WHereas Building is much minded in these times, I thought fit to publish some Principles there­on, which may stand the lovers of [Page 2] it instead. Yet without spending time and Paper to Note how a Point, Line, Angle, Demi-cir­cle, Cube, Plint, Baze, Pedestal, Colombe, Head, Architrave, Frize, Cornice, or Frontispiece must be made; and what Dimensions all those several parts (a Point excepted) must have, since all Master-Workmen ought to re­member (as Schollars their Gram­mer, and Arithmaticians their Table) how every Particle must have its just proportion; and that the height of Windowes and Doores must be double their breadth; and also to be carefull to maintain the due esteem of their Art, since its Dimensions and Rules came directly from Heaven, when the great Archi­tect and Surveyor of Heaven and Earth, prescribed the Rules and particular Orders for the [Page 3] Building of a floating-Pallace, (Noahs Ark) and the glorious matchlesse Temple of Solomon, the perfect House of Prayer.

And therefore such Precedents may serve to convince those who say, That a wise-man never ought to put his finger into Morter, since there is a necessity for Building, especially among Na­tions who do not, or cannot live in Caves and hollow Trees, or as the Wilde Indians, who have no other Roofs but of Palmito-Leaves, nor Wainscot, but Bam­bouses, as they call the Poles to which they tye a Woollen Ham­mac to lye in.

There are three Capital Points to be observed by men, who in­tend to Build well: VIZ,

• Solidity.
• Conveniency.
• Ornament.

[Page 4] Those who have Marshald the Orders of Colombs (to make good the first Point) have Ranged the Toscan to be the Supporter of a Building, but such an Atlas must stand on a firm Ground, not as ill Builders place Colombs (either of Brick or Stone) like things Patcht or glewed against a Wall, and for the most part against the second Story of a Building, (con­trary to the very Gothish Custome, who at least did begin their But­trises from the Ground) as if their intent were, that the weight of the Colombs should draw down the Wall, on the heads of those that passe by.

Such Builders confound the first and essential point of Building, (to wit, Solidity, with Ornament and Conveniency)

They will make a shew of some thing, but misse thereby (as ill [Page 5] Bow-men) the Mark: They may perchance have heard of rare Buil­dings, nay, seen the Books of the Italian Architects, have the Traditions of Vignola in their Pockets, and have heard Lectures on the Art of Architecture, which have laid before them the most necessary Rules, as also the Ori­gine of the several Orders of Co­lombs, and Discourses made there­on; that the Toscan is as the Her­cules, so of the Jonic and Corin­thian; the first of the two to Resemble the Dressing of the Daughters of Jonio, who had Twists of Hair on both sides of their Cheeks. The Corinthian Heads to represent a Basket with Acante Leaves, and the Guttered Colombs, the Pleats of Daugh­ter and Womens Cloaths.

That the Grecians (in remem­brance of their Victories) did [Page 6] Range the Colombs in their Buil­dings, to represent the number of Slaves which they had taken; the Grains, Beads, Drops, Pendants, Garlands, Enterlaced-Knots, Frui­tage, and an infinite number of Ornaments, which are put on the Frize, to signifie the Spoiles which the Victors had brought away from their Enemies; and to pre­serve the Memory thereof, did place them on their Buildings, that they might also serve for a true History.

But none of such Ornaments were ever impediments to the strength or convenience of a Buil­ding, for they were so handsom­ly and well contrived, as once the Dutchesse of Cheiveruse (a French Lady) said of the English Females, that they had a singular grace to set their Ornaments right and handsomly.

[Page 7] The Barbarians and naked Ta­poyers, Caripowis, Alibis, (and se­veral Charibdiens) do place Pen­dants in their Nostrils, which are proper for the Eares; and these hinder not the use of the Lips, which ought to be observed by all Builders.

And as for the inside of Fa­bricks, Builders should in the first place set the Doores, Chim­nies, and Windows, as may be most convenient for use.

Builders ought to be not onely experimented in House-keeping, but also good Naturalists, to know (before they spend time and Ma­terials) the required Property to every part of a Building. A Doore to be so set as it may not convey the Wind toward the Chimney or Bedstead, though opened never so little.

