Part 6

The stones of the cell are made to diminish very much, towards the top, most apparently with a design, to take off from their weight, and render them what we call top-heavy, in a less degree. Hence the interval between the two upright stones of the _compages_ widens so much upwards. This must certainly contribute very much, to their stability. In assigning 20 foot for their height, Mr. _Webb_ has well taken the _medium_. A very small matter more than 20 feet makes exactly 12 cubits of the _Hebrews_, _Egyptians_ and Druids. The reader remembers the proportion I assign’d between the _English_ foot and this cubit. 20 inches and ⅘ make a cubit, therefore 20 feet and ⅘ make 12 cubits. The true case as to the height of the _trilithons_, is thus respectively, and which may be seen in TAB. XV. with the harmony and symmetry, in the proportion of the whole. We may observe their gradual rising in height, all from the same base, like pillars of higher orders and more diameters. But the intelligent reader must needs see, that our founders never had sight of _Greek_ or _Roman_ pillars, and never pretended to imitate them, or take any one idea from them. And of these three different orders or degrees of altitude, in these _trilithons_, one exceeds the other by a cubit. So that their heights respectively are 13 cubits, 14 cubits, 15 cubits.

The imposts of these _trilithons_ are all of the same height. Mr. _Webb_ p. 61. “informs us, the architrave lying on the top of the great stones of the hexagon and mortaised also into them sixteen foot long, 3 foot 9 inches broad, 3 foot 4 inches high.” Mr. _Webb’s_ 16 foot long, is too scanty, it amounting to 9 cubits and 2 palms, but the intent of the founders was to make these imposts equal both in length and breadth to the foundation of the upright stones that supports them, I mean the two stones at bottom, the sustaining part of the _compages_, which in its whole breadth makes 10 cubits; and 10 cubits long the imposts are to be assign’d. Most certainly whoever undertake to measure them, whether from those fallen on the ground, or still in their proper place, will be apt to fail in giving them just length. Both because 1. ’tis observable that these imposts are form’d somewhat broader upwards, than in their bottom part; but this may not be taken notice of by every one. This was done very judiciously upon an optical principle, which it is plain the founders were aware of. For a stone of so considerable an elevation, by this means only, presents its whole face in view. Therefore they that measure it at bottom will not take its true length. 2. If they take the dimension, either from a stone still in its proper place, or from one fallen down, they will be very liable to shorten the measure. For in the first case, the upper edge of these imposts, must needs have suffer’d from the weather, in so elevated an exposure, thro’ the space of 2000 years. It is very apparent they have suffered not a little. Large and deep furrows of age are visible all around them. But if they measure those fallen, they must well imagine such have doubly suffered, from weather, and from the people every day diminishing all corners and edges, to carry pieces away with them. So that in this case, analogy and symmetry only can supply these defeats. Thus we found before, that the breadth of the imposts of the outer circle is equal to their ichnographical breadth: so it is here, being 10 cubits. Besides, the outer face of these imposts is longer than the inner, as being in the larger circle. Therefore ten cubits is to be understood their medium measure.

