A lapidary, or, The history of pretious [sic] stones with cautions for the undeceiving of all those that deal with pretious [sic] stones / by Thomas Nicols ...

CHAP. XIII. Of the Prassius, Smaragdite, and Chrysoprassius.

[Description of the stone.] THe Prassius, Smaragdite, or Chrysoprassius is a transparent green gemm imitating the colour of green Leeks. The beauty of this stone ariseth of the mixture of a yellow and green; the transparen∣cy of it is through a cloud: it is sometimes found to have some reddish, whitish, or blackish specks or colour, by reason of its growing to a Jasper, or Crystall, or to some other jewell, from which it re∣ceiveth various small bodies, and various colours. This gemm, as saith Baccius, is by some thought to be the house, Domicile, or Palace of the Sma∣ragde, and that because the Emerauld or Smaragde is found either in it, or affixt to it.

Of its Adulteration.

This stone, saith Anselmus Boetius lib. 2. c. 57. p. 103. is seldome adulterated by reason of its small value.

Of its kinds.

Baccius saith this gemm is a very fair gemm, and by some it is referred to the kinds of Achates, by others, to the kinds of Beryls. It is by Boetius reckoned among the kinds of Emeraulds, who doth make a discovery of three kinds of this stone.

1. A kind of an exact green colour like Leeks, or the succus porrorum, as saith Baccius.

2. The second kind hath very much yellow∣nesse: and if these be of a golden splendour, then are they the Chrysopteri of the Ancients.

3. The third kind are whitish, with a little green∣nesse and a greater yellownesse.

* 1.1Cardanus saith, that all green jewels are subject to the fire, by reason of the abundance of semicon∣cocted humour which they do contain in them.

The place.

They are found both in the East and West-Indies, and in Europe, and in Germanie, and these are fairer then the Orientall ones, but somewhat softer: they are found in Bohemia, and in the neighbouring countreys thereabouts.

Of its properties.

It is said to be of the nature of the Smaragde, or

Emerauld, but of somewhat more remisse power and faculties.

Of its dignity and value.

They are valued according to their beauty; their prices will not very much amount (though for their Emerauld beauty they may be of some had in very great esteem) because they are soft stones. It is re∣ported of the Prassius, that it will suddenly loose its viriditie, if there be any poyson or venome in place where it is, and again recover its lustre if it be washt. It is also said of it, that it is a great cordiall, much comforting the heart; and that it doth conferre much to the dispelling of the darknesse and cloudinesse of the sight.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cardan. l. 7. de lap. pret. p. 346.