Of Perspectiue workes, touching Bodies or Massiue things. The third Chapter

TOuching the grounds and other Superficies of diuers formes, I thinke I haue sufficiently spoken. Now I will speake of Bodies which are drowme vp out of the ground: and first, you know that I haue taught before, how you should frame an eyght square forme plainely in it selfe; and then, I haue shewed how you should compasse this Figure about, with a border or edge: but if a workeman will shew an eyght square Figure in Perspectiue wist, as a Well; then he must first make the ground, as he is taught before, as high as hee will, that the sayd Well shall stand eleuated aboue the ground or foote thereof: there hee must make the same forme once againe, drawing it to the same Horison; then from all the vppermost corners or points to the lowest; you must drawe Perpendicular lines as well from the innermost figures, as from the vttermost, wherby the through cutting eyght square bodies will be formed, as you may see in the Figure hereunto annexed.

I Haue spoken before of the open frame of a Well with eyght pornis or corners, which is necessary to be learned, how to make it, before you make the solide body thereof, as this figure sheweth, which is the same that is before shewed, both forme and measure, but all the lines which cannot outwardly be séene, are hidden; and there is as much difference betweene an open body and a solide, as there is betwéene the modell of a mans body, that is nothing but bones without flesh and skinne: and a lining body of a man couered ouer with flesh (although it is hidden vnder it.) And as those Paynters are much perfecter that haue séene, and perfectly beheld right Anatomies, then others that onely content themselues with the outward bare shew of the Superficies, so it is with Perspectiue workes; for they that wel vnderstand and perfectly beare in minde the hidden lines, they shall better vnderstand the At to then others, that content themselues only with yᵗ shew of outward Superficies. It is very true that when a man hath sufficiently experimented, practised and beareth in his mind these inward hidden lines, then helping himselfs with the principall, hee may mak• many perfect things, without vsing all this labour.

FOr these thrée figures following, euery one is drawne out of the fouresquare, in such manner as I haue taught befores and they goe all three to eue Horison or paynt as they should do, or as need •quireth; by the which figures any man may helpe himselfe in many things, as I haue further declared: and he that is perfect in these, may make all kinde of round formes, and without knowing of these, hee can doe little in round for•es. For out of these figures you may draw a round Solude or Piramidall Building with Pillars, or without Pillars; and also a round winding paire of Stayers: for this Figure will shew you how to make the Stayers round, with other things more, and yet not without your owne industry: for the things that by these may be made are wonderfull and infinite, so that you ware not weary, and spare no paynes till you are perfect in them, because that the bowing or Arches of gates and other things will seeme hard vnto you, as I will hereafter shew you; notwithstanding that they take their beginning altogether from these.

But if any man that desireth to learne this Arte, will at the first vnderstand these figures, as some bluntly will take vpon him to doe it. I beleeue certainely, he will bee put to an non plus, and deceaue himselfe; but if by learning all the former things, he proceedeth vnto these as well in Geometrie as in Perspectiue Arte: Then, I say, he is of a very grosse vnderstanding, if he cannot vnderstand or conceaue these figures, or the figures that hereafter follow.

These three figures, to speake trueth, are but Superficies; neuerthelesse, if you draw Perpendicular lines from all the terminations, as well within as without: then you shall haue a through cutting or open body, and the innermost lines couered, then they will be a Massy body: And wonder not, gentle Reader, nor let it be strange vnto you, though I doe sometimes make a long discourse of some things, for (as I sayd before) they are not only learned by many words and great paines, but it is also necessary that they were shewed vnto some men playnety by drawing them before them, that they may the better conceaue them.

THE most pare of great Riuers or water-falles that fall downe from high Hils or Mountains, by meanes of tempests with great force and power, when they enter into a Valley, then sometimes they •yn out of their Channel, and so much groūd as they then vsurpe vpon on the en• side, so much they lose againe on the other side; and so doeth Perspectiue worke in cornerd things, for that no much as a man loseth of the poynt or corner whereon he looketh, so much greater the other point or coruer sheweth that standeth out, which is shewed to in the Figures hereunto auered.

The Reader must then marke that the square in the middle signifieth the thickenesse of a fouresquare Columne or Pillar, and the bordee that is without and goeth about it, signifieth the thicknesse or bearing out of the Bases and the Capital. The Figure vnder this platforme is the Base, and the vppermost Figure is the Capitall; the manner how to shor•n them I will shew you: You must make the Pillar •at before without thicknes, and vpon it you shall forme the Bases and Capital, making the Proiecture or bearing out thereof on either side alike, but you must draw them lightly as the prickes here•n set towne ode shew you: then draw the side of the Pillar which you will haue séene towards the Horisen; and hauing found how thicke the decreasing or shortening side must bee, by the ruled that are shewed in the first part of Perspectiue work, so you shal haue the shortening ground of the Pillar, wherein you must lightly drawe the two Diagonall lines long inough through, and from the Bases below, which is same in the shortening; you must draw a line towards the Horison, which you shall also let goe downe or sincke so farre, till it reacheth benesath the Diagonall lines, and there shall be the terminations of the shortening Bases: and thus you sée that the Perspectiuenes taketh somewhat oft from them, that is, the space betwéene the poynts and the full blacke line; then from the terminations to the other vttermost poynt of the Bases, you must drawe a Paralel line vnder the ground of the Pillars, so long that it may touch the Diagonal lines, and there you shall finde that which is taken of from the Bases on the one side, and giuen to them on the other side, and the Proiecture of the Bases sheweth, that the one poynt is drowne inwards, and the other commeth further out, then the vppermost line of the Bases being also to the Horison: then vpon the shortening fide by a line you finde the third parte of the Bases below, and that which is h•re spoken of the Bases, you must vnderstand the same also of the Capitals.

