Part 7

Howsoever, considering what magnificence the _Romans_ in prosperous times anciently used in all works, both publick, and private: their knowledge and experience in all _Arts_ and _Sciences_: their powerfull means for effecting great works: together with their _Order_ in building, and manner of workmanship accustomed amongst them: _Stoneheng_ in my judgement was a work, built by the _Romans_, and they the sole _Founders_ thereof. For, if look upon this _Antiquity_, as an admired and magnificent building, who more magnificent then the _Romans_? _Essi soli frà i populi dell’ vniverso, con ogni termine di magnificenza edificarono tutti i generi d’edifici. They only amongst all the Nations of the Universe, erecting all sorts of buildings, with all kinds of magnificence_, saith _Scamozzo_ in the first Book of his _Architecture_. If consider the _Art_, and elegant disposition thereof, all _Arts_ and _Sciences_ (we must know) were in full perfection with them, and _Architecture_, which amongst the _Greeks_ was youthfull only, and vigorous; under the _Romans_ their _Empire_ grown to the full height became manly and perfect, not in _inventions, and elegancy of forms alone, but also in exquisitenesse of Art, and excellency of materials. Salito al colmo l’imperio_ Romano, _ella pure divenne virile e perfetta: non solo nelle inventioni, e nella elleganza delle forme, mà parimente nell’ esquisitezza dell’ artificio, e nella singolarità della materia_. As the same Author hath it. If take notice of their power and ways by which they effected such goodly structures, their means were not ordinary according to the common custome of other _People_; and why? because, besides particular _Artisans_ practised in severall _Arts_, they employed in those their works whole bodies of their own _Armies_, and whatever Nations subdued by them. _The_ Romans _were wont to exercise therein_ (saith _Camden_) _their Souldiers, and the common multitude, upon great policy doing the same, left being idle they should grow factious, and affect alteration in the State. The_ Britans _complained_ (saith _Tacitus_ likewise) _corpora & manus contrivisse, that their bodies and hands were worn out, and consumed by the_ Romans, _in bringing to effect their great and admired undertakings_: in that kind employing their slaves and prisoners also, as holding it, rather then by violent deaths to cut them off; more profitable for the _Commonwealth_, more exemplary for others, and far greater punishment for their Prisoners, to enjoyn them continuall labour.

[Sidenote: _Choul. fo. 5._]

If observe _their Order_ in building; the only _Order_ of _Architecture_, which _Italy_ may truly glory in the invention of, is the _Tuscane Order_, so called, because first found out by the _Tuscans_, that in a more then ordinary manner they might reverence their _Deities_ in _Temples_ composed thereof. (_Janus_ their first King, according to the common opinion of divers ancient Historians, being the first of all others, that built _Temples_ to the Gods) Which _Order_, though first used by the _Tuscans_, certain it is, the _Romans_ took from them, and brought it in use with other _Arts_, in severall parts of the world, as their conquests led them on. Now of this _Tuscan Order_, a plain, grave, and humble manner of _Building_, very solid and strong _Stoneheng_ principally consists. So that, observing the _Order_ whereof _Stoneheng_ built, there being no such Elements known in this _Island_ as distinct _Orders_ of _Architecture_, untill the _Romans_ introduced them, the very work it self, of so great _Antiquity_, declares the _Romans Founders_ thereof. Who, that hath right judgement in _Architecture_, knows not the difference, and by the manner of their works how to distinguish _Ægyptian_, _Greek_, and _Roman_ structures of old, also _Italian_, _French_ and _Dutch_ buildings in these modern times? Is not our Shipping by the mould thereof, known throughout the world _English_ built? Who did not by the very _Order_ of the work, assure himself, the body of the Church of S. _Paul London_, from its Tower to the West end anciently built by the _Saxons_: as the Quire thereof, from the said Tower to the East end by the _Normans_, it being _Gothick_ work? yet that there might be a _Roman Temple_ in old time standing in that place, I will not deny, the numbers of Oxeheads digged up and anciently sacrificed there, setting all other reasons aside, so probably manifesting the same. And in all likelihood, the _Romans_ for so notable a structure as _Stoneheng_, made choice of the _Tuscane_ rather then any other _Order_, not only as best agreeing with the rude, plain, simple nature of those they intended to instruct, and use for which erected; but also, because presuming to challenge a certain kind of propriety therein, they might take occasion thereby, to magnifie to those then living the virtue of their _Auncestors_ for so noble an invention, and make themselves the more renowned to posterity, for erecting thereof, so well ordred a building.

