_Fama enim grescit eundo_, even unto incredible wonders and
miracles, or rather fictions, and lyes. All which commeth to passe as
wee may well suppose, through our overmuch English credulity, or (as I
may better say) rather superstition. For to any such like Well, will
swarme at first both yong and old (especially the female sexe, as ever
more apt to bee deluded) halt, lame, blind, deafe, dumbe, yea, almost
all, and that for all manner of maladies and diseases, both inward and
outward.
But for as much, as these are springs of pure, and simple waters
meerely, without any mixture at all of minerals to make them become
medicinable, it is verily thought, that the many & severall cures, which
have bin attributed unto them in those times, when they were so
frequented, were rather fained, and imaginary, then true, and reall;
and that those, who then visited them, were desirous (either to uphold,
and maintaine the credit, and reputation of their Saints, or else, to
avoyd the scorne and derision of their owne delusion) to have others
likewise deceived.
Time hath quite worne all their strength, and consumed all their
vertues; so that nothing of worth now remaines with them, saving onely
their bare names and titles: _Sic magna sua mole ruunt_.
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