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(or dormants), transoms, and such principals, with here and there agirding, whereunto they fasten their splints or radels, and then cast itall ouer with theike claie to keep out the wind, which otherwise wouldannoie them. Certes this rude kind of building made the Spaniards, inQu6ene Marie’s daies, to woonder; but ch^eflie when they saw whatlarge diet was used in manie of these so homelie cottages, in so muchthat one of no small reputation amongst them saide after this maner:‘ The English , (quoth he), haue their houses made of sticks and durt,but they fare commonlie so well as the king.’ Whereby it appeareth,that he liked better of our good fare in such coarse cabins, than of theirown thin diet in their prince-like habitations and palaces. In like sortas euerie countrie-house is thus apparelled on the • outside, so is itinwardlie diuided into sundrie roomes above and beneath; and whereplentie of wood is, they couer them with tiles, otherwise with straw,sedge, or reed, except some quarrie of slate be neere hand, from whencethey have for their monie so much as may suffice them.
“ The claie wherewith our houses are impanelled, is either white, red,or blue; and of these, the first dooth participat verie much with thenature of our chalke, the second is called lome, but the third eftsooneschangeth colour so soone as it is wrought, notwithstanding that it lookeblue when it is throwne out of the pit. Of chalke, also, we have ourexcellent asbestos, or white lime, made in most places, wherewith beingquenched, we strike ouer our claie-workes and stone-wals, in cities, goodtownes, rich farmers’ and gentlemen’s houses.”*
The exterior of the Dog-Kennel illustrates the manner of building in“ woodie soiles.”t So perfect a picture drawn by our old historian of
* Harrison’s Description of England. f "
f And may be taken as a specimen of domestic architecture prior to the Tudor period,continued for a while afterwards. Old Chamber was burned in the reign of Henry VI .
G