ACRE. 17 
Eighth; nor can any hypothesis be formed more ^-hap. 
liable to dispute than that which deduces the ^ > - ^' 
origin of an?/ style of architecture from the North 
of Europe ; " whence nothing ever came but the 
sword and desolation*." Six Oriental cities 
may be named, where this kind of architecture 
was formerly in use : these are, Nicotia in 
Cyprus ; Ptolemdis, Dio Ccesarea, and Jerusalem, 
in the Holy Land; Rosetta, and Cairo, in Egypt. 
In all these cities, there are remains of the 
pointed style, which relate to a much earlier 
period than its introduction in England. A 
further acquaintance with Oriental architecture 
will, assuredly, bring to light many other 
instances than those which have now been 
adduced. In the north of our island, indeed, a 
greater degree of antiquity may be claimed for 
the pointed arch, then even the advocates for its 
English origin have ever assigned to it. Masons 
were first brought into England by a monk, the 
preceptor of the venerable Bede, about the 
middle of the seventh century, together with the 
arts of painting and of glazing'. About this 
^4) De ChdteaubriamVs Tr&veh, vol. II. p. 124. Lond. 1811. 
(o) " Benet the Monke, and maister of the reverend Beda, brought 
fir.st the crafte of Painting, Glasing, and Masons, into this land." 
Stow's Summary of the Chronicles of England, pp. 27, 28. Lond. 1598. 
VOL. A'. C 
