treets, to divert the
sun's scalding rays, which Tacitus commends, _lib. 15. Annat._, as most
agreeing to their health, [3181]"because the height of buildings, and
narrowness of streets, keep away the sunbeams." Some cities use galleries,
or arched cloisters towards the street, as Damascus, Bologna, Padua, Berne
in Switzerland, Westchester with us, as well to avoid tempests, as the
sun's scorching heat. They build on high hills, in hot countries, for more
air; or to the seaside, as Baiae, Naples, &c. In our northern countries we
are opposite, we commend straight, broad, open, fair streets, as most
befitting and agreeing to our clime. We build in bottoms for warmth: and
that site of Mitylene in the island of Lesbos, in the Aegean sea, which
Vitruvius so much discommends, magnificently built with fair houses, _sed
imprudenter positam_ unadvisedly sited, because it lay along to the south,
and when the south wind blew, the people were all sick, would make an
excellent site in our northern climes.

Of that artificial site of houses I have sufficiently discoursed: if the
plan of the dwelling may not be altered, yet there is much in choice of
such a chamber or room, in opportune opening and shutting of windows,
excluding foreign air and winds, and walking abroad at convenient times.
[3182]Crato, a German, commends east and south site (disallowing cold air
and northern winds in this case, rainy weather and misty days), free from
putrefaction, fens, bogs, and muck--hills. If the air be such, open no
windows, come not abroad. Montanus will have his patient not to [3183]stir
at all, if the wind be big or tempestuous, as most part in March it is with
us; or in cloudy, lowering, dark days, as in November, which we commonly
call the black month; or stormy, let the wind stand how it will, _consil.
27. and 30._ he must not [3184]"open a casement in bad weather," or in a
boisterous season, _consil. 299_, he especially forbids us to open windows
to a south wind. The best sites for chamber windows, in my judgment, are
north, east, south, and which is the worst, west. Levinus Lemnius, _lib. 3.
cap. 3. de occult. nat. mir._ attributes so much to air, and rectifying of
wind and windows, that he holds it alone sufficient to make a man sick or
well; to alter body and mind. [3185]"A clear air cheers up the spirits,
exhilarates the mind; a thick, black, misty, tempestuous, contracts,
overthrows." Great heed is therefore to be taken at what times w