of OXFO'^^S Hl%E. 25 
the infe6l:ious mafs, great part of the waters could not timely 
pafs away, but ftagnating in the lowe r Meddows, could not but 
increafe the noxious putrid ffceams. But the former being long 
fince remcdyed by the care of the Vniverfity^ and the latter by the 
piety and charge of Richard Fox Bifliop of Winchefter, and Found-^ 
ct of CCCOxon. who in the year 1 5 17; cleanfed the Rivers, 
and cut more Trenches for the waters free paflage ; the Town 
, hath ever fince continued in a healthful condition * though I can- 
not but believe, but were there yet more Trenches cut in fome 
of the Meddows, the h ir might be fomwhat better'd ftill, efpe- 
cially during the Winter feafon, when I fear fomtimes Floods 
ftay a little too long5 and that not only near (9x/W, but in Ot^ 
moor ; and all along the Ifis from EnJJmm to North-moor^ Shiffordy 
Chimlj^ and Rotcbt^ which brings me again to the general confide- 
ration of the Waters as well of the whole County as City. 
12. That the healthinefs offTaters confifts in their due impre- 
gnation with Salts and Sulphurs^ and their continuance fo, in 
their continual motion, is indifputably evinced from the ftinking 
evaporations of them upon any ftagnation. Now that the Rivers 
here abound with thefe, will be altogether as manifeft as that- 
they run, if we confider but the Springs they receive and Earths 
they wafh. The -^5, 'tis true, till it comes to Nevp-bridge^ re- 
ceives not (that I find) any eminently fait or fulphureou6 waters ; 
but there it admits the nitrom Windruf^-i fo well impregnated with 
thztabflerfive falt^ that no place yields Blanketing fonotorioufly 
white, as is made ztWitnej, a Mercat Town on that River, and 
upon this account themoft eminent in England for that kind of 
Trade ; though I am not ignorant, that fome add another caufe 
joyntly contributing with the afore-mentioned, to the excellency 
of thefe Blankets ; of which more at large when I come to treat 
of Arts. 
13. Somwhat lower, zhoxitC afiington^ it rec^'ives the 
lode^ a River whofe Banks, efpecially near the Fountain heads ^ 
are very well fatu rated with both the Mwer^/s : v^itnefs the wa- 
ters that rife a little above Sir Thomas Pennyfton's^ in the Paridi of 
CornvcelU from a fort of Earth that may well pafs for a Mark ; 
and the ^r/wi/^ near Cburchill-miW^ which though upon the 
furfaceof the ground feems to have no communication with the 
^ Hifi.&Antiq.Umverf. Oxo?t. Lii' l.fag,!^';. 
D ad- 
