Hi florie of the Indies lib 4. 207 



The which have bin in efteeme, not onlieamongft the 

 Hebnwes AfirianStGreeksSyR&mms^ndQthz? nations of 

 Europe and A(ia^>ut alfo 4 amongft the moft retyred and 

 barbarous nations of the world,as by the Indians both 

 ; Eaft and Weft ,- where gokTand filvef is iieldth'gfe^: 

 efteeme, imploying it for the workes of their Temples 

 and Pailaces,& for theattyring and ornament of kings 

 and great pcrfonases. And although \vehavefound 



C? * . ? j^^ M a*r J ^"^~nai B I -^ T f ' "~~ ^^ 9 



fo&c t Bart?aria%s ^ \yhjch know ncithergoldjjgr^IvciC 

 as it is reported ofthofeof^^^,, which tookcTtTie 

 bagges and fackes" wherein tfiefilver was , the which 

 they caft vpon the ground, and left as a thing vnprofi- 

 table , And Plmie likewife writes 



which abhorred gold, and therefore they buried it, to 

 the end that no man fliould vfeit. But at this day they 

 finde few of th efe Floridiens or Babittcyus , bu t great 

 mirnbcrs of fuch a?efteeme,reeke ? and make accoumpt 

 of gold and fflver,havingho 'rife?3etofeamcit of theft 

 that go from Europe. It is true., their comoufngflcjs 

 not yet come to the heigh tofoun, neltherT5v?tK^ 

 fomuch worfliippedgold and filver, 'although they 

 were Idolaters , as feme blirid^ Chnfjians , who have 

 committed uianf great duf-rages for gold and filver. 

 Yet is it a thing very worthy confideration , that the 

 wifedome of the Etcrnall Lord, would inrich thofe 

 panes of the world,which are rnofc remote 5 and which 

 are peopled with men oflcfle civilitie andgoverne- 

 ment, planting there great ftore of mines, and in the 

 greateft aboundance that ever were , thereby to ;nvite 

 mcr^to farch out thofc lands^ and to pofleflTc them, to 

 the end that by this occafion, they mightplant religi 

 on 5 and the worfhip of the true God , amongft thofe 

 that knew it not, fulfilling therein the prophecie of 



P Ifiie, 



