Of dXFO%T).SHI%E. 169 
tree-, isfC^ may live and flourifh many years after their difbarking, 
by the faps afcent through the fjp or air veffels of the wood. 
75. Moreover, amongftthe accidents th^it havehappen'd to 
ElmSf I muft not forget a very pleafant one that fell out at Mid^ 
dk-Afton., where cleaving of Elm blocks at one Mr. LangHon's^ 
there came out apiece fo exactly reprefenting a ffioulder of Veal^ 
that it was thought worth while to preferve it from the fire by the 
owner of it, by whom it was kindly beftowed on me, as an additi- 
on to the reft of my Curiofities of Nature, 
76. But the moft remarkable accidents that ever befel trees^ 
perhaps here, or in any other County were the foundations of two 
eminent Religious houfes both occafion'd by trees. The fir ft, Ofeney 
founded in that place by Robert D'Oylj the fecond, by reafon 
of a certain tree that ftood in the meddows where after he built the 
Abbey ^ to which it feems repaired a company of Pyes^ as often 
as Editha the wife of Robert came to walk that way, which in 
company with her m^^/V (he often u fed to do (jis LelandeY.^xe^e^ 
it) to folace herfelf^ : at whofe arrival the Ryes were alwaies fo 
clamorous., that Jhe took notice of it, and confults with one Radul-- 
phu6 Canon of St. Fridt/wid's^ what this might fignifie : who cun- 
ingly advifes, that (lie muft build fome Cburcb or Monajlery where 
the tree ftood, which fie inftantly procures her Hmband to do, 
and this Radulphu^ (her Confefor) to he made the firft Prior, 
77. what tree this was, Zf//7;z^/ acquaints us not ; but 
that which occafioned the fecond Foundation in the place where 
it is, was a triple Elm^ having three trunks iffuing from one root. 
Near fuch a Tree as this Sir Thomas White., Lord Major of London 
(as we have it by Tradition) was warned in a Dream he fhould 
build ?iCollege.fov the education of Youth in Religion and Learn- 
ing : whereupon he repairs to Oxford^ and firft met with fom- 
thing near Glocefter-Hall that feem'd to anfwer his Dream., where 
accordingly he erefted a great deal of Building. But afterward, 
finding another Elm near St. Bernards College., fuppreft not long 
before by King Hen, 8. more exaftly to anfwer all the circumftan- 
ccs of his Dream., he left oft' at Glocefter-Hall., and built St. John 
Bapt. College^ which, with the very Tree befide it, that occafion'd 
its Foundation, flourifihes to this day, under the Prefidence o( the 
Reverend and Learned Dr. Levinz^ a cordial promoter of this 
Veftgn, 
« Lelandi Itinerariumy Vol 2.pag- iS, 19. 
Y - 78. Be- 
