5. In the fifteenth century, the Perpendicular style prevailed, and this continued during the first quarter of the sixteenth century, though not without symptoms of a change even before the close of the fifteenth.

6. In the sixteenth century, the Roman style was revived, and the period was called the Renaissance. In Italy it was called Cinque Cento, from the change having begun in the fifteenth century.

The history of ecclesiastical architecture cannot be clearly understood without going back to the beginning; the original type of all Christian churches is universally acknowledged to have been the Roman Basilica. These buildings were numerous in all parts of the empire, and were the most convenient structures then existing for the purpose of congregational worship. Many of them are said

Their original use was for the law courts and the merchants' exchange, no place being entitled to municipal privileges which did not possess one. We do not find any notice of their having been converted into churches in Eusebius or the other ecclesiastical historians of the period, though it is constantly asserted by modern writers. It is however clear that they served as models for the churches.

to have been consecrated by order of the Emperor Constantine, and they became the type of the earliest Christian churches. Their plan was uniform,

Plan of a Basilica.

consisting of a parallelogram divided into three parts longitudinally by two rows of pillars and arches; these divisions became the nave and aisles of the church at one end was the tribune for the judges, arranged in a semicircle, this became the apse of the church, and the place for the altar, the entrance being at the opposite end. For some centuries

c In a few instances they were double, having a tribune at each end, and the entrances at the sides.

this type appears to have been almost universally followed, but in process of time various changes were introduced; one of the first was to place a transept across, thus producing a cruciform plan. In the western parts of the empire, the plan was that of the Latin cross, the nave being long, the choir and transepts short; in the eastern parts, the plan generally adopted was the Greek cross, the four arms being of equal length.

It is natural to suppose also that in different. parts of the Roman empire, the character and style of building, the more or less perfect masonry, would vary according to the civilization of the different provinces, and this we find to have been the case.

In Italy itself the plan of the Basilica was in general closely adhered to, and the masonry continued tolerably good down to the seventh and eighth centuries; the original Basilicas which served as models were numerous in that country, and the pagan temples which were destroyed furnished in many instances the materials of the new churches, the original columns, capitals and other finished

parts, being employed again. Several examples of this kind are given in Mr. Gally Knight's valuable work on the architecture of Italy, and the close resemblance between these structures and those of a later age in other countries, our own included, must strike every one who looks at them with any attention.

In Greece, on the other hand, the models before the eyes of the people were superior to those of Rome itself, and as Byzantium became the centre. of civilization, the art of building also was in higher perfection there than in the other provinces. Not only was the ground-plan accommodated to the opinions of the people, but advantage was taken of the facilities it afforded, and of the skill of the workmen to erect those beautiful cupolas which are still the admiration of the world for their scientific and skilful construction. The Byzantine style thus formed was introduced in the course of time into several other provinces. In Italy it is rare, but a few specimens are found; in the south of France it is more frequent.

In Lombardy a distinct style was formed, which partakes a great deal of the Byzantine character, but is readily distinguished from it by the absence of the cupola. In the countries bordering on the Rhine, this became the prevailing style, and in those countries where it prevailed it continued in use down to the thirteenth century. Many Romanesque churches on the Rhine and in the south of France are contemporary with our Salisbury and Lincoln cathedrals, but this is anticipating the order of time.

In England the buildings of the Romans appear to have been generally of an inferior description, it was a remote and half civilized province, and little attention seems to have been paid to the ornamental character of the buildings. It may be useful to mention the usual characteristics of Roman walls, they may generally be distinguished by layers of large flat tiles laid horizontally at regular intervals to strengthen and bind together the rubble walling. In some instances, however, Roman walls are built of large stones, without any