GOLD. 193 



Mexico from the Philippines, and China, but commonly it LTI IV - 

 is weake, and of base alloy. Gold is commonly found 

 inixt with silver or with copper, but that which is mixed 

 with silver is commonly of fewer carats then that which is 

 mixed with copper. If there be a fift parte of silver, Plinie S^a. 1 ? 

 saieth, it is then properly called Electrum, which hath the 

 property to shine more at the light of the fire then fine 

 gold or fine silver. That which is incorporate with copper, 

 is commonly of a higher value. They refine powdred golde 

 in basens, washing it in many waters until the sand falles 

 from it, and the golde as most heavie remaineth in the 

 bottome. They refine it likewise with quicke-silver and 

 strong water, for that the allume whereof they make this 

 water hath the virtue to separate gold from drosse, or from 

 other mettalls. After it is purified and molten, they make 

 brickes or small barres to carry it vnto Spain ; for being in 

 powder they cannot transport it from the Indies, for they 

 can neither custome it, marke it, nor take assay, until it be 

 molten. The foresaide Historiographer reporteth that SSiJo! 

 Spaine above all other Countries of the world did abound in 

 gold and silver, especially Galicia and Portugall, and above 

 all the Asturias, whence hee saieth they brought every 

 yeere twenty thousand pounds of golde, and that they 

 found not so great aboundance in any other place. The 

 which is confirmed in the booke of Maccabees, where it is iMaccab. 

 saide, that amongest the great riches of the Romans, they 

 had in their power the golde and silver of Spaine. At this 

 day the great treasure of Spaine comes from the Indies, 

 wherein the divine Providence hath appoynted one Eealme 

 to serve another, which doe im parte their wealth to partici 

 pate their government for the good the one of the other, 

 in communicating mutually the goodes and graces they doe 

 injoy ; wee can not value nor esteeme the quantitie of gold 

 that is brought from the Indies, but we may well say, it is 

 much more then that which Pliny reports was brought 



