with the Cross, and with the motto, IN HOC VINCES, sent
to Constantine; beneath which was seen set with beautiful grace a very
large escutcheon of the Medici with three Papal crowns, in keeping with
the idea of Religion, for the three Pontiffs whom she has had from that
house. And on the first level cornice, on either side, was seen a statue
corresponding to the niche already described which came between the two
columns; one of which, that on the right hand, was a most beautiful
young woman in full armour, with the spear and shield, such as Minerva
used to be represented in ancient times, save that in place of the head
of Medusa there was seen a great red cross on her breast, which caused
her to be recognized with ease as the new Order of S. Stephen, founded
so devoutly by our glorious and magnanimous Duke. The other on the left
hand was seen all adorned with sacerdotal and civil vestments in place
of arms, and with a great cross in the hand in place of a spear; and
these, towering over the whole structure in most beautiful accord with
the others, made a very imposing and marvellous effect. Next, in the
frieze that came between that last cornice and the architrave that
rested upon the columns, where according to the order of the composition
there came three compartments, were seen painted the three kinds of true
religion that have been from the creation of the world down to the
present day. In the first of these, which came on the right hand
beneath the armed statue, was seen painted that kind of religion which
reigned in the time of natural law, in those few who had it true and
good, although they had not a perfect knowledge of God, wherefore there
was seen figured Melchizedek offering bread and wine and other fruits of
the earth. Even so, in the picture on the left hand, which came in like
manner beneath the statue of peaceful Religion, was seen the other
religion, ordained by God through the hands of Moses, and more perfect
than the first, but all so veiled with images and figures, that these
did not permit the final and perfect clearness of Divine worship to be
fully revealed; to signify which there were seen Moses and Aaron
sacrificing the Paschal Lamb to God. But in the central picture, which
came exactly beneath the large and above-described statues of Religion,
Charity, and Hope, and over the principal arch, and which in proportion
with the greater space was much larger, there was seen figured an altar,
and upon