[Sidenote: _Vitr. lib. 5._]

Besides, the _Order_ is not only _Roman_, but the _Scheam_ also (consisting of four equilaterall triangles, inscribed within the circumference of a Circle) by which this work _Stoneheng_ formed, was an _Architectonicall Scheam_ used by the _Romans_. Whereof, I shall have more occasion to speak, when I come to set down, for what use this _Antiquity_ at first erected.

Again, the _Portico_ at _Stoneheng_, is made double, as in structures of great magnificence the ancient _Romans_ used; so at the foot of the _Capitol_ the _Temple_ to _Jove the Thunderer_, built by _Augustus Cæsar_; so the _Pantheon_ at _Athens_, royally adorned with one hundred and twenty vast columnes of rich _Phrygian_ marble, by the _Emperour Adrian_. But, some may alledge, the _Romans_ made the Pillars of their double _Portico’s_, of one and the same symmetry, or very little different, which in this _Antiquity_ otherwise appearing, cannot be a _Roman_ work. To as much purpose it may be alledged the _Temple_ of _Diana_ at _Magnesia_, was no _Greek_ work, because the Pillars of the inner _Portico_ were wholly left out. Yet it’s true, the _Romans_ usually made them as is objected, and the reason was, because of the weight the inner Pillars carried: now, in this work, no roof being to be sustained, nor any manner of weight born up, though the judgement of the _Architect_, thereby to save labour and expence, ordered the stones making the _Portico_ within, of a far lesse proportion then those of the outward circle, it retains neverthelesse the proper _Aspect_ (principally aim’d at by the ancient _Architects_) in use amongst the _Romans_, and consequently for ought alledged to the contrary by them built.

[Sidenote: _Vitr. lib. 3. cap. 1._]

In this _Antiquity_, there is a _Portico_ also (as I may rightly term it) within the _Cell_, or greater _Hexagon_, reduced likewise into the same figure. Now, that the _Romans_ used to make _Portico’s_ on the inside of their buildings, as well sacred as secular, by the ruines of their _Basilicaes_ or Courts of _Judicature_; by that _Temple_ without a roof anciently dedicated to _Jove_ in Mount _Quirinalis_, now the _Horse_ Mount in _Rome_; by the _Temple of Bacchus_ there of a round form, at this day consecrate to S. _Agnes_ without the gate _Viminalis_, manifestly appears. But in what ever structures else the _Romans_ used them, certain it is, within their most stately _Temples_ which lay uncovered, and had no roofs, they always made such _Portico’s_; and though in other _Temples_ they sometimes dispos’d them, yet from _Vitruvius_ it may be gathered, they properly belonged to the _Aspect Hypæthros_, which was uncovered and rooflesse as this _Antiquity Stoneheng_, he peremptorily assigning _Portico’s_ to be made on the inside of no kind of _Temples_, but those; His words are, _Hypæthros in interiore parte habet columnas, remotas à parietibus ad circuitionem (ut porticus) peristyliorum. Temples open to the air, and without roofs, have columnes on the inside, distant from the walls, as Courts Portico’s about them._ Even, after the same _decorum_ as at _Stoneheng_.

Furthermore, if cast an eye upon _their_ artifice and manner of workmanship, _Stoneheng_ appears built directly agreeable to those rules, which the _Romans_ observed in great works. For, the _Roman Architects_, in distinguishing the manner of their _Temples_, always observed (as _Vitruvius_ in his third book teacheth us) the greater the Columnes were, the closer they set them together; so in this _Antiquity_, the stones being great, the spaces betwixt them are likewise narrow.

[Sidenote: _Leo Bap. Alber. lib. 3._]

[Sidenote: _Leo Bap. Alber. lib. 3._]

