THE glittering and beautie of precious stones delight me.

I confesse, this is not the least part of terrestrial and mortal vanitie, of them that doo enclose large patri∣monies within a litle stone: whose price is vnstable, and vncerteine, and changeth euery day, in that it dependeth only on the fame of the buyers, and lyght beliefe of the mad richer sort: so that some that haue lyen long time neglected, suddenly ryse to great prices: and some that haue been of great value, soddenly fall to be of no estimation: I knowe not vppon what markes appea∣ring, not so much in the thinges themselues, as in the opinion of such as haue skill in them. A woorthy knowledge truely, whiche neglecting the woorshipping of GOD, the care of the minde, and the knowledge of them both, geueth it selfe onely to the Page  [unnumbered]searchyng out of veynes of stones. But this is the worlde: And this is not the fyrst tyme that they are muche accompted that craftily make prices of them: as for the true prices, there are none at all, or not knowen. But howe daungerous this vanitie is, and howe doubtfull and vncertayne the iudge∣ment, it may appeare who so calleth to minde that whiche chaun∣ced of late, howe that when as that Gentleman of greater for∣tune then wysedome, had bought a litle stone, which was a car∣buncie, for ten thousande crownes: he sayde oftentymes, howe that the exceeding brightnesse and beautie, surpassing all common and naturall stones, brought hym in suspicion of the rightnesse thereof, and for that cause he shewed it vnto a very cunning Lapi∣darie, to haue his opinion therein: Who answeared, that in deede it was no true stone, but rather glasse, or some suche lyke kynde of stuffe: not naturall, but deuised by some supernaturall and woon∣derfull art. Whiche doubt of this Gentlemans, what was it other then a confessyng that the same glasse was more beauti∣full then any stone, although perhaps the stone be harder: Not∣withstanding let them iudge hereof, who cast away they money in this kinde of gaine, which they myght conuert to more hon•st vses, or misspende their time in this kynde of knowledge, whiche they myght imploy in better studies. And if this doubting were iust, and vpon good cause, who seeth not what ambition, and how much blindnesse there is in them whiche pay so decre for a thyng, not in respect of the forme & substance, but of the bare name only.

There is nothyng that I holde more deere, then precious stones.

Truely I beleeue thee: Not vertue, not thine estimation, not thy countrey, not thy lyfe it selfe. And to say no∣thyng of those two thinges whiche you make accompt of, as no∣thing more vile: the two last things, & therewith also great riches, and whatsoeuer els ye esteeme most precious, I wyll prooue that they haue geuen place to the price & loue of a precious stone, and that the keeping thereof hath been preferred before exile and po∣uertie: yea and if neede had so required, before death also. Who knoweth not of Nonius practice in the like case? This Nonius was a Senator of Rome, and a very riche Gentleman, and had a precious stone esteemed as twentie thousande crownes, and the Page  50stones name was Opalus. It groweth in India, glisteryng with varietie of all colours. Now Antonius the Triumuir, beyng prouoked & set on fire with the desire of this iewel, as a man of all other most proude and couetous, and vnto whom whatsoeuer na∣ture made desired, fortune made lawful, conceyued (as it fortuned) a mortal hatred of y^e owner, with an vnlawful desire of the stone: Wherby it came to passe, that in that general heateof proscription & banishment, wherein so many lightes of the common wealth pe∣rished, that Nonius name also was published among the residue: whiche whether it were for this crime, that he possessed a thing that was precious, and very wel liked of the tyrant, it is not cer∣teinly knowen: But he, as one that toke example of the Tiber of Pontus, to the intent he might redeeme his libertie, by the losse of his hurtful burden, & prouide for his safetie, which was more deere vnto him, then his present danger, he tooke that with him, and so departed: perswading him selfe, that yf he had that with him, he would take no care for the losse of his liuing or countrey, beyng redy therewith to goe into banishment, to begge, and if neede were, to dye. Who wyll not thynke well of that, whereunto a Senatour bare so great affection? And truely one of these twayne we must needes graunt, eyther that the Iewell was of great value, or that the owner was of a hase mynde. But thou lookest not to knowe whiche of these twayne I con∣clude to be truest. For although the iudgement of this and suche lyke, or rather the infection of them whiche they leaue in the mynde, haue farre and wyde infected the maners of the common multitude: notwithstandyng, it behooueth great wittes, neyther to be delyghted with money, nor any thyng els, sa∣uyng the beautie of vertue onely: vnlesse it be, that through the meanes of these short pleasures whiche delyght the eyes, the mynde, beyng styrred vp, be taken with the loue and desyre of the eternal beautie, from whiche fountaine it springeth whatsoeuer is fayre.

