8.] "Omnesq{ue}, radicum plantis proveniunt".
- Plin. lib. xvi. cap. 17.
In the Villare Anglicanum are a great many towns, called Ash-ton,
Willough-by, &c. but not above three or four Elme-tons.
In the common at Urshfont was a mighty elme, which was blown down by
the great wind when Ol. Cromwell died. I sawe it as it lay along, and
I could but just looke over it. [See note in page 14.-J. B.]
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Since the writing this of elmes, Edmund Wyld, Esq. of Houghton
Conquest in Bedfordshire, R.S.S. assures me that in Bedfordshire, in
severall woods, e. g. about Wotton, &c. that elmes doe grow naturally,
as ashes, beeches, &c.; but quaere, what kind of elm it is?
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Beeches.-None in Wilts except at Groveley. (In the wood belonging to
Mr. Samwell's farm at Market Lavington are three very large beeches.-
BISHOP TANNER.) I have a conceit that long time ago Salisbury plaines
might have woods of them, but that they cut them down as an
incumbrance to the ground, which would turn to better profit by
pasture and arable. The Chiltern of Buckinghamshire is much of the
like soile; and there the neernesse of Bucks to London, with the
benefit of the Thames, makes their woods a very profitable commodity.
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About the middle of Groveley Forest was a fair wood of oakes, which
was called Sturton's Hatt. It appeared a good deale higher than the
rest of the forest (which was most coppice wood), and was seen over
all Salisbury plaines.
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