44 



SYLVA BRITANNICA. 



The great age of the Shelton Oak, thus pointed out 

 by the tradition which connects it with the name of 

 Glendower, is likewise attested by legal documents 

 belonging to Richard Hill Waring, Esq., whose 

 ancestors possessed lands in Shelton, and the neigh- 

 bourhood, in the reign of Henry III. Among 

 this gentleman's title-deeds is a paper, subscribed, 

 " per me Adam Waring," and entitled, *' How the 

 grette Oake at Shelton standeth on my grounde." 

 Wherein is the following mention made of this Oak 

 in 1543. 



" Farther he say the, that by cause the grounde 

 whereby the said gret oke standeth is moche more 

 nearer waye and handsom' onto the moost of the 

 said filds of Shelton, m'ckett mylle, and moost of y 

 c5venient places to resort to, and for that oon lande 

 of grounde belongyng to my said house stode right 

 and next to the folde southe east ende of my saide 

 house — which said lande of grounde did lye and 

 dothe streight upon the said gret oke," &c. 



The circumference of this tree at one foot and a 

 half from the ground is thirty-seven feet, and at five 

 feet from the ground it is twenty-six feet. 



QUEEN ELIZABETH'S OAK, 



with all its peculiar features and interesting tradition, 

 is so admirably described by the writer with whose 



