Spadacrene Anglica: The English Spa Fountain — John Shaqi
Spadacrene Anglica: The English Spa FountainDeane, Edmund
History
Spadacrene Anglica: The English Spa Fountain
Deane, Edmund
Health resorts; Mineral waters -- England -- Harrogate -- Early works to 1800
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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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