundnes he left testimonie there vnder his hand-writing of the great benefit he receiued to this effect Viz. That where he was exceeding lame of his knees and feete and grieuously pained in his head necke shoulders and sides that from Easter weeke till the 26. of Iune he was not able to go without the helpe both of the crouch and one to hold him by the other arme vsing this water at his house one fortnight he found himselfe able to trauell to the Well where he continued in all twelue daies and found such good thereby that he was able to go onely with the helpe of a little sticke in one hand and to get vpon his horse without helpe and in token of the benefit he receiued there he hath left his crouch in the hollin there behind this second of August 1600. The same crouch with diuers others being there indeed reserued as oft as anie haue cause to leaue them One Peter Nightgale was by this water likewise cured of a Rupture in his bodie One Ioane Bromhall of the Middlewich lame of one arme and one hand as is known and affirmed by men of good worship by this water hath gotten helpe and hath perfect vse of her arme and hand againe Iohn Olton of Wettenhall the younger an honest credible man hauing a Rupture many yeeres and not able to go without the helpe of a steele girdle which he wore continually hath heereby gotten remedie and goeth now lustily without his girdle I may not omit among these some that haue beene eased of the gout and such like aches As one George Iohnson of Northwich long time diseased in that sort so that he was not able to goe is by this water holpen and well amended Christopher Bennet of Wiruin much eased and holpen of a gout and sorenesse besides called a Wildfire in one of his legges One Master Iames Hocknell sonne to Iohn Hocknell Esquire being not able to goe but was brought to the Well on horsebacke three or foure times and became perfectly amended One Elizabeth Bradshaw of Northwich had sore legs twentie two yeeres and hath here by this water gotten helpe The straungest cure to my iudgement that proceedes from this water among all the rest is the helpe that it giues to some of the hardnesse of hearing wherof there are no few testimonies giuen by many one that is knowen to be benefited therein is Randal Wield a young youth of Vtkinton This I know vpon my owne knowledge that a Gentleman here in the countrey one Master D. C. being so deafe that he cannot heare the report of a gunne discharged verie neere him hauing of this water infused into his eares it presently drew forth much corruption beyond all expectation what further benefit will insue towards the amendement of this deafnes restes in Gods hands but there is good hope I haue purposely spared to remember a Worshipfull Knight of Lancashire who hath oft visited to his owne great ease and comfort this Well and as well himselfe as other Gentlemen of good account and some learned of his companie haue giuen very great approbation to the truth of the Welles efficacy One notable vertue it hath not to be forgottē which is soueraignty in curing and helping the Stone which was notorious in that one cure it did vpon Iames Okenthorpe of Eaton who was tormented both with the Stone and Strangulion and hereby receiued remedie No man can better confirme the credit of this that the water helpeth the Stone and other hurtfull obstructions then one Master Iohn VVyttur of Torporleigh a very substantiall Freeholder who of late was of the stone together with a colde and certaine gryping torments in his
antiquities doe affirme to haue been a Citie and it should seeme indeede to haue been a walled Towne there founded and built by Eadelfleda a Queene of Merceland and the place to this day is called Eades burie whereof the whole hundred being a seuenth part of the shire reteyneth still the name The Borrough or Towne being now vtterly decaied and gone there remaineth onely vpon the top of the vtmost height within that situation a proper built lodge called the Chamber and hath been for the most part maintained and inhabited by a famous race of Gentlemen the Dones of whome for certaine hundreds of yeares Knights and Squires of that surname hauing still by inheritance been masters of the game or chiefe Forresters there haue left good remembrances of their worthes and great reputation to all posteritie and is now possessed by a worshipfull Gentleman Iohn Done Esquire whom the rather I am bolde here by name to mention because of his charitable disposition and gentlemanlike furtherance of the benefit of this Well to the reliefe of all sorts of people that seeke for helpe by it About a mile and halfe from the chamber toward the Southwest side of the forrest is situate the Newfound VVel All the Westerly and Southerly side of the forrest is mountanous and full of vaste vneuen hilles scattringly beautified with many Okes yet most of them shrubby and of low growth and not fewe queaches thicks of Hull and Hauthornes the hils themselues for the most part distinguished by galles and gutters made by waters falling from springs and other places which in continuance of time haue worne and eaten deepe passages In the side of one of these hilles whose declining lyeth almost full vpon the North and North-east ariseth the spring head and fountaine it selfe now called the New found Well the same insensibly issuing from firme ground at the roote or foote of a shrubbie hull or hollintree yet so as the same hull standing at the South-west corner of the Well there is some twentie inches distance betweene them The Well or Cesterne being bordered with three or foure flagge stones as the compasse of it without breaking any earth about it would giue leaue is almost foure square conteyning South and North about 30. inches West and East about 26. inches Whether the Spring issue vpright from the bottome or from the one side or from all sides it is not perceiued I rather