1always that which is the ſtraiteſt, but that which
is the ſaſeſt: I would rather chuſe to have it
ſomewhat the longer, than to have it inconveni
ent. Some think the Country of Piperno the
moſt ſecure of any, becauſe it is cut through
with deep Roads almoſt like Pits, doubtful at
the Entrance, uncertain in their Paſſage, and
unſafe upon Account of the Ground which lies
above them, from whence any Enemy may be
prodigiouſly inſeſted.
is the ſaſeſt: I would rather chuſe to have it
ſomewhat the longer, than to have it inconveni
ent. Some think the Country of Piperno the
moſt ſecure of any, becauſe it is cut through
with deep Roads almoſt like Pits, doubtful at
the Entrance, uncertain in their Paſſage, and
unſafe upon Account of the Ground which lies
above them, from whence any Enemy may be
prodigiouſly inſeſted.
THE Men of beſt Experience think that
Way the moſt ſecure, which is carried over
the Backs of ſmall Hills, made level. Next
to this are ſuch as are made through the Fields
upon a high raiſed Bank, according to the
Manner of the Ancients, who indeed upon
that Account gave them the Name of Aggeres,
or Highways. And it is certain ſuch raiſed
Cauſeys have a vaſt many Conveniences: It
relieves the Traveller from the Fatigue and
Vexation of his Journey, to enjoy a fine Proſ
pect from the Heighth of the Cauſey all the
Way as he travels; beſides that, it is a great
Convenience to be able to perceive an Enemy
at a good Diſtance, and to have ſuch an Ad
vantage as either to be able to repel them
with a ſmall Force, or to retire without Loſs,
if you find they are the ſtronger. There is a
great Convenience, not at all foreign to our
Purpoſe, which I have obſerved in the Road
that goes to the Port of Oſtia. As there is a
vaſt Concourſe of People, and great Quantities
of Merchandize brought thither from Ægypt,
Africa, Lybia, Spain, Germany, and the Iſl
ands, the Road is made double, and in the
Middle of it is a Row of Stones, ſtanding up
a Foot high like Terms to direct the Paſſen
gers to go on one Side, and return on the other,
ſo to avoid the Inconvenience of meeting one
another.
Way the moſt ſecure, which is carried over
the Backs of ſmall Hills, made level. Next
to this are ſuch as are made through the Fields
upon a high raiſed Bank, according to the
Manner of the Ancients, who indeed upon
that Account gave them the Name of Aggeres,
or Highways. And it is certain ſuch raiſed
Cauſeys have a vaſt many Conveniences: It
relieves the Traveller from the Fatigue and
Vexation of his Journey, to enjoy a fine Proſ
pect from the Heighth of the Cauſey all the
Way as he travels; beſides that, it is a great
Convenience to be able to perceive an Enemy
at a good Diſtance, and to have ſuch an Ad
vantage as either to be able to repel them
with a ſmall Force, or to retire without Loſs,
if you find they are the ſtronger. There is a
great Convenience, not at all foreign to our
Purpoſe, which I have obſerved in the Road
that goes to the Port of Oſtia. As there is a
vaſt Concourſe of People, and great Quantities
of Merchandize brought thither from Ægypt,
Africa, Lybia, Spain, Germany, and the Iſl
ands, the Road is made double, and in the
Middle of it is a Row of Stones, ſtanding up
a Foot high like Terms to direct the Paſſen
gers to go on one Side, and return on the other,
ſo to avoid the Inconvenience of meeting one
another.
To conclude, ſuch ſhould be the Ways out
of the City; ſhort, ſtrait, and ſecure. When
they come to the Town, if the City is noble
and powerful, the Streets ſhould be ſtrait and
broad, which carries an Air of Greatneſs and
Majeſty; but if it is only a ſmall Town or a
Fortification, it will be better, and as ſafe, not
for the Streets to run ſtrait to the Gates; but
to have them wind about ſometimes to the
Right, ſometimes to the Left, near the Wall,
and eſpecially under the Towers upon the
Wall; and within the Heart of the Town, it
will be handſomer not to have them ſtrait,
but winding about ſeveral Ways, backwards
and ſorwards, like the Coarſe of a River. For
thus, beſides that by appearing ſo much the lon
ger, they will add to the Idea of the Greatneſs
of the Town, they will likewiſe conduce very
much to Beauty and Convenience, and be a
greater Security againſt all Accidents and
Emergencies. Moreover, this winding of the
Streets will make the Paſſenger at every Step
diſcover a new Structure, and the Front and
Door of every Houſe will directly face the
Middle of the Street; and whereas in larger
Towns even too much Breadth is unhandſome
and unhealthy, in a ſmall one it will be both
healthy and pleaſant, to have ſuch an open
View from every Houſe by Means of the
Turn of the Street.