THE other thrée Figures are the same which are shewed before; the first were hollow, but these are perfect and solide with all their members, and although that in the Figures before I haue not shewed how you should forme and frame these members, which in trueth would be a very confused and troublesome thing to set dewne in writing; therefore I haue only shewed the first terminations, that a man may kéepe them well in his memory, and in these present Figures I haue shewed how they show in a mans sight, that you may sée the effect that they worke: but from henceforward because (as I said before) it is a troublesome thing, I will make another forme of them with all their members by darke lines: and then (according to my abilitie) I will set downe the manner how to finde the terminations of the members oen after another, for all of them grow a little one oner, or more then the other.

But you must consider that these Bases and Capitals on the one side giue inward, and on the other side beareth out, which you must well remember, that you may first bee well instructed herein touching that which you will make. For it is true that the Theoricke consisteth in the vnderstanding; but experience is gotten by practise and right vse or handling: Therefore t•e most notable Paynter Leonardus Vinci, was neuer pleased nor satisfied with any thing that he made, bringing but litle worke to perfection, saying, the cause thereof was that his hand could not effect the vnderstanding of his mind: And for me part, • I should do as he did, I should not, neither would I suffer any of my works to come forth: for (to say the truth) whatsoeuer I make or wryte, it pleaseth me not: but (as I sayd in the beginning of my worke) that I had rather exercise in worke that small talent, which it hath pleased God to bestow vpō me, then suffer it to lye and rot vnder the earth without any fruit; and although I shall not please thereby such as are curious, to set downe the ground and perfection of al things, yet at least I shall helpe yong beginners that know little or nothing thereof, which hath alwayes beene my intent.

FOr that (as I sayd before) of Proiecture in Prospectiue worke, it would bee great labour and much worke to finde all the terminations of yᵉ parts or members, and specially because they doe alwayes waxe greater as they come further outward, as well those which we behold from beneath vpwards, as tho•e that wee behold from aboue downewards; yet I haue not spared to make this Figure, and to forme and proportion it with all the members and parts thereof, that you may the better vnderstand it. In the first Figure but one, next to this, I haue shewed how you shall finde the terminations of yᵉ points of the Proiecture which are made plaine without any members; the easilyer to conceaue how things waxe bigger when they come further outwards. But now I thinke that men vnderstand it well, I will shew the meanes and manner how to find the inlardging of all the members particularly by themselues, euery one according to their greatnesse or smalnes of their Proiecture. And first, you must frame this Base with all the members, and with the right Proiecture thereof, to bee without any shorte•ing before, yet you must draw it lightly with a piece of Lead, or some other thing, as it is shewed vnto you here with pricks; then in the ground or foot of the Pillar you must draw the two Diagonall lines long inough out, and thereby (as I sayd before) you shall find the diminishing and the increasing of the particuler parts of the crests of the said Base, whereas the vndermost line or foote of the crests of the Base, beare much more broader and longer then those that are marked with the prickes; then at each corner of the Creast of the Base you must draw an vpright line almost as high as the first creast of the Base (although I haue done it) but vpon the vttermost poynt not to comber the worke within: then you must draw the vppermost corners of the first Creast with prickes also, toward the Horison, which downewards will touch against the two vpright lines; and there shall be the terminations to close or shut vp the second great Creast with a full blacke line: then draw another blacke line from the innermost poynt of the Creast vpwards to the Horison, and there the shortening Creast shall be closed.

And as this Creast or Plinthus is closed and drawen on all sides with blacke lines, so you must doo with all the other lines of the Base, for when from the vppermost corner of the first marked Base you draw a helding line to the innermost corner of the greatest Creast with the blacke lines, by it you shall lightly find the terminations of all the parts or members, drawing the corners of the first Base towards the Horison. And when you haue formed all the innermost corners of the Bases, by the Horisentall line you may easily doe the second, and by the Paralel lines the vttermost of all; although by the lines of the distances, you may bring the said corners somewhat neerer as you may soe by the Diagonall lines. But at this time I will not speake of that difficult or hard worke, for he that hath any vnderstanding herein, may herewith helpe himselfe.

That which is here sayd of the Bases, you must also vnderstand of the Cornices, onely that euery thing is contrary, and where you set Perpendicular lines below, which cut through the Horisentall or Radiall lines, so you must also fall aboue the Lead lines or Catheten vpon the Horisentall lines, as you may better sée it and learne it in the Figure, then it can be expressed by words: and you must not be afraid or abashed, although at first you cannot conceaue it, for that by practising you shall in time finde it; for it is not sayd that a man shall or can learne all things at once in one day: by this Cornice you may make all Cornices, bee they higher or lower, harder or easier, alwayes drawing euery member and part towards the Horison as it should be done.

ALthough there are diuers manners & wayes to place Columnes one behind the other, standing vpon one ground in Perspectiue wise, thereby to make Portals, Galleries and other things, yet this hereunto annexed is the easiest. First, you must make a Pauement with a quantitie of foure cornerd Quadrants, as it is also shewed in the beginning of this Booke; which may be of such bredth, as you will: Say that these foure square stones are two foote broad, which shall be the thickenesse of a Pillar: betwéene the two first Pillars beneath in the bredth, there shall be eyght square stones, and the height of the Pillars made of what quantitie you will; and they being raised toward the Horison, then you must draw two seuerall lines ouer both the Pillars, and then out of the middle of the first line you must make two halfe Circles aboue vpon the flat side before, and deuide them in as many parts as you will; which parts shall be drawne to the Center of the halfe Circle, standing in the vppermost line: then out of the middle of the two seuerall lines you must draw the lesse halfe Circle, and all terminations of the flat Arch being drawne to the Horison, then the first Arch or Gate is made: the other two Pillars vpwards drawne to the Horison, then the first Arch or Gate is made: the other two Pillars vpwards shall also stand eyght Quadrants distant from the first Pillars, which will make a foure corned place on all sides: containing 64. square stones: and you must doe with this gate as you did with the first, onely (when they are all of one wydenesse as these are) you néed not denide the Arches againe, for the Horisentall lines of the stones of the first Arch will shew you the terminations of all the other Arches, and also how long the Gallery must be, and how many Arches it must containe. I haue placed no Arches here in the sides, because I would not cumber you too much at this time; but I will speake thereof hereafter perticularly.

