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CHAP. VIII.

Of visiting Wells and Fountains: The Original of this Custom: The naming of them of great Antiquity: The Worship paid them by the Papists, was gross Idolatry.

IN the dark Ages of Popery, it was a Custom, if any Well had an awful Situation, and was seated in some lonely melancholy Vale; if its Water was clear and limpid, and beautifully** margin'd with the tender Grass; or if it was look'd upon, as having a Medicinal Quality; to gift it to some Saint, and honour it with his Name. Hence it is, that we have at this Day Wells and Fountains called, some St. John's, St. Mary Magdalen's, St. Mary's Well, &c.

To these kind of Wells, the common People are accustomed to go, on a Summer's Evening, to refresh themselves with a Walk after the Toil of the Day, to drink the Water of the Fountain, and enjoy the pleasing Prospect of Shade and Stream.

Viridi si margine clauderet undas.--Herba.

Juven. Sat. 3.

Now

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Now this Custom (tho' at this Time of Day, very commendable, and harmless, and innocent) seems to be the Remains of that superstitious Practice of the Papists, of paying Adoration to Wells and Fountains: For they imagin'd there was some Holiness and Sanctity in them, and so worshipped them. In the Canons of St. Anselm, made in the Year 1102, we find this superstitious Practice in some Measure forbid. *"Let no one attribute Reverence or Sanctity to a dead Body, or a "Fountain, or other Things, (as sometimes "is to our Knowledge) without the Bishop's "Authority." And in the 16th of the Canons made in the Reign of King Edgar, in the Year 963, it is order'd, †“That every Priest in

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dustriously advance Christianity, and ex"tinguish Heathenism, and forbid the Wor"shipping of Fountains, &c. Mr. Johnson

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says upon this Canon, that the Worshipping " of Wells and Fountains, was a Superstition, " which prevailed in this Nation, till the Age "before the Reformation; Nay, I cannot say, "it is extinguish'd yet among the Papists. In "the Ages of dark Popery it was thought

* Johnson Consti. St. Anselm, Can. 26.

↑ Johnson Consti. 960.

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"sufficient to forbid the honouring of Wells and Fountain's, without the Bishop's Appro"bation."

The giving of Names to Wells, is of great Antiquity: We find it a Custom in the Days of the old Patriarchs. Abraham observed this Custom; and therefore the Well, which he recover'd from the Servants of Abimeleck, He *called Beer-sheba, or the Well of the Oath, because there they sware both of them. Thus also Isaac, when his Herdsmen had found a Well, and the Herdsmen of Gerar had a Contest with them about the Right of it, † called the Name of the Well Eseck, that is, Strife: because they strove with him. And he digged another Well, and strove for that also, and he called the name of it Sitnah, that is, Hatred. And he removed from thence, and digged another Well, and for that they strove not; and he called the Name of it Rehoboth, that is, Room. And he said for now the LORD hath made Room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the Land. And we read it was at Jacob's Well where JESUS talked with the Woman of Samaria. To give Names therefore to Wells, is of an ancient Standing; but to pay Homage ↑ Ibid. 26.

* Gen. xxi. 34.

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and Worship to them, was never heard of among the People of GOD, till they sunk into gross Idolatry, and became Worshippers of Stocks and Stones: When the Creature became worshipped instead of the Creator, then was this Custom first introduced, in the Ages of Popish Ignorance and Idolatry.

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There need be no Question, but as this Custom is practically Heathenish, so it is also originally For the Heathens were wont to worship Streams and Fountains, and to suppose that the Nymphs, whom they imagin'd the Goddesses of the Waters, presided over them. As the Papists have borrowed many of their silly and superstitious Ceremonies from the Religion of the Heathens, so this in particular, a sottish, stupid, and abominable Custom, they could borrow no where else. For we had no such Custom, neither at any Time the Churches of God.

OBSERVATIONS ON CHAP. VIII.

I FIND little that may be added to our Author's Account of the superstitious Adoration of Wells and Fountains. There are Interdictions of this Superstition in the Laws of King Canute also, pre

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served in Wheloc's Edition of Bede's Church His

tory.

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I have frequently observed Shreds, or Bits of Rags, upon the Bushes that over-hang a Well, in the Road to Benton, a Village in the Neighbourhood of Newcastle. It is called the Rag Well. This Name is undoubtedly of a very long standing: The Spring has been visited for some Disorder or other, and these Rag-offerings are the Reliques of the then prevailing popular Superstition.-Thus Mr. Pennant tells us, they visit the Well of Spey, in Scotland, for many Distempers, and the Well of Drachaldy for as many, offering small Pieces of Money and Bits of Ragst. Pennant's Add. p. 18.

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Fitzstephen, Monk of Canterbury, in his Description of the antient City of London, has these Words, "There are on the North Part of London,

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principal Fountains of Water, sweet, wholsome, "and clear, streaming from among the glistering "Pebble Stones.-In this Number, Holy Well, "Clerken Well, and St. Clement's Well, are of "most Note, and frequented above the Rest, when "Scholars and the Youth of the City. take the

* þædenrcype bid. p man þeorpige — oppe flôdpærer. pyllar. oppe reanar. &c. 5. Leges Canuti Regis. p. 108.

The Custom of affixing Ladles of Iron, &c. by a Chain, to Wells, is of great Antiquity. Mr. Strutt, in his Anglo-Saxon Era, tells us, that Edwine caused Ladles or Cups of Brass to be fastened to the clear Springs and Wells, for the Refreshment of the Passengers. Venerable Bede is his Authority.-This Custom is still retained in many Places in the North.

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