Part 2

Tho’ _Stonehenge_ be the proudest singularity of this sort, in the world, as far as we know: yet there are so many others, manifestly form’d upon the same, or kindred design, by the same measure, and for the same purpose, all over the _Britanic_ isles; that we can have no room to doubt of their being made by the same people, and that by direction of the _British_ Druids. There are innumerable, from the land’s end in _Cornwall_, to the utmost northern promontory in _Scotland_, where the _Roman_ power never reach’d. They are to be found in all the islands between _Scotland_ and _Ireland_, isle of _Man_, all the _Orkney_ islands, _&c._ and numerous in _Ireland_ itself. And there is no pretence, as far as I can see, for any other persons or nations being the founders of them. They are circles of stones, generally rude, of different diameters, upon elevated ground, barren, open heaths and downs; chiefly made of stones taken from the surface of the ground. There are no remembrances of the founders, any other than an uninterrupted tradition of their being sacred; that there is medicinal virtue in them; that they were made by the _Irish_; that they were brought from _Afric_; that they were high-places of worship; sanctuaries; bowing, adoring places; and what names they commonly have, intimate the same thing. And in many places the express remembrance and name of Druids remain, and the people bury their dead in or near them to this day, thinking them holy ground. Mr. _Toland_ in his history of the Druids, p. 23. tells us, “In _Gealcossa_’s mount in _Inisoen_ in the county of _Dunegal_, a Druidess of that name lived; it signifies white-legg’d, according to the ancient manner in _Homer_’s time. On that hill is her grave and her temple, being a sort of diminutive _Stonehenge_, which the old _Irish_, at this day, dare not any way profane.” Many instances of this sort, of all these particulars, we have in our island: particularly the temple on _Temple-downs_ by _Abury_. Whatever is dug up in or near these works are manifestly remains of the Druid times; urns, bones, ornaments of amber, glass beads, snake-stones, amulets, celts, flint-hatchets, arrow-heads, and such things as bespeak the rudest ages, the utmost antiquity, most early plantations of people that came into our island, soon after _Noah_’s flood. I have all the reason in the world to believe them an oriental colony of _Phœnicians_; at least that such a one came upon the first _Celtic_ plantation of people here: which reasons will appear in the progress of this discourse. I suppose in matters of such extraordinary antiquity, it would be absurd to set about a formal demonstration; and those readers would be altogether unreasonable, that expect we prove every fact here, as they would do by living witnesses, before a court of judicature. When all is consider’d, that I have put together on this affair, a judicious person, I presume, will agree, I have made the matter sufficiently evident, and as much as the nature of things requires.

In the times just preceding the coming of the _Romans_ into _Britain_, the _Belgæ_, a most powerful colony from the _Gallic_ continent, had firmly seated themselves all over the country, where _Stonehenge_ is situate, quite to the southern sea; taking in the south part of _Wiltshire_, and all _Dorsetshire_. _Wiltshire_ has its name from the river _Willy_, which in _Welsh_ is _wyli_, in _Latin_, _vagire_, from its noise. A river of like name in _Northamptonshire_. Upon the former river at _Wilton_, probably liv’d the _Carvilius_, one of the four kings that fought _Julius Cæsar_, the picture of whose _tumulus_ we have given towards the end. {TAB. XXXIV.} The _Belgæ_ came into _Britain_ upon the south, as other _Celtic_ nations before had fix’d themselves from the east, _Kent_, the _Thames_, _&c._ such as the _Cantii_, _Segontiaci_, _Atrebates_, _&c._ so that in _Cæsar_’s time, all the south and east parts of _Britain_ were dispossess’d of their original inhabitants, and peopled from the continent: and this very work of _Stonehenge_ was in the hands of the _Belgæ_, who built it not. In my _itinerarium curiosum_, p. 181. I observ’d no less than four successive boundary ditches here, from the southern shore; which with good reason, I suppos’d, were made by the _Belgæ_, as they conquer’d the country by degrees, from the aboriginal inhabitants. This shews, they must have been a long while about it, that the _Britons_ disputed every inch of ground with them, and that for two reasons; as well because of the extraordinary beauty and goodness of the country, as fighting _pro aris & focis_ for their great temple of _Stonehenge_: not to speak of that other greater temple, a little more northward, at _Abury_. The _Segontiaci_ had got _Hampshire_, to the east of them, before, as far as the _Colinburn_ river, and the _Atrebates_, _Berkshire_. The first ditch runs between the river of _Blandford_, formerly _Alauna_, and the river of _Bere_, the piddle in _Dorsetshire_, two or three miles south of it. The second runs to the north of _Cranborn_ chase, upon the edge of _Wiltshire_, by _Pentridg_: it divides the counties of _Dorset_ and _Wilts_. The third is conspicuous upon _Salisbury_ plain, as we pass from _Wilton_ to _Stonehenge_, about the two-mile stone, north of _Wilton_: it is drawn between the river _Avon_ and the _Willy_, from _Dornford_ to _Newton_. The fourth is the more famous _Wansdike_, of great extent. _Gwahan_ in old _British_ signifies _separatio_, _distinctio_ guahanu _seperare_, and _that_ undoubtedly gave name to the ditch. The method of all these ditches, is, to take the northern edge of a ridge of hills, which is always steep; the bank is on the south side. And in my itinerary, p. 134. I show’d a most evident demonstration, that it was made before the time of the _Romans_, in the passage of the _Roman_ road down _Runway_ hill. TAB. II. _Wansdike_ is the last advanc’d post of the _Belgæ_ northwards, and that it was made after _Stonehenge_ was built, is plain, because the stones that compose the work, were brought from _Marlborough_ downs in north _Wiltshire_, beyond the dike; and as then in an enemy’s country. And most probably it was built before the _Belgæ_ set footing in _Britain_, because of the great number of barrows or sepulchral _tumuli_ about it, which, no doubt, were made for the burial of kings and great men.

