Near Wilton sweet, huge heaps of stone are found,
But so confus’d, that neither any eye
Can count them just, nor reason reason try,
What force brought them to so unlikely ground.
This, though it scarcely merits an answer, yet, to satisfie those which in this point may be curious, let them but observe the orders of the Circles, as they now appear, and not passe from one to another confusedly (noting neverthelesse where they begin) and they’ll find the just number easie to be taken.
Now, though whether in order to the Place it self where this Antiquity stands, or Persons, by whom Stoneheng pretended to be built, enough laid, to wave the reports upon fancy, or common Fame, formerly delivered: to the state of Time neverthelesse, wherein the British Histories would have it erected, because nothing by me hath yet been spoken, I will therefore adde, ’tis not probable such a work as Stoneheng could be then built. For, although our Britans, in ancient time possessed, together with the Roman civility, all good Arts, it is evident during the reign of A. Ambrosius (about the first coming in of the Saxons here, and towards the later end of the fifth Century, as Historians and Chronologists compute it) in the last declining of the Roman Empire, the Arts of Design, of which Architecture chief, were utterly lost even in Rome it self, much more in Britain, being then but a Tempest-beaten Province, and utterly abandoned by the Romans. Britain, therefore, being over-run with enemies, and the knowledge of Arts then lost amongst them: none, questionlesse, can reasonably apprehend so notable a work as Stoneheng could in such times be built.
That, amongst the Romans and Britans both, A. Ambrosius governing here, all Sciences were utterly perished, is evidently manifest. For, the Goths had then invaded Italy; and that vast Empire drooping with extreme Age, by the fatall irruption of strange Nations, was not only torn in peeces, but Barbarisme having trod learning under foot, and the sword bearing more sway then letters, or learned men, all Sciences were neglected; and particularly that of Building fell into such decay, that till of late about the year one thousand five hundred and ten, it lay swallowed up, and (as I may so say) buried in oblivion. When one Bramante of the Dutchy of Urbin,Serl. lib. 3. attaining admirable perfection in Architecture, restored to the world again, the true rules of building, according to those Orders, by the ancient Romans in their most flourishing times observed. Furthermore, not onely liberall Sciences and Architecture, but Art military also, about the time of A. Ambrosius, was so far lost amongst the Romans, that they were ignorant, yea, in the very rudiments of War. Insomuch, (as Procopius in his second Book of the Gothick Wars relate) Barbarism had bereft them of the skill, even in what manner to sound a retreat.
With us here also, the Saxons domineer’d over all, and A. Ambrosius with the Britans had enough to do, in endeavouring the recovery of their lost Countrey from a mighty prevailing Enemy, that in few years afterwards (maugre all the ways which force or policy could invent) conquered the whole Nation. Among other calamities attending that miserable Age, Camden (from William of Malmsbury) directly to the purpose in hand tels us.W. Malmes. fol. 8.
Camden fo. 87. Cum Tyranni nullum in agris præter semibarbaros, nullum in urbibus præter ventri deditos reliquissent: Britannia omni patrocinio juvenilis vigoris viduata, omni Artium exercitio exinanita, conterminarum gentium inhiationi diu obnoxia fuit. When the Tyrants (to wit, the Romans) had left none in the Countrey but half Barbarians, none in the Cities and Towns, but such as wholly gave themselves to belly-cheer; Britain, destitute of all protection, by her vigorous young men, bereaved of all exercise, and practice of good Arts, became exposed for a long time to the greedy, and gaping jaws of Nations confining upon her.
Here you have it from an Author, more ancient then G. Monmouth a little, though both lived in one age, the times about A. Ambrosius government, whether before, during his reign, or after, were so full of miseries, that he complains, none then employed, or exercised in any whatever works belonging to Art. They had somthing else (as appears by divers Writers) to think upon, all their abilities being insufficient to defend their Countrey from forein servitude, their Cities and Towns from ruine, and destruction, and their habitations from rage of cruell and insolent enemies, robbing, spoiling, burning, wasting, all before them: to which,Gildas. plague, pestilence, and famine being joyned, the inland part of the Island, even to the Western Ocean was welnear totally consumed.
Besides, the Countrey was so oppress’d, what with outward hostile miseries, what with intestine tumults and troubles: that, had they not lost the practice of all Arts (as the former Historian saith they had) so far were they from erecting any work of this kind, that they were compelled to abandon their Towns, and houses, built in times foregoing by their Auncestors, and betake themselves to mountains, caves, and woods for shelter. Now, if the calamities of those times hung over the Britans heads, in so generall manner, that not one amongst them had leisure to put pen to paper, (as from Leyland before remembred) much lesse able were they, without all peradventure, to undertake so great a work as Stoneheng, wherein, as all rationall men must grant, numbers of men employed, and many years taken up, before brought to its absolute perfection.