III.] 



OF SELBORNE. 



159 



seven in breadth, being almost as broad as it is long. The 

 present building has no pretensions to antiquity; and is, as I 

 suppose, of no earlier date than the beginning of the reign of 

 Henry VII. It is perfectly plain and unadorned, without 

 painted glass, carved work, sculpture, or tracery. But when I 

 say it has no claim to antiquity, I would mean to be under- 



VIKW OK SKI.BOKNK THUKrH KKOM T![K M.TON KOAD. 



stood of the fabric in general ; for the pillars which support 

 the roof are undoubtedly old, being of that low, squat, thick 

 Order, usually called Saxon. These, I should imagine, upheld 

 the roof of a former church, which falling into decay, was 

 rebuilt on those massy props, because their strength had pre- 

 served them from the injuries of time. 1 Upon these rest blunt 



1 In the same manner, to compare great things with small, did Wykeham, 

 when he new-built the cathedral at Winchester, from the tower westward, 



