The Fleet: Its Rivers, Prison, and MarriagesAshton, John
History
The Fleet: Its Rivers, Prison, and Marriages
Ashton, John
Fleet Prison (London, England); Fleet, River (England)
"Mr. _Sadler_ being made Surveyor of the High Ways, and having good
Gravel in his own Gardens, employed two Men to Dig there, and when they
had Dug pretty deep, one of them found his Pickax strike upon some
thing that was very hard; whereupon he endeavoured to break it, but
could not: whereupon thinking with himself that it might, peradventure,
be some Treasure hid there, he uncovered it very carefully, and found
it to be a Broad, Flat Stone: which, having loosened, and lifted up,
he saw it was supported by four Oaken Posts, and had under it a large
Well of Stone Arched over, and curiously carved; and, having viewed
it, he called his fellow Labourer to see it likewise, and asked him
whether they should fetch Mr. _Sadler_, and shew it to him? Who, having
no kindness for _Sadler_, said no; he should not know of it, but as
they had found it, so they would stop it up again, and take no notice
of it; which he that found it consented to at first, but after a little
time he found himself (whether out of Curiosity, or some other reason,
I shall not determine) strongly inclined to tell _Sadler_ of the Well;
which he did, one Sabbath Day in the Evening.
"_Sadler_, upon this, went down to see the Well, and observing the
Curiosity of the Stone Work, that was about it, and fancying within
himself that it was a Medicinal Water, formerly had in great esteem,
but by some accident or other lost, he took some of it in a Bottle, and
carryed it to an Eminent Physician, telling him how the Well was found
out, and desiring his Judgment of the Water; who having tasted and
tried it, told him it was very strong of a Mineral taste, and advised
him to Brew some Beer with it, and carry it to some Persons, to whom he
would recommend him; which he did accordingly. And some of those who
used to have it of him in Bottles, found so much good by it, that they
desired him to bring it in Roundlets."
Sadler's success, for such it was, provoked the envy of others, and one
or two satires upon the Wells were produced.
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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