Of OXFO% t D~SHl\E: 161 



forked end downward : All of them ^ithrough of a black hiew 

 \\VeEbony, yet much of the Timber found enough, and fit for 

 many ufes, feveral of the Trees being a foot or fourteen inches, 

 and particularly one above three foot diameter, and all receiving 

 a very good polifh ; and therefore fitter for Joyners in-laid works, 

 than pales to fet about clofes, to which ufe that was put, which 

 was found at Binfield. 



52. Befide the Trees, all along as they dug, they met with 

 plenty of Hafel-nuts from within a yard of the furface to the 

 bottom of the pit, which Times iron teeth had not yetcrack'd ; 

 and that which amazed me moft of all, I think they lay thicker 

 than ever they grew : Some of which, as well as the Oaks were 

 at fome places cover'd with a bluijb Jubilance, much of the con- 

 fiftence of the flower of Sulphur, and not much unlike to the 

 fineft blue ft l arch ; which is the Coeruleum nativum before mention- 

 ed in this Hiftory, Cap. 3. Sell. 18. The Oaks had none of them 

 any roots, but plainly cut off at the kerf, as is ufed in felling Tim- 

 ber ; The (hells of the Nuts very firm without, but nothing re- 

 mained within of t\\eKernel, but a (hew of the dry outer rind. 

 And the blue fubftance not found only upon the Nuts and Oaks,hut 

 in any other fmall cavities of the Earth, difperfedly here and 

 there all over the pit. 



53. Moreover, there was found a fort of white ft one difperfed 

 in like manner, in pieces fomtimes as big as ones fift, in colour 

 fomwhat like to white Marble or Alabafier, but of a much diffe- 

 rent texture. And near the bottom of the pit a large Stags head, 

 with the Brow-antliers, as found as the Beam it felf, with two 

 Roman Vrns, both which were broken by the incurious Work- 

 men. 



54. How the Timber (lioukl be thus dyed as black as Ebony, I 

 hope I have made no improbable conjecture, nor is it liable that 

 I know of to any exception, unlefs to a Quaere : Why the Nuts 

 and Stags head were not dyed fo too ? To which it may be an- 

 fwered, That the pores of the (hells being clofer than the wood, 

 and neither the nuts nor the horn having any thing gallijb, the 

 Vitriol of the Earth could have no power on them, whether it 

 be wrought by repugnancy or combination, to work that ef- 

 fect. 



55. But how the Timber fhould become thus buryed both 



X at 



