78 
A True and Exatt Hiffory 
them (unlefs towards the points) two foot long, that part which tou 
ches the ftalk, {mall, but {trong enough to bear the leafe, aud hath a 
little fhort ftalk, to which the leafe growes, which leafe is. as exactly 
form'd as the ftalk, growing.by degrees, to make two inches broad. 
in the middle, and lofing that breadth infénfibly tothe poynt;, - Thefe 
leaves are thin, but tough enough to indure the f{trongeft.wind that 
blowes, without being broken, and not above four inches diftantone 
from another ;. which multiplicity of leaves, makes the beauty of the 
tree the fuller. About the time this tree parts. with her belly,& growes 
to a flender kind of thape,fhe drawes up amongft her rootsfome ofthe 
foyle that bred her, about two foot higher than the levellof ground 
that isnear.its and by reafonit isheld in by an infinity of {mall Roots, 
that come from the body, it there remains firm, and falls not downs 
the outfideofthis earth is about a foot round about, broader than the 
Diameter of the Tree ; fo that if the Diameter ofthe Tree bea foot,the 
Diameter of thiscarth is three foot at top, but fomwhat more below ; 
for the fidesare not {0 {teep asto hold one breadth above and below. 
If this earth were beautiful, {mooth, and large enough, it might be 
called the Pedeftal to that Corinthian Pillar, the Palmeto Royal. 
But what is wanting in the Pedeftal, is fupplyed in the dimenfions 
of the Pillar 5 for, the Corinthian Pillar is allowed for length but nine 
ofherown Diameters, and this will not askeleaveto take 1 50. which 
makes her themore beautiful ,.fince the {trength fhe hath, is able to 
{upport the weight fhe bears : And forthe Architrave, Frize,and Cor- 
nice, they are not to be compar’d to the beauty of the head of this 
Pillar, together with the fruit and fupporters. And I believe,if Vetruvi- 
_ | the place where they were firft born ; ( Corinth having been without 
| other fide, to be 78 foot, upon which the winde cannot but have a 
| 
us himfelf had ever been where this Pillar grew,he would have chang’d 
all his deckings and garnifhings of Pillars, according to the form of this. 
And though the Corinthian Pillar be a Column lafcivioufly deckt, like 
a Curtefan, and therein participating (as all inventions do) of} 
controverfie, one ofthe wantonneft Towns in the world ) yet, this| 
wants nothing of her beauty, and yet is chaft, which makes her the 
more admirable, andthe more worthy to be prized. One thing more 
Thaveto fay ofthis Tree, whichis not only the Root that brings forth 
all this beauty,. but the root of much admiration and wonder; that, 
being atree ofthat height, bearing a top of fovaft an extent; as from| _ 
| the poynt of the brancheson one fide, tothe poynt of theftalk onthe | 
‘main power and force, yet, I never faw any ofthem blown down, nor 
any root ofthis Tree bigger than a Swansquill : but there are many 
ofthem, and they. faften themfelves in the Rocks, which hold them 
vetyfirm. The wood of this Tree iso extream hard, and tough with- 
all,as moft ofthe axes that are imployed to fell them, are broken in 
the work , and they are well enough ferved for cutting down fuch} 
eanty... The ufe our Planters made of them at firftcomi fore| 
ey, Knew how to. make fhingles,was,to faw the bodies of t trees | 
to.tuch length, as might reach to the ridge pole, to the Eves of the} 
houfe.s for they were ollow, and:then fawing them long’ wife, there+ 
were two,concaves, which they laid together, fetting the hollow fides 
up- 
ot 
