Sweet water - meaning and illustration

1.4.  Etymology of Sweet water:

Freshwater, soft water, fresh-water, fresh water and sweet water are all synonyms for the same context.

1. Fresh water (with space) is the first orthography of freshwater (without space), most popular  before the 20^th century. It was later replaced and pushed to second most popular term by the shorter orthography, freshwater (without space) in the 1970. Today, freshwater is the most popular of all synonyms for this concept.

Origin of freshwater:

2. Freshwater came from Middle English freche watur, equivalent to fresh +‎ water. The term freshwater got into standard English usage around the 16^th century. Earliest publications we could find were published after the 1550s. Some of which include:

1. The Vnion of the Two Noble and Illustre Famelies of Lancastre and Yorke (etc.) by Edward Halle , published in 1550. Freshwater was used in the excerpt:  "... freshwater and other victails necessary , which knightes."
2. A Nievve Herball, Or Historie of Plantes : Wherin is Contayned the Vvhole Discourse and Perfect Description of All Sortes of Herbes and Plantes: … by Rembert Dodoens, Henry Lyte · published in 1578. Freshwater was used precisely on page 426, in the excerpt: "... freshwater Creauis ." 
3. The Nomenclator, Or Remembrancer of A. J. ... Written in Latine, Greeke, French and Other Forrein Tongues and Now in English by J. Higins. With a Dictional Index by Adrianus JUNIUS, John HIGGINS (Poet.) · 1585, published in 1550. Freshwater was used precisely on page 483, in the excerpt: "... freshwater foutier : a young fouldier."

 Other international minor synonyms like ‘fresh-water’, ‘sweet water’ and ‘soft water’ are equally popularly used in some regions of the world.

3. ‘Soft water’ slipped in as a synonym in the 18^th century, precisely around the 1710s. Some early publications we could find featuring this word are:

1. The Natural History of Northampton-shire with Some Account of the Antiquities (etc.). A book by John Morton  published in 1712: ‘Soft water’ is used on page 268.
2. Ovid's Art of Love. In three books. Translated by Mr. Dryden, Mr. Congreve, &c. Together with the Remedy of Love, etc By Ovid in 1712. ‘Soft water’ is used on page 35.

4. ‘Sweet water’ was first used in the 16^th century. Some ancient books featuring ‘sweet water’ include:

1. Foure Bookes of Husbandry ... Newly Englished, and encreased by B. Googe. B.L. By Conrad Heresbach · 1601 - found inside – page 47, from the excerpt: ‘... sweet water is onely to be bled . And because I haue begun to entreat of warring’
2. Bulleins Bulwarke of Defence Against All Sicknesse, Soarenesse, and Woundes that Doe Dayly Assaulte Mankinde…  By William Bullein · 1579. - found inside – page 54, from the excerpt:  ‘... sweet water , frongly frayned.’