feURIED FORESTS. 169 



duced to arable and pasture land in the reign of Charles I. 

 by Sir Cornelius Verrnuyden, a Dutchman, to whom it 

 was sold. A vast number of prostrate trees were found at 

 a considerable depth below the surface. The roots re- 

 mained unmoved, but many of the trunks were lying on 

 the ground heaped one upon the other, while a large 

 number stood erect, broken or mouldered off about 

 midway. This strange uncovering of old trees developed 

 their peculiar characteristics. Oaks, some of which were 

 upwards of ninety feet long, were black as ebony, uninjured 

 and closely grained. Ash trees, on the contrary, were so 

 soft that they were cut to pieces by the workmen's spades ; 

 and, when flung up into the open air, turned to dust. But 

 willows, which are softer than ash- wood, by some strange 

 alchemy, preserved their substance. Patriarchal firs had 

 apparently vegetated, even after their overthrow, and 

 their scions became large branches, equal to those of the 

 parent trunk. The alders were black and unchanged. 



" The opening of this wide morass gave rise to other 

 curious revelations. Many of the old trees had been evi- 

 dently burned, some quite through, others on one side ; 

 several had been chopped and squared ; some were even 

 found to have been riven with huge wooden wedges ; 

 marks by which to substantiate the fact, that the vast 

 swamp of Hatfield Chase had been once inhabited. 



" Near the root of an ancient tree, eight coins, pertaining 

 to different Roman emperors, were discovered; and in 

 some parts considerable ridges and deep furrows indicated 

 that the morass had been partially cultivated. Some who 

 had studied the phenomena disclosed by the drainage of 

 this tract conjectured that the forest had been felled, and 

 that the trees, being left unmoved, contributed to the 

 accumulation of the waters. This was very likely the 

 case; because whenever the Britons were discomfited, 

 they fled for refuge to the fastnesses of woods and miry 

 forests; from whence they sallied forth, as opportunity 

 permitted, and fell upon their invaders. Hence it was 

 determined that woods and forests should be destroyed, 