The stones of which _Stonehenge_ is compos’d, beyond any controversy, came from those called the gray weathers, upon _Marlborough_ downs near _Abury_; where is that other most wonderful work of this sort, which I shall describe in my next volume. This is 15 or 16 miles off. All the greater stones are of that sort, except the altar, which is of a still harder, as design’d to resist fire. The pyramidals likewise are of a different sort, and much harder than the rest, like those of that other Druid temple call’d _the Weddings_, at _Stanton-drew_ in _Somersetshire_. Dr. _Halley_ was at _Stonehenge_ in the year 1720, and brought a piece of it to the Royal Society. I examin’d it with a microscope. ’Tis a composition of crystals of red, green and white colours, cemented together by nature’s art, with opake granules of flinty or stony matter. The Doctor observ’d from the general wear of the weather upon the stones, that the work must be of an extraordinary antiquity, and for ought he knew, 2 or 3000 years old. But had the Doctor been at _Abury_, which is made of the same stones, he might well from the like argumentation conclude, that work as old again as _Stonehenge_, at least much older, and I verily believe it. Nevertheless the current of so many ages has been more merciful to _Stonehenge_, than the insolence of rapacious hands, (besides the general saccage brought upon the work of old) by the unaccountable folly of mankind, in breaking pieces off with great hammers. This detestable practice arose from the silly notion of the stones being factitious. But, alas! it would be a greater wonder to make them by art, than to carry them 16 miles by art and strength; and those people must be inexcusable, that deface the monument for so trifling a fancy. Another argument of vulgar incogitancy, is, that all the wonder of the work consists, in the difficulty of counting the stones; and with that, the infinite numbers of daily visitants busy themselves. This seems to be the remains of superstition, and the notion of magic, not yet got out of peoples heads, since Druid-times. But indeed a serious view of this magnificent wonder, is apt to put a thinking and judicious person into a kind of ecstacy, when he views the struggle between art and nature, the grandeur of that art that hides itself, and seems unartful. For tho’ the contrivance that put this massy frame together, must have been exquisite, yet the founders endeavour’d to hide it, by the seeming rudeness of the work. The bulk of the constituent parts is so very great, that the mortaises and tenons must have been prepar’d to an extreme nicety, and, like the fabric of _Solomon_’s temple, every stone tally’d; and neither axes nor hammers were heard upon the whole structure. Nevertheless there is not a stone at _Stonehenge_, that felt not, more or less, both ax and hammer of the founders. Yet ’tis highly entertaining to consider the judicious carelesness therein, really the grand gusto, like a great master in drawing, secure of the effect: a true master-piece. Every thing proper, bold, astonishing. The lights and shades adapted with inconceivable justness. Notwithstanding the monstrous size of the work, and every part of it; ’tis far from appearing heavy: ’tis compos’d of several species of work, and the proportions of the dissimilar parts recommend the whole, and it pleases like a magical spell. No one thinks any part of it too great or too little, too high or too low. And we that can only view it in its ruins, the less regret those ruins, that, if possible, add to its solemn majesty.

