130

beere, than anie of those mettals or stone, wherein before we haue beenaccustomed to drinke; but such is the nature of man generallie, that itmost coueteth things difficult to be atteined; and such is the estimacionof this stuffe, that manie become rich onlie with their new trade vntoMurana, (a towne neere to Venice , situat on the Adriatike Sea), fromwhence the uerie best are daillie to be had, as such as for beautie doowell neere match the christall or the ancient Murrhina vasa, wherof nowno man hath knowledge.* And as this is seene in the gentilitie, so inthe wealthie communalitie the like desire of glasse is not neglected,wherby the gaine gotten, their purchase is yet much more encreased tothe benefit of the merchant. The poorest, also, will have glasse if theymay; but, sith the Venecian is somewhat too deere for them, they contentthemselves with such as are made at home of feme and burned stone;but, in fine, all go one waie, that is, to shards, at the last, so that ourgreat expense in glasses, (beside that they breed much strife toward suchas haue the charge of them), are worst of all bestowed, in my opinion,because their peeces do turne vnto no profit.” The Venetian glasses had en-graved on them figures, festoons, and other ornaments, cut with a diamond.

It was formerly believed that Venice glass, from its purity, wouldbreak if poison were put into it. “ As glasse by nature holdeth nopoyson, so a faithful counsellour holdeth no treason.”f

Twenty-four drinking-glasses from Jeromy, and two drinking-glassesfrom Jeromy Bassano, were new-years’ gifts to Queen Elizabeth.

* Scaliger and Cardan agree in supposing what the Romans called vasa murrhina —firstseen at Rome in Pompey ’s triumph—to be the porcelain of our times. Others are of opinionthat those vessels were made of precious stones, of a whitish colour, curiously veined andvariegated, found in some parts of Parthia.

t Ferrex and Porrex, Domme Show, Act II.