The art of fair building represented in the figures of several uprights of houses, with their ground-plots, fitting for persons of several qualities : wherein is divided each room and office according to their most convenient occasion, with their heights, depths, lengths, and breadths according to proportion : with rules and directions for the placing of the doors, vvindows, chimnies, beds, stairs, and other conveniencies ... : also a description of the names and proportions of the members belonging to the framing of the timber-work, with directions and examples for the placing of them / by Pierre Le Muet ... ; published in English by Robert Pricke ...

TO THE READER.

THat which first gave the occasion to men to build was Necessity; whenas being oppressed with the untemperateness of the air, and toiled with the excess of the heats of the Sun, with the extremities of cold, with the tedeous vexations of the snows, hail, and rains; they endeavoured to get under a Covering, even in the first and tenderest age of the world, as also to defend themselves from the invasion of fierce and cruel beasts. It may be believed, that the ignorance of the Ʋnder∣standings of that age did not suffer them to build very stately buildings, but that by degrees their Successors setting their hands to the work, (as it happeneth in every other thing to be refined in process of time) obtained a far greater skill in the art of building, and that they left Instructions thereof, which their Po∣sterity have still enriched, even unto perfection. All the Historians give us to understand, that the Assyrians and Medes were famous Builders, insomuch as they made both houses and walls of Cities of an immense and most incredible greatness; as also the Persians. And the Pyramides of Egypt still do (even at this day) serve for a witnesse, how much the people of that Country busied themselves in buildings. That so renowned Temple of Salomon was the reason, that there is no body can doubt but that the Hebrews had likewise a very great and most perfect understanding in Architecture. Nevertheless I shall say, that the Western people, having continually augmented the Sciences which they re∣ceived from the Eastern, have likewise surpassed in the knowledge of Archite∣cture all the Nations that I have named. The Greeks first became excellent therein; the Italians afterwards framed marvellous works; and the French at this time are able to practise all that which both the one and the other have known therein; having also upon the same subject brought to light many sin∣gular and admirable Inventions: in such manner that one may well avouch, that if Art hath ever contributed together with Nature to bring any thing to perfection, its design hath more happily succeded in the accomplishment of the buildings of our France, then in any other subject (wherein it hath strived to busie it self) whatsoever. For as Nature (being favoured by the temperate situation of the Kingdom) hath caused us to see there almost in every place, that in abundance which she hath but scattered and sowen here and there

in divers quarters of the Earth. Even so Art, by the ornament of sumptuous buildings, hath taken care to beautifie it, by these means bringing an unspeak∣able contentment to the eyes of men; causing them to lodge most pleasantly and stately, which is one of the most delightful contents of this life. But it would be a superfluous thing to discourse in this place of the fair building of such Edifices, seeing that our intention is onely to shew to the publick view, the manner of building upon any kind of bigness propounded: to the end that in particular hou∣ses one may observe the comeliness and conveniency proportionable to that, which one may behold ordinarily in publick buildings, and other houses of Enter∣tainment. Therefore I have begun with the smallest space upon which one may build, unto such a greatness as we find many persons to possess of places of the like measure; and afterwards I shall work upon more spacious places, and de∣clare all that may conveniently be made thereupon. And herein (Reader) I have conceived my self no less to assist thee, then if I had discoursed profoundly of Architecture, and set forth all its rules: which yet nevertheless I do not renounce, as hoping within a small time to satisfie the curiosity of every one up∣on this point▪ which shall be then when I shall publish my Designs con∣cerning Royal Buildings, where thou shalt see the divers Orders of Pillars en∣tirely observed, and the Edifices erected according to them, with such enrich∣ments as are most agreeable thereto. I hope there shall be found there what∣soever serveth for the adorning of Palaces and Churches, and I shall make as it were an abridgment of all that is necessary for the raising of great buildings. Re∣ceive in the mean time (Reader) this Work, which I dedicate to the benefit of every one, and thereby you shall oblige me (by accepting it favourably) to la∣bour more and more for the benefit of the Publick.