13 
artist, that after he had rewarded him he banished him the 
City. But coming afterward again to the Prince, he threw 
away a glass on purpose, and brake it, and then took it up 
again and made it as whole as ever, hoping thereby to obtain 
his pardon ; but he missed his aim, being presently com- 
manded to be put to death. 
C£ Petronius tells us that there was a certain Smith that 
made Vessels of glass as strong and durable as those that 
were made of gold and silver , wherefore having made a vial 
of the same materials, very fine and curious, he presents it 
to Tiberius. The gift is commended, the artist admir’d, 
the devotion of the donor is kindly accepted. 
“ And now the Smith to turn the wonder of the spectators 
into astonishment and amazement and the better to recom- 
mend himself to the Prince’s favour, took a glass vial and 
dash’d it against the pavement with all his might, so that 
if it had been brass it must needs have been broken. Caesar 
did not so much wonder as fear at the fact. The Smith 
took up the vial, not broken, but bruis’d a little, as if it had 
been some metal in the form of glass, and afterward he 
mended it with a hammer, as if it had been some tinker 
cobling a piece of brass. When he had done this mira- 
culous piece of work the man was puffed up into such a 
conceit of himself that he presently fancy’d that he should be 
snatched into heaven, and should converse with no less than 
Jupiter himself, in regard he gain’d the smiles of the Empe- 
rour, and had deserv’d (as he imagined) the applause of all. 
But it fell out otherwise, for Ccesar enquiring whether any- 
body else knew the art beside him, and being answered No, 
commanded this fellow to be immediately beheaded, alledging 
that if this skill and ingenuity was rewarded and encourag’d 
it would bring down the price of gold and silver, and make 
those metals as vile as dirt.” 
In a footnote we read as to lessening the Value of Gold, 
“For the use of drinking , glasses hath banish’d gold and 
