The first Booke of Architecture made by Sebastian Serly entreating of Geometrie Translated out of Jtalian into Dutch and out of Dutch into English LONDON Printed for Robert Peake and are to be sold at his shop neere Holborne conduit next to the Sunne Tauerne ANNO DOM. 1611. TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTIE PRINCE HENRY Prince of VVales SJR NO vaine ambition of mine owne Desire much lesse presumption of my none Desert incited me to present this Volume to your Princely view but rather the gracious Countenance which euen from your Childehood you haue euer daigned to all good endeauours invited Mee also after so many others to offer at the high-Altar of your Highnesse fauour this new-Naturalized VVorke of a learned Stranger Not with pretence of Profit to your Highnesse who want not more exquisite Tutors in all excellent Sciences but vnder the Patronage of your powerfull Name to benefite the Publicke and conuay vnto my Countrymen especially Architects and Artificers of all sorts these Necessary Certaine and most ready Helps of Geometrie The ignorance and want whereof in times past in most parts of this Kingdome hath left vs many lame VVorkes with shame of many VVorkemen which for the future the Knowledge and vse of these Instructions shall happily preuent if the euent but answere in any measure to that Hope of mine which alone both induced this Desire and produced this Designe VVherein I must confesse my part but small sauing my great aduenture in the Charge and my great Good-will to doe Good All which together with my best Seruices I humbly prostrate at your Princely feete as beseemes Your Highnesse most humble Seruant Robert Peake To the Louers of Architecture OVr learned Author Sebastian Serly hauing great foresight to shew and explaine the common rules of Architecture did first publish his Foâ—râ—h Booke entreating of Architecture and after his Third Booke declaring excellent Antiquities Fearing that if hee had begunne with Geometrie and Perspectiue common workmen would haue thought that the two sornter although small had not beene so needefull to studie and practise as the other Which friendly Reader considered hindered mee long either from Translating or Publishing the two former being perswaded by sundry friends and workemen to haue desisted my purpose both from translating or publishing The which J had surely effected if I had beene ouer-ruled by their requests and perswasions alleadging strong reasons that the common Workemen of our time little regarded or esteemed to Worke with right Simmetrie the which is confused and erronious in the iudgement of the Learned Architect if they will follow the Order of Antiquities hereafter ensuing Wherefore least my good meaning together with my Labour in Translating and Publishing should not be regarded and esteemed as worthie considering it not onely tendeth to the great profit of the Architect or Workeman but also generally to all other Artificers of our Nation I aduise all generally not to deceiue themselues nor to be selfe-conceited in their owne workes but well vnderstand this my labour tending to common good and be perswaded that who so shall follow these rules hereafter set downe shall not onely haue his Worke well esteemed of the common people but also generally commended and applauded of all workemen and men of iudgement Vale. ¶ The first Booke of Architecture made by Sebastian Serly entreating of Geometrie ¶ The first Chapter HOw needfull and necessary the most secret Art of Geometrie is for euery Artificer and Workeman as those that for a long time haue studied and wrought without the same can sufficiently witnesse who since that time haue attained vnto any knowledge of the said Arte doe not onely laugh and smile at their owne former simplicities but in trueth may very well acknowledge that all whatsoeuer had bene formerly done by them was not worth the looking on Seeing then the learning of Architecture comprehendeth in it many notable Artes it is necessary that the Architector or workeman should first or at the least if he cannot attaine vnto any more know so much thereof as that hee may vnderstand the principles of Geometrie that he may not be accompted amongst the number of stone-spoilers who beare the name of workmen and scarce know how to make an answere what a Point Line Plaine or Body is and much lesse can tell what harmonie or correspondencie meaneth but following after their owne minde or other blinde conductors that haue vsed to worke without rule or reason they make bad worke which is the cause of much vncut or vneuen workemanship which is found in many places Therfore seeing that Geometrie is the first degree of all good Art to the end I may shew the Architector so much thereof as that he may thereby be able with good skill to giue some reason of his worke Touching the speculations of Euclides and other Authors that haue written of Geometrie I will leaue them and onely take some flowers out of their Garden that therewith by the shortest way that I can I may entreat of diuers cutting through of Lines with some demonstrations meaning so plainely and openly to set downe and declare the same both in writing and in figures that euery man may both conceiue and vnderstand them aduertizing the Reader not to proceed to know the second figure before he hath well vnderstood and found out the first and so still proceeding hee shall at last attaine vnto his desire A Poynt FIRST you must vnderstand that a poynt is a priche made with a Pen or Compasse which can not bee deuided into any parts because it conteineth neither length nor bredth in it A Line A Line is a right consecutiue imagination in length beginning at a poynt and endeth also at a point but it hath no bredth Parable When two Lines are set or placed of a little wydenesse one from the other those two lines according to the Latine phrase are called Parable and by some men they are named Equidistances Superficies When those two Equidistances aforesayd are at each end closed together by another Line it is then called a Superficies and in like sort all spaces in what manner soeuer they are closed and shut vp are called Superficies or plainnes Perpendicular Straight corners When there is a straight vpright Line placed in the middle of a crosse straight line then it is called a Perpendicular or Catheta Line and the ends of the crosse or straight Line on both sides of the Perpendicular are called Straight corners Obtusus Acutus When a leaning or straight Line is placed vpon a straight Line without Compasse or equalitie as much as the same Line bendeth so much shall the corner of the straight Line be narrower below and the other so much broader then a right or euen corner and the straight corner in Latine is called Acutus which signifieth sharpe and the wider corner Obtusus which signifieth dull Piramidal A corner or point called Piramidal and also Acutus in Latine is when two euen long straight
