Part 2
Neither must it seem strange, they used no other Temples then these, it not being their custom alone; for the _Excelsi_ or high places mentioned in the sacred Story, wherein the Heathen performed idolatrous rites unto their Idols, were commonly groves, affectedly sited upon some mountainous place, without any _House_ or _Temple_. The _Persians_ of old, (of whom _Herodotus_) _Neque statuas, neque templa, neque aras extruere consuetudo est_, _Erected neither Images, nor Temples, nor Altars_: _quinimo hoc facientibus insaniæ tribuere_, _accounting it great folly and madnesse in those that did_: but ascending to the tops of the highest, and most lofty hils, on them offered sacrifices to their Gods. From hence, _Xerxes_, in his expedition, burnt down the Temples of the _Greeks_, because they shut up their Gods therein, to whom all things are open and free, and to whom the whole Universe serves for a Temple. The _Abasgians_ also (inhabiting Mount _Caucasus_) did worship, even till _Procopius_ his time, groves and woods; and in a barbarian simplicity esteemed the very trees themselves to be Gods. In like manner, the Northern and Southern people of _America_, made all their Invocations and Exorcisms in woods. The ancient _Germans_ likewise consecrated woods and forests. _Lucos ac nemora consecrant_, saith _Tacitus_ of them. And the like places for idolatrous superstition, did divers other barbarous Nations use, before reduced to order, and civility of life, _Tacitus_ giving this reason for it: They thought it a matter ill beseeming the greatnesse of their Deities, to enclose them within Temples made by Art. His words are, _Nec cohibere parietibus Deos arbitrantur_, _They thought it not fit to restrain their Deities within compacted walls_: _id est, neque templis, neque domibus_, viz. _neither within Temples or Houses made with hands_, as _C. Pichenas_ commenting thereon more fully interprets.
[Sidenote: _Ovid. Met. lib. 1._]
[Sidenote: _Vitru. lib. 2._]
Touching the manner of the buildings of the ancient _Britans_, and of what materialls they consisted, I find them so far short of the magnificence of this Antiquity, that they were nor stately, nor sumptuous; neither had they any thing of _Order_, or _Symmetry_, much lesse, of gracefulnesse, and _Decorum_ in them, being only such as _Ovid_ (relating to the first Age of the world) makes mention of.
————————_domus antra fuerunt, Et densi frutices, & junctæ cortice virgæ_.
Thus Englished by _Arthur Golding_.
————————_their houses were the thicks, And bushy queaches, hollow caves, and hardles made of sticks_.
To like purpose _Vitruvius_. _In the first Age of the World_ (saith he) _men lived in woods, caves, and forests, but after they had found out the use of fire, and by the benefit thereof were invited to enter into a certain kind of society_, _cœperunt alii de fronde facere tecta, alii speluncas fodere sub montibus, nonnulli hirundinum nidos, & ædificationes earum imitantes, de luto & virgultis facere loca, quæ subirent_. _Some of them began to make themselves habitations of boughs, some to dig dens in mountains; other some, imitating the nests of birds, made themselves places of lome and twigs, and such like materials, to creep into, and shroud themselves in._ Directly after which manner of workmanship, were the houses of the ancient _Britans_.
[Sidenote: _Diodo. li. 6._]
_Domos ex calamis aut lignis ut plurimum habent compactas_. _Their houses for the most part are of reed and wood_, saith _Diodorus Siculus_.
In the Northern parts they live in tents. _Degunt in tentoriis_, (saith _Dion_, epitomis’d by _Xiphiline_.)
[Sidenote: _Strab. lib. 4._]
Their Cities were without walls, the Country without Towns. _Urbium loco ipsis sunt nemora_, (saith _Strabo_) _woods stand them in stead of Cities or Towns_. _Arboribus enim dejectis ubi amplum circulum sepierunt, ipsi casas ibidem sibi ponunt, & pecori stabula condunt, ad usum quidem non longi temporis._ _For when by felling of trees, they have inclosed, and fenced therewith a large circuit of wood, therein they raise cabbins and cottages for themselves, and hovels for their cattell, of no great continuance, but only to supply their present use and occasion._
[Sidenote: _Cæsar. lib. 5._]
_Opidum Britanni vocant_ (saith _Cæsar_) _quum silvas impeditas vallo atque fossa munierunt, quo incursionis hostium vitandæ causa, convenire consueverunt_, _The_ Britans _call a thick wood, enclosed about with a ditch and rampire, made for a place of retreat to avoid the invasion and assault of their bordering enemies, a Town_.
