Our plan shows a change which Wren made as to the orientation. In all
probability this arose out of his scrupulous care as to the nature of
the foundation. The clearing away was most difficult. Parts had to
be blown up with gunpowder. It is said that when he was giving
instructions to the builders on clearing away the ruins, he called on
a workman to bring a great flat stone, which he might use as a centre
in marking out on the ground the circle of the dome. The man took out
of the rubbish the first large stone that came to hand, which was a
piece of gravestone, and, when it was laid down, it was found to have
on it the single word "RESURGAM." He took this, and there was no
superstition in such an idea, as a promise from God.
[Illustration: St Paul's in Flames. _W. Hollar fecit. A deg. 1666._]
[Footnote 1: There is a very amusing little book by one Henry Farley,
written in 1621, on the subject of this visit. In one paper he
personates the Cathedral, and expresses his rejoicing, "I have had
more sweeping, brushing, and cleaning, than in forty years before.
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