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Yorkshire Natural History 200 Years Ago. 
of the River, having a Torrent swift and violent, fretful and 
angry as it were, at the Stones that hinder its Passage. In 
the Winter-time, when it is swelled by Rains or dissolved 
Snow, it rolls along after a surprising Manner ; and though 
it abates of that in Summer, yet even then ’tis dangerous to 
pass over, partly for its Rapidity, and partly by Reason of 
the Slipperiness of the Stones, so that an Horse cannot get firm 
Footing in it. It hath a long Course in this Riding, viz. above 
fifty Miles, before it falls into the Ouse, keeping for a great Way 
an equal Distance of about ten Miles from the Are. Among other 
small Rivulets, or Brooks which fall into it, the Wasbrook and 
Cock are very considerable ; as is also that nameless one that 
gives Name to Shir burn. This also affords Plenty of Fish, and is 
of great Conveniency to the People of this Riding. Having thus 
given an Account of the Waters of common Use we shall proceed 
to those of a different Nature, preternatural and physical ; as, 
1 . At Gigleswick, where at the Foot of a very high Mountain is 
the most noted Spring in England for ebbing and flowing, some- 
times thrice in an Hour ; and the Water subsides three Quarters 
of a Yard at the Reflux, though it is thirty Miles from the Sea. 
2. Near Knaresborough- Castle, which being demolished, 
and scarce discernable where it was, is now famous only for 
the medicinal Springs by it, which are four Sorts, viz. 1. The 
sweet Spaw of vitrioline Well, discovered by Mr. Slingsby, about 
the Year 1620. 2. The stinking or surpher Well, said to cure 
the Dropsy, Spleen, Scurvy, Gout, &c., so that what was before 
called the Dishonour of Phvsick, may be deservedly called the 
Honour of Knaresborough Spaw ; the late Way of Bathing in 
it being in these Diseases found very Sovereign. 3. St. Mon- 
gah’s (not Magnus’s or Mungus’s, as the Vulgar for the most 
part call it) or Kentegcrn s Well, a Saint much honoured in 
old Time in these Parts, whom Seroanus, Bishop of Orkney, 
loving above others, used to call Mongah, i.e. in their northern 
Dialect, a Dear Friend. 4. The Dropping-Well, the most 
famous of the petrifying Wells in England, whose Water doth 
not issue from the Bowels of the Earth, but distills in Drops 
from the Rocks hanging over it, and from thence takes its 
Name of the Dropping-Well. Its strange petrifying Nature 
appears in this. That if a Piece of Wood be put into it, it will 
in a little Time, not only be crusted over with a stony Substance, 
but by longer Continuance in it be turned into Stone. The 
Ground on which the Water drops before it unites in the Well, 
for twelve Yards together, is become a solid Rock. From the 
Well it runs into the River Kid. where the Water of it hath 
made a Rock, which stretches some Yards into the River. 
These four Springs are near one another, and so different in 
their medicinal Virtues, that they are a Rarity no where in 
England to be parallelled, or any where else perhaps. 
{To be continued). 
Naturalist 