Thus, you see, in what condition the Inhabitants of this Island lived in those ancient times, having of themselves, neither desire, nor ability to exercise, nor from others, encouragement to attain whatever knowledge in the Art of Building. Precepts, and rules therein, the _Druid’s_ neither could, nor would impart unto them. That they could not, appears from what is formerly said, and in what skilfull above others, they communicated nothing, but to those of their own society, _taking speciall order_ (as _Cæsar_ affirms) _their discipline might not be divulged_.
[Sidenote: _Cæsar. lib. 4._]
[Sidenote: _Ortel. descr. Fr._]
[Sidenote: _Camden fo. 2._]
As for Colonies of any Nation practised in Arts, from whom they might receive or knowledge, or civil conversation, there were none setled amongst them: neither had they commerce, or traffique, with any people experienced therein, much lesse acquaintance with any other, except those of _Gaul_, welnear as barbarous as themselves. _None of the_ Gauls _in a manner, had any knowledge_ (saith _Cæsar_) _of the nature and quality of the people of_ Britain, _or of the places, ports, or passes of the Countrey_. _Neque enim temerè præter mercatores illò adit quisquam, neque iis ipsis quidquam, præter oram maritimam, atque eas regiones quæ sunt contra Galliam, notum est._ For, _not any went thither without eminent danger, except merchants, and they also could give accompt of nothing, save only the Sea-coast, and those Countreys which were opposite to_ Gaul. _Never any Colony of the_ Greeks, _for ought I know_ (saith _Ortelius_) _was seated in_ Britain. _And_ Cæsar, _the first of all the_ Romans _that discovered it_, saith _Camden_.
If desire neverthelesse, to know in what times the ancient _Britans_ began to be civilized, when to learn the knowledge of _Arts_, to build stately _Temples_, _Palaces_, _publick Buildings_, to be eloquent in forrain languages, and by their habits, and attire, attain the qualities of a civil, and well ordered people, _Tacitus_ shall relate the same.
[Sidenote: _Tacit. in vit. Agr._]
_Sequens hiems saluberrimis conciliis absumpta_ &c. _The winter ensuing_ (being the second year of _Julius Agricola_ his _Proprætorship_, or Leivtenancy in _Britan_; _Titus Vespasian_ Emperour, about one hundred thirty three years after the first discovery thereof by _Cæsar_) _was spent in most profitable, and politick Councels_ (saith _Tacitus_.) _For, whereas the_ Britans _were rude, and dispersed, and thereby prone, upon every occasion, to warre_; Agricola, _to induce them by pleasure to quietnesse and rest, exhorted in private, and helpt them in common to build Temples, Houses, and places of publick resort, commending those, that were forward therein, and punishing the refractory. Moreover, the Noblemens sons he took, and instructed in the liberall Sciences, preferring the wits of_ Britain, _to the students in_ Gaul, _as being now eagerly ambitious to attain the eloquence of the_ Roman _tongue, whereas lately they utterly rejected that language. After that, our attire grew in account, and the gown much used amongst them, and so by little and little they proceeded to provocations of vices, to sumptuous galleries, baths, and exquisite banquettings._ Thus far _Tacitus_. Now had there been but the least mention made, by any Author, concerning the _Druid’s_ instructing, and training up the ancient _Britans_ in any such matters, as these, (which _Tacitus_ remembers the _Romans_ to have done) what conclusions might have been rais’d from them? what presumptive reasons drawn, to prove, _Stoneheng_ a work of the _Druid’s_, or at least erected for their use?
