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122 ANNUAL REGISTER the passion for reading Greek which prevailed in this reign. But this affectation was confined to the queen, and a few others: and here it went no farther than ostentation and pedantry. It was by no means the national study: nor do we find that it improved the taste, or influenced the writing, of that age. In government, many shocks must happen before the constitution is perfected. In like manner, it was late in the reign of Elizabeth, before learning, after its sinews had been relaxed by frequent changes and commotions, recovered its proper tone, and rose with new vigour, under the genial influence of the protestant religion. And it may be further remarked, that as all novelties are pursued to excess, and the most beneficial improvements often introduce new inconveniences, so this influx of polite literature destroyed philosophy. On this account, Sir Henry Savile, in the reign of James the First, established professors at Oxford for astronomy and geometry; because, as he declares in the preamble of his statutes, mathematical studies had been totally deserted, and were then almost unknown in England. Logic indeed remained; but that science was still cultivated, as being the basis of polemical theology, and a necessary instrument for conducting our controversies against the church of Rome. An Account of the burning and rebuilding of the church of Canterbury, in the year 1174.-From the Latin of Gervase, one of the Monks, an eye-witness, never before translated. On the 5th of September, in the year of Grace 1174, about 9 o'clock, the wind blowing from the south with a fury almost beyond conception, a fire broke out before the church gate, by which three small houses were almost burnt down. While the citizens were there employed in extinguishing the flames, the sparks and ashes, whirled aloft by the violence of the storm, were lodged on the church, and, by the force of the wind, insinuating themselves between the joints of the lead, settled on the planks which were almost rotten: and thus, by degrees, the heat increasing, the decayed joists were set on fire; but the finely-painted ceiling underneath, and the lead covering above, concealed the flames. Meantime, the three small houses being pulled down, the people returned home. No one being yet apprized of the fire in the church, the sheets of lead began by degrees to melt; and, on a sudden, the flames just appearing, there was a great cry in the church-yard, "Alas! alas! the church is on fire." Many of the laity ran together with the monks, to draw water, to bring axes, to mount ladders, all eager to succour Christ-Church now just on the point of destruction. They reached the roof, but, behold! all was filled with horrible smoke and a scorching flame. In despair, therefore, they were obliged to consult their own safety by retiring. And now, the joints of the rafters being consumed, the half-burnt timbers fell into the choir; the seats of the monks were set on fire; and on all sides the calamity increased. In this conflagration, that glorious choir made a wonderful and aweful ap- For the YEAR 1772. 123 appearance. The flames ascended to a great height, and the pillars of the church were damaged or destroyed. Great numbers applied to the ornaments of the church, and tore down the palls and hangings, some to steal, others to preserve them. The chests of relics, thrown from the lofty beam upon the pavement, were broken, and the relics scattered; but, lest they should be consumed, they were collected and laid up by the brethren. Some there were, who, inflamed with a wicked and diabolical avarice, saved the goods of the church from the fire, but did not scruple to carry them away. Thus the house of God, hiterhto delightful like a paradise of pleasure, they lay contemptible in the ashes of the fire. The people, astonished, and in a manner of frantic for grief, tore their hair, and uttered some enormous reproaches against the Lord and his faints, namely, the patrons of the church. There were laymen, as well as monks, who would rather have died than have seen the church of God so miserably perish; for not only the choir, but also the infirmary, with St. Mary's chapel, and some other offices of the court*, were reduced to ashes. the calamities of Canterbury were no less lamentable than those of Jerusalem of old under the tears and lamentations of Jeremiah. The grief and distress of the sons of the church were so great, that no one can conceive, relate, or write them; but, to relieve their miseries, they fixed the altar, such as it was, in the nave of the church, where they howled, rather than sung, matins and vespers. The patrons of the church, St. Dun- stan and St Elphege, were, with incredible grief and anguish, taken from their tombs, and placed, as decently as possible, in the nave of the church, at the altar of the Holy Cross. Meanwhile, the brethren consulted how, and by what method, the ruined church might be repaired. Architects, both French and English, were therefore assembled: but they disagreed in their opinions; some undertook to repair, while others, on the contrary, affirmed that the whole church must be taken down, if the monks wished to dwell in safety. This, though true, overwhelmed them with grief. Among the architects there was one William of Sens, a man of great abilities, and a most curious workman in wood and stone. Neglecting the rest, him they chose for the undertaking. Patiently, though not willingly, they agreed to take down the ruined choir. Attention was given to the procuring stones from abroad. He made most ingenious machines for loading and unloading ships, for drawing the morter and stones. He delivered, also, to the masons who were assembled, models for cutting the stones; and, in like manner, he made many other preparations. The choir, therefore, devoted to destruction, was taken down; and nothing more was done for the first year. . . . . . . In the year ensuing, Master William erected four pillars, two on each side. Winter being over, he placed two more, that on either side there might be three in a row: upon which, and the other wall of the ayles, he neatly turned arches and a vault; that is, three keys on * Now called the Green Court. each
