198 PHYSIOLOGICAL REMAINS. 



For present use or profit, this is the rule : con 

 sider the price of the two simple bodies ; consider 

 again the dignity of the one above the other in use ; 

 then see if you can make a compound, that will save 

 more in price, than it will lose in dignity of the use. 



. As for example ; consider the price of brass ord 

 nance ; consider again the price of iron ordnance, 

 and then consider wherein the brass ordnance doth 

 excel the iron ordnance in use ; then if you can make 

 a compound of brass and iron that will be near as 

 good in use, and much cheaper in price, then there 

 is profit both to the private arid the commonwealth. 

 So of gold and silver, the price is double of twelve : 

 the dignity of gold above silver is not much, the 

 splendour is alike, and more pleasing to some eyes, 

 as in cloth of silver, silver rapiers, etc. The main 

 dignity is, that gold bears the fire, which silver doth 

 not : but that is an excellency in nature, but it is 

 nothing at all in use ; for any dignity in use I know 

 none, but that silvering will sully and canker more 

 than gilding ; which if it might be corrected with a 

 little mixture of gold, there is profit : and I do some 

 what marvel that the latter ages have lost the ancient 

 &quot; electrum,&quot; which was a mixture of silver with gold : 

 whereof I conceive there may be much use, both in 

 coin, plate, and gilding. 



It is to be noted, that there is in the version of 

 metals impossibility, or at least great difficulty, as 

 in making of gold, silver, copper. On the other 

 side, in the adulterating or counterfeiting of metals, 

 there is deceit and villany. But it should seem there 