Mr. _Webb_ gives it as a general measure, that they are 3 foot 9 inches broad. He has before told us, the uprights which support them were 3 foot 9 thick; take that twice, it makes 7 foot and a half, which he assigns for the breadth, of the uprights. This is all just within a trifle, and it is not expected that he who was not aware of the cubit, by which these works were made, should do it with greater accuracy. The truth of the whole is this: _Webb_’s 7 foot and half is 4 cubits and a half, as we said before; the half of it is 3 foot 9, and a very little more. But this must be taken for the least breadth of the imposts, that at the ends. For in the middle they are somewhat broader. Tho’ the inside faces are strait, yet, as we observ’d, in proper place, of the imposts of the outer circle; so here, they are rounded behind: their outer circumference answering to the great oval upon which they are founded. So likewise their ends are made upon a _radius_ of that oval, whence the inner face of the impost is somewhat shorter than the outer, and is another reason why their lengths may easily be taken somewhat too short. I have drawn the imposts in their true shape in the ground-plot. The artifice of the tenons and mortaises of these _trilithons_ and their imposts, what conformity they bear to that of the outer circle, is exceedingly pretty, every thing being done truly geometrical, and as would best answer every purpose, from plain and simple principles. In the bottom face of the impost, if divided into three squares, the two mortaises are made in the middle of the two outermost squares. Draw diagonal lines from corner to corner; where they intersect, is the center of the mortaise; which central distance from one to the other, is seven cubits of the Druid measure. Each tenon is a cubit broad upon its longest diameter, for they are of an oval figure. An admirable contrivance, that the imposts should lie firm upon the heads of the uprights, and keep the uprights steady in their places, to strengthen and adorn. We may remark this pretty device, in the management of the tenons and mortaises. Cut an egg across upon its shortest diameter or conjugate; one half thereof represents the shape of the tenons of the outer circle. Cut it across upon its transverse diameter, one half is the shape of the tenons of the _adytum_. ’Tis evident the meaning of it is this. The tenons of the outer circle are higher in proportion, than the others, because the imposts are less and lower than the others, and on both accounts more liable to be disturb’d, either by accident or violence, than the others: therefore more caution is us’d for their preservation. This is an instance of art, noble and simple withal. Mr. _Webb_ says the imposts are 3 foot 4 inches high, which is precisely 2 cubits, a sixth part of the height of the _medium_ order of _trilithons_; as the imposts of the outer circle are a sixth part of the height of the stones of the outer circle. The medium order of _trilithons_ is above 24 foot high, _i. e._ 14 cubits. The lower order is 13 cubits, _viz._ those next the entrance. The upper _trilithon_ behind the altar was 15 cubits. Each rising a cubit higher than the other, as we before observ’d.

I promis’d to show the reader what _Stonehenge_ is, and what it was. The latter, I presume, is done in the four prints, TAB. XII, XIV, XV, XVI. being geometric orthographical sections of the whole work, all necessary ways, such as architects prepare in design, when they set about a building. ’Tis wholly needless to spend many words in explaining them. What the work is, of our _adytum_ at present, is shown in the subsequent prints, TAB. XVIII, XXI, XXII. The Vth corresponds with the XIIth. The one shows the front of the temple when in perfection, the other as now in ruins. The XVIth may be compar’d with XIX and XX. all presenting a view from the _adytum_ toward the entrance. TAB. XVIII. is a contrary view, when one standing by the entrance, looks toward the _adytum_. The same is presented in _Plate_ VII. which I call a peep into the _sanctum sanctorum_. XXII. is the same, but a little oblique. This plate shows at present, what the XIVth does in its original. _Plate_ XV and XXI. correspond, showing the _adytum_ on one side, in its perfect, and in its ruinous state. Particularly they explain, what I spoke of, as to the orderly rising of the _trilithons_ in height, one above another, from the lower end to the upper end of the _adytum_. TAB. XXII. illustrates it, by exhibiting to view, the other and most perfect side of the _adytum_. ’Tis an oblique prospect of it, from the entrance.

The quantity of the solid is well adjusted, in proportioning the stone-work of this _adytum_, to the intervals upon the ichnography. Each _trilithon_ is 10 cubits, and each interval about 6. The jambs, or _vacuum_ of the entry expand themselves to 25 cubits, which is about 43 feet. From which measure my Lord _Pembroke_ demonstrated the falsity of _Webb_’s hexagonal scheme, when his Lordship first did me the honour to discourse about _Stonehenge_. In Mr. _Webb_’s designs, we find two jambs (taking one _trilithon_ away) expand but little above 31 feet, by his own scales. Tho’ I don’t pretend, but that some of my foregoing measures, may here and there possibly vary a little, upon a very strict trial, and where proper judgment is not us’d, because the stones in some parts may protuberate, or great parts of them may have fallen off; yet 10 foot difference from truth cannot be allow’d of. In the _Plates_ XIX and XX. observe the inside of that upright stone, which makes the northern jamb of the chief entrance of the outer circle. A very great piece is fallen off towards the top, which discovers its tenon and the mortaise of the impost above it. And in the management of such prodigious stones as these are, fix’d in the ground, and ramm’d too like posts: ’tis not to be wonder’d at, if by chance we find some little variation. Tho’ for my own part, I observ’d none; rather wonder’d, how it was possible for them, without lewices and the like devices, to set them in their places to such preciseness. And the reader, whose mind has receiv’d no prepossession, cannot but be abundantly satisfy’d, that the multitude of measures I have given from Mr. _Webb_’s own account, are perfectly agreeable to the scale of cubits, deduc’d from works of the _Egyptians_ and others: and that in round and full numbers, not trifling fractions. If we collate the numbers given, with the _Roman_ scale, the measures appear very ridiculous and without design; and that is a sure way of confuting the opinion, of its being a _Roman_ work. But as these stones are generally rough, and by time must suffer in all dimensions, ’tis not practical to take their true measure, without necessary judgment, and relation had to symmetry.

