182 Gilpin's toeest scenery. 



whicli, we are told, covered several acres of land.* 

 Tlie truth, I suppose, is, that it was an immense 

 tree. Under its canopy so numerous a train of 

 the prelates and nobility of both nations, who 

 attended the two kings, were assembled, that 

 perhaps no tree ever before sheltered so magnificent 

 a company. Some time afterwards, hostilities 

 again commencing between these princes, Philip 

 ordered the Elm to bo cut down. As it appeared 

 to be in no shape an object to him, people were 

 apt to say he did it in a fit of spiteful revenge 

 against Henry, who often, when his army lay 

 encamped in those parts, took a pleasure in sitting 

 under its shade. 



The Oaks of Chaucer are celebrated, in the 

 annals of poetry, as the trees under which — 



' The laiighing sage 

 CaroU'd his moral song.' 



They grew in the park at Donnington Castle, 

 near Newbury, Avhere Chaucer spent his latter life 

 in studious retirement. The largest of these trees 

 was called the King's Oah, and carried an erect 



* See Smollett's Hist, of England, vol. ii. p. 210. 



