VVorkes of armorie deuyded into three bookes, entituled, the concordes of armorie, the armorie of honor, and of coates and creastes, collected and gathered by Iohn Bossewell Gentleman.

De praedictis 9. gemmis.

TOpazion,* 1.1 ex virenti genere est omni{que} colore resplendens, in uenta primum in Arabiae insula, in qua Trogloditae praedones fame et tempestate fessi, cum herbarum radices effoderent, erue∣runt. Quae insula postea quaesita, nebulis cooperta, tandem a na∣uigantibus inuenta est. Sed ob hoc locus & gemma nomen ex causa accepit. Nam Topazin Trogloditarum lingua, significati∣onem habet quaerendi. Est autem amplissima gemmarum: eadem sola nobiliū limam sentit. Plinie saieth, that this Gemme is of grassie colour, although that in Germanie, it is founde like to Golde: and otherwhere, of that bygnes and quan∣titie, that Philadelphus is saide to haue framed thereof and made an Image in length of foure Cubites.

MArgarita prima candidarum gemmarum, quam inde Mar∣garitam aiunt vocatam, {quod} in conculis marinis hoc genus lapidum inueniatur. Inest enim in carne Cochleae calculus natus, sicut in carne Ostrcae praeciosissima Margarita reperiri dicatur: vel sicut in cerebro piscis lapillus. Gignitur autem de celesti rore, quem certo anni tempore concule hauriunt. Ex quibus Mar∣garitis quaedam Vniones vocātur,* 1.2 aptum nomen habentes, {quod} tan∣tum vnus, nunquam duo vel plures simul reperiantur. Meliores autem candidae Margaritae, quàm que flauescunt. Illas enim aut

iu••entus, aut matutini roris conceptio reddit candidas: has se∣nectus, vel vespertinus aer gignit obscuras. Pearles, were the onely meate, wherewith the Iewes liued long, hauinge nothing els to eate, when the Citie of Ierusalem was be∣sieged by Tytus, as witnesseth Iosephus.

OMnium ardentium gemmarum principatum Carbunculus habet. Carbunculus autem dictus {quod} sit ignitus vt carbo, cuius fulgor nec nocte vincitur.* 1.3 Lucet enim in tenebris adeo vt flammas ad oculos vibret. Genera eius duodecim, sed prestantio∣res qui videntur fulgere, & velut ignem effundere. Carbuncu∣lus autem Grece Anthrax dicitur. The Carbuncle, so war∣reth with the eye sight, that it sheweth manyfolde reflex∣ions. It is founde in Libia.

* 1.4THe Saphire, is a Gemme skye coloured or Blewe, like to the Skye in the most faire wether. Amongest all the kyndes of Gemmes, it is one of the noblest and most royall, and therefore mete to be worne onely vpon Kynges and Princes fyngers. Nothing in the worlde doth more re∣create or delight the eyes then the Smaradge, & Saphire doe. It is meruelous effectuous agaynste all venyme. Wher∣fore, yf thou put a Spider into a Boxe, it beyng shutt, & vpō the mouth therof thou layest the true Saphire, and do kepe the Spider within the same but a very short tyme, the Spi∣der beyng vanquished and ouercome by the vertue there∣of, dyeth sodenly. Isidore saieth, {quod} Saphirus caeruleus est cum purpura, habens pulueres aureos sparsos: optimus apud Me∣dos, nusquam tamen perlucidus. It is also rekned by Isidore, to be one of the kyndes of the Amathistes. Albertus Mag∣nus sayeth, that he proued it twise, that with the onely touchyng of this precious Stone, the partie so diseased, hath bene ridde of the greuous sore the Carboncle. The Saphire for his soueraignetie, is called of the Lapidarie, the Gemme of Gemmes. In olde tyme it was consecrated onely to Apollo.

ADamus Indicus,* 1.5 lapis paruus & indecorus, ferrugineum ha∣bens colorem & splendorem Crystalli. Nunquam autem vl∣tra magnitudinem nuclei avellanae repertus. Hic nulli cedit materie: nec ferro quidem nec igni, nec vnquam incalescit: vnde et nomen Greca interpretatione, ind••mita vis accepit. Sed dum sit inuictus ferri, ignis{que} centemptor, Hircino rumpitur sanguine, recenti & calido maceratur, sic{que} multis ictibus ferri perfringi∣tur. Cuius fragmentis, sculptores, pro gemmis insigniendis per∣forandis{que} vtuntur. Hic autem dissidet cum Magnete lapide, in∣tantum vt iuxta positus ferrum, non patiatur abstrahi Magneti: aut si admotus Magnes comprehenderit, rapiat at{que} auferat: fer∣tur quo{que} in Electri similitudine venena deprehendere, metus va∣nos depellere, maleficis resistere artibus. Diascorides sayth, that it is called the Stone of reconciliacion and loue: for (sayth he) That woman that hath withdrawne her loue from her husbande, by this, is brought to loue him anewe: yea it goeth further: for it is saide to giue proofe, whether she be chaste or no. For if she be say they, she shall whilest she is in sleape embrace her husbande, through the workyng of this Stone, yf not, she shall flye, and go backe frō him. Sir Thomas Eliot in his Dictionarie, saith, that Adamas is the Diomonde, and that Magnes the lode Stone, that hath vertue to drawe Iron vnto hym, is of some vnproperlye called the Adamant.