The two Doores on each side are both partly couered with the Pillars, but the wydenesse of them is foure Quadrentes, besides that from the corner of the doores to the Pillars on each side there is two Quadrantes, as you sée the halfe thereof; and the other halfe you must suppose to bee behind the Pillars. The beames aboue the Arches which beare vp the Chamber aboue, you may well guesse, although I write not particularly thereof: I haue not likewise set the Bases nor the Capitals vpon these Pillars, because they should not darken them too much; but in another place I will also entreat thereof.

TH•se two Bowes or Arches are onely made to know how to ioyne their Bases and Capitals to them, whereof in two seuerall places I haue spoken before, and shewed how they rise on the one side, and fall or decrease in sight on the other side; that a man may the better learne how to doe them: for in trueth if a man could shew it vnto you in effect, you would the easlyer vnderstand it; but to set it downe in writing or Figures as I doe, that men heereafter might know and learne them: it is requisite to entreat of them more at large, and that you may the better discerne and perceiue the points of the thin lines from the other poynts or corners of the blacke lines; therefore here I haue placed the poynt of the distances and the Horison downeward; and haue placed the Pillars in other manner vpon this ground without Quadrant stones: In this manner set the bredth of the two first Pillars vpon the Base of such thickenesse as you will, and draw them inwards, towards the Horison, then you must imagine the distances, as I haue already taught you: and these distances are set on both sides, and on eyther point of the distances you must draw a line both toward the right and left poynt or corner of each Pillar.

These Diagonall lines will not onely shew you the thickenesse of the first or formost Pillars when they shorten, but also the thickenesse of the two other Pillars which stand inward, which are all marked with prickes (and as I haue likewise said before) that which is here sayd of the Bases of the Pillars, the same also must be vnderstood vpward of the Capitals: touching the thickenesse of the bowes or Arches vnderneath, I haue shewed in the Figure before, how you must place the Center in the middle of the foure crosse point lines, to draw the halfe Circumference: The foure square or Quadrant aboue, is as great as that below on the ground; I need not shew how you shall make it, for you sée it plaine enough in the Figure.

THis Figure is like the former, onely that the members of the Bases and Capitals are added thereunto; thereby to make it more perfect vnto you, and to shew you how a thing will stand when it is full made and finished, although I haue shewed it before; neuerthelesse, when a man is perfect herein, then he may by practise helpe himselfe well inough without all this labour, vsing discretion and bearing in memorie that, which he hath imprinted in his mind: For in trueth, by this meanes (I meane the ground) a man may by practise make many things; which if they be made with discretion, and by a workeman, will alwayes beautifie the worke, as these bowes or Arches do, which vnder are deuided with Quadrantes as you may sée them. There are, as you know, first two Centers to forme the Arche vnderneath; now a wise workeman must not alwayes séeke for the perfection of the edge of these Quadrants; but for example, Say that the Arche vnderneath is deuided into eyght parts, whereof sixe shall be for the Quadrant, and two parts for the edge or border that runneth about it: now you must deuide the space betwéene the one Center and the other, also in eyght parts, but they must shorten or lessen a little, that is, the neather part against the vpper; & then the compasse being set somewhat lower, and made narrower: then you must draw the vppermost border, and then the compasse being set a little below the neathermost Center; you must in like sort drawe the other edge or border: after, you must square or deuide the Quadrants, leauing the space betweene both, once so broad againe as the other, which must be drawen vp tow•rds the Horison; and as much as you will make the Quadrant sinke: you must also draw out of the last Center with the Compasse. And in this manner a man may make diuers formes and compartements (but as I haue said) you must make them all with iudgement, and therefore it is very conuement that a man should be well instructed therein; for that vsing onely the princicall terminations, you must make the rest by practise: But I am of opinion, that some rigorous Perspectiue men will take hold of these my words, (to whom I answere) that if they meane I haue failed or done amisse, let them prooue what difference there is betwéene saying and doing.

THe manner how to make a crosse roofe of a Gallery or House in Perspectiue worke, is alwayes very troublesome to shew it vnto any man; and therefore also, it is much more troublesome to declare it in writing for men hereafter to vnderstand it. Neuerthelesse, because it is very necessary to be knowne, I will doe the best I can to shew it.

First, you must chuse the bredth and height of the greatest Arch or Bow that you desire to make, and then by the distances you must make a perfect shortening Quadrant, and also a lesse Bow or Arch. The greatest Arch before shalbe deuided into eyght equall parts, and those parts must be drawne towards the Horison to the smale Arch, which being done, then you must set those parts of the great•st Arche below vpon the Base; and with the helpe of the Horisentall and Diagonall lines, you may make a shortening Circle within the Quadrant, as in the other places before you haue béene taught. The terminations hereof shall be 1.2.3.4.5. which shall be set vpwards beside the great Arche, as you sée it there also marked with 1.2.3.4.5. Without this round below I haue drawne the Paralels with prickes to the wall, and where they end, there you must set all your Perpendicular lines vpright, which are come out of the Paralel lines of this Circle.

