(3) Penitence holds in her right hand a wand, denoting spiritual jurisdiction, like the wand wherewith they smite the excommunicated at his absolution. In her left hand is a Roman javelin, that was the symbol of liberty, to signify the free estate of the captive's soul, and how, through absolution, sin is made a slave; together with the word PŒNITENTIA.
(4) Extreme Unction is represented by an aged woman, holding a vase whence issueth an olive bough, and in her other hand a candle, as token that this Sacrament is a succour to those that be in the last agony. The word inscribed is UNCTIO.
(5) Order is a priest with his vestments, holding an incensory, together with a chalice and the host, signifying Oration and Sacrifice. The word inscribed is ORDO.
(6) Matrimony is the figure of a youth, holding in one hand a cross with two serpents twined about it, in imitation of Mercury's wand. In his other hand he bears a yoke, and the inscription MATRIMONIUM.
The Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, as being most excellent of all, occupies a loftier place than all these other Sacraments.
The basement of this order, forming, as it were, a boundary and bordering to this holy edifice of the Church, has twelve pedestals beneath the columns, making six and thirty sides, which are adorned with six and thirty scenes, eighteen whereof are taken from the Old Testament, and the other eighteen from the New Testament, or relating to the present state of the Church.
(1) The first scene represents how God formed Eve from one of Adam's ribs. An inscription at the foot of the pedestal says, Humani generis auspicia.
(2) Next to the preceding is an image of our Saviour with two angels supporting him by the arms, while from his wounded side issue seven rays of blood, signifying the Church and Sacraments. The inscription says, Felicior propagatio.
(3) The tree of Life, with Adam and Eve partaking of its fruit, and the inscription, Perituræ gaudia vitæ.