162 GERBIEITS "COUNSEL TO BUILDERS" 



architecture, and that because of incidental allusions to matters 

 of interest. In his dedication to Charles II. (the book was 

 published in 1664) he advises the king to set the main body of 

 his contemplated palace on the side of St James's Park, and 

 the gardens along the river. This, no doubt, refers to the 

 schemes upon which Webb, as already mentioned, was then 

 engaged. Gerbier has several oblique as well as one direct 

 thrust at Inigo Jones. He carps at those "who have marshald 

 colombs," and have made them " like things patcht or glevved 

 against a wall, and for the most part against the second Story 

 of a Building ... as if their intent were, that the weight of the 

 colombs should draw down the Wall on the heads of those that 

 passe by." Doubtless this was an allusion to the Banqueting 

 House, about which he makes further and more definite 

 criticisms. After cavilling at the elaboration of stage effects 

 in masques, he roundly states that " Inigo Jones (the late 

 surveyor) " found the Banqueting House unsuitable for such 

 purposes, and that he " was constrained to Build a Wooden 

 House overthwart the Court of Whitehall? He then takes 

 exception to the height of the room, alleging that the king and 

 his retinue were lost in it because of its vastness ; and goes on to 

 say that he does not undervalue any modern works, "every 

 good Talent being commendable," including, presumably, even 

 the late surveyor's. At the same time there were some alive 

 who knew that the king of blessed memory had graciously 

 avouched, in the year 1648, that a room near York Gate not 

 above 35 ft. square (which was the one Gerbier had designed 

 himself) was as apt for masques as the Banqueting House 

 itself. Moreover judicious persons would not deny that the 

 excellence of the Triumphal Arches erected in London (which 

 Gerbier is said to have designed for the entry of Charles II.) 

 consisted not in their bulk. 



The book abounds in malicious and egotistical touches of 

 this kind, both in the two treatises into which it is divided, and 

 in the forty dedicatory epistles which he deemed necessary to 

 the launching of his venture. But amid a deal of skimble- 

 skamble stuff, he says a few things worth noting. Chimneys 

 need only be carried about 2 ft. above the ridge ; large and 

 lofty stacks he deems unsightly and dangerous. Staircases 

 should be easy of ascent and wide. Anyone who has sound 

 limbs and a "gallant gate" naturally lifts his toes at least 