[Sidenote: _Cam. fo. 63._]
To conclude, if this authority from _Tacitus_ only, (an Author esteem’d the _Polybius_ of the _Latines_) be throughly weighed, it will evidently manifest, (whatever else hath formerly been delivered) there was no such thing in _Britain_, before the _Romans_ arrived here, as that which we now call _Stoneheng_. What credit else with posterity could _Tacitus_ expect to gain, in affirming the _Britans_ were taught and instructed in the liberall Sciences by the _Romans_; if those _Arts_ acknowledg’d, to be practis’d amongst the _Britans_ before? What need to have told us, the _Romans_ made them skilfull in erecting sumptuous _Palaces_, stately _Portico’s_, and publick places, if the inhabitants here, accustomed to enjoy such noble buildings, before the _Romans_ arrivall in this Land? Why, tell succeeding Ages, when gentle persuasions not prevail, to make the _Britans_ innovate, and admit of sacred structures to whatever Deities, _Agricola_ compelled them to found magnificent _Temples_, and assist therein, if this Antiquity _Stoneheng_ extant before those times? Why also, should the _Britans_ look upon the _Temple_ erected by the _Romans_ at _Camalodunum_, (supposed _Maldon_ in _Essex_) in honour of _Claudius_ sacred memory, as an _Altar of perpetuall dominion_ over them, if been used to such structures before? yea, such an eye-sore the _Britans_ accounted it, as, that _Temple_ was one of the principall causes, which gave birth to that fatall insurrection under _Boadicia_. Neither would _Tacitus_ have magnified the introducing those customs amongst them, as admirable policy in _Agricola_, and the true and only rule to bring them from their rude, and dispersed manner of living to civility, if the _Britans_ attain’d such discipline before, or any knowledge in the excellency of _Architecture_ preceding the time of the _Romans_ government here. No, for what saith _Camden_? _It was the brightnesse of that most glorious Empire, which chased away all savage Barbarism from the_ Britans _minds, like as from other Nations, whom it had subdued._
[Sidenote: _Cam. fo. 4._]
Furthermore, in the time of this _Agricola_, _Britain_ was fully discovered, the _Romans_ had circumnavigated it, and knew, for certain, it was an Island, formerly doubted of till his time; yea, there was not a Port (as I may so say) a bay, mountain, valley, hill, plain, wood, or forest, either any custom, rite, ceremony, or what else belonging to the knowledge of the Countrey, or manners of the People, but the _Romans_ were then as well acquainted with (especially, in that part of the Island now call’d _England_) as, at this day, the Inhabitants themselves are. Neverthelesse, what mention soever is made by their Historians, concerning other matters of the _Britans_, not one word is to be found of this Antiquity, or any building of this kind in use amongst them. But, because some curiously learned have desired somwhat to be spoken for their better satisfaction touching this particular, I have been too prolixe. In a word therefore, let it suffice, _Stoneheng_ was no work of the _Druid’s_, or of the ancient _Britans_; the learning of the _Druid’s_ consisting more in contemplation then practice, and the ancient _Britans_ accounting it their chiefest glory to be wholly ignorant in whatever Arts. Neither could it be otherwise, seeing _their life so uncivil, so rude, so full of wars, and consequently void of all literature_. (as _Camden_ relateth)
Yet, before I come to speak of this middle Age (if I may so call it) wherein the _Romans_ prevailed, and to compleat their victories gave first rise to civility in this Island; as, I began with times of great Antiquity, so must I now descend to those lesse ancient, and modern, wherein, as posterity hath suffered an irreparable damage, through want of writing in those first times, so hath it been almost at as great a losse, by too much writing in later times; so many Authors, so much contrariety, so little certainty is found amongst them. Who, when they could not search out the truth in deed, laboured to bring forth narrations invented by themselves, without or reason, or authority: delivering (saith _Camden_) their severall opinions, rather with a certain pleasant variety to give contentment to their _Readers_, then with any care or judgement to find out the truth of things.
• • • • •
[Sidenote: _Leyland. de assert. Arth. fo. 35._]
Those ancient Historians who (among other actions of the _Britans_) treat of this Antiquity, differ much in their severall reports. And, as it is usuall with _Historiographers_ of other Nations, where, they cannot give a just and rationall accompt of unwonted accidents, beyond the common course of things, to fill up their stories with fabulous, and incredible relations; so, no marvell, if we hear the like in our own Histories. _Credibile enim est calamitatem bellicam, quæ ecclesias unà cum bibliochecis exhauserat infinitis, clara vetustatis monumenta abrasisse. For evident it is, through the calamities of wars_ (saith _Leyland_) _which together with infinite Libraries ruined the Churches themselves, the certain records of our Antiquities, are utterly lost. Unde scripturienti de antiquitate_ Britannica _occultissima, pleraque omnia. Whereby the Writers of the_ British _Stories, are all of them, for the most part, very obscure and doubtfull._
Some others again, especially the most ancient and authentick _British_ Historians, who liv’d in Ages next succeeding those, wherein, _Stoneheng_ might probably be first erected, have wholly passed it over with silence. In like manner venerable _Bede_, _William Malmesbury_, _Roger Hoveden_, and others, speak nothing thereof, as happily, willing rather to decline it altogether, then deliver it upon frivolous conjectures, and in so doing cast a blemish upon their other labours. Neither is it improbable, that the most ancient Authors, considering the times wherein they wrote, upon the first springing up of _Christian Religion_ here, might through zeal unto the true God, forbear to commemorate unto posterity, places designed for idolatrous uses; endeavouring rather, to suppresse the memory thereof, and make succeeding generations sollicitous therein; then, in that infancy of Divine worship, to illustrate the magnificence of the Heathens, for building such notable structures to their false Gods. Insomuch, I find very little, or no mention at all thereof in the _British_ Stories, except by _Geffrey Monmouth_, with some who follow him, and by such Authors only, as our most judicious Writers hold in many things, either meerly fabulous, or overladen with malicious, or accidentary untruths. Such relations neverthelesse, as they make thereof, I shall endeavour to deliver in their own words, reduceable into two conjectures, _viz._ either that _Stoneheng_ was erected by _A. Ambrosius_ (in ancient times King of the _Britans_) in memory of the _British_ Nobility perfidiously slain at a treaty by _Hengist_ the _Saxon_: or else, set up by the _Britans_ themselves in honour of Him their said King.