The _Architraves_ also, in this work were all of them set without morter, and fixed upon the upright stones by tenons (as formerly described) in the very same manner, as in great structures, where the stones solid, and of more then ordinary greatnesse, the _Romans_ were wont to doe. _They laid them without any unctuous incorporating matter, nullo fulta glutino_, saith _Leo Baptista Albertus_. And divers examples of this kind might be brought, I my self amongst other _Antiquities_ have seen the ruines of an _Aquaeduct_, built by the _Romans_ in _Provynce_, running through a deep valley, and raised in height equall to the adjacent Mountains, upon huge Arches fifty eight foot wide, the stones whereof, being of extraordinary scantlings, were laid without any cement or morter, to incorporate them with the rest of the work. And, where occasion guided their judgements to the observance of this rule, they united and compared the stones together, by certain ligatures or holdfasts, (the _Italians_ call them _Perni_, pegs or tops, for such they resemble, and we, from the verb _tenere_ to hold, not improperly calling them _tenons_) _quæ inferiores, & unà superiores in lapides infixæ, cavatæ fuere, ne quid fortè protrusi ordines alteri ab alteris distrahantur. Which_ (saith _Albertus_) _being formed in the inferiour stones, were hollowed or mortaised into those above, left by any chance they should start one from another, and break the order of the work_. Here the _Florentine Architect_ gives us the self same manner of banding stones, when the _Romans_ laid them without morter, as if he had seen this very _Antiquity Stoneheng_.

[Sidenote: _Camden._]

[Sidenote: _Speed._]

Moreover, what ever footsteps of the _Romans_ found in other places of this Island, it’s not inconsiderately to be past over, that in _Wiltshire_, the County (as is said before) where our _Stoneheng_ remains, _Roman Antiquities_ are most perspicuous, not only, by the apparent testimonies of the coyns of their Emperors in divers places digged up, but by severall their encamping places yet to be seen, as _Leckham_, in times of yore a seat of the _Romans_: the place also where old _Salisbury_ now sheweth it self, within six miles of _Stoneheng_: and within three miles thereof _Yanesbury_ Castle, supposed a work of _Vespasians_ when he conquered, and after kept in subjection the _Belgæ_, ancient inhabitants of that tract. Likewise the mines nearer yet to _Stoneheng_, of a fortresse our Historians hold anciently a garrison of the _Romans_, and in many other forts of that Shire (both by their form and manner of making well known to have been _Roman_) the tract of their footing is yet left.

[Sidenote: _Cam. fo. 64._]

[Sidenote: _Tacitus._]

[Sidenote: _Beda._]

But it is objected, If _Stoneheng_ a _Roman_ work, how comes it, no _Roman_ Author makes mention of it? I answer, their Historians used not to commit to writing every particular work, or action the _Romans_ performed: if so, how vast would their volumes have been? _Stoneheng_ ’tis granted, is much admired by us, yet, how far more admirable works were the _Romans_ Founders of, not mentioned in any of their ancient stories? That notable bridge invented and built by _Cæsar_, for passing his Army over the _Rhine_, himself at large describes, remembring little or nothing neverthelesse concerning divers other as great works in _Gaul_ and _Batavia_, suppos’d to be performed by him also. _Dion_, _Herodian_, _Eutropius_ and other their Historians tell us, the _Romans_ built the so famed wall, commonly by us called the _Picts wall_, extending crosseover our Island from the _Irish_ Sea to the _German_ Ocean, above fourscore _Italian_ miles in length, with many towers and fortresses erected upon it; when works of as great admiration in _Britain_ they have past in silence: those wonderfull causeys made throughout the land, by dreining and drying up Fens, levelling hils, raising valleys, and paving them with stones of such breadth, that Wains might without danger passe one by another, not any ancient _Roman_ Author (for ought appears) directly mentioning. Yet, who doubts them _Roman_ works? _I dare confidently avouch, the Romans by little and little founded and raised them up_, saith _Camden_. And why? mark I pray, because, whilst _Agricola_ governed _Britain_, _Tacitus_ tels us, _severall ways were enjoyned_. If then, because _Tacitus_ affirms in generall terms only, _severall ways enjoyned_, _Camden_ confidently concludes them _Roman works_, no _Roman_ History otherwise remembring them; Why may it not, the same _Tacitus_ telling us in like manner, _Agicola exhorted the Britans in private, and helpt them in common, to build Temples, Houses, and Places of publick resort_, as peremptorily be inferr’d, _Stoneheng_ was a work built by the _Romans_, though not particularly remembred by them in their stories? In a word, _Temples_ and places of publick resort, the _Romans_ built here, and were the first that did so, leaving it to after ages to find out by their _Manner_ of _building_, _Order_ in _building_, and _Power_ and _Means_ for _building_, such lofty ruines, as appears in this _Antiquity_, could be remains of none but _Roman_ building.

