It sets forth the ancient customs which formed the laws
of the miners. At this point the Verderer had to settle some
matter of the instant, but he put us under the care of a young
man who acted as our guide to one of the ancient and giant
oaks of the Forest, on the "Church Hill" enclosure, about
three-quarters of a mile up the hill above the Park. Nicholls
("History of the Forest of Dean," page 20) thinks the name
Church Hill comes from the setting apart of some land here
for the Convent of _Grace Dieu_ to pay for masses for the
souls of Richard II., his ancestors and successors.
It was a steep climb; and the evening twilight was coming
on apace as we followed the little track to the spot where
the old oak rises high above the general level of the wood,
reminding one of Rinaldo's magical myrtle, in "Jerusalem Delivered":
O'er pine, and palm, and cypress it ascends;
And towering thus all other trees above
Looks like the elected queen and genius of the grove!
Only that for an _oak_ of similar standing we must say "king"
instead of "queen"; emblem as it is of iron strength and endurance.
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