Then you must draw the terminations aforesayd, which are placed aboue, along by the Perpendicular lines with lines to the Horison; end where the sayd Horisentall lines cut through the Perpendicular lines, which are drawne vp from below; there you must make halfe a short•n•ng Circle: and that which is marked on this side with Ciphers, must also be vnderstood to stand on the other, as you sée it in the Figure.

These two halfe shortening Circles being made, then you must draw a right blacke line aboue out of each of the middles, which are marked 5. and where that cutteth through the middlemost line, which goeth from the greatest Arch to the Horison, there shalbe the terminations & also the middle of the crosse worke; and then out of all the terminations of the two halfe Circles; you must draw crosse lines on the sides, and where euery one of them following an Horisentall, toucheth the Arch marked with 2.3.4. there the terminations shal stand to forme the halfe Circles in the crosse, through the which a man with a stedfast hand from termination to termination shall make a shortening halfe rounde crosse with prickes, as both on the right and left hand you may plainely sée in the Figure. In this manner the worke should goe, although it stood somewhat out at the sides; but it is better first to print it well in your memory, before • séeke an other forme where the Horison standeth on the one side, that then you may the easilyer make that whi• • séene on that side.

HAuing shewed in crosseworke on both sides, how you should place the Arches on the sides in shortening manner •nd drawne them vp out of the ground, although that they be single: now will I shew you a hollow Arche, and the maner how to shorten it: But before I proceed thereunto (for it is very combersome and difficult) first I wil shew you the Pilaisters that should carrie the sayd Arches: which Pilaisters stand so plainely in the Figure that I shall not need to take much paines to wryte of them. In this Figure I haue not made the first Arch, that I might not darken the sight of the Arches on the sides, which Arches on the sides, I haue also but marked how they shall stand, and are alwayes drawne out of the fouresquare Quadrant, as you sée by the order of the foure square Quadrant, but the hindermost Arch which standeth not in the way, I haue drawne fully, and placed it also in his foure square.

Aboue in the top or roofe, I haue made the round forme, whereof you may make a Kettel or Tribunall; and you may also make it thus, when it is somewhat soncke. Touching the foure Pilaisters, they (as I haue taught before) are found by the Diagonall lines comming from the poynt of the distances, and also that each Pilaister is thrée cornerd: standing like a thrée cornerd hooke, and on each end (the Arch resteth whereof there shall be foure) two Arches before, and two on the sides, so that the roofe will be right fouresquare, wherein you may make crosse worke or other manner of Roose worke. And if you will make other kindes of works by the same; you must alwayes follow this rule: Item, where you can not well vnderstand my writing, you must helpe your selfe with the figures, which figure also standeth open, so that with a little labour; a man may easily conceaue it altogether, although there were nothing spoken of it.

NOw you sée what way you must follow to place Arches on the sides in shortening manner: And first, you must thinke vpon the third former manner Superficies, wherein I haue sufficiently shewed you the manner how to frame a round body; but in this Figure I will shew it more perfectly. Wherefore a man must imagine that the round Body lying below in his fouresquare is made, and shall serue for the two Bowes on the sides. This Body then being made (as I haue shewed before) and as you sée it better now, you must first set it, where the Arches begin about the Horison. And the same Perpendicular lines which stand corner wise from the middle of the foure cornerd body, must be set like Paralel lines on the right & left sides vpwards from the two Arches, there (at it is aforesaid) to direct the Horisentall lines, as you may sée it plainely in the Figure. But you must vnderstand, that the two crosses below in this Body, are the two Centers to draw the stones of the Arches both aboue and below, they also signifie the Centers of the Bowes vpon the Horisentall lines within the Arches.

You must also vnderstand, that the blacke lines doe forme the Circumference without, and the prickes or this lines betoken the forme within; which is couered in the Arches: so that the Arches do shew through to be made of pieces, of the which pieces a man may learne to make diuers Compartements vnderneath in the Arch. Now when a man can make this Arch well, then hee shall not neede still to take all this labour, but by two principall lines helping himselfe with pricks, he may frame the Arch; and specially, because that the Arch which should come before, couereth or hideth a great part of the Arches on both sides: which Arch I haue not made here, that I might not darken or shadow the other shortening Arch. Neither néed I wryte any thing of the Circumferences aboue in the top or Roofe, (nor the eyght corners within) for that in the next Figure you shall sée them; neither will I speake any thing of the Circumferences in the ground, for they are made (as I haue taught you heretofore of all others) and of the round body below (of the which there hath beene more sayd) a man may make many other things which are not here to be spoken of.

TO place Pillars with their Arches vpon grounds or platformes, I thinke there is sufficient spoken before; and whatsoeuer I haue spoken of foure square Pillars, is also to bee vnderstood of round Columnes, for that a man must take all round things, out of foure square things as well the Spira of the Base, as the round of the Capital. He that can make all the Figures aforesayd perfectly, and particularly this last body, shall helpe himselfe well, and not onely to doe the like things, but also to do many more. If I should in this small Treatise shew all that I could set downe, it would make a most great Volumne; and peraduenture I should want time to set foorth the rest of my Booke, which I haue already promised: for there are many things that belong to Building, which need not to bee set downe in Perspectiue worke.

Let vs now begin to rayse the Building here set downe out of the ground, which before, and at the one side is séene, as I promised before to shew you.

The shortest and surest way is, to mak a ground with many Quadrants; and imagine that it is mete with the Foot, with the Elle, or other measure: But •et vs now take euery Quadrant for two foot, and as before there are foure Quadrants from one Pillar to the other; and the Pillar also containeth a Quadran, there shall also be foure Quadrants vpward in the length from one Pillar to the other, as you may see it altogether in the Figure.

