Yorkshire Natural History 200 Years Ago. 343 
yet in the Vallies, and by the Rivers are found Plenty of good 
Meadowing and Grass, and not a little by the Industry of the 
Inhabitants is used for Tillage on the Sides of the Mountains, 
and in some level Grounds ; so that Cattle for Plough and Pail 
have sufficient Support for the Profit of the People. But beside 
these Sorts of Beasts, this County is particularly famous for 
the Breed of Horses for the Saddle, Coach, and other better 
Uses. It is commonly thought the best Race of English 
Horses are bred here ; the Gentry delighting in Horsemanship, 
and Peasants in the Gain arising from them ; They keep them 
usually in stony Ground to harden their Hoofs. Nor are the 
Mountains themselves unprofitable, affording tolerable Pas- 
turage for Sheep, which they sell lean into other Counties for 
fatting. 
The Forest of Galtres. called in Latin Calaterium Nemus, 
is the most remarkable Product of Wood in this Riding. In 
some Places it is thick and shady, and in other flat, wet, and 
boggy. It did of old extend itself to the very Walls of York, 
as appears by a Perambulation made 28 Edw. I. but now it is 
much lessened, and Towns are built in it, viz. Sullington, 
Sutton, Shypton, &c. In the Fcedera there is a Patent bearing 
Date June 22, 1502. made at Westminster, appointing Henry, 
the Son of Iv. Hen. VII. who was then lately (by the Death of 
his elder Brother Prince Arthur) Prince of Wales, Warden of 
this Forest ; which shews it then to have been a Place of Note. 
But the Surface of the Earth yields less Profit than the inward 
Parts, which are full of a valuable Treasure of Metals, Minerals, 
&c. as, 
1. Allum. 2. Jet. 3. Copparas. 4. Marble. 5. Pit-Coals, 
&c. 6. Kelp. 
1. Allum, with which the Lands about Gisburgh abounds, 
as also other Places. It was first discovered here by the 
Sagacity of the learned Naturalist Sir Thomas Chaloner, by 
observing that the Leaves of the Trees hereabouts were of a 
more weak sort of Green, that the Soil was speckled with 
diverse Colours, and never froze, and in a pretty clear Night 
it shined and sparkled like Glass on the Road-side, which in- 
vited him to dig for it, and found it. It is a Mineral dug out of 
a Rock, of the Colour of Slate at first, but being burnt, it 
changeth to a more ruddy Colour, and then they steep it in 
Pits of Water, which they dig for it on purpose ; and when it 
hath lain as long as they think Convenient, they boil it, and 
clarifie it for Use, as we have it. The Chaloner s and Darcys 
had anciently Allum-Works here, but they have been laid 
aside a good while, and the Allum-Trade is removed to Whitby, 
where there is Plenty of the Mine, and more conveniently had. 
These Works are carried on by the Duke of Buckingham, and 
N ormanby , or his Agents, and are profitable to the Country, 
1914 Nov. 1. 
