Introduction

To the wel-willers of Architecture.

VItruuius sayth, that such as haue built without learning or instruction (although workemen) could neuer make any famous or commendable pieces of worke: no more can others, being no workemen, such as haue followed the letter or writing onely, and made no proofe: of which, some haue presumed to father their doings vpon Vitruuius: yet in diuers places of their writings, which are found, they could not close vp their rules orderly, but haue left many things doubtfull, and (more) haue esteemed that to be good and commendable, which in worke is not to bee endured. The cause of this errour, is, that the last Booke of the sayd Vitruuius, wherein the Figures are, was lost: whereby men might haue knowne and sound out his meanings: so that hereby it appeareth, that some Antiquities haue beene very bare in their workes, and especially, in their Orders of Dorica, because Vitruuius nameth no Dorica Bases: but in stead thereof, speaketh of an Attica. Now it may be, regarding that he there speaketh not of any Order of Attica, therefore they durst not make any Dorica Bases or Columnes: on the contrary, others possibly contemning the darknesse of the writer, (or for want of knowledge) haue so far exceeded their Author in many things, that they haue not onely forsaken and left the examples and reasons of good Antiquities, but also (more then that) haue made their workes vnseemely, and ridiculous to mens eyes, as may be seene in diuers antient works: whereby, gentle Reader, many workmen, well seene in both, haue beene cumbred therein, and especially in this our time. Bramant of Castle Durant, Balthazar of Scienne, and many others, for that (not onely by meanes of Iulius the 2. Pope, but) also by others good Architecture was bettered in their times: who, after long disputation and searching of many, aswell Authors and Commentaries, together with the examples of good Antiquities, haue with authority (to make an end of all doubts) not only added this Spira Attica, of the Dorica, but also as many orders as now are vsed, beginning at the Thuscan, as the grossest and slenderest of all the rest, and haue reduced the same into a certaine and common forme, together with their ornaments and measures: which vnles Sebastian Serlius, a workeman and scholer of the sayd Balthazar, hath written, and set out in figures; so that, leauing the obscurities of Vitruuius, we may make an incorrigible worke. And for that all those that loue workemanship, vnderstand not the Italians, therefore (in my opinion) I haue translated the most certayne and best rules out of Italian into Dutch, and out of Dutch into English; onely the names of all Procels, Bases, Capitals, Cornices, &c. which are not named in Dutch nor English, for that Bastian, by Vitruuius termes, vseth the common and moderne Italian words, which by some should be as hardly vnderstood as the Latine. But I would commend him, that seeing we take vpon vs to follow Vitruuius writings, that we giue him the name of Vitruuius, that the learned might bee vnderstood of the workeman, and the workeman also vnderstood of the learned. And for that the workeman might the better read it, I haue printed it in our ordinary Dutch letter. And although this fourth Booke of seuen was first set out, because it is the best, yet the other also are no lesse fit and conuenient to further Architecture or Art of Building, as in the ensuing Epistle you shall see.

Sebastian Serlius to the Reader.

LOuing and friendly Reader, after I had collected certaine rules of Architecture, thinking that not only. those of deepe conceyt would vnderstand them, but that also each indifferent man of wit might conceaue them, as he is more or lesse addicted to such an Art; which rules are deuided into seuen Books, as hereunder shall be set downe: but for that this Art requireth it, therefore I thought it requisite to begin with this fourth Booke, and to set it out, first, which is more to the purpose, and more necessary then the rest, for the knowledge of many sorts of Building and ornaments thereof, to the end that euery one may haue some knowledge of this Art, the which is no lesse pleasing to the mind of those workmen that thinke vpon things that are to make, then also to mens eyes when they are made. Which Art, by the wisedome of the famous and excellent spirits that are now in the world, doth flourish in these dayes, as the Latine tongue did in the time of Iulius Caesar, and Cicero. Then with glad and ioyfull heart receyue at least my good will, (though the effect ensueth not) which, in trueth, I haue (to pleasure and satisfie your minds) in this respect.

In the first Booke, I will entreat of the beginning of Geometry, and of diuers cuttings through of lines, in such sort, that the workman may yeeld reason for that he worketh.

In the second Booke, I will shew in Figure, and by reason, as much of Perspectiue Art, that if the workeman will, he may declare his conceyt or purpose, by reasons and figure.

In the third Booke, workmen shall see the Ichnographie, that is, the ground: the Orthographie, that is, the raysing vp of a Building before. The Scenographie or Sciographie, that is, the insight, by shortening of the most part of the Buildings that are in Rome, Italie, &c. diligently measured, and set by them in writing, with the places where they are, and their names.

In the fourth, which is this, I will speake of fiue maner of Buildings, and of their ornaments, as Thusscana, Dorica, Ionica, Corinthia and Composita, that is to say, mingled. And by these, the whole Arte is learned.

In the fift, I will speake of diuers kinds of Temples, set downe in diuers formes, that is, round, fouresquare, six-cornerd, eyght-cornerd, Ouall-wise, and crosse-wise, with their ground, heights and shortenings, diligently measured.

