Spadacrene Anglica | Page 5

entirely opposed to the
dedication and text of "Spadacrene Anglica," which clearly indicates
that Deane was a close personal friend of the eminent physicians Dr.
Timothy Bright, and Dr. Anthony Hunton of Newark-upon-Trent, who
for years had been recommending the waters to their friends and
patients. Moreover Deane himself had paid many visits to the English
Spaw with the physicians of York, and had been at last induced to
commit his knowledge to print. Is it permissible to use imaginative
license and see in Deane a humorist who persuaded Stanhope "of
taking the aire" while professing no intimate knowledge of the spring,
yet going the length of taking the powder of Galls in his pocket to
produce a stage effect, which he had never found to fail?[10]
Stanhope readily adopts the plover origin of the name Tuewhit, but the
silence of Deane is suggestive of his doubt, and especially so as he
mentions the pigeons haunting the sulphur springs as "an arguement of
much salt in them." There is no obvious reason of this kind for the
plovers frequenting the Tuewhit Well in preference to any other spring
in the neighbourhood.
In 1630, Deane published a number of Tracts which had been left more
or less incomplete by Samuel Norton. His share in the authorship of the
different tracts varies. The titles of one or two will sufficiently indicate

the nature of the subjects, and it can be seen that his studies included
the philosophical stone, and other subjects receiving attention at the
present time, such as "culture pearls."
"Mercurius Redivivus, seu modus conficiendi Lapidem
Philosophicum."
"Saturnus Saturatus Dissolutus et Coelo restitutus, seu modus
componendi Lapidem Philosophicum ... e plumbo...."
"Metamorphosis Lapidem ignobilium in gemmas quasdam pretiosas,
seu modus transformandi perlas parvas ... in magnas et nobilis ..." etc.
etc.
Edmund Deane married twice, first to Anne, widow of Marmaduke
Haddersley of Hull; the date is not known, though it was before the
entry of pedigree was recorded in 1612. In 1625, he had a license at
York to marry Mary Bowes of Normanton at Normanton. There does
not appear to have been a family by either of his wives.
He died in 1640, and was buried in St. Crux Church, York. This church
was demolished about the year 1885, as it was considered structurally
unsafe, but there does not appear to have been any memorial erected to
him in the church. The manuscript Registers of the Parish of St. Crux
are in the College of Arms: the manuscript extracts do not commence
until the year 1678. His Will, however, is preserved. It is dated 30th of
Oct. 1639, and was proved at York on the 14th of April, 1640.
In a biography it should be the task of the writer to visualise the
personality of his subject as well as to record merely the material
events of his life. In this instance it would be quite impossible to do so
from lack of material, but yet from his works, and from the opinion
held of him by Michael Stanhope, and last, but not least, from the
contents of his own Will, I think some picture can be painted of him. A
man of learning is shown from his writings: a perusal of "Spadacrene
Anglica" will exhibit both the clearness of his intellect and the
forcibleness of his style. For many years he successfully practised
medicine at York. He was held in high esteem among his professional

brethren, and was recognized by them as a leader in the profession with
a broad mind, ready to listen to and investigate new ideas. His
personality is fully and finely revealed in his Will, and as this is the
only biography, as it were, written by himself, I append an extract from
it, so that he may speak for himself.
In the name of God, Amen.
I Edmund Deane of the Cittye of Yorke Doctor of Phisicke being some
what weake of bodye, yett in good & pfect remembrance of mynd &
understanding (praised be God therefore) and calling to mynd the
uncertainety of this my naturall life & my mortality, not knowing howe
soone I shall laye downe this my earthly Tabernackle & be gathered to
sleepe in the grave wth my fathers doe therefore accordinge to the holy
Ghost directions make, constitute, ordayne & declare this my last Will
and Testament for the better setleing of peace & concord amongst my
wife, friends & kindred heareby revokeing in acte, deede and in lawe
all other former Wills & testaments whatsoever. In manner & forme
following.
That is to say first & principally I comend & bequeath my soule unto
the ever blessed hands of Almighty God my heavenly father my maker
& creator, whoe out of his meer mercy, free will & love