must haue certaine Figures or formes ready of such greatnes as the place where they must stand will afford them to be which must be made of passe board cut out round and paynted signifiing such things as you will which Figures must leane against a rule or lath of wood crosse ouer the Scene where any gate doore or way is made and there some one or other behind the doore must make the. Figures passe along sometime in forme of Musitions with instruments and some like singers and behind the Scene some must play on vpon certaine instruments and sing also sometime you must make a number of foote men and horsemen going about with Trumpets Phifes and Drummes at which time you must play with Drumbes Trumpets and Phifes c. very softly behind which will kéepe the peoples eyes occupied and content them well If it be requisite to make a Planet or any other thing to passe along in the Ayre it must bee framed and cut out of paste-board then in the hindermost and backe part of the houses of the Scene there must be a piece of wire drawne aboue in the roofe of the house and made fast with certain rings behind to the paste-board painted with a Planet or any other thing that shal be drawne softly by a man with a blacke thréed from one end to the other but it must be farre from mens sight that neither of the thréeds may bee séene Sometime you shall haue occasion to shew thunder and lightning as the play requireth then you must make thunder in this manner commonly all Scenes are made at the end of a great Hall whereas vsually there is a Chamber aboue it wherein you must roule a great Bullet of a Cannon or of some other great Ordinance and then counterfeit Thunder Lightning must be made in this maner there must be a man placed behind the Scene or Scaffold in a high place with a boxe in his hand the couer whereof must be full with holes and in the middle of that place there shall be a burning candle placed the boxe must be filled with powder of vernis or sulphire and casting his hand with the boxe vpwards the powder flying in the candle will shew as if it were lightning But touching the beames of the lightning you must draw a piece of wyre ouer the Scene which must hang downewards whereon you must put a squib conered ouer with pure gold or shining lattin which you will and while the Bullet is rouling you must shoote of some piece of Ordinance and with the same giuing fire to the squibs it will worke the effect which is desired It would be ouerlong if I should speake of all things which are to be vsed in these affaires therefore I will leaue speaking of Perspectiue things FINIS Here endeth the second Booke of Architecture entreating of Perspectiue Arte translated out of Italian into Dutch and out of Dutch into English at the charges of Robert Peake for the benefit of the English Nation and are to be sold at his house néere Holborne Conduit vnder the Sunne Tauerne 1611. The third Booke Intreating of all kind of excellent Antiquities of buildings of Houses Temples Amphitheaters Palaces Thermes Obelisces Bridges Arches triumphant c. set downe in Figures with their grounds and measures as also the places where they stand and who made them ROMA QVANTA FVIT IPSA RVINA DOCET To the Reader ALthough diuers Authors write many strange things touching Architecture as the Egyptians the people of Asia and Grecia with diuers other nations and haue left them for our example so that reading them we may sufficiently satisfie our cares and fill them with the greatnesse thereof that is touching the length bredth and depth that certaine places haue contained yet we can not satisfie our eyes nor the desire we haue to see such incredible works vnlesse it had beene our hap to haue the contemplation thereof for that the reliques of such works are almost or for the most part vtterly defaced or vnlesse we might haue seene them drawne in propertion vnto our eyes as in this Booke we may not onely read what the Romanes at the last after other nations had built but also the same Authors haue set downe vnto vs in Figure as you may see them here piece by piece not only how many rods ells feet palmes but also the minutes thereof and what compas they contained all perfectly described And although it was no part of my intent to translate this Booke of Antiquities of Rome into our mother tongue regarding the barrennesse of our language or peraduenture such as studie or fauour the same are all too few to defray my charges therein yet I haue not refrained to doe it being thereunto compelled by the great works of the forification of the City of Andwerp and other great places and for this cause specially that euery man that wondreth at the greatnes thereof which was made with most great cost charges may hereby see and consider yea how much greater needles charges to be compared vnto this the Romanes not speaking of other nation haue in time past bestowed in making of Obelisces Piramides Thermes Theaters Amphitheaters tryumphant Arches and many more such like things which serued only for pleasure tryumph whereby it is to be presumed that they would haue made the fortifications of such Cities or Townes made for the safety of the Land far better then they now are Now it is to be noted that all whatsoeuer the Romanes haue made doth not wholly agree with Vitruuius rules so that many which haue counterfeyted these and such like peeces of worke haue thereby beene abused and deceiued for some would hardly beleeue that in those dayes as well as at this time all maner of workemen were one better then another which many vnawares and vnskilfully do many things which good Antiquities would willingly not suffer hereof they shall find good instructions in this Booke and they may learne if they will read it how to discerne good from bad whereunto the former printed fourth Booke is specially made for in it the whole quantity of the measures is contayned as in the Epistle of the sayd Booke it is promised So in this third Booke you shall not onely find first the Ichnographia and then after the Orthographyes with part of the Sciographies of the most famous Antiquityes of Rome Italy and some of other places but also of the most excellent buyldings in our dayes specially those that are made by Bramant So that the Reader being well instructed in the aforesayd fourth Booke where all the Orders are well set foorth and declared he may of himselfe iudge what is well or ill made that at one time a man may without any further labour make a good and incorrigible peece of worke The third Booke of Antiquitie The fourth Chapter AMong all the ancient building to bee seene in Rome I am of opinion that the Pantheon for one piece
