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Jones, Inigo, 1573-1652; Charleton, Walter, 1619-1707; Webb, John, 1611-1672 / The most notable antiquity of Great Britain, vulgarly called Stone-Heng, on Salisbury Plain, restored, by Inigo Jones ... To which are added, the Chorea gigantum, or Stone-Heng restored to the Danes, by Doctor Charleton; and Mr. Webb’s Vindication of Stone-Heng restored, in answer to Dr. Charleton’s reflections; with observations upon the orders and rules of architecture in use among the ancient Romans. Before the whole are prefixed, certain memoirs relating to the life of Inigo Jones; with his effigies, engrav’d by Hollar; as also Dr. Charleton’s, by P. Lombart; and four new views of Stone-Heng, in its present situation: with above twenty other copper-plates, and a compleat index to the entire collection
(1725)
Stone-Heng restored, pp. 1-72 ff.
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to have done) 'what Conclufuons might have beei rais'd ftom thein
what prefumptive Reafons drawn, to prove Stone-Heng a Work
of the Druid4, or at leaft ere&ed for their Ufe?
To conclude, if this Authority from Taritus only, (an Author
efteem'd the 'Pobius of the Latins) be throughly weighed, it
will evidently manifeft, (whatever elfe hath formerly been deliver-
ed) there was no fuch thing in Britain, before the Romans ar-
rived here, as that which we now call Stone-He ng. What Credit
clfe with Pofterity could Tacitus expe& to gain, in afrming the
Britains, were taught and inftruded in the liberal Sciences by the
Romans; if thole Arts acknowledg'd, to be praais'd amongft the
Britains before? What need to have told us, the Romans made
them skilful in ereaing fumptuous Palaces, flately Portico's, and
publick Places, if the Inhabitants here, accuftomed to enjoy fuch
noble Buildings, before the Romans Arrival in this Land? Why;
tell fucceeding Ages, when gentle Pefuaftons not revail, to make
the Britains innovate, .ind admit Of ItCr d'S i-Lw'csto whatever
Deities, Agricola compell'd them to found magnificent Temples,
and allift therein, if this Antiquity Stone-Heng extant before thofe
Times? Why alfo; fiould the Britains look upon the Tenple ere&-
ed by the Romans at Camalodunum, (fuppofed Maldon in EJex )
in Honour of Claudius facred Memory, as an Altar ofperpetual
'Dominion over them, if been ufed to fuch Struaures before! Yea'
fuch an Eye-fore the Britains accounted it, as, that Temple was
one of the principal Caufes, which gave Birth to that fatal Infur-.
redion under Boadicia. Neither would Tacitus have magnified
the introducing thofe Cuftoms amongit them, as admirable Policy
in Agricola, and the true and only Rule to bring them from their
rude, and difperfed manner of living to Civility, if the Britains
attain'd fuch Difcipline before, or any Knowledge in the Excellen-
cy of Architellure preceding the Time of the Romans Government
cam. fo. 63. here. No, for what faith Camden ? It was the Brightnefs of
that moil glorious Empire, which chafed away all javage Bar-
barifm from the Britains Minds, like as from other Nations, whom
it had fubdued.
Furthermore, in the Time of this Agricola, Britain was fully
difcovered, the Romans had circumnavigated it, and knew, for
certain, it was an Ifland, formerly doubted of till his Time; yea,
there was not a Port (as I may fo fay) a Bay, Mountain, Valley,
Hill, Plain, Wood, or Foreft, either any Cuftom, Rite, Ceremony,
or what elfe belonging to the Knowledge of the Country, or Man-
ners of the People, but the Romans were then as well acquainted
with (efpecially, in that Part of the Ifland now call'd England)
as, at this Day, the Inhabitants themfelves are. Neverthelefs, what
Mention foever is made by their Hiftorians, concerning other Mat-
ters of the Britains, not one Word is to be found of this Anti-
quity, or any Building of this Kind in ufe amongft them. But,
becaufe fome curioufly Learned have defired fomewhat to be fpok-
en for their better Satisfadion touching this Particular, I have been
too prolix. In a Word therefore, let it fuffice, Stone-Heng was
no Work of the 5Druids, or of the ancidnt Britains j the Learn-
ing of the Druids confifting more in Contemplation than Praaice,
and
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