454. , The three and thirtieth Booke 
hollosving the ground as they dive in all ages from time to time,and making it void and emptierOh how 
innocent a lifeshow happie and bleffed,nay how pleafant alifemight we lead yf we coveted nothing elfe 
but that which is above the ground ; and in one word, if we Stood contented mith that which isreadie © 
at hand amd even about us.But now,not fufficed with the gold which we fetch wut of the mires we mu] 
 *Chryfocolla, jfeeke for the greene carth Borras alfo which lieth bard by yra,and give it anamere/pective unto gold, 
G 
iGold-foder. shereby it might be thought more deare and precious.F or whyrwe thought not the tuvention and fin- 
ding out of gold alone to be ynough for to infect and corrupt our hearts, unleffe we made great account 
alfo of that vile and bafe minerallswhich ts the very ordure of gold,and no better. Men upon acove= 
tows mind woald needs feeke for filver and not fatisfied rherewith,thought good withall to find out Mi- 
nerall vermillion, devifing meanes how to ufe that kind of red earth, Oh the mon|firows inventions of 
sans wit! What a number of waits have we foand to enhaunce the priceand valueof every thing | for 
painters of the one fide with their artificiall painting and enamelling : the gravers on the oiher fide 
with their curious cutting and chafing have made both gold and filver the dearer by their workeman- 
hip : fuch is the audacitie of msan,that be hath learned to counterfeit Nature, yea, and isfobold as to 
challenge her in her workes, And wherein is the art and cunning of thefe artificers fo much feene, as in 
the workman|fhip of {uch pourtraitures upon their gold and filver plate which might inchte & provoke 
men to all kind of vices : for in proce(se of time we tooke pleafure to have our drinking bols and goblets 
engraven allover with thofe works which reprefent luft and wantonne/ve :.and our delight was to drink 
out of fuch beaftly cups which might put usin mind of finfull and filthre letcherie : but afterwards thefe 
cups alfowere cait afide and laid away, men began to make but bafe account of them ; gold and filver 
was [0 plentifulland common,that we had too much thereof, What aid we then? For[octh wee digged 
5 
into the fame carth for Cafsidonie and Cryftall,and we loved to bave our cups and ather vefvels of {uch 
brittle minerals,and the more precious we held thems, as they were more fubjec? to breaking : fo as now 
adaies he is thought to have his houfe moft richly furnifhed,who hath his cupbourds bef) flored with this 
sicklifh ware: andthe moft glorious (hew that we can make of exce(fe and fuperfiuitie,is this, To have 
that which the least knocke may breake sand being once broken the peeces thereof might bee worth no- 
tining, Neither is this all, for flay we cannot herewe are not yet at cost ynough,unleffe we may drink out 
of a deale of prectou: flones. Our cups otherwife chafed engraved and embaffed in gold, muft be fet out 
with hemerailds befides:to maintaine drunkenne(fe,to make a quarrel to caroufe and quaffe, we muff 
holdin our hand and fet to our south the riches of India So as,te conclude, our golden plate comes be- 
hind precious floncs and pearles, and we count it but an acceffarie and dependant which msay be pared. 
Cc H A Pp, I.. fa 
eS: When mines of gold grew firfl mto requeft. The beginning of gold rings The quantitie 
of goldin treafure among our aunceftors in old time, Of theCavallerie and 
Gentrie of the Romances. The priviledge of wearing 
: golden RINGS. 
4 
H thatthe ufe of goldwere cleane gone : Would God it could pofliblie 
be quite abolifhed among men, fetting themas it doth iato fucha cur- 
writers: a thing thatthe beft men have alwai¢s reproched and railed at, 
and the onely means found out for the ruine and overthrow of mankind. 
>i WeiGocte What a bleffed world was that,and much more happier thanthis wher- 
thathereby are = in wee live at what time as in all che dealings betweene men, there was no 
meant certaine coine handled, but their whole trafficke {tood upon bartering & exchan- 
peeces of filver |: 2 : : qe ee 
Peine Rampea Bing Ware for ware,and one commodity for another; according as the practife was in the time of 
with the por- the Trojane war,as Homer (awriter of good credit) dooth teftifie. And in that mannerfas I rake 
traiture of a jr) began firft the commerce of negotiation among men for the maintenance of their focietie 
bull or ox, cal- bY 
led Didrachna, and living together: for fo hee reporteth, That fome bought that which they ftood in need of, 
& were worth for Boeufes hides ; others,for yron or fach commodities as they had gotten in bootie from their 
sro dramsor enemies, And yet] mutt needs fay, that even Homer himfelfe efteemed gold of great price, as 
eniers Koma, 4 
arora yaaa, May appeare by the eftimate that he made thereof in comparifon of brafle,when hee faith, That 
sranCuaime- Glauc ws exchaunged his golden armour, worth 100 *oxen,fox the[brafen |haneis of Diomedes, 
ofan, : 4 ; 
which 
fed and exceffive thirft after it,if I may ufe the words of moft renowned - 
H 
M. 
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mee edhe Foie dy pete Pages 
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