290 MINING IN THE C HAP. X. 



of Russia, where mines of it had been wrought 

 in the times of high antiquity, though they had 

 for some centuries ceased to yield any produce 

 till they were revived again under Peter the 

 Great, in 1699. Notwithstanding the distance, 

 the compendious value of gold may have made 

 it transferable to Denmark, with which country 

 all others are said to have had a great trade. 

 Helmoldus, in his Chronicon Sclavicum, lib. Hi. 

 says, " The people of Denmark abounded in all 

 riches, the wealthy being clothed not only in 

 various sorts of scarlet, but also in purple and 

 fine linen (nunc non solum scarlatica vario 

 grisio, sed purpurse et bysso induuntur), occa- 

 sioned," as he adds, " by the fishery of herrings 

 which is carried on on the shores of Schonen ; 

 whither traders of all nations resorting, bring 

 with them gold, silver, and other commodities 

 for purchasing the fish." 

 Great Bri. These islands do not appear at any time to 



tain and 



Ireland, have contributed very largely to the general 

 stock of the precious metals of the world. Yet 

 the report of the riches of the mines was made 

 use of by the Roman commanders to stimulate 

 their troops to battle. Agricola, in his ora- 

 tion, before the battle of the Grampian moun- 

 tains, reminded his soldiers of the riches which 

 were to reward their valour. " Fert Britania 

 aurum et argentum et alia metalla pretium vic- 

 toriae." 