2. third parts the height of the Base is halfe the thicknes of the Columne beneath and is fashioned like the greater the height of the Capitall is one Ell an halfe which Capitall is very well made and the forme thereof in great is séen in my other 4. Booke in the begâ—â—â—â—ng of the Composita This Columne is sluited as the Figure thereof sheweth and hath also a flat Columne of the same forme the Architrane Fréese and Cornice aboue this Columne are about 4. Elles which Cornice hath the Mutiles without Dentiles and is very like the worke of the Pantheon and by as much as I could perceaue this lesse Columne serâ—â—d for an ornament of a Gate or Doore of the sayd Baâ—lica The third part of the common Ell wherewith this is measured THe Romanes because of their great proud mindes alwayes sought to build things of great maiestie which might shew their great power both by Water and Land and to that end they made the wonderfull Hauen of Ostia for the ease of the Citie of Rome which in trueth in regard of the commoditie and greatnesse of the Building thereof and specially the great strength thereof may well bee called wonderfull It is of forme Hexagoniick that is 6. cornerd and each Facie is 116. roodes long and each tood is 10. Palmes by these principall measures you may vnderstand the greatnesse therof euery Facie had a large walking place with Galleries round about 4. Appertiments also compassed with Galleries and a walking place in the middle Along the water side there were trunckes of Columnes orderly placed whereunto the ships were fastened and at the mouth of the Hauen there were towers to defend it from the enemie in time of néed And for that you can hardly perceaue the Appertiments in so small a forme therefore I haue placed them beneath in greater forme and marked them with A. and B. The Hauen of Ostia THe Thermes of Titus are lesse then the other and therefore by the people they were called Thermi minori neuerthelesse after my opinion they are well made the Ichnographie of these Thermes is measured with the ancient Palme First the Diameter of the round forme marked A. is about 150. Palmes the part B. is in length 80 Palmes and in bredth 51. Palmes the part C. is 80. Palmes in length and in bredth 60 Palmes The forme D. is about 100. Palmes in Diameter and the Portall E. is 50. Palmes the part F. is 120. Palmes long and 70. broad the eyght ranked part marked G. is about 100. Palmes the round part H. is 150. Palmes in Diameter The part 1. is 100. Palmes and is almost two foure squares the two parts each marked with K. is 30. Palmes on eyther side The part L. is 125. Palmes in length the bredth 30 Palmes The roundnesse marked M. is about 120. Palmes in Diameter That part marked N. is 148. Palmes long and 57. broad The part O. is the same the preseruation of the water followeth after THe preseruing or the place where the water of the Thermes of Titus the sonne of Vespatianus was kept is wonderfully made and very Artificiall and that is for that the Arches of these preseruatiues are placed in such good order that a man standing in the going through of the one séeeth them all ouerthwarts and this is the place which the people commonly call The seuen Halles and it was for this cause because the spaces are seuen in number and in them you sée ouerthwarts backwards and forewards alwayes 7. in number the thicknesse of the walls is foure foot and an halfe the widenesse of the Arches is sixe foot from one Arch to the other are 27. foot the widenesse from one wall to the other is 15. foots and they are round roofed of an indifferent height The walles and roofes are playstered with most hard plaister The old Romane Palme IN Rome and elsewhere there are many Bridges made by the Romanes but I will here shew the inuention of â—oare onely that you may sée their manner of making of Bridges This Bridge is called Ponte S. Angelos because it standeth vpon Tiber by the Towne of Inghelenborch by the ancient Romanes it was called Ponte Elio of Elio Adrianus This Bridge was went to be called Ponte Tarpeio others call it Ponte Fabricie and in our time it is called Ponte de quatro capi This Bridge is called Pontus Miluius but coÌ„monly it is called Ponte Molle This Bridge in former times was called the Senates Bridge others cal it Ponte palatino but now it is called Ponto S. Maria and also Ponte Sisto AMong other Thermes which are in Rome I finde this of Antoniano to beâ— better to bee noted then the rest and although that the Thermes of Dioclesian are greater yet in this I find much fayrer correspondencie and knitting together in euery part then in the others for that in the place C. they might make all kind of Playes or sports without any hinderance And for that the Thermes were specially made for men to bathe in as they were vsed for diuers sports to be made in them so was the preseruation of the water made behind the building marked A. where by meanes of the Pipes they were alwayes filled to serue for such vses This ground is measured with the common Ell the third part whereof is hereunder set downe by the side of the Building The line in the middle of the place is 100. Elles by the which you shall almost find all the measures whereof for breuitie I will not speake directly but onely of the principal things First one of the places for the kéeping of the water is thirtie Elles long and 16. Elles broad The part X. is 81. Elles long and the bredth 44. Elles the round Building D. is in Diameter 86. Elles The place marked B. C. is 700. Elles long The part in the middle marked G. is in length about 105. Elles and in bredth 60. Elles FOr that in the ground before set downe by reason of the smalnesse of the figures which could not be made greater in this Booke a man can not so wel know the particular partes therefore I haue in these two sides set downe some parts more plainly as the ingenious workeman by the letters wherewith they are marked may sée and find them when he compareth them with the whole ground AL though these Figures stand thus without order and in many pieces yet the wife workeman shall know that they are members of the Thermes afore shewed beholding the letters which stand in them which comparing with the others he shall find what parts they are Also he must know that the parts H. and X. belong not to the part F. for the Figures hereunder are three seuerall parts although for necessitie sake they are set one by another I haue also not set downe the particular measures for the workeman shal bester helpe himselfe with the inuention then with the measure ABout seuen miles from
