![[Illustration: Position of the Oxford wells.]](graphics/oxford.jpg)
THERE was a farmer who had an only daughter. She was very handsome, but
proud. One day, when the servants were all afield, her mother sent her to
the well for a pitcher of water. When she had let down the bucket, it was
so heavy that she could hardly draw it up again; and she was going to let
loose of it, when a voice in the well said: Hold tight and pull hard; and
good luck will come of it at last.
So she held tight and pulled hard; and
when the bucket caine up there was nothing in it but a frog, and the frog
said: Thank you, my dear; I've been a long while in the well, and I'll
make a lady of you for getting me out.
So when she saw it was only a frog,
she took no notice, but filled her pitcher and went home.
Now, when they were at supper, a knock was heard at the door, and somebody outside said:
Open the door, my dearest one,
And think of the well in the wood;
Where you and I were together, love a-keeping,
And think of the well in the wood.
She looked out of the window, and there was the frog in boots and spurs.
To it she said: I shan't open the door for a frog.
But her father said:
Open the door to the gentleman. Who knows what it may come to at last?
So she opened the door, and the frog came in. Then said the frog:
Set me a chair, my dearest sweetest one,
etc.
And think,
I'm sure I shan't set a chair; the floor's good enough for a frog.
The frog made many requests, to all of which the lady returned uncivil
answers. He asked for beer, and was told water is good enough for a
frog
; to be put to bed, but the cistern is good enough for a frog to
sleep in.
The father, however, insisted on her compliance; and even
when the frog said: Cuddle my back, my dearest sweet one,
ordered
her to do so, [118] for who knows what
it may come to at last?
And in the. morning when she awoke, she saw by
her side the handsomest man that ever was seen, in a scarlet coat and top
boots, with a sword by his side, and a gold chain round his neck, and gold
rings on his fingers, who married her and made her a lady, and they lived
very happy together.--N and Q., 1 S., v., 460. There is
another version in Halliwell's Nursery Rhymes.
ARISTOTLE'S Well is not far from Elmer's (and Wolward's) Well in the north
suburbs, neare or in the fields of Walnercote or Ulgars--or Algar's
Cote.
It was anciently (as by some now) called Brumman's Well, together
with that at Walton, because Brumman le Rich or de Walton lived and owned
lands about the said wells, most, if not all, of which he gave by the
favour of Robert D'oilly, his lord and master, who came into England with
the Conqueror, to St. George's College in the Castell at his first
foundation, A.D. 1074.
After his time, if not, be likely, before, it was christened by the name of Aristotle's Well, because that it was then--as now 'tis--frequented in the summer season by our Peripateticks. In the present summer (1888) it was built over by the garden wall of a house erected on the south of the road leading to the canal bridge.--Survey of the Antiquities of the City of Oxford, composed in 1661-66 by Anthony Wood, edited by Andrew Clark, M.A., vol. i., 1889; Oxford Historical Soc., pp. 353, 354.
On the north side of the church or chapel of St. Crosse, betweene it and
the manor-house is an ancient well, from whence the parish took its name,
called Halywell,
though now more properly called Holy Well.
Upon what account it hath that epithite bestowed upon it, whether for the
employment of the water thereof about sacred uses for the church as is
before said, or els [119] that by the
reputed holinesse therein in respect of miracles it ought and the like, I
am in doubt.
Dr. Plot, Natural History of Oxfordshire, p. 49, speaks of the use for the eyes and in some other cases.
A certain authour makes mention of a holy man called Mathew, that in old time lived here, leading the life as it should seeme of an incluse or anchorite; and when there arose a question between the canons of Dorchester and Winchester concerning the burying-place of S. Birinus, when the Wintonians had a mind to translate his body, the said Mathew received a vision that Birinus lay "in pavimento eccleske Dorcestrensis et Bertinus pone ostium," and in that manner seemed to resolve the doubt. So that if we can say that from this man and his holy predecessors that lived here, this well should from his usuage therof for sustenance sake or his intercession to the Almighty that it might prove beneficial in curing of wounds or aches and the like, take its name, it might passe--for ought I know--as good a received truth as the legend of the vision produced by mine author.--Ibid., pp. 388, 389.
