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that our country can boast of as great architects as 
Greece herself, many of them even within our own 
times, but since few have left behind them any treatises, 
1 thought it improper to omit any thing, and to treat of 
the different branches in different books. In the sixth 
book 1 have given rules for building private houses; in 
this, the seventh, I shall describe their finishing, and 
how that is to be rendered both beautiful and durable. 
CHAPTER I. 
OF PAVEMENTS. 
1 sHALL begin with pavements, which are the principal 
of the finishings, and should be executed with the 
greatest care and attention to their solidity. If the 
pavement be made on the ground itself, the soil must be 
examined, to ascertain that it is solid throughout, then 
over it is to be spread and levelled a layer of rubbish. 
But if the whole or any part of the earth be loose, it is 
to be made solid with a rammer. In timber floors care 
must be taken that no wall be built under them, so as to 
touch the under side of the floors; but that a space be 
rather left between them and the floors. For if they be 
made solid, the timber of the floors drying and settling. 
whilst the wall remains in its place, will cause fissures 
in the pavement to the right and left. Care must also 
be taken that holm timber be not used with oak; for as 
soon as oak becomes damp, it warps, and causes cracks 
in the pavement. If, however, holm is not to be had, 
and on that account it be absolutely necessary to use 
oak, it should be cut very thin, by which means its power 
will be diminished, and it will be more easily fastened 
with the nails. Then through the edges of the boards