A boke named Tectonicon briefely shewynge the exacte measurynge, and speady reckenynge all maner lande, squared tymber, stone, steaples, pyllers, globes. [et]c. Further, declaringe the perfecte makinge and large vse of the carpenters ruler, conteyninge a quadrant geometricall: comprehendinge also the rare vse of the squire. And in thende a lyttle treatise adioyned, openinge the composicion and appliancie of an instrument called the profitable staffe. With other thinges pleasaunt and necessary, most conducible for surueyers, landemeaters, ioyners, carpenters, and masons. Published by Leonarde Digges gentleman, in the yere of our Lorde. 1556.
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Title
A boke named Tectonicon briefely shewynge the exacte measurynge, and speady reckenynge all maner lande, squared tymber, stone, steaples, pyllers, globes. [et]c. Further, declaringe the perfecte makinge and large vse of the carpenters ruler, conteyninge a quadrant geometricall: comprehendinge also the rare vse of the squire. And in thende a lyttle treatise adioyned, openinge the composicion and appliancie of an instrument called the profitable staffe. With other thinges pleasaunt and necessary, most conducible for surueyers, landemeaters, ioyners, carpenters, and masons. Published by Leonarde Digges gentleman, in the yere of our Lorde. 1556.
Author
Digges, Leonard, d. 1571?
Publication
Imprynted at London :: By Thomas Gemini, dwellynge within the Blacke Friers: who is there ready exactly to make all the instrumentes apperteynynge to this booke,
Anno. 1562.
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Subject terms
Mensuration -- Early works to 1800.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A20450.0001.001
Cite this Item
"A boke named Tectonicon briefely shewynge the exacte measurynge, and speady reckenynge all maner lande, squared tymber, stone, steaples, pyllers, globes. [et]c. Further, declaringe the perfecte makinge and large vse of the carpenters ruler, conteyninge a quadrant geometricall: comprehendinge also the rare vse of the squire. And in thende a lyttle treatise adioyned, openinge the composicion and appliancie of an instrument called the profitable staffe. With other thinges pleasaunt and necessary, most conducible for surueyers, landemeaters, ioyners, carpenters, and masons. Published by Leonarde Digges gentleman, in the yere of our Lorde. 1556." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A20450.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 8, 2025.
Pages
Howe rounde and hollowed Tymber, Steples, Pillers,
Globes .&c. are to be measured.
THE IX. CHAPTER. (Book 9)
FIrst gyrde the logge rounde about with some lyne:
then diuide the lyne, whiche compassed that tymber,
in two equal partes, kepe the one part for the bygger
Breadthe: After ye shall diuide againe that whole
length (the twenty and two parte cast away) in thre
partes, and take the halfe of one of them for the other narrower
Breadth. With the measures of these two breadthes, haste to your
table, performing all thing as afore is opened.
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
Ensample.
[illustration]
SƲppose this little piece of Tymber .i. k. l.
m. were to be measured, the compasse or
gyrdinge 36. ynches, the halfe of that is,
18. beinge the one breadth: then the thyrde parte
of .36. is .12. the halfe of it is .6. whiche is the other
narrower breadth. With these two numbers .6.
and .18. enter the Table of squares folowinge, and
so the Table of Tymber measure. At the laste
(all thinges performed as before) ye shall fynde in
this rounde logge, (the lengthe. l. m. being. 18. yn∣ches).
1. foote and .⅛. parte of a foote. This is suffi∣cient
for all suche lyke.
A note of hollowed Tymber.
IF it chaunce that hollowed Tymber be to be measured: mea∣sure
the whole logge as though it were not hollowe, as aboue
is declareth. Then measure the narrower and broader syde of
the hollowe: and see what is conteyned in that, as though it were
massy Tymber. Nowe pulle out the content of it, from the whole
aboue measured: the remayne of force muste shewe what tymber is
included in that hollowed body.
I Am vnable in few woordes to expresse to the vnlearned, by what
meane Pyramidal, or picked regular Steples of all fashions are
measured. Also how Pyllers: how the content of Globes or Bow∣les
are searched: vnlesse the arte of numbringe were tasted. That
beinge knowen: thus (as nowe foloweth) I teache.
Howe the Crassitude of picked Steples
is knowen.
MƲltiply the playne of the Base in the third part of ye height:
so ye haue the Crassitude. Or multiply the content superfici∣all
(founde as I haue instructed) in the height of the Steple,
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
takinge for your purpose the thyrde parte of that product.
