1pretty deal higher than the Ground beyond
it: For this will baulk the Aim of the mili
tary Engines, and make them throw over the
Wall. And ſome think no Wall is ſo ſafe
againſt Battery, as thoſe which are built in un
even Lines, like the Teeth of a Saw.
it: For this will baulk the Aim of the mili
tary Engines, and make them throw over the
Wall. And ſome think no Wall is ſo ſafe
againſt Battery, as thoſe which are built in un
even Lines, like the Teeth of a Saw.
I AM very well pleaſed with thoſe Walls in
Rome, which at about half Way up to the
Top have a Walk with little private Holes,
out of which, the Archers may privately annoy
the Enemy, as he moves about the Field in
Security; and at the Diſtance of every fifty
Cubits are Towers, adjoining to the Wall like
Buttreſſes, projecting out in a round Figure
forwards, and ſomewhat higher than the Wall
itſelf; ſo that whoever offers to approach be
tween theſe Towers, is expoſed to be taken in
Flank and ſlain; and thus the Wall is de
fended by theſe Towers, and the Towers
mutually by one another. The Back of the
Towers, which look into the Town, ought to
have no Wall, but ſhould be left quite open
and naked; that if the Enemy ſhould get
Poſſeſſion of them, they may not be ſafe in
them from the Aſſaults of the Inhabitants.
Rome, which at about half Way up to the
Top have a Walk with little private Holes,
out of which, the Archers may privately annoy
the Enemy, as he moves about the Field in
Security; and at the Diſtance of every fifty
Cubits are Towers, adjoining to the Wall like
Buttreſſes, projecting out in a round Figure
forwards, and ſomewhat higher than the Wall
itſelf; ſo that whoever offers to approach be
tween theſe Towers, is expoſed to be taken in
Flank and ſlain; and thus the Wall is de
fended by theſe Towers, and the Towers
mutually by one another. The Back of the
Towers, which look into the Town, ought to
have no Wall, but ſhould be left quite open
and naked; that if the Enemy ſhould get
Poſſeſſion of them, they may not be ſafe in
them from the Aſſaults of the Inhabitants.
THE Corniſhes of the Towers and Walls,
beſides that they add to their Beauty, and are
a Ligature to ſtrengthen their Work, do alſo
by their Projection hinder the getting into the
Town from ſcaling Ladders. Some are for
leaving Precipices of deep Holes here and there
along the Side of the Wall, and eſpecially near
the Towers, ſortified with wooden Bridges
which may be preſently raiſed or let down, as
Occaſion requires.
beſides that they add to their Beauty, and are
a Ligature to ſtrengthen their Work, do alſo
by their Projection hinder the getting into the
Town from ſcaling Ladders. Some are for
leaving Precipices of deep Holes here and there
along the Side of the Wall, and eſpecially near
the Towers, ſortified with wooden Bridges
which may be preſently raiſed or let down, as
Occaſion requires.
THE Ancients uſed on each Side of their
Gates to erect two Towers, larger than the
reſt, and ſtrongly fortified on all Sides, to ſe
cure and protect the Entrance into the Town.
There ought to be no Rooms with vaulted
Roofs in the Towers, but only wooden Floors,
that upon any Emergency may eaſily be re
moved or burnt; and thoſe Floors ſhould not
be faſtened with Nails, that if the Enemy gets
the better, they may be taken away without
Difficulty. All that is neceſſary is to have a
Covering to ſhelter the Centinels from the
Storms and Injuries of the Weather. The
Battlements over the Gate ſhould have Holes
through the Bottom of them, through which,
Stones and Firebrands may be thrown down
upon the Enemy's Heads, or even Water, if
they have ſet Fire to the Gate; which for its
Security againſt ſuch a Misfortune, they tell us
ought to be covered over with Leather and
Plates of Iron. But of this, enough.
Gates to erect two Towers, larger than the
reſt, and ſtrongly fortified on all Sides, to ſe
cure and protect the Entrance into the Town.
