The y^aturatt and Moratt 



much that came vnregiftred . This may fufficc touch 

 ing the golde of the todies, and now we will fpeake of 

 filver. 



Of the Silver At the Indies. CHAP. 5. 



WE rcadethefewordesintheBookeof/0, SiL 

 ucrluth certain beginnings and roots in hit veins. 

 And golde hath a fetled place y where it wgeuders andthic* 

 kens, yron with digging is drarvxe out of the earth, and Jlonc 

 molten with hcate i* turned into confer : Hereby he wife 

 ly fliewes in few words, the nature of filvcr, golde, y- 

 ron & copper. We have fpoken fomethingcf the pla 

 ces where golde is ingendered and congealed, which 

 is either of the forefaide ftones in the dcapth of rnoun- 

 taines, and in the bowells of the earth : or in thcfand 

 of rivers, and where brookes haverunne, orelfeon 

 the toppes of mountaines , the which golde in powl- 

 der runnes downe with the water. And this is the com 

 mon opinion they holde at the Indies . Wherevppon 

 manyofthecommonfbrt believe that the deluge(ha- 

 ving drowned all, even to the higheft hills) hath beenc 

 the caufe thatat this day they finde this golde in the ri 

 vers, and in places fo farre off . Now we wil (hew how 

 they difcover the mines of filver, their veines 3 rootes, 

 and beginnings whereof /<? fpeakes. 



And firft I will fay,that the reafbn why they give fil- 

 yer the fecond place among all other mettalles^is, for 

 that it approacheth neerer to golde then any other,be- 

 ing more durable and lefle indomaged by the fire,and 

 more maniable then any other : yea it pafleth golde in 

 brightnefle,beauty and found, the which is cleere,and 

 agreeable 5 for the colour is more conformable and re- 



fembling 