Howe the content of Pillers is knowen.
Increase the base playne in his altitude or height: so haue ye your
desyre.
Howe the Cubicall bodyes of Globes are
searched.
THe content superfycial founde (as I haue opened) must be mul∣tiplyed
in the syxte parte of the Diametre: the product is that ye
requyre. Or the thyrde parte of the Superficiall contente in
half the Diametre. Or multiple the plaine of the Circle in the whole
Diametre: then take two thyrde partes, which added make the cras∣situde.
Of the halfe Circle.
HIs superficial content multiplied (as is sayd) bringeth the mag∣nitude
of him. If any man require ensāples of this laste mat∣ters,
or more sufficient handlynge: let them resorte vnto my
bokes published of Geometrye, there they shall be satysfyed. These
little apperteyn to Carpenters or Masons, therfore not by ensample
declared.
A generall Note.
WHen thou shalt be put to measure some body without
order or fashion, lackinge part of his square, or hauing
more then his forme: if it lacke thou shall make it per∣fect
by obseruing diligentlye the runninge together of
the sydes. The partes wantinge shall be measured as
though they were there, whiche porcions muste be ta∣ken
from the whole body measured.
Also when there resulteth any more then the form or regulare
square: fyrste measure the square body: then the crassitude whyche
aboundeth. All put together do shewe the whole irregular bodye.
This suffyseth.
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
A table to finde the iust Radix or Square of any Tym∣ber,
or Stone.
IT behoueth you to knowe that this Table
folowinge is made for the true square of any
maner Timber. Therfore vnderstande that
the numbers from .1. to .40. set aboue in the
hyghe Margyne betoken the Inches of the
broader side of the timber. And the numbers
from .1. and so downeward to .30. put in the
right part and hanging margine of this Ta∣ble,
signifie the ynches of the narrower side:
and to conclude briefly, the elementes or figures set in euery square
roume betoken the iuste square. The bygger &s;igures leftwarde in
euery square place, signifie the whole ynches. And the other lesser
ryghtewarde in the same square diuided by a lyne, the partes of yn∣ches,
as ½ ⅖ &c.
This firste fraction toward the lefte hande betokeneth one halfe
parte of an ynche: thother two fyftes of an ynche: and euery fygure
or fraction, hauinge a pointe adioyned vnto him, somdeale lesse then
the parte is: as this parte ½ representeth scante halfe an ynche, a ve∣ry
little quantitie lesse. And if he had two pryckes by him, he should
haue declared some quantitie more: as this other fraction or parte
:⅖ whiche is more than two fiftes, a smale deale.
It had not bene nedefull to haue put the partes of the square so
precisely as they are here: neyther is it requisite so
curiously to take them.
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
TABVLA RADICVM.
The Table
of Squares
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
1
1 3/7
1 ¾
2
2 1/4
2 ½
2 3/5
2 4/5
3
3 1/7
3 ⅓
3 ½
3 4/7
3 ¾
3 7/8
4
4 1/8
4 1/4
4 ⅓
4 ½
4 3/5
4 6/9
4 ¾
5.
5
5 1/10
5 3/16
5 ⅓
5 2/5
5 ½
5 ½
5 5/8
5 ¾
5 9/10
5 7/8
6
6 1/16
6 1/8
6 1/4
6 ⅓
1
2
2 2/5
2 4/5
3 1/6
3 ½
3 ¾
4
4 1/4
4 ½
4 2/3
5.
5 1/10
5 1/4
5 2/5
5 5/8
5 4/5
6
6 1/7
6 ⅓
6 ½
6 2/3
6 5/6
7.
7 1/16
7 3/14
7 3/8
7 ½
7 3/5
7 ¾
7 7/8
8
8 1/8
8 1/4
8 3/8
8 ½
8 5/8
8 ¾
8 7/8
9
2
3
3 ½
3 6/7
4 1/4
4 5/8
5
5 4/5
5 ½
5 ¾
6
6 1/4
6 ½
6 3/5
7
7 1/8
7 3/8
7 ½
7 ¾
8
8 1/8
8 5/16
8 ½
8 2/3
8 7/8
9
9 1/6
9 ⅓
9 ½
9 2/3
9 4/5
10
10 2/10
10 1/4
10 2/5
10 ½
10 5/7
10 4/5
11
3
4
4 ½
5
5 1/4
5 2/3
6
6 ⅓
6 2/3
7
7 1/5
7 ½
7 ¾
8
8 1/4
8 ½
8 ¾
9
9 1/6
9 ⅓
9 ½
9 ¾
10
10 1/5
10 2/5
10 3/5
10 4/5
11
11 1/8
11 ⅓
11 ½
11 3/5
11 4/5
12
12 1/6
12 ⅓
12 ½
12 2/3
4
5
5 ½
6
6 ⅓
6 ¾
7 1/14
7 3/7
7 ¾
8 1/16
8 3/8
8 3/5
9.
