There is no history attached to it nor any explanation of the curious name. Major Egerton Leigh gives a fancy history of it in his _Ballads and Legends of Cheshire_. No traces of well-worship exist; but up to a late period the inhabitants of Nantwich used to sing a hymn of thanksgiving at the “Blessing of the Brine.” An ancient pit, called the “Old Brine” or “Biat,” was decked on Ascension Day with flowers, and a jovial band of young people celebrated the day with song and dance. Aubrey says: “In Cheshire, where they went in perambulation, they did blesse the springs--_i.e._ did read the Gospel at them, and did believe the water was better.” A remnant of _fire-worship_ existed at Alvanley, where, on the Toot Hill, fires were made in the spring and autumn, through which the villagers jumped. ROBERT NIXON Mention must be made of Robert Nixon, the great Cheshire prophet, whose fame not only rivalled that of Mother Shipton, but may be said (seeing that he is mentioned in _Pickwick_) to have lasted longer. The earliest history is Oldmixon’s, published in 1714, which says that “in the reign of James I. there lived a fool whose name was Nixon,” and that Thomas Cholmondley of Vale Royal (d. 1652) “took him into his house, where he lived when he composed this prophecy.” But other writers place him at a much earlier period. His prophecies really fall into the two periods of civil war, viz. the Wars of the Roses, and the Great Rebellion. If, therefore, Nixon was a real personage, it is obvious that if he lived in the reign of James I. he cannot have uttered some of the prophecies attributed to him. The discovery of an “Irish Analogue of Nixon’s Prophecy” (_Notes and Queries_, October 21, 1865) throws great doubt on the whole matter. The subject still requires much investigation. The following are a few of Nixon’s prophecies:-- When an eagle shall sit on the top of Vale-Royal House, Then an heir shall be born, who shall live to see great troubles in England. It is said that the Cholmondley family was at this time nearly extinct, but in due course an heir was born, during which time an eagle perched on the house-top. Between a rick and two trees A famous battle shall be. The “rick and two trees” may be Warwick, Coventry, and Daventry, and the battle, Edgehill, 1642; or Rickmansworth, Elstree, and Edwinstree, and the battle the second fought at St. Alban’s, 1461. The following is unintelligible:-- There will be three gates to London of imprisoned men for Cowsters. Then, if you have three cows, at the first gate sell one, and keep thee at home. At the second gate sell the other two, and keep thee at home. At the last gate all shall be done. _Old Mab’s Curse_ is directed against any one of the Minshull family who shall sell the family acres--