Hiftoneofthefnclies. lib. 4.. 251, 



wood; fo as by every one of thefe ladders they mount 

 and difcend together.They are ten ftades long a peece: 

 and at the end of one, beginnes another of the lime 

 length, every ladder beginning and ending at plat- 

 formes of wood , where there are feates to reft them, 

 like vnto galleries, for that there are many of thefe lad 

 ders to mount by one at the end of another. A man 

 carries ordinarily the weight of two Arrobes ,of met- 

 tall vpon his fhoulders 3 tied together in a cloth in ma- 

 ner of a skippe,and fo m ount they three and three. He 

 that goes before carries a candle tied to his thumbe: 

 for (as itis faid,)th ey have no light from heaven , and 

 fogo they vp the ladder holding it with both their 

 handes, to mount fb great a height, which commonly 

 isabovecihun^^ thing,and 



wliich^5reeds an amazement to rhinke vpon it,(b great 

 is thedefire offilver, that for the gaine thereof^men in. 

 dure any paincs. And truly it is not withouf rcafon 5 

 that Plime treating of this fubieft , exclaimesand faies 

 thus,f^ enter even into the bowdkcfthe earth >and go hm- 

 ting after ricbs$>even to ths place of the dammd. And after 

 in the fame boolce hefaieth : Thofethat feeke for met- 

 tails , performe*workes more then Giants , making 

 holes and caves in the depth of the earth , piercing 

 mountaines fo deepe by the light of candles , whereas 

 the day and the night are alike , and in many moneths 

 they fee no day. So as, often the walles of their mines 

 fal,fmotheringmany of them that labour therein. And 

 afterwardes he addes , They fierce the htrd rocke with 

 harmmrsofyrov , wayingi$oj>otiftdes^ and draw out the 

 mttu'l vpon their fiottlders, labour ing day and wight y o:ic 

 delivering his charge to another , and a!lin darkenes ^ owly 

 th& loft fees the light; with mdges and hammers they brukc.^ 



the 



