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~The three and thirtieth Booke 
Feneftella{aith, that in his time (and hee diedthe [aft yeere of the reigne of Tyberins Cafarthic 1G 
Emperor) men began at Rome to beftow filver upon their cupbords and fide liverie tablesyand 
even then alfo (by his faying) rortoife: worke came in requeftand was much ufed, Howbeit fom- 
what before his daies, he writeth, that hofe cupbourds were of wood,round and folid of onéen- 
tite peece, and not much biggerthan the tables whereupon men eat their mear:butwhen'hee 
was a young boy, they werefoure {quare, and of many peeces joyned togither; andthenthey = 
began to be covered over with thin bourds or painels, either of maple or citron wood, Soone 
after they fell ro lay filver plates upon them at the corners onely,and along'the joynts where the 
planks were fectogither: but by the time that hee was come to bee a well growne young man, 
they were at their drinking mazers or round-bottome difhes like balances, whereupon'they were 
called Staterze: alfo at thofe platters,which in old time were named Magides. Howbeitmenre- py 
{ted not contented to have furnifhed themfelves with plentie of filverin their plaine plate and | 
i about their houfes,unlefle the curious workmanthip alfo thereof were more coltly than'the mer- 
foes tal! and matter it felfe. But leaft this fuperfluitie (hould bee imputed unto us in thete daies, be it 
knowne, that fuch curiofitie was crept into the world long agoe : for C.Gracchus had in the furs 
niture of his houfe, certaine veffels of filver called Dolphins, which cofthim at the goldfmiths 
hand 5000 fefterces apound :an exceeding price for the fafhion & workemanthip, confidering 
L Crass the orator had two potsartificially engraven by the hand of Mestor that cunning work- 
| . @ 
—* Centwn fefter- man,the fafhion and making whereof coft* 100 fefterces a pound: and yet heconfefled and pro- 
| ee ee. tefted,that he was abafhed to ufe them, and durft not for {hame bring them abroad. Moreover, 
- formeranda- knowne itis,thathe had in his cabinet peeces of plate which to be bought and fold were woorth 
bout 15 oF 15 everie pound 6000 felterces.But in breefe,the conqueft and reducing of Afia under our Empire, 
fh. of our mo- ‘ a ie Pi, “ii 
ny. Ifyou read WaSthe firft occafion that broughtinto Italy fuch waftfull excefletor £ Scipio {hewedin triumph 
_ SéBerniin cen- of filver plate,entailed & engraven, 4oothoufand and 50 pounds weight, befides veflels of gold 
Pifesis mathe amounting to the weight of roo thoufand pound:And this was in the yeere from the foundation 
neutergender, Of Rome, 565. Butthe free * donation and beftowing of thefaid Afia upon the cittie of Rome, - 
tie thoulé (which fell unto the Romans by the death of king 4étalizs, who in his la{t will and teftament or- 
See? dained them his full-heires) did moft hurt unto ourftate:and this facceffion which our aunci- a 
tou ‘cat enjoyed by vertue of thar gitt, did greater damage to the integritie of manners, & broughe - 
Donna neg,- More corruption into our citie,than the former victory atchieved by force of arms: forfrom that . 
ding to Ludeus time forward men grew to bee fhameleffe, and without regard of modeftie everie mans fingers 
isched to be tempering with the treafure of K. 4ttalus, andto buy the fame at any price, fold in 
open portfale to them that would give moft: which hapned in the 626 yeer after the foundation 
of the citie: for in 56 yeers (which was the meane fpace betweene the forefaid fubduing of Afia 
and this feoffment of K. 4/ta/ws)our citie was well nuzzled and trained not only in theadmira- 
tion of fach puiffant forrein kings & princes, but alfo in fome affeCtionat Jove to their wealth and 
riches. About which middle time between,and namely in the 608 yeere reckoning from the firft 
founding of Rome,when Achaia was likewile brought under our obedience and {ubjection, this 
vitorie alfo was a mightie meansto bring us alfo out ofall good order, and to fetus forward to 
embrace {uperfluities and to overthrow all honeftie & vertuie: for now were broughtinthe ftate- 
ly flatues & proud painted tables,that we fhould wantno enticing delights, butthatall thepride L 
and pleafure of the world might be found at Rome. Finally,the ruin of C arthagé,was the rifing of 
{uperfluitie with us,as ifthe Deftinies had fo appointed, thatat one and the fame time we thould 
have both will toembrace vice,and alfo power & hibertie withall to perform fin:fo that in regard 
of our tines andthe enormities therof,we may jultifie,yea and honour any of our anceftorswho 
feemed before to offend in this behalfe.For,as itis {aid,C. Maris after he had defeited the Cym- 
brians,contented himfelfe to drinke ina wooden godet andtankerd, after the example of father 
Bacchus : C, Marius Vay, who ofa good husbandman in the countrey about Arpioum, and of a» 
7 
common and ordinariefoldior,came to bea bravecaptaine and commaunder inthefield, 
te me Crap. Xr ae | 
e& of flaties and images of filver : of the workmanfbip in graving filver, 
and of other things pertinent thereto. Ee ‘ 
. Mi commonly havethought, that the firft ftatues of filverfeene in Rome, were made in” 
the honour of the Emperour 4ugufivs, by way of courting and flatterie to win his grace 
; ; | and 
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