Spadacrene Anglica | Page 4

not
unreasonable to suppose that this fact was responsible for Deane's
tender pity for the "poore prisoners" in his Will.
In 1626, Deane published his "Spadacrene Anglica" which is here
reprinted. "Spadacrene Anglica" is a model of lucid and logical
exposition. It provides a quaint and interesting epitome of the medical
opinion of the day, but it is of more special interest as the source for the
earliest history of the Harrogate waters. Its importance from this
particular standpoint will be considered later.
Later in the same year Michael Stanhope published his "Newes out of
Yorkshire," and in this book he gives a lively description of his journey
with Deane to the Well "called at this day by the country people, Tuit
Well, it seemes for no other cause but that those birdes (being our
greene Plover) do usually haunt the place." The following extract of the
first recorded visit to Harrogate will, I think, be of interest.
"In the latter end of the summer 1625, being casually with Dr. Dean (a
Physitian of good repute at his house at York, one who is far from the
straine of many of his profession, who are so chained in their opinion to

their Apothecary Shops, that they renounce the taking notice of any
vertue not confined within that circuit) he took occasion to make a
motion to me (the rather for that he remembered I had been at the Spa
in Germany) of taking the aire, and to make our rendez-vouz at
Knaresbrough to the end wee might be the better opportuned to take a
view of the Tuit-well (whereof he had sparingly heard) for that it was
by some compared to the so much fam'd Spa in Germany. I was not
nice to give way to the summons of his desire: the match was soon
made, and the next day, accompanied with a worthy Knight and
judicious admirer, and curious speculator of rarities, and three other
physitians of allowable knowledge, we set forwards for Knaresbrough,
being about fourteen miles from Yorke. We made no stay at the towne,
but so soone as we could be provided of a guide, we made towards the
Well, which we found almost two miles from the Towne. It is scetuate
upon a rude barren Moore, the way to it in a manner a continual ascent.
Upon our first approach to the Spring we were satisfied that former
times had taken notice of it, by reason it was encloased with stone, and
paved at the bottome, but withal we plainely perceived that it had been
long forgotten[9], which the filth wherewith it was choaked did
witnesse, besides that through neglect the current of other waters were
suffered to steale into it. Before any peremptory triall was made of it, it
was thought fit first to clense the Well, and to stop the passage of any
other waters intermixture, which within the compasse of an hour we
effected. The bottom now cleared, we plainely descried where the
waters did spring up, and then the Physitians began to try their
experiments.
But, first of all I dranke of it and finding it to have a perfect Spa relish
(I confesse) I could not contain but in a tone louder than ordinary I bad
them welcome to the Spa. Presently they all took essai of it, and though
they could not denie, but that it had a different smack from all other
common waters, most confessing that it did leave in the pallate a kinde
of acidnesse, yet the better to be assured whether it did partake with
Vitrioll, the prime ingredient in the natural Spa, they mixed in a glasse
the powder of Galls with this water, knowing by experience if this
Minerall had any acquaintance with the Spring, the powder would
discolour the water and turne it to a Claret die; wherein they were not

deceived, for presently (to their both wonder and joy) the water
changed colour, and seemed to blush in behalf of the Country, who had
amongst them so great a jewell and made no reckoning of it.... You
may suppose (being met together at our Inne, where we found
ourselves very well accomodated for our provision) we could finde no
other talke but of this our new Spa.... Three days after our return to
York, Dr. Deane (whose thirst for knowledge is not superficially to be
satisfied) by the consent of his fellow-physitians sent for a great
quantity of the water in large violl glasses, entending partly by
evaporation and partly by some other chimical means to experiment
it...."
It would certainly appear from a perusal of the above, that at the latter
end of the year 1625, Deane knew little of the medicinal value of the
English Spaw. But such a conclusion is