iudge it comes at the South side which is the backe of it and beares against the descent of the hill If it should bubble forth at the bottome as in many other Welles I haue seene this water being so cleare it might be easily perceiued especially the Spring being free and yeelding continuall issue in a good proportion I haue seene indeed many orderly Springes farre exceede it in strength and bignesse of gush yet haue I not known any to keepe a more certain and vniforme course nor deliuer his water in so close and vnperceiueable manner as this Well doth The force or streame which the Spring is well able to maintaine is about so much water as you may imagine would continually runne at ful through a pipe or tronke whose concaue or hollow were three or foure inches compasse The descent of the hill beneath the Well Northward is steepe and the waste water falling North from the fountaine hath both of it owne course and shortly meeting with some other rilles worne the ground to a great hollow dingle which carrieth them downe to a brooke at the foote of the hill by which they are conueyed to a great poole of Sir Iohn Egertons neere little Budworth which serueth Olton Milles so that albeit the Spring sendeth his water at the first Northerly yet within lesse then one quarter of a miles labour it windeth about the hill skirte and then holdeth his course full Southerly What the vaines of the Earth about it may be or from what manner of mixture the Spring should issue I dare not take vpon me to set downe hauing neither skill to iudge of such matters nor hauing had meanes as yet to procure search made to finde the nature of the mould whence it springes which I know would be greatly materiall to such as haue skill and knowledge how to iudge of the power and efficacie of the water thereby All that I can say in this respect is that the vpper part or face of the earth there seemes to be a stiffe clay insomuch that the resorters thither hauing made some one or two slender weake dammes to stay the water halfe a dozen yards or more beneath the fountaine there are by that meanes two small lakes or pooles wherein poore people when they are disposed do bathe and wash themselues Which pooles though they be verie vnfit for that purpose being verie vnhandsomely thicke muddy with the clay and soyle of the earth yet they shew the fitnesse and commodious means how cesternes or some handsome prouisions might be made either open or close for the people of all sortes to vse their best benefit and that so farre from the head of the Spring and so much beneath the bodie and seate of the fountaine it selfe that there were no perill by breaking or digging the ground to worke anie annoiance or hinderance to the vertue of the Spring or water thereof There be many that at their first taste of the water doe confidently affirme they feele as it were some relish or smacke of an allome-like composition and not a fewe I haue heard censure that there seemes to them a little resemblance of the tast of Licoris some compare it to some other things for my part because I am purposed to auerre nothing herein but what I am verilie perswaded to be true as I can allow of no mans taste to be authenticall in this point vnlesse I could also find it in mine own so truly I must confesse that it is a water different from manie other Spring waters in taste and the most pleasantest in drinking of anie that I haue euer tasted onely the relish is to me of no especiall thing that I can name and the operation such as in my iudgement and by experiment vpon mine owne and manie others bodies it neuer offendeth with cold or heauy weight in a mans stomack as the most sorts of waters vsually doe It is one thing most notorious and worthie to be so that no persons of anie sort whatsoeuer which take it in anie good quantitie but can and do report that they find difference in the operation of it from other waters and most cōmonly it is obserued that to such as are vnhealthfull and grieued with some infirmitie they are sure by the water to finde in themselues some alteration to such as are healthfull and verie sound of bodie it either worketh no motion at all or if anie it looseth the bellie and giueth most gentle and hurtlesse purgations That there may be some alluminous mixture within the ground by which the
bodie brought euen to deaths doore and through helpe as he thinketh next vnder God of this water is verie well restored to his former health I heard an other very sensible wise Gentleman professe and openly auerre that hee verily beleeued if he had not had ease by the water of this Well the disease of the Stone had surely killed him the Gentleman is toward Sir H. Harrington and will confidently auouch it It hath had no fewe reports of doing good to some such as haue beene there to seeke for remedie against falling sicknesse Apoplexies Epilepsies Letargies Giddinesses and other straunge Symptomes but eyther I suppose these proofes are sufficient or infinite cannot serue I hold it therefore a needlesse and vnprofitable labour to trauell further in these recitals of cures Neither doe I labour hereby to spread an opinion beyond trueth of the vertue of this Well which to do were no way to me worth my labour That I should endeuour to deceiue and beguile mens eares with a straunge report would more displease me to thinke my selfe so gulde in mine owne folly then pleasure me to thinke there were a pleasure in illusions to labour to draw men the faster to frequent the place and come to see the Well I protest before God I know not how that may any way benefit me one farthing Only my desire is to satisfy my friends and others of the truth of that whereof now there grow many doubts and disputations among men They which dwell farre remote rest doubtfull whether the large and ample fame thereof spread deserue credit or not Some that dwell neere the place argue and