of the City; ſhort, ſtrait, and ſecure. When
they come to the Town, if the City is noble
and powerful, the Streets ſhould be ſtrait and
broad, which carries an Air of Greatneſs and
Majeſty; but if it is only a ſmall Town or a
Fortification, it will be better, and as ſafe, not
for the Streets to run ſtrait to the Gates; but
to have them wind about ſometimes to the
Right, ſometimes to the Left, near the Wall,
and eſpecially under the Towers upon the
Wall; and within the Heart of the Town, it
will be handſomer not to have them ſtrait,
but winding about ſeveral Ways, backwards
and ſorwards, like the Coarſe of a River. For
thus, beſides that by appearing ſo much the lon
ger, they will add to the Idea of the Greatneſs
of the Town, they will likewiſe conduce very
much to Beauty and Convenience, and be a
greater Security againſt all Accidents and
Emergencies. Moreover, this winding of the
Streets will make the Paſſenger at every Step
diſcover a new Structure, and the Front and
Door of every Houſe will directly face the
Middle of the Street; and whereas in larger
Towns even too much Breadth is unhandſome
and unhealthy, in a ſmall one it will be both
healthy and pleaſant, to have ſuch an open
View from every Houſe by Means of the
Turn of the Street.
Cornelius Tacitus writes, that Nero having
widened the Streets of Rome, thereby made the
City hotter, and therefore leſs healthy; but in
other Places, where the Streets are narrow, the
Air is crude and raw, and there is a continual
Shade even in Summer. But further; in our
winding Streets there will be no Houſe but
what, in ſome Part of the Day, will enjoy
ſome Sun; nor will they ever be without
gentle Breezes, which whatever Corner they
come from, will never want a free and clear
Paſſage; and yet they will not be moleſted
by ſtormy Blaſts, becauſe ſuch will be broken
by the turning of the Streets. Add to all
theſe Advantages, that if the Enemy gets into
the Town, he will be in Danger on every Side,
in Front, in Flank, and in Rear, from Aſſaults
from the Houſes. So much for the publick
Streets. The private ones ſhould be like the
publick; unleſs there be this Difference, that
they be built exactly in ſtrait Lines, which will
anſwer better to the Corners of the Building,
and the Diviſions and Parts of the Houſes.
The Ancients in all Towns were for having
ſome intricate Ways and turn-again Streets,
without any Paſſage through them, that if an
Enemy comes into them, he may be at a Loſs,
and be in Confuſion and Suſpence; or if he
puſhes on daringly, may be eaſily deſtroyed.
It is alſo proper to have ſmaller ſhort Streets,
running croſs from one great Street to another;
not to be as a direct publick Way, but only
as a Paſſage to ſome Houſe that fronts it;
which will both give Light to the Houſes, and
make it more difficult for an Enemy to over
run all Parts of the Town.
widened the Streets of Rome, thereby made the
City hotter, and therefore leſs healthy; but in
other Places, where the Streets are narrow, the
Air is crude and raw, and there is a continual
Shade even in Summer. But further; in our
winding Streets there will be no Houſe but
what, in ſome Part of the Day, will enjoy
ſome Sun; nor will they ever be without
gentle Breezes, which whatever Corner they
come from, will never want a free and clear
Paſſage; and yet they will not be moleſted
by ſtormy Blaſts, becauſe ſuch will be broken
by the turning of the Streets. Add to all
theſe Advantages, that if the Enemy gets into
the Town, he will be in Danger on every Side,
in Front, in Flank, and in Rear, from Aſſaults
from the Houſes. So much for the publick
Streets. The private ones ſhould be like the
publick; unleſs there be this Difference, that
they be built exactly in ſtrait Lines, which will
anſwer better to the Corners of the Building,
and the Diviſions and Parts of the Houſes.
The Ancients in all Towns were for having
ſome intricate Ways and turn-again Streets,
without any Paſſage through them, that if an
Enemy comes into them, he may be at a Loſs,
and be in Confuſion and Suſpence; or if he
puſhes on daringly, may be eaſily deſtroyed.
It is alſo proper to have ſmaller ſhort Streets,
running croſs from one great Street to another;
not to be as a direct publick Way, but only
as a Paſſage to ſome Houſe that fronts it;
which will both give Light to the Houſes, and
make it more difficult for an Enemy to over
run all Parts of the Town.