Of the Vatican Obel. & buildings of N.S.

to the Churches and places where they are erected, which for this reason become more famous, there remains for the future age a clear and everlasting testimony of the piety and devotion that this Most Holy Father, and our Pastor, has in particular toward the Most Sacred Cross. Now, therefore, having been commissioned by his Holiness (as will be understood part by part in the present book) with the transportation of this Obelisk, which previously stood in a location little frequented by men, in order to erect it in the middle of the Piazza of Saint Peter, I have proposed in my mind to put into writing what has followed around this enterprise. I aim only (as far as my weak forces allow) to leave some record of this work, so that it may result in the benefit of those who might have occasion to move stones so heavy and dangerous to break. This has pushed me to this all the more, as up to the present time, there has been found no one, to my knowledge, who has written or even given the least light of artifice sufficient to prove such a difficult enterprise, disused for nearly one thousand and four hundred years. I will gather, therefore, all the art placed in the transportation and erection of this Spire, representing in design to the eyes of the readers, for their greater clarity and understanding, all the important actions performed for this effect. Thus (if I am not mistaken), with little effort, others looking at such a practice—now no longer buried in the shadows—will be able to avail themselves of the present invention, brought to light and successful with many trials, and repeatable in the future to the glory of God and the honor of POPE SIXTUS V. Thus I will touch upon the way I held to measure and weigh the Obelisks easily, so as not to fail in the preparations of the timbers, ironwork, ropes, and other instruments necessary for this effect; rather, one should ensure that they overabound, lest they be lacking. Furthermore, I will treat of the entire structure of the Castle a timber scaffolding framework made to raise the Spire, and of all its parts, and of the armatures, pulleys, ropes, windlasses, and their dispositions, levers, wedges, and other things used for the enterprise, together with the covering made around the stone to defend it from any injury that could happen to it. I will describe the procession made by order of our Lord to purge the same Spire and to consecrate the Cross that was placed upon it in the same place where before there was that golden ball, inside which it was said were the ashes of Caesar, although I believe otherwise for the reasons I will bring in their place. And as much as I have been able to understand through conjectures, I will mention the manners that I judge the ancients must have used in handling and moving such stones, which, comparing them to ours, it will not be a difficult thing to know which are more secure and reasonable. And because it is judged a most notable thing and worthy of much wonder that our Lord, in the brief space of four years that he has been promoted to the Pontificate, has finished so many famous buildings and marvelous edifices, and started so many—which ascend to the number of thirty-five, the principal ones—it has seemed to me a convenient thing, with the occasion of manifesting the art of transporting the Spire, to describe also the buildings made, and which our Lord will make from day to day, forming this as the first book of these; and I will represent in design those that seem to me to be of most utility and satisfaction, which buildings are those written below.

1 A Palace made in his vineyard while he was Cardinal, where his Holiness resides many times in the summer, embellished with many adornments.
2 The Chapel of the Presepe with the transportation of the old Chapel entirely intact.
3 The Conduit of the Felice water brought to Monte Cavallo, twenty-two miles away from Rome.