Plinthus is 30. minutes the height of the Epitaph vnder the Cornice is 6. foote and 22. minutes but the Cornice aboue it was not measured The halfe of the old Romish foote The ground of the Arch tryumphant of Ancouen PLOTINAE AVG. CONIVGI AVG. DIVAE MARTIANAE AVG. SORORI AVG. Imp. Caesari Diui Neruae F. Neruae Traiano Optimo Augusto Germanico Dacico Pont. Max. Tri. Pot. xix Imp. xi Cos. vi P. P. Pro videntissimis Principibus S. P. Q. R. Quod accessum Italiae hoc etiam addito Ex Pe cunia sua Portututiorem Nauigantibus reddiderit IN my opinion I haue sayd enough of the measure of the Arch of Ancona yet that the parts of the Cornices may be the better vnderstood I will shew them here greater and first I will set downe the lowest parts as they stand aboue the ground of the worke The height of the Pedestall marked G. is sayd to be of 5. foot with all the Cornices thereof but the height of the Plinthus of the Base is 18. minutes the Base aboue the Plinthus is 19. minutes and a third part high the Cornice of the Pedestall is 20. minutes and a third part high so much doeth the stone also hold standing thereby marked F. which by my aduice is placed there to heighten the Columnes and sheweth not badly but more because it is set forth with a list round about it whereby the Base differeth from the Plinthus and so in my opinion standeth well The Base which is Corinthia together with the Cincte of the Columne is 43. minutes high and the Proiecture is 16. minutes and an halfe in bredth the thicknesse of the Pedestall is 3. foote 15. minutes and an halfe the thicknesse of the Columne is 2. foote 11. minutes and there stand 13. hollowings or chanels without the Pilaster the widenesse of one chanell is 7. minutes and a halfe and the List which parteth them is 2. minutes and a halfe The height of the Capitals are the thicknesse of the Columnes below without the Abacus which Capitall hath a very fayre forme whereby we may be perswaded and beleeue that Vitruuius doctrine is false and that Vitruuius vnderstood the height of the Capitall without Abacus and for this cause for that the most part of the Capitals that I haue séene and measured are most of such height and higher and specially the Capitals that stand in the Rotund whereof in the beginning of this Booke you may sée one The height of the Architraue aboue the Columne is one foote and twelue minutes The height of the Fréese is one foote and eyghtéene minutes The height of the Cornice is one foote and two and twenty minutes These thrée are marked together with an A. The Plinthus aboue the Cornice is one foote sixe minutes and an halfe high The Base vpon it is thirtie minutes the space wherein the letters are written is sire foote and two and twenty minutes and is marked with ✚ The Impost of the Arch is marked D. the height whereof is 1. foote and fiftéene minutes but the vppermost Cornice as I haue sayd was not measured The height of the Mensole in place of the closing stone marked B. aboue the Arch is thrée foot and 30. minutes and hath a foote and 14. minutes without the wall in the vppermost part and in the parts below it comes out a foot The foure tables with the Cornices vpon them which stand betwéene the Columnes are thought to be placed there for holding vp of halfe Images the forme whereof standeth here marked E. and is there also by the Profill on the side whereby a man may sée how they are wrought for they are full of worke euen to the Center The height of the Cornices standing aboue them is 32. minutes and although I haue not shewed all the Proiectures heights from part to part yet I haue with great diligence reduced them from the great into a small forme and were as I sayd before of the rest measured with the old Romane foot THe Towne of Pola in Dalmatia is adorned with many Antiquities besides the Theater Amphitheater whereof I spake before there are other Buildings whereof now I will speake There is an Arch Tryumphant of Corinthia worke rich of ornaments for Figures works and strange deuices so that from the Pedestal vpwards there is no worke nor space lest vngrauen not onely before but also on the sides and within and vnder in the Arch wherein are many and diuers works so that it would require long time to declare them particularly therefore I will shew such parts thereof as are necessary for a workeman for inuention and Arte. The ground of the Arch following standeth hereunder measured with a Moderne or common foote whereof the halfe is here set downe The Arch is 12. foot and a halfe wide the height is about 21. foot The Pilasters in the sides inward are 4. foot thicke The thicknes of a Columne is one foote 9. ounces and a halfe The Intercolumne is 2. foot 3. ounces and a halfe The Pilaster of the Arch is one foot 2. ounces broad The height of the Plinthus vnder the Base of the Pedestall is one foote The Base is 4. ounces high The flat of the Pedestall is 3. foot the Cornice 4. ounces The Plinthus marked D. vnder the Columnes is 4. ounces The height of the Base with the Plinthus is 10. ounces and one quarter The height of the Columne is 16. foote one ounce and 3. quarters The height of the Capitall is 2. foot and one ounce The height of the Architraue is one foote and one ounce The height of the Fréese is one foote and 2. ounces The height of the Cornice is one foote and 10 ounces The height of the Plinthus aboue the Cornice is one foote and 2. ounces The height of the Base of the Pedestall and also of the Plinthus vpon it is one foote and 2. ounces but the height of the Base alone is 10. ounces The height of the flat of the Pedestall is 2. foote and one ounce The Cornice is 6. ounces The Cauet aboue the Cornice which Vitruuius as I thinke calleth Corona lisis is 5. ounces and this is the measure of the ground following The halfe common foote This is the ground of the Arch triumphant of Pola The measure of this present Arch is set downe before in this side following the particular parts shall bee shewed These great letters hereunder stand in the Fréese marked Y. SALVIA POSTVMA SERGI DE SVA PECVNIA These vnder marked stand in thrée Pedestals marked X. H. A. L. SERGIVS C. F. AED II. VIR L. SERGIVS L. F. LEPIDVS AED TRI. MIL. LEG XXIX C. SERGIVS C. F. AED II. VIR QVINQ IN the side before I haue spoken of the vniuersall measure of the Arch triumphant of Pola and haue also shewed the Figure thereof and partly set downe some of the richest and fairest ornaments of the same Now I will set downe the particular measures