Of these greater stones of the _adytum_, as I observed before, there are none wanting. They are all on the spot, 10 upright stones, 5 cornishes. The _trilithon_ first on the left hand is entire _in situ_, but vastly decay’d, especially the cornish. There are such deep holes corroded, in some places, that daws make their nests in them. The next _trilithon_ on the left hand, is entire, compos’d of three most beautiful stones. The cornish happen’d to be of a very durable kind of _English_ marble, and has not been much impair’d by weather. My Lord _Winchelsea_ and myself took a considerable walk on the top of it, but it was a frightful situation. The _trilithon_ of the upper end of the _adytum_, was an extraordinary beauty. But alas through the indiscretion probably, of some body digging there, between them and the altar, the noble impost is dislodg’d from its airy seat, and fallen upon the altar, where its huge bulk lies unfractur’d.

_Recidit in solidam longo post tempore, terram Pondus, & exhibuit junctam cum viribus artem._ Ovid _Met._

The two uprights that supported it are the most delicate stones of the whole work. They were, I believe, above 30 foot long, and well chizell’d, finely taper’d and proportion’d in their dimensions. That southward is broke in two, lying upon the altar. The other still stands entire, but leans upon one of the stones of the inward oval.

_Jamjam lapsura cadentique Imminet assimilis_——————

The root-end or unhewn part of both, are rais’d somewhat above ground. We cannot be sure of the true height of this, when it was perfect: but I am sure 15 cubits, which I have assign’d, is the lowest. The next _trilithon_, _that_ toward the west, is intire, except that some of the end of the impost is fallen clean off, and all the upper edge is very much diminish’d by time. As _Lucretius_ says,

————_Minui rem quamque videmus, Et quasi longinquo fluere omnia cernimus ævo, Ex oculisque, vetustatem, subducere nostris._

The last _trilithon_, that on the right hand of the entrance into the _adytum_, has suffer’d much. The outer upright being the jamb of the entrance, is still standing, the other upright and impost are both fallen forwards into the _adytum_, and broke each into three pieces. I suppose from digging near it. But from one piece of the impost lying loose, in the middle, between the jambs of the _adytum_, Mr. _Webb_ in the plan of his ruins of _Stonehenge_ (being his 6th _Scheme_) forms the remains of his imaginary 6th _trilithon_, supposing it one of the stones of the inner or lesser hexagon, as he calls it. Yet if this fragment was really a stump of such a stone, as he would have it, still it would not create an hexagonal form of the cell, but stand just in the middle of the entrance, and block it up in a very absurd, unseemly, and incommodious a manner. And nothing can be more certain, than that there never was such a thing in being. That stone of the _trilithon_ which is standing, has a cavity in it which two or three persons may sit in, worn by the weather.