9 2/9
9 ½
9 7/9
10
10 1/4
10 ½
10 ¾
11.
11 1/6
11 ⅓
11 ½
11 ¾
12 ½4
12 1/4
12 ½
12 2/3
12 4/5
13 ½6
13 2/9
13 3/8
13 ½
13 4/5
14.
14 1/7
5
6
6 ½
7.
7 ⅓
7 ¾
8 1/8
8 ½
8 5/6
9 1/6
9 ½
9 5/6
10 1/10
10 2/5
10 2/3
11
11 ••/4
11 ½
11 ¾
12
12 1/4
12 ½
12 ¾
13.
13 1/5
13 3/7
13 2/3
13 5/6
14 1/14
14 2/7
14 ½
14 5/7
15.
15 1/10
15 ⅓
15 ½
6
7
7 ½
8
8 3/8
8 4/5
9 1/6
9 5/9
9 8/9
10 1/4
10 3/5
10 9/10
11 1/6
11 ½
11 6/7
12 1/8
12 2/5
12 2/3
13.
13 1/4
13 ½
13 ¾
14.
14 1/4
14 ½
14 ¾
15.
15 1/5
15 2/5
15 2/3
15 6/7
16 1/12
16 ⅓
16 ½
16 ¾
7
8
8 ½
9
9 ⅓
9 4/5
10 1/5
10 3/5
11.
11 ⅓
11 2/3
12
12 ⅓
12 2/3
13.
13 1/4
13 ½
13 5/6
14 1/7
14 3/7
14 2/3
15.
15 1/4
15 ½
15 ¾
16
16 1/4
16 ½
16 ¾
17.
17 1/5
17 3/7
17 3/5
17 6/7
8
9
9 ½
10
10 2/5
10 4/5
11 1/4
11 3/5
12
12 3/8
12 ¾
13 1/13
13 2/5
13 ¾
14 1/16
14 ⅓
14 5/7
15
15 1/4
15 2/3
15 7/8
16 1/7
16 2/5
16 ¾
17.
17 1/4
17 ½
17 ¾
18
18 1/4
18 ••/2
18 ¾
19.
9
10
10 ½
11
11 2/5
11 ¾
12 1/4
12 2/3
13 1/32
13 3/8
13 4/5
14 1/8
14 ½
14 6/7
15 1/6
15 ½
15 4/5
16 1/8
16 2/5
16 ¾
17 1/32
17 ⅓
17 3/5
17 7/8
18 1/6
18 ½
18 2/3
19.
19 1/4
19 ½
19 ¾
20
10
11
11 ½
12
12 5/12
12 ¾
13 1/4
13 2/3
14 1/16
14 ½
14 4/5
•• 3/16
15 ½
15 6/7
16 1/4
16 3/5
16 7/8
17 1/4
17 ½
17 6/7
18 1/6
18 ½
18 ¾
19 1/16
19 ⅓
19 5/8
19 6/7
20 1/6
20 3/7
20 ¾
21.
11
12
12 ½
13.
13 2/5
13 4/5
14 2/7
14 5/7
15 1/10
15 ½
15 6/7
16 1/4
16 5/8
17.
17 ⅓
17 2/3
18.
18 ⅓
18 2/3
19.
19 1/4
19 2/3
19 8/9
20 1/5
20 ½
20 4/5
21.
21 ⅓
21 2/3
21 8/9
12
13
13 ½
14.
14 3/7
14 5/6
15 ⅓
15 ¾
16 1/8
16 ½
17.
17 1/4
17 3/5
18 1/32
18 3/8
18 ¾
19 1/16
19 3/7
19 ¾
20 1/16
20 2/5
20 ¾
21 1/32
21 ⅓
21 5/8
22.
22 1/5
22 ½
22 ¾
13
14
14 ½
15.