I am enticed with the loue of excellent precious stones.

This excellencie nature hath not made, but opinion onely, whiche among some hath geuen the chee∣fest price to the Carbuncle, and among other, to the Dia∣moude. That whiche I reckened fyrst, is the speciall iudgement Page  [unnumbered]nowe a dayes among the common Iewellers and Lapidaries. And this last, the opinion of certayne auncient writers, according to whose iudgement, the Diamond, whiche is not only the most precious of al stones, but of all earthly thinges, was wont to be the Jewel and gemme in olde time of kinges, and not all, but of the chiefest. But now at this day, forasmuche as there is no en∣cre ase of any thyng so great and so speedie, as of lasciuiousnesse and pride, it grewe not onely to be worne by kinges, but also to be set vpon fingers of the common people. Next vnto this is the Indian & the Arabian Pearle in estimation, and after them the Smaragde, I know not by what perturbation of order. For if the rednesse and palenesse of the first be commendable, why likewise shoulde not the whitenesse and greenenesse of these in like maner shoulde not the whitenesse and greenenesse of these in like maner delight the eye? The Saphyre also may more iustly complayne, since there is nothing that the earth bringeth foorth, that in like∣nesse more resembleth the cleere heauen. Howbeit, as I haue said, it is the madnesse of men, and not the nature of the thinges, that is in price, the vayne follies of the riche, and the fables of idle per∣sons, who woulde soone contemne these trifles, if they would bu∣sie them selues about more profitable affayres concernyng peace or warre.

The glisteryng precious stones, and plea∣saunt shinyng pearles, do much moue myne affections.

Mooue thee, sayest thou? yea rather they ouerthrowe, tread vnder foote, effeminate and make weake the mynde. Concerning which matter, yf I shoulde goe about to heape vp examples, both of men and women, I should not instruct thee, but weerie thee. I wyll touche one onely, and whiche is greatest of all, to the ende thou mayest vnderstande, howe daungerous this follie is to the weaker mindes, whiche hath inuaded the most hygh and valiant. Pompeius, surnamed the great, the most con∣tinent of all the Romane captaines (I meane of the latter sort, who, how much they excel the residue in noble exploites, and vali∣ant deedes, so muche they are inferiour vnto their forefathers in modestie of maners, and frugalitie of lyfe) when he returned con∣querour out of Spayne, from subduing the West partes of the worlde, and had dryuen the theeues and pyrates into one place togeather, to whom the name of Conuenae, meeters together, Page  51was geuen, whiche shall last for euer. There vpon the Pyrenean mountaynes, the sharpenesse of the place perhappes assisting, and modestie helping the matter, and abatyng the pryde of his age and victorie, he set vp a manlyke Trophei, and monument, fra∣med in maner of a counterfeite, of his naturall and rough vizage: being then great in deede and magnificiall, who although he were but young in yeeres, yet was he olde in maners, and rype in minde. The same man afterwarde, when he had taken the Py∣rates, and vanquished the East, beyng then changed, as it were with the alteration of the tyme and place, and returnyng another man, from another part of the worlde, he shewed in triumphe not his humilitie, but his manly countenaunce, become more effemi∣nate then before, after a womanishe, or diuine maner, not portrai∣ted in Brasse or Marble, but adorned with rare and exquisite pearles. This is no small rebuke, for the pryde and spoyle of the East, to be layde vpon the head of one man, not without the in∣sultyng of the conquering people, and to the excusing of the Prin∣ces that shoulde ensue. For what shoulde not Rome (being af∣terwarde in slauerie vnder tyrantes) suffer, which being free, behelde this so great insolencie, of a most louyng citizen. As for the other furnitures of his triumphe, whiche was more humble or sober, they are not mencioned, neyther the armour and horses of the subdued nations, as the maner was wont to be, nor the pri∣soners, charrets, nor other booties: The vilest thynges whiche we reave to haue been there, was golde, precious stones, and pearles. Among many other thinges, there was a great Guarde∣uiandes of Chest, wherein was great store of treasures of all sortes and colours, euery one consisting of seuerall kindes, both cuppes of golde, and garmentes, and pictures: Yea, there was among other thynges a Moone of massy golde, of a woonderfull weight, and beddes of golde, and sundry crownes and gar•andes, beset with great and whyte pearles. Moreouer, there was a mountaine of gold, the fourme whereof was foure square, al beset with Hartes, and Lions, and figures of sundry beastes, and ly∣uyng creatures: also with trees, and all kyndes of fruites, with glitte•ing pearles coueryng the golden branches of the trees upon the toppe of the mountaine. Of the same substaunce also Page  [unnumbered]there was a clocke, so cunningly wrought, that the woorkeman∣shyp excelled the stuffe, whiche continually mooued and turned about, a right woonderfull and strange sight to suche as vse to admire vayne matters.

