dayes of ours, we sée him folde for a most base, or rather a
vile price: albeit in elder ages he was of dearer value then
euer was any other beast in the world.
Marcus Varro rehearseth, that in his time an Asse was
solde for seuentie Sestertiaes: which according to Budeus
and other Computists, amounteth to the summe of a thou∣sand
and fiue hundred crownes. Moreouer he addeth here∣to,
that he sawe foure Asies rated at foure hundred Sester∣tiaes.
Plinie testifieth, that an Asse was sold for a very great
number of Crownes, albeit the certaine summe I doo not
now readily remember, but any one may reade it truly set
downe, in the seuenth booke of his naturall historie.
Lampridius telleth vs, that Heliogabalus the Empe∣rour,
when he would bestow a magnificent gift on the peo∣ple
of Rome, vsed to giue them certaine Asses: meaning,
that a speciall and rare estimation consisted therein, be∣cause
indéed it was the gift of an Emperour.
Marcus Polus, in the first booke of his voyage to the
great Cane of Cathaia, the eleuenth Chapter, where he
speaketh of the Persian kingdome, saith; In this king∣dome
are there likewise Asses, the very fairest and grea∣test
that are in the world, which are wont to be sooner sold
then horses. And the reason is, because they eate lesse, and
beare greater burthens: beside, they dispatch more myles
in a day, then the Horses or Mules are able to do, nor can
they endure so much labour as the Asses will.
Wherefore the Merchants of those parts going from
one Prouince to another, passe through great desarts and
sandie places, where growes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hearbes or grasse at all:
and by reason of the great distance of wells and swéete wa∣ter,
they make their dayes iourney the longer, wherefore
the more gladly they vse these Asses, because they are swif∣ter,
runne better, and serues them with very small expen∣ces.
They vse Camells like wise, who beare great lading,