15 2/5
15 7/8
16 5/16
16 ¾
17 1/7
17 9/16
18.
18 ⅓
18 ¾
19 1/14
19 3/7
19 5/6
20 1/7
20 ½
20 7/8
21 1/7
21 ½
21 4/5
22 1/8
22 ½
22 ¾
23 1/16
23 3/8
23 5/8
14
15
15 ½
16.
16 7/16
16 7/8
17 ⅓
17 ¾
18 1/6
18 3/5
19.
19 3/8
19 ¾
20 1/8
20 2/4
20 7/8
21 1/5
21 5/9
21 9/10
22 1/4
22 5/8
22 7/8
23 1/4
23 3/5
23 7/8
24 1/5
24 ½
15
16
16 ½
17.
17 3/7
17 7/8
18 ⅓
18 7/9
19 1/6
19 5/8
20
20 2/5
20 4/5
21 1/6
21 ½
21 7/8
22 1/4
22 5/8
23.
23 ⅓
23 5/8
24
24 ⅓
24 2/3
25.
25 1/4
16
17
17 ½
18.
18 ⅓
18 7/8
19 ⅓
19 ¾
20 1/6
20 5/8
21 1/32
21 2/5
21 5/6
22 1/5
22 3/5
23.
23 ⅓
23 ¾
24 1/32
24 3/7
24 ¾
25 1/13
25 2/5
25 ¾
26 1/16
17
18
18 ½
19.
19 2/5
19 7/8
20 ⅓
20 ¾
21 1/5
21 5/8
22 1/32
22 ½
22 ¾
23 1/4
23 5/8
24
24 3/8
24 ¾
25 1/10
25 ½
25 ¾
26 1/7
26 ½
26 ¾
18
19
19 ½
20.
20 ½
20 9/10
21 ⅓
21 ¾
22 1/4
22 5/8
23 1/16
23 ½
23 7/8
24 1/4
24 2/3
25 1/32
25 ⅓
25 ¾
26 1/7
26 ½
26 7/8
27 1/5
27 ½
19
20
20 ½
21.
21 3/7
21 8/9
22 3/8
22 4/5
23 1/4
23 2/3
24 1/16
24 ½
24 5/6
25 2/7
25 2/3
26 1/13
26 ½
26 4/5
27 1/5
27 ½
27 7/8
28 2/7
20
21
21 ½
22.
22 ½
22 7/8
23 ⅓
23 4/5
24 1/4
24 2/3
25 1/10
25 ½
25 8/9
26 ⅓
26 ¾
27 1/9
27 ½
27 7/8
28 1/4
28 5/8
29.
21
22
22 ½
23.
23 ½
23 7/8
24 3/8
24 5/6
25 1/4
25 ¾
26 1/8
26 ½
27.
27 ⅓
27 ¾
28 1/7
28 ½
28 7/8
29 1/4
29 5/8
22
23
23 ½
24.
24 ½
24 7/8
25 ⅓
25 7/8
26 1/4
26 ¾
27 1/8
27 ½
28.
28 3/8
28 ¾
29 1/6
29 3/5
30.
30 ⅓
23
24
24 ½
25.
25 ½
25 7/8
26 3/8
26 4/5
27 1/4
27 ¾
28 1/7
28 ½
29.
29 1/8
29 4/5
30 1/5
30 3/5
31.
24
25
25 ½
26.
26 ½
26 7/8
27 3/8
27 4/5
28 1/4
28 ¾
29 1/6
29 3/5
30
30 ⅓
30 4/5
31 1/5
31 5/8
25
26
26 ½
27.
27 2/5
27 4/5
28 3/8
28 ¾
29 ⅓
29 ¾
30 1/7
30 ½
31:
31 2/5
31 7/8
32 1/4
26
27
27 ½
28.
28 ½
28 7/8
29 2/5
29 4/5
30 1/4
30 ¾
31 1/6
31 3/5
32 1/32
32 ½
32 7/8
27
28
28 ½
29.
29 ½
29 7/8
30 ⅓
30 7/8
31 1/4
31 ¾
32 3/16
32 5/8
33 1/32
33 2/5
28
29
29 ½
30.
30 ½
30 7/8
31 3/8
31 7/8
32 5/16
32 ¾
33 1/5
33 5/8
34 1/16
29
30
30 ½
31
31 ½
32.
32 3/8
32 7/8
33 ⅓
33 ¾
34 1/5
34 5/8
30
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