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. XIIII. Of the Chrysoprassus.

[Description of the stone.] THe Chrysoprassus is a transparent green stone, with the splendour of gold.

The Ancients used to call all those jewells which had the splendour of gold Chrysolites, of the Greek word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and hence the Prassius, Topaz, and Be∣ryll, which shine with golden rayes: and the Chryso∣prassius, Chrysopa••ius, and Chrysoberyllus, which are found to have the same bright, golden lustre joyned with their viriditie or greennesse, are so likewise called.

The Chrysoprassius hath the splendour of gold with

the greennesse of a leek: It is very pleasing to the sight, and of more esteem then the Prassius.

Its names.

In Hebrew 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Nopech: as Exod. 28.18. which according to Onkelos is the Smaragde or Emerauld: in Latine Chrysoprassus: in English the Chrysoprasse.

Of its properties.

It is thought to be endowed with the same facul∣ties and vires that the Prassius is.

Of its dignities and value.

This stone is of esteem because of the sacred use it hath been of; by it we have the glory of one of the twelve foundations of the wal of the New Jerusalem discovered to us in the 21 chap. and the 20 verse of the Revelation of S. John; where it is said, that the tenth foundation of the wall, which was of a Jasper structure, was a Chrysoprassus, by which foundation S. Augustine doth signifie S. Thomas, in his explica∣tion of the book of Psalms. The citie saith he was pure gold like to cleare glasse, whose foundations was adorned with twelve pretious stones.

The first foundation was

• 1. Jasper, that is, S. Petrus.
• 2. Sapphirus, that is, S. Paulus.
• 3. Chalcedonius, that is, S. Johannes.
• 4. Smaragdus, that is, S. Jacobus major.
• 5. Sardonyz, that is, S. Jacobus minor.
• 6. Sardius, that is, S. Andreas.
• ...

• 7. Chrysolithus, that is, S. Matthaeus.
• 8. Beryllus, that is, S. Simon.
• 9. Topazius, that is, S. Bartholomaeus.
• 10. Chrysoprassus, that is, S. Thomas.
• 11. Hyacinthus, that is, S. Philippus.
• 12. Amethystus, that is, S. Judas, Simonis frater.

Then speaking of the twelve gates of this citie, which are every one of one entire pearl, he saith, that by these gates are meant Christ the immaculate Lambe of God; who in the Gospel of S. John, chap. 10.9. calleth himself the doore of the sheep, saying, I am the doore of the sheep, if any man enter in by me, he shall be safe, and go in and out, and find feed∣ing.