eyther side are halfe a foot thicke the Architraue is 7. ounces and an halfe the Fréese is 6. ounces high the height of the Cornice without the Scima is 4. ounces the height of the Timpanum of the Frontispice is 8. ounces Aboue these Tabernacles are small tablets with other Cornices the which tablets are two foot broad and hold one foot in height the height of each Cornice is 11. ounces the height of the opennesse of the Arch although it be somewhat digâ—â—d below is yet twise higher then broad for the widenesse thereof is 10. foote and a quarter and the height is 25. foote and an halfe The Capitall vnder the Arch is as high as broad the worke of this Arch is Composita and brauely set out with Images of Marble and Copper as you may perceaue in the voyd places This is the ground of the Arch following THis forme of the Arch Tryumphant of Castel Vecchio in Verona is made as it is here set downe and although from the Freeses vpwards there are no signes of ornaments neuerthelesse it did stand so And for that the parts hereof are oâ—mall that you can hardly vnderstand them in the next side they shall bee for downe in a greater and playner form This Arch tryumphant by that which is found written within the inner parts thereof by some is sayd that Vitruuius caused it to be made but I beleeue it not and that for two reasons or causes First that I see not in the Inscription that it saith Vitruuius Polio but it is possible that it was another Vitruuius that caused it to be made The second reason is this that Vitruuius Polio in his writing of Architecture doeth vtterly condemne and reiect Mutiles and Dentiles standing together in one Cornice and such a Cornice is found in this Arch. And therefore I conclude that Vitruuius the great and learned Architector made it not but bee it as it will this Arch hath a good forme and proportion These letters are vnder the Tabernacle in the Pedestall C. GAVIO C. F. STRABONI These letters are cut in she inward side of the Arch. L. VITRVVIVS LL. CERDO ARCHITECTVS These letters are also in the Pedestall of the Tabernacle M. GAVIO C. F. MACRO BEcause I haue not fully written the particular measures of the members of the aforesayd Arch neither haue I shewed it in such forme that a man may conceaue the particular measures therefore you may sée them here set out in greater forme and in such sort as they are and first the height of the Plinthus vnder the Base of the Pedestall marked G. is a foote and thrée ounces The height of the Base abous vpon it is 6. ounces The flat of the Pedestall marked F. is 4. foot 3. ounces and an halfe high The Cornice vpon it is 10. ounces and an halfe high The Base of the Columne is one foote high The Plinthus of this Base turneth into a Corona lisis which me thinkes is very pleasant for that I haue two some Gréeke Pedestals so The Columne is strycked chanelled or hollowed from the toy to the bottom The height of the Capitall of this Columne is one foot 4. ounces and an halfe but the forme is not here because it is shewed in the beginning of the Order of Composita which Capitall in effect is Composita although the Arch may be wholly accompted to bee Corinthia and this Capitall standeth in that place maked C. Also in the same place you see the Capitall of the impost of the Arch which is marked with D. But the little Capitall of the Tabernacle betweene the Columnes is here marked H. And the Cornice also with the Ease marked E. is that which is vnder the Tabernacle The Figure C. is the table aboue the sayd Tabernacles and the Figure marked D. is the Architraue Fréese and Cornice of the Frontispicium of the Tabernacle The Figure marked with B. is the worke which goeth about the Arch the Cornice marked A. is the principall Cornice aboue the Arch the which in effect is very comely and well wrought yet it is vicious as I haue often sayd that is the Mutiles and the Dentiles therein are by Vitruuius reiected with many strong reasons But in this many men affirme that fithence Vitruuius time many workemen haue made Mutiles with Dentiles in most places of Italy and there round about so that now there is no question made thereof but euery man hath libertie to make that in his worke which he findeth and séeth in Antiquities whereunto I answere that disprouing the same they haue prooued their cause to be good But if they will acknowledge Vitruuius for a learned Architector as most workemen affirme then reading Vitruuius with good iudgement they must confesse and acknowledge that they haue done amisse therein The halfe of the foot wherewith the Ichnographie and the Orthographie together with the ornaments of this Building are measured IN Verena at the Gate Dei Leoni there is a Tryumphant Arch with two like goings through which I neuer saw in any other place besides but many with 3. Arches which building although it hath the figure of 6. windowes yet go they not through neyther yet very déepe in the wall whereby you may iudge that some round Images stoode in them Aboue the first Cornice this building is hollow in maner of a Nich or seate but not very déepe in the wall but yet with helpe of the proiecture or striking out of the Cornice men might stand there to doe some thing or other while the Triumph lasted but for that this concerneth the workeman very little I will speake of the measures And first the opening of the 1. Arch is 11. foote wide and 18. foote high the Blocke vnder the Pedestall is one foote high the Base of the Pedestall is 3. Ounces the flat of the Pedestall is 2. foote and one Ounce high and the Cornice is 3. Ounces the height of the Bases of the Columnes is 8. Ounces and a halfe the height of the Columnes without Bases or Capitals is 12. foote and 1. third part their thicknes is 1. foot 4. Ounces the height of the Capitall is 1. foote 8. Ounces the height of the Architraue is one foote 5. Ounces the height of the Fréese is one foote 8. Ounces and so much is the height of the Cornices from the Cornices to the second Roofe is 3. foote and a halfe whereon there are certayne Mutiles whereupon Images had stoode made fast to the 7. Pilasters betwéene which little windowes beautified with small pillars stand but not much bearing out the widenes of a window is 2. foote 2. Ounces their height is 4. foot 3 Ounces the height of the greatest Columnes is 5. foote 4. Ounces with Bases and Capitals which are flat not not much raysed vp The height of the second Architraue is 6. Ounces and a halfe the height of the Fréese is one foot and a halfe the height of the Cornice is 10. Ounces and
