Clement VII and finished by his Excellency. Even as in the
eighth, under the figure of two hands that appeared to become more
firmly bound together the more they strove to undo a certain knot, there
was denoted the abdication lovingly performed by him in favour of the
most amiable Prince, and how difficult, or, we should rather say, how
impossible it is for one who has once set himself to the government of a
State, to disengage himself; which was explained by the motto, saying:
EXPLICANDO IMPLICATUR. In the ninth was seen the above-described
Fountain of the Piazza, with that rare statue of Neptune, and with the
motto, OPTABILIOR QUO MELIOR; signifying not only the adornment of the
immense statue and fountain named above, but also the profit and
advantage that will accrue in a short time to the city from the waters
that the Duke is constantly engaged in bringing to her. In the tenth,
then, was seen the magnanimous creation of the new Order of S. Stephen,
represented by the figure of the same Duke in armour, who was shown
offering a sword with one hand over an altar to an armed knight, and
with the other one of their crosses; with a motto saying: VICTOR
VINCITUR. And in the eleventh, likewise under the figure of the same
Duke, who was addressing many soldiers according to the ancient custom,
there was represented the militia so well ordained and preserved by him
in his valorous companies; with a motto that explained it, saying: RES
MILITARIS CONSTITUTA. In the twelfth, with the sole words, MUNITA
TUSCIA, and without any further representation, were demonstrated the
many fortifications made by our most prudent Duke in the most important
places in the State; adding in the scroll, with fine morality: SINE
JUSTITIA IMMUNITA. Even as in the thirteenth, in like manner without
any other representation, there could be read, SICCATIS MARITIMIS
PALUDIBUS; as may be seen to his infinite glory in many places, but
above all in the fertile country of Pisa. And in order not to pass over
completely in silence the praise due to him for having brought back and
restored so gloriously to his native Florence the artillery and the
ensigns lost at other times, in the fourteenth and last were seen some
soldiers returning to him laden with these, all dancing and joyful; with
a motto in explanation, which said: SIGNIS RECEPTIS. And then, for the
satisfaction of the strangers, and particularly the many German lords
who had come thither in vast numbe