t 20 ] 



an acorn, firft urge the refledtion, as fome 

 may need it, that, nature on occaiion has of 

 herfelf alone, for ought is known to us, done 

 much more of the kind intimated : Which 

 is eafily proveable out of Mr. Evelyn's Sylva 

 from numberlefs inftances — But to fave 

 time, and avoid as much as I can, being only 

 an Eccho \ I fliall mention but a fingle one 5 

 which is, of an Oak once growing near 

 Rivelyn, that was eighteen yards in length 

 without bcugh^ or knot— 



But whoever will give themfelves the 

 trouble of turning over that voluminous au- 

 thor, on that account, will, I think, wonder 

 with me, that on an occafion fo proper, fo 

 very curious and copious hiftorian as he was, 

 and moreover accounted fo accurate a Geo- 

 ponic writer ; fliould give his countrymen 

 no manner of light what probably might be 

 the extraordinary caufe, of fuch furprifing 

 procerity of theirs and clearnefs from all la- 

 teral ramuli on their bodies ; and as to their 

 magnitude, what he has intimated about the 

 nature of the foil they grew in, makes it ftill 

 the greater wonder. The clearing up ei- 

 ther being a far more material information 

 to uSj than that there -had been fuch trees 

 i in 



