DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70303#0120
102 ANCIENT MODE OF BUILDING HOUSES.
escaped. We may perceive, by this story, the truth of
the Maxim, That necessity is the mother of invention;
since he found means to supply his wants in a very natu-
ral manner, so as to maintain his life ; though not so
conveniently, yet as effectually, as we are able to do
with the help of all our arts and society. It may likewise
instruct us, how much a plain and temperate way of
living conduces to the health of the body, and the vigour
of the mind ; both which we are apt to destroy by excess
and plenty, especially of strong liquor, and the variety,
as well as the nature, of our meat and drink; for this
man, when he came to our ordinary method of diet and
life, though he was sober enough, lost much of his strength
and agility.
Upon the ancient mode, and progress of building
DWELLING HOUSES in ENGLAND.
As one of the plates of our present number contains a
view of the Cross in Cheapside and some of the antique
houses of the Citizens, undoubtedly looked upon as per-
fect models in their time, some account of the progress of
fashion in that art may not be disagreeable to the reader,
whose time or avocations may not admit of researches
among the cumbrous volumes of antiquity.
Though the extent or convenience of houses is a ge-
neralindication of the condition of the inhabitants with-
in, it is an undoubted fact, that notwithstanding the
inferiority of the domestic buildings in England to those
of the continent, was evident even down to the reign
of Queen Elizabeth, no nation upon earth fed or fared
better than the English. On the contrary, it was said of
the common people among the Fiend} by Sir John For-
tescue, in his treatise de Uaudibus Legum Anglia; “ that
they, theFrench drink water—they eat apples with bread
righb
escaped. We may perceive, by this story, the truth of
the Maxim, That necessity is the mother of invention;
since he found means to supply his wants in a very natu-
ral manner, so as to maintain his life ; though not so
conveniently, yet as effectually, as we are able to do
with the help of all our arts and society. It may likewise
instruct us, how much a plain and temperate way of
living conduces to the health of the body, and the vigour
of the mind ; both which we are apt to destroy by excess
and plenty, especially of strong liquor, and the variety,
as well as the nature, of our meat and drink; for this
man, when he came to our ordinary method of diet and
life, though he was sober enough, lost much of his strength
and agility.
Upon the ancient mode, and progress of building
DWELLING HOUSES in ENGLAND.
As one of the plates of our present number contains a
view of the Cross in Cheapside and some of the antique
houses of the Citizens, undoubtedly looked upon as per-
fect models in their time, some account of the progress of
fashion in that art may not be disagreeable to the reader,
whose time or avocations may not admit of researches
among the cumbrous volumes of antiquity.
Though the extent or convenience of houses is a ge-
neralindication of the condition of the inhabitants with-
in, it is an undoubted fact, that notwithstanding the
inferiority of the domestic buildings in England to those
of the continent, was evident even down to the reign
of Queen Elizabeth, no nation upon earth fed or fared
better than the English. On the contrary, it was said of
the common people among the Fiend} by Sir John For-
tescue, in his treatise de Uaudibus Legum Anglia; “ that
they, theFrench drink water—they eat apples with bread
righb