The stones of the gray weathers are of a bastard sort of white marble, and lie upon the surface of the ground, in infinite numbers, and of all dimensions. They are loose, detach’d from any rock, and doubtless lay there ever since the creation. Being solid parts thrown out to the surface of the fluid globe, when its rotation was first impress’d. All our Druid temples are built, where these sort of stones from the surface can be had at reasonable distances; for they are never taken from quarries. Here is a very good quarry at _Chilmark_ in this country. _Salisbury_ cathedral, and all the great buildings are thence; but ’tis a stone quite different to our work. It was a matter of much labour to draw them hither, 16 miles. My friend the reverend Dr. _Stephen Hales_, the excellent author of vegetable statics, and other works, computed them as follows. The stone at the upper end of the cell, which is fallen down and broke in half, is in length (says he) 25 feet, in breadth 7 feet, and in thickness at a medium 3½, amounts to 612 cubic feet. Now a cubic foot of _Hedington_ stone weighs near 154¼ pounds troy. If _Stonehenge_ stone be of the same specific gravity, it will amount to 94,348 pounds, which is 31½ tuns. But if this be of the same specific gravity as _Burford_ stone, which weighs to 155¾ the cubic foot, then it will weigh 95319 pounds troy, or 32 tuns. If it be equal to _Blaidon_ stone, which is 187 pounds troy _per_ cubic foot, then it weighs 114444 pounds troy, or 38 tuns. But I am sure that the stone is of considerably larger dimensions, than what Dr. _Hales_ has stated it at, and that the sort of stone is much heavier than that of the largest specific gravity he speaks of, and that it amounts to more than 40 tuns, and requires more than 140 oxen to draw it; yet this is not the heaviest stone at the place.

