1and making Sallies. But let this ſuffice as to
mountainous Situations. But if you build your
City in a Plain, and according to the general
Practice on the Banks of a River, ſo perhaps as
to have the Stream run through the Middle of
the Town, you muſt have a Care that this
River does not come from the South, nor run
towards that Point: Becauſe on one Side the
Damps, and on the other the Cold being en
creaſed by the Vapours of the Water, will
come to you with double Violence and Un
wholeſomeneſs. But if the River flows with
out the Compaſs of the Walls, you muſt take
a View of the Country round about, and con
ſider on which Side the Winds have the freeſt
Paſſage, that you may there erect a ſufficient
Wall to reſtrain the River within its Limits.
As for other Precautions, it may not be amiſs
to conſider what the Mariners tell us; to
wit, that the Winds are naturally inclined to
follow the Sun and the Eaſtern Breezes, when
the Phyſicians obſerve, that thoſe of the Morn
ing are the pureſt, and thoſe of the Evening
the moſt damp: Whereas on the Contrary when
they blow from the Weſt they are heavieſt at
Sun-riſe, and lighteſt at Sun-ſet. For theſe
Reaſons the beſt Poſition for a City will be to
have the River come in from the Eaſt, and
go out towards the Weſt; becauſe then that
Breeze or gentle Wind which riſes with the
Sun, will carry the Vapours out of the City,
if any noxious ones ſhould ariſe, or at leaſt it
will not encreaſe them itſelf: However, I
would rather have a River, Lake, or any other
Water extend to the North than to the South,
provided the Town do not ſtand under the Sha
dow of a Mountain, which is the worſt Situation
in the World. I will not repeat what we have
ſaid before, and we know that the South Wind
is very heavy and ſlow in its Nature, inſomuch
that when the Sails of a Ship are filled with
it, the Veſſel ſeems oppreſſed with its Weight,
and draws more Water; whereas, the
North Wind on the contrary ſeems to lighten
the Ship and the Sea too: however, it is better
to keep both theſe at a Diſtance, than to have
them continually beating againſt the Wall.
Nothing is more condemned than a River flow
ing under high ſteep Banks, with a very deep
ſtony Channel, and always ſhaded; becauſe its
Water is unwholſome to drink, and the Air upon
it dangerous: And to avoid ſettling near Bogs
and Marſhes, or ſtanding muddy Waters is the
Part of every prudent conſiderate Builder. I
need not mention here the Diſeaſes occaſion'd
by ſuch Neighbourhoods: We need only ob
ſerve of theſe Places, that beſides the common
Nuiſances in Summer of ill Smells, Fleas and
other naſty Vermin, they are liable to one
great Inconvenience beſides, when you imagine
the Air to be wholeſomeſt and cleareſt (which
we alſo took Notice of in relation to all
Plains) that they are Subject to exceſſive Colds
in Winter and exceſſive Heats in Summer.
Laſtly, we muſt be very ſure that none of theſe,
whether Hill, Rock, Lake, Bog, River or Well,
or the like, may be ſo diſpoſed as to be likely
to ſtrengthen or ſupport an Enemy, or to bring
any Manner of Inconveniencies upon your own
Citizens. And this is as much as is neceſſary
with Regard to the Region and Situation.
mountainous Situations. But if you build your
City in a Plain, and according to the general
Practice on the Banks of a River, ſo perhaps as
to have the Stream run through the Middle of
the Town, you muſt have a Care that this
River does not come from the South, nor run
towards that Point: Becauſe on one Side the
Damps, and on the other the Cold being en
creaſed by the Vapours of the Water, will
come to you with double Violence and Un
wholeſomeneſs. But if the River flows with
out the Compaſs of the Walls, you muſt take
a View of the Country round about, and con
ſider on which Side the Winds have the freeſt
Paſſage, that you may there erect a ſufficient
Wall to reſtrain the River within its Limits.
