Of XFO^D-SHiliE \6i 



hally recalled by Valentinian the third, toaffift JEtiu* in Gallia a- 

 gainft the In-roads of the Francks under Clodion, and to fupport 

 his then tottering, and quickly after ruin'd Wejlern Empire: At 

 -what time, fays Mr. Speed 7 - (but he quotes not his Author) they 

 buryed alio their Treafures, whereof we have found parcels in ail 

 Ages ever fince. 



6\. And this 'tis likely they might do, firft by throwing in 

 irteS) which not lying clofe enough immediatly to fupport the 

 Earth, were after cover'd whh.Hjfels (when the Nuts were fully 

 ripe, which has occafioned their endurance to this very day) on 

 which they heaped Earth ; which after fome time finking below 

 thefurface of the other ground might occafion this Pond, never- 

 thought to have been any other till the time abovc-mention'd. 



65. After the accidents of Oaks, come we next to thofe of 

 Elms, whereof there ftands one on -SizT^-Common, at the ffurs 

 next the ground at leaft 6 yards diameter, occafion'd here, as (I 

 fuppofe) at many other places, by erecting a Turf feat round the 

 bottom of the Tree, it being elfewhere but of ordinary dimen- 

 sions. But this is not fo extravagant in the excefs of the growth 

 of its trunk. near the ground, but there is another more ftrange 

 for a defect in that place, viz^ a great old Elm growing near the 

 North-eaft corner of the Bowling-green in Magdalene College 

 Grove, difbarked quite round, at moft places two foot, at fome 

 at leaft a yard, or four foot from the ground ; which yet for 

 thefe many years paft has flourifh'd as well as any Tree in the 

 Grove. 



66. Now how this (hould come to pafs (all frees being be- 

 lieved to receive their nourifliment between the woodznd barks 

 and prefently to die upon their fepafatiori) many have admired, 

 but few attempted to explain, being further difcouraged by the 

 abfence of thepith, the Tree being within as hollow as a Drum, 

 and its outmoft furface, where Unbark'd, dead and dry befide. 

 All which I think had not ftartled me much, but that 1 found it in 

 our Tranfaftivns a pofkively afferted, that if any circle be drawn 

 round any common Englifp tree (only Afi excepted) as Oak,, 

 Elm, Poplar, isrc^ by incifion to the timber (how thin foever the 

 knife be) fo that no part of the rind or bark, to the very folid 

 timberbt uncut, the Tree will die from that part upwards. 



* Hiftory of Vritan- lib. 6- cap. $4. * Philofoph. Tranfadt Numb. 43. 



6j. For 