Countrey in the Summer time The Court of this Palace is compassed with double Galleries and in the middlemost place marked E. men go downe a payre of Stayres into a fayre eating place in which place the King and his Lords vsed to banquet and eate at pleasure in which place he caused certayne secret places to bee opened whereby in the twinckling of an eye the place was full of water so that they sate all in water likewise at this Kings pleasure all the water voyded out of the roome againe but there wanted no shifts of clothes to put on nor yet rich and costly beds for them to lye in that would rest themselues O voluptuous Italians how are you impouerished by your discords I will not speake of the most beautifull Gardens filled with all kind of flowres with diuers compartements of the Orchards and Trées of all kind of Fruits with great abundance of Fish-ponds and Fishes of places and cages of diuers Birds both great and small of fayre stables filled with all sorts of Horses and of many other fayre things which I will not speake of for that Marcus Antonius Michaell a Gentleman of that Towne very learned in Architecture hath séene it and hath written of it at large in a Latine Epistle which he sent to a friend of his But to turne againe to the parts of the said Palace which is right foure square it is within Galleried round about one aboue the other in the foure Corners within the thicknesse of the walls stand the winding stayres to goe vp into the building The foure Galleries without marked B. are not there but for the commoditie and beautifying of the house they would stand well there IN this Figure hereunder I haue shewed the Orthographie both within and without the part marked A. sheweth the part without the part marked B. representeth the Galleries within the part C. sheweth the ruines within I haue not set downe the couering or roofe of this house for according to my opinion I would haue playstered such a building that it might onely be vsed for a walking place to behold the countrey about The ground of the Poggio Real of Naples COnsidering the fayre Building of Poggio Real I haue thought good to set downe such an other here in this place but in other forme for appertements and peraduenture with more ease for that the places are all of one greatnes which is not so good a forme but it is necessary that the first should be greater then the second In this place I make you no place for lights within for that it is a place in the countrey being not cumbred on the sides it hath light inough on all the foure corners but some men may say that the Hall with the foure Chambers because they haue no light but through the galleries are darke for it is no perfect couer to which I answere that the house being made to be vsed in the time of great heat hauing no place in the middle the Hall and the Chambers will alwayes be cold by reason the Sunne cannot come vnto them These places will be very pleasant at none time for that the said places haue not so great lights as the other dwellings yet haue they so much light as they néed such like may be séene in Bolonia which are made in this manner with Galleries and daily inhabited This Building is so dispused that the corner places being of great thickenesse the rest shall be strong inough yea although the walls had no great thicknesse in regard they are all counterforts one to the other yet shall they be of sufficient strength I will not speake of the measures for that this being proportioned the skilful workman may imagine according to his pleasure that caused it to be built first the greatnes of the roome then deuide it into so many féet or other measures thereby to measure all the rest of the building as the situation of the place may beare it Then this building aboue all things shall be placed that the Sunne may rise vpon one of the corners and so shine vpon all the sides thereof for if it stands with one side to the East and the other to the West then it will follow that the North side shall neuer enioy the Sunne-shine vpon it which were rumaticke and vn wholesome MEn may build in diuers and sundry sorts vpon the ground aforesayd but for that this is a place of pleasure I thought good for the brauenesse thereof to make it after the Corinthia maner I will not trouble my selfe to speake of the measures nor heights for in my fourth Booke in the Order of Corinthia O 2. you shal find a Treatise which together with the iudgement of the wise workman will serue to set down this measure And for that in this Facie there is no shortening at all whereby you may know the Galleries the flat and closed places eche from other therefore I will set downe the two highest sides at eche end you must conceaue it to haue flat Pillars from beneath vpwards that part betwéene both which is lower you must suppose hath two Galleries one aboue the other the Columnes whereof would be round the same is to be vnderstood to be both behind and on both sides Men may also make aboue the Galleries a Tarrace or Pauement to defend the raine the Gallery being made with a Leane-to or Raile out of the Cornices of the first order of the Figures aforesayd and so also the Hall in the middle together with the 4. Chambers of the second story would haue more light For 2. causes I haue made the small windows aboue the great in the first story The 1. is if you will make the windowes so low that a man sitting may easily sée out of them then if you should make the windowes no higher then the doore there would bee too much space betwéene the windowes and the roofe of the house which would greatly darken the house and otherwyse the windowes bring much more light into the Hall The 2. is that the Chambers by the Hall néed not bee of such height but you may make hanging Chambers therein whereto those windowes will serue I might speake of many other things which I referce to the iudgement of the workeman AT first I was not minded to set this ground nor yet the building of the 100. Columnes placed in M. 1. in this Booke for that they are things which the Author hath made by reports and heare-say which I estéeme not worthy to be set by things that are counterfeyted and measured yet that it should not be sayd that I haue published this Bo ke lame and vnperfect and not full as the Author made it which might haue giuen slanderous and enuious persons occasion to scorne and scandalize this Booke therefore I haue not onely set this héere but also added this other Figure following by him set downe in the leafe R. 3. And now to turne to this ground our
