Chapter 2

That is to say first & principally I comend & bequeath my soule unto the ever blessed hands of Almighty God my heavenly father my maker & creator, whoe out of his meer mercy, free will & love to mankinde & to me in pticuler did vouchsafe to send his onely begotten sonne before all eternity, Christ Jesus the pmissed Messias into this world to save sinners (whereof w^th S^t. Paull I confesse my selfe the greatest) to laye downe his life for mankinde & that he dyed for me & for my salvac̅on, & that he rose againe the third day for my iustificac̅on, that where he now is, I shall be there alsoe after my dissolution & I hope & looke to be saved only by his mirritts, death & passion alone, & by noe other meanes whatsoever, & when itt shall please Almighty God to putt an end & period to these my dayes here on earth, ending this my pilgrimage, and layeing downe this my earthly Tabernackle.

Then I comitt & bequeath this my nowe liveing body to the earth from whence itt came, & the same to be buryed (yf I fortune to dye in Yorke or otherwise yf itt may be done wth convenyency) in the p'ish Church of St. Crux w^{th}in the said Citty of Yorke in the Chancell of the said Church & to be enterred as neare as may be unto the body of my late dearely beloved wife Anne Deane deceased w^{th}out any bowelling or embalmeing, & there to be decently enterred by toarch light, w^{th}out any further funerall pompe or solempnity whatsoever, beinge (as I thinke) a custome not altogeither laudable to banquett & feast att funeralls w^ch rather ought to be a tyme of mourneing, then banqueting and feasting

w^th said body of myne I knowe & beleive assuredly that I shall rise againe att the last day, & be reunited & ioyned againe unto my soule & that itt shall be made like unto Christ his glorious body, that where he is, there I shall be alsoe liveing and reigneing w^th him in his everlasting kingdome for ever.

Now concerning my temporall Estate w^ch God in his mercy hath vouchsafed to bestowe on me (or rather lent me as his steward) I bequeath it thus as followeth

First I give & bequeath to Mr. Roger Belwood my pastor thirty shillings.

Item I give to the poore people of the Cittye of Yorke three pounds XX^s whereof to be distributed to the poore of the Warde where I now live and the remmant to the poore of the other three Wardes equally to be divided.

Item I give to the poore prisoners of the castle of Yorke XX^s and to the poore prisoners on Ousebridge called the Kidcoate X^s and to the poore prisoners of S^t. Peters prison in Yorke X^s.

Item I give to the poore people of the old hospitall or massing dewes of the Citty of Yorke thirty shillings. Item whereas....

Item my Will meaninge and harty desire is that my nowe loveing wife Mary Deane shall & may quietly have & enjoye all her widdowe rights whatsoever according to this pvince of Yorke w^{th}out any further trouble molestac̅on or vexac̅on or suite in lawe and that my Executor shall not make any claime to any such goods or plate as she the said Mary had in her former widdowhood & brought w^th her to me att her marriage w^th me. Item I give to my said nowe loveing wife as a legacy my coatch horses & furniture & what hay or oates, coales, turfes & fuell shall be in my howse att my death. Item I give....

Item I give to Margery Smeton yf shee be my servant at my death forty shillings and to each other of my servants att my death tenn shillings.

All the rest of my goods & chattells unbequeathed, my debts and funerall expenses discharged I give and bequeath to my loveing nephewe Mr. John Deane of Saltonstall Atturney in his Maty Court of Com̅on Pleas att Westminster & eldest sonne of my late brother Gilbert Deane of Saltonstall deceased w^ch said John Deane I doe ordayne constitute & make my sole & onely Executor of this my last Will & Testament

And for as much as most of my Estate doth consist in debts, w^ch will require tyme for gathering in, my Will & meaneing is that this my said executor shall have twelvemonethes tyme for the payment of the greater legacies....

And further my meaneing is That for as much as my said Executor John Deane by Gods pvidence is likely to be lame by a fall & not to live & followe his profession as an Atturney to London (but as it weare undone) whome I have made my onely & sole Executor of this my last Will & Testament. Therefore all my nephews & kindred may know I have given them small legacy to doe him good

In Witness.... etc.

In "Spadacrene Anglica" Deane mentions that "out of the divers fountains springing hereabouts" five are worthy the observation of physicians. These are--

1.--The Dropping Well.

2.--The Sulphur Well at Bilton Park.

3.--The Sulphur Well near Knaresborough.

4.--The Sulphur Well at "Haregate head."

5.--The Tuewhit Well, or The English Spaw.

The number of springs worthy the observation of physicians has largely increased and the relative importance of the five mentioned has altered considerably since Deane wrote. But in 1626, The Tuewhit Well, or The English Spaw, was regarded as the most worthy of fame. This well, according to the later writers, was discovered by Captain (afterwards Sir) William Slingsby:--in Chapter 6 of "Spadacrene Anglica," however, a Mr. William Slingsby is given as the discoverer.

