186 GOLD AND SILVER. 



LIB. IT. measure of all things. And although, naturally, and of 

 Arist. v, it selfe, it be but one onely thing, yet in value and estima- 



Ethio., cap. 



5 - tion, wee may say that it is all things. Mony is vnto vs as 



it weare, meate, clothing, house, horse, and generally what 

 soever man hath neede of. By this meanes all obeyes to 



Eccies. x. m0 ny, and as the Wiseman saith, to finde an invention that 

 one thing should be all. Men, guided or thrust forward by 

 a naturall instinct, choose the thing most durable and most 

 maniable, which is mettall, and amongst mettalls, gave 

 them the preheminence in this invention of mony, which of 

 their nature were most durable and incorruptible, which is 

 silver and golde. The which have bin in esteeme, not onlie 

 amongst the Hebrewes, Assirians, Greekes, Komans, and 

 other nations of Europe and Asia, but also amongst the 

 most retyped and barbarous nations of the world, as by the 

 Indians both East and West, where gold and silver is held 

 in great esteeme, imploying it for the workes of their 

 Temples and Pallaces, and for the attyring and ornament of 

 kings and great personages. And although we have found 

 some Barbarians, which know neither gold nor silver, as it 

 is reported of those of Florida, which tooke the bagges 

 and sackes wherein the silver was, the which they cast vpon 

 the ground, and left as a thing vnprofitable. And Plinie 

 likewise writes of the Babitacques, which abhorred gold, 

 and therefore they buried it, to the end that no man should 

 vse it. But at this day they finde few of these Floridians 

 or Babitacques, but great numbers of such as esteeme, 

 seeke, and make accoumpt of gold and silver, having no 

 neede to learne it of those who go from Europe. It is true, 

 there covetousnesse is not yet come to the height of ours, 

 neither have they so much worshipped gold and silver, 

 although they were Idolaters, as some blinde Christians, who 

 have committed many great out-rages for gold and silver. 

 Yet is it a thing very worthy of consideration, that the 

 wisedome of the Et email Lord would inrich those partes 



