accused of anye fault, but the woorkman commended for the perfection of
his skill.

First vpon my right hande belowe, I beheld a stilypode or square stone,
like an aulter vnder the bases of the columnes, which hauing vpon the
vpper parte a conuenient and meet coronice, and accordingly imbowed, the
bottome and lowest part in like manner was fashioned, so as the quadrate
and aforesayd stilypode, was no broder then long, but a right
quadrangule. Which aulter (as I may tearme it) sidelong about, wrought
with leaues, hollowed vnder with a gulaterie, and wrapt ouer wirh the
same foliature and leafe worke, hemming in the smooth face or table of
the Stilypode of shining white alliblaster, polished and plaine, the
outward part of the quadrangule, equilaterally compassing about the
same, wherevpon with a woonderfull curiousnes was ingrauen a man neere
his myddle-age, of a churlish and swarffie countenance, with an vnshaply
beard, thick, and turning into his chyn, by the towghnesse of the hard
skinne, and vneasie growing out of the hayre.

He sat vpon a stone with an aporne of a Goates skinne, the hinder parts
compassing his waste, and tyed behynde with a knotte, and the neck part,
with the hayrie side next him, hung downe betwixt his legges. Before him
in the interstice of these grose and tumorus calfes, there was an anuill
fastned vpon a knottie peece of a tree, wherevpon he was fashoning of a
brigandine or habergion of burning mettall, houlding vp his Hammer, and
as it were striking vpon his worke.

And there before him was a most noble woman, hauing two fethered wings
set vpon hir delicate and tender shoulders, houlding hir sonne an
infante naked, which sate with his little hyppes vpon the large and
goodly proportioned thighes of the faire goddesse his mother, and