chap. XVII.
55
silver were gradually transferred by commerce orby war to the several other kingdoms, a portion°f those metals was devoted by piety to the ser-vice of the deity and the saints. The protestantreligion, though it had raised its head, was thenin a weak condition, struggling not for the mas-tery but for existence; and its influence was notsuch as in any great degree to check the prevailingdisposition, to dedicate to the purposes of devotionsome portion of every new acquisition of wealth.When the goods of Cardinal Wolsey were confis-cated, his plate was large for the age, as has beenalready noticed; and most of the heads of thereligious houses in England, when their propertywas seized by the rapacious Henry VIII. , appearto have possessed some store of gold or silverutensils. It was not, however, in England thatthe largest portion of the metallic wealth waswithdrawn from circulation to adorn religion. InSpain itself; in Italy , then rich in general wealthacquired by commerce; in the Netherlands , whichbad been enriched by manufactures; and in theecclesiastical states of Germany , whose agriculturebad been flourishing, the decorations of the reli-gious houses were increased, the dress of the of-ficiating priests was covered with gold and silverembroidery, and the vessels for the holy rites
Wei 'e changed gradually from copper or pewter tosilver.
The extension of gold and silver utensils was