34i 
Yorkshire Natural History 200 Years Ago. 
but by a natural Significancy, it being experimentally known, 
that cold and wet Springs and Summers mar the Corn, and do 
almost constantly bring a Dearth in England, which a Drought 
never does. 
If any be so curious as to enquire how a Glut of Rain can 
cause such a Springing up of Water ? I answer where such 
Jets happen there are great subterraneous Basins, or Recep- 
tacles of Water, which have near them some narrow small 
Veins, reaching to the Surface of the Earth ; and the Water in 
these Basins being much higher than the Places of Eruption, 
by its Weight forces the Veins to open and spout out from them 
to a great Height, as is evidently seen in the Lacus Lugeus. 
or the Zirchnitzer-Sea, where his Spouting up of Water happens 
every Year after the Autumnal Rains. Nor are these Eruptions 
peculiar to this County ; for in Kent, near the rising of the 
River Kennet, there break out Waters in the Manner of a 
Land Flood, out of certain. Stones like Rocks, standing up high 
in the open Fields. The Kentish People call them Nailbourns, 
and think them Fore-runners of a Dearth, as they may possibly 
be, for the Reason above alleged about the Vipseys. 
2. The Marr-water in the Way from Bridlington to Hornsey. 
This Water is pretty deep, and always fresh ; it is about a 
Mile and Half long, and Half a Mile broad. It is well stored 
with the best Pikes, Pearches, and Eels ; whether it was 
caused at first by some Earthquake, with a flux of water 
following it, or some other way, it is hard to say ; but the 
People say there have been found old Trees floating upon it, 
and decayed Xuts found upon the Shore ; as also upon the 
Sea-cliffs, near Hornsey, where was also, not long since found 
a Vein of Wood, as black as if it had been burnt, which it is 
probable was occasioned by its lying long in the Water. 
3. A Kind of Spaw, about a Mile from Beverley, to the 
East, in a Pasture call’d Su’inemoor, belonging to that Town. 
The People say it cannot, by the Taste be judged to come from 
any Mineral, yet, being taken inwardly, it is a great Drier, 
and being washed with outwardly, it kills all Scorbutick Scurf, 
and all Sorts of Scabs, and very much helps the Kings Evil. 
4. Fire and Fuel, for it is plentiful here, as in the other 
Ridings, being Pit-Coal chiefly, yet they want not Wood 
for more sweet Firing, and Turf ; but the Coal being cheap, 
little else is used, so well hath Nature provided for these 
Northern Parts. 
The Natural History of this [North] Riding. 
'T HIS Riding being very hilly, and extending itself farther 
Inland than the other two, may equally at least contend 
with them for Plenty and Conveniency ; and if so, being taken 
1914 Nov. 1 . 