[Sidenote: _Camden fo. 63._]

The next thing to be enquired after, is, in what time _Stoneheng_ built. Happily, about those times, when the _Romans_ having setled the Country here under their own _Empire_, and, together with bringing over _Colonies_ reduced the naturall inhabitants of this Island unto the society of civill life, by training them up in the liberall Sciences. For, _then also_ (saith _Camden_) _did they furnish the_ Britans, _with goodly houses, and stately buildings, in such sort, that the reliques and rubbish of their ruines, cause the beholders now, exceedingly to admire the same, and the common sort of People plainly say, those_ Roman _works were made by Giants, of such exceeding great admiration, and sumptuous magnificence they are_.

This relation of _Camdens_, reflects chiefly upon the time of _Agricola_; neverthelesse, that _Stoneheng_ (though fabled Giants work) was then built, I dare not affirm: the great works of the _Romans_, brought to perfection in this Island, being not the work of a day. It hath been the invention of wise _Romans_ of old, affecting civility, to raise goodly buildings here: but the precise times when, in things so far from all knowledge, cannot be with any certainty avouched. For my part, I should choose to assign those times for building thereof, when the _Romans_ in their chief prosperity most flourished here, and refer the first erection to the time betwixt _Agricolas_ government formerly mentioned, and the reign of _Constantine_ the Great: in order to which, the times rather somwhat after _Agricola_, if not during his own Lievtenancy, then next preceding _Constantine_. For, long before _Constantine_ acquired the Soveraignty (which was not till the year of our Lord three hundred and ten) the magnificent splendor of that mighty _Empire_ began sensibly to wane, and the ambition of the great Captains of _Rome_, (some few excepted) tended rather to make parties for obtaining the _Purple Robe_, then (after the manner of their ancestors) to eternise their names by great and admirable works, or patronizing good _Arts_, for want whereof they began likewise to decay apace; _Serly_ in his third Book speaking of those times, telling us, that _id temporis Architecti, si cum superioribus conferantur, rudiores & ineptiores extitisse videntur. In those days although there were many Architects, yet, compared with such as lived in the preceding Ages, they were very rude and unskilfull._ Besides, the condition wherein this Island was, divers years preceding _Constantine_, would not admit such undertakings. For, by the civil discord of the _Romans_, the _Britans_ taking occasion to make frequent revolts, in hope to recover their lost liberty, the _Romans_ were put upon other manner of Councels then to think of building; namely to reduce the _Britans_ to their wonted obedience, and keep the Province in some reasonable quiet, by expelling the _Scots_ and _Picts_ (savage and perfidious _People_ even from times of old) making daily inroads and incursions thereunto.

[Sidenote: _Gildas._]

Now, as for these reasons, it’s not likely _Stoneheng_ could be built in the times next before _Constantine_, so, by what follows, it will manifestly appear, it was not erected after his Reign. For, after his transplanting the seat of the Empire into the East, and the government of the then known world, under the _Romans_, distinguished by _East_ and _Western_ Emperours, a deluge of barbarous Nations (like so many Locusts) swarmed over all. Who, as with their vast multitudes they oft had formerly attempted it, so, thence forward, till bringing that mighty Empire unto its finall and fatall period; and thereby utterly destroying in like manner all _Arts_ and _Sciences_, together with _Architecture_, (not restored again, even in _Italy_ it self, untill, as formerly remembred) they never desisted. Moreover, in the times after _Constantine_, no _Temples_ to Heathen _Deities_ (such as I shall make appear this _Antiquity Stoneheng_ was) were erected here, they being times of defacing, rather then erecting idolatrous places. For, most of the succeeding Emperors becoming _Christians_, the tempestuous storms of perfection were over, and the thick clouds of superstition beginning to be dissolved by the bright beams of the Gospel, and true light of CHRIST, every where _Temples_ were shut up against false Gods, and set open to the true GOD. According to that of _Gildas_, _No sooner was the blustering tempest, and storm of persecution blown over, but the faithfull Christians, who in the time of trouble and danger had hidden themselves in woods, deserts, and secret caves, being come abroad in open sight, renovant Ecclesias ad solum usque destructas, basilicas sanctorum martyrum fundant, construunt, perficiunt &c. Churches ruinate to the very ground they reedifie, Temples of holy Martyrs they found, build, and finish &c._ So that, in stead of idolatrous _Temples_, built in the Ages preceding _Constantine_, during his reign and after, whilst the _Romans_ continued in any prosperous state here, by erecting _Christian Churches_, they began generally to neglect, and suffer fall to decay, rather then new build _Temples_ to their _Pagan_ Gods.