The Pillars then being set of such height as you desire, then the Arches vpon them most be made; and the manner how to make them, you may expresly see in the Figure. And although you cannot see the Arches that are behind them, yet I haue made them here that you may sée their terminations: they are in some places drawne with full blacke lines, and in some places with prickes.

Aboue the Arches you must make the Architraue, Frise and Cornice; the Proiecture whereof, you must make as I haue sayd and taught heretofore, that is, how they make their corners against the two Diagonall lines, and by the like rule you shall also make the vppermost Cornice, as you may sée in the vppermost part, where the small Quadrant with the Diagonall lines stand. The doores that stand vnder in the Gallery, are each of them two Quadrants broad, and foure Quadrants high: below in the ground there are certaine tokens which shew like Nayles, which signifie the wydenesse of the windowes aboue the Cornice: which windowes if they stood whole there, then they would be twice as high as they are broad. The other Nayles vpwards betwéene the shortening Pillars, are also the bredth of the shortening Pillars, which (as I sayd before) are all foure Quadrants high, but they are partly couered with the Cornices. The part of the Arch which standeth at the ende, is separated from this Gallery, as the ground also sheweth it.

I haue here made no Bases nor Capitals, that the other things might not bee confounded: but you must vnderstand that they must be placed in the worke, as is sufficiently before shewed. And by this rule you may draw diuers Buildings out of the ground, as in the Figure following shall be shewed in diuers formes. The Centers of the Arches you see them marked, standing all vpon one Horisentall line.

NOw I haue shewed the manner how to make a Gallery with Arches and Pillars, with other things thereunto belonging; now by an easier way I will shew some forme of Houses that are to be built out of the ground. You must make a ground or foote worke with Quadrants reatching long inough vpwards, which Quadrants must each of them be reckoned at two foote square.

And first, at the entry of the House there shall be a doore of fiue foote broad, for that it containeth two Quadrants and a halfe in the shortening: end the height thereof shall be of ten foote, because it is fiue Quadrants high: Her Pilaisters or Antipagmentum shall bee a foote broad, because they containe a halfe shortening Quadrant; the Frise shall also containe as much: and the Cornice shall containe so much lesse, as the vnder part thereof hearing ouer containeth, and shall be made according to the rule afore shewed. Touching the part yetting ouer the doore, the Megdiliones or Mutiles, shal stand right aboue the Pilaisters or Antipagmentum of the doore. And that litle doore vpon the yetting, shall stand right in the middle aboue the lowest doore, and shall be two foote broad. In the other corner of this first House, there shall be another doore, the widenesse thereof shall be sixe foote; you may make it round or square aboue as you wil. But why doe I spend my time to set downe all these measures, which you may so plainely sée in the Figure; onely it is necessary to warne such as are studious herein, that what worke soeuer a man rayseth out of the ground, consisteth in three principall things, that is, in length, bredth and height. The length is of certaine Houses or Roomes, containing a certaine number of féet. The bredth consisteth of Windowes, Doores, Gates, Shoppes, and such like things. The height consisteth of Portes, Windowes, Iettings, Cornices, Columnes, Rooffes, and such like things. But there is yet another, that is of the thickenesse of the Walles, Pillars, Columnes and Pilaisters: The length is taken from the shortening Quadrants, and from thence also you take the bredth. But the height is taken out of the bredth in the Quadrants, which bredth must be taken from the Quadran or halfe Quadran, which toucheth it on the hithermost fide as it standeth: as also from the hithermost doore, which is ten foote high, there you must take the measure from the Quadrans, which come to the Paralels on the nethermost corner or poynt of the doore; for if there you take fiue Quadrans in bredth, it shall be height within the Antipagementum. And that which I haue sayd of these doores, you must also vnderstand of all the other things: The thickenesse of the Wall is two foote, for you see it containeth a Quadrant. The bearing euer of the second House is of sixe foote, measured vpon the ground: the like also the bearing oner or setting of the first House containeth. To conclude all things, as I haue said, rising out of the ground on all sides, I haue set no Cornices, nor any other ornaments in this Figure, that you may the easier vnderstand it; but a man of ripe iudgement and vnderstanding knowing the terminations, can by his owne inuention helpe himselfe to make faire Buildings. And for that I may not spend too much time herein, I will make others to giue you more light therein.

THE Stayres, degrées or goings vp, are very necessary in Buildings, and therefore I will shew diuers kinds thereof, and first I will begin with the easiest. According to common custome a Stayre or step is about halfe a foote high, and about a foote broad vpon the step; then let the square stones of this ground be a foote square, therewith we will make a paire of staires of fiue foote high, and thrée foote broad: at the foote of the ground wee will take the measure of the bredth, which both on the right and left sides shall be set in Perpendicular lines on the Corners of the Stayres, which shall be deuided into ten, as the lines A. B. shew you. Then all the parts of A. B. shall be raised to the Horison, and then you shall take nine Quadrantes vpwards in length: and where as two lines are set vp cutting through the Horisental lines of A. B. there the corners D. C. of the vppermost steps shalbe, containing a foure square of thrée Quadrants on each side. From the hithermost points of the same vppersteps, you shal draw two helding lines to the lowest steps; against the which the Horisentall and the Perpendicular lines of the Quadran shall come together and shut vp the Stayres.

These Stayres are shortened on the one side, and the other is plaine or profil, and containeth a step lesse in the height, which maketh foure foote and a halfe; it is also thrée foote broad, as it is marked vnder it on the ground. By this rule you may make Stayres or degrées as high as you will, and make some resting places in the way: alwayes taking the measure from the foote of the ground, as well of the shortening, as of those that are vpright.