The well was destroyed when drainage operations were carried out to convert Jackson's Green into a cemetery.
When it wanted a covering or shelter by the ruin of the old, if any at all, Dr. Fitzjames, Warden of Merton College, built a faire house over it of stone, with a roof to it of free stone, about the year 1488, a token of which bounty remaineth over the door therof at this time, viz., a dolphin naiant carved on a shield with another coat adjoyning sometimes quartered by the former, being the arms of the said bountiful and worthy Doctor.--Ibid., pp. 389, 390.
The name Holywell is derived from another well near the church, dedicated to SS. Winifred and Margaret. Wood says: "I find many persons yearly relieved by these wholesome waters." The water is very pure and cold, but seldom freezes, and there is a cold bath. About 1488 the Warden of Merton erected a stone building over it to receive the prayers of the people.--Ibid., p. 152.
On the south side of St. Clement's Church, and neare to the ford or water
called Mill Ford or Cowley Ford, which leadeth into Cowley Mede, was
sometimes an ancient well called St. Edmund's. Well, consecrated to such a
saint that was Archbishop of Canterbury. To which much resort of people in
the raignes of Henry III. and Edward I., I find to have bin made,
especially for [121] the curing of wounds and recovery of maladyes and
sicknesses, either by drinking the water therof or by bathing therm. And
soe great holyness besides was it reputed to possesse by working of
miracles on the vulger, that the fame thereof was spread far and neare. At
length coming to the knowledge of Oliver Sutton, Bishop of Lyncoln, how
strangly the people were besotted with a fond imagination of its vertues
and holinesse, and that they did neglect to serve the true God by hankering
after and worshipping this well, sent out his edict to the Archdeacon of
Oxford, 1291, with a direful sentence therin of an anathema and
excommunication to those that should anyway resort therto which partly
speaketh to this effect : --Ad audientiam nostram nuper certa
relatione pervenit quod nonnulli, iuxta suarum mentium inconstantiam quasi
vento agitate, a cultu fidei temere deviantes, locum quendam in campo iuxta
ecciesiam S. Clementis extra municipium Oxon fontem Beati Edmundi
vulgariter nuncupatum veluti locum sacrum vererari illumque sub simulatione
sacrorum miraculorum quæ perpetrata contingunt ibidem, causa
devotionis erronæ frequentare ac populum non modicum illuc attrahendo
his figmentis damnatis decipere, immo pervertere, noviter praesumpserunt,
errorem Gentilium iuto Christicolas introducere superstitiose conando,
etc. Thus the Bishop.
But upon what account this well should be thus frequented, whether at the
said archbishop's canonization for a saint about the 29 Henry III., 1245,
or upon any other event, I am in doubt. Yet for a certaine, if it was not
for that particular it might arise for this: viz., that he, the said
archbishop, while he was a student in Oxon, and courted by the greatest
schollers of that age both for his piety and learning, did often according
to his manner convers in privat with God, especially in his walkes of
recreation in the fields neare Oxon. Of which Polycronicon also with a
speciall remarke tells us, that he, one a time as he walked in a meede or
feild neare Oxon, Jesus Christ appeared to him. And soe probably from
thence a spring or well might at that place burst forth, even as St.
Margaret's Well at Binsey did at the intreatyes and convers with God by St.
Frideswyde, as is elsewhere expressed.
The Well of St. Edmund was open
till Milham Bridge fell down.--Ibid., p. 288.
This well was once famous for curing distempers upon the saint's day, the people diverting themselves with cakes and ale, music and [122] dancing; which was innocent enough in comparison of what had been formerly practised at different places, when even the better sort of people placed a sanctity in them, brought alms and offerings, and made vows at them, as the ancient Germans and Britains did, and the Saxons and English were much inclined to.--G. M. Lib., iii., 142.
Near St. Clement's, at Oxford, was a spring where St. Edmund, Archbishop of Canterbury, did sometimes meet and converse with an angel or nymph; as Numa Pompilius did with Egeria. The well is now filled up.
Child's Well, by the holyness of the chapleynes successively serving there, had vertue to make women that were barren to bring forth children.--Ibid., p. 389.