[Sidenote: _Gir. Camb. de adm. Hib. Cap. 18._]
_Giraldus Cambrensis_, curiously diligent in his relations of the miracles in _Ireland_, amongst other strange things in those parts, reckons up this Antiquity _Stoneheng_. _Fuit antiquis temporibus in_ Hibernia, _lapidum congeries admiranda_, (saith he) _quæ &_ Chorea Gigantum _dicta fuit, quia Gigantes eam ab ultimis_ Africæ _partibus in_ Hiberniam _attulerunt &c. There was in_ Ireland _in ancient times, a pile of stones worthy admiration, called the_ Giants Dance, _because Giants, from the remotest parts of_ Africa, _brought them into_ Ireland, _and in the plains of_ Kildare, _not farre from the Castle of the_ Naase, _as well by force of Art, as strength, miraculously set them up. These stones_ (according to the _British_ story) Aurelius Ambrosius, _King of the_ Britans, _procured_ Merlin _by supernaturall means to bring from Ireland, into_ Britain. _And, that he might leave some famous monument of so great a treason to after ages, in the same order, and art, as they stood formerly, set them up, where the flower of the_ British _Nation fell by the cut-throat practice of the_ Saxons, _and where under the pretence of peace, the ill secured youth of the Kingdom, by murdrous designs were slain_.
[Sidenote: _Polychr. li. 5._]
_Rainulph_ Monk of _Chester_, speaking of _Aurelius_, alias _Aurelianus Ambrosius_ (by others called _Ambrosius Aurelianus_) saith (as Sir _John Trevisa_ the Priest in old English laid it down) =His brother Uter Pendragon by help of Merlin the Prophet brought= Choream Gigantum, =that is Stonehenges out of Ireland. Stonehenge is now in the plain of Salisbury: of that bringing of Stonehenge out of Ireland, speaketh the British story, if it should lawfully be ytrowed.=
It appears, _Rainulph_ of _Chester_, as easie credit as he gave to strange stories, had not much confidence in this: and if, according to _Geffrey Monmouth_, or _Matthew Westminster_, I should set it down, I presume you would be of his mind. But, I affect not such conceits, they are neither fitting my discourse, nor your perusall. Neverthelesse, seeing none of them tell us, by what ways, or Arts, Giants (as they will have it) brought them from the remotest parts of _Africk_ into _Ireland_ (for it seems they could not hansomly find a _Merlin_ to help them therein also) I shall take so much leave, following _Geffrey Monmouths_ steps, as to give you, at least, some part of the story, and relate (according to their opinions) how they came from _Ireland_ hither. After _Geffrey Monmouths_ discourse of _Uter Pendragons_ victory over the _Irish_, who with _Merlin_ forsooth and a great Army, were sent by _A. Ambrosius_ to fetch the Giants dance, _Lapidum structuram adepti_ (saith he) _gavisi sunt & admirati; circumstantibus itaque cunctis, accessit_ Merlinus _& ait, utimini viribus vestris juvenes, ut in deponendo lapides istos, sciatis utrum ingenium virtuti, aut virtus ingenio cedat, &c._ i.e. _Having found the structure, from joy they fell into admiration, and standing all of them at gaze round about it_, Merlin _draws near, and thus bespeaks them: Use now your utmost strength young men, that in taking away these stones, you may discover, whether Art to strength, or strength gives place to Art. At his command therefore, they bring severall sorts of engines, and addresse themselves to pulling it down. Some ropes, some cables, some had made lathers ready, that what they so much desired, might be effected, but in no wise able to atcheive their purpose. Deficientibus cunctis, solutus est_ Merlinus _in risum_ (saith _Geffrey_) _& suas machinationes confecit. Denique cum quæque necessaria apposuisset; leviùs quàm credi potest lapides deposuit: depositis autem, fecit deferri ad naves, & introponi: & sic cum gaudio in_ Britanniam _reverti cœperunt. All of them tired_, Merlin _breaks out into laughter, and provides his engines. Lastly, when he had set all things in a readinesse, hardly to be beleev’d it is, with what facility he took them down: being taken down, he caused them to be carried to the Ships, and imbarqued; and so with joy they began their return towards_ Britain. Leaving it for us to suppose, with as small labour they were imbarqued, dis-imbarqued, and brought from their landing place to _Salisbury_ plain: all (it seems) done by _Merlins_ spels. But of this too much.
