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loofened through over much moiflure, the trees could not chufe but fall, 

 and in fuch foft ground fmke and bee quite fwallowed up. They that 

 dwell thereabouts, affay and try with poles and fpits, where they lie hid- 

 den, and when they light upon them marke the place, digge them out, 

 and ufe them for fire wood : For they burne cleere and give light, as well 

 as torch wood, which haply is by reafon of a bituminous and clammy 

 fat earth wherein they lye : whence the common fort take them for Firres : 

 which notwithftanding Cce/ar denieth to have growne in Britaine. I know 

 it is an opinion currant with the mofl, that thefe trees overturned with 

 the force of waters, have lien ever fmce Noahs Floud, when the World 

 was droAvned, and fo much the rather, becaufe they are elfewhere dig- 

 ged out of very high places : and yet they deny not, but thofe high 

 grounds are very marifh and waterifli. 



"Such mighty trees alfe are found oftentimes in Holland, a Country 

 of Germany : which the learned men there, fuppofe were either under- 

 mined by waves working into the Ihore, or by windes driven forward and 

 brought unto thofe lower and moifl places ; where they fetled and funke 

 downe. But let the curious company of Philofophers fearch into thefe 

 matters to whom I commend them, and to their further inquirie, whether 

 there are not Subterranean trees growing under earth, as well as plants 



and other Creatures." 



Britannia, p. 747. Edition 1637. 