The reason why it was soe called was from a well situated therby called
Stoke well, being the same which is to this day apparent to the beholders
under the wall of Cornwall Close, and called beyond the memory of man by
the students of this University Platoes Well,
and Cornish Chough
Well.
[Footnote: Wood, 276 B., Bod. Lib., folio xvi.] It was on the
north edge of the path which ran from the end of Thames (now George) Street
to Hythe Bridge.--lbid., p. 365.
At the east end of the street therof, and opposite to the north-east corner of the ruins of the city wall, wee had a well or spring, called Crowell, mentioned occasionally in very ancient records, and in some as a boundary to this lordship between it and the city liberties.
Dr. Rawlinson, it seems, principall of St. Edmund's Hall (1610-1632), erected a faire house covering over it of freestone, in the year 1626, and caused these two verses with his armes to be carved thereon:
There's none will hurt this well that's wise,
For it hurts none but helps the eyes.
To which a waggish scholler wrote this answer, with a coale under it:
None but will hurt this well that's wise,
For it helpeth none but hurts the eyes.
But these verses with the house itself was demolished in the late warr, and the spring afterwards suffocated by the towne ditch to which it joyned.
An antient well called Crowell in Halywell parish, which is a boundary for the limits of that mannor. It was square.--Ibid., pp. 385, 386.
In the north suburbs there was Elmer's Well, possibly a spring in the meadows towards Wolvercote, now forgotten and unknown, having been probably destroyed by canal or railway.--Ibid., p. 439.
In the west suburbs there was Harold's Well, near Osney, now quite forgotten.--Ibid., p. 438.
There was a well in Slaying Lane, or as some call it Slaying-well Lane, called soe from the well there under Pembroke College wall.--Ibid., p. 577.
Another well existed in what was Jackson's Green (now the Holywell)
Cemetery, not far from Mr. Burgon's tomb, known as Jenny Newton's Well.
This was also supposed to possess great curative powers, particularly for
affections of the eyes, and many a poor tailor and sempstress have I seen
using it. This was destroyed together with Holy-well, when drainage
operations were carried out to convert Jackson's Green into a
cemetery.--Ibid., p. 616.
A spring in Holywell Green or Common, found out by -- Cowdrey, a precise shoemaker of St. Peter's, in the east; made by him a well, and encompassed with stone, 1st May, 1651. A stone seat built about it by Henry Brome, gent., 1666. Holywell Green in Woods' time was the ground on which are now Holywell Vicarage and Cemetery, and the lawn-tennis courts between them and the well.--Ibid., p. 386.
Still remembered in the name of Walton Well Road, and having on its site a
fountain, erected in 1885 by the liberality of Alderman Ward. The
inscription is as follows: 1885. Drink and think of Him who is the
fountain of life. With the consent of the lords of the manor, this
drinking-fountain is erected by Mr. William Ward, to mark the site of a
celebrated spring, known as Walton Well, adjacent to the ancient fordway
into Colt Meadow, now called Walton Ford.
--Ibid., p. 439.
Ulward's Well called soe from John Ulward who held lands there of Dionisia Burewald, which she gave to Godstow.--Ibid., p. 354.
The Fellows of New College in Oxford have time out of mind every Holy
Thursday, betwixt the houres of eight and nine, gonne to ye Hospitall
called Bart'lemews, neer Oxford: where they retire to ye Chapell, and
certain prayers are read and an antheme sung: from thence they goe to the
upper end of ye grove adjoyning to the Chapell (the way being beforehand
strewed with flowers by the poor people of ye Hospitall), they placed
themselves round about the well there, where they warble forth melodiously
a song of three or four or five parts; which being performed, they refresh
themselves with a morning's draught there, and retire to Oxford before
sermon.
--Brand's Pop. Ant., ii., 378, Bohn's Ed.
Gentilisme and Judaisme, p. 32.
There is, or was, a holy well in Ricot Park. The water was held to be good for the eyes. The keepers formerly performed some ceremony here, before, it is presumed, it was a park.
