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THE true Ruby, which is a precious Stone, dia∣phanous and very radiant, ought to have the colour of Blood, and Scarlet, and clear Lacca, and shew about the edges of its Fire, a little Azure-co∣lour. This Stone is found in the Isle of Ceilen, and in the River of Pegu, in a Rocky Matter of a Rosie∣colour, which is the Matrix wherein it is generated
and nourished; and if that Rocky Matter be transpa∣rent, it yields the Balass Ruby, whereof we will treat in the following Chapter.
Sometimes there are found such fine and large Ru∣bies, that some have mistook them for Carbuncles. If any Ruby ever merited that Name, it was that of Queen Elizabeth of Austria, Dowager of Charles IX, which after her Death she left to the Emperor Rodol∣phus II, her Brother. It had been purchased long before for sixty thousand Ducats, which was then a very considerable Sum.
Queen Mary de Medicis had also one of an inestima∣ble Value, and Bigness, but I cannot learn what the Purchase was, or what became of it.
To imitate this fine Colour, take four Ounces of our Matter prepared with Natural Crystal, and Sa∣turnus Glorificatus, two Ounces of Crocus Martis pre∣pared as in Chap. 25, one Ounce of Verdigrease, two Ounces of Mercury calcin'd ad rubedinem, and two Ounces of Sal-Gem, the whole reduced to fine Pow∣der, well mixed together, put into a Crucible cover∣ed and luted and set in a Glass-house Furnace for three Days, then take it out and put it in the Fur∣nace where Glasses are set to Anneal, there to cool by degrees for twelve Hours. Then break your Crucible, and you'll find your Matter tinged of a fine Ruby-colour, which you may divide, cut, and polish, as we have said before.
We could shew a way of imitating Rubies with only Orpiment, which are very fine, but so brittle, that we thought it better to say nothing of it, ra∣ther than give occasion for an Expence that would turn to no Profit.