Of OXFORDSHIRE, p 



20. Other waters again are of fo flow a pace, that they feem 

 rather to fweat than run out of the Earth, part whereof being 

 fpent in exhalation, and the reft in fating the dry neighboring 

 Earth, do neither reach the Sea , are received in Lakes, nor 

 fwallowed up like the former, but of themfelves ate ftopt upon 

 the very furface. And yet I have obferved, and believe rightly 

 too, that thefe are the moft durable Land firings we have, wit- 

 nefs that famous one of this kind at Nettkbed, which I know not 

 from what old Witch heretofore, by way of derifion, they call 

 Mother Hibblcmeer ; whereas if we confider how ferviceable (he 

 has been, being never known to fail them in the dryeft Summer, 

 and that in a Country fo uncapable of Wells, that there's no fuch 

 thing to be found in the Parifh, (lie rather merits the efteern of 

 the Nymph of the place. 



2 1 . In Wejiphalia they have a Spring they call their Botderborn r ., 

 from a noife that it makes at the exit of the water ; whether ours 

 may defer ve the name, I know not, but fuch a one there is in the 

 Parifli of Qhmpton, in a wood about a mile foiith -w eft from the 

 Church, in a place where there are ftones in the form of Cockles J 

 upon which account hereafter I {hall mention it again* The 

 Springs, as I remember, are in number three, and the mofrfouthern 

 one of thefe 'tis that has the humming noife, much like that of 

 an empty bottle held with the mouth againft the wind,which per- 

 haps may be a refemblance fo befitting our purpofe, that it may 

 help to explain the caufeas well as the found : for provided the 

 channel be large within, and r.he paffage forth fomwhat narrow 

 like a bottle, the coUifion of the water againft the lips of the 

 orifice, may well make a noife in a large vault within, efpecially if 

 the waters be indued with a fpirit, as perad venture anon may be 

 proved like enough. 



22. Which is all I have to fay concerning the flux of Rivulets, 

 but that one there is at Sommerton makes a fmall Cafcade, or fall 

 of water about feven foot high ; which were it not in the high- 

 way, butm a Gentlemans Garden, fome.ufe might be made on't 

 for divers good purpofes, but as the cafe ftands I think it can 

 have none, except for experiments of petrifications, for which 

 fure it cannot but be very excellent, fmce the living blades of 

 grafs of not above half a years growth, within that fmall time 



' Varenii Geog- lib. I. cap. 17. prop. if. 



are 