[Sidenote: _G. Mon. li. 6._]
[Sidenote: _Verstegan Ch. 5._]
Neverthelesse, as I contemne fables, so doe I imbrace, and take pleasure in the truth of History: and therefore, that which concerns the slaughter of the _British_ Nobility by treason of _Hengist_ commander of the _Saxons_, as of greater moment, and truth, I shall more fully relate. And _Geffrey Monmouth’s_ Authority in this treacherous slaughter of the _Britans_, though I respect not so much, as _Ninnius_, _Malmsbury_, _Sigebert_, and others that affirm the same; yet, because he was the first, after so many, and so ancient Authors, that father’d _Stoneheng_ their monument, and _A. Ambrosius_ founder thereof, and therefore must trace him, and his followers therein. I will give you the history likewise from him, and thus it was: _Hengist_, upon his return with new supplies into _Britain_, finding _Vortigern_ beyond expectation restored to the Crown, and withall greatly alienated in his affections towards him, prepared for his defence, with force of arms. But, whether he thought himself too weak; or, that he rather sought to be especially revenged on the _British_ Nobility, who had wholly unriveted his designs, or both; he thought it no difficult matter to delude him by a Treaty, whom formerly he had so easily beguiled with his Neece _Rowena_. To which purpose, he makes an overture, to compose the enmities betwixt them at a Parley; and the King accepting it, appoints _Ambresbury_ Town their meeting place, _Nec mora, statuta die instante convenerunt omnes intra nominatam urbem_ (saith _Geffrey_) _& de pace habenda colloquium inceperunt. Ut igitur horam proditioni suæ idoneam inspexisset_ Hengistus, _vociferatus est_, =Nemet oure saxas=: _& ilico_ Vortigernum _accepit, & per pallium detinuit. Audito ocyùs signo, abstraxerunt_ (i.e. _eduxerunt_) Saxones _cultros suos, & astantes principes invaserunt, ipsósque nihil tale præmeditantes jugulaverunt circiter quadringentos sexaginta inter Barones & Consules. The prefixed day being come, they all, without delay, met in the aforesaid Town, and began their Treaty for Peace; when therefore_ Hengist _saw fit time for execution of his intended Treason, he cried out, giving the word_, =Nemet oure saxas= (=Nem eowr seaxes= (saith Verstegan) that is, _Take your_ =seaxes=; a kind of crooked knives, which each of the _Saxons_ then carried closely in his pocket) _and forthwith seised upon_ Vortigern, _and held him by his robe. The_ Saxons _quickly hearing it, drew forth their knives, and fell upon the_ Britans _standing by, of whom, part Noblemen, part officers of State, expecting no such design, they slew four hundred and sixty. Quorum corpora beatus_ Eldadus _postmodum sepelivit, atque Christiano more humavit, haud longè à_ =Kaer-caradane=, _quæ nunc_ Salesberia _dicitur, in cœmeterio, quod est juxta cœnobium_ Ambrii. _Whose corpses holy_ Eldad, _according to custome, after Christian manner interred, not far from_ =Kaer-caradane=, _now called_ Salisbury, _in the Churchyard adjoyning to the monastery of_ Ambresbury.
[Sidenote: _Ma. West. fo. 84._]
[Sidenote: _Hollinsh. l. 5. Speed lib. 7. Stow fo. 53. 4ᵗᵒ._]
[Sidenote: _G. Monm. lib. 5._]