furnished on the outer side with an oval flight of steps, with ditches all around, and with drawbridges made with beautiful invention and in a novel manner, which lead into gardens full of rich and well-varied fountains, graceful parterres of verdure, and, in short, all that is required for a truly regal villa. Now, ascending by the great spiral staircase from the level of the court to the other apartment above, one finds already finished, over the part of which we have spoken, an equal number of rooms, and also the chapel, which is opposite to the principal round staircase on this floor. In the hall that is exactly above that of Jove, and of equal size, there are painted by the hands of Taddeo and his young men, with very rich and beautiful ornaments of stucco, the actions of the illustrious men of the House of Farnese. On the vaulting are compartments with six scenes, four square and two round, which follow right round the cornice of this hall, and in the centre are three ovals, accompanied along their length by two smaller and rectangular pictures, in one of which is painted Fame, and in the other Bellona. In the first of the three ovals is Peace, in the central oval the ancient arms of the House of Farnese, with the helmet-crest, above which is the Unicorn, and in the last is Religion. In the first of the six above-mentioned scenes, which is a round, is Guido Farnese, with many persons, all well executed, about him, and with this inscription below: GUIDO FARNESIUS, URBIS VETERIS PRINCIPATUM CIVIBUS IPSIS DEFERENTIBUS ADEPTUS, LABORANTI INTESTINIS DISCORDIIS CIVITATI, SEDITIOSA FACTIONE EJECTA, PACEM ET TRANQUILLITATEM RESTITUIT, ANNO 1323. In an oblong picture is Pietro Niccolo Farnese, who is delivering Bologna, with this inscription below: PETRUS NICOLAUS, SEDIS ROMANAE POTENTISSIMIS HOSTIBUS MEMORABILI PRAELIO SUPERATIS, IMMINENTI OBSIDIONIS PERICULO BONONIAM LIBERAT, ANNO SALUTIS 1361. In the rectangular picture next to this is Pietro Farnese, elected Captain of the Florentines, with this inscription: PETRUS FARNESIUS, REIP. FLORENTINAE IMPERATOR, MAGNIS PISANORUM COPIIS ... URBEM FLORENTIAM TRIUMPHANS INGREDITUR, ANNO 1362. In the other round picture, which is opposite to that described above, is another Pietro Farnese, who routs the enemies of the Roman Church at Orbatello, with his inscription. In one of the two other rectangular pictures, which are of equal size, is Signor Ranieri Farnese, elected General of the Florentines in place of the above-named Signor Pietro, his brother, with this inscription: RAINERIUS FARNESIUS A FLORENTINIS DIFFICILI REIP. TEMPORE IN PETRI FRATRIS MORTUI LOCUM COPIARUM OMNIUM DUX DELIGITUR, ANNO 1362. In the last picture is Ranuccio Farnese, chosen by Eugenius III as General of the Church, with this inscription: