The foureteenth Chapter

ALthough wee see and find diuers formes of Temples and Churches in Christendome, as well ancient as moderne, yet for that I haue formerly promised to shew some Orders thereof, to accomplish the number of my Bookes, therefore I will intreat of them, and set downe twelue seuerall maner of Temples, with their grounds and measures: and for that the round forme is the perfitest of all others, therefore I will begin with it: but though in our time, whether it be by reason of small deuotion, or cruelty of men, there are no more great Churches begun to be made, and that men finish not them which in former time haue beene begun, therefore I will make mine so small, as they may passe in reasonable maner, for that with small cost, they might in short time be made. The Diameter of this ground shall be as long as high, according to the Figure of the Circle, that is, of 60. foote. The thicknesse of the wall shall be the fourth part of the Diameter, that is, 15. foote, that a man may easily make the Chappels within it: which Chappels shall be 12. footbroad. The Niches betweene the Pillars shall bee foure foote broad: the other in the Entrie, and of the three Chappels, shall be sixe foote and a halfe broad: and to spare charges of stone and lime, the great Niches shall be made without the Chappell: the bredth whereof shall bee 15. foote. This Chappell is eleuated from the earth at least fiue steps; and if it were higher, it were not amisse: for the earth in time riseth, so that men goe downeward into many old Temples and Churches, whereunto, in former time they ascended vpwards: but this Stayre would alwayes be vneuen, according to Vitrunius writing, speaking of Temples, where he sayth: that as a man with his right foote begins to clyme vp, he may, with the sayd right foote, step vpon the pauement of the Temple. Touching the foundation, a man cannot sayle, if hee maketh it deepe and broad inough: but the least bredth that a man can lay, is this: that a man should from the Diameter of the thickenesse of the wall, make a perfit fouresquare, and the Diagonus of this fouresquare shall be the bredth of the foundation vnder the wall. And so, I thinke, Vitrunius writeth, where he speaketh of foundations. But touching the Stofes of foundations, in fast or hard ground, and also in watry ground, I neede not shew it here, because euery man knowes it.