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we have the relation, feems to have thought 

 it a piece of excellent workmanfhip : " I needed 

 not, fays he, have charged this paragraph 

 with half thefe trees, but to fhew how much 

 more the lime-tree feems difpofed to be wrought 

 into thefe arborious wonders, than other trees 

 of flower growth *." 



In the wars between Henry II. of England, 

 and Philip of France, the two kings had a con- 

 ference in the year 1188, near Gifors, under 

 an elm, which we are told, covered feveral acres 

 of land -j~. The truth, I fuppofe, is, that it 

 was an immenfe tree. Under its canopy fo 

 numerous a train of the prelates, and nobility 

 of both nations, who attended the two kings, 

 were afTembled, that perhaps no tree ever be- 

 fore fheltered fo magnificent a company. 



Some time afterwards, hoftilities again com- 

 mencing between thefe princes, Philip ordered 

 the elm to be cut down. As it appeared to 

 be, in no fhape, an objeft to him, people were 

 apt to fay, he did it in a fit of fpiteful revenge 

 againft Henry, who often, when his army lay 

 incamped in thofe parts, took a pleafure in fit- 

 ting under it's made. 



* Sylva, p. 225. 



| Se Smollet's Hift. of England, vol. ii. p. 210. 



The 