THE going vp being plaine or profil maketh a great show, and yet are very easie to set in all places, I meane in the turning, and may serue for many things, specially in Buildings, where a man going vp softly and with ease, giueth the beholders a kind of pleasure to view them, principally in common places, for that there is a going vp on eyther side, so that vpon the one side men may goe vp, and on the other side they may goe downe; and although there are only but two goings vp, yet by this a man by his own inuention may deuise others. How these Stayres are made, and with what reason, you may by the Figure perceaue them, although I should say nothing thereof: for as it is sayd before, the Quadrants are of a foote broad, and the steps halfe a foot high, and so the bredth of the step is one foot. The bredth of the Stayres is fiue foote, both the first and second: The resting gate containeth in widenesse thrée foote, and is sixe foote high; which although it seemeth to be shut, and a small doore opening in it: yet it may be made whole open and otherwise closed. The two sides aboue the thrée steps are fiue foote broad, although here it is but one foote, because of the narrownesse of the Paper. The Perpendicular lines on the sides, signifie leaning places, and they should serue well also to the steps, but lest they should comber the worke, I haue lest them out.

AMongst other things which show well in Perspectiue worke, I finde that goings vp or steps are very sée mely, and the ottner that they turne, the better they shew; therefore I haue made these two goings vp turning, which stand in profil, yet you sée the ground and the steps. This first going vp is sixe foote high and three foote broad, as you may sée it marked in the ground with pricks: the resting place betwéene the first and second going vp, is two foure squares long, which is necessary, because of the turning. At the end thereof you finde a Portale, the dore thereof is two foote wyde, the Antipagmentum is halfe a foote on eyther side, so that the place is three footefull. The Perpendicular lines on the right side of the plaine, signifie certaine leanings, which may bee made of Iron, Wood, or Stone; the like may be made along the Stayres both vpward and downeward, setting a Baluster vpon euery Stayre: The height of this raile or leaning, shall be two foote and an halfe; for so it is casie to lay a mans hand vpon. How these Stayres are made vpwards out of the ground, although it may well be séene by the Figure without declaring it: yet I will say some thing thereof, to ease them that are short of memory. The resting gate or round doore vnder the plainnesse betweene the second and the third going vp, is no deeper then to the wall: Aboue the same doore there standeth another going vp, of foure steps, which to make, I haue sufficiently shewed; otherwise a man should continue the ground at the resting doore, to draw them vp from it.

TOuching the seuerall kinds of Stayres, I am assured that they may partly be vnderstood without describing them in wrytingg, and specially the middlemost which goeth vp on both sides; and so shall the vppermost also, becau•e it is raysed vp from the ground as well as the other, and is sixe foot broad, as you may sée and tell it on the ground vpon the plaine stones. The two Arches vnder the two goings vp are each a foot in thickenesse, whereby a going downe is foure foote within, and is also drawen out of the ground as the rest are. The other goings vp, which you sée through the Arches; you may sufficiently perceiue by them how they are made: and so it is with the two paire of Stayres on the left hand, for from the first steps at the resting doore, you may easily sée how they are raysed vp out of the ground, and aboue at the end of them they haue a piece of plaine ground to come to the other Stayres, which also is drawne vp out of the pauement as the rest are, that is, each step halfe a foote high, and a foote broad. But it is hard to measure in so small things, but it suffiseth that hereby you may see the manner thereof: and when you make them great you shall find that they will come well inough to passe. Vnder the Stayres last named, there standeth also a round doore which is fiue foot wyde: vpon this ground, and on these Stayres a cunning Paynter might place diuers Figures in seuerall formes, eyther standing or sitting vpon the Stayres; and lying vpon the ground in shortening manner, and that in this wise: You may place the Figures where you will with féete, and then take sixe féete or squares whereon they stand, and that shal be their height, for that it is the height of a common or ordinary man: this you must obserue both before and behind, and in euery place. If the Figure be vpon a step, then take the measure of that step whereon it standeth, and make it twelue steps high, which shall be fire foote: And is the Figure lying, doe the like; but if it lieth in shortening manner vpon the ground, then you must take the length by the shortening Quadrant.

I Haue shewed many kinds of goings vp, but there are other kinds, and he that is not well instructed in the former will hardly vnderstand these two which I haue here set downe. The first shall be winding Stayres in foure square, and he that can make these foure square Stayres, may well make the round Stayres, for it is all one thing, specially if he vseth the rule before set downe of the round bodies.

The Figure P. is the ground of this winding Stayre, but it is much lesse then the vppermost to get ground. This foure square ground in shortening you must make halfe a foote high, which shalbe for the first step. Then before at either end, you must make a Perpendicular line vpright, and in it make as many halfe féete as you desire to make the Stayres high; you must also place the like Perpendicular lines betwéene the middle, & the corners: then you must draw the terminations both on the right and the left sides vpwards to the Horison, which must cut through the Perpendicular lines, which are drawne out of the terminations of the steps; and of the same height that the two cornerd Perpendicular lines are: and of the same measure you must make the other two Perpendicular lines betwéene the corners and the middle. Then in the middlemost termination of the ground you must place an other Perpendicular line, and deuide it also in halfe féet, as the other Perpendicular line on the side is: So out of this Perpendicular line of the Centers against the néerest Perpendicular line beneath on the left hand, you must frame the first step with two lines: The second step you shal also frame and shut vp out of the Perpendicular line of the Centers in the corner following. Then from that poynt or corner you must draw a line to the Horison, which against the second Perpendicular line will make the termination of the third step, which shall also bee shut about, according to the aforesaid rule: from that poynt or corner of the step you must also make an Hor•sental line, which will touch the termination of the fourth step; which being closed, then you must raise that corner also to the Horison, and that will shew you the termination of the fist step. And when that step is also closed with lines: then you must draw the poynt towards the Horison, which line will shew you the terminations of the sirt step against the hindermost Perpendicular line: and that being also closed vp with liues, then out of the same corner you must draw a Pararel line to the termination of the seuenth step, and no• towards the Horison, because it is another side of the foure square. Thus you must worke round about from step to step, alwayes fellowing this rule by the which you cannot faile.

