On GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE. ,7 



The ruftic fabric might thus be covered completely, but 

 would not be habitable, unlefs the openings of the fides and 

 ends were clofed. To as to refill the weather. This might eafilv 

 be accomplifhed, by means of baiket-work, covered, as is ftil'l 

 pradifed m many countries, v^ith a mixture of clay and 

 flraw. In order to furnifh ribs for the bafket-vvork, a fet 

 of upright rods would be thi-uft into the ground below, and 

 bound to the arch above, dividing the opening into fpaces reach- 

 ing from top to bottom, (PI. IV. fig. 23.), which, being filled up 

 with twigs wattled through them, would be entirely clofed, 

 (fig. 24.), and the work would be tolerably ftrong. It might 

 however be thought advifeable, for the fake of greater ftrcngth, 

 to fplit all the upright rods, down to the level of the points at 

 which the main rods of the opening feparate from their refpec- 

 tive ports ; or, to borrow a term from architedure, down to tlie 

 level of the imports of the arch ; and then to carry the half 

 rods, fo fplit, acrofs the rert, in fuch a manner as to affbrd the 

 opportunity of repeatedly binding them to each other, (fig. 25.). 

 But were the fpaces all fliut in this manner, the houfe would 

 be rendered abfolutely dark. It would therefore be neceflkry 

 to provide for the admiffion of light, which might be done 

 without materially weakening the rtrudure, by omitting fome 

 of the wattled work in the middle, fo as to leave part of the 

 ribs open and bare, (fig. 25.). 



These naked ribs feem to have fuggerted the forms of the 

 flender bars of rtone, called Mullions, which conrtitute the frame- 

 work of the glafs, in all Gothic windows; the moft common 

 example of which may be feen in (fig. 27.). 



The window, in the fabric of rtone, as well as in that of wil^ 

 low, being very confpicuous, would naturally become an objea 

 of attention in point of beauty. Accordingly we find, that, in 

 the compofition of Gothic edifices, much pains have been 

 beftowed in ornamenting the windows, by the introdudion 



