_Of Fortresses._
[Sidenote: _Lib._ 1. _Cap._ 3.]
Buildings are either _Publick_, or _Private_; Those that are Publick,
appertain either to Security, or Religion, or Publick Convenience. The
Fortifications of Cities are for _Security_, the Temples for _Religion_,
the Market-places, Town-Houses, Theatres, Academies are for the _Publick
Convenience_.
The Disposition and Figures of the Ramparts were so ordered, that the
Towers advanced out of the Walls to the end, that when the Enemy
approached them, the Besieged which were in the Towers, might fall upon
their Flank, both on the Right and the Left.
They took likewise great Care to make the Approaches to the Walls
difficult, ordering their Ways so, that they came not directly, but to
the Left of the Gate. For by this means, the Besiegers were constrained
to present to them that were upon the Walls the Right side, which was
not covered with a Buckler.
The Figure of a _strong_ place ought neither to be Square, nor composed
of Angles that advance too far. But the Ancients made them with many
Sinuosities or Corners, for Angles that are too far advanc'd, are more
advantageous for the Besiegers, than the Besieged.
The thickness of the Wall was so ordered, that two Armed Men might walk
by one another upon the Wall without justling.
They made their Walls strong and durable, with sindged Beams of Olive,
which bound them and kept them up.
Although there be nothing that makes the Ramparts so strong as Earth,
they had not for all that the Custom of making Terrasses, unless it were
in some place where some Eminency was so near the Wall, that the
Besiegers might easily enter.
To make the Terrasses strong, and to hinder the Earth from pushing down
the two Walls that supported it, they made Buttresses or Counter-forts
which went from one Wall to another, to the end, that the Earth being
divided into many parts, might not have that weight to push the Walls.
Their Towers were round, for those that are square are easily ruin'd by
their War-like Engines, and their Battering easily broke down the
Corners.
Directly against the Tower, the Wall was cut off within the breadth of
the Tower, and the Walls so interrupted were only joyned with Joyces,
which were not nailed down; to the end, that if the Enemy made
themselves Masters of some part of the Wall, the Besieged might take up
this Bridge made of Joists, and hinder their further advance.