The time assigned by _Anonymus_, for erecting these _orderly irregular, and formlesse uniform heaps of massive marble_, (as he cals them) _to the everlasting remembrance of Boadicia_, is much above fifteen hundred years since: _Petronius Turpilianus_ succeeding _Suetonius Paulinus_ in the Leivtenancy of _Britain_; who by his idle and lazy life, making the world beleeve there was peace here: _Anonymus_ will have it a proper time, for permitting _such an office to the Britans_, in _Boadicia’s_ honour. Times of peace, ’tis confest, when _Arts_ flourish under nobly minded Governours, are chiefly proper for erecting magnificent buildings. The Government under _Petronius_ was guilty of none of these. As for the State of _Britain_ in generall, _Tacitus_ in the life of _Agricola_ tels us, _Petronius_ had composed the former troubles; but in what sort, the fourteenth book of his _Annals_ declares; _non irritato hoste, neque lacessitus, neither the Enemy, incensed him; nor he, provoked the Enemy_: otherwise _Petronius_ durst not do. And, if peace setled, why doth the Historian call them Enemies? Concerning his own person in particular, _Petronius_ gave himself over to an unprofitable life, disguising it under the honourable name of peace. _Honestum pacis nomen segni otio imposuit_, saith _Tacitus_. And, the _Britans_ (as said before) were not then civilized, nor friends to such Arts as either nourish or are nourished by peace, therefore such a work of wonder as this _Antiquity_ famed, not to be expected from them. For, as through the malignities of the Age, wherein _Aurelius Ambrosius_ lived, the _Britans_ had utterly lost the practice of all those _Sciences_, in times foregoing, learned by their Auncestors from the _Romans_: so, through the neglect of civil policy in the preceding _Roman_ Governours, in this Leivtenancy of _Petronius_, the _Britans_ had not attained the knowledge of any those _Arts_, not many years afterwards, taught their posterity by the _Romans_. Whole imperiall Eagles took not wing in _Britain_ with such lofty speed, as over other Countreys; _The_ Britans _being a fierce Nation, slowly giving ear to any peace_, the _Romans_ had work enough in subduing them. _Julius Cæsar_ rather shewed the Island to his successors, then left them possession of it: _Augustus_ and _Tiberius_ held it policy to neglect it: _Caligula_ intending to invade _Britain_, was diverted by his Wars in _Germany_: _Claudius_ first prosecuting the conquest with effect, established the colony at _Camalodunum_, and his Leivtenants _Aulus Plautius_, _Flavius Vespasianus_, _Ostorius Scapula_, and _Didius Gallus_ by little and little, after much contest, and various successe, subdued certain Countries; and reducing the nearest part of the Island to the form of a Province, built also, or rather cast up some few fortifications further within the land: _Nero’s_ Generals had much to do in keeping, what their predecessors gained; _Suetonius Paulinus_ (under him) struck that fortunate battell with _Boadicia_, else the _Romans_ beaten out of all. So that, in the time of _Petronius_, the _Romans_ having obtained no such assured dominion over the _Britans_, as might make them, themselves confident to undertake great and stately buildings here, for their own either publick, or private accommodations; (the ruine of _Camalodunum_ being too fresh in memory) occasion was not offered, nor the time yet come, to let the _Britans_ know by what _Arts_ all civill Nations of the world, did erect their excessive, rather then not magnificent structures, for eternizing their names to succeeding generations. And therefore, the Leivtenancy of _Petronius Turpilianus_, not proper for building this _stony marvell_, as _Anonymus_ suspects. For, beside what’s delivered, whensoever _Stoneheng_ built, the preparation only of materials for the work, and bringing them to the place, what _Engines_ or _Arts_ soever used, necessarily, spent more time, then _Petronius_ consumed in the whole continuance of his government here. What tumults succeeded him, let others declare.