Accounts of Books

Accounts of Books. The Natural History of Staffordshire. By Robert Plott L. L. D. Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum and Professor of Chemistry in the University of Oxford. There is very little need to take notice of the Method of this work since it is drawn up according to the pattern laid down in the Natural History of Oxfordshire written some yeares since by our Author. He begins with the Heavens and Air, giving account of those unusual Meteors, which have sometimes appeared in this Countrey; such are the Solar Rain-bow observed by Mr. Wolverstan Dec. 4. 1680, which appeared at first about the Azimuth of Two, two hours before the Sun, and thro the thin diaphanus clouds was mistaken for another sun, but soon after exhibited the Usual colour of a solar Rainbow: as also several Lunar Iris's, and very severe Winter Tempests. Here he takes an occasion to deduce the cause of the circles in Graffe called commonly Fairy Walkes, which he doth not think do owe their cause to the Field Conventicles of Demons and Witches nor to the subterraneous Courses of Moles and Ants, but rather to percussions made by Lightnings, which breaking out of the Clouds in Concave Cones have made Circles on the ground conterminous to the Rims of those Cones, and according as the Cones breaking forth from the clouds have had a greater or lesser inclination to the Horizon, and so have either touched with all the Base, or only dipt with the Lower part, have made Circles, or Quadrants, or Sextants, &c. Here likewise he relates the wonderfull Raines, which have brought Frogs, whose Generation cannot (says he) be referred to the Ordinary way by seed Cap. I. He then comes to treat of Waters and the Texture of Ambient Air, the Conservatory of all the Exhalations, which are perpetually forced by the suns heat out of the Earth; as also of the wonderfull Intermittent Springs observed up and down in this country, which leads him to the Examination of the causes of the Rise of Springs and Wells, of which the World has had a Relation some time since, when we gave an Account of Dr. Plot's Latine Book *De Origine Fontium*, the Reasons whereof are here again at large repeated in English. Afterwards he particularly enumerates what Fountains are Medicinal, as those at Willowbridge; what abound in Salt, as the Brine Pitts at Weston, which tho' inferior to those in Worcestershire and Cheshire by reason of the weakness of the Liquor, yet after a tedious process to Crystalise the Salt, become very useful to the whole Country; and lastly, what are for Colour, or Taste, or any other Accident, remarkable, as a Well between Over and Nether Tene, which in Autumn sends up a great Quantity of small Bones of Frogs, which creeping into those Caverns, whence the Springs come, are killed by the Cold; and the acidity of the water corroding the flesh, those Bones are driven up and carried away by the stream of the Fountain. Cap. II. From Waters our Author passes to Earths and Minerals: Of the first of which the Number is very great, especially of fine Clays for Pottery-Ware and Bricks: But the Coale-Workes with the Iron-Mines most deserve our consideration. The Coale-Mines are very accurately described, both as to their Inclining Position, or Dipping under the surface of the Earth, and as to their several differences in goodness and usefulness, such are those of Cannal, with which the Choire of Litchfield Cathedral is paved; those of Wednesbury most fit for Culinary Fires, &c. Upon this occasion the Nature of Damps is examined, which are resolved into the stagnation of the Air contained within the Rifts of the Coale, that are emptied of the running Water (which in Virgin-Mines always fills the Rifts, and keeps them from this stagnating Air) by the Soughes made for that purpose; or which sometimes are occasioned by working so deep, as that thereby the Intervention of the upper Air is wholly stoppt. Cap. III. Before we come to the Iron-stones, our Author considers those great Quarries of Marble, Alabaster, and other usefull stones dispersed up and down the Country; all which he supposes to be made by a Petrification upon the meeting of the solutions of Aced and Alkalifate salts, which compound transparent, opake, and semiopake stones, as they are mixed with sulphures or Earths of different finesses. He considers Pebles and Firestones by themselves, as wherein the Sulphur is predominant; and therefore are they easily Calcinable. When he comes to the Iron-works he explaines the way how their Fornaces are built, how they melt their Iron-stone, how the goodnes is discernable, and the like. As for the Copper-mines tried by Sir Rich: Fleetwood, they would turn to no Account. Other stones have been sometimes found in Staffordshire, which have had a determinate Form, as the Asteria of a Pentagonall