The notion we ought to entertain of _Stonehenge_ is not a little enhanc’d, by the discovery I made from frequent mensurations there. It gave me the opportunity of finding out the standard and original measure, which the people us’d, who made this and all other works of this kind. And this precludes any tedious disputation against the opinion of authors; for whoever makes any eminent building, most certainly forms it upon the common measure in use, among the people of that place. Therefore if the proportions of _Stonehenge_ fall into fractions and uncouth numbers, when measur’d by the _English_, _French_, _Roman_, or _Grecian_ foot, we may assuredly conclude, the architects were neither _English_, _French_, _Roman_ or _Greeks_. Thus, for instance, when the accurate _Greaves_ tells us, the door of the _Pantheon_ (which is of one stone) is of _English_ foot-measure 19 foot 602/1000 within: should we not be apt to assert at first sight, that the architect in so costly a work, did not chuse his measures at random, but intended that this dimension should be 20 feet? When we consider this building is at _Rome_, and that it amounts to 20 _Roman_ feet, must we not conclude, it was erected by the _Roman_ standard? adding too, that all the rest of the dimensions of this stately structure fall aptly and judiciously into the same scale. So as long as any _vestigia_ of St. _Paul_’s cathedral remain, the _English_ foot, by which it was built, will easily be known. I must prepare the reader for a right understanding of our Druid edifices, by informing him, that _Stonehenge_, and all other works of this nature in our island, are erected by that most ancient measure call’d a cubit, which we read of in the holy scriptures, and in ancient profane authors. I mean the same individual measure, call’d the _Hebrew_, _Egyptian_, _Phœnician_ cubit; most probably deriv’d from _Noah_ and _Adam_. ’Tis the same that the pyramids of _Egypt_ and other their works are projected upon; the same as that of _Moses_’s tabernacle, _Solomon_’s temple, _&c._ and we may reasonably pride ourselves in possessing these visible monuments of the old measure of the world. My predecessor Bishop _Cumberland_ shows, enough to satisfy us, that the _Egyptian_ and _Hebrew_ measure was the same, tho’ he has not hit upon that measure, to a nicety. My friend and collegue Dr. _Arbuthnot_ has been more successful, in applying it to such parts of the greater pyramid, as evidently establish its proportion, to our _English_ foot, from the measures _Greaves_ has left us: and shows it to be 20 inches and ⅘ of _English_ measure. Thus the Doctor observes the side of the greater pyramid at base, is 693 _English_ feet; which amounts exactly to 400 _Egyptian_ cubits, a full and suitable number for such a square work, and without question the originally design’d measure, the _stadium_ of old. I have taken notice that _Inigo Jones_ observ’d the like dimensions, in laying out the plot of _Lincoln_’s_-Inn-fields_. The Doctor adds many more instances, deduc’d in the same way, to confirm it. I add, that _Greaves_ says, the lowermost steps of the pyramid are near 4 feet in height, which amounts to 2 cubits and 2 palms. They are 3 foot in breadth, _i. e._ 1 cubit 4 palms. The length of the declining first entrance is 92 feet and an half, _i. e._ 55 cubits. The length of the next gallery is 110 feet, which amounts to 60 cubits. There is another gallery in the pyramid, of the same length. Mr. _Webb_ says the diameter of _Stonehenge_ is 110 feet. This would tempt one to suspect the same measure us’d in both. Thus the diameter of the like work at _Rowldrich_ in _Oxfordshire_, describ’d by Dr. _Plot_, is 35 yards, _i. e._ 110 feet, grossly measur’d. Father _Brothais_ in his observations on upper _Egypt_, in our _Phil. Trans._ found a door-case made of one stone, in a magnificent building, it was 26½ feet in height, this is 15 cubits. Dr. _Huntington_, in the same _Trans._ says, he found the sphynx standing by the northern pyramids to be 110 feet in circuit, _i. e._ 60 cubits. _Ptolomy_ in his IVth book, and _Pliny_ XXXVI.——speak of the obelisk rais’d by king _Rameses_ at _Heliopolis_, which Mr. _Webb_, p. 34. gives the length of in _English_ feet, 136. This is 80 cubits. That which _Augustus_ set up in the _circus maximus_ at _Rome_ upon reduction of _Egypt_, _Webb_ says, is 120 feet 9 inches, which amounts to 70 cubits. Another, _Augustus_ set up in the _campus martius_, which he says is 9 foot higher, _i. e._ 5 cubits. He speaks again of that erected by _Fontana_ before St. _Peter_’s, 81 feet, which was 50 cubits. I suppose the base being injur’d, it was cut a little shorter. This at the base, he says, is 9 foot square, _i. e._ 5 cubits. The _Vatican_ obelisk is 170 foot high, which is 100 cubits. 12 foot broad at bottom, which is 7 cubits; at top a third part less.

Hence we gather, the measure of the shew-bread table of the _Jews_, a cubit and half in height, _Exod._ xxv. 23. It had a golden crown about it, meaning a moulding, or verge or cornish, as upon our tea-tables. זר _peripheria_, _corona_, because 12 loaves were to be pil’d upon it. It was 31 inches in height, that of our ordinary eating-tables. And we shall find by this same cubit divided into its 6 tophach’s or palms, all our Druid works are perform’d. ’Tis not to be wonder’d at, that it should come into _Britain_, with an eastern colony under the conduct of the _Egyptian_, _Tyrian_, _Phœnician Hercules_, (who was the same person) about _Abraham_’s time, or soon after, as I have good reasons to believe, which will be shown in its proper place.

CHAP. II.

_Of the name of_ Stonehenge. _These works prior to the_ Roman _times. Who were the builders? Of the general situation of it, again. Of the beauty of its general proportion. A peep into it. A walk round the_ area. _Remarks on two stones standing on the_ vallum, _and two corresponding cavities for water vases: explained from ancient coins. That the_ Welsh _are the remains of the_ Belgæ _from the continent, who lived here at the_ Roman _invasion, and by whose reports,_ Stonehenge _was built by the most ancient oriental colony, that brought the_ Druids _hither._

