»#' 



Uus 



To the %eader, 



by the Ancients^ that the Gnds did never permit him to 



efcape unpunilh'd who was injurious to Groves, tanquam 



facros ex vetujiate : What became of Agamemnons Hoft 



after his fpoil of the Woods at Aulis ? Hijiories tell us 



Cleomenes died mad ; the Tamajfaean Genim became fro- lemejfe. 



<verbial '■, and the Mighty C^far himfelf carried (^'iisGrnimade-' 



thought^ the malediction of the incenfcd Gauh to his "'* 



Fnaeral Pile^ for the havock he committed at Majftlia^ 



when he fejrd dovyn thofe goodly Oah^ before the face ' 



of the fuppliant Priejisj and the cnrfing People : 



Quis enim Ltfos impune putaret ^^^^ ^^ 



Ejfe Deos f 



But left this be charg'd with Superftition^ bccaufe the 

 Inflames are heathen •■, It was a more noble and remark- 

 able, as well as recent Examphy when at the Siege of 

 Breda, the late famous General Spinola commanded his 

 Army, not to violate a Tree of a Wood belonging to the 

 Prince of Orange there, though a reputed Traytor, and in 

 open defiance with his Majier. To be fliort, we read. 

 That when Mithridates but deliberated about the cutting 

 down of fome ftately Trees which grew neer Patara^ a City 

 of Lycia, though neceflitated to it for the building of 

 Warlike Engines with them, being terrified in a Vifion , 

 he defifted from his purpofe. It were to be vviflied Thefe, 

 or the like Examples^ might have wrought fome EffeSis 

 upon the facrilegious Purchafers, and difloyal In<vaderSy 

 in this Iron-age amongil: us, who have lately made fo pro- 

 digious a fpiol of thofe goodly Forejisj Woods, zndTrees 

 (to fatisfie an impious and unworthy A^varice) which be- 

 ing once the Treafure and Ornament of t\\\s'Nation, were 

 doubtlefs rcfcrv'd by our more prudent Ancejiors for the 

 repairs of our floating Cajiles, the fafeguard and boaft of 

 this renouned Ifland, when Neceffity, or fome imminent 

 Peril fliould threaten it, or call for their Affiftance i and 

 not to be devour'd by thefc Improvident Wretches, who, 

 to their eternal Reproach, did (with the Royal Patriifiony) 

 fwallow likewife Godsois^n Inheritance j but whofe Sons '^"^^ 



and Nepherps we have liv'd to fee as haftily difgorge 



B them 



