conceive, that William muft have had other 

 ends, than amufement, in making this ad- 

 dition to them : and obferving farther, it's 

 vicinity to the coaft of Normandy, he hath 

 from this circumftance drawn a furmife, that 

 under the idea of a foreft, William meant 

 to preferve an unobferved communication with 

 the continent j which would enable him to 

 embark his troops, on either fide, without 

 giving alarm. 



But this furmife depends on no hiftorical 

 evidence ; neither indeed is it probable. The 

 coafts of Kent, and Suflex were more com- 

 modious for the embarkation of troops, than 

 any part of New-foreft. And it is abfurd 

 to fupppfe an army could be embarked any 

 where without obfervation. Southampton in- 

 deed was commodious enough: but this port 

 neither lies in New-foreft ; nor does the foreft 



in any degree, fkreen it's avenues. Befides, 



the affairs of William were never in fo per- 

 plexed a fituation, as to require privacy; 

 efpecially at the time when he made this 

 foreft; which was after he had defeated all 

 his enemies, and was of courfe in the height 



of his power. Nor indeed was it agreeable 



to the general character of this prince to do 



B 2 things 



