34 ° Yorkshire Natural History 200 Years Ago. 
rising in the Northern Part of this Riding, at a Milage called 
Lebberston, a little way distant from the Sea-side, and passing 
all along the Western Borders of it, till it falls into the Ouse 
at Barrnby, and so is carried into the Humber. In its Course it 
is replenished with Water all along by smaller Brooks, and 
affords not only a pleasant Water for constant Uses, but 
brings Plenty of Fish to the Doors of the Inhabitants of many 
Villages standing on the Banks of it, near the greatest Part 
of the Riding. 
3. Hull, which rising in the Woolds, and being augmented 
in its Way by many little' Brooks, passeth into the Humber, 
and gives Name of it to Kingston, situate on the Banks of it, 
and usually from thence called Hull. It is Navigable as far 
as Beverley, which is much enriched by it, the Townsmen there 
having drawn a Channel at their own Expense from the River 
to their Town. This River also abounds with Plenty of Fish, 
and is chiefly of Use to the more Inland Parts of this Riding. 
4. Foulnesse, though it passeth for a River, yet is but a 
good large Brook, rising at a little Distance in the Country, 
viz. at Godmanham, and dividing its Stream a little above 
Sand-holm, falls into the Humber, at a double Mouth just at 
its Conjunction with the Ouse. We find nothing of a peculiar 
Nature of Excellency in it, and therefore shall now pass to 
other Waters of a more singular Nature, being some way 
preternatural or medicinal, viz. 
1. The Rivers called Vipseis, which by Walter de Honing- 
burgh are said to flow every other Year from unknown Springs, 
and with a great and rapid Current run into the Sea at Hornsey. 
This Account of them is justified by William Ncivbrigensis, 
who being born at Hornsey, has thus spoken of them : These 
famous Waters, commonly called Vipseys, break out of the 
Earth at several Sources, not incessantly, but every other 
Year, and having made a strong Current, run through the 
lower Grounds into the Sea. When these are dried, it is a good 
Omen ; for the Flowing of them is truly said to forebode the 
Misery of an approaching Famine. But we have a much better 
Account of them from the pious and judicious Mr. Ray, which, 
because it may be much better depended on, we shall subjoin. 
They are in these Parts called Gipseys (whether or no from the 
Corruption of Vipseys we shall not determine, though such 
Things are common) and break out in the Woolds or Downs of 
this County after great Rains, and spout up Water to a great 
Height. They do not come at set Times, every other Year, nor 
doth the Flowing of them portend (as Newbrigensis speaks) a 
future Famine infallibly, but accidentally it may happen so, 
because they never are seen, but only after great Gluts of 
Rain, and lasting wet Weather ; and so do indeed foreshew a 
Famine sometimes, not as a divine Indication or Forewarning, 
Naturalist, 
