_Of the Situation of_ Stonehenge _in general. That it was a
temple of the Druids, of the patriarchal mode, who were a most
ancient oriental colony. In later times, the_ Belgæ _from the
continent, conquer’d this country from them. Whence these
stones were brought? Of their nature, magnitude, weight. Of
the measure of the Druids, the ancient_ Hebrew _cubit, and its
proportion to the_ English _foot._
The _Wiltshire_ downs, or _Salisbury_ plain, (as commonly call’d) for
extent and beauty, is, without controversy, one of the most delightful
parts of _Britain_. But of late years great encroachments have been
made upon it by the plough, which threatens the ruin of this fine
champain, and of all the monuments of antiquity thereabouts. Monuments,
we can scarce say, whether more wonderful in themselves, more observ’d,
or less understood! among them, _Stonehenge_ has been eminent from the
remotest ages, tho’ ’tis not the greatest, most considerable, or most
ancient. But ’tis my intent to begin my discourse from it, because the
latest, and from thence proceed upwards in our inquiries, about the
times and authors of these stupendous works, the temples of the Druids
in our Island: for I cannot doubt that _Stonehenge_ was such. The idea
we conceive of the distance of time, when these kind of works were
made, cannot be ill-form’d, if we consider, that the utmost accounts
of ’em we have in writing, are from the _Britons_, the remains of the
people who lived here, at the time of the _Roman_ invasion. This is
mention’d in some manuscripts of _Ninnius_ before the _Saxons_ and
_Danes_ came over. And the oldest _Britons_ speak of this only by
tradition, far above all memorial. They wonder’d at _Stonehenge_ then,
and were as far to seek about the founders and intent of it, as we
now. They have recourse to magic, as is usual, when they would account
for any thing seemingly so much above human power, to accomplish.
They tell us, these stones of immense bulk were brought from a plain,
in the middle of _Ireland_, and the like. Which reports give us only
no obscure hint of their true authors, the Druids, who were fam’d
for magic, and were driven last into _Ireland_, in the time of the
_Romans_. There they built such like works again, or their brethren
had built before; till Christianity, to which the greatest and purest
part of their own doctrine was akin, soon put an end to their polity,
which the _Roman_ arms could not do. And they embrac’d that religion,
to which their own opinions and rites had so direct a tendency. This
is the sentiment of _Origen_ on _Ezekiel_ iv. And ’tis sufficiently
evident, if we consider, that the first planters of Christianity in
_Ireland_, immediately converted the whole island, without so much
as the blood of one martyr. Nay, the Druids themselves, at that time
the only national priests, embraced it readily, and some of them were
very zealous preachers of it, and effectual converters of others. For
instance, the great _Columbanus_ himself was a Druid: the apostle of
_Ireland_, _Cornwall_, _&c._ We need not be surpriz’d at this, when
we assert, that there is very much reason to believe, these famous
philosophic priests came hither, as a _Phœnician_ colony, in the very
earliest times, even as soon as _Tyre_ was founded: during the life of
the patriarch _Abraham_, or very soon after. Therefore they brought
along with them the patriarchal religion, which was so extremely like
Christianity, that in effect it differ’d from it only in this; they
believed in a Messiah who was to come into the world, as we believe
in him that is come. Further, they came from that very country where
_Abraham_ liv’d, his sons and grandsons; a family God almighty had
separated from the gross of mankind, to stifle the seeds of idolatry; a
mighty prince, and preacher of righteousness. And tho’ the memoirs of
our Druids are extremely short, yet we can very evidently discover from
them, that the Druids were of _Abraham_’s religion intirely, at least
in the earliest times, and worshipp’d the supreme Being in the same
manner as he did, and probably according to his example, or the example
of his and their common ancestors.
All this I shall prove, in the pursuit of this work. But before we come
to speculation, intend to give an exact description of their several
temples, and the like works; for such will be a good foundation for us
to build upon. That we may proceed from things evident and more known,
to those less known, and which we design to make evident, as well as we
are able, and the nature of it will permit. A matter so immers’d in the
dark mist of time, where very few scatter’d traces remain, must needs
bespeak the reader’s candor. The dignity of the subject will excuse
my boldness in attempting one so difficult. And however I succeed in
accounting for these wonderful works; at least, I shall be instrumental
in preserving their memory, in giving just drawings of them.