_Stonehenge_ is compos’d of two circles and two ovals, respectively concentric. At the distance of two cubits inward from the greater oval, describe another lesser oval, on which the stones of the inner oval are to stand: 19 stones in number, at about the central distance of 3 cubits. This lesser oval is to be describ’d by a string and the 2 centers, as before. Or by 2 circles from a 10 cubit _radius_, and the 2 centers _a_ and _b_, as of the other before was spoken. Mr. _Webb_ says, p. 60, “the stones of the hexagon within, 2 foot 6 inches in breadth, one foot and a half thick and 8 foot high, in form pyramidal.” His two foot and a half is our cubit and half, for the breadth of these stones; being but a third of the breadth of the stones of the greater oval. And the interval between stone and stone, the same. Their height is likewise unequal, as the _trilithons_, for they rise in height as nearer the upper end of the _adytum_. Mr. _Webb_’s 8 foot assign’d, is a good _medium_ measure, for it is just 4 cubits and 4 palms, the third part of the height of the _medium trilithon_. From the ruins of those left, we may well suppose, the first next the entrance and lowest were 4 cubits high; the most advanc’d height behind the altar might be five cubits, and perhaps more. The stones are somewhat of what Mr. _Webb_ calls a pyramidal form, meaning that of an _Egyptian_ obelisk, for they taper a little upwards. They are of a much harder sort than the other stones, as we spoke before, in the lesser circle. The founders provided that their lesser bulk should be compensated in solidity. They were brought somewhere from the west. Of these there are only 6 remaining upright. The stumps of two are left on the south side by the altar. One lies behind the altar, dug up or thrown down, by the fall of that upright there. One or two were thrown down probably, by the fall of the upright of the first _trilithon_ on the right hand. A stump of another remains by the upright there, still standing. Their exact measures either as to height, breadth or thickness, cannot well be ascertain’d. For they took such as they could find, best suiting their scantlings, but the stones were better shap’d and taller, as advancing towards the upper end of the cell.

CHAP. VI.

_Of the number of the stones. Of the altar-stone. Of what has been found in digging, about the temple. A plate of tin of the Druids writing. A plate of gold, supposed to be of the Druids writing._

Thus have we finished the work, or principal part of this celebrated wonder; properly the temple or sacred structure, as it may be called. Tho’ its loftiest crest be compos’d but of one stone, laid upon another. “A work, as Mr. _Webb_ says justly, p. 65. built with much art, order and proportion.” And it must be own’d, that they who had a notion, that it was an unworthy thing, to pretend to confine the deity in room and space, could not easily invent a grander design than this, for sacred purposes: nor execute it in a more magnificent manner. Here space indeed is mark’d out and defin’d: but with utmost freedom and openness. Here is a _kebla_ intimating, but not bounding the presence of the Deity. Here the variety and harmony of four differing circles presents itself continually new, every step we take, with opening and closing light and shade. Which way so ever we look, art and nature make a composition of their highest gusto, create a pleasing astonishment, very apposite to sacred places.

The great oval consists of 10 uprights, the inner with the altar, of 20, the great circle of 30, the inner of 40. 10, 20, 30, 40 together, make 100 upright stones. 5 imposts of the great oval, 30 of the great circle, the 2 stones standing upon the bank of the _area_, the stone lying within the entrance of the _area_, and that standing without. There seems to have been another stone lying upon the ground, by the _vallum_ of the court, directly opposite to the entrance of the avenue. All added together, make just 140 stones, the number of which _Stonehenge_, a whole temple, is compos’d. Behold the solution of the mighty problem, the magical spell is broke, which has so long perplex’d the vulgar! they think ’tis an ominous thing to count the true number of the stones, and whoever does so, shall certainly die after it. Thus the Druids contented themselves to live in huts and caves: whilst they employ’d many thousands of men, a whole county, to labour at these publick structures, dedicated to the Deity.

Our altar here is laid toward the upper end of the _adytum_, at present flat on the ground, and squeez’d (as it were) into it, by the weight of the ruins upon it. ’Tis a kind of blue coarse marble, such as comes from _Derbyshire_, and laid upon tombs in our churches and church-yards. Thus _Virgil_ describes an ancient altar, after the _Etruscan_ fashion, and which probably had remain’d from patriarchal times.

_Ædibus in mediis nudoque sub ætheris axe Ingens ara fuit._———— Æne. II.

_Servius_ upon the IIId _Georg._ says, in the middle of a temple was the place of the Deity: the rest was only ornamental. This altar is plac’d a little above the _focus_ of the upper end of the ellipsis. Mr. _Webb_ says, p. 56. the altar is 4 foot broad, 16 in length. 4 foot is 2 cubits 2 palms, which at four times measures 16 foot. I believe its breadth is 2 cubits 3 palms, _i. e._ 1 and a half: and that its first intended length was 10 cubits, equal to the breadth of the _trilithon_ before which it lies. But ’tis very difficult to come at its true length. ’Tis 20 inches thick, a just cubit, and has been squar’d. It lies between the two centers, that of the compasses and that of the string: leaving a convenient space quite round it, no doubt, as much as was necessary for their ministration.