The Windows to be so placed, [Page 8] as that the Fire made in the Chim­ney, may not attract the Aire and Moysture, and so prove the un­wholesomest part of the Room for those that are near the Fire; Which was the main reason why the great Isabella Infanta of Spain (King Philip the Seconds Daugh­ter, who Governed the Provin­ces of Brabant, Flanders, Arthois, and Haynault, during her many years Residence at Bruxells,) be­ing prepossessed with a prejudice, never approached a Fire to warm her self; till at last being through wet (going a Procession in a great Rain, and by a Visit made by Mary of Medicis, Queen Mother to Lewis 13 ^th, just as she returned to her Pallace) had no time to Shift her, she was con­strained to approach the Fire to dry her self, and few dayes after she fell sick and dyed upon it: which [Page 9] Relation being very true, and hap­pening in the time that I resided for the King of blessed memory in that Court, I thought fit to men­tion, to perswade all Noble (and curious Builders, to place their Doors, Windows, and Chimnies in their proper places.

And though it be not my de­sign in this small Discourse to Treate of Dimensions (which are fit for a Primar to Apprentices,) Yet I cannot desist (by reason of the West- Indian Herican-like-windes which happened February last, to perswade all Builders to forbear the Buildlng any more those ex­orbitant Chimney-Shafts, which when they fall, break both Roofs and Sealings of Roomes, and kill good People in their Beds: since a Chimney some two Foote high­er than the Ridges of the Roof of a Building, (which is not o­vertopt [Page 10] by a Church or Steeple, or some other eminency,) is as good a conveyance for the smoak, as any of a greater height. Nei­ther are those high Shafts of Chimnies real Ornaments to a Building, much lesse to the Pal­lace of a Soveraign: nor do the Germane Travellers of this Age any more fill (as formerly) their Table-Books with the number of them, as they were very carefull to note the Names of their Hoatts, where the best Wine was, and when they tasted that called La­grima-Christi, they moaned and askt why he did not weep in their Countrey. Its true, that the least addicted to Bibbing, did put in their Stam-books the Dimentions of the Phanteon and of the Amphithe­aters; as also of Caprazola fiescati, and such Magnificent Structures above Ground in Italy, and under [Page 11] Ground La Pessina Admirabile, La Grota de la Sibila Cumana, Bag­ni de Cicerone, cente Camere, é le Sepulture de le nobili Antichi. But they are now taught by Tu­tors to observe the Inside of Men, and Buildings. And as the best Ornaments of a Face appears at first sight by the Eyes, Mouth, and Nose; so doth the best qua­lities of a perfect Building, by Windowes, and Doores well pla­ced, as also by a large, magnifi­cent, commodious, and well-set Staircase.

Noble, manificent, and com­modious Staircases, must in the first place participate of a Noble­mans manner of Pace and Atten­dance.

There is no man of sound Limbs (and that hath a gallant Gate) but lifts his Toes at least four Inches, when he goeth an ordinary easie [Page 12] Pace; so that if two steps (each four Inches high) be eighteen Inches broad, or deep, which makes six and thirty Inches the two (the just measure of a mans two steps,) they may be ascended from the first Floor, to the higher Story, as if a man walked on a level ground.

2. Those Staires ought to be so long, that the Attendants on each side the Noble Person, Prince or Soveraign, may not be streightned for roome.

Such were the Monarchlike Staires of the Pallace of Darius and Cyras the Great, at Chelminor in Persia near Saras, the Metro­politan between Ormus and Espa­han. I do speak indeed of a Pallace without comparison to any other, the Walls of Circumvallation of that Pallace, being four and twen­ty foote thick, and the Staires (as [Page 13] yet in esse) are fourty foot long, in number an hundred and eight, of Circular Form, and of so ea­sie an Accesse, as that Travel­lers do ascend them on Horse­back.

King James of blessed memo­ry could not have been so much in danger of an Onset in a Paire of Staires, large enough for a No­ble Retinue to his Person, as he was in a narrow Pair, which History mentions.

Neither had William Prince of Orange been so easily Shot at Delff in Holland, descending a narrow Pair of Stairs.

3. A Noble Paire of Staires should have a Cupelo, and no Windowes on the sides, which for the most part serve but for Rude and Unadvised Men to break.

