; ( '47 ) / 



and Fairlop has fuffered from it's honourable 

 diftinctions. In the feafting that attends a 

 fair, fires are often necefiary ; and no places 

 feemed fo proper to make them in, as the 

 hollow cavities formed by the heaving roots 

 of the tree. This practice has brought a 

 fpeedier decay on Fairlop, than it might 

 Qtherwife have fuifered. 



Not far from Blanford, in Dorfetfhire, 

 flood very lately a tree, known by the name 

 of Damory's oak. About five or fix cen- 

 turies ago, it was probably in a ftate of 

 maturity. At the ground it's circumference 

 was fixty-eight feet ; and feventeen feet above 

 the ground it's diameter was four yards. As 

 this vaft trunk decayed, it became hollow, 

 forming a cavity, which was fifteen feet wide, 

 and feventeen feet high, capable of holding 

 twenty men. During the civil wars, and till 

 after the reftoration, this cave was regularly 

 inhabited by an old man, who fold ale in 

 it. In the violent ftorm in the year 1703, 

 it fuffered greatly, many of it's noblefl limbs 

 having been torn from it. But it was flill 

 fo grand a ruin, above forty years after, that 



L'2 fome 



