nth seat and the ninth statue, above the
column in the centre, was seen placed an immense escutcheon, supported
by two great Victories with the Imperial Crown of the House of Austria,
to which that structure was dedicated; which was made manifest by a very
large epitaph, which was seen placed with much grace and beauty below
the escutcheon, saying:

VIRTUTI FELICITATIQUE INVICTISSIMAE DOMUS AUSTRIAE, MAJESTATIQUE
TOT ET TANTORUM IMPERATORUM AC REGUM, QUI IN IPSA FLORUERUNT ET
NUNC MAXIME FLORENT, FLORENTIA AUGUSTO CONJUGIO PARTICEPS ILLIUS
FELICITATIS, GRATO PIOQUE ANIMO DICAT.

The intention had been, after bringing to those most splendid nuptials
the Province of Austria, with her cities and rivers and with her
ocean-sea, and after having caused her to be received by Tuscany with
her cities, the Arno, and the Tyrrhenian Sea, as has been related, to
bring then her great and glorious Caesars, all magnificent in adornment
and pomp, as is the general custom in taking part in nuptials; as if
they, having conducted thither with them the illustrious bride, were
come before to have the first meeting of kinsmen with the House of
Medici, and to prove of what stock, and how glorious, was the noble
virgin that they sought to present to them. And so, of the eight
above-mentioned statues placed upon the eight seats, representing eight
Emperors of that august house, there was seen on the right hand of the
above-named escutcheon, over the arch through which the procession
passed, that of Maximilian II, the present magnanimous and excellent
Emperor, and brother of the bride; below whom, in a very spacious
picture, there was seen painted with most beautiful invention his
marvellous assumption to the Empire, himself being seated in the midst
of the Electors, both spiritual and temporal, the first being
recognized--besides their long vestments--by a Faith that was to be seen
at their feet, and the others by a Hope in a like position. In the air,
also, over his head, were seen certain little Angels that seemed to be
chasing many malign spirits out of certain thick and dark clouds; these
being intended either to suggest the hope which is felt that at some
time, in that all-conquering and most constant nation, men will contrive
to dissipate and clear away the clouds of those many disturbances that
have occurred there in matters of religion, and restore her to her
pristine purity and serenity of tranquil concord; or rathe