In some Pallaces and Noble-Mens [Page 14] Houses, Too many Staires and back-Doores (as the old Eng­lish Proverb) makes Thieves and Whores. And the setting the Front of a Building towards the North-West, and a Pallace, like Cardinal Wolseyes ill-placed one (now called Whitehall) on a low ground by the River side) makes work for Physitians, Apothecaries, Sur­geons, Coffin and Grave-ma­kers.

But as for a Seate on MoorishGrounds (except the Builders observe the practice of those of Venice (in Italy) and Amsterdam (in Holland) who bestow more Timber of Oake in the Founda­tion of one, than in the Build­ing of six Houses, in effect 'tis to Build perpetually, leaving to their Posterity to prop and redresse their ill grounded Buildings; and they may well be rankt with the Duke [Page 15] of Arscot, who built much in Bra­bant, and (in a merry humour) designed in his Will ten Thousand Gilders per annum, to support and alter what he had Built a­misse.

I must also advise Builders on high Grounds, to cause their Sur­veyors to search for Springs, and shun them; which serve better to fill up Glasses to allay the Vapours of Gascony Wines, than to make a Pond in a Sellar.

Builders ought also to be very curious and carefull in the choice of the place to Build a Seat on, for good Prospect, well Garnisht with Woods, and the Water at hand, not too near, nor too far from a Ci­ty or Town.

Item, I must wish all Princes and Noble Persons who are resolved to Build Pallaces and Seats answe­rable to their quality, to imitate [Page 16] those who in the Heathen age were so carefull in the ordering of the Structure of their Stone Images, especially of their Saturn, Jupiter, Apollo, Mars, Neptune, (and all their Fry of wanton Godesses) as to empannel a Jury of Philosophers, Naturalists, Physiognomists and Anatomists, who were to direct the Sculptors how to Represent those Images. And so I would wish Builders to proceed in the contriving the Models of their in­tended Fabrick, to wit, to consult (as those of Amsterdam did in the making the Model of their Town-House, divers experimented Archi­tects, though they pitcht for the Front on the worst of all.

Item, Before the Workmen, make use of Materials, and not to Build at Randome, as the Cu­stome of too many ill Builders is; And when once the Model is ap­proved, [Page 17] never to alter, nor to pull down what hath been well begun, nor to hearken to the diversity of opinions, which have been, and are the causes of many Deformi­ties and Extravagancies in Build­ings; and especially those who seem to have had for Models Bird-Cages, to jump from one Roome into the other by Steps and Tres­sels, to cause Men and Women to stumble.

And the sides all of Glass (like Spectacles) the glass Windows of small Payns, with great store of Lead, to draw the more Wind and Moisture from the open Aire within Doores. As also Windowes with store of Iron Casements, which rust, and ne­ver shut close, notwithstanding all the various devices of Smiths, to catch Money out of the Builders Purses, contrary to the [Page 18] good custome in Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and the Low-Countreys, which certainly for plurality of Voices should be believed, and followed.

Those Nations cause their glass Windows to be fitted in woodden Casements treble rivet­ed, to keep out Wind and Rain; they are lined with wood­en Shutters, and have double boarded Shutters without, to resist all the violence of the Weather and Theeves.

Let no man mistake these Windows▪ for wooden Case­ments, for such are usually seen here in England in old wooden Houses, the Casements scarce above one Foot and a half high, tottering things; for these are substantially, strongly, and curi­ously made Casements; nor are the wooden Shutters such Past­board-like [Page 19] things, as are gene­rally put on the outside of the Windows on the London and Suburbs Houses, but double-Deal well-riveted Windowes, with substantiall Locks, Bolts, and Hinges, and a double Iron Bar, with a Bolt fixt in the middle of them both.

Nor do good Builders affect partitions of Lime and Hair in their Houses, nor any of their Bricks to be daubed over with finishing Morter.

The Romanes are very curi­ous in the tempering their Mor­ter, and in the laying it as thin as possibly they can, to prevent the sinking and bending of their Walls, which the laying of the Morter too thick doth cause; and experience sheweth, that when some Walls are taken down in England, half of the [Page 20] substance is Sand and Dust.

The Romanes (as likewise the Grecians before them) did not make use of their Lime at the same time it was slakt, but for six Moneths time suffered to putrifie, and so putrified com­posed a Seiment, which joyned with Stone (or Brick) made an inseparable union, and such strong work as I have seen Iron-Tools break on the old Morter of the Amphitheaters at Verona and Rome.