the Tenia which Vitruuius nameth Sub tenia are in all the sixt part of a modell which height being deuided into 4. parts the 3. parts shall bee the Guttes and the other the List The Guttes shall bee sixe in number hanging vnder the Trigliphes The height of the Trigliphes or Trigliffe shall be one Modell and an halfe and the bredth one Modell which bredth deuided in 12. on eyther side there shall be one left for the halfe Channels or hollowings and of the 10. parts resting 6. shall bee for the flat of the Trigliphes and 4. for the Channels or hollowing in the middle And from the one Trigliph to the other there shall be the space of a Modell and a halfe which space shall be right 4. square by Vitruuius named Methopha In which spaces us you please you may set cut or graue Oxe heads with Dishes and that not without secret signification For in ancient time when the vnbeléeuing folke sacrificed Oxen they also vsed Dishes Platters thereunto placing such things round about their Temples for ornaments VpoÌ„ the Trigliphs you must place their Capitals the height whereof shall be one sixt part of a Modell Aboue the Trigliphs or their Capitals the Corona must bee placed with 2. Cimaties the one aboue the other below and they both together deuided into 5. parts 3. for the Corona and two for the Cimaties But the height of them all shal be of halfe a Modell vpon the Corona you must place the Scima the height whereof is halfe a Modell and to it you must adde one eyght part for the List thereof aboue The Protecture of the Corona shall bee of 3. parts two be in one Modell in the ground of the Corona right aboue the Trigliphes the Guttes were orderly set as you sée them in the Figure hanging beside Also betwéene the Trigliphes are cut Fulmines that is winged lightning or you may leaue the spacies bare The Proiecture or bearing out of the Scuna must be like the height thereof euen so each part of the bearing out of the Corona shall haue their Proiecture like their height But the more Proiecture the Corona hath if the stone may beare it the more statelyer it sheweth This we sée that the ancient Romanes did obserue as shall be shewed when time serueth both in Figure and measure Cinatius Cinatius Scimd Corona Capitellum feuia Gurte Episfilus IF you will stricke or channell the Columnes you must make 20. in number in maner hollowed and from the one side to the other in the spaces of the strikes there must a strayght line bee drawne which shall bee the side of one 4. square which 4. square being made placing the one foote of the Compas in the Center and with the other touching both the one and the other end of the line drawing it about it will make the right hollowing which shall be the fourth part of a Circle as it is héereunder shewed And if for the raysing vp of Columnes or for other occasions it were necessary to haue the Stilobatum or Pedestall being not high enough to be made higher then the flat of the Stilobatum shall bee like the Plintho of the Base of the Columne and the height that is the euen or flat shal be thus of the bredth shall be made a perfect 4. square and from the one corner to the other a line drawne for Diagonus and the length of the Diagonus shall bee the height of the flat as you may sée it here beneath which being deuided into 5. parts there shal be one part set aboue for the Cimatie with that belongeth therunto and one other part shal be giuen to the Base and so this Pedestall shal be of 7. parts as the Columne is And although this Proiecture of the Capital is contrary to Vitruuius rule because it is Perpendicular with the Plintho of the Base yet for that I haue séene the like in some Antiquities and haue also placed some of the like sort in pieces of worke I thought iâ— not amisse to set this héere for the vse of â—â—ose that will make the like although some of Vitruuius schollers not hauing séene the like in any Antiquities will contradict it but if they marke the Abacus of the Corinthia whose Proiecture also hangeth on the Plinthus of the Base they will not so hastily reiect this Proiecture FOr that I find great difference betwéene the wrytings of Vitruuius and the things of Rome and other places of Italy therefore I haue héere set downe some which are yet extant in worke to be séene which although they bee of small forme without numbers or measures yet they are proportioned according to the great and with great diligence reduced into small forme The Capitall R. was found without Rome vpon a Bridge standing ouer Tiber That Capitall V. is in Verona in an Arch tryumphant That Capitall T. is in Rome in a Dorical Temple called Al career Tulliano That Capitall P. was found in Pesaro with diuers other commendable Antiquities the bearing out whereof although it be great yet it sheweth well to the eye The Basements or Bases and Capitall A. are at Rome in Al foro Boario The Cornice Capitall and Imposta of an Arch marked B. are in the Theater of Marcellus The Cornice Freese and Architraue are also in Rome in Al foro Boario which I haue shewed that workemen may chuse that which liketh them best Hereafter I will set downe some particular measures necessary for the workeman THe parts of the Trigliphes and Methophes being in this order vnprepared and yet very necessary I will take paynes to declare so well as I can First although Vitruuius affirmeth that the Models of the worke Herastilos viz. of sixe Columnes may be distributed and deuided into 35. parts yet I find not that the parts may stand so for this cause that giuing the middlemost inter-Columne 4. Methophes and the other spaces 3. the sayd number will not make the whole but as I conceaue if you set 42. as you may sée and reckon in this Figure following as also in the worke Thetrustilos that is of 4. Columnes the Booke saith that the Forefront of the whole worke should be deuided into 23. parts which I assure you cannot stand so if you will giue the middle space 4. Methophes and the other two eche of them 3. But by my aduice there should be 27. as you may sée in the Figure following Then if the principall of the Temples be deuided into 27. parts the Columnes shall bee 2. Models thicke the middlemost inter Columnes shall be of 8. Models that is the thicknesse of 4. Columnes and the inter-Columnes besides shal be each of 5. Models and an halfe that is two and a quarter and a quarter and halfe and so shall the 27. bee distributed And aboue each Columne his Trigliph being set the Trigliphes deuided with Methophes according to the rule aforesayd then the middlemost space shall haue 4.