As for other Precautions, it may not be amiſs
to conſider what the Mariners tell us; to
wit, that the Winds are naturally inclined to
follow the Sun and the Eaſtern Breezes, when
the Phyſicians obſerve, that thoſe of the Morn
ing are the pureſt, and thoſe of the Evening
the moſt damp: Whereas on the Contrary when
they blow from the Weſt they are heavieſt at
Sun-riſe, and lighteſt at Sun-ſet. For theſe
Reaſons the beſt Poſition for a City will be to
have the River come in from the Eaſt, and
go out towards the Weſt; becauſe then that
Breeze or gentle Wind which riſes with the
Sun, will carry the Vapours out of the City,
if any noxious ones ſhould ariſe, or at leaſt it
will not encreaſe them itſelf: However, I
would rather have a River, Lake, or any other
Water extend to the North than to the South,
provided the Town do not ſtand under the Sha
dow of a Mountain, which is the worſt Situation
in the World. I will not repeat what we have
ſaid before, and we know that the South Wind
is very heavy and ſlow in its Nature, inſomuch
that when the Sails of a Ship are filled with
it, the Veſſel ſeems oppreſſed with its Weight,
and draws more Water; whereas, the
North Wind on the contrary ſeems to lighten
the Ship and the Sea too: however, it is better
to keep both theſe at a Diſtance, than to have
them continually beating againſt the Wall.
Nothing is more condemned than a River flow
ing under high ſteep Banks, with a very deep
ſtony Channel, and always ſhaded; becauſe its
Water is unwholſome to drink, and the Air upon
it dangerous: And to avoid ſettling near Bogs
and Marſhes, or ſtanding muddy Waters is the
Part of every prudent conſiderate Builder. I
need not mention here the Diſeaſes occaſion'd
by ſuch Neighbourhoods: We need only ob
ſerve of theſe Places, that beſides the common
Nuiſances in Summer of ill Smells, Fleas and
other naſty Vermin, they are liable to one
great Inconvenience beſides, when you imagine
the Air to be wholeſomeſt and cleareſt (which
we alſo took Notice of in relation to all
Plains) that they are Subject to exceſſive Colds
in Winter and exceſſive Heats in Summer.
Laſtly, we muſt be very ſure that none of theſe,
whether Hill, Rock, Lake, Bog, River or Well,
or the like, may be ſo diſpoſed as to be likely
to ſtrengthen or ſupport an Enemy, or to bring
any Manner of Inconveniencies upon your own
Citizens. And this is as much as is neceſſary
with Regard to the Region and Situation.
CHAP. III.
Of the Compaſs, Space and Bigneſs of the City, of the Form and Diſpoſition
of the Walls and Fortifications, and of the Cuſtoms and Ceremonies ob
ſerved by the Ancients in marking them out.
of the Walls and Fortifications, and of the Cuſtoms and Ceremonies ob
ſerved by the Ancients in marking them out.
It is certain the Form of the City and the
Diſtribution of its Parts muſt be various
according to the Variety of Places; ſince we
ſee it is impoſſible upon a Hill to lay out an
Area whether round or ſquare, or of any other
regular Form, with that Eaſe, that you may
upon an open Plain. The ancient Architects
in encompaſſing their Towns with Walls, con
demn'd all Angles jutting out from the naked
of the Wall, as thinking they help the Enemy
more in their Aſſault than the Inhabitants in
their Defence; and that they were very weak
againſt the Shocks of military Engines; and
indeed for Treacheries, and for the ſafer
throwing their Darts they are of ſome Ad
vantage to the Enemy, eſpecially where they
can run up to the Walls, and withdraw again
immediately to their Camp; but yet they are
ſometimes of very great Service in Towns
ſeated upon Hills, if they are ſet juſt anſwering
Diſtribution of its Parts muſt be various
according to the Variety of Places; ſince we
ſee it is impoſſible upon a Hill to lay out an
Area whether round or ſquare, or of any other
regular Form, with that Eaſe, that you may
upon an open Plain. The ancient Architects
in encompaſſing their Towns with Walls, con
demn'd all Angles jutting out from the naked
of the Wall, as thinking they help the Enemy
more in their Aſſault than the Inhabitants in
their Defence; and that they were very weak
againſt the Shocks of military Engines; and
indeed for Treacheries, and for the ſafer
throwing their Darts they are of ſome Ad
vantage to the Enemy, eſpecially where they
can run up to the Walls, and withdraw again
immediately to their Camp; but yet they are
ſometimes of very great Service in Towns
ſeated upon Hills, if they are ſet juſt anſwering