Their manner of preparing Lime is to lay it in Cisternes the one higher than the other, that the Water (after it hath been so stirred as that it is well mixt and throughly liquid) may drayn from one Cistern to the other, and after six Moneths time (the Lime having evacuated its putrefaction) re­mains [Page 21] purified, and then they mix two parts of Lime with one part of Sand, and makes that strong and pure Morter, which if practised in England would make a wondrous strong Union, especially if the Clay­makers did beat the Clay as it ought to be, the English Clay being better than the Italian, nay the best in the world.

They are very carefull in the making large and deep Founda­tions, and to let the Walls rais­ed on the Foundations rest and settle a good while before they proceed to the second Story.

Some of our Carpenters have learned to lay Boards loose for a time, the Italians and other Nations are not sparing therein, they nayl them as if for good and all, but rip or take them up again, to fit them for the se­cond time.

[Page 22] As I said before, no Build­ing is begun before a mature Resolve on a compleat finisht Modell of the entire design: the Builder having made choice of his Surveyor, and committed to him all the care and guidance of the work, never changeth on the various opinions of other men, for they are unlimited, because every mans conceits are answerable to their profession, and particular occasion.

A Soveraign or any other Landlord, is then guided by na­turall Principles, as well as by his own Resolve, taken on a long considered Modell, be­cause they know (by experience) how suddain changes are able to cause monstrous effects.

They know that a well-expe­rienced Surveyor must not be disturbed in his task, and un­dertaking, [Page 23] but as the Silk Worm and the Soul of Man, the first in his Husk, the second in the Womb, wherein both the one and the other (by the powers of the great Architect and Di­rector of all things) works out his own compleat Fabrick, if not interrupted; but if inter­rupted by any outward acci­dent, it happens that those pas­sions become the originall causes of exorbitant Features and Forms▪ An Item for all Builders to suf­fer a good Architect quietly to pursue his task, if he under­stands it.

It hath been observed a­mong the French (a Nation as much addicted to changes is any) that when the charge of an undertaking hath been com­mitted to many, it caused but confusion, and therefore its a [Page 24] saying among them, Trop de Cui­sineirs gattent le pottage, Too many Cooks spoils the Broth.

I shall not spend time, and transgress on the Readers pati­ence, concerning the making of Clay, and burning of Bricks, only say, that it imports much the Clay should be well wrought, before it be put in the Mould: experience hath also taught Brick­makers to have them of such a length, thickness and wideness, that four of them (together with the Morter thereunto be­longing) may raise a Foot.

As for Free-stone, Portland Stone works well, and makes a good union with Bricks, yet can­not be compared with Marble, nor to the Blewish Stone of the Quar­ries of Liege and Namur. But 'tis also certain, that this Climat makes Marble it self to Moulder very [Page 25] much; as for example, the Cain and Abel in York-House Garden, which did not Moulder when it stood in that of the Duke of Larma at Valedolid in Spain, the cold­nesse (together with the moistnesse of this Clime) being of a contrary operation to the temper of the Aire in Italy and Spain. And there­fore when Builders see their Co­pings, Water-table, Cornishes, Railes, and Balisters to decay, they must have patience, since there is no Material but is subject there­unto, and that Railes and Balisters (either on the top of the Walls of a Frontispiece, or in Belconies) though never so well Painted in Oyle, and of the best seasoned Timber,) but must be renewed at fourty or fifty years end.

Builders ought to calculate the Charges of their designed Build­ing, and especially with what [Page 26] Summe of Money they are willing to part, and yet remember to imi­tate some Philosophical Humorist, who resolves to venture on a pret­ty thing called a Handsome Lady, without which their Fate seems to tell them they cannot live, and therefore makes an account before­hand that all things will not pre­cisely answer his expectation. But on the contrary, the Lady instead of being a good Houswife, (and an assistant) proves expensive, and an impediment. And if it prove otherwise, he will be a great gay­ner by the bargain; for let Buil­ders put their design to Master-Workmen by the Great, or have it Wrought by the Day, either the Workmen will over-reach themselves, or the Builder will be over-reached.