surface, with Raves issuing from the Center, and to each angular point. These are either such as resemble Animals or some of their Parts: so one was found like a Pullets heart, others like most Testaceous fishes, which have been long thought to be petrified shells, tho some Naturalists are perswaded to the contrary; or else such as are like Vegetables, whereof in mineral stones and Oares there is great Variety. Gold Oare hath resembled Branches of Trees, and Wormius had a piece of silver Oare exactly like a Vine; which Figures are ordinary in Bohemia as Balbinus informs us, and when he afterwards speakes of the Entrochi and Trochit he explaines very curiously several Figures not taken notice of by Mr. Beaumont. Cap. 5. Next he comes to Plants, tho' there he owns little can be added to what Mr. Ray had found in his accurate Catalogue of English Plants, yet he found some few omitted by him, as a sort of Cup-Mossle with Scarlat Heads, and some Fungi [tho the Fungus Phalloides is described, and a Cut annexed in the 2d Edit. of Mr. Rayes Catalogue] together with some few Trees, which Mr. Ray took for strang- ers to our soil, as the Firs, which Dr. Plott seems to think are Natives here, which he grounds upon the great Numbers that have been digged up in the Mosses, and can by no means be allowed to have been under ground ever since the Flood; but were rather Trees, which being felled and not presently used, gathered and kept in the Rain Water, which in time bred there a Marsh, and being buried in earth by those frequent Deterrations from the adjoining Hills, in time were so far covered, as we now see them. Some Trees he finds of wonderfull Growth in this Countrey, as the Wiche-Elme cutt down in Sr. Harvey Baggot's Park, that weighed near 100, Tuns: and that this may not be thought incredible, all the Dementsions are set down with Attestations of Workmen and of Sr. Harvey himself. Cap. 6. Under Brutes our Author comprehends all the irrational living Creatures. amongst birds he takes notice of a Swan with Red Legs, and a sort of Columbus or Ducker not described by Mr. Willughby. The Pewet-Catching in Norbury Pond, with their way of Living, and their affection to the Family of the Skrymshiers is exactly described. Of Insects he describes a water Eruca, a white Earwig and several more. He found amongst Fishes a Mustela Fluviatilis with yellow spots, not observed by Naturalists. Speaking of Eels, he observes many which goe from one Pond to another in search of Provender, and then shews by the concurrent suffrage of Natural Historians, that it is no such strange thing; as is not also the finding of Toades in Trees and stones, whereof many instances are produced, which principally (says our Author) comes from a Toades being enclosed in a narrow Rift in winter, which afterwards closing too hard, imprisons them there, without killing them; Toades having little blood, and very viscous juices, require not much perspiration. In discoursing of sheep, he solves the Problem why the Testicles and Horns se mutuo ponunt ac tollunt, because those excrementitious juices which form hair, horns and wooll are more vigorously thrown out in Males than in Females, and and in those when uncastrated, than when guelt; All along, many Monsters and *Lufus naturæ* are described, and many cutt in Brasse. *Cap. 7.* The next Chap. is of men and women. And first he speaks of a man in Stafford-shire who married being 108 years of Age, and had a child extremly like him: next of a woman who had a Monstrous Birth, with a Bagg filled with Grinder-Teeth, and very hairy: of another woman who was brought a-bed without Knowing she was with child. [This Dr. Plott sayes is a case he never before met with, but it may be confirmed by the like instance of a young Woman, the wife of Philip Baker jun. of Wrentham in the County of Suffolk, who was also brought to bed of her second child, a lusty Boy, last Year, without any suspicion of being with child; for about three days or a week before, she took Physick for a Tympathy, which the good Women of her acquaintance persuaded her she was troubled with] Then our Author speaks of Famous men born in the County, as Arch Bishop Sheldon, Mr. Ashmole, &c. And afterwards of those who are otherwise memorable for odd and occasionall things, as the Boy of Bilson, who counterfeited being bewitched (where our Author takes occasion to differ very materially from the old Relations); Mary Foster who recovering of a Fright, slept 14 days and nights: several deaf men who could understand what was said by the motion of the speakers Lips: then he mentions others eminent for Piety, particularly in building Churches, as Mr. Chetwind who built a noble Church at Ingestre, and others whose deliverances from dangers are very remarkable, as our Late Dread Sovereign K. Charles the seconds Preservation by Coll. Lane, &c. Afterwards when he comes to speake of the Corporation of Masons he fully confutes the Fabulous Accounts, they give of their Charter Privileges; the rise whereof they date from St. Amphibalus alias S. Albans Cloake: he concludes with a numerous Catalogue of men and women, who have lived to an Extraordinary Age. *Cap. 8.