An essay for the recording of illustrious providences

where speaking of the natural Rarities of Cheshire, he thus writeth, July 1. 1657. about 3.h. in the Parish of Bukley, was heard a ⟨p. 328⟩very great noise like Thunder afar off, which was much wondered at, because the sky was clear, and no appearance of a Cloud. Shortly after a Neighbour comes to me (saith the Author of this Relation) and told me I should see a very strange thing, if I would go with him, so coming into a Field, called the Lay-field, we found a very great Bank of Earth which had many tall Oaks growing on it, quite sunk under the ground, Trees and all. At first we durst not go near it, because the Earth for near twenty yards round about is exceeding much rent, and seems ready to fall in; but since that time my self and some others by Ropes have ventured to see the bottom, I mean to go to the brink, so as to discern the visible bottom, which is Water, and conceived to be about thirty yards from us, under which is sunk all the Earth about it for sixteen yards round at least; three tall Oaks, a very tall Awber, and certain other small Trees, and not a sprig of them to be seen above water: four or five Oaks more are expected to fall every moment and a great quantity of Land is like to fall, indeed never •easing more or less, and when any considerable Clod falls, its much like the report of a Canon. We can discern the Ground hollow above the Water a very great ⟨p. 329⟩depth, but how far hollow, or how far deep is not to be found out by Man. Some of the water was drawn out of this Pit with a Bucket, and they found it to be as salt as Sea water; whence some imagine that there are certain large passages there, into which the Sea flows under ground, but I rather think, that this Salt-Water is no more but that which issues from those Salt Springs about Nantwich, and other places in this Shire. But of this no more at present.

where speaking of the natural Rarities of Cheshire, he thus writeth, July 1. 1657. about 3.h. in the Parish of Bukley, was heard a ⟨p. 328⟩very great noise like Thunder afar off, which was much wondred at, because the sky was clear, and no appearance of a Cloud. Shortly after a Neighbour comes to me (saith the Author of this Relation) and told me I should see a very strange thing, if I would go with him, so coming into a Field, called the Lay-field, we found a very great Bank of Earth which had many tall Oaks growing on it, quite sunk under the ground, Trees and all. At first we durst not go near it, because the Earth for near twenty yards round about is exceeding much rent, and seems ready to fall in; but since that time my self and some others by Ropes have ventured to see the bottom, I mean to go to the brink, so as to discern the visible bottom, which is Water, and conceived to be about thirty yards from us, under which is sunk all the Earth about it for sixteen yards round at least; three tall Oaks, a very tall Awber, and certain other small Trees, and not a sprigg of them to be seen above water: four or five Oaks more are expected to fall every moment and a great quantity of Land is like to fall, indeed never easing more or less, and when any considerable Clod falls, its much like the report of a Canon. We can discern the Ground hollow above the Water a very great