wisely judg’d that in such materials, where the scantlings could not be exact, the proportions must still be adjusted agreeable to their diversities, and this both in respect of the particulars, and of the general distance to be filled up. These stones were all fetched from the surface of the downs. They took the most shapely, and of largest dimensions first; but when ’twas necessary to make use of lesser stones, they set them closer together, and so proportion’d the solid and the vacuity, as gave symmetry in appearance, and a regularity to the whole. Therefore tho’ 25 cubits be the common measure of the interval between center and center of the largest stones of this circle, yet this is not always the rule; for if we measure the two stones west of the north entrance (which entrance was made for the convenience of the town, by throwing the earth of the _vallum_ into it again) you will find it to be about 27 feet. This is but 16 of the Druid cubits, and here us’d, because these stones are but of moderate bulk. The next intervals are 43 feet as usual, being of the larger kind of stones, so plac’d 25 cubits central distance, and then they proceed. This is in that call’d pasture IIII. in the ground plot. I have always been at first in some perplexity in measuring and adjusting these works of the Druids, and they seem’d magical, ’till I became master of their purpose. Therefore to make it very plain to the reader, I shall repeat what I have deliver’d in other words, concerning this great circle, which is a general rule for all others. [Illustration: TAB. XI. Rundway hill 18 Iuly, 1723. _Stukeley del._ A. _Bekhampton._ B. _the Model of a Camp._ C. _Celtic barrows._ D. _the way to_ Verlucio.] As to the construction of this circle, by diligent observation, I found this to be the art of the Druids. ’Tis not to be thought, they would be at the trouble of bringing so many mountains together, of placing them in a regular form, without seeking how to produce the best effect therein, and thus they obtain’d their purpose. As it was necessary, the stones should be rude and native, untouch’d of tool, and that it was impossible to procure them of the dimensions exactly; they consider’d that the beauty in their appearance must be owing to their conformity, as near as may be, and to the proportion between the solid and the void interval. This _ratio_ with judgment they chose to be as two to three: two parts the breadth of the stone, the interval three. And this they accommodated to the whole circle. So that they first brought 100 of their choicest stones together, and laid them in the destin’d circle, at the intended distances, according to that proportion: and then raised them into their respective places.