In the sixt, I will speake of all dwellings, which, at this day, may bee vsed, beginning at the meanest house or cotrage, and so from degree to degree, proceeding to the most rich, fayre and princely Palaces, as well in Countrie villages, as in great Cities or Townes.

In the seuenth and last, shall be set downe many accidents, which may happen to workemen in diuers places, strange maner of situation, repayring of decayed houses, and how we should helpe our selues with pieces of other buildings, with such things as are to be vsed, and at other times haue stood in worke.

Now then, to proceed readily herein, I will begin with the greatest and rusticke order of Building, that is, the Thuscan, being the playnest, rudest, and strongest, and of least grace and seemelinesse.

The Author to the Reader.

THe ancient workemen in times past (as Vitruvius affirmeth) dedicated their workes and Buildings to the gods, according to their natures, strength or weakenesse; so is the forme called Dorica ascribed to the gods, Iupiter, Mars, and valiant Hercules, taking such formes from strong men. The forme called Ionica, is ascribed to the goddesse Diana, Apollo and Bacchus, as of the nature of Matrons, that is, of wise & sensible women, which are both tender and strong: for Diana, by her femurine nature is tender, but by vsing to hunt, shee is strong: Apollo, by reason of his beauty, is tender; but being a man, he is strong: the like of Bacchus. But the Corinthia is taken of ma•ds, and they ascribe all to the goddesse Vesta, and her chaste mayds: yet at this time I thinke it good to procéed in another sort, nothing differing from the ancients afore sayd. My meaning is, to follow the maner and customes of the Christians, that I (as far as I may) will ascribe holy Buildings to God and to his Saints: and profane buildings, as well publicke as priuote, I will ascribe to men according to their professions. So say I then, that the Thuscan maner (after my opinion) is fit for strengths, for Gates of Cities, Townes and Castles, places for treasure, munition and Artillery to kéepe them in. for prisons, hauens of the Sea, and such like things, seruing for the warres. It is true, that rusticke and playns worke, that is, such Buildings as are made of rough stones, and others that are made somewhat smoother, according to the pleasure which the Stone-cutters take therein, are sometimes mixed with Dorica, and sometimes with Dorica and Corinthia. Neuertheles, for that the Thuscan order is the roughest set foorth, farre more then the other are, I am of opinion, that the Country Bulding is more like vnto the Thuscan, then any of the rest: which you may playnely sée to haue béene obserued by the Thuscans, as wel in their chiefe Cities and Townes of Florence, as without in their Country Villages, in so many rich and fayre Buildings, made after the rusticall maner, as may be séene in all Christendome, mixed with such a slight manner of worke, as the workeman thought good. Therefore I conclude, that such Buildings are more agréeable to Thuscan order, then any other. Therefore, altering somewhat from Antiquities, and some others of ours, I will in diuers sorts shewe of such workes, viz. how to make Gates of Cities, Townes, or Forts; as also, in publike and priuate places, Houses, Galleries, Windowes, Niches or seates, hollowed in worke, Bridges, Water-courses, and such like seuerall Ornaments, as may happen into a workemans hands to doe. Men may also (not differing from the ancient rules) mixe this rusticall maner with the Dorica, and also with Ionica; and sometimes with Corinthia, at the pleasure of those that se•ke to please their owne fantasies, which a man may affirme to bee more for pleasure then profit: therefore the workeman ought to procéede with good aduice, especially in publike buildings, wherein comelinesse is commendable.

In the beginning of this Booke, I obserued the Comedians order, who (when they intend to play any Comedy) first send out a Prologue, who in few wordes giueth the audience to vnderstand what they intend to entreat of, in their Comedie. So I, meaning in this Booke to entreat of fiue maner of Buildings, viz. Thuscan, Dorica, Ionica, Corinthia and Composita, haue thought good, that in the beginning thereof, men should sée the Figures of all the seueral kinds whereof I purpose to entreat of. And although that in the Columnes and their ornaments, all the measures and proportions are not set downe, but onely the principall, by generall rules; yet will I not fayle, as occasion shall serue, to set them downe in particularities: but this is done, as I sayde, to shew in generall rules for an Introduction onely, the better to be vnderstood of euery workeman, and in the beginning will obserue Vitruuius order and termes, marked on the sides with A. B. C. that euery workeman may name them according to his country spéech. And first, the Stilo bato, or Thuscan Pedestall, I meane the flat, without Crowne or Base, shall bee a perfect fouresquare. The perfect Dorica shall be as much more as the drawing of a liue from corner to corner, of the perfect fouresquare, placing it vpright. The Pedestall Ionica, shall be of one fouresquare and an halfe: the Pedestall Corinthia, shall be a fouresquare and two third parts thereof. The Pedestall Composita shall bee of two perfect fouresquares. Also, wonder not, that the Chapter next ensuing is the fist, which others would estéeme the first; for that the first Booke doeth contayn• a Chapter of Geometry: the second of Perspectiue, shall be of two Chapters: the third of Antiquities, shal be of one Chapter, which maketh foure Chapters: so that, this considered, the next shall be the fist.