"The first discoverer of it to have any medicinall quality (so far forth as I can learn), was one Mr. William Slingesby, a Gentleman of many good parts, of an ancient and worthy Family neere thereby: who having travelled in his younger time, was throughly acquainted with the taste, use, and faculties of the two Spaw fountaines. In his latter time, about 55 yeeres agoe it was his good fortune to live for a little while at a grange house very neare to this fountaine, and afterwards in Bilton Parke all his life long."

From this it appears that the discovery was made by Mr. William Slingsby in his later years, about the year 1571, but if the Mr. William Slingsby here referred to was Sir William Slingsby he would have been a youth of some 8 or 9 years in 1571. Secondly, one would judge from the text that the Mr. William Slingsby referred to by the writer was dead at the time that he wrote, namely 1626, whereas, as a matter of fact, Sir William Slingsby was alive until the year 1634. Thirdly, it is impossible to conceive that Edmund Deane would refer to Sir William Slingsby as Mr. William Slingsby, seeing that the former was knighted in 1603, or 23 years prior to the publication of Deane's work. It is therefore abundantly clear that Sir William Slingsby--a very gallant gentleman--has no claim to the fame which history has insisted upon according him.

The fact is that the Mr. William Slingsby referred to[11] was the fourth son of Thomas Slingsby of Scriven, who married Joan, daughter of Sir John Mallory of Studley, and who had a family of six sons and four daughters. The name of the eldest son was Francis, and, as just mentioned, William was the fourth son. Sir William Slingsby was the seventh son of Francis and the nephew therefore of Mr. William Slingsby. Mr. William Slingsby was buried at Knaresborough on the 8th of Oct., 1606, but the date of his birth does not seem to have been recorded. His elder brother, Francis, died in 1600 at the age of 78, so that he was born in 1522. It is not unreasonable to suppose that William, his brother, one of a large family, was born between the years 1525 and 1527. He would therefore be somewhere between 44 and 46 years of age, when he discovered the medicinal qualities of the Tuewhit Well, which equally accords with Deane's statement that in his younger days he had travelled in Germany.

So far as I can trace, Hargrove[12] is the first author to confuse the uncle and the nephew. He writes that the well

"was discovered by Capt. William Slingsby, about the year 1571. This Gentleman, in the early part of his life, had travelled in Germany, where he made himself acquainted with the Spaws of that country. He lived sometime at Grange House, near the Old Spaw, from whence he removed to Bilton Park, where he spent the remainder of his days. He made severall trials of this water, and finding it like the German, he walled it about, and paved it at the bottom, leaving a small opening for the free access of the water. Its current is always near the same, and is about the quantity of the Sauvenir, to which Mr. Slingsby thought it preferable."

From this quotation it is clearly apparent that Hargrove erroneously inferred that Mr. Slingsby and Capt. Slingsby were the one and the same person instead of being uncle and nephew. In the 3rd edition of the "History of Knaresborough," published in 1782, the reference to Mr. Slingsby is omitted and from that edition onwards, Captain Slingsby appears as the discoverer of the Tuewhit Well in 1571, a discovery clearly inconsistent with the fact that he was born in the year 1562.

The source of Hargrove's information in the above quotation is, without doubt, the summary of "Spadacrene Anglica," published by Dr. Short in 1734 in his History of Mineral waters.[13] The summary by Short of Chapter 6 of "Spadacrene Anglica" is as follows:--

"This fifth Spaw is a Mile and half from Knaresburgh, up a very gentle ascent, near Harrigate, has much the same Situation as the foresaid Spaws in Germany. It was discovered first about fifty years ago, by one Mr. William Slingsby, who had travelled in Germany in his younger Years, seen, and been acquainted with theirs; and as he was of an ancient Family near the place, so he had fine Parts and was a capable Judge. He lived some time at a Grange-House near it; then removed to Bilton-Park, where he spent the rest of his Days. He, using this Water yearly, found it exactly like the German Spaw. He made several Tryals of it, then walled it about, and paved it in the bottom with two large Stone-flags, with a Hole in their sides for the free Access of the Water, which springs up only at the bottom, through a Chink or Cranny left on purpose. Its current is always near the same, and is about the quantity of the Sauvenir, to which Mr. Slingsby thought it preferable being more brisk and lively, fuller of Mineral Spirits, of speedier Operation; he found much benefit by it. Dr. Tim. Bright, about thirty years ago, first gave it the name of the English Spaw: Having spent some time at those in Germany, he was Judge of both; and had so good an Opinion of ours, that he sent many Patients hither yearly, and every Summer drank the Waters himself. And Dr. Anthony Hunter, late Physician at Newark-upon-Trent, often chided us Physicians in York, for not writing upon it, and deservedly setting it upon the Wings of Fame."

