CHAP. CV. CORYLA CEA. QUE’RCUS. 1763 
A report existing that this tree had been cut down, 
we wrote to Lord De L’Isle on the subject, and 
are informed by His Lordship that the tree is in 
nearly the same state as when drawn by Strutt 23h 2" x 
(from whose plate our fig. 1599. is a reduced “#@EONy 
copy), with the exception of the loss of a large 
bough. The circumference, at 3ft. from the 
ground, is 30ft. Lord De L’Isle adds that he my 
has no doubt “ that the date of the tree is anterior 
to the birth of Sir Philip Sydney, although it is 1599 
certain that this oak (which goes by the name of the Bear’s Oak, from the 
family bearings) is the one alluded to by Waller.” 
Merionethshire. The Nannau Oak, which was blown down in 1813, measured 
27 ft. Gin. in circumference, and had for centuries been celebrated among the 
Welsh as the Hobgoblin’s Hollow Tree, “ Dderwn Ceubren yr Ellyll.” This 
celebrated tree was also known by the names of the Spirit’s Blasted Tree, 
and the Haunted Oak. The legend respecting it is, that Howel Sele, a 
Welsh chieftain, and Lord of Nannau, was privately slain in a hunting 
quarrel by his cousin Owen Glendower, and his friend Maddoc. The body, 
in which life was not yet extinct, was hidden in the hollow trunk of this tree 
by the murderers. Owen returned in haste to his stronghold, Glendewwrdry. 
Howel was sought for, but in vain; and, though groans and hollow sounds 
were heard proceeding from the tree, no one thought of looking in it. After 
a lapse of years, Owen Glendower died, and on his deathbed enjoined his 
companion Maddoc to reveal the truth : he did so, and the skeleton of Howel 
was discovered upright in the hollow of the tree, and still, according to the 
legend, grasping a rusty sword in its bony hand. A ballad on this subject, 
by Mr. Warrington, is printed in the notes to Scott’s 
Marmion. This celebrated oak “stood on the estate of « 
Sir Robert Williams Vaughan, of Nannau Park, who, after 
its fall, had a variety of utensils manufactured from its 
wood, which was of a beautiful dark colour, approaching to 
ebony ; and there is scarcely a house in Dolgelly that does 
not contain an engraving of this venerable tree, framed in 
its wood.” (Sat. Mag., 1832, p.50.) Fig. 1600. is a re- 
duced copy of the engraving of this tree in the Saturday ¥% 
- Magazine, which is there said to have been taken from a “= 
drawing made of it by Sir Richard Colt Hoare, only a few 
hours before it fell. 
Middlesex. The Chandos Oak (fig. 1601.) stands in the pleasure-grounds 
at Michendon House, near Southgate, and is about 60 ft. high. The head 
covers a space the diameter of 3A 1601 
which measures about 118 ft.; i i 
the girt of the trunk, at 1 ft. 
from the ground, is 18 ft. 3 in. 
It has no large limbs; but, when 
in full foliage, “its boughs 
bending to the earth, with ~ 
almost artificial regularity of © 
form, and equidistance from <: 
each other, give it the appear- “. 
ance of a gigantic tent.” It 
forms, indeed, “ a magnificent 
living canopy, impervious to the day.” ( Strutt.) 
Norfolk. The Merton Oak (fig. 1602.) stands on the estate of Lord Wal- 
singham. It is 66 ft. high, and, at the surface of the ground, the circumference 
of the trunk is 63 ft. 2in.; at 1 ft. it is 46 ft. lin.; the trunk is 18 ft. Gin, to 
the fork of the branches; the largest limb is 18 ft., and the second 16 ft. in 
circumference. The Winfarthing Oak is 70 ft. in circumference; the trunk 
5yY 3 