With these thynges I am won∣derfully delighted.

Truely I thinke it well, and I sup∣pose that thou wouldest gladly haue beholden this Triumph, and more greedily haue led it, & most greedyly haue possessed it, wher∣vnto the state of thy passionate mind persuadeth thee. But beleue thou me, these thinges which do so much delight the sight, are al∣waies hurtful to the bodie and soule. And a• for him of whom we speake, there was nothing that euer did more hurt his triumphant glory, not the Thessalica day, nor the Egyptian foyle. For there he yeelded not wholy to fortune, but here he yeelded wholy to vice. There appeared the force, and vnfaythfulnesse of another: but here his owne frailtie, and ambition. And therefore there he lost his power, and his lyfe: but here he impayred the fame of his po∣pulare name, and of his excellent modestie, and his name of Pom∣peius the Great, whiche he had wonne by his great trauell. A strange matter to be tolde, howe that he that was founde to be more victorious agaynst the Spamardes, beyng a warlyke nation, then agaynst the dastardly and faintharted Asians: and this the more to be marueyled at, in that duryng the tyme that he aboade in Asia, he remayned perfecte and in∣uincible, when as he bare hymselfe most vpryghtly and absty∣nently in the Temple of Hierusalem, of all other the most rych∣est that euer was. But at the last he was not able to withstande the force of vice, neyther continued he, as before he had alwayes been, a singuler and one maner of man, but beyng made, as it were, one of many, was so captiuated and cast downe. This was the effect of the glitteryng of the precious stones, of the beautie of the pearles, and of the weyght of the golde, In like conflicte before Asia had ouercome Alexander, but it is small victorie to winne hym that is ouercome by his owne vices, and a great matter to ouercome the ouercommer of hymselfe. After whom, there was almost no captaine that could gouerne hymselfe vpryghtly among the pleasures of Asia, whiche beyng transported ouer into the countrey of Latium, Page  52dyd vanquysh you in your owne natiue soyle. For yf ye wyll confesse the very trueth, when ye had conquered all other na∣tions, your selues were conquered in the Asiane conquest. Goe thy wayes nowe, and make muche accompt of precious stones, whiche are freendes to the eyes, and enimies to the mynde, and the vanquishers of valiant men.

I take great pleasure in glitteryng precious stones.

