'tis not impossible that there may be Stones as much more susceptible than
that, of the Alterations requisite to make a Diamond shine, as that
appeares to be more susceptible of them, than ordinary Diamonds. And I
confess to you, that this is not the only odd suspition (for they are not
so much as conjectures) that what I try'd upon this Diamond suggested to
me. For not here to entertain you with the changes I think may be effected
ev'n in harder sorts of Stones, by wayes not vulgar, nor very promising,
because I may elsewhere have occasion to speak of them, and this Letter is
but too Prolix already, that which I shall now acknowledge to you is, That
I began to doubt whether there may not in some Cases be some Truth in what
is said of the right Turquois, that it often changes Colour as the wearer
is Sick or Well, and manifestly loses its splendor at his Death. For when I
found that ev'n the warmth of an Affriction that lasted not above a quarter
of a minute, Nay, that of my Body, (whose Constitution you know is none of
the hottest) would make a manifest change in the solidest of Stones a
Diamond, it seem'd not impossible, that certain warm and Saline steams
issuing from the Body of a living man, may by their plenty or paucity, or
by their peculiar Nature, or by the total absence of them, diversifie the
Colour, and the splendor of so soft a Stone as the Turquois. And though I
admir'd to see, that I know not how many Men otherwise Learn'd, should
confidently ascribe to Jewels such Virtues as seem no way competible to
Inanimate Agents, if to any Corporeal ones at all, yet as to what is
affirm'd concerning the Turquois's changing Colour, I know not well how to
reject the Affirmation of so Learned (and which in this case is much more
considerable) so Judicious a Lapidary as _Boetius de Boot_[31], who upon
his own particular and repeated Experience delivers so memorable a
Narrative of the Turquois's changing Colour, that I cannot but think it
worth your Perusal, especially since a much later and very Experienc'd
Author, _Olaus Wormius_,[32] where he treats of that Stone, Confirms it
with this Testimony. _Imprimis memorandum exemplum quod Anshelmus Boetius