VIIXABD DE HONNECOURT
we are told by Gervase, the chronicler of the cathedral, who had
himself lived through the events he relates. There was great despair
amongst the brethren until after a while they began to consult "by
what method the ruined church might be repaired. Architects, both
French and English, were assembled; but they disagreed. Some
suggested repair, while others insisted that the whole church must
be taken down, if the monks wished to dwell in safety. This over-
whelmed them with grief. Among the architects there was one,
William of Sens, a man of great abilities and a most ingenious work-
man in wood and stone. Dismissing the rest, they chose him for the
undertaking. And he, residing many days with the monks and care-
fully surveying the burnt walls . . . did yet for some time conceal
what he found necessary to do, lest the truth should kill us in our
hopelessness. But he went on preparing all things that were necessary,
either himself or by the agency of others. And when he found that
the monks began to be somewhat comforted, he confessed that the
damaged pillars and all that they supported, must be destroyed, if
the monks wished to have a safe and excellent building. At length
they agreed ... to take down the ruined choir. Attention was given
to procure stones from abroad. He made the most ingenious machines
for loading and unloading ships, and for drawing the mortar and
stones. He delivered also to the masons models (cut-out wooden
templates) for cutting the stones. . . ." Then the chronicler tells us
exactly what during each of the following four years was done. At
the beginning of the fifth year, however, "William, while on the
scaffolding, fell down to the ground from a height of fifty feet. He
was badly hurt and had to "entrust the completion of the work to a
certain ingenious monk who was overseer of the rough masons...".
But though lying in bed, he gave orders "what was first and what
was last to be done. ... At length, finding no benefit from the skill
of his surgeons, he went to France to die at home'*, and an English
successor was appointed.1
So here we have the craftsman, equally skilled in masonry and
engineering work, diplomatic with his patrons and appreciated by
them, but never while conducting work abroad forgetting the land
of his youth. At Sens, wherefirom he came, a new cathedral had been
begun about thirty years before he went over to Canterbury, a
cathedral with certain features evidently imitated at Canterbury.
1 The quotations are from Mr. Charles Cotton's edition (Canterbury Papers
No. 3. Published by die Friends of Canterbury Cathedral, 1930)*
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