[Sidenote: _Tacit. in Vit. Agr._]

These pressing occurrences therefore, to wit, civill broyls amongst the _Romans_ themselves, frequent insurrections of the _Britans_, daily inrodes by the _Picts_ and _Scots_, together with the _downfall_ of _Paganism_, _decay_ of _Arts_, and fatall _ruine_ of the whole _Empire_, making the times both long before and after _Constantine_ incompatible for undertaking such works as this _Antiquity_, it may safely enough be concluded, if _Stoneheng_ not founded by _Agricola_, yet created it might be about fifteen hundred and fifty years ago, in the times somewhat after his government, _the_ Province _being formerly left by him in good and peaceable state_, the _Britans_ reduced from _Barbarity_ to order and civill conversation, and the _Romans_ flourishing in all manner of _Arts_ and _Sciences_.

[Sidenote: _Vitr. lib. 4. cap. 8._]

[Sidenote: _Plin. lib. 16._]

[Sidenote: _Tom. 1. lib. 33. Tom. 2._]

[Sidenote: _Rosin. lib. 3._]

[Sidenote: _Choul fol. 217, 229._]

Now, concerning the use for which _Stoneheng_ at first erected, I am clearly of opinion, it was originally a _Temple_, it being built with all accommodations properly belonging to a sacred structure. For, it had an intervall or spacious Court lying round about it, wherein the _Victimes_ for oblation were slain, into which it was unlawfull for any profane person to enter: it was separated from the circumadjacent Plain, with a large Trench in stead of a wall, as a boundary about the _Temple_, most conformable to the main work, wholly exposed to open view: Without this Trench, the promiscuous common multitude, with zeal too much, attended the _ceremonies_ of their solemne though superstitious Sacrifices, and might see the oblations, but not come within them: It had likewise its peculiar _Cell_, with _Portico’s_ round about, into which _Cell_, as into their _Sanctum sanctorum_ (pardon the expression) none but the _Priests_ entred to offer Sacrifice, and make atonement for the _People_: Within the _Cell_ an _Ara_ or _Altar_ was placed, having its proper position towards the _East_, as the _Romans_ used. _Aræ spectent ad Orientem_, saith _Vitruvius_. And, that there hath been the heads of Bulls, or Oxen, of Harts, and other such beasts digged up, or in, or near this _Antiquity_ (as divers now living can testifie) is not to be omitted; for who can imagine, but these were the heads of such, as anciently there offered in Sacrifice? together with which also, were heaped up great quantities of Charcole, happily used about the performance of their superstitious ceremonies. That the ancient _Romans_ had Charcole in use amongst them, _Pliny_ affirms. And when I caused the foundations of the stones to be searched, my self found, and yet have by me to shew the cover of a _Thuribulum_, or some such like vase (I suppose) wherein _Choul_ in his discourse of their Religion, reports the ancient _Romans_ used to carry Incense, wine or holy water, for service in their Sacrifices, lying about three foot within the ground, near one of the stones of the greater _Hexagon_.

[Sidenote: _Vitr. lib. 4. cap. 7._]

The _Order_ whereof this _Temple_ consists, according to the rules of _Art_ observed by the ancient _Romans_ in works of this kinde, is mingled of _Greek_ and _Tuscane_ work. For, as the plainnesse and solidnesse of the _Tuscane Order_, appears eminently throughout the whole _Antiquity_: so the narrownesse of the spaces betwixt the stones, visibly discovers therein, the delicacy of the _Corinthian Order_. Which commixture amongst the _Roman Architects_ was very usuall, in regard _Vitruvius_ (in his fourth Book and seventh Chapter) treating somwhat largely (his method otherwise considered) of severall sorts of the like composed _Temples_, mixt of the _Greek_ and _Tuscane_ manners tels us: that, _Nonnulli de Tuscanicis generibus sumentes columnarum dispositiones, transferunt in Corinthiorum & Ionicorum operum ordinationes. Some taking the qualities of the columns of the Tuscane Order, transfer them into the symmetry of the Corinthian and Ionick works._ Whereby (to please themselves it seems in their own inventions) _efficiunt Tuscanicorum & Græcorum operum communem ratiocinationem. They make of the Tuscane and Greek works one common composure._ As the same Author likewise remembers.

[Sidenote: _Vitr. lib. 3. cap. 1._]