THE Emeraud hath beene long time holden for the most precious stone of all other, as well because of the beautie thereof, as by reason of the many great properties which are naturall thereunto: in such sort as the price thereof did exceede that of the Diamond. But as the rarenesse of some things make them deere, so doeth the abundance of other things make them to bee lesse esteemed: As it came to * passe, that the great quantitie of Emerauds, which not long since were found in the new found Countries of America, hath much abated their price, but not their beautie nor ver∣tue, which euer remaineth, and is most excellent in those which are brought out of the East Indies: for they of Peru are of much lesse worth. The greene Emeraud then is the fairest of all precious stones, but yet the most brittle. For it sometimes happeneth to breake euen in the act of coiture. Being drunke, it doth much resist poysons, by the nature of the soft∣nes thereof: by reason that the abundance of the well concocted humour which is therein, doth refresh the spirit by the perspicuitie thereof: and so it is profitable to the nature of man, and resisteth the force of venime: and for so much as it is a stone it retaineth the ver∣tue thereof stable. For wee may note, that all things which are pleasant to the sight, are pro∣fitable for man; whether it be in precious stones, or gold or siluer, silke or purple: but aboue all, the Emeraud is faire, if that the art therein deceiue not the sight, for as well this stone, as others are oftentimes counterfeited and falsified in diuers manners. Moreouer, as the Emeraud is very soft, so is it very subiect to all casuall chaunces: for it is corrupted by fire and heate, and by the touch of other precious stones which are harder, chiefly of the Diamond, yea by euery thing that can giue a blow. That which shineth most, and almost like the sunne, and which refresheth the sight, as forrests and greene medowes doe, is most to be esteemed. But I beleeue there was neuer any mention made of a more rich basin then that of an Emeraud, being on of the greatest treasures of Italie, which is in the ci∣ty of Genoa, for it is reported that it was pawned in the necessitie of the commonwealth for foureteene hundred thousand ducats: thinke then but how much this Emeraud must be woorth. But that which is also said, that this is the same platter, wherein our Sauiour Iesus Christ did eate the Paschal Lambe in his last Supper, maketh me to doubt much, whether there be any people that vpon one onely stone would lend so great a summe of money.

The red Carbuncle called the Ruby, is another precious stone, which is very beautifull, * and hath the propertie to quicken the spirit, and make it ioyfull. Some authors haue made mention of three kinds of carbuncles, saying that there be some which shine in the darke: others also that shine, if water bee powred thereupon, and the third kinde is of those, whose Page  850 cleerenesse is onely seene in another light, to wit by day time, or by candle light. Theophra∣stus saith, that there are some of the colour of water, some of the colour of the Amethyst, o∣thers of the colour of the Iacinth, and some of a red colour, which are called Rubies. In the Indies these stones are plentifully found: and Lewes de Barthema reporteth, that the king of Pegum, which is a citie in India, hath carbuncles called in Greeke Pyropi, of such magnitude and splendor, that if any one should see the king in a darke place, with these stones vpon him, he would seeme to shine like a cleere light, euen as if he were fired by the beames of the sunne.

The Saphir doeth approch neere to the excellency of the diamond, in great hardnes: in fairenesse of colour, being of a skie colour; and in beawtie: and is very good for the sight if * it bee not sophisticated. It refresheth a man, and being drunke is profitable for melancho∣ly people, and for blowes and bitings of scorpions and serpents. Albertus Magnus affir∣meth that he had twise found by experience, that the saphir would heale an anthrax, which is a kinde of bile. Which may be beleeued considering the medicinable vertue which is in this stone. For as thirst commeth through the biting of a certaine snake called Dipsas, and as the hand is benummed by the touching of a little fish, called Remora, so the venemous fire of the Anthrax may be extinguished by the long touching of the saphir: but it must needes be so big as it may couer the head of the bile.

Hauing already made mention of the Iacinth, and of the amethist, to which there are great properties assigned, I will now touch some principall points in them. And first wee are to note, that the Iacinth is commonly of a yealow colour; but the best is redde, yet it is not so big as the other: being put into the fire it becommeth more obscure, and redder: and being out of the fire it shineth greatly. Also this kind of Iacinth doeth differ but little from the carbuncle in estimation of price. They that are of the colour of water are counted for base, and of no force. But Serapio hath writtē, that the good iacinth keepeth men that hea∣reth it out of the perill of thunder: and defendeth them from the plague, and prouoketh sleepe. Albertus Magnus likewise saith, that the iacinth doth augment riches, and authority, and that it doth greatly comfort the heart, and cause much ioy. Now because these things might seeme to be paradoxes to many, wee will heare make a little discourse, following the precept of the philosopher, who thinketh it sufficient in hard and intricate questions, if we can well auoide and shunne absurd doctrine. For by this meanes many shall bee induced * to esteeme more then they doe of precious stones, and to beleeue the properties, which are attributed vnto them, if not as true, at least wise yet as possible. I say then that the ia∣cinth is of cold temperature: for that is almost common to all precious stones, and causeth them, especially the diamond, not to receiue fire very easily: for so much as the coldnesse doeth greatly helpe the soliditie and subtiltie thereof, which maketh that stones doe resist fire. Besides the Iacinth is good for the breath of man, either because of the likenesse of substance, or by cleerenes, or through some other mysticall cause, whereby repairing and confirming the breath and the spirit, it maketh man ioyfull: for sadnes is nothing else but the contraction of breath, and shortnesse and difficultie of the same. By such reason then, as some haue saide that they haue experimented, that if any thing doe comfort the heart, it doth likewise resist the plague, which doth chiefly come through feare and imbecillitie of heart (as experience sheweth vs in regard of children, women, and fearefull people, who are sooner taken with this disease, then stout and hardy men:) the Iacinth abolishing these two things (feare and faintnes of heart) it may, I say helpe greatly to resist the plague. So al∣so making the heart and the spirit ioyfull, and by that meanes more capable of good coun∣sell, it shall be the easier for man to encrease in authoritie, and to augment in riches. For be∣ing defended from thunder, although that the Iacinth be (as we haue said) of cold temper, which causeth that it will not easily receiue endomagement by fire: yet do not we attribute to it therefore, that it will preserue a man from being hurt. But wee may rather say, that the spirit of his heart being reioyced by the vertue of this stone, may haue the grace to direct him into some place where he may be cleane out of the perill of thunder. Concerning the Amethyst, it is also a precious stone and orientall, although it bee but of a low price in re∣gard of others: in it is seene the colour and grace of wine, bearing a purple lustre: and it is * thought to hinder drunkennesse if it bee tyed to the nauell; and to stir vp dreames. Now (ASER) let vs heare you pursue our discourse of stones.