Charity to the one, and respect to the other, moves me to keep [Page 27] the rest in my Pen, yet shall ne­ver be backward to inform either of them in the ear what may be the best for them to choose.

But I must freely advise all Buil­ders in general, never to begin to Build on a Ground before it be Purchased, as the late Duke of Buckingham did at York-House, where there hath been much daub­ing and breaking through old rot­ten decayed Walls; first to make a Ladies Closet on the corner of a Wall where a Butteryses stood, and which was taken away for the Closet, intended only at first for a Closet of ease, and to serve un­till the Archbishop of York could be perswaded to accept as good a Seat as that was, in liew of the same, which could not be so soon compassed, as the Duke of Buck­ingham had occasion to make use of Rooms, to entertain (accord­ing [Page 28] to the Dignity of a prime Mi­nister of State) forreign Princes and Embassadors; so as on a sud­dain, all the Butterises that upheld that rotten Wall were thrown down, the Seelings of Roomes supported with Iron-bolts, Belco­nies clapt up in the old Wall, daub­ed over with finishing Morter, and all this (as a Toadestoole groweth in a night) to serve untill a Model for a Solid Building (to stand even with the Street) were made, and to be Built of such Stone as the Portico or Water-Gate at the River side is; and this was done on a Moorish Ground, whereon no New Building could stand any time without Proppings, which was contrary to the main Principle of good Building.

I must proceed and conclude with my humble respects concern­ing Palaces of Sovereigne Princes, [Page 29] which must differ as much from other Buildings, as their quality and condition from that of their Subjects.

And in the first place, as Soli­dity must be the first Principle in all good Building; so much more ought it to be observed in that of Sovereigns, unto whom the whole world hath access.

And as there must be spacious Ground before their Palaces, their Inner-Court ample, the Offices for their Retinue large and com­modious, and so placed as they may neither be an annoyance nor of ill aspect.

The first Stories ought rather to be vaulted than boarded, to prevent such an accident as hap­pened to Lewis 13 ^th French King, (and his Queen at a Ball,) when the Floore of the Roome (with all the Company) fell down; the [Page 30] King and Queen only remaining (by a special Providence) on the Hearth of the Chimney, setting under the Cloath of State.

And as there is a necessary Magnificence to be exprest on the Front and inside of Princely Build­ings, answerable to their great­ness; so is it absolutely necessary, that the Architect be possest with a Soul as great as the Player in the French Play, called the Viriona­ries, where he perswades himself to be Alexander, and governs his Motions accordingly. And the Lines and Strokes of the Archi­tect must be Alexander-like: his Figures and Statues Colosses, his Pyramidis like those of Aegypt, and the Vaults like that Rock wherein Alexander and Darius wrastle for Mastery in a Valley in Persia, between Babylon and Espa­han, at a place called Carimonsha­han, [Page 31] where formerly was a great City six English Miles long; in which Groto, the Alexander-like mind of the Sculptor, hath Hewn within the Rock, (besides Alex­ander on Horseback, and a num­ber of Huntsmen and Ladies) the aforesaid Alexander and Darius wrastling to break a Ring between them.

Such a like mind Prince Thomas of Savoy, (Sonne to the Great E­manuel of Savoy) infused into his Architect, Sculptor, and Caster in Brass, who he imployed in the Designing and Building a Stable in Turin, within all of Marble, the Racks, Manger, and the upright Posts all of Copper, Richly Wrought, Conveyances of Wa­ter Pipes. The Manger fourteen Inches wide at the bottom, to con­tain a Pale for Water on all occa­sions. The uppermost edge of the [Page 32] Manger three foote eight Inches high from the Ground, to ac­custome the Neapolitan great Sad­dle-Horse to raise their Neck. The Rack Poles three Inches a­sunder and upright, that as the Frenchman saith, (Lapetit vienten mangeant) the Horse may feed more chearfully, the Hay and Dust may not fall on their Heads, as it doth out of a Rack which stands shelving: the under part of the Manger ought to be made up to keep in their Litters, and no Boxes made there for Dogs, as some not curious do, where no Harnesses, Saddles, Coverings of Horses, or any other Implements or Tooles, are not to be seen about the Po­stern, since those things do but im­pede the Accesse of a Cavallier to the Horses.

The disposing a Stable into a double Range, hath been affected [Page 33] by some, who would see all their Horses at once.