10. parts a halfe with Bases and Capitals The Architraue Fréese and Cornice shall together be the fift part of the height of the Columnes The members shal be deuyded as aforesayd The light of the Windowes are a Columne and a halfe wide all in Perpendicular from the top to the bottome but the height of the first windowes are of 3. parts broad and 4. high and those that shall stand vpon them haue their height in Diagonall maner The widenesse of the Doore shal be of 2. Columnes and the height 4. The Antepagmentum with the Supercilie Fréese and Cornice shal be deuided as it is said of the other before and so shall the Cornice also of the Doore be as the windowes below are The second Story shal be lower then the first the fourth part but the leanings with the Balusters being made as high as a window is broad the rest of the height shal be deuided in 5. parts one for the Architraue Fréese and Cornice and the other 4. for the Columnes with Bases and Capitals The height of the windowes shal be of 2. fouresquares with the rest of the Ornaments you must doe as I haue sayd of the like and also the Doore of the Gallery shal be like that below The third Story shal be lessened more then the second one fourth part and euery member proportionably onely the height of the windowes they shal be of 2. fouresquares and rather higher then lower because the height of it selfe lesseneth The eleuation also in the middle shal be the fourth part lessened as it is sayd of the other The Architraue Fréese and Cornice are the fourth part of that height The Fastigium shal be made as it is sayd of the Dozion Temple and if there remayneth other measures you must alwayes turne to the first rule Hereunder I will set no flat ground for the Perspectiues of the Galleries shew all clearely AS I haue at other times sayd that the workeman shall haue Columnes inow but yet so short that sometimes they will not serue his turne vnlesse the industrie and cunning of the workeman bee such that he can helpe himselfe there with The composition of this Facie shall bee thus that the wydenesse of an Arch shall be of double height in bredth the Pillar shall be halfe the same widenesse before but that Pillar being made in three parts and an halfe one part thereof shal be the thickenesse of one Columne The inter-Columne of a halfe Columne and so much also the Pilasters and the Arch hold The height of the Pedestals without the Plinthus vnder them shal be as much as the whole bredth of the Pilaster the members being deuided as I haue sayd of the Pedestals of Corinthia The height of the Columne with Bases and Capitals shal be of 11. parts and that shal not therefore be false for it is set fast on a stone more for ornament then for vpholding of any waight The height of the Architraue Fréese and Cornice shall be made of the fourth part of the Columnes and in Perpendicular the Columnes shall beare out all the members without the Corona or Cima which will goe right through without crookening for good Antiquities vsed to doe so and Bramant also the light of Architecture in our age made such a house in Rome called Beluedore The widenesse of the doore shal be of foure Columnes thickenesse and twice as high The Antepagmentum Supercilie and Fréese shall bee made so that the Cornices which vphold the Columnes shall serue also aboue the doore and also ouer the windowes The widenesse whereof shall bee of thrée Columnes thickenesse and the height of fiue The second Story shall be lesse then the first the fourth part but the whole height being deuided in 6. one shall be for the Podium foure for the spaces of the windowes and the other for the Architraue Fréese and Cornice deuided in such maner as you shall sée it in the order of Composita The widenesse of the windowes are in Perpendicular to the nethermost and the bredth twice in the height the rest of the ornaments as windowes and Niches shal be done as in this Ionica Gate is shewed which being wrought with more liuelynesse and flourishings will bee a Corinthian worke The bredth of the Niches with the Pilasters shal be in Perpendicular aboue the Columnes but the widenesse thereof being deuided in 7. fiue shal be for one Niche and 2. for the Pilasters The height shal be of 3. bredths because they stand farre from sight whereby they shew shorter The Pillars aboue the Cornice are made for ornament and also for commoditie to make Chimneyes of some of them THings that are made for common vse although they are placed in all proportion and measure are much commended but not admired But things that are not vsed if they were made for some causes and well proportioned shall not onely bee commended of most men but also wondred at Therefore this building following which representeth a Temple shall first be made of strong rusticall maner as you sée and of such height as the place and situation requireth but it must not be higher then 2. mens length On which flat or Pauement a man shall goe vpon beginning at the step A. standing within the entrie and going vp to B. then it shall bee flat where the Temple shall haue a broad walke with a leaning round about The which Temple shall bee eleuated from the walking or Pauement till you come aboue the height of the Podium or leaning 3. steps more and to come to that you must goe vpon the step C. to the flat D. which shal be the height of the Podium with another leaning which shal be higher then the lowest And from this flat to the Pauement of the Temple the sayd thrée steps shal be the widenesse of this Facie shall be deuided in 24. parts and one of these parts shal be the thickenesse of the Columne The middlemost inter-Columne shall haue 4. parts those that stand on the sides where the windowes are shal be 3. parts and where the Niches shall be they shall each of them haue a part and an halfe so shall the 24. parts bee distributed The same Stilobato as is without at the Podium shall also bee made vnder the Columne of which Pedestall the height without the Plinthus the Base shal be 3. parts The height of the Columnes with Bases and Capitals shal be of 3. parts and an halfe The Architraue Fréese and Cornice shal be a fourth part of the Columne as it is sayd of others and the members also deuided in 4. sorts the widenesse of the Gate shal be 3. parts and the height 7. parts and an halfe which is about 2. foure squares and an halfe and this is done for that by reason of the distance they séemed shorter to a mans sight then these that are below The widenes of the windowes shal be one part and an halfe but the height shal be more