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. XXVI. Of the Agate.

THe Agate is a pretious half-transparent gemme, full of pleasure, because of the variety of its colours: and besides the various delightfull colours it is replenisht withall, it hath also many times divers shapes in it, wrought in excellent workmanship by the skilfull hand of nature, and that very admirably landskep-wise; so that in them may be seen woods, rivers, trees, living creatures, fruits, flowers, herbs, and clouds, and all this not very obscurely neither.

It is reported of king Pyrrhus, [History.] that he had an Agate in which, by the handy-work of nature, was to be

seen the nine Muses, and Apollo holding his harp.

It is reported of Camillus Leonardus Pisaurensis, that he saw one which resembled in it self seven trees standing upon a plain.

Of its adulteration.

It is adulterated with glasse mixt with divers co∣lours: but this is easily known: for the Agate is so hard that it refuseth the file, and for its excellent smooth∣nesse dust will not stick to it.

Its names, and places where it is found.

In Hebrew it is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as Exod. 28.19. which by some Jews is interpeted the Topaz. It hath its names from the resemblances and forms which it hath in it: as Leuchachates, Dendrachates, Corallachates. The fairest of it is brought from India and Sicily; it is also found in Germany in the Landtgrave of Lich∣tenbergs countrey, not farre from the town of Schind∣thutten: and in Bohemia not farre from Argentine, a Leuchachates sprinkled with black specks of a pur∣plish colour, very good and excellent is found.

Its nature and properties.

It is said to be good against poyson and contagi∣ons. It is reported of the eagle, that it doth carry this gemme into her nest, to secure her young from the bitings of venomous creatures. So Andr. Bacc. and Dioscorides.

Its dignitie and value.

This stone hath been of esteem for its sacred use;

it was one of those stones which were set in the en∣closures of the breast-plate of Judgement, Exod. 28.19. Anselmus Boetius saith, that he saw one that was twice as broad as the palm of a mans hand, in which was artificially graven the image of Ju∣lius Cesar and his wife, which was sold for 8000 crowns. It hath been used for the adorning of those crowns, which in former times were called precar•••• coronae.