Others love only a single Range, with a broad Walk, and if they have a great number of Horses, returne at the end into another Range, if the Ground can afford the same, so as a Wall makes the Partition between the Horses.

The Paving of such a Stable is very neat, being of white or yel­low (twice burnt) Flanders Bricks, in Dutch called Clinkart, farre be­yond Planking of Stables, for di­vers Reasons. The Paviors (af­ter the Bricks are laid) throw sharp Sand over them, and twice a day they are Watered with a Garden­ers Watering-Pot, and Swept with a Broom, which the Grooms are to continue sometimes, be­cause the Sand gets between the Joynts, and makes the Paving very close and firm. The Pave­ment [Page 34] at the Foot of the Manger, must be raised at the least six Inches higher, than at the Gutter where the Posts are placed, which ought to be five Foot and an half distant one from the other, which Ground so Paved is of double use; first, that the higher a House stands towards the Manger, the better sight it is, and especially when the Lights of the Stable strikes on the Horse their backs, which is the bet­ter Light.

Secondly, That a Horse its usu­al standing place being so much shelving accustomes the Horse (re­posing more on his hinder Feet than on the foremost) to be more light and nimble in his Gate and Pace.

Thirdly, That his Stall doth not remain under him, and especially when its standing hath eight foot in length from the Manger to the [Page 35] Channel, which for neatness ought to be above Ground, the eight Foote in length, being at full the space which the Horse doth possess when in the night time he lyeth stretcht on his Litter.

I must not omit by way of Que­ries, to Write somewhat concern­ing the Kitchin of a Princely Pal­lace, viz. whether there should not be as much curiosity, if not more in the Kitchin than in the Stable; since the Meat prepared in a Kitchin, ought to be Drest with all Neatness, and preferred before a fine Lace about the Ma­ster Cooks Towel: Neither are the Vessels of Silver but in refe­rence to the Neatness which ought to be observed in all Cookery. The French-Mans Glasse is wrenched as often as he Drinks, and why should not Cooks be more Curious and Neat in their [Page 36] Kitchins, than Grooms in their Sta­bles? And as a Stable can have con­veyances for the Horses Water, so may Kitchins for Slabbering, for Guts of Fowls and Deer, Coles, Ashes, and▪ whatsoever else can cause Dirt and Nastiness, and be freed from the annoyance of Smoak, which many ill-placed Doors cause; nor ought the Kitchin or other Offi­ces and Selleridge, (as in some Palaces in France) to be so placed as they may prove prejudiciall to the Court, and if they are under­neath a Palace they ought to be vaulted.

I must not forget that the Roof of a Palace should be covered either with Lead or blew Slates.

The Pantheon at Rome was co­vered with Brass, which a Pope mel­ted to cast Canons, no such as on­ly eat, drink and sing.

No curious eye can well indure [Page 37] those Barn-like Roofs of many Noble Persons Palaces, covered with red Tiles, which break and rot away, and then the Roof being men­ded and patcht, seems to be a Beg­gars Mantel, which I would not have the Nobles and Courtiers to be. See the Roofs of Lester, New­port, Southampton, and such like their Palaces, whether they do not look as Barns for Hay, and not Py­bald, by their patched Tiles?

As for the main bulk of Pala­ces, its true some have a greatness in plainness, as that of Farners in Rome, whereof Michael Angelo made the Architrave, Frize and Cor­nish.

And as for Bigness and Solidity, that of S ^t Jeronimo, and Escuriall in Spain; for Ornament, Munikch in Bavaria; the Louver at Paris for Vastness, Situation and Ornament, by the imbossed Imagery on the [Page 38] Frontispiece, variety of Orders of Colombs, with the delight of the annexed Tuilleries, wherein as es­pecially in that of the Palace of the Duke of Orleance, but above all in the Cardinals their Vignas in Rome, is observed the form of a true Princely Garden, consisting not only in much Air, great plots of Grass, low Borders, large Gravell-Walks, but for close Walks, Foun­tains, Groves, and Statuaes, to make good the Italian saying, Per variar natura é bella. And as for the imbossed carved Imagery on the Frontispiece of a Palace, their Dimensions must be according un­to their distance from the Ground; which is a main point requisite to be observed also in Scheames, wherein divers undertakers com­mit very great faults, not only by the not reducing whatsoever is re­presented to the true Lines of Per­spective, [Page 39] but also by omitting the giving such Proportions to things, as may satisfie the sight of all the Spectators at their severall distan­ces; for Excellency doth not con­sist in vastness, nor in the quantity of Objects, nor Shapes, nor Co­lours.

