The windowes of the church, as they reckon them,
answer just in number to the dayes; the pillars, great and small, to
the houres, of a full yeare; and the gates to the moneths." -
["England Described; or, Observations on the several Counties and
Shires thereof, by Edw. Leigh." 1659. 8vo.]
"Mira canam, soles quot continet annus, in un?
Tam numerosa ferunt sede fenestra micat.
Marmoreaq{ue} capit fusas tot ab arte columnas
Comprensus horas quot vagus annus habet.
Totq{ue}patent port?, quot mensibus annus abundat,
Res mira, et vera, res celebrata fide." - DANIEL ROGERS.
'Tis strange to see how errour hath crept in upon the people, who
believe that the pillars of this church were cast, forsooth, as
chandlers make candles; and the like is reported of the pillars of the
Temple Church, London, &c.: and not onely the vulgar swallow down the
tradition gleb, but severall learned and otherwise understanding
persons will not be perswaded to the contrary, and that the art is
lost.[Among the rest Fuller, in his Worthies of England, gave
currency to this absurd opinion.- J. B.] Nay, all the bishops and
churchmen of that church in my remembrance did believe it, till Bishop
Ward came, who would not be so imposed on; and the like errour runnes
from generation to generation concerning Stoneheng, that the stones
there are artificiall. But, to returne to the pillars of this church,
they are all reall marble, and shew the graine of the Sussex marble
(sc.
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