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112
The Voyage of Italy.
Part I.

an ordinary Walnut; a world of Diamonds and other lesser Stones, but all of so great value, that this Cabinet, with that which is in it, is valued to be worth five hundred thousand Crowns. Lastly, I saw here the great round Table made of inlaid precious stones polished neatly; a Table able to make the most hungry Stomach forget its grumbling, to feed its eyes upon the unroasted Birds, which together with curious flowers compose this admirable Table; Pearls, Rubies, Sapphires, Cornelians, Emeraulds, Lapis Lazuli, &c. are employed here artificially to the making of these Birds and Flowers. You'll conceive better of this Table, when I shall tell you, that it's worth a hundred thousand Crowns, and that it was fifteen years in making, and yet thirty Men wrought at it daily. In the midst of it is the great Ball of the Arms of the Duke of Florence in precious stones.

The 5th Cabinet.

The 5th. Cabinet standing at the further end of this Gallery, containeth the Altar and Tabernacle, which are to be set up in the new Chapel of S. Laurence described above. Having viewed them six several times exactly (as I did) you will perchance be of my opinion, that this Tabernacle made for to keep the Blessed Sacrament in, is able, or, nothing is able, to make amends in some sort, to our Saviour for his coarse Lodging in Bethlehem, when he was born in a Stable and lodged in a Manger. The Crystal Pillars curiously wrought, and being a full Ell long, with their Capitelli of pure Gold; the four like Pictures of precious Stones which were five years each of them in cutting: the Variety of otherprecious