Stf^tfs Syha Britannka, 557 



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 by 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. 



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