There ought to be no Rooms with vaulted
Roofs in the Towers, but only wooden Floors,
that upon any Emergency may eaſily be re
moved or burnt; and thoſe Floors ſhould not
be faſtened with Nails, that if the Enemy gets
the better, they may be taken away without
Difficulty. All that is neceſſary is to have a
Covering to ſhelter the Centinels from the
Storms and Injuries of the Weather. The
Battlements over the Gate ſhould have Holes
through the Bottom of them, through which,
Stones and Firebrands may be thrown down
upon the Enemy's Heads, or even Water, if
they have ſet Fire to the Gate; which for its
Security againſt ſuch a Misfortune, they tell us
ought to be covered over with Leather and
Plates of Iron. But of this, enough.
CHAP. V.
Of the Proportion, Faſhion and Conſtruction of great Ways, and private Ones.
In making our Gates we should obſerve, that
they ought to be juſt as many in Num
ber as the Highways, or Streets; for ſome we
ſhall call High Streets, and others, private ones.
Not that I intend to trouble my ſelf about the
Diſtinction of the Lawyers, who ſay that the
Road for Beaſts, and the Way for Men, ought
to be called by different Names: But by the
Name of Way, I ſhall underſtand them all.
The Highways are properly thoſe by which
we go into the Provinces, with our Armies
and all their Baggage; for which Reaſon the
Highways ought to be much broader than
others, and I find the Ancients ſeldom uſed
to make them leſs than eight Cubits in any
Part. By a Law in the twelve Tables it was
ordained, that the Ways which ran ſtrait
ſhould be twelve Foot broad, and thoſe which
were crooked or winding, not leſs than ſixteen.
The private Ways are thoſe which leaving the
publick ones, lead us to ſome Town or Caſtle,
or elſe into ſome other Highway, as Lanes in
Cities, and croſs Roads in the Country. There
are another Kind of publick Ways, which may
not improperly be called High Streets, as are
ſuch which are deſigned for ſome certain Pur
poſe, eſpecially any publick one; as for In
ſtance, thoſe which lead to ſome Temple, or
to the Courſe for Races, or to a Place of
Juſtice. The Ways are not to be made in the
ſame Manner in the Country, that they are in
the City. In the Country they ought to be
ſpacious and open, ſo as a Man may ſee all
about him; free and clear from all Manner
of Impediments, either of Water or Ruins;
without lurking Places or Retreats of any Sort
for Rogues to hide themſelves in, nor too
many croſs Roads to favour their Villanies:
Laſtly, they ought to be as ſtrait, and as ſhort as
poſſible: I do not reckon the ſhorteſt Way to be
they ought to be juſt as many in Num
ber as the Highways, or Streets; for ſome we
ſhall call High Streets, and others, private ones.
Not that I intend to trouble my ſelf about the
Diſtinction of the Lawyers, who ſay that the
Road for Beaſts, and the Way for Men, ought
to be called by different Names: But by the
Name of Way, I ſhall underſtand them all.
The Highways are properly thoſe by which
we go into the Provinces, with our Armies
and all their Baggage; for which Reaſon the
Highways ought to be much broader than
others, and I find the Ancients ſeldom uſed
to make them leſs than eight Cubits in any
Part. By a Law in the twelve Tables it was
ordained, that the Ways which ran ſtrait
ſhould be twelve Foot broad, and thoſe which
were crooked or winding, not leſs than ſixteen.
The private Ways are thoſe which leaving the
publick ones, lead us to ſome Town or Caſtle,
or elſe into ſome other Highway, as Lanes in
Cities, and croſs Roads in the Country. There
are another Kind of publick Ways, which may
not improperly be called High Streets, as are
ſuch which are deſigned for ſome certain Pur
poſe, eſpecially any publick one; as for In
ſtance, thoſe which lead to ſome Temple, or
to the Courſe for Races, or to a Place of
Juſtice. The Ways are not to be made in the
ſame Manner in the Country, that they are in
the City. In the Country they ought to be
ſpacious and open, ſo as a Man may ſee all
about him; free and clear from all Manner
of Impediments, either of Water or Ruins;
without lurking Places or Retreats of any Sort
for Rogues to hide themſelves in, nor too
many croſs Roads to favour their Villanies:
Laſtly, they ought to be as ſtrait, and as ſhort as
poſſible: I do not reckon the ſhorteſt Way to be
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