Fenestella saith, that in his time (and he died the last yere of the reigne of Tyberius Caesar the Em∣peror) [unspec G] men began at Rome to bestow siluer vpon their cupboords and side liuery tables: & euen then also (by his saying) Tortoise worke came in request and was much vsed. Howbeit, somwhat before his daies, he writeth, that those cupboords were of wood, round and solid of one entire piece, and not much bigger than the tables whereupon men eat their meat: but when hee was a young boy, they were foure square, and of many peeces joyned together; and then they began to be couered ouer with thin boords or painels, either of maple or citron wood. Soone after, they fel to lay siluer plates vpon them at the corners only, and along the joints where the planks were set together: but by the time that he was come to be a well grown yong man, they were at their drinking mazers or round-bottome dishes like balances, whereupon they were called Staterae: also at those platters, which in old time were named Magides. Howbeit, men rested not conten∣ted [unspec H] to haue furnished themselues with plenty of siluer in their plaine plate and about their hou∣ses, vnlesse the curious workmanship also thereof were more costly than the mettall and matter it selfe. But lest this superfluity should be imputed vnto vs in these daies, be it knowne, that such curiosity was crept into the world long ago: for C. Gracchus had in the furniture of his house, certain vessels of siluer called Dolphins, which cost him at the gold-smiths hand 5000 sesterces a pound: an exceeding price for the fashion and workmanship, considering L. Crassus the Orator had two pots artificially engrauen by the hand of Mentor that cunning workman, the fashion and making whereof cost 100 sesterces a pound: and yet he confessed and protested, that hee was abashed to vse them, and durst not for shame bring them abroad. Moreouer, knowne it is, that he had in his cabinet pieces of plate, which to be bought and sold were worth euery pound 6000 se∣sterces. [unspec I] Briefly, the conquest and reducing of Asia vnder our Empire, was the first occasion that brought into Italy such wastfull excesse: for L. Scipio shewed in triumph of siluer plate, intailed and ingrauen, 400 thousand and 50 pounds weight, besides vessells of gold amounting to the weight of 100 thousand pound: and this was in the yere from the foundation of Rome, 565. But the free donation and bestowing of the said Asia vpon the city of Rome (which fell vnto the Romans by the death of K. Attalus, who in his last will and testament ordained them his full heires) did most hurt vnto our state: and this succession which our Antients injoyed by vertue of that gift, did greater dammage to the integrity of manners, and brought more corruption in∣to our city, than the former victory atchieued by force of armes: for from that time forward men grew to be shamelesse, and without regard of modesty euery mans fingers itched to be tem∣pering [unspec K] with the treasure of K. Attalus, and to buy the same at any price, sold in open port-sale to them that would giue most: which hapned in the 626 yere after the foundation of the city: for in 56 yeres (which was the meane space between the foresaid subduing of Asia and this feoffe∣ment of K. Attalus) our city was well nuzzled and trained not onely in the admiration of such pu∣issant forrein kings and princes, but also in some affectionat loue to their wealth and riches. A∣bout which middle time between, & namely in the 608 yere, reckoning from the first founding of Rome, when Achaia was likewise brought vnder our obedience and subjection, this victory also was a mighty means to bring vs also out of al good order, and to set vs forward to imbrace superfluities and to ouerthrow al honesty and vertue: for now were brought in the stately statues and proud painted tables, that we should want no inticing delights, but that all the pride and [unspec L] pleasure of the world might be found at Rome. Finally, the ruin of Carthage, was the rising of superfluitie with vs, as if the Destinies had so appointed, that at one & the same time we should haue both wil to imbrace vice, & also power & liberty withal to perform sin: so that in regard of our times and the enormities thereof, we may justifie, yea and honor any of our ancestors who seemed before to offend in this behalfe: for, as it is said, C. Marius after he had defeited the Cim∣brians, contented himselfe to drink in a woodden godet and tankerd, after the example of father Bacchus: C. Marius I say, who of a good husbandman in the country about Arpinum, & of a com∣mon and ordinary souldier, came to be a braue captaine and commander in the field.