A more consistent form has been given to the error by Grainge, who in 1862 published a memoir of the Life of Sir William Slingsby, Discoverer of the first Spaw at Harrogate. Grainge, like Hargrove, had only access to Short's summary, but he sees the difficulty to which I have alluded, for he writes[14]:--

"From the uncertain expression of the Dr. 'about 50 years ago' the date of this discovery is generally fixed in the year 1576, though it is probably twenty years or more too early, as at that time Slingsby would only be fourteen years of age: and could not have travelled much in Germany or elsewhere: while the expression 'in his younger days' would infer that the discovery was not made until he had attained middle age at least."

Grainge accordingly dates Captain (or Sir) William Slingsby's discovery to 1596 or later, the origin of the expression "near the close of the 16th Century" of the recognised history.

In the first place Dr. Short is inaccurate in that Deane states it was discovered "55" years ago, and not "50." In the second place, the only authority whom Grainge could rely upon was Deane, either directly or indirectly, and Deane could not have made the discoverer to be a boy of nine years of age (not fourteen) for he must have known Sir William Slingsby, a contemporary. Finally, Grainge only consulted the summary of "Spadacrene Anglica" and not the actual work, and it is to be noted that Deane in Chapter 6 says the first discoverer "so far forth as I can learn." These words are not in the summary, but they show that Deane had given care to his work, and if Sir William Slingsby had been the discoverer, Deane could have obtained his information at first hand, and would have given Sir William Slingsby as his authority.

Grainge was an eminent and careful historian, and he has written a number of valuable works. He had the acumen to see that Sir William Slingsby could not possibly have been the discoverer in 1571, and it is fairly certain that if he had had access to Deane's work, he would have rectified the error as regards Sir William, instead of questioning the accuracy of Deane's statement.

Little has been added to the account of Mr. William Slingsby as given by Deane, but it has been shown at any-rate that the facts of his life fit in perfectly with that account.

The medicinal qualities of the Tuewhit Well having been discovered by Mr. William Slingsby in or about the year 1571, this gentleman did "drink the water every yeare after all his life time" and averred that "it was much better, and did excell the tart fountaines beyond the seas." Much pains were taken to bring the waters into notoriety in the interests of humanity, and by reason of a pardonable national pride that the country could boast of a health resort in every way comparable with the famous German health resort of Spa. Chief among these early advocates of this home fountain was Dr. Timothy Bright, who is responsible for naming the well the "English Spa," which name was apparently adopted by the gentry partaking of the water, whereas the common folk still cling to the ancient name of Tuewhit Well.

Timothy Bright has had a varied literary history. For about three centuries he was almost entirely forgotten, and some of his works even ascribed to purely imaginary authors. In recent years full justice has been done to his name as the "father of shorthand" following the publication by J.H. Ford in 1888 of the tercentenary edition of his work entitled "Characterie," and since that year there has been much written of him. The curious may therefore consult the works mentioned in the footnote,[15] but it will suffice for my purpose to give a brief sketch of his life, not as the "father of shorthand," but as one of the fathers of Harrogate.

Timothy Bright was born in Cambridge in the year 1551, matriculated in Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1565, and took his B.A. in 1567-8. He then went to Paris to study medicine, and in 1572 narrowly escaped the Massacre at Paris on St. Bartholomew's Eve by taking shelter at the house of Sir Francis Walsingham, the English ambassador. Returning to England he graduated M.B. in 1574 and M.D. in 1579. In 1584 he was well launched on his medical career, for he was the physician at St. Bartholomew's Hospital. By this time he had achieved some reputation as a writer and had obtained the friendship of the powerful Cecil Lord Burghley, Sir Francis Walsingham and Sir Philip Sidney, which probably explains how his now famous work "Characterie" was in 1588 dedicated to Queen Elizabeth. His connection with these powerful personages led to a change in his profession and incidentally to his connection with Harrogate, for on July 5th, 1591, the Queen presented him to the Rectory of Methley in Yorkshire, and on the 30th of Dec., 1594, also to the Rectory of Barwick in Elmet in the same county. He held both these livings till his death, which took place in 1615. By his Will he left his body "to be buried when and where it shall please God." He was no mean linguist for he bequeathed his Hebrew Bible and a Syriac Testament as well as Greek, Latin and Italian works to his brother. His books of Phisick and Philosophie he bequeathed to his sonne Titus Bright, M.D. He was fond of music and possessed the standard work on harmony by Joseph Zarlino. This he left, along with some instruments of music, a Theorbo and an Irish harp, "which I most usuallye played upon" to his brother.

