nto them a manifold benefit. Now touching the forme, fashion,
or modell of the house, it is impossible almost for any man to prescribe
a certaine forme, the world is so plentifull in inuention and euery mans
minde so much adicted to nouelty and curiouity, yet for as much as it is
most commended by the generall consent of all the auntients, and that
from the modell of that proportion may be contracted and drawne the most
curious formes that are almost at this day extant, I will commend vnto
you that modell which beareth the proportion of the Roman _H._ which as
it is most plaine of all other, and most easie for conuaiance, so if a
man vpon that plaine song, (hauing a great purse) will make descant,
there is no proportion in which he may with best ease show more
curiositie, and therefore for the plaine Husbandmans better
vnderstanding I will here shew him a _facsimile_ (for to adde a scale
were needlesse in this generall worke, all men not being desirous to
build of one bignesse) & this it is:

{Illustration}

Here you behould the modell of a plaine country mans house, without
plaster or imbosture, because it is to be intended that it is as well to
be built of studde and plaster, as of lime and stone, or if timber be
not plentifull it may be built of courser woode, and couered with lime
and haire, yet if a man would bestow cost in this modell, the foure
inward corners of the hall would be conuenient for foure turrets, and
the foure gauell ends, being thrust out with bay windowes might be
formed in any curious manner: and where I place a gate and a plaine
pale, might be either a tarrisse, or a gatehouse: of any fashion
whatsoeuer, besides all those windowes which I make plaine might be made
bay windowes, either with battlements, or without, but the scope of my
booke tendeth onely to the vse of the honest Husbandman, and not to
instruct men of dignitie, who in Architecture are able wonderfully to
controle me; therefore that the Husbandman may know the vse of this
_facsimile_, he shall vnderstand it by this which followeth.

_A._ Signifieth the great hall.

_B._ The dining Parlor for entertainment of strangers.

_C._ An inward closset within the Parlor for the Mistrisses vse, for
necessaries.

_D._ A strangers lodging within the Parlor.

_E._ A staire-case into the roomes ouer the Parlor.

_F._ A staire-case into the Good-mans roomes ouer the Kitchin and
Buttery.

_G._ The Skreene in the hall.

_H._ An inward ce