( '5* ) 



it's evidence with it evidence, which, if 

 necefTary, might carry it into Saxon times. 

 It is now falling fail into the decline of 

 years : and eveiy year robs it more of it's 

 honours. But it's trunk, which meafures 

 thirty-five feet in circumference, ftill retains 

 it's grandeur; tho the ornaments of it's 

 boughs, and foliage are much reduced. But 

 the grandeur of the trunk confifts only in 

 appearance. It is a mere ihell. In Queen 

 Elizabeth's time it was hollow ; and from 

 this circumftance the tree derives the honour 

 of being handed down to pofterity. That 

 princefs, who from her earlieft age loved 

 mafculine amufements, ufed often, it is faid, 

 in her youth, to take her ftand in this tree, 

 and (hoot the deer as they pafled. From 

 that time it has been known by the name 

 of Queen Elizabeth's oak, 



After celebrating the grandeur of thefe fons 

 of the foreft, I mould wifh to introduce, in 

 due fubordination, two or three celebrated 

 fruit-trees. 



In 