THat I may not forget to set down all kinds of Stayres, and specially such as often times fall out to be made; therefore I haue made these Stayres, whereon a man may goe vp on all sides, whereof the ground standeth aboue on the right hand, but yet very small. These Stayres must thus bee made. First, you must make a foure square shortening body of halfe a foot high, vpon this you must draw two Diagonall lines, and from the corner inwards there shall be a foote broad left on eyther side, and the terminations thereof drawne to the Horison, and so from the Diagonall lines you shall see the corners of the second step. Now I need not set downe vnto you how you shall finde the lessening corner of the second step, the which is round about shut vp with Paralel and Horisentall lines: then vpon the second plaine you must draw two Diagenall lines, which doing (as I sayd before) will shew you the third step; which also being closed vp with lines, you shall also find the fourth and fifth, with the like rules: This Piramides is fantastically framed vpon them to fill vp the place. Also I need not set down to what vses these Stayres may serue, for that the halfe of them is commonly found in diuers pieces of worke, as the gates of Pallaces, Churches, and other dwelling Houses, and the ascending vp to Altars: By this way also you may make round Stayres; and also Stayres of sixe or eyght corners, as by their formes I haue shewed.

I Haue promised the studious Reader by this my labour to shew as much touching Perspectiue worke, as I can; that hee might shew his conceit touching Houses or Buildings in Perspectiue wise, meaning to set downe some simple manners thereof, as if he should forme a single or double ground, thereupon to rayse a body, and therewith meane to make an end. But falling from one worke to another, I am entred into a Laborinth; which peraduenture is too farre aboue my reach: which commeth to passe by meanes of some men that haue entreated me thereunto. And therefore, as I thought at this time to make an end of my second Booke, I begin to handle a harder matter, which rule is onely called an outward foure square: neuerthelesse, it is aswell drawne by the Horison as by the distances, as you may sée in the Figure following; which sheweth aright shortening foure square, containing in it another foure square, the which also may bee formed by the distances without Horison: some men place the sides of the foure square vpon the Base, once so wyde againe as before. And as you see two like sides of the foure square ouer the corner, so are the distances alike marked D. And as much more as you will haue this foure square to shorten, so much you must draw the distances from the Horison; and as much as you will that the edges of the foure square shall be broad, so many bredths must you draw vpon the Base, betweene A C. twice drawne. All the terminations of this foure square standing aboue the corners goe all to the distances, and none to the Horison, but onely the foure square that is set therein.

NOw I haue shewed, how you should shorten a Superficies, ouerpoynt or outward foure square: here I will shew how to imbosse or beare out the body thereof with the same Horison and distances also, which body within is hollow, and you may heaue it vp as high as you: but I haue purposely left it somewhat low, that you might see the ground thereof. And by this Figure you may conceaue to how many things this may serue; and also how you may increase or diminish it, according to skil and iudgement This shall suffice for these fouresquare models or hollow things: but I will shew how you shall make them wc Crests or Cornices

THis Figure is also formed by the aforesayd Horison, and the like distances as the other before, onely that they stand a little néerer: Now to creast this body both aboue & beneath, you must imagine the greatnes of the creast, and draw the same greatnesse both aboue and beneath the body; then giue the Crests aboue their due Proiecture, and from those poynts you must let Perpendicular lines fall to the poynts or corners below, whereby you shal haue the Proiectiues of the Base and top thereof, which must be drawne towards the Distances, and not towards the Horison. Now you see how the Cornices stand without the foure square body: but this is only for Cornices that are made without members, not to comber you with the shadowing of them, for I will speake of them hereafter particulerly.

I Spake before of Cornices without members, which might serue this hollow Quadran, and how you shall make the terminations thereof. Now in this Figure I show you the sayd Cornices with their members, which you may also make in other maner as it pleaseth the workeman, that is, to make them bigger or lesser, as I haue spoken of other Cornices, alwayes vsing good discretion and iudgement to chuse and make such members therein, as may show well in mens sight. There are some Cornices which reach so farre ouer, that men can not see the members thereof vnder them; therefore in that case the members are so to be made, that they may be seemely and pleasant in mens sight.

THe foure Figures aforesayd haue their distances equally broad from the Horison, that is, as much on the one side as the other; but the Figure following is of an other manner: so that the Horisental lines serue both for distances. To vnderstand it, begin thus: First, the Base A.B. is made and is placed in foure equall parts, as C.D.E. the lines C.D. are drawne on the right hand towards the Horison, and the lines A.C. are drawne towards the Horison on the left side, which forme a perfect shortening foure square; which foure square you see more on the one side, then on the other. The foure points or corners of these foure square things, are F.G.H.C. If you deuide these foure square things in two parts, then you must deuide the Base D.E. in two parts, and the terminations thereof being drawne to the right side, there you shall finde the halfe of your foure square marked with two Stars. But if you will lengthen it an other halfe foure square, then draw a termination E. to the right Horison, the lines at I.K. the other halfe foure square, so that these Superficies shall be of two perfect foure corners: And this will serue the ingenious workeman for many things, which I will not here set downe for breuitie sake.

