250

vpon a further Discourse concerning the burning Ditch In Lancashire
Sr. Iohn Louther Gaue a Relation of that Burning well /strange phenomenon/ and added some
Remarks not take notice of before which was he was informed of by
Sr. Roger Bradshaw. the substance of which was that there was vnder
neath the place /ground/ a cole mine, and that at the place where the streame
could be kindled there was cracks and chaps in the earth by wch
It was supposed that the Damps of the colle cole mine collected
in the cauitys thereof & issuing continually from it did by those
crannys and chops of the ground issue continually at that
place and thence whensoeuer an actuall flame or fire
was brought to touch it it presently kindled and conti
nued to flame till it were putt out.

mr. Hooke tooke notice of the admirable effect wch. had been ob
serued in it to wit that it tooke fire though the steame
it self were not before sensibly warme which he said
was more then any other steame would doe, and that
therein seemd to be greatest rarity of it, whence he conjec
tured that it must in probability be the same kind of steam
which Generated lightning. that this steame seems to be the
very same wth. the fiery Damp of mines which will take
fire much after the same manner but oftentime wth
more direfull effects by reason that a much greater quan
tity of the said vapour is collected together and also by
because that the same is imprisoned and shutt in wth
very strong sides and hath noe possibility of venting
and expending otherways then by the mouth _
much debate was concerning the firing of Bodys the
Steame and smoke of bodys but there was noe one instan
ced in whose steames would take fire afte vnlesse they had
been /before/ heated to an very great degree of heat by an actuall
fire and then kindled

Ref: CELL/RS/HF_252  © Centre for Editing Lives and Letters