. 



( 14* ) 



in the trunk. On the other fide, the foliage 

 was flill full, and hid all decay. 



In a glade of Hamhault-foreft in EfTex, 

 about a mile from Barkinfide, flands an oak, 

 which has been known through many cen- 

 turies, by the name of Fairlop. The tradition 

 of the country traces it half way up the 

 Chriftian sera. It is ftill a noble tree, tho 

 it has now fuffered greatly from the depre- 

 dations of time. About a yard from the 

 ground, where it's rough fluted ftem is thirty- 

 fix feet in circumference, it divides into eleven 

 vaft arms ; yet not in the horizontal manner 

 of an oak, but rather in that of a beech. 

 Beneath it's (hade, which overfpreads an area 

 of three hundred feet in circuit, an annual 

 fair has long been held, on the ad of July ; 

 and no booth is fuffered to be erected beyond 

 the extent of it's boughs. But as their ex- 

 tremities are now become faplefs, and age is 

 yearly curtailing their length, the liberties of 

 the fair feem to be in a defponding condition. 

 The honour however is great. But honours 

 are often accompanied with inconveniences ; 



and 



