Greek and other antiquities

ALthough the Gréekes were the principall founders and inuentors of good Architecture (as our Master Vitruuius, and many other Authors witnesse) neuerthelesse, by reason of their great warres, and their Land so often ouerrun and spoyled by the enemies, a man can hardly stade any good worke standing whole in all Grecia: but as some men haue told me, there are yet the ruines of a Bailding, which, as men conceaue, was of one hundred Columnes; whereof no man c•n by casting know the height. But (with our Authors licence) for that he makes this by report, and hath no measure thereof, I haue onely set the fourth part of the ground by the halfe of the Building (which he hath thereto plated) whereby the workeman may conceaue the whole ground, and the whole Figure thereof.

BYS. G•orge Belabro, you may sée this building hereunder, which was made by the Bankiers & Oxensellers, in the tune of Lucius Septimus Seuerus, and Marcus Aurelius Antonius: which Building is of Composita worke, wellset foorth on euery side with grauing. Let no man wonder, that the Fréese & the Architraue are couered with this table, for that there being much writing to bee set into it, the Freese was not great inough to containe so many letters: therefore the workeman made it so, and brake not the order of Architecture at all, •ang th•n• proportion thereo. in the corners.

I Will not set the measure of this Building at large, because it was lost after it was measured• but as I remember, the widenesse betwéene the one and the other Pilaster was 12. old foote. The height of that widenesse was 20. foot: the thickenes of the Pilasters, with all the Columnes which are flat, is 4. foot and an halfe: and so much the Architraue, Fréese and Cornice containeth.

The innermost part whereupon the roofe or seeling dosh rest.

The bottome of the Architraue.

In the furthest part of the roofe, are 27. Quadrans.

This Ichnograhyie is measured by the ancient Palme: but, for that in this ground I haue béene more curious of the inuention, then of any other thing, therefore I set not downe the particular measures, which, in trueth, would be euerlong to rehearse: but I haue with great diligence set this sméll forme in so good proportion in sorts, that the cunning Architector may in a manner find the measures, vsing the same small Palme, which standeth in the halfe Circle, deuided in 10 parts, and each part is 10. Palmes: so the whole line is 100. Palines: thus with a Compasse to your hand, you may partly conceaue the measure of this Building. Touching the Orthographie. I haue not let it downe at all, for 3. causes: First, because of the great ruines, there is little sight to be had thereof: the 2. because of the difficultie to measure the same: the 3. for that, in tru•to, a man séeeth this building was not made in that fortunate time of good workemen; for in it are many discordances and vnfit things, but yet great and costly ornaments. But for that men in so small a forme of Ichnographie can not perfectly shew the forme of euery part and member, therefore hereafter I will shew the part in the middle more plainely.