"We all know that _Britain_ knew nothing more famous than their ancient sect of DRUIDS; the philosophers, whose order, they say, was instituted by one _Samothes_, which is in English as much as to say, an heavenly man. The _Celtic_ name, _Deru_, for an Oak was that from whence they received their denomination; as at this very day the _Welch_ call this tree _Drew_, and this order of men _Derwyddon_. But there are no small antiquaries who derive this oaken religion and philosophy from the _Oaks of Mamre_, where the Patriarch _Abraham_ had as well a dwelling as an _altar_. That _Oaken-Plain_ and the eminent OAK under which _Abraham_ lodged was extant in the days of _Constantine_, as _Isidore_, _Jerom_, and _Sozomen_ have assured us. Yea, there are shrewd probabilities that _Noah_ himself had lived in this very _Oak-plain_ before him; for this very place was called _Ogge_ [see Transcriber's Note #1 at end of chapter], which was the name of _Noah_, so styled from the _Oggyan_ (_subcineritiis panibus_) sacrifices, which he did use to offer in this renowned _Grove_. And it was from this example that the ancients, and particularly that the Druids of the nations, chose _oaken_ retirements for their studies. Reader, let us now, upon another account, behold the students of _Harvard College_, as a rendezvous of happy _Druids_, under the influences of so rare a president. But, alas! our joy must be short-lived, for on _July_ 25, 1681, the stroke of a sudden death felled the _tree_, "Qui tantum inter caput extulit omnes Quantum lenta solent inter viberna cypressi. "Mr. _Oakes_ thus being transplanted into the better world the presidentship was immediately tendered unto _Mr. Increase Mather_."