_Stonehenge_, by the extravagant grandeur of the work, has attracted
the eyes and admiration of all ages. After the reformation, upon the
revival of learning among us, the curious began to consider it more
intimately, I cannot say successfully. Mr. _Camden_ rose as the sun of
antiquity, that put out former lights, and, like _Cæsar_, affrights
all that value a reputation, from attempting any thing in his way.
His great skill in _Roman_ learning, and our _English_ history, only
enabled him to be, as it were, silent on _Stonehenge_. He saw with
excellent judgment, that neither _Roman_ nor _English_ had place there,
or could serve to illustrate it. He writes modestly, as his manner was;
“Of these things I am not able so much to give an accurate account, as
mightily to grieve, that the founders of this noble monument cannot
be trac’d out.” He could not persuade himself that either _Romans_,
_Saxons_ or _Danes_ had any hand in it. And as for his representation
of it in picture, I verily believe, it was drawn only from fancy or
memory, or by some engraver from his oral description. _A. D._ 1620,
king _James_ I. being at the earl of _Pembroke_’s seat at _Wilton_,
and agreeably surpriz’d with the sight of _Stonehenge_, consulted
the famous architect _Inigo Jones_, upon it; thinking it a matter in
his way. This great man, who deservedly may be stiled the _English
Vitruvius_, gave his opinion of it, as a _Roman_ work; and left, I
suppose, some few indigested notes in writing there-upon. From which
his son-in-law _John Webb_ compos’d an intire treatise, endeavouring
to prove it. But they that are acquainted with _Roman_ architecture,
or have consider’d _Stonehenge_, must needs be of a different opinion.
And as my Lord Bishop of _London_ well observes, in his notes on
_Camden_, “it cannot be safe to close with Mr. _Jones_, tho’ his book
otherwise be a learned and ingenious piece.” _Inigo Jones_ lived 30
years after this, and yet Mr. _Webb_ makes an apology for his work,
“that if he had surviv’d to have done it, with his own hand, it would
have been better.” But ’tis very reasonably believ’d, that tho’ _Inigo
Jones_ was an extraordinary genius in architecture, yet he wanted
many qualifications for an author, especially in such a work as
_Stonehenge_. ’Tis my opinion, that had his architectonic skill been
united to Mr. _Camden_’s learning, he could never have demonstrated
_Stonehenge_ to be a _Roman_ work. Afterwards, Dr. _Charlton_ publish’d
a piece against _Webb_’s performance, and certainly has said enough to
overthrow it, tho’ he could not with equal success establish his own
opinion, that it was the work of the _Danes_. Whereas _Olaus Wormius_
finds no such monuments among the _Gothic_ nations: which, as Mr.
_Toland_ observes, is answer sufficient to his allegation. _Webb_
answer’d the Doctor’s book, and by turns effectually demolish’d his
opinion, but could not still vindicate his own. Yet from all their
disputations, no spark was struck, towards a discovery of the real
truth. What is the worst part in both performances of Mr. _Webb_, his
representation of the real monument in his drawings, is fictitious.
And, as Mr. _Aubry_ rightly observes, “in endeavouring to retrieve a
piece of architecture in _Vitruvius_, he abuses the reader with a false
representation of the whole.” It requires no great pains to prove this,
nor need we take much time to be satisfy’d in it: the work is still
extant. As soon as a judicious eye comes upon the spot, we discern
that _Webb_’s equilateral triangles forming the cell are fancies: his
three entrances across the ditch are so too; and that he has turn’d
the cell a sixth part from its true situation, to favour his imaginary
hypothesis. But ’tis against my inclination to find fault with the
labours of others, nor do I thereby seek to bribe the reader in my own
favour. I had a great pleasure for several years together, in viewing
and examining these noble remains of our ancestors. What I wrote about
them, was for my private amusement, and that of friends. And I publish
them only for the honour of my country, and in hopes that such a
publication will not be unserviceable to religion; which is my ultimate
view.
[Illustration: _P. 2._ TAB II.
_Stukeley. d._
_Prospect of the Roman Road & Wansdike just above Calston May 20, 1724.
This demonstrates that Wansdike was made before the Roman Road._]
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.
[Illustration: _P. 4._ TAB. III.
_Stukeley delin._
_Prospect of_ STONEHENGE _from the East_.
_by Vespasians camp._]
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.
[Illustration: _P. 6._ TAB IIII.
_Stukeley delin_ _Toms sculp._
_A View a little beyond Woodyates where the Ikening Street crosses part
of a Druids barrow Jun. 9. 1724._]