Lastly, he positively tels us it was _sine Cella, without a Cell_: now the _Cell_ (and which for distinction sake I have so called in describing this _Antiquity_, because it was applied to the same use, to perform their sacred rites in) was indeed properly, the inner, or chief part of the _Temple, quam nos corpus Templi vulgò dicimus, we commonly call it the body of the Church_, which enclosed with wals, was covered with a roof, as _Vitruvius_ declares in the form _Peripteros, tecti ratio ita habeatur &c. The manner of a roof_ (saith he) _was thus &c._ But, the _Monopteros_ was without a _Cell_, and consequently without a roof also, as having no walls to bear it. For, in regard of the manner of the _Architecture_, the pillars standing in _Island_ (as we say) the work could not securely bear a roof, if made of any great capacity: either therefore, they made _Temples_ of this form very little (in which respect only, _Palladio_ supposeth it might be vaulted) inconsistent with the _Roman_ greatnesse, or else, like _Stoneheng_ they were wholly uncovered and rooflesse. Howsoever, it is manifest, the _Aspect_ was just the same. And if I should say, the ruines of one after the same form also, remains yet in _Oxfordshire_, which the common people usually call _Rolle-rich-stones_, take it but as my conjecture only, as likewise one or two built after the like manner in _Scotland_, no man unlesse _Hector Boetius_ knowing by what Kings.
Moreover, the proportions appearing in this _Antiquity Stoneheng_, are much conformable to those, assigned by _Vitruvius_ to the parts of the _Monopteros_: He tels us, _Tribunal habent & ascensum ex suæ diametri tertia parte: they had the Tribunal_, (by which is understood that levell upon which the _Temple_ placed) _and the ascent, consisting of one third part of the Diameter_. So at _Stoneheng_, the work it self is one _third part of the Diameter_ of the circumvallation: And, acording to the proportion allowed by him to _the Ascent_, it seems those _Temples_ were sited more stately then others, (by consequence great also) and certain it is, whosoever views this _Antiquity_ attentively with judgement, upon the place where remaining (for the _Folio_ being too little I could not expresse it in Design) and doth allow a proportionate depth to the Trench surrounding it; considering also, together therewith, the levell of the plain lying without, he will then finde it standing upon such a rising ground, that the _Ascent_ unto it, was not much lesse magnificent, then what _Vitruvius_ hath declared.