At the west end of this chappel, about three yards distant, is the well or spring, antiently and to this day called St. Margaret's [125] Well, being the very same that she by her prayers at the building of the chapple opened. Of which heare a certaine old English poet, who in the life of St. Frideswyde in the legend of English saints, speaking of her various fortunes and of her passage from Bampton to this place, saith thus:
Ther fer with her felaisis [Footnote: Fellows.]. she be laft ther
[Footnote: Ex
Lib. MS. Bibliothecæ, Bodl. Lib., Bodi. MS. 779.]
And to serve Jhesu Christ . a chapel leet arere [Footnote: Raise.]
Ther as is yit a fayr cort . and a cherche fayr and swete
Arerid in the honour . of her and Seynte Margrete
As this mayde wonyd [Footnote: Lived.] ther . in holy lyf and clene
The maydenes that were with her . gone hem ofte be mene [Footnote:
Bemoan.]
That water was sum del to fer . hem ofte for smale dede
And cride on Seynt Friswid . that she schold hem therof rede [Footnote:
Rid.]
This mayde Seynt Friswid . bad our lordis sonde
That he water thorw his gras . hem sente ner honde
So sprong ther up a welle . cler inowf [Footnote: Enough.] and clene
That fond hem water inowf . tho dorst hem nought be mene
That beside the cherche is yit [Footnote: It.] . in the west syde
That mony a mon hath bote do . and that men seggeth wide.
Over St. Margaret's Well was a covering of stone, and thereon on the front the picture of St. Margaret (or perhaps St. Frideswyde), pulled down by Alderman Sayre, of Oxon, a little before the late war, 1639.
To this well also and her image and certaine reliques in the chapple did the people come on pilgrimage with as great devotion to ease their burdened soules and obtaine resolutions of their doubts, as they would to an oracle.
And here, also, when those maimed and unsound folke had bin cured either by bathing in, or drinking of; this water, hang up their crutches as a speciall memorandum of their cured griefs. For which end and purpose there were severall preists that inhabited here appointed by the Prior of St. Frideswide's purposely to confess and absolve those pilgrims.
Near to this place it was that the Lady Edyne, of Wynton, the widdow of Sir William Lancelot, knight, had a vision. See Twyne, xxi., 199.
The well wee find almost to the last frequented by superstitious people, and especially about a hundred years before the dissolu[126]tion. Soe much, that they were forced to enclose it--as in old time before, they had defended it--with a little house of stone over it with a lock and a dore to it. But all decaying and going much to ruine, at the suppression of St. Frideswyde's Priory, was at last --I meane the little house--about twenty-five years agoe, pulled downe and quite taken away. Soe that now being overgrowne with nettles and other weeds, and harbouring frogs, snails, and vermin, scarce owneth the name of a well; noe more than the old and small building joyning to the north side of the chapple doth--as formally it did--a court.
The well is now in better condition. When I visited it on 25th October, 1887, the churchyard was tidily fenced and very neatly kept. At the well a descent of some five steps brought one to an arched vault, beneath which, in the centre of the flooring, was a round basin containing the water of the well, the surface of the water being about six feet below the level of the ground. On the wall above the arch was this inscription:
S. Margaretae fontem, precibus S. Frideswidæ (ut fertur) concessum,
nquinatum diu obrutumque in usum revocavit T. J. Prout, Aed. Xti alumnus,
Vicarius, A. S. MDCCCLXXIV
.
At the time of the restoration of this well, an Oxford wit, having regard to its proximity to the church, suggested for an inscription:
Ariston men hydor
When you open your pew-door,
This may comfort supply
Should the sermon be dry.
Ibid., pp. 323-328, et seq.
The well of St. Margaret or St. Frideswide, in Binsey churchyard, scarce two miles from Oxford, is supposed to have sprung from the prayers of St. Frideswide, and many in olden times consulted it as an oracle on the state of their burdened souls; maimed and sick persons drank and bathed in the waters, and were cured by them. The stone edifice was in the last century destroyed, but has been restored.--Denham Tracts, p. 151.
The well probably takes its name from the church, which was dedicated in honour of St. Margaret.
There was a well dedicated in honour of St. Mary outside Smith Gate.
This well was situated on the north side of East Gate.
Nottinghamshire