(9^7) 
The 2d was. That thofe forts of Trees are fo wedd-d 
to the High Mountains and Rocks, that they never thrive, 
nor naturally grow upon fuch Low Grounds and Moraffes, 
as thefe are where we now find them bury'd. But thiS|,,Sir, 
I maybe bold to fay is a great miftake, for tho they do 
indeed in all Cold Countries of the North thrive be(i there 
upon the hardeft Rocks and Mountains, yet are they fome- 
times feea even there plentiful and great, in the Low^Mo- 
raffes of Liefiand^ Courland^ Vomer ania^ and other Countries 
thereabouts 5 and in the Low Forefts and Woods Well of 
JVen? England^ as I have heard many Travellers affirm 5 for 
the truth is, that which thefe (lately Trees chiefly delight 
to grow in, is a Sandy foil 5 and if it lye never fo high, or 
never fo low, there they v/iil grow, and there it is natural 
to them. And as the R everend and Ingenious Mr Edrat 
Min. of Hatfield, my ever Honoured Matter, lately obferv'd 
in the Digging of the Pit of a Great Decoy in thefe Levels, 
the Roots of the Firs or Pitch-Trees always ftood in the 
Sand, and the Oaks in the Clay 5 and I have obferved the 
fame in multitudes of places of thefe Commons. So that 
the Soil is not at all unnatural to them, as fome have fool- 
ifhiy imagined 5 and that they did all grow here there is no 
^manner of doubt to be made thereof. 
Thus, as all thofe great and ftately Trees flourifh'd here, 
and compofed one of the Largeft and moft Beautitul Fo- 
refts in all the Country 3 fo in the next place, I ihall en- 
quire how it came to be deftroy'd, and for what Reafons 
and Caufes it was fo. All this may beknownby fearching 
into the Antient Roman Writers and Hiftorians : who fre- 
quently tell ns, that when their Armies and Generals pur- 
fued the Wild Britaws, that they always fled into the Fall- 
nefTes of Miry Woods and lovv Watry Forefts. C£far him- 
felf confeiles the fame, and fays, that Cajfiklen and his 
Britains after their Defeat palTed the Thafms, and fled into 
fuch Low MoraiTes and Woods, that there was no poilibih- 
of following them. We findalfo that the ftout Nation- 
