Whereas on the other side there are very Learn'd Men, who (plausibly
enough) deny that there are any Carbuncles or shining Stones at all.

And certainly, those Judicious men have much more to say for themselves,
than the others commonly Plead, and therefore did deservedly look upon Mr.
_Clayton_'s Diamond as a great Rarity. For not only _Boetius de Boot_, who
is judg'd the best Author on this Subject, ascribes no such Virtue to
Diamonds, but begins what he delivers of Carbuncles, with this passage.[26]
_Magna fama est Carbunculi. Is vulgo putatur in tenebris Carbonis instar
lucere; fortassis quia Pyropus seu Anthrax appellatus a veteribus fuit.
Verum hactenus nemo nunquam verè asserere ausus fuit, se gemmam noctu
lucentem vidisse. Garcias ab Horto proregis Indiæ Medicus, refert se
allocutum fuisse, qui se vidisse affirmarent. Sed iis fidem non habuit._
And a later Author, the Diligent and Judicious _Johannes de Laet_ in his
Chapter of Carbuncles and of Rubies, has this passage. _Quia autem
Carbunculi, Pyropi & Anthraces a veteribus nominantur, vulgo creditum fuit,
Carbonis instar in tenebris lucere, quod tamen nullâ gemmâ hastenus
deprehensum, licet à quibusdam temerè jactetur._ And the recentest Writer I
have met with on this Subject, _Olaus Wormius_, in his Account of his well
furnish'd _Musæum_, do's, where he treats of Rubies, concurr with the
former Writers by these Words.[27] _Sunt qui Rubinum veterum Carbunculum
esse existimant, sed deest una illa nota, quod in tenebris instar Anthracis
non luceat: Ast talem Carbunculum in rerum naturâ non inveniri major pars
Authoram existimant. Licet unum aut alterum in India apud Magnates quosdam
reperiri scribant, cum tamen ex aliorum relatione id habeant saltem, sed
ipsi non viderint._ In confirmation of which I shall only add, that hearing
of a Rubie, so very Vivid, that the Jewellers themselves have several times
begg'd leave of the fair Lady to whom it belong'd, that they might try
their choicest Rubies by comparing them with That, I had the Opportunity by
the Favour of this Lady and her Husband, (both which I have the Honour to