128 APPLICATION OF 



CHAP. XXI. 



heroism of Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden was 

 displayed, to the tremendous annoyance of the 

 country whose liberties he secured. Italy, though 

 the commerce of its trading cities was lost, was at 

 least tranquil. The beginning and the end of the 

 century were far from a state of insecurity ; and 

 it seems natural to conclude that if a great part of 

 the gold and silver which was collected and had 

 been appropriated to luxury in the first forty years 

 had been, during the middle of the century, con- 

 verted into coin, much of it would return again to 

 commodities in the succeeding years of tranquillity. 

 The decorations of the catholic churches and 

 monasteries were still increasing. The dresses of 

 civil and military men were decorated with a pro- 

 fusion of gold and silver lace and embroidery. 

 The residences of kings, princes, nobles, magi- 

 strates, and rich citizens were furnished with 

 looking-glasses and pictures in silver frames ; and 

 even tables are still to be seen in many houses of 

 that age, if not of massy silver, yet cased with a 

 covering of that metal. The precious metals did 

 not then indeed descend to ranks so low as those 

 which now use them ; but even the traders, clergy, 

 lawyers, and others of the middle ranks began to 

 collect a few spoons of silver, and a few other 

 articles of domestic furniture of that metal. Gold 

 rings were very much increased, and ear-rings, as 

 well as necklaces, of the same metal, were a com- 

 mon ornament with all of the middle and many 



