6 Stonehenge and its Barroios. 



reason to believe that but a few stones on that side of Abury were 

 available for the vertebrae of his serpent's tail.^ 



Before proceeding- to describe the plan of Stonehenge (for which, 

 as Sir Richard Hoare says, the pen must call in the assistance of 

 the pencil, for without a reference "to plans and views, no perfect 

 knowledge can be gained respecting this " Wonder of the West"), 

 it will be best to give a somewhat detailed account of the different 

 notices of Stonehenge in mediaeval and later times. 



Some persons are of opinion that Hecatseus of Abdera, a con- 

 temporary of Alexander the Great, and of Ptolemy, made allusion 



'From a letter of Lord Winchelsea's, printed in " Nichols' IlluslrationB of 

 the Literary History of the 18th century," ii., p. 771, and dated July 12th, 

 1723, it is evident that Stukeley had, at that early period, made up his mind 

 about this Beckampton avenue. In his common-place book, folio 1717 — 48, 

 lately in the possession of Sir William Tite, at page 73, is " a rude general 

 sketch of the wonderful relique of Anbury, Wiltshire, as it appeared to us 

 May 19, 1719," and then follow Stukeley's _/?rs< impressions of it, containing 

 nothing noteworthy except the conclusion, viz : " I believe there was originally 

 but one entrance to it." There is the plan of the Kennet avenue, but no indica- 

 tion of any other. It is perfectly clear that Stukeley was conversant with all 

 that Aubrey had written before him, although, like many other arehfeologists, 

 he would not acknowledge the obligations he was under to his predecessor. 

 Thomas Hearne, who must have been a crusty man, speaks very disparagingly 

 of Stukeley as an antiquary. At page 485 of the " Reliquiae Hearnianse," 

 (Bliss' edition,) is the following entry : " 1722. Oct. 9. Dr. Stukley, fellow 

 of the Royal Society, is making searches about the Roman ways. He is a very 

 fancifull man, and the things he hath published are built upon fancy. He is 

 looked upon as a man of no great authority, and his reputation dwindles every, 

 day as I have learnt from very good hands." And again, " 1724. Sep. 10, 

 Yesterday in the afternoon called upon me, William Stukeley, doctor of physick, 

 whom I had never seen before. He told me he is about printing a little folio 

 about curiosities. It is to be entitled ' Itinerarium Curiosum "... This 

 Dr. Stukeley is a mighty conceited man, and 'tis observed by all that I have 

 talked with that what he does hath no manner of likeness to the original. He 

 does all by fancy," Hearne mentions Aubrey twice, but says nothing against 

 him. Bishop Warburton considered Stukeley to have in him " a mixture of 

 simplicity, drollery, absurdity, ingenuity, superstition, and antiquarianism." 

 Malone says of Aubrey, that "his character for veracity has never been im- 

 peached, and as a very diligent antiquarian his testimony is worthy of 

 attention." Toland says " that he was a very honest man, and most accurate 

 in his [iccounts of matters of fact." That he was very credulous we shall find 

 from the ready hearing which he gave to Mrs. Trotmaa's gossip at Stone- 

 henge. 



