- J. B.]
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Here being so much good stone in this countrey, no doubt but that the
Romans had here, as well as in other parts, good buildings. But time
hath left us no vestigia of their architecture unlesse that little
that remains of the castle of Old Sarum, where the mortar is as hard
as a stone. This must have been a most august structure, for it is
situated upon a hill. When the high walles were standing, flanked at
due distances with towers, about seven in all, and the vast keep
(arx) in the middle crowned with another high fortification, it must
needs afford a most noble view over the plaines.
(The following account I had from the right reverend, learned, and
industrious Seth Ward, Lord Bishop of Sarum, who had taken the paines
to peruse all the old records of the church, that had been clung
together and untoucht for perhaps two hundred yeares.) Within this
castle of Old Sarum, on the east side, stood the Cathedrall church;
the tuft and scite is yet discernable: which being seated so high was
so obnoxious to the weather, that when the wind did blow they could
not heare the priest say masse. But this was not the only
inconvenience. The soldiers of the castle and the priests could never
agree; and one day, when they were gone without the castle in
procession, the soldiers kept them out all night, or longer. Whereupon
the Bishop, being much troubled, cheered them up as well as he could,
and told them he would study to accommodate them better.
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