Treatise on the Morals and Discipline of Human Conduct

of the aforementioned vision. Likewise, indeed, the Kingdom of the Romans is denoted by the aforementioned division through the iron legs. It is noted that the eagle of the Romans has a symbol above it which is iron-colored, like a dark hue original: "nigriem"; referring to the dark, blackish color of the imperial eagle, which the eagle bears because, just as among the aforementioned metals iron is more tenacious and has a more solid nature so that it masters other metals, so the Kingdom of the Romans was stronger among the previously noted kingdoms and other nations.

And note therefore that it was fit among the aforementioned kingdoms because of "iron"; for just as it has the eagle as its sign, which is the king of birds and flies higher among all birds, so also the Kingdom of the Romans is more excellent and was more grand among the kingdoms of the world.

Note, indeed, that there was no "monarch of the world" except from that kingdom The author is asserting that only Rome achieved true universal monarchy, although others say that Alexander the Great was the monarch of the world, as appears somewhat in the passage from the Book of Daniel. It says there that the third kingdom—namely, the bronze one—shall rule over the whole earth, which is understood to refer to Alexander. Others, however, hold the opposite view. [Nonetheless], as the aforementioned vision of Daniel is spoken of in the scriptures, it is the kingdom of many nations original: "tharis gentium"; likely a scribal variation for "many" or "all" nations, and it is intended that the said coats of arms original: "arma" of each kingdom should agree with the vision. Therefore, through this vision or figure, I will set down below the aforementioned kingdoms and their coats of arms in order, so that it will be more clearly evident to behold.