Of Bricke

HAuing spoken of so many and diuers Ornaments of stones, it is requisite, that I should also shew how they are to be placed in worke; and specially, when a man is to mixe hard stones & bricks together, which requireth great diligence and Arte: for that bricks are like flesh in a péece of worke, and hard stones like the bones to knit and hold them together: which two things, if they be not well and fastly bound together, they will, in time, decay: and therefore the foundation being made in such maner as the place affordeth, it is requisite, that the prouident workeman should make ready, all the hard stones, and also the bricks, with the rest of the stuffe belonging thereunto, and so should come to lay and ioyne the hard stones and the bricks together, all at one time: and it is requisite, that the hard stones should be set so farre within the wall, that although there were no morter to hold them together, yet they should, of themselues, stand fast in the wall: which doing, the worke will be strong and continue hard. The example hereof is séene in the other side, by the figure A. where it is also shewed, how a man may make places brest high, without feare. And if you haue Pedestals with Columnes to set vpon them, where hard and soft stones are mixed together, if the hard stones be not well ioyned with the soft, as you sée in the figure B. the worke will not continue long. And if the Columnes be of diuers péeces, some of them (that is the least) shall goe déepe into the wall, to hold the other the faster. But if the Columnes bee of one péece, them they would stand, at least, a third part within the wall; but the Bases and Capitals must enter much more into the wall, and aboue all the Corona and other Cornices, which beare farre out from the wall. The innermost part that is vnwrought, must counteruayle that which is without, that it may beare it selfe: but if at the same time a man will make any worke or Facie vpon the stones, then it is requisite, that the workeman, before he begins to lay any worke aboue the ground, should make ready all his stones, together with the other stuffe belonging thereunto: and so laying and knitting the stones with the bricks together, I say, that he shall doe well to set some of the stones so déepe into the wall, that they may hold the other péeces together by force, ioyning well in, as you sée it in the figure C. that in time they may not ryue and breake asunder one from the other. But that the wall, made of bricke, should not sinke, and sinking, should breake the thinnest parts, by reason of the waight aboue, it is necessary to haue bricke well burnt, and morter well tempered, & betwéene the stones little morter, & wel layd and ioyned one vpon the other: And aboue all, such worke would not be made by any force, nor waight vpon waight, to be packt in haste, but you must let it rest somewhat from lay to lay: for if a man wil worke in haste, and set great waight vpon it, it is most certayne, the wall will sinke, and the stones being not able to beare she waight, will breake; but if it be made with leyser, then the stuffe will be as it should be: neuerthelesse, I would alwayes more commend the worke that is wholy bound in the wall, then that which is ioyned together or couered; and specially, in my opinion, men should not make them in walles that stand outward, for that the houses which haue béene made so in former time, by ancient workemen, and were couered ouer with Marble and other fine stones, are now séene all without stones before, and nothing but the wall of bricke, that stood behind them, standeth still: but those buildings, where the hard stones are bound and ioyned into, and with the bricks, are yet standing: neuerthelesse, if you will make such worke simple, I thinke this the surest way, although some workemen, in diuers places of Italy, haue made some building, with simple walles, leauing places in them for hard stones to be put in, and after, at another time, haue put in such Ornaments: neuerthelesse, for that such things are not well fastened in the wall, but in a maner hackt, you may in many places sée the péeces falne, and euery day more and more decay.