In spite of the fact that he took holy orders, it is evident from "Spadacrene Anglica" that he was held in high esteem as a physician (albeit non-practising) by his contemporaries in Yorkshire, and his travel abroad in Germany well fitted him for the post of advocate, which from humane and patriotic motives he assumed on behalf of the English Spa.

Deane states that Bright first gave the name of English Spaw "about thirty years since, or more," that is, in 1596 or earlier. This would seem to indicate that Bright's association with Harrogate began shortly after he was presented to the Rectory of Barwick in Elmet in 1594.

Dr. Bright was a prolific writer and the names of his works are given in a footnote.[16] Some of his books passed through several editions. Burton's "Anatomy of Melancholy" is said to have been suggested by his "Treatise of Melancholy," and Shakespere was evidently acquainted with his book, "Characterie, an Arte of shorte, swifte and secrete Writing by Character."

"This is not my writing, Though, I confess, much like the character"

Twelfth Night. Act V, Sc. 1.

"All my engagements I will construe to thee, All the characterie of my sad brows."

Julius Cæsar. Act ii, Sc. 1.

Hargrove appears also to be the earliest to assert that Bright was the first writer on Harrogate. In his "History of Knaresborough" it is merely stated "soon after its discovery Dr. Bright wrote on its virtues and uses."[17] There is no authority for that assertion in any of the works of Dr. Bright mentioned in the footnote, and the only evidence in support of Hargrove is that given by Wheater,[18] who writes:--

"Dr. Bright was first to rush into description and he acquits himself with true Elizabethan flavour. He observes regarding the water that 'It occasions the retention of nothing that should be evacuated and by relaxation evacuates nothing that should be retained. It dries nothing but what's too moist and flaccid, and heats nothing but what's too cold, and e contra: that though no doubt there are some accidents and objections to the contrary, it makes the lean fat, the fat lean, cures the cholic and the melancholy, and the vapours: and that it cures all aches speedily and cheereth the heart.' Such a recommendation," &c.

This quotation, which is apparently the only evidence in support of Hargrove's assertion that Bright wrote the first account of the English Spa, is not taken from Bright's writings at all, but from Dr. Short's summary of "The Yorkshire Spaw." "The Yorkshire Spaw" was a treatise written by Dr. John French in 1652, and so far therefore from being written by Dr. Bright, was actually written thirty-seven years after Bright's death.

It is perhaps only fair to the memory of both Hargrove and Wheater to state that neither of them would have fallen into this error if they had had the privilege of reading Deane's dedication to "Spadacrene Anglica," in which he states that Dr. Bright intended to write an account "in case hee had longer lived." No edition after the original edition contains this dedication, for, as will be shown later, this very important part of Deane's work was omitted by John Taylor in the second edition and was not restored in any of the later. Moreover it is quite clear from the dedication of Taylor's edition, in 1649 that copies of the original edition were even then unobtainable, owing probably to the commotions which had accompanied the civil war.

I may here therefore emphasise the good service that has been done to restore the true history of the medicinal waters of Harrogate, by the reprinting of the original edition of "Spadacrene Anglica" by my friend Dr. Rutherford.

Before passing to the Bibliography of "Spadacrene Anglica," a brief mention must be made of Michael Stanhope, Esquire, whose two books did much to add to the celebrity of the English Spa, and were afterwards associated with the later editions of "Spadacrene Anglica." His first work was published towards the end of 1626, and is entitled,

"Newes out of Yorkshire, or an account of a journey, in the true discovery of a sovereigne Minerall, Medicinal Water in the West-Riding of Yorkeshire, neere an Ancient Towne called Knaresbrough, not inferior to the Spa in Germany. Also a taste of Other Minerall Waters of severall natures adjoyning" By M.S.

Ecclest. 38. 4. The Lord hath created Medicines out of the Earth: he that is wise will not despise them.

A large extract has already been given from this book, which was dedicated "To the Right Honourable, the Vertuous, and Religious Lady, the Lady Katherine Stanhope, wife to the Lord Philip Stanhope, Baron of Shelford."

Stanhope's other work was entitled,

"Cures without Care, or, a summons to all who finde little or no help by the use of ordinary physick to repaire to the Northerne Spa. Wherein by many Presidents of a few late yeares, it is evidenced to the world, that infirmities in their own nature desperate and of long continance have received perfect recovery in the west Riding of Yorkshire. Also a description of the said water, and of other rare and usefull springs adjoyning, the nature and efficacie of the Mineralls contained in them, with other not impertinent notes. Faithfully collected for the publique good by M. St."

Tibul. "felix quicunque dolore alterius disces posse carere tuo," London, 1632.

Stanhope dedicated this work "To The Right Honourable, Thomas Lord Wentworth, etc., Lord President of his Majesties Council established in the North." Lord Wentworth is better known as the Earl of Strafford, and was beheaded in 1642. In it is contained a catalogue of persons who have received either benefit or cure by the waters.