76 Charles G. Osgood, 



Of the Dart Holinshed says : 'Of it selfe moreover this water 

 is verie swift, and thorough occasion of tin-workes whereby it 

 passeth. it carrieth much sand to Totnesse bridge [near its 

 mouth], and so choketh the depth of the river downeward, that 

 the haven it selfe is ahnost spoiled by the same' (i. 103).^^ 



But Avon marched in more stately path, 



Proud of his adamants, with which he shines 



And glisters wide, as als' of wondrous Bath, 



And Bristow faire, which on his waves he builded hath" 



Holinshed calls the Avon 'a goodlie water, and growne to be 

 verie famous by sundrie occasions', (i. 115), and Camden writes 

 of 'the noble river Avon : which holding a crooked course, 

 runneth anon to that ancient City which of the bote Bathes. . . 

 we at this day [call] Bath' (Somerset, p. 233). Then follow 

 long descriptions of the glories of Bath and Bristol (pp. 233-9). 

 As the Avon leaves Bristol, 'there are on ech side verv' high 

 cliffes . . . the one of them which on the East-side overlooketh 

 the river beareth the name 5'. Vincent's rock, so full of Diamants 

 [adamantum adeo foecunda, p. 173], that a man may fill whole 

 strikes or bushels of them. These are not so much set by. 

 because they be so plenteous. For in bright and transparent 

 colour they match the Indian diamants. if they passe them not: 

 in hardnesse onely they are inferior to them ; but in that nature 

 her selfe hath framed them pointed with six cornered or foure 

 cornered smooth sides ; I thinke them therefore worthy to be 

 had in greater admiration. The other rocke also on the West- 

 side is likewise full of Diamants [adamantum est ferax, p. 172], 

 which by the wonderfull skill and worke of nature, are enclosed 

 as young ones within the bowels of hollow and reddish flints.' 

 Camden is speaking of the valley-walls underneath Clifton 

 Downs, a suburb of Bristol. In Saxton's map of Somerset both 

 Bath and Bristol are shown by clusters of towers rising from the 

 line of the river. 



And there came Stoure with terrible aspect. 



Bearing his sixe deformed heads on hj'e, 



That doth his course through Blandford plains direct. 



And washeth Winborne meades in season drye.^ 



■■" Quoted by Dr. Harper, pp. 12-14. 

 ■-■■' St. 31. 

 ^ St. 32. 



