=- 
The feven and thirtieth Booke © 
thofe infirmities, The forefaid coaft of Germanie is almoft fix hundred miles from Carnuntum G_ 
in Pannonia, and yet of latedaies mach frequented by merchants from all quarters, Certes, a 
Gentlemati of Rome difcovered thofe parts,by occafion that he wasfent thither by commiffion 
from Ialianus(who had the charge under Nero for furnifhing of the folemne plaies and fights of 
fword.fencers)to buy up good ftore of Amber. This gentleman(1 fay){urveied diligently all thofe 
coafts,and faw the manner of the whole traffick for that commoditic,yea,& brought intoRome 
fuch plentie thereof,that the greatnets and cordage (which for defence of the ourftanding and 
open gallerie within the Theatre were oppofed againft the wild beafts,there to be baited and to 
fight) were buttonéd and fer outwith Amber; the armour likewife,thebieresandotherfurniture = 
for buriall of thofe fencers which fhould happen there to beekilled, yea,andin one word, all the | 
appartell and provifion for one day to the fetting out of thofe paftimes and difports, food moft 
of Amber.The greatelt peece of Amber that he brought over,weighed thirteen pounds,More- 
over, it is held for certain, That it is to be found among thie Indians. 4rchelaus,who fometime 
reigned as king in Cappadocia, writeth, Thatfrom thenceitis brought rude and uncleane, with 
peeces of barke {ticking within it: but the way to fcouiteand pollifhit, is tofeeth it in the greafe, 
of a fow that fuckleth pigs. That it doth deftill and drop at the firft very clear and liquid, itis evi- 
dent by this argument, for that a man may {ee diverfe things within, to wit, Pifmires, Gnats, and 
Lizards,which no doubt were entangled and ftuicke within it when it was greeneand frefh, and fo 
remained enclofed within as it waxed harder. Mariykirids there be of Amber. The white is moft 
redolent and fmels beft : but neither chat, not yet thofe peeces which are coloured like wax,be of 
any price, The high coloured Amber,namely that whicliis of a deepe yellow encliningtored, J] 
is much more eftcemed,and the rather,if ic be cleare and tran{parent, provided alwaies thatthe 
glittering thereof be not tooardent,Commendable itis in Amber,and fheweth it to bee rich,if 
itreprefent fire in fome fort: but iemuftnotbe tootoofierie. But the excellent Amber is that 
whichis called Falernum, for the colour which it carrieth, refembling the wine Falernum: and 
the fame is cleare and tranfparent,with a gay Juftre that pleafeth and contenteth theeie very well. 
And yer foie there be, who delight more in that Amber which looketh with a mild yellow, like 
unto boiled and clarified honey.But this] am to give you to underftand, [hat there may be given 
unco Amber what tindture or colour aman will: but commonly they ufe thereto the {uet of Kids 
and the root of Orchanet; and no mervaile, fince that fome have devifed alfotoenrichitwith a _ 
purple dic. To come unto the properties that Amber hath, If it bee well rubbed and chaufed be- K 
tweene the fingers, the potentiall facultie that lieth within, js fet on work, and brought into actu- 
all operation,whereby you fhall tee it to draw chaffe ftrawes,dric leaves,yea,and thin rinds of the 
Linden or Tillet tree,after the fame fortas the loadftone draweth yron. Moreover,take the fha- 
vings {craped from Amber, and pucthem intolampe-oile, they will burne and maintaine light 
both longer and alfo more cleare than weekes or matches made of the very tire and beft of flax. 
As totiching the eftimation that our delicates and wantons make thereof ; Some there bee,who 
fot their pleafure will give more for a puppet or image madeof Ambertothelikenefleandpro- + 
portion of man or waman,be it never folittle,than forthe lively and Juftie bodie indeed of a tall 
man and valiantfouldior. But what fhould I fay to {uch ? Certainely they deferve to be wellcha- 
ftifed for their perverfe judgement,& one rebuke isnot fufficient.YercanI holdbetterwiththem J, 
who take pleafure in other things,andme thinks they have fome reafon thereof: for Corinth vef- 
fell, there is good caufe thaca man fhould fet his mind thereupon, in regard of the fingular tem- 
per of the braffe,wich fome proportion of filver and gold:in peeces of mettall engraven,enchas 
fed,and emboffed,the curious art and the wittie devife feene upon the worke,may well ravifh the 
fpirit of che buyer,and draw him onto give around price: Touching the cups made of Caflido- 
ni¢ and Cryftall,I have fhewed alreadie,wherin lieth their grace and what may enamourachap- | 
man and caufe him to bid well and offer frankely for them ; Faire pearlesand goodly unionesare ; 
cominended, for that our brave damesenrich their borders therewith, and fet out the attire of 
their heads :gems and precious ftones adorne and beautifie our fingers:in fumme,there is no fu- 
perfluitie that we have,but groundeditiseither upon fomecolourable ufethatwemay pretend, M 
or elfe upon fome gallant (hewthatit maketh ; Asfor this Amber, 1 feenothingintheworld to 
commend it; onely itis amind that folke have to take an affeétion to it, they know not wherfore, Fs 
even of a delicat anid foolifh wantonneffe.And in truth, Nero Domitins among many other foo- 
Jeries and gauds wherein he fhewed what a monfter he wasin his life, proceeded {oe farre,that " 
~ made 
