Instruction on the Fortification of Cities

From this triangle a.b.c., through the line 3-3-h, the tapering original: "veriüngung"; referring to the architectural practice of making a wall thinner as it rises or providing a slope for stability. of the walls and the spaces between them is found.

A geometric diagram shows a large right-angled triangle with points labeled a, b, and c. Inside the triangle, a series of parallel lines representing wall thickness or architectural tapering are drawn, cut by a diagonal. Points along the horizontal base and within the structure are labeled with letters (f, g, h, i, k) and numbers (1, 2, 3). This diagram serves as a technical scale for the construction described in the text below.

Next, between the circular walls, on each side of the transverse wall h-k and centered between d-i and i-e, build two more buttress walls strebmaurensupporting walls or buttresses built perpendicular to the main wall to provide additional stability against the pressure of earth or artillery eighteen feet original: "schůch"; a historical unit of measurement roughly equivalent to a modern foot. thick; draw their sides toward point k. Then, draw four more buttress walls centered between the thick walls just mentioned, making them ten feet thick between each arch, and draw them all toward point k. If one wishes to fill the spandrels zwickelthe triangular spaces or corners created where curved and straight architectural elements meet near n and o with masonry stones for extra strength, that may also be done. Afterward, construct the walls in the rear rectangular sections original: "fierungen" in this manner: divide the space between the two walls l-m and d-e in the middle along its length with a wall ten feet thick. Then, place two more transverse walls original: "creutz mauren", each eighteen feet thick, with one on each side of the transverse wall h-k. After that, place four more transverse walls on both sides, centered between the thick walls, each ten feet thick. One should also fill the empty fields between the masonry with thick squared stones, either crosswise or diagonally original: "vber ordt", so that square or triangular fields remain between them. This is the ground plan as it should stand upon the foundation, drawn in all its measurements and form according to a scaled foot original: "veriungten schůch"; a proportional or reduced scale used in technical drawing to represent large dimensions on paper.. For this reason, I have also drawn a line immediately hereafter, one hundred of these feet long, with which I will measure everything that follows and belongs to this bastion pasteyan early form of a fortification or bastion, typically semi-circular or polygonal, designed to provide defensive fire..