* In the next Chap. our Author treates of the most curious things relating to Arts in this County, such as in Water-Works is the Jack turned by Water falling upon a Wheel after the manner of an Overshott Mill. So in Agriculture he examines all sorts of Compost, wherewith they improve their Ground, as Marles, Lime-stones, Effe or Turf burnt to Ashes, and Turfes and Dung. He shews what Land requires any particular Compost; and what increase, when well manured, they usually produce. From Husbandry he passes to Buildings, where he describes the Cathedral at Litchfield, and upon account of its declination from East. towards N. he discourses of the reasons that induced Pagans and Christians to build their Temples E. & W. He curiously describes the staircase to the steeple of the Collegiate-Church at Tamworth, which is made with two Coblea's winding one within the other round the same Cylinder, so that one may ascend in one Cochlea, and another in the other, unseen by each other: One Cochlea opening to the Church-yard and the other in the Church. He then tells of those curious Iron Works, Locks, Boxes, Spurs, &c. for which Wolverhampton in particular, and this whole County in General is so much admired by strangers. Amongst other things he describes that remarkable Bridle for Scolds used in some parts of the County, which put into their mouths hinders their speaking, and effectually shames them, whilst they are carried over the whole Town where they live, thus Gagged. Cap. 9. The Antiquities of this County are either British, Roman, Saxon, Danish or Norman. Near Wrottesley there is a Ditch 4 Miles in Circumference, across which there are to be seen Remainders of Streets, and here and there Foundations that seem to be of British Original; as also these Instruments of Stone like Darts and Arrow Heads, used by the Britons, which are here sometimes seen up and down. The Principal Roman Monuments are, Watling-street, and Icknild-street, which cross each other in this County, on which were the Stages where they lodged their Troops; as Eteletum, now Wall, and Pennocefium nocrasium now Stretton. In the Saxon time we find Litchfield raised by Wlphere K. of the Mercians to the Honour of St. Ciadda; Wlphere Castle at Berry-bank has yet some Ruines which are visible: Tamworth was K. Offa's Seat; and Wolverhampton, or Wulphrunes-Hampton, called so from Wulphrune Wife to Athelm Duke of Northampton in K. Edgar's Reign, was by her endowed with a Deanary and Prebends; and several Lows or sulphurous Hillocks, raised by the Saxons are to be seen up and down, Marks of those Bloody Engagements between them and the Danes. There are no Danish Antiquity, more remarkable than their wooden Almanacks, still in use in Denmark and Staffordshire; one of which used in this County, our Author accurately describes, and explains its deviations from those now made in Norway. Lastly he clears many Customs and Tenures brought in by the Normans, as the Chusing the King of the Minstrels, and the Bull-running (instituted by John of Gaunt) at Tulbury, the claiming of the Gammon of Bacon at Whitchnower, and several others. Cap. X. 2. SCIOTERICUM TELESCOPICUM or a new Contrivance of adapting a Telescope to a Horizontall Diall, for observing the moment of time by day or night, by Will: Molineux Esq. R. S. S. Dublin, 1686 in 4to. The Author dividing this Book into XI Chapters, he first declares the Use & Advantage of this new Contrivance, which he conceives so great, that since the first mention of Dials, he hath not heard of a more plain and easy addition for their advancement; especially, when the Observation of the exact moment of time is so necessary, that neither Geography, Navigation, or Astronomy can be brought to perfection, nor the Longitude or the Truth of Astronomical Tables Tables fully discovered. The Methods which commonly are used for observing the Moment of Time, are either by Dials, or by taking the Suns Altitude by day, or that of Stars by night; or by observing the Altitude and Azimuth of the Sun or Stars; or by the Transits of the Sun or Stars through the Meridian, or the coming of some Circumpolar Stars in the same Verticle with the Pole-Star. All which Methods are attended with many inconveniencies and difficulties, the which our Author believeth his Way will avoid; at least the most material ones, which commonly arise in the Practice. For whereas Dials must be very large, if there shall be any division for Minutes made discernable, so the