The Sphear in an Angle of a great Chamber in S ^t Pedro è Vatica­no in Rome confirms this truth, and every judicious Eye will be satisfi­ed therewith. Seas must not only be seen to have a naturall motion, but heard to make a noise of breaking of their Waves on the shoar, and against the Rocks. Clouds must not only drive, but be transparent. Winds, Thunder, Lightning, Rain, Snow, and Hail, must be so heard, seen, and felt, as that Spectators may think those sights to be natu­rall operations. The Sun, Moon, and Stars, no Past-board devices, [Page 40] but so represented, as that they may dazle the Eyes of Spectators, And all the Motions of Sceanes and Mutations as insensible, and no more to be discovered, than that of the Hand of a Diall.

Neither can all great Rooms of Princely Palaces serve for this use, except they be after the Moddell of such as the Italians have built, as there is a good one at Florence in Italy, with conveyances for Smoak, and capacities for Ecchoes, which Inigo Jones (the late Sur­veyor) experimentally found at Whitehall, and by his built Banquet­ting House, so as having found his own fault, he was constrained to Build a Woodden House over­thwart the Court of Whitehall.

The greatness of a Sovereign con­sists not in the quantity of Stone and Timber heapt together, The Quarries possess more Stone, and [Page 41] the Woods more Timber than a Banquet Room. Let any good eye judge, whether it be not true, that the extream height of a Room takes not away the greatness of the com­pany that is in the same, and that all Hangings of Tapistery make no shew at all, unless they reach to a proportionable height of a Room.

Since the greatness of a Nation consists not in a Husk, but in it self, and in its Sovereign, nothing should be suffered to diminish the appear­ance of that greatness within or without Doores. A Sovereign and his Retinue, in a too vast Roome in height, width and length, doth ap­pear like a company in a Valley near high Mountains. Whenas a body standing on the brow of a Hill, and seen from below, seems to be a kind of Colosse, which argueth that there must be a great discretion used in the making them fit and pleasing.

[Page 42] All which I do not Write to un­dervalue any Modern Works, nor any of the Cavallier-like Operas, e­very good Talent being commen­dable. As I am confident there are some that live, who will not deny that they have heard the King of blessed Memory, graciously plea­sed to avouch he had seen in Anno 1628, (close to the Gate of York-House, in a Roome not above 35. Foot square,) as much as could be represented (as to Sceans) in the great Banquetting Room of White­hall; and that divers judicious per­sons will not deny, that the excel­lency of the several Triumphall Arches Erected in the City of Lon­don, consists not in their Bulk.

The Grecians and Romans (who have shown their Master-ship in them) did conform them to the respective places.

Things can be too great, as well [Page 43] as too little, too massie, and too slen­der, too gaudy, and too plain; and Colours placed together, which a­gree not one with the other, as blew and green. God in his Rainbow hav­ing shewed us the best way of or­dering Colours. Nor is it the quan­tity of Timber or Stone, that speaks love in an Arch; but rather when it is composed of the hearts of Loyal Subjects, which surpasseth all that can be made.

May therefore the oldest and most tottering House in the Land, breath forth of its Windows what may answer that true love, and in point of good Building, wherewith this Discourse is begun, (next to the giving such a new Form to the Streets of London and the Suburbs, as may in a manner equalize those in Holland in neatness, if the Inha­bitants will but take the right and onely course therein.) May his [Page 44] Sacred Majesty during his long prayed for and wished Raign, see St. Pauls Church in that magnifi­cency, as the Metropolitan of the Houses of God, in the chief City of Albion justly requires. And his Royal Palace Built, so as to answer the matchlesse greatnesse of him, who all tongues of Loyal Subjects speaks to be Carolum, Magnum, Se­cundum Dei gratia, Angliae, Scotiae, Franciae & Hiberniae Regem, Eccle­siae, Legum, & Libertatis Populi Re­stauratorem; Which shall ever be the dutifull Wishes of