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BARK-SHIRE hath Wilt-shire on the West, Hamp-shire on the South, Surry on the East, Oxford and Buckingham-sh•…•…re (parted first with the Isis, then with the flexuous River of Thames) on the North thereof. It may be fancied in a form like a Lute lying along, whose belly is towards the West, whilst the narrow neck or long handle is extended toward the East. From Coleshull to Windsor, it may be allowed in length forty miles. But it a∣mounteth to little more then half so much in the broadest part thereof▪ It partaketh as Plentifull as any County in England of the Common Commodities, Grasse, Grain, Fish, Foul, Wooll, and Wood, &c. and we will particularly instance on one or two of them.
Naturall Commodities.
It was given in instruction to the Spies sent to search the Land of Canaan, that a∣mongst other enquiries, they should take particular notice, Whether there be Wood therein or not? An important question, the rather because at that time the Israelites were in A∣rabia the Desert, where they saw not a tree in many moneths travaile (in so much that it is Recorded for a wonder, that in Elim were seventy Palm trees) and now knew the worth of wood by wanting it.
But Bark-shire affordeth abundance of trees of all kinds, though her Oakes in Wind∣sor-Forest for the present come onely under our commendation. First for their firm∣ness, whereof our Ships are made. The Oake in other Kingdoms may be called cow∣ardly, as riving and splitting round about the passage of the bullet, fearing as it were the force thereof; whilst our English, as heart of Oake indeed, though entred with bul∣let, remaineth firm round about it.
Secondly, for the conveniencie of Portage. The wealth of a covetous man (want∣ing an heart to make use thereof) may not unfitly be compared to the Oakes and Firre∣trees, (good and plentifull indeed) in the High-lands in Scotland, but growing on such unaccessible mountains, no Strength or Art can render them usefull, nature in this kind having given them full coffers, but no key to unlock them.
Whereas so indulgent is Divine Providence to England, that our four principal Forests lie either on the Sea, or Navigable Rivers; viz. New-Forest on the Sea, Shire∣wood on the Trent, Dean on the Severne, and this Windsor-Forest on the Thames, and I could wish more care were taken for preserving the Timber therein.
The very name of this Shire justly intitles us here to handle this Commodity, (though common to other Counties,) because Bark-shire (as some will have it) was so called from a stripped or Bark-bared-Oake, to which signal place the people repair∣ed in time of trouble to make their generall defence. It is essential for making good Leather, though lately one hath propounded a way to tanne it solid and saleable with∣out the help thereof, on condition (and good reason too) he may be allowed rea∣sonable profit for so rare an invention. But many think, that he that waits for dead mens shooes, and he that stays for Leather-shooes made without bark, may both of them go a long time bare-foot.
This is a pleasant and wholesom Fish, as whose feeding is pure and cleanly, in the swiftest streams, and on the hardest gravell. Good and great of this kind are found in the River of Kennet nigh Hungerford, though not so big as that which Gesner affirmes taken in the Leman-lake, being three cubits in length. They are in their perfection in