Strut’s Sglvoa Britannica. 557 
yy 
into the opening, the woods echoed with the heavy blows of 
the beetle or mallet, the tree nodded to its fall; but still the 
dam sat on. At last, when it gave way, the bird was flung 
from her nest; and, though her parental affection deserved a 
better fate, was whipped down by the twigs, which brought 
her dead to the ground.” 
We have strayed from our subject, and must return to 
the origin of the term Gospel Oak.* ‘The custom,” says 
Mr. Strutt, ‘‘ of making the boundaries of parishes by the 
neighbouring inhabitants going round them once a year, and 
stopping at certain spots to perform different ceremonies, in 
order that the localities might be impressed on the memories 
of the young, as they were attested by the recollections of the 
old, is still common in various parts of the kingdom. The 
custom itself is of great antiquity, and is supposed by some to 
have been derived from the feast called Terminalia, which was 
dedicated to the god Terminus, who was considered as the 
guardian of fields and landmarks, and the promoter of friend- 
ship and peace among men......It was introduced among 
Christians about the year 800, by the pious Avitus, Bishop of 
Vienna, in a season of dearth and calamity, and has been 
continued since his time by the different clergy ; the minister 
of each parish, accompanied by his churchwardens and pa- 
rishioners, going round the bounds and limits of his parish 
in Rogation week, or on one of the three days before Holy 
Thursday (the feast of our Lord’s Ascension), and stopping 
at remarkable spots and trees to recite passages from the Gos- 
pels, and implore the blessing of the Almighty on the fruits of 
the earth, and for the preservation of the rights and properties 
* Oaks have sometimes not only been termed “ Gospel” trees, but have 
also been dignified by the title of “ Apostles.” Thus the fine group, con- 
sisting of twelve in number, at Burley in the New Forest (of which a repre- 
sentation is given in the titlepage to Mr. Strutt’s volume) is known by the 
appellation of the “ Twelve Apostles.” Towards the centre of Coleshill 
Park, in Warwickshire, there once stood four very aged oaks, forming a 
Square, one occupying each corner, which were familiarly known hy the 
name of the “ Four Apostles” (the Four Evangelists, we presume, they 
ought rather to have been called). Some forty or fifty years ago the stew- 
ard of the manor fell foul of one of these consecrated trees, and uncere- 
moniously cut it down, for the purpose of repairing the park pales. This 
sacrilegious act excited the honest indignation of the old park-keeper, near 
whose residence the trees grew, who, observing that “ there always had 
been four apostles in Coleshill Park ever since he had known the place,” 
swore, with an oath, that if he could have his way “ there always should 
be.” Accordingly, he planted another in the room of the displaced apostle. 
This newly planted tree, on account of its youth, acquired (as might be 
expected) the name of St. John. We have often seen it in company with 
its three aged fellows, and believe it is still a vigorous and thriving young 
tree. iia 
oo $ 
