A brief discourse concerning the three chief principles of magnificent building viz., solidity, conveniency, and ornament / by Sr. Balthazar Gerbier D'ouvilly, Knight.

A brief discourse concerning the three chief principles of magnificent building viz., solidity, conveniency, and ornament / by Sr. Balthazar Gerbier D'ouvilly, Knight.

Table of contents

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Title page

TO THE KINGS MOST Excellent Majesty.

TO THE LORDS AND COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT.

A Brief Discourse, concerning the three chief Principles of Magnificent Building, viz. Solidity, Conveniency, and Ornament.

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A Brief Discourse, concerning the three chief Principles of Magnificent Building, viz. Solidity, Conveniency, and Ornament.

WHereas Building is much minded in these times, I thought fit to publish some Principles thereon, which may stand the lovers of [Page] 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] 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] 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] 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] 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] 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] 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 13th, 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] 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] 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] 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] 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] 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] 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] 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] 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] 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] 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] 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] 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] 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] 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] 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] 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] 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] 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] 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] 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] 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 13th French King, (and his Queen at a Ball,) when the Floore of the Roome (with all the Company) fell down; the [Page] 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] 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] 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] 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] 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] 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] 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] 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 St 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] 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] 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 St 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] 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] 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] 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] 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] 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

Balthazar Gerbier Douvily Knight▪

§

§

[Page]

HEVREVX QVI EN DIEV SE CONFIE

D. Balthazar' Gerberius, Eques Auratus▪ b. d. Ao. 1653

§

§

[Page]

A Brief DISCOURSE Concerning the Three chief Principles OF Magnificent Building.

VIZ.

Solidity,

Conveniency, and

Ornament.

By Sr Balthazar Gerbier D'ouvilly Knight.

LONDON, Printed in the Year 1662.

TO THE KINGS MOST Excellent Majesty.

[Page]

[Page]

May it please your Sacred Majesty:

MY place of Master of the Ceremonies (which the King [Page] your Royal Father of blessed memory, confirmed unto me during my life, by the Great Seale of England,) is to introduce Forreign Princes or their publick Representatives to your Sacred Presence. And in regard the Place of Surveyor Generall [Page] was also intended to me (after late Inigo Jones) I doe make bold to introduce the three Capitall Principles of good Building to your Sacred Majesty, who hath seen morestately Palaces and Buildings, than all your Ancestors, and may be a Pattern to all [Page] future Posterity, by Building of your own Palace worthy your Self, and placeing it as the Italians for their health, delight, and conviency (as well as Solidity and Ornament,) La Matina alli Monti, la Sera alli Fonti, according to which the main body of [Page] your Royal Palace may be set on the side of Saints James's Park, and the Gardens along the River.

If the Book affoards any thing worthy your Sacred Majesties further satisfaction, I have obtained my end, and done the Duty [Page] intended by

Your Sacred Majesties Most humble, most obedient, most Loyal Subject and most zealous Servant Balthazar Gerbier D'ouvilly Knight.

TO THE LORDS AND COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT.

[Page]

May it please your Honours:

IT being lately reported that your Honours have deliberated to have the [Page] Streets made clean, to enlarge some of them, and to Build a Sumptuous Gate at Temple-Barr. I thought it my Duty to Present this small Discourse of the three Principles of good Building, and withall a Printed Paper concerning the Cleaning of the Streets, the Levelling the Valley at Fleet-Bridge, with Fleet-Street and [Page] Cheapside, add the makeing of a Sumptuous Gate at Temple-Barr, whereof a Draught hath been presented to his Sacred Majesty, and is ready also to be produced to your Honours upon Command, with all the Devotion of

Your Honours Most humble and most obedient Servant B. Gerbier Douvilly Knight.

§

§

Printed by A. M. and are to be sold by Richard Lowns at the White Lion in St Pauls Church-yard, Thomos Heath at the Globe within Ludgate, and Matthew Collins at the three Blackbirds in Canon-street at St Nicholas-lanes end Stationers. 1662.

[Page]

Information about this book

Title statement

A brief discourse concerning the three chief principles of magnificent building viz., solidity, conveniency, and ornament / by Sr. Balthazar Gerbier D'ouvilly, Knight.

Gerbier, Balthazar, Sir, 1592?-1667.

Edition statement

1662

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2004-08 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A42635

ID [STC]

Wing G540

ID [STC]

ESTC R7880

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

13103359

ID [OCLC]

ocm 13103359

ID [VID]

97440

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A42635)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 97440)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 418:10)

Source

— A brief discourse concerning the three chief principles of magnificent building viz., solidity, conveniency, and ornament / by Sr. Balthazar Gerbier D'ouvilly, Knight., Gerbier, Balthazar, Sir, 1592?-1667..

Extent

[13], 44 p. : port.

[s.n.],. London :: 1662.. ("Printed by A.M. and are to be sold by Richard Lowns ... Thomas Heath ... and Matthew Collins ..., 1662"--P. 44.) (Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.)

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