The Temple of Peace

THis Temple of peace the Emperor Vespatian caused to bee made by the Market in Rome, which Temple is come mended of Plinie, for it was much beautified with grauen worke and Pilaister of Stucco; and besides these Ornaments of the said Temple, after the death of Nero, Vespatian caused all the Images both of Copper and Marble to bee placed therein, which Ring Nero had gathered together out of diuers places, which were no small number. Vespatian also placed in it both his owne and his childrens Images made of a new kind of Marble brought out of Ethiopia, called Bassalto, being of an Iron collour, a kind of stuffe much commended in those times. In the said Temple and the principall Chappell thereof, there stood an Image of white Marble very great, made of many pieces; of which reliques there are many pieces yet to bée séene in Campidoglo; eassly vpō it, wherby a man may guesse and among other pieces there is a foote, whereof the greatnesse of the Image, and it was the nayle of the great Toe is so great that I sate made by an excellent workeman.

THis Temple is measured with Elles, and the Elle is deuided into 12. parts, called ounces, the measure which standeth in the middle of the ground of the Temple is halfe an Elle: First, the length of the ladges about is 122. Elles, the bredth is 15. Elles, the widenesse of the places before in the lodgis containe 10. Elles, the thickenesse of the Pillars at the entrie is fine Elles, and betwéene the one Pillar and the other is 10. Elles, the goings in on both sides, both of the Portall and of the Temple are 16. Elles wide, the length of the whole Temple is about 170. Elles, the bredth containeth 125. Elles; the principall place in the middle of the Temple is 35. Elles. The sides of the Pilasters against the which the round Columnes stand are 9 Elles and a halfe, and the thickenesse of these Columnes are 4. Elles, 4. ounces and a halfe, and they are canelert, euery one hauing 24. Canels: the caue or hollowing of each Canell is 5. ounces broad, and the list thereof one ounce and a halfe; the bredth of the principall Chappell is about 32. Elles, and is halfe a Circle. Those on the sides marked A. B. are 37. Elles broad land goe 16. Elles into the Wall, which is lesse then halfe a Circle: the thickenesse of the Wall round about the Temple is 12. Elles, altough in many places, because of the Bowes, it is much thinner. The Circumferences of the Chappels are 6. Elles thicke, betwéene the one Pilaster and the other, if is 45. Elles; you may conceane the quantitie of the measure of many places and windowes with other particular things, by the measures aforesayd, for the Figure is proportioned. Touching the Ortographie, which is the Figure heceafter following, because the ground is all ce•red ouer with the ruines thereof; I could not measure it from the ground to the top, but as much as I conceiued by that part of the ground, and also of the raines which are there to be séene; I make this piece standing vpright. I am not certaine whether the Columnes haue this pedestall vnder them or not, because that men cannot sée the foot of the Columnes. And although that Plini much commendeth this Building, yet there are many vnhandsome things in it, specially the Cornices aboue the Columnes, which are not accompanted with any thing, but stand hare and naked alone.