the church being called S. Maria del Fiore. Now, as it was estimated
that the expenses of this work would be very heavy, as they
afterwards proved to be, a tax of four deniers the pound was imposed
at the chamber of the commune on everything exported from the city,
as well as a tax of two soldi per head yearly. In addition to this,
the Pope and the legate offered the most liberal indulgences to those
who would contribute alms towards the work. I must not omit to
mention, however, that besides the broad foundations of 15 braccia
deep, buttresses were, with great foresight, placed at each angle of
the eight sides, and it was the presence of these which encouraged
Brunellesco to impose a much greater weight there than Arnolfo had
originally contemplated.

It is said that when Arnolfo began the two first lateral doors of S.
Maria del Fiore, he caused some fig leaves to be carved in a frieze,
which were the armorial bearings of his father Lapo, from which it
may be inferred that the family of the Lapi, now among the nobility
of Florence, derives its origin from him. Others say that Filippo di
Ser Brunellesco was also among the descendants of Arnolfo. But I let
this pass for what it is worth, and return to Arnolfo, for there are
some who say that the Lapi originally came from Figaruolo, a castle
situated at the mouth of the Po. I say that for this magnificent
achievement he deserved unstinted praise and an immortal renown,
since he caused the exterior of the building to be incrusted with
marble of various colours, and the interior with hard stone, making
even the most insignificant corners of the building of the same
stone. But, in order that every one may know the proportions of this
marvellous edifice, I will add that from the doorway to the far end
of the chapel of St Zanobi the length is 260 braccia, the breadth at
the transepts is 166 braccia, that of nave and aisles 66. The nave is
72 braccia high, and the aisles 48. The external circumference of the
entire church is 1280 braccia; the cupola, from the ground to the
base of the lantern, is 154 braccia; the lantern, without the ball,
is 36 braccia high, the ball 4 braccia high, and the cross 8 braccia;
the entire cupola, from the ground to the top of the cross, is 202
braccia. But to return to Arnolfo, I say that he was considered so
excellent, and so much confidence was felt in him, that nothing of
importance was discussed without his advice being first asked. Thus
the