At the entering into the palace before the gate, on the plaine gréene, was builded a fountaine of un|bowed worke, gilt with fine gold, and bice, ingra [...]led with antike works: the old god of wine called Bac|chus birling the wine, which by the conduits in the earth ran to all people plentiouslie with red, white, and claret wine, ouer whose head was written in letters of Romane in gold, Faicte bonne chere qui vouldra. On the other hand or side of the gate was set a piller, which was of ancient Romane worke, borne with foure lions of gold, the pillers wrapped in a wreath of gold curiouslie wrought and intrailed, and on the summit of the said piller stood an image of the blind god Cupid, with his bow and arrows of loue, readie by his séeming to strike the yoong people to loue.

The foregate of the same palace or place with great and mightie masonrie by sight was arched,The forg [...] of the said palace. with a tower on euerie side of the same port, rered by great craft, and imbattelled was the gate and tower, and in the fenesters and windowes were images resem|bling men of warre, readie to cast great stones. Also the same gate or tower was set with compas|sed images of ancient princes, as Hercules, Alex|ander, and other by intrailed worke, richlie limmed with gold and albine colours: and well and warilie was made ouer the gate loups, and inforced with bat|telments, and in the same gate a lodge for the porter, which there appeared, and other sumptuouslie appa|relled like vnto kings officers. By the same gate all people passed into a large court faire and beau|tifull, EEBO page image 857 for in this court appeared much of the outward beautie of this place, [...] for from the first water table, to the raising or reisin péeces, were baie windowes, on euerie side mixed with cleare stories curiouslie glased, the posts or moinels of euerie window was gilt.

Thus the outward part of the place lumined the eies of the beholders, by reason of the sumptuous w [...]ke. Also the tower of the gate (as séemed) was builded by great masonrie, and by great engine of mans wit, for the sundrie countenances of euerie i|mage that there appeared, some shooting, some ca|sting, some readie to strike, and firing of gunnes, which shewed verie honorablie. Also all the said qua|drants, baies, and edifices, were roiallie intrailed, as [...]a [...]re as vnto the same court apperteined. [...] And direct against the gate was deuised a halpas, and at the entrie of the staire, were images of sore and terri|ble countenances, all armed in curious worke of argentine. The baie of the same halpas pendant by craft of timber, & vnder it antike images of gold in| [...]roned with verdor of olifs cast in compasse, moun| [...]ring their countenances toward the entring of the palace. The staire of the said halpas was cast of pas|sage by the wents of brode steps, so that from the first foot or lowest step, anie person might without paine go vnto the highest place of the same halpas.