THis body hereafter following is raysed vp out of the former Figure before set downe, and is made with the same Horison; which body containeth two Quadrants in length, & one Quadrant in height, for the line C.D. is set in Perpendicular maner vpon the nethermost corner, wheron the other Superficies are set: thus then this body is of two fouresquares, I meane two foure squares in length, and one foure square broad and high. And this body (as I said before) shall serue for many things: But if you will haue more cubits in the length, then lengthen the Base in so many parts more, and you shall alwayes finde the trueth hereof. And if you will make a border or creast about this body, then you must follow this rule aforesayd.

BVT will you make diuers things vpon one ground, then it is conuenient that first you make a pauement, as you sée it here set downe, and thereupon frame what you thinke good vpon the Quadrans, and the lesse the Quadrans are, and the more in number, you may the easter frame things vpon them. The crosse made vpon this ground is onely to show you the way and entry thereunto; but for such a forme, you may make a forme of a Christian Church as they are now built. The other forme by it, sheweth a piece of a foundation of a House, but all these things you may make in a greater forme, and set them forth as you will; sometime placing the Horisentall lines in such manner that you may see more of the out sides, but yet the Horisons must stand all of one height.

OVT of this Superficiall Figure aforesayd, I haue raysed these bodies, to shew how the Horisons of them d• stand in the worke as well aboue as below, as you shall finde by experience, and in trueth these workes which you sée ouer the poynts or corners, containe a Booke alone by themselues: but (as I sayd before) my meaning was to sh•w but thrée or foure Figures of them, yet I will show ten of them; intending to leaue the student some worke, whereof I am well assured: For that he hath more eyes, and more patience then my selfe, hee shall finde many things which I write not of, nor yet set downe.

VPon this Pauement (as I sayd) you may forme or frame what you will, but in this Pauement here ensuing, you sée a columne lying, being eight square, which is thrée Quadrans in thickenesse, and foureteene in length. This eyght square columne may be made out of a columne of foure square, as before in an other place is shewed: which foure square you may see drawne herein with prickes, and the terminations of the eyght square with blacke lines. But because that this eyght square columne is too much séene on the sides, the readier to make it out of the foure square: I haue therefore made an other piece by it, the which, because it draweth neerer to this Horison, is séene more before, then the other, although not so long; for it is but halfe so long as the other, as you may sée & tell it in the ground or foot thereof. And if it were so that this eyght square Figure reached néerer to the Horison, it would then be better séene, yet it would not be wholly seene before, because it standeth without the foure square and corner.

THese Columnes are the same which are before set downe, but the other well hollow, and these massie, whereby an expert workeman may finde out many things exercising this way, although there are other meanes to be vsed, as Albert Duter hath shewed, to looke through holes with a thread: Thereis also another way, which is drawne out of flat formes which is the surest way, but very troublesome and hard to describe in writing; wherefore I haue chosen this as the easiest way to be shewed. And if I had not vndertaken to show other things of more importance, I would haue drawne diuers bodies and houses after this manner. But for that I meane to entreat of Scenes, and the preparing of places for to show Comedies and Tragedies, which is now vsed in this age, and specially in Italy, therefore I will make an end of these foure cornerd things, leauing it to another (as I sayd before) to set foorth more thereof.

BEcause I meane hereafter to entreat of Theaters, and Scenes belonging vnto them, as we vse them in these dayes. In the which Scenes it will bee very hard for a man to shew how, & where a man should place the Horison herein, because it is an other thing then the rule before declared: Therfore I thought it good first to make this profil, that the ground by the profill may both together be the better vnderstood; yet it were conuenient first to studie the ground, and if it so falleth out that a man cannot attaine to all within the ground, then hee must procéede to th• profill to bee the better instructed therein. First therefore, I will begin with the Scaffold before, which as the eyes shal stand eleuated from the earth, and shalbe flat, made by the water compasse, marked with C. And the Scaffold from B. to A. shall stand heaued vp vnder the same A. a ninth part of the length thereof, and that standing by behind the seate marked with an M. aboue it, is the wall of the Hall or other place, against which, or where this Scene shall be made. That which standeth a little distant from the Wall Perpendilar wise, is marked P. shal be the backe or vpholding behind of the Scene, that a man may go betwéene it and the other wall. The termination O. is the Horison. The lines with prickes comming crosse vpon the water compasse from L. to O. where it toucheth the backe P. there you shall place the Horison onely to serue for the sayd backe. And comming forwards to L. this liue shall alwayes be the Horison, for all the Ortograpie of the Houses which shall stand forwards or outwards: But the Seenographies or shortening sides of the Houses, they must haue their Horisons standing further to O. And it is reason, which in effect haue two sides (as thes must be built that men may see out of them on both sides) should happen two Horison lines, this is touching the profill of the Scene. But the place which is called Procenie is that which is marked with P. and the part marked with E. is called O•hestra, which is raysed halfe a foote from the earth, where you sée F. marked, are the places for Noblemen an• •ghts to sit on. And the first seate or step, mark• G. are for the Noblewomen and Ladye• to sit on: an• •ing vp higher, there must the meaner sort of Nobles sit. The broader place, marked H. is a way, and so is the place marked E. Betwéene H. and E. must sit Gentlemen of quality. And from L. vpwards meaner Gentlemen shall sit. But the great space, marked K. shall be for common Officers and other people: which place may be greater or lesse, according to the length of the Hall, or any other place. And the Theator, with the Scene or Scaffold, which I made in Vincente, was almost in this sort: and from the one corner of the Theater to the other, was eyght and twenty foote; for it was made in a place where I had roume inough, but the Scene or Scaffold was not so broad, because it was placed in a lodge. The frame of the seates was all made in one, as you may see in this Figure. And because the Theater stood in an open place which had no wall, whereunto it might be made fast, therefore in the circumference I haue mode it sticking out, for the more strength and fastnesse thereof.