debate whether or how it is possible such straunge and admirable effects should be produced from a cause so simple poore easie and common as the water of a little Spring Of the first sort those that be generous gentle and well disposed I suppose these confirmations will worke very farre for their satisfaction because I know not how any thing may be proued if it be not a good proofe which is drawne from the approbation of worshipfull wise learned rich poore and altogether and that not of one but of many Shires and I will neuer beleeue prouerbe more whilest I liue if the prouerbe be not in this cause somewhat auaileable which saith It must needs be true which euery man saith For those that doubt of each thing they see because they presently apprehend not the reason of it I holde them not worthie of satisfaction because their peruerse opinions are incapable of instructions of the true acceptation of any benefits eyther diuine or naturall These are like to the neighbours of some excellent and skilfull Phisition who in enuie and hatred do vsually disable his skill and cannot endure to see other men flocke to him for helpe and remedies yet if griefe paine or sicknes sease vpon themselues they then are glad to sue for his helpe then for necessitie sake they honour the Phisition not the wise man which gaue this precept but necessitie it selfe teacheth them to do him his due reuerence Endlesse were the labour a man might haue that would go about to answere the obiections which the curiositie of some braines will still brue and fling in his face that shall commend any truth whatsoeuer neither will I enlarge this discourse with so tedious a purpose as to conuince that by way of argument which no equall mind will much doubt of The Scepticke inquirers which professe doubtfulnes in all things though neuer so manifest and aske why fire is fire or why heat is heat why white is not called blacke and why blacke is not called blew what answere deserue their friuolous demaunds but silence the reward of foolish questions They that aske why the water of that Well should be so holsome aboue an other water eyther on this side or beyond the same place eyther on one this side the hill or one the tother are they not like to those which contēned the Prophets prescription touching Naaman and asked if Abanah and Pharpar riuers of Damascus were not as fine waters as that of Iordan Why was not this precious water say some found out before this time or how comes it to passe that in an element so bare void of mixture and so meerely nothing almost differing from other water there should be operation so diuers as to be medicinable against such diuersitie of diseases wherof no doubt the causes proceed some contrary one to another Questions sottish contemptible Haue not all notable benefits had their seuerall beginnings and cannot men tell you of the inuention and first finding of tenne thousand publike admirations whereof some haue lien hid and vnreuealed euen till our daies and is it any new thing that waters should effect so strange and so diuers operations What meane Scholler hath not read of the Well in Gnarsborrough forrest which cōuerteth leaues flesh and such like into hard stone of the Well in Glocestershire which turneth oke rootes as they grow into hard stone of an other neere Stonie Stratford conuerting stickes and the like into the like hardnes of stone Are not these straunge operations and can a man prefently giue a reason hereof Knowes any man the reason why that lake in Snowdon which carrieth the mooueable Iland should bring forth Eeles Perches and Trouts with onely one eye a peece in their heads which no other water beside doth or why that Well in Wales six mile from the sea or another in Darbishire 40. miles distant from the sea should rise and fall iust with the ebbing and flowing of the sea We are to wonder at not examine all the secret workings of nature and giuing praise to the great Guider of nature and ouer-ruler of naturall causes to receiue the good benefits we find with thankfull humilitie I could heartily wish that some learned and experienced man of ability and iudgement rather a skilfull Phisition then any would take paines iudicially to approue and publish to the world the vertues and vse of this good water as hath heretofore been done by our best bathes in other parts of the Realme Perhaps some famous Doctor Turner or learned Master Iones could well satisfie the curiosity of the narrowest inquirers why this should be and that should be they could iudge of the nature of the water of the colour of the vaines of the earth of the situation of the climate of all the collaterall causes which make it beneficiall If our Well worke the like or as strange effects as Bath Buxtons Saint Vincents or Hally well what aduantage haue they of it sauing that good fortune hath found them out such men as those before named to publish their vertues The first of which named Welles I meane the Bath I must needs with great reuerence giue due admiration vnto in respect of the great fame and antiquitie it is knowne to be of And because it exceeds all the rest as in heat so in the sensiblenes or manifest apparance of phisicall or medicinable curing I hold it great reason it should retaine the preheminence ouer all the rest And where our Wel wanting that sensible heat may perhaps in that respect be disallowed the name of a medicinable water I answer nothing but that which Master Iones writeth of Buxtons Well that being not so hot as the water of Bathe it healeth more temperately and effectually Thus farre Bro. B. as my haste and slender abilitie would permit I haue laboured to impart vnto you the newes of the New found VVell If you please you may commit it to further view if it be not well reported or the newes not well accepted or my meaning not well construed I can say no more but this I would all were well FINIS