The history of the worthies of England who for parts and learning have been eminent in the several counties : together with an historical narrative of the native commodities and rarities in each county
Fuller, Thomas, 1608-1661., Fuller, John, b. 1640 or 41.

The Buildings.

Of these the Churches of Bath and Wells are most eminent. Twins are said to make but one Man, as these two Churches constitute one Bishops See. Yet as a Twin oft-times proves as proper a person as those of single Births. So these severally equal most, and ex∣ceed many Cathedrals in England.

We begin with Bath considerable in its several conditions, viz. the beginning, obstru∣cting, decaying, repairing, and finishing thereof.

1 It was begun by Oliver King Bishop of this Diocess in the reign of Henry the Seventh and the West end most curiously cut and carved with Angels climbing up a Ladder to Heaven. But this Bishop died before the finishing thereof.

2 His Death obstructed this structure so that it stood a long time neglected, which gave occasion for one to write on the Church-wall with a Char-coal.

O Church I wail thy woeful plight,
Whom King, nor Card'nal, Clark, or Knight
Have yet restor'd to ancient right.

Alluding herein to Bishop King who begun it, and his four Successors in thirty five years, viz. Cardinal Adrian, Cardinal Wolsey, Bishop Clark, and Bishop Knight, contri∣buting nothing to the effectual finishing thereof.

3 The decay and almost ruin thereof followed when it felt in part the Hammers which knocked down all Abbyes. True it is the Commissioners profered to sell the Church to the Towns-men under 500 Marks. But the Towns-men fearing if they bought it so cheape to be thought to cozin the King: so that the purchase might come under the compasse of concealed lands, refused the profer. Hereupon the Glass, Iron, Bells, and Lead (which last alone amounted to 480 Tun) provided for the finishing thereof were sold and sent over beyond the Seas, if a ship-wrack (as some report) met them not by the way.

4 For the repairing thereof, collections were made all over the Land in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, though inconsiderable, either in themselves, or through the corruption of others. Onely honest Mr. Billet (whom I take to be the same with him, who was de∣signed Executor, to the Will of William Cecil Lord Burghley) disbursed good sums to the repairing thereof, and a Stranger under a fained name took the confidence thus to play the Poet and Prophet on this Structure.

Be blithe fair Kirck, when Hempe is past,
Thine Olive, that ill winds did blast,
Shall flourish green for age to last.
Subscribed Cassadore.

By Hempe understand Henry the Eight, Edward the Sixth, Queen Mary, King Philip, and Queen Elizabeth. The Author I suspect had a Tang of the Cask, and being parcel-popish expected the finishing of this Church at the return of their Religion, but his prediction was verified in a better sense, when his Church

5 Was finished by James Montague Bishop of this See, disbursing vast sums in the same, though the better enabled thereunto by his Mines at Mynedep, so that he did but re∣move the Lead from the bowels of the Earth to the roof of the Church, wherein he lies enterred under a fair Monument.

This Church is both spacious and specious, the most lightsome as ever I beheld, pro∣ceeding from the greatness of the Windows, and whiteness of the Glass therein.

All I have more to add is only this, that the parable of Jotham [Judg. 9. 8.] is on this Church most curiously wrought (in allusion to the Christian Sirname of the first Founder thereof,) how the Trees going to choose them a King, profered the place to the OLIVE. Now when lately one OLIVER was for a time Commander in Chief in this Land, some (from whom more Gravity might have been expected) beheld this Picture as a Prophetical Prediction, so apt are English fancies to take fire at every spark Page  20 of conceit. But seeing since that Olive hath been blasted bottom, his Root and Bran∣ches, this pretended Prophecy with that observation the reason is withered away.

As for the Cathedral of Wells it is a greater so darker than that of Bath, so that Bath may seem to draw devotion with the pleasantnesse, Wells to drive it with the solemnity thereof, and ill tempered their Minds who will be moved with neither. The West Front of Wells is a Master-piece of Art indeed, made of Imagiry in just proportion, so that we may call them Vera & spirantia signa. England affordeth not the like. For the West end of Excester beginneth accordingly, it doth not like Wells persevere to the end thereof.

As for the Civil Habitations in this County (not to speak of Dunstar Castle, having an high ascent, and the effect thereof, a large prospect by Sea and Land) Mountague built by Sir Edward Philips, Master of the Roles, is a most magnificent Fabrick. Nor must Hinton St. George, the House of the Lord Poulet be forgotten having every stone in the Front shaped Doule-wayes, or in the form of a Cart-nail. This I may call a Charitable Curiosity, if true what is traditioned. That about the reign of King Henry the Seventh, the owner thereof built it in a dear year, on purpose to imploy the more poor people thereupon.