Some man is delyghted with them that are of sundry colours, and some with the palenesse of other, so that this appetite is diuers, but the vanitie is one. Thou hast hearde howe that in the iudgement of kyng Pyrrhus, who made warre agaynst the Romanes, the Achate was esteemed of all stones the most precious: And nowe, as prices of thynges doo alter, it is of the least value, wherein, as the report goeth, were represented the shapes of sundrie thynges, as of beastes, riuers, forestes, byrdes, and wylde beastes, not framed by the hande of a∣ny woorkeman, but by the industrie of nature. In this prince∣ly Iewell, as Solinus tearmeth it, were not ingrauen, but naturally imprinted the portraitures of the nine Mu∣ses, and Apollo the notable Musitian playing in the middest of them: these spottes and markes of the stone so lynked one to another, that within that space, whiche was but very lytle, euery Image and portraiture myght be discerned by it owne speciall notes, as they were placed within the ring, and for farther ornament, the kynges name was also thereunto ad∣ded. For suche thynges as belong to great personages, are the more esteemed. But I pray you, what good dyd this Achate vnto hym? Dyd it make hym inuincible in battayle, or saue hym from death, or coulde it delyuer hym from the reioycyng of his enimies, or from the stone whiche the hande of a woman threwe at hym? What, I say, auayled it vnto Pyrrhus to haue hadde that stone? or what hindred it Fabritius and Curius that they wanted it, by which two valiaunt captaines he was vanquished, and driuen out of Italy? I dare affirme, that neither of these twayne would so much yeelde in minde vnto him, as to make exchange of their harde and rough helmet, for his swoorde that was so beset with golde Page  [unnumbered]and pretious stones, or for his kingly ring. Thus valiant men despise all wanton & effeminate thynges. How should they couet the kynges ring, who only vpon the confidence & trust in vertue, contemned the king himselfe, his princely ryches and kingdome? But you, contrarywyse▪ by distrust of minde, woonder at euery thyng, and couet them▪ as yf they w•uld aduaunce you •o felicitie: and vertue onely is contemned. There is also a more auncient report and fame of another precious stone, wh•che Polycrates kyng of the Sam•• possessed: some say is was a Sardonix. That stone, among that most ryche princes treasure, was counted the most precious: and therefore he, as one that had neuer in all his lyfe felt a•y aduersitie, meanyng to appease •he malice of subtile fortune, whiche openly flattered him, and priuily went about to ouerthrowe hym, tooke shypping, and launched foorth into the deepe Sea, and with his owne hande threwe in his ring wherein was that ryche stone, to the intent he myght once in his lyfe be sory: perswading himselfe, that he had craftily dealt with fortune, if he recompenced so many ioyful good turnes, with one sorowful mischance. But she, as being neyther easily deceyued nor pleased, indifferently mingling good with euyll, required yet a farther matter, for so long a tyme of fauour, but a short thyng, mary very hard: that he, who in all his lyfe tyme seemed to hymselfe and o∣thers most fortunate, shoulde at his death appeare and be most miserable, by so many vices and punishmentes lyghtyng vppon one head: and therefore refusing that whiche was offered (O the daliance of fortune) euen as though she had sent a fish on message to receyue the ring into his mouth: this fishe was taken imme∣diately, and serued to his table, and in hym restored his ring vn∣to hym, no• without the woondring of the beholders. This stone (many hundred yeeres after) Augustus Caesar, as they say, being moued with the price and strangenesse of the thyng, caused to be set in a crowne of gold, and dedicated it in the temple of Concord. Here agayne I demaunde, what it auayle• the tyrant that afflic∣ted his countrey to haue had this iewell? or hindred Pythagoras to wan• his countrey, wherein they were both borne, and his owne house, and his freendes, whiche he forsooke vpon misliking of his maners? Forsooth, when by the consent of all men this Page  53tyrant was hanged vpon the gallowes, and most extreamly pu∣nyshed, he was yet woorthy of greater tormentes: But the Phi∣losopher dying in peace, was worshypped for a GOD, and his house esteemed for a church. This difference there was betwene the precious stone of the one, and the cloake of the other. But nei∣ther coulde Polycrates Sardonix woorke such effect, that his bo∣dy shoulde not be consumed by foules vpon the gallowes: Lyke as also of late dayes neyther could the Carbuncle of Iohn kyng of Fraunce, whiche he woore vpon his finger, and was founde and taken from hym that day, preserue hym from the ouerthrow and fallyng into his enimies handes: whose chaunce it was not∣withstandyng after certayne yeeres to see and touche it agayne, beeyng redeemed, as it were, in another worlde, & sent to hym by a friende, as a thyng of inestimable price, but of no more efficacie or vertue then other stones of that kynde are. For, that precious stones are bryght and glysteryng, I doo not deny, least I speake agaynst common sense: But I deny that they be good for any thyng, or haue any vertue, but that only whiche is commonly re∣ported, they can also breake up the lockes of couetous ryche men, and emptie their coffers.

Precious stones are indiffe∣rently efteemed of, and they muche delyght my mynd.

But it is great madnesse to bestowe muche care and cost vppon thynges, whiche although they seeme somewhat, yet in deede are nothyng: This is only to take delyght in the pleasure and deceit of the eyes. Why dooest thou trauayle in those thynges, whi∣che doo not only not auayle to felicitie, but they detract nothing from misery, neyther when they be present, nor when they be ab∣sent? And although there be many strange and woonderous matters written by many, whiche are not correspondent to a trueth, nor profitable to the readers, but only set downe to make them amazed, specially by the Magiciens, who haue had so muche leasure that they myght fyll whole volumes with suche triflies. Notwithstandyng in this respect I fully agree with Plinius the seconde, and I suppose that they wrote these things not without contempt and laughter at mankynde, to the en∣tent that they myght both fyl theyr foolyshe lyghtnesse of be∣leefe with vayne opinions, and delyght them selues with our Page  [unnumbered]follies.

I take pleasure in those precious stones, where∣in it is credible that there is some vertue.

What vertues those are thou hast hearde, and yf there by any o∣ther, what so euer they be, they be myngled with the lyes of Merchantes and wryters, and not so muche feygned by industry of Art, as encreased and confyrmed by your assent: whiche thynges it were muche more better eyther wysely to re∣prooue, or valyantly to contempne, then to vnderstande the pryses, vertues, and vyces of al precious stones. But in this one poynt I disagree from Plinie, most of whose sayinges doo muche please me: He promyseth to shewe a meane to finde out the knowledge and craft of counterfaytyng false stones, where he sayth, It is good also to enstructe ryotousnesse agaynst deceypt: But in myne opinion, ryotousnesse ought not to be defended and armed, but to be left alone, and forsaken, as naked among the armed troupes of the subtyle counterfeytours, to the ende, that beyng oftentymes circumuented and deceyued, yf by none other meanes, it ma• •r leastwyse be chastized by 〈…〉 •••eipt.