“So novel an apparatus excited the curiosity of all Rome, and of foreigners also, who came from distant countries to see what effect would be produced by this mass of beams, mingled with ropes, windlasses, levers, and pulleys.  In order to prevent confusion, Sixtus V. issued one of his mandates, that on the day of its being worked, no one, except the workmen, should enter the enclosure, on pain of death, and that no one should make the least noise, nor even speak loud.  Accordingly, on the 30th of April, 1586, the first to enter the barrier was the chief justice and his officers, and the executioner to plant the gibbet, not merely as a matter of ceremony.  Fontana went to receive the benediction of the pope, who, after having bestowed it, told him to be cautious of what he did, for a failure would certainly cost him his head.  On this occasion, Sixtus felt the difference between his regard for his own glory, and his affection for the architect.  Fontana, in terror, secretly placed horses at every gate, ready to convey him from the papal anger, in case of an accident.  At the dawn of day, two masses of the Holy Ghost were celebrated; all the artificers made their communion, and received the papal benediction, and before the rising of the sun all entered the barrier.  The concourse of spectators was such, that the tops of the houses were covered, and the streets crowded.  The nobility and prelates were at the barriers, between the Swiss guards and the cavalry:  all were fixed and attentive to the proceedings; and, terrified at the sight of the inexorable gibbet, every one was silent.

“The architect gave an order that, at the sound of the trumpet, each should begin working, and at that of the bell, placed in the castle of wood, each should desist; there were more than 900 workmen, and 75 horses.  The trumpet sounded, and in an instant, men, horses, windlasses, cranes, and levers were all in motion.  The ground trembled, the castle cracked, all the planks bent from the enormous weight, and the pyramid, which inclined a foot towards the choir of St. Peter, was raised perpendicularly.  The commencement having prospered so well, the bell sounded a rest.  In twelve more movements the pyramid was raised almost two feet from the ground, in such a situation that it could be placed on the rollers, and it remained firmly fixed by means of wedges of iron and wood.  At this happy event the castle of St. Angelo discharged all its artillery, and a universal joy pervaded the whole city.

“Fontana was now convinced that the ropes were better than iron bands, these being most broken or distorted, or expanded by the weight.  On the 7th of May the pyramid was placed on the sledge—­a more difficult and tedious operation than that of raising it, it being necessary to convey it over the piazza to the situation intended for it, which was 115 rods from where it then stood.  The level of the piazza being about 30 feet lower, it was necessary to throw up an earthen embankment from one place to the other, well secured by piles, &c.  This being done, on the 13th of June, by means of four windlasses, the pyramid was removed with the greatest facility on the rollers, to the place of its destination.  The pope deferred its erection to the next autumn, lest the summer heats should injure the workmen and spectators.