The next thing to be enquired after, is, in what time _Stoneheng_ built. Happily, about those times, when the _Romans_ having setled the Country here under their own _Empire_, and, together with bringing over _Colonies_ reduced the naturall inhabitants of this Island unto the society of civill life, by training them up in the liberall Sciences. For, _then also_ (saith _Camden_) _did they furnish the_ Britans, _with goodly houses, and stately buildings, in such sort, that the reliques and rubbish of their ruines, cause the beholders now, exceedingly to admire the same, and the common sort of People plainly say, those_ Roman _works were made by Giants, of such exceeding great admiration, and sumptuous magnificence they are_.
This relation of _Camdens_, reflects chiefly upon the time of _Agricola_; neverthelesse, that _Stoneheng_ (though fabled Giants work) was then built, I dare not affirm: the great works of the _Romans_, brought to perfection in this Island, being not the work of a day. It hath been the invention of wise _Romans_ of old, affecting civility, to raise goodly buildings here: but the precise times when, in things so far from all knowledge, cannot be with any certainty avouched. For my part, I should choose to assign those times for building thereof, when the _Romans_ in their chief prosperity most flourished here, and refer the first erection to the time betwixt _Agricolas_ government formerly mentioned, and the reign of _Constantine_ the Great: in order to which, the times rather somwhat after _Agricola_, if not during his own Lievtenancy, then next preceding _Constantine_. For, long before _Constantine_ acquired the Soveraignty (which was not till the year of our Lord three hundred and ten) the magnificent splendor of that mighty _Empire_ began sensibly to wane, and the ambition of the great Captains of _Rome_, (some few excepted) tended rather to make parties for obtaining the _Purple Robe_, then (after the manner of their ancestors) to eternise their names by great and admirable works, or patronizing good _Arts_, for want whereof they began likewise to decay apace; _Serly_ in his third Book speaking of those times, telling us, that _id temporis Architecti, si cum superioribus conferantur, rudiores & ineptiores extitisse videntur. In those days although there were many Architects, yet, compared with such as lived in the preceding Ages, they were very rude and unskilfull._ Besides, the condition wherein this Island was, divers years preceding _Constantine_, would not admit such undertakings. For, by the civil discord of the _Romans_, the _Britans_ taking occasion to make frequent revolts, in hope to recover their lost liberty, the _Romans_ were put upon other manner of Councels then to think of building; namely to reduce the _Britans_ to their wonted obedience, and keep the Province in some reasonable quiet, by expelling the _Scots_ and _Picts_ (savage and perfidious _People_ even from times of old) making daily inroads and incursions thereunto.