uncertainty of the Shadow cast from a large Gnomon renders them useless for niceness, when also their service is only by Day, and when the Sun shineth. All which hindrances are taken off by this new contrivance of our Author, where also there is no need of any Calculation of Oblique Spherical Triangles, all being done by a plain and simple Observation, and by the Addition and Subtraction of two or three small Numbers; and that to such exactness, that not a quarter of a Minute, or 15 Seconds shall be wanting, performable also both by day or night. Describing therefore his Instrument in the 3d. Chap. he tells, that the contrivance consisteth in making a very large Horizontal Dial, adapted to the Latitude of the place where the Observation is to be made, capable of receiving divisions into minutes, and parts of a minute, fitted with a large, strong, and double Gnomon: He calls that a double Gnomon that casts its Morning Shadow from its Western Edge, and the after-noon Shadow from its Eastern Edge, and the Noon-shadow by its Thickness. This Dial is to be furnished with two pair of Sights or Rules, one is to serve in the Morning, or for Stars on the Eastern side of the Meridian, the other to serve in the afternoon, or for Stars on the Western side of the Meridian. Each of these consists of two moveable Rulers; one he calls the Horizontal Ruler, the other the Gnomonick, or Stile-Ruler. These two Rulers must be so adapted that their two Edges, which are next to the Gnomon, may be perpetually in the same Plane with their correspondent edge of the Gnomon. On the Stile-Ruler he puts Telecopical Sights, with Cross-hairs in their due place. This Instrument is represented by a large Scheme annexed to the end of the Book. How every part of this Instrument must be framed, and the Stile-Nut and Ruler-Joynt composed, is at large described in the 4th Chapter. As for Telescopick Sights, and their true adjusting; he tells Chap. 5. how to put in the Mensurator, or to place the intersection of the Cross-Hairs, so that they may stand neither too high nor too low, nor too much to the right or left hand, which else would produce Errors in the Azimuths and Altitudes: also for making the Line of Sight or Collimation parallel to the sides of the Ruler, he applyeth two Pins, which will serve in the same manner for finding the Declination of the Magnet, whereas the Ways proposed by Mr. Hauteville and Sturmius, seem to be defective. The way of setting the dial to his true Position, is explained in the 6th. Chap. where he tells that two things are requisite, first that the plain of the Dial be in an exact Horizontal Posture, by accurate Levels, and secondly, that the Meridian, or 12 a Clock-Line, be exactly towards South and North; for that being 12 minutes of a Degree ill placed, will make a Dial err a minute of Time, in the Latitude of 53 Degrees: and for this Reason he shewed Chap 7. how to find the Meridian Line by his Instrument, in taking several equal Altitudes of the Sun in the fore and afternoon, and having drawn the Azimuths thereto, the Bisection of the included Angles, will shew the true Meridian Line, which also may be found after the same manner at night by the Stars. But coming finally in the 8th. Chap. to the manner of observing the Time, after the Dial is justly levelled and stated; he shews it to be done by looking at the Sun through the Telescopick or Stile Ruler, and bringing the Mensurator upon the Suns Center; and then the Horizontal Ruler shall cut the hour, minute, and part of a mi- nute most exactly in the Dial. By the same Telescopical Sight, the motion of the Sun will be perceived so quick and nice, that two beats of a Second-Pendulum may be determined; and the time of the day or night to 3, 5, or 7 Seconds discerned. The way of using this dial on the Stars by Night is much the same; only that for these are requisite certain Tables (put at the end of the Book) of the Sun and Stars temporary Right-Ascensions: For in looking at the Star through the Telescopick-Ruler, the Horizontal-Ruler cuts the Stars horary distance from the Meridian, to which adding the Stars Right Ascension, and from the sum subtracting the Suns Right Ascension, the remainder gives the Hour, Minute, and Second of the Night; and by this Method inverted, the Author thinketh the Right Ascension of any Star may be easily had. The way to calculate the Suns and Stars Ascensions, he declareth in the 9th. Chap. and also Chap. 10, the Equation of Time, upon supposition of the equability of the Earths Revolutions; he shows also by a Calculus how to correct the length of the Pendulum of a Clock, and giveth in the 11th. and last Chap. Tables of the Circumpolar Stars their Calculation and Uses. LONDON, Printed by Joseph Streater, and are to be sold by Samuel Smith, at the Princes Arms in St. Paul's Church Yard.