18 The Natural Hijlory 



CHAP. II. 

 Of the Waters. 



THAT Oxford-Jhire is the beft watefd County in England, 

 though I dare not with too much confidence affert, yet 

 am induced to believe there are few better ; fmce befide 

 the five more considerable Rivers of Thame, Ifis, Cherwell, Even- 

 lode, and Windrujb, there are numbred no lefs than threefcore 

 and ten at leaft of an inferior rank, befide fmaller Brooks not 

 worthy notice : And all thefe of fo quick a ftream, and free from 

 ilagnation, fo clear, and yet fo well impregnated with wholfom 

 primogenial Steams of Salts and Sulphurs, that few (if any) 

 vappid and ftinking Exhalations can afcend from them to cor- 

 rupt the Air. As for (landing Pools, Marifh, or Boggy grounds, 

 the parents (at leaft occafions) of Agues, Coughs, Catarhs, they 

 are feweft here of any place to be found : the Soyl for the moil 

 part lying dry, and water'd only with clear and rapid Fountains. 

 Infhort, fo altogether agreeable is this County to Cardans z rule , 

 Solum ficcum cum aquh currentibu* faluhritatem Aerk efficiunt, that 

 had he wanted an inftance for confirmation, he might have found 

 one here moll fuitable to his purpofe. And if plenty of whol- 

 fom Fifli, fpontaneous produclions of odoriferous Plants, and 

 the fcarcity of filthy Reptils, be cogent Arguments of the good- 

 nefs of Waters, Soyls, and confequently of Air, as heretofore 

 they have been accounted, I know not the place can make better 

 pretences, as iTiall be fhewn more at large in their proper places. 



2. Befide its clearnefs from peftiferous vapors, I take the 

 fharpnefs we find this Air to be of, to be no fmall argument of 

 its health and purity. Ariftotle, 'tis true, thought Air mode- 

 rately warm, but its conflant return to a brisk coldnefs, after it 

 has been heated either by fire, the Sun, or warm exhalations, 

 gives us ftrong fufpitions that Vis naturally cold : All natural 

 Bodies, after they have fuffered violence, returning of themfelves 

 to their innate condition. To which add, that the Air on the 

 tops of high Mountains, above the reach of the Clouds and o- 

 ther warm Exhalations, as 'tis found to be clear, fo 'tis very 



CoTmnent.mliipboc.deAere-, aquis, & loc'u. 



cold : 



