Of Carbunculo. chap. 26.
CArbunculus is a precious stone, and shineth as Fire, whose shining is not ouercome by night. It shineth in dark places, and it séemeth as it were a flame. And the kindes thereof be twelue, and the worthiest be those that shine and send out beames, as it were fire, as Isidore sayth, libro. 16. cap. 3. There it is sayde that Carbunculus is called Antrax in Greeke, and is gendered in Libia among the Troglodites. Among these twelue manner kindes of Carbuncles, those Antraciles be the best that haue the cou∣lour of fire, and bée compassed in a white veine, which haue this propertie: If it be throwen in fire, it is quenched as it were among dead coales, and burneth if water be throwen theron. Another kind of a Carbuncle is called Scandasirus: and hath that name of a place of Inde in the which it is found. In this maner of kind as it were within bright fires, bée séene as it were certeine droppes of gold. And this precious stone is of greate price without comparison in respect of other. Another manner of kind there is that is called Signes, & hath that name of bright burning of lampes. And this precious stone is called Remissus Carbunculus. And there is two manner of kindes: That one is with beames, as purple, & that other is of the coulour of red silke. And if this be heated in the Sunne with froting of fingers, it draweth to it selfe strawe and leaues of bookes. It is said, that it with standeth grauing. And if it be sometime graued and printed with waxe, it taketh with him a parte of the waxe, as it were with biting of a beast, as Isidore saith there. Among manner of kindes of Carbuncles, Balagius is counted, that is red and bright, as Dio∣scorides sayth: and also it is sayde, that this manner Carbuncle is founde in the veine of the Saphire: & therefore through néerenesse of the Saphire, Bala∣gius hath a manner mist, as it were spar∣keling about ye fire, that compasseth him without. And this is openly séene if men take héede thereto.
(The Carbuncle orient, is of the co∣lour of red Lead, and in the night spark∣ling like a coale.)