The fift Chapter. 206.
The incredible operation of waters, both standing and running; of wels, lakes, rivers, and of their woonderfull effects.
THE operation of waters, and their sundrie vertues are also incredible, I meane not of waters compounded and distilled: for it were endlesse to treate of their forces, speciallie concerning medicines. But we have heere even inOf late experience neere Coventrie, &c. England naturall springs, wels, and waters, both standing and running, of excellent vertues, even such as except we had seene, and had experiment of, we would not beleeve to be In rerum natura. And to let the physicall nature of them passe (for the which we cannot be so thankefull to God, as they are wholsome for our bodies) is it not miraculous, that wood is by the qualitie of divers waters heere in England transubstantiated into a stone? The which vertue is also found to be in a lake besides the citie Masaca in Cappadocia, there is a river called Scarmandrus, that maketh yellow sheepe. Yea, there be manie waters, as in Pontus & Thessalia, and in the land of Assyrides, in a river of Thracia (as AristotleAristot. in lib. de hist. animalium. saith) that if a white sheepe being with lambe drinke thereof, the lambe will be blacke. Strabo writeth of the river called Crantes, in the borders of Italie, running towards Tarentum, where mens haire is made white and yellow being washed therein. PliniePlin. de lanicii colore. dooth write that of what colour the veines are under the rammes toong, of/293. the same colour or colours will the lambs be. There is a lake in a field called Cornetus, in the bottome whereof manifestlie appeareth to the eie, the carcases of snakes, ewts, and other serpents: whereas if you put in your hand, to pull them out, you shall find nothing there. There droppeth water out of a rocke in Arcadia, the which neither a silverne nor a brasen boll can conteine, but it leapeth out, and sprinkleth awaie; and yet will it remaine without motion in the hoofe of a mule. Such conclusions (I warrant you) were not unknowne to Jannes and Jambres.