State of Tainting^ Sec, 37 



rendered fllll darker by their pride. It was 

 the cafe of all the arts ; none floiiriflied, 

 ^but what ferved to difplay their wealth, or 

 co'ntributed to their fecurity. They were 

 magnificent without luxury, and pompous 

 without elegance. Rich plate, even to * the 

 enamelling on gold, rich fluffs, and curious 

 armour were carried to excefs, while their 

 chairs were mere pedeflals, their cloaths 



* Billiop Wickham's croxler at Oxford is an inftance 

 how well the pomp of prelacy was ferved by ingenious 

 artifts. It is certain that in the reigns of the two firfl: 

 Edwards there were Greek enamcUers in England, who 

 both prafticed and taught the art. In Dugdale's War- 

 wickfliire, p. 397, 403. are mentioned enamelled cups 

 very near that period ; and Ibme ancient pieces are Hill 

 extant. The beautifuU cup of gold, enamelled with 

 figures in the habits of the time, given by king John to 

 the corporation of Lynn in Norfolk, and ftill preferved 

 there, gives a very favorable idea of the tafte and arti- 

 fans of an age, a little antecedent to that I am fpeak- 

 ing of. King Alfred's jewel, found at Athelncy in 

 Somerfetfhire, and of which there is a print in Cam- 

 den's Britannia, is of much more ancient date, but of 

 workmanfhip far more rude. I call it a jewel, bccaufc 

 it feems to have been ufed as jewels were afterwards, 

 appendent to ribbands. By the cut, I fliould take -it for 

 engraven gold j Camden, which is extraordinary, does 

 not defcribe the materials, but calls it a pidurc, which 

 would make one think it was enamelled, 



C 3 were 



