Upon the building of this cathedrall and close the castle of Old Sarum went to wrack, and one may see in the walles of the close abundance of stones, finely carved, that were perhaps part of the church there.  After the church and close were built, the citizens had their freestone, &c. from thence.  And in Edward the Sixth’s time, the great house of the Earle of Pembroke, at Wilton, was built with the mines of it.  About 1660 I was upon it.  There was then remaining on the south side some of the walles of the great gate; and on the north side there was some remaines of a bottome of a tower; but the incrustation of freestone was almost all gone:  a fellow was then picking at that little that was left.  ’Tis like enough by this time they have digged all away.

Salisbury. — Edw.  Leigh, Esq.  “There is a stately and beautifull minster, with an exceeding high spered steeple, and double crosse aisle on both sides.  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 unâ
        Tam numerosa ferunt sede fenestra micat. 
        Marmoreaq{ue} capit fusas tot ab arte columnas
        Comprensus horas quot vagus annus habet. 
        Totq{ue}patent portæ, 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. the little cockles), from whence they were brought. [These pillars are not made of Sussex marble; but of that kind which is brought from a part of Dorsetshire called the Isle of Purbeck.- J. B.] At every nine foot they are jointed with an ornament or band of iron or copper.  This quarrie hath been closed up and forgott time out of mind, and the last yeare, 1680, it was accidentally discovered by felling of an old oake; and it now serves London. (From Mr. Bushnell, the stone-cutter.)