Come we to the name of _Stonehenge_, so call’d by our _Saxon_ ancestors; an argument sufficient, they were not the builders of it; they would have called it by a more honourable name. Roꝺe henᵹenne is in _Saxon_ a hanging-rod or pole, _i. e._ a gallows; and _Stonehenge_ is a stone gallows, called so from the hanging parts, architraves, or rather imposts, the more remarkable part; and which only can persuade people from thinking, the stones _grew_ in the very place, (as they express it.) And so Mr. _Camden_, Dr. _Holland_, Mr. _Webb_ and others think, of the wonderful work at _Abury_; because there are none of these overthwart stones, as here. Many are so astonished at the bulk of these stones, that measuring all art and power by their own, they had rather think, they sprouted up in their places, like mushrooms, at regular distances, in mathematical circles; than that they were plac’d there by human industry, for excellent purpose. But pendulous rocks are now called _henges_ in _Yorkshire_, and I have been informed of another place there called _Stonehenge_, being natural rocks. So that I doubt not, _Stonehenge_ in _Saxon_ signifies the hanging stones. In _Cornwall_ is a Heath call’d now _Hengston_ down, probably from such a work as ours, now demolished. It is in the hundred of _Easte_. And near it, is that other memorable Antiquity, composed of many upright stones, call’d the Hurlers, a Druid temple. The old _Britons_ or _Welsh_ call _Stonehenge_ _choir gaur_, which some interpret _chorea gigantum_, the giants dance: I judge, more rightly _chorus magnus_, the great choir, round church, or temple. As Banchor (where probably was of old, another Druid temple) means the high temple. But they mistake it for _chorea_, _chwarae_ _χuare_, a ball, dance; as _Necham_ sings;

_Nobilis est lapidum structura, chorea gigantum: Ars experta suum posse, peregit opus._

Mr. _Camden_ defines the work _coronæ in modum_. The Latin _corona_ a crown, _corolla_ a _ghirland_, and the _British crown_ comes from its circular form, as _côr_ _chorus_. The armoric _Britons_ call _cryn_ _rotundus_, _kruin_ the _Irish_. _Coryn_ is the round tip of any thing, many such like words in all the _Celtic_ dialects. The _chorus_ of a building among _Roman_ christians, became appropriate to the more sacred part, or east end of churches, always turn’d of a circular form; from the time of _Constantine_ the Great. Thus all the churches in the holy land, thus the chapel in _Colchester_ castle, and in the _Tower_ of _London_, (both, in my opinion, built about his time) are round at the east end. The old _Britons_ or _Welsh_, we find, had a notion of its being a sacred place, tho’ they were not the builders of it; for I take them to be the remains of the _Celtic_ people that came from the continent, who chiefly inhabited _England_, at least the south part, when the _Romans_ invaded the island, they are more particularly the remains of the _Belgæ_. I suppose their name _Welsh_, a corruption of _Belgæ_, Οὐέλγαι in greek,_ ►Belgischen◄ _and_ ►Welschen◄ _in german. _Strabo_ IV. speaks of their way of making flannel, called λαιναί, for which our _Welsh_ are so famous. _Strabo_ gives the celtic word without the guttural aspirate, _chlæna_ in latin. The most ancient inhabitants, the remains of the old _Phœnician_ colony and primitive _Celts_ who built _Stonehenge_, were the _Picts_, _Scots_, _Highland_ and _Irish_, all the same people, tho’ perhaps differing somewhat in dialect, as in situation: no otherwise than a _Cumberland_-man and one of _Somersetshire_ now. The _Cornish_, I suppose, some remains too, of the old oriental race. But at this very day in _Wales_, they call every antiquated appearance beyond memory, _Irish_. Upon view of land, that from before any ones remembrance appears to have been plow’d, or very ancient ruins of buildings, and the like, they immediately pronounce, That it was in the times of the _Irish_. The very same is observable in the north, of the _Picts_ or _Pights_, as they pronounce it, gutturally, in the oriental fashion, which we cannot imitate. They call old foundations, _Pights_ houses, _&c._ Every thing is _Pictish_, whose origin they do not know. These people are conscious, that they are not the _Aborigines_, who by time and successive inundations, were forc’d northward and westward, into _Scotland_ and _Ireland_. And also in the days of the _Romans_, such of the then inhabitants as would not submit to their gentile yoke, took the same road. The _Irish_ therefore, or ancient _Scottish_, is the remnant of the _Phœnician_ language, mixt with old _Biscayan_ and _Gallic_, dialects of _Celts_; and some oriental, _Arabic_ in particular: as Mr. _Toland_ observes. And they are the descendants of the people who built _Stonehenge_, and the like Works. Whence spring the strange reports of these stones, coming from _Egypt_, from _Africa_, from _Spain_, from _Ireland_. As retaining some memory of the steps, by which the people who preceded their ancestors, travelled; nor they themselves, nor even the _Belgæ_ pretending to be the builders of this wonderful work. For the _Belgæ_ could not be ignorant of their own coming from the _Gallic_ continent.