e such sights as merit, and are
Condigne of euerlastinge remembrannce, in ether sydes stilled with smoth
poollishede Marble, in the middle parte where of there was impacte a
rounde table, inclaustrede and compassede about with a greene Stonne
verye pretious and accordinglie asosciated with curious workemanship.
And the opposite of verie blacke stone, scorning and contemning the
hardnes of iron, and cleare and shining as a mirror. By meanes whereof
as I passed by (vnawares) I grew afrayd at my owne shadow, neuertheles I
was by an by comforted with vnexspected delight, for the place that
occasioned my disquiet nowe offered vnto me the grounde of all sciences,
historied in a visible manifest and experte painting.

And on either sides vnder the same beautifull and most noble tables,
there were placed all a long seates of stone. The pauement neat and
cleane from dust, being made of _Ostracus_.[A]

[Sidenote A: Ostracus be pounded shels mixed with lime, whereof a
plaster is made to floor withall.]

And so in like manner the coloured vpper seeling was pure and voyd of
Spiders and Cobwebs, by reason of the continuall fresh ayre both entring
in and going out.

The seeling of the walles as aforesayde, mounted vp to the bendyng of
the Arche from the Chapters which stood vpon their strict and vpright
Antes euen to the vttermost ende of the entrie, which was by my
perspectiue iudgement twelue paces.

From which perpolyte ligature and fastned ioyntes, the roofe of the
entrie all the length thereof, did march with a hemicircubate flexure,
answerable to the Antes and streight sides of the afore described porche
full of varieties and exquisite representments, rarely ingrauen and of
little water monsters, as in the water it selfe in their right and well
disposed plemmyrules, halfe men and women, with their fishie tailes:
some imbracing one an other with a mutuall consent, some playing vppon
Flutes, and others vpon other fantasticall instruments.

Some sitting in straunge fashioned Charriots, and drawne in them by
swift Dolphines, crowned and adorned with water Lillies sutable to the
furniture of the garnished seates: some with diuers dishes and vessels
replenished with many sortes of fruites. Others with plentiful copies,
some coupled togither with bands, and others wrastling as they did,
riding vppon _Hipposatamies_, and other sundrie and vncoth beastes, with
a Chiloneall defence.

Some wantonly disposed, others to varie