OMnium gemmarum virentium Smaragdus principatum ha∣bet.* 1.6 Cui veteres tertiam post Margaritas & Vniones tribu∣unt dignitatem. Smaragdus a nimia viriditate dicitur. Omne enim satis viride Smaragdum dicitur. Nullis enim gemmis vel herbis maior quàm huic austeritas est. Nam herbas virentes frondes{que} exuperat, inficiens circa se viriditate repercussum ae∣rem. Sculpentibns quo{que} gemmas nulla gratior oculorum refec∣tio est. Cuius corpus si extentum fuerit sicut speculum, it a ima∣gines reddit. Quippe Nero Cesar gladiatorum pugnas in Sma••ragdo spectabat. The Smaradge passeth both the leafe and boughe of anye tree or plante, his colour is so freshe and greene, and in this poyncte triumpheth alone, neyther ys

the Sunne by his sunne Beames any lett or hynderance to this his shewe. There is no greater refection to the eyes, than the sight of this excellent Gemme.

* 1.7INter purpureas gemmas principatum Amathistus Indicus te∣net. Amathistus purpureus est: permixto violaceo colore: & quasi rosae nitor, & leniter quasdam stammulas fundens. The Amathiste his force or vertue auayleth agaynst dronken∣nesse, it keepeth a man wakyng, and dryueth awaye ill thoughtes, and sharpeneth the vnderstanding also.

* 1.8HIacynthus, ex nominis sui flore vocatur. Hic in Ethiopia in∣uenitur: ceruleum colorem habens: optimus qui nec rarus est, nec dēsitate obtusus, sed ex vtro{que} temperamento lucens pur∣pura{que} refulgens: hic autem non rutilat aequaliter, sed cum facie caeli mutatur. Sereno enim perspicuus est at{que} gratus: nubilo co∣ram oculis euanescit at{que} marcescit. In os missus frigidus est: in sculpturis durissimus, nec tamen inuictus. Nam Adamante scribitur & signatur. The Iacinth is taken to be medecin∣able, and to giue vigor or strength to the Lyms, to encrease the Synewes, and to prouoke quiet & sound sleape.

* 1.9SArdonix appellata {quod} habeat in se permixtum candorem in si∣militudinem vnguis humanae. Graeci enim vnguem Onycem dicunt. Hanc India vel Arabia gignit. The Sardonix saieth Isidore also is three coloured, black about the botom, white in the middest, and redd at the toppe. Hec sola in signando nihil cerae avellit. The Lapidarie sayeth, it is bredd & borne of the Sardye, which is the father to him, & Onyx. Sardo∣nyx ex duum nominum societate vocata est. Est enim ex Onycis candore & Sardo. In workyng it maketh a man lowlye, & shamefaste in his doinges.

Of the 9. diuerse coulours, planettes, and precious sto∣nes before rehearced, which be assigned for the fielde of Cote armoure. There be moste vsually vsed in the blazon of oure English ensignes, but 6. videlicet.

• Or, and for mettalles.
• Argent. for mettalles.
• Gules. for Co∣lours.
• Azure. for Co∣lours.
• Sable. for Co∣lours.
• Verte. for Co∣lours.

Purpure, may bee added to make the 5. coloure, but it is rare in vse with vs. Of the 9. precious stones aforesaide, these are frequented, and most ennoblish blazon.

• The Topaze.
• Pearle.
• Rubye.
• Saphire. vj.
• Diamonde. vj.
• Emeraude. vj.

And for Purpure, the Amatiste obteineth of stones, his place also to make the seuenth.

These Planettes likewise maye cōpare with the others for theire ryghte, in the ordre of Blazon. videlicet.

• the Sunne.
• the Moone.
• Mars.
• Iupiter.
• Saturne. vij.
• Uenus. vij.
• Mercurie. vij.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Topace.
• * 1.2

  The Pearle Vnions.
• * 1.3

  The Carbun∣••le, or Rubye.
• * 1.4

  The Saphyre.
• * 1.5

  The Diamōd.
• * 1.6

  The Smarag∣de, or Eme∣raude.
• * 1.7

  the Amatiste
• * 1.8

  the Iacynthe.
• * 1.9

  the Sardonix