ngled in taller woods or copp'ces, in which they starve one
another, and lose their beauty. And now those who would see what
Scotland produces (of innumerable trees of this kind) should consult the
learned Sir Rob. Sibald.

14. For the many, and almost universal use of these trees, both sea and
land will plead,

The useful pine for ships..........{239:1}

Hence Papinius 6. _Thebaid._ calls it _audax abies_. They make our best
mast, sheathing, scaffold-poles, &c. heretofore the whole vessel; It is
pretty (saith Pliny) to consider, that those trees which are so much
sought after for shipping, should most delight in the highest of
mountains, as if it fled from the sea on purpose, and were afraid to
descend into the waters. With fir we likewise make all intestine works,
as wainscot, floors, pales, balks, laths, boxes, bellies for all musical
instruments in general, nay the ribs and sides of that enormous
stratagem, the so famous Trojan{239:2} horse, may be thought to be
built of this material, and if the poet mistake not,

..........The ribs with deal they fit.{240:1}

There being no material more obedient and ready to bend for such works.

In Holland they receive their best mast out of Norway, and even as far
as Moscovy, which are best esteemed, (as consisting of long fibers,
without knots) but deal-boards from the first; and though fir rots
quickly in salt-water, it does not so soon perish in fresh; nor do they
yet refuse it in merchant-ships, especially the upper-parts of them,
because of its lightness: The true pine was ever highly commended by the
Ancients for naval architecture, as not so easily decaying; and we read
that Trajan caused vessels to be built both of the true, and spurious
kind, well pitch'd, and over-laid with lead, which perhaps might hint
our modern sheathing with that metal at present. Fir is exceeding smooth
to polish on, and therefore does well under gilding-work, and takes
black equal with the pear-tree: Both fir, and especially pine, succeed
well in carving, as for capitals, festoons, nay, statues, especially
being gilded, because of the easiness of the grain, to work and take the
tool every way; and he that shall examine it nearly, will find that
famous image of the B. Virgin at Loretto, (reported to be carved by the
hands of St. Luke) to be made of fir, as the grain easily discovers it:
The _torulus_ (as Vitruvius terms it) and heart of deal, kept dry,
rejecting the _albumen_ and w