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 / endeavoured by Thomas Fuller.

The Buildings.

The Cathedrall of Salisbury (dedicated to the Blessed Virgin) is paramount in this kind, wherein the Doors and Chappells equall the Months, the Windows the Days, the Pillars and Pillarets of Fusill Marble (an ancient Art now shrewdly suspected to be lost) the Hours of the Year, so that all Europe affords not such an Almanack of Archi∣tecture.

Once walking in this Church, (whereof then I was Prebendary) I met a Country∣man wondring at the Structure thereof. I once (said he to me) admired that there could be a Church that should have so mamy Pillars, as there be Hours in the Year; And now, I admire more, that there should be so many Hours in the Yèar, as I see Pillars in this Church.

The Cross Isle of this Church is the most beautifull and lightsome of any I have yet beheld. The Spire Steeple (not founded on the ground, but for the main supported by Four Pillars,) is of great heighth and greater workman-ship. I have been credibly informed that some Forraign Artists beholding this building, brake forth into Tears, which some imputed to their Admiration, (though I see not how wondring can cause weeping,) others to their Envy, grieving that they had not the like in their own Land.

Nor can the most Curious (not to fay Cavilling) Eye, desire any thing which is want∣ing in this Edifice, except possibly an Ascent, seeing such who address themselves hither for their devotions, can hardly say with David, I will go up into the house of the Lord.

Amongst the many Monuments therein, that of Edward Earl of Hartford, is most magnificent, that of Helen Sua•…•…enburgh a Swede, (the Relict of William Marquess of Northampton, and afterwards married to Sir Thomas Gorges,) is most commended for its artificiall plainness.

But the curiosity of Criticks is best entertained with the Tomb, in the North of the Nave of the Church, where lieth a Monument in stone, of a little boy habited all in Episcopal Robes, a Miter upon his •…•…ead, a Crosier in his hand, and the rest accor∣dingly. At the discovery thereof (formerly covered over with Pews) many justly ad∣mired, that either a Bishop could be so small in Person, or a Child so great in Clothes; though since all is unriddled. For it was* 1.1 fashionable in that Church (a thing rather deserving to be remembred, then fit to be done,) in the depth of Popery, that the Choristers chose a boy of their society, to be a Bishop among them, from Saint Nicho∣las till Innocents day at night, who did officiate in all things Bishop-like, saying of Mass alone excepted, and held the state of a Bishop, answerably habited, amongst his fellows the counterfeit Prebends: one of these, chancing to die in the time of his mock-Episco∣pacy, was buried with Crosier and Miter as is aforesaid. Thus superstition can dispence with that, which Religion cannot, making Piety Pageantry, and subjecting what is sa∣cred, to lusory representations.

As for Civil-buildings in this County, none are such Giants as to exceed the Stan∣dard of Structures in other Counties. Long-leat the house of Sir James Thynne was the biggest, and Wilton is the stateliest and pleasantest for Gardens, Fountains, and other ac∣commodations.

Nor must the industry of the Citizens of Salisbury be forgotten, who have derived the River into every Street therein, so that Salisbury is a heap of Islets thrown together. This mindeth me of an Epitaph made on Mr. Francis Hide a Native of this City, who dyed Secretary unto the English Leiger in Venice,

Born in the English Venice, thou didst die Dear friend in the Italian Salisbury.

The truth is that the strength of this City consisted in the weakness thereof, unca∣pable of being Garrison'd, which made it in our Modern Wars to scape better then many other places of the same proportion.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mr. Gregori's Opera Posthu∣m•…•…, pag. 95. &c.