94 Charles G. Osgood, 



and touch, all which he laid aside by great heaps.' Eldred's 

 successor, Edmer, continued the work, and 'not onelie found 

 infinite other peeces of excellent workemanship, but came at the 

 last to certeine vaults under the ground, in which stood divers 

 idols, and not a few altars, verie superstitiouslie and religiouslie 

 adorned. . . . These images were of sundrie mettals, and some 

 of pure gold, their altars likewise were richlie covered.' 'In 

 proceeding further, he tooke up diverse pots of gold, silver, 

 brasse, glasse, and earth, whereof some were filled with the 

 ashes and bones of the gentils.' He found also two old books 

 containing descriptions of pagan rites and the martyrdom of 

 St. Alban. 'Thus much have I thought good to note of the 

 former beautie of Verolamium, whereof infinite other tokens 

 have beene found since that time, and diverse within the memorie 

 of man, of passing workemanship, the like whereof hath no where 

 else beene scene in anie ruines within the compasse of this He, 

 either for cost or quantitie of stuffe.' 



In the same connection Camden says: 'If I were disposed 

 upon the report of the common people to reckon up what great 

 store of Romane peeces of coine, how many cast images of gold 

 and silver, how many vessels, what a sort of modules or Chapters 

 of pillars, and how many wonderfuU things of antique worke, 

 have been digged up, my words would not carry credit. The 

 thing is so incredible' (Hertfordshire, p. 411). He adds a 

 briefer account than Harrison's of the discoveries of Eldred and 



Edmer. 



Theretoo, for warlike power and peoples store, 



In Britannie was none to match with niee, 



That manie often did abie full sore : 



Ne Troynovant, though elder sister shee. 



With my great forces might compared bee ; 



That stout Pendragon to his perill felt, 



Who in a siege seaven yeres about me dwelt." 



That London was both older and weaker than Verulam was 

 asserted in the passage quoted from Holinshed above on page 

 93. Of the seven years' siege by Pendragon, Spenser doubt- 

 less learned in Camden, who quotes from Alexander Neckam, 

 'who 400. yeeres since was there borne' : 



"LI. 99-105. 



