632 
The feven and thirtieth Booke 
Cuar, X1i1k 
Oe The way how to make proofe of fine prectows flones. 
Et other writers teach howto deceive the world by counterfeitgems, for mine owne part 1 
L will take a contrary courfe,and fhew the meanes how to find out falfe ftones that be thusfo- . 
phifticat : for furely, wanton and prodigall though men andwomen bee in the exceffive 
wearing of thefe jewels,yet meet itis they fhould be armed and inftructed againft {uch coufiners, 
AndalbeitI have alreadie touched fomewhat refpectively as I treated of the cheefeandprinci- 
pall gems, yet I will adde fomewhat more to the reft : Firft and formofttherefore this isobferved; 
That all {tones which be tranfparent,ought to have their triall in a morning betimes,or atthe far- Hf 
theft(if need fo require) within foure houres after morning light, but in no wife later. Now there 
bee diverfe experiments that ferve for this purpofe, towit,the weight of a ftone,for commonly. 
the fine gem indeed is heavier than the other: Secondly, the very bodie and fubftance is tobee 
confidered; for it is an ordinarie matter to fee in the ground and bottome of falfified ftones cer. 
tain little puthes as it were rifing out;to feel them rough in hand outwardly;alfo co perceive their 
filaments not to continue their luftre furely, and to beare it out to the very eye, but commonly in 
theway tovanith and be fpent.But the moft effeQuall proofe of all,isto cake alittle fragments, for 
to be ground afterward upon a plate of yron: but lapidaries will not endure this triall; they refufe 
alfo the experiment made by thefile, Furthermore,the fragments of the blacke Agath or Gear, 
wil] noc rafe or skarifie true gems, Ztem,Falfe ftonesif they be pierced orengraven, willfhew no 
white. Such ditference there is moreover in ftones,that {ome {corne allengraving with anyron 
punfon: others likewife cannot be cut but with the inftrument or graver bent andturned backe : 
but there isnot one but may beengraven with the Diamant.And verily,the moft material thing 
hexcin,is to heat the graving fteele or punfon. ’ 
- Astouching rivers that affourd precious ftones,Acefines and Ganges are the cheefe:and of 
all lands, India is the principal. } i qadantol 
Andnowhaving difcourfed fufficiently of ail the workes of Nature, itwere meet toconclude 
with a certaine generall difference betweene the things themfelves,and efpecially between coun- 
trey and countrey.Fora finall conclufion therefore,go through the whole earth and all the lands 
lying under the cope of heaven, Italie will be found the moft beautifull & goodlieft region under 
the Sun, furpaffing all other whatfoever,and worthily to be counted the cheefe and principall in 
every re{pect: Italie (I fay) the very ladie and queen,yea,afecond mother next to dame Nature of 
the world: Cheefe for hardie men,cheefe for faire and beautifull women, enriched with captains, 
fouldiors, and flaves; flourifhing in all artsand excellent {ciences, abounding with noble wits and 
mea of fingular{pirit; fituat under aclimat moft holefome and temperar, feated alfo commodi-' 
oufly (by reafon of the coafts fo full of convenient havens) for traffick with all nations, wherin the; 
winds are moft comfortable (for it extendeth it felfe and lieth to the beft quarter of the heaven, 
even the middeft juft betweene Eaft and Weft;) having waters at commaund, large forreftsan 
faire,and thofe yeelding moft bealthfull airebounded with mighty rampiers of high mountains, 
ftored with wild beafts and thofe harmleffe: finally,the ground fo fertile for corn,the foilefobat-. 
tenance of this life is there to be had, in no place better: all kind of comeand gtaine,wines,oile;, 
wooll,linnen,woollen & excellentboeufes ;.as for horfefleth, I have alwaies heard,even fromthe 
mouth of thofe tharbe profefled runners in therace with horfe and chariot, Thatthebreedoflta- 
lie pafieth all others: for mines of gold, filver,brafle,and yron, it gave place tono countrey-whate 
{oever,fo long asit pleafed the {tate to employ itthat way; and in licu of thoferich commodities 
which it hath ftill within her wombe,thee yeeldeth unto us varietie of good liquors, plentie:ofall 
forts of corne, and abundance of pleafant fruits of all kinds. But if fhould {peake of alandafter- 
Italie ({etting afide the monftrous and fabulous reports thatgoe of India) |inmy conceit Spainé M. 
4 ope eet. G ne. a 
Asnextin all refpects,1 meane thofe coafts which areenvironnedwith the fea: > 
“29 Be ; igaototl ° : phic 819100 te, ry hey ters y i ri bow 
lA adsl Seige oiwod bas .tielyO ¢ o1 baaiaal 
inoRasi O1, bow sao nt bas shdlcnicO E10 RygenmBe { 
bP he oe oy 
tle for herbage,asnone to it comparable.In {um ,whatfoeveris neceflarie & requifit for the main-| — 
. ‘ 
, ~& 
