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 ...

About this Item

Title
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 ...
Author
Nicols, Thomas.
Publication
Cambridge [Cambridgeshire] :: Printed by Thomas Buck ...,
1652.
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Subject terms
Precious stones -- Early works to 1800.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A52334.0001.001
Cite this Item
"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 ..." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A52334.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 15, 2025.

Pages

Its names.

In Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. In Latine Ga∣len, Nicander, and Plinie call it Magnes, which name by the two last named Authours is attributed to it, from him who was the first finder of its attractive power; namely, Magnes a shepherd of India, who was wont to keep his flocks about those mountains in India, where there were abundance of these stones. Herculeus lapis it is also called from its predominant power, by which it is said to draw iron to it self, which tameth all things. Heracleus lapis it is also cal∣led from a citie of Lydia called Heraclea by some and by others Magnesia, where the best of these stones are said to be found: hence this stone as some think

Page 197

had its name of Magnes; and hence these verses of Lucretius;

Quem Magneta vocant patrio de nomine Graii, Magnetum quia sit patriis in montibus ortus.
Callimachus calleth it Heracleotis. Plinie Siderites. In Germane, Magneth. In Saxon ein Segelstein; and in Italian Calamita Piodra. It is from its use called Lapis Nauticus. In English the Load-stone.

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