Anno 1687 I travelled from London as far as the Bishoprick of Durham.  From Stamford to the bishoprick I sawe not one elme on the roade, whereas from London to Stamford they are in every hedge almost.  In Yorkshire is plenty of trees, which they call elmes; but they are wich-hazells, as wee call them in Wilts (in some counties wich-elmes).  I acquainted Mr. Jo.  Ray of this, and he told me when he travelled into the north he minded it not, being chiefly intent on herbes; but he writes the contrary to what I doe here:  but it is matter of fact, and therefore easily to bee prov’d. [See Ray’s Letter to Aubrey, ante, p. 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.  In the middle of this hatt of trees (it resembled a hatt) there was a tall beech, which overtopt all the rest.  The hatt was cutt down by Philip ii.  Earle of Pembroke, 1654; and Thomas, Earle of Pembroke, disafforested it, an°. 1684.
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Birch. — Wee have none in North Wilts, but some (no great plenty) in
South Wilts:  most by the New Forest (In the parish of Market Lavington
is a pretty large coppice, which consists for the most part of birch;
and from thence it is well known by the name of the Birchen coppice.-
Bishop tanner.)
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In the parish of Hilmerton, in the way from Calne, eastward, leaving Hilmerton on the left hand, grows a red withy on the ditch side by the gate, 10 feet 6 inches about; and the spreading of the boughs is seaven yards round from the body of the tree.
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