III.] 
OF SELBORNE. 
467 
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- 
VIRW OF SELBORNE CHURCH FROM THE Af.TOX ItOAl) 
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.^ Upon these rest blunt 
In the same manner, to compare great things with small, did Wykeliam, 
when he new-built the cathedral at Winchester, from the tower westward, 
II H 2 