Mr. _Webb_ says, the heads of oxen, and deer, and other beasts have been found upon digging in and about _Stonehenge_, as divers then living could testify, undoubted reliques of sacrifices, together with much charcoal, meaning wood-ashes. Mr. _Camden_ says, mens bones have been found hereabouts. He means in the barrows adjacent, and I saw such thrown out by the rabbets very near the temple. But eternally to be lamented is the loss of that tablet of tin, which was found at this place, in the time of King _Henry_ VIII. (the _Æra_ of restitution of learning and of pure religion) inscrib’d with many letters, but in so strange a character, that neither Sir _Thomas Elliot_ a learned antiquary, nor Mr. _Lilly_ master of St. _Paul_’s school, could make any thing out of it. Mr. _Sammes_ may be in the right, who judges it to have been _Punic_; I imagine if we call it _Irish_, we shall not err much. No doubt but it was a memorial of the founders, wrote by the _Druids_: and had it been preserv’d till now, would have been an invaluable curiosity. To make the reader some amends for such a loss, I have given a specimen of supposed Druid writing, out of _Lambecius_’s account of the Emperor’s library at _Vienna_. ’Tis wrote on a very thin plate of gold, with a sharp-pointed instrument. It was in an urn found at _Vienna_, roll’d up in several cases of other metal, together with funeral _exuviæ_. It was thought by the curious, one of those epistles, which the _Celtic_ people were wont to send to their friends in the other world. So certain a hope of a future state had the _Druids_ infus’d into them. The reader may divert himself with endeavouring to explain it. The writing upon plates of gold or tin is exceeding ancient, as we see in _Job_ xix. 24.

_Plutarch_ in his pamphlet _de dæmonio Socratis_ tells a similar story. “About the time of _Agesilaus_, they found a brazen tablet in the sepulchre of _Alcmena_ at _Thebes_, wrote in characters unknown, but seem’d to be _Egyptian_. _Chonuphis_, the most learned of the _Egyptian_ prophets then, being consulted upon it, confirm’d it, and said it was wrote about the time of _Hercules_ and _Proteus_ king in _Egypt_.” _Tzetzes_, chil. 2. hist. 44. mentions _Proteus_ a king in lower _Egypt_ by the sea side, pretends he was son of _Neptune_ and _Phœnicia_, throwing him up thereby to very ancient times, those of the first famous navigators, our _Hercules_ and the _Phœnicians_. He is said to have lived in the island afterward call’d _Pharos_, from the watch-tower there erected. Here _Homer_ sings, that _Proteus_ diverts himself with his _phocæ_ or sea-calves, most undoubtedly his ships. But at that time of day, every thing new and strange was told by the _Greeks_ in a mythologic way.

In the year 1635, as they were plowing by the barrows about _Normanton_ ditch, they found a large quantity of excellent pewter, as much as they sold at a low price for 5_l._ says Mr. _Aubry_ in his manuscript collections, relating to antiquities of this sort. There are several of these ditches, being very small in breadth, which run across the downs. I take them for boundaries of hundreds, parishes, _&c._ Such as the reader may observe in my _Plate_ XXXI. of the barrows in _Lake-field_. I suspect this too was a tablet with an inscription on it, but falling into the hands of the countrymen, they could no more discern the writing, than interpret it. No doubt but this was some of the old _British stannum_, which the _Tyrian Hercules_, sirnam’d _Melcarthus_, first brought _ex Cassiteride insula_, or _Britain_. Which _Hercules_ liv’d in _Abraham_’s time, or soon after.

Mr. _Webb_ tells us, the Duke of _Buckingham_ dug about _Stonehenge_: I fear much to the prejudice of the work. He himself did the like, and found what he imagin’d was the cover of a _thuribulum_. He would have done well to have given us a drawing of it. But whatever it was, vases of incense, oil, flower, salt, wine and holy water, were used by all nations in their religious ceremonies.