190 GOLD. 



LIB. iv. suc ],j mon y ag they call bullion, nor other kindes of alloy, 

 which they use in Italie, and in other Provinces of Europe. 

 Although in some Hands of the Indies, as San Domingo 

 and Puerto Kico, they vse coine of leather which is square, 

 the which are currant onely in those Hands, having little 

 silver or gold. I say little, although there be much, for 

 that no man digges it and refines it. Bat for that the 

 riches of the Indies, and their manner to labour in the 

 mines, consistes of golde, silver, and quicke-silver. I will 

 speake something of these three mettalls, leaving the rest 

 for this time. 



CHAP. iv. Of gold wldcli tlicij dig and refine at tlie Indies, 



\ Gold amongst other mettals hath bin always held the 

 most excellent, and with reason, being the most durable 

 and incorruptible of all others ; for fire which consumes 

 and diminishes the rest amends it, and brings it to perfec 

 tion. Golde which hath often passed through the fire, keepes 

 his colour, and is most fine and pure, which properly is 

 called, as Plinie saith, Obriso, whereof the Scripture makes 

 so often mention, and vse, which consumeth all other 

 piin., lib. mettalles, as the same Plinie saith, dooth not any thino- 



xxxiii, c. 3. * 



waste golde, nor yet hurte it, neither is it eaten nor groweth 



olde.jAnd although his substance and body be firine and 



solide, yet dooth it yielde and bow woonderfully ; the 



beaters and drawers of golde knowe well the force it hath 



to bee drawen out without breaking. All which things 



well considered, with other excellent properties, will give 



and xxi 1 tnen of iudgment to vnderstand, wherefore the holie Scrip- 



cant. in. ture dooth compare Charitie to golde. To conclude, there 



Psaim ixvii. is little neede to relate the excellencies thereof to make it 



3 Re&amp;lt;?. vi. more desirable. For the greatest excellencie it hath, is to 



be knowne, as it is, amongst men, for the supreaine power 



