CELEBBATED TEEKS., 181 



was supported by a handsome stone pillar, and in 

 tlie middle oE the tree, among the branches, was 

 cut a noble room, which the vast space con- 

 tained within easily suffered, without injuring the 

 regularity of any of the eight faces. To crown all, 

 the top was curiously clipped into some kind of 

 head, and adorned artificially ; but in what manner, 

 whether with the head of a lion, or a stag, a 

 weather-cook, or a sun-dial, we are not told. It 

 was something, however, in the highest style of 

 Dutch taste. This tree was long the admiration 

 and envy of all the states of Holland, and Mr. 

 Evelyn, from whom we have the relation, seems to 

 have thought it a piece of excellent workmanship. 

 ' I needed not,' says he, ' have chax-ged this para- 

 graph with half these trees, but to show how 

 much more the Lime Tree seems disposed to be 

 wrought into these arboreous wonders than other 

 trees of slower growth.' * 



In the wars between Henry II., King of England, 

 and Philip of France, the two kings had a confer- 

 ence in the year 1188, near Gisors, under an Elm 



* Sylva, p. 225, 



