were the fubftitutes of the invifa cuprejfus ; in the other, they were
the defigned provifion of materials for the fturdy bows of our
warlike anceftors,
Who drew,
A nd almolt joined, the horns o f the tough Y ew.
In the days of archery fo great was the confumption of this
fpecies of wood, that the bowyers were obliged to import ftaves
of yew * for making the beft fort of bows. This tree is not
univerfally difperfed through England, in its native ftate; or, at
leaft, is now in moft parts eradicated, on account of its noxious
qualities: yet is {till to be found in quantities on the lofty hills
that bound the water of the Winander, thofe near Rydal in Weft-
moreland, and on the face of many precipices in different parts of
this kingdom.
Not far from the church is the houfe of Col. Campbel, of
Glen-lion, a beautiful vale, that runs feveral miles up the country,
watered by a river of the fame name.
I muft add to my account of the cryftal gem in poffefiion o f
that gentleman, that there was a remarkable one in poffeifion of
Sir Edward Harley, of Brampton-Brian, fet in a filver ring, re-
fembling the meridian of a globe, with a crofs on the top, and on
the rim the virtuous names of Uriel, Raphael, Michael, and Gabriel.
This predicated death, didtated receipts for the cure of all cura-
bles f ; and another, of much the fame kind, even condefcended
* Statute 33. H . V I I I . c. 9 . fe ft. 6 . t eiubrey’ s Mifcellanies, 129.
to
to recover loft goods*. It was cuftomary in early times to de-
pofit thefe balls in urns or fepulchres. Thus twenty were found
at Rome in an alabaftrine urn, cafed with two great, ftones, and:
lodged in a hollow made in each to receive it. The contents were
(befides the balls) a ring with a ftone fet in i t ; a needle, a comb,
and fome bits of gold, mixed with the aihes 1 the needle ihewcd
thefe remains to have been thofe of a lady.
In the tomb of Childeric, king of France, was found another
of thefe balls. Some Merlin might have beftowed it, on him;
which muft have been an invaluable gift, if it had the fame
powers with that given by our magician to the Britijh Prince, j
Such was the g lafly globe that Merlin made,
And gave unto kin g Rjence for his gard,
T h a t never foes his kingdom might invade,
But he it knew at home before he hard
T yd in g s thereof, and fo them ftill debar’d.
I t was a famous prefent for a Prince,
And worthy worke o f injinite rewarde,
T h a t treafons cou’d betray, and foes convince:
Happy this realme had it remayned ever fince f 1
Approach near Po.yrneuih, keeping ftill on the fide of the lake.
Leave on the right, not far from the ihore, the pretty iileof Loch-l’ay,
tufted with trees, ihading the ruins of the priory. From the an-
tient inhabitants of this holy ifland, the prefent noble owner has
liberty of fiihing in the lake at all times of the year; which is
I sle of L och-
T a y .
* Aubrey's Mifcellanies, 13 1 .
*f Spenfer's Fairy Queen, Book III. 0. 21. ftanza 21.
E 2 denied