Spaniards of the thirteenth century believed that the magnetic power of the loadstone would depart from it if it were steeped in the juice of leek or onion for three days; but the virtue would return to the stone if it were bathed in goat’s blood. This recalls the queer notion that the diamond could only be broken when moistened with goat’s blood, both fancies having their origin in the idea that goat’s, or rather ram’s blood, was endowed with warmth and vitality to a higher degree than other blood. An ingenious magnetic oracle is described by De Boot.[119] This consisted of a round board, about the edge of which were marked the letters of the alphabet, while in the centre there stood a small wooden figure, set on a pivot, and holding extended in one hand a little wand. One foot of this figure was slightly advanced and within it was concealed a small iron ball. The experimenter held in his hand a wooden sceptre, with a powerful loadstone at its top, and as he touched with his sceptre the lower side of the board, beneath the spot on which any one of the letters was marked, the attraction exercised by the loadstone on the iron made the figure revolve on its pivot so that the little wand pointed toward the letter indicated. In this way any word could be spelled out and appropriate answers given to any question. The device would be too obvious at present, but in De Boot’s time it would have served well enough to mystify the spectators. That the loadstone was highly esteemed in the sixteenth century was well versified by Robert Norman in “The Newe Attractive.” THE MAGNES OR LOADSTONES CHALLENGE Give place ye glittering sparkes, ye glimmering Diamonds bright, Ye Rubies red, and Saphires brave, wherein ye most delight. In breefe yee stones enricht, and burnisht all with gold, Set forth in Lapidaries shops, for Jewels to be sold. Give place, give place I say, your beautie, gleame, and glee, Is all the vertue for the which, accepted so you bee. Magnes, the Loadstone I, your painted sheaths defie, Without my helpe, in Indian Seas the best of you might lye. I guide the Pilots course, his helping hand I am, The Mariner delights in me, so doth the Marchant man. My vertue lies unknowne, my secrets hidden are, By me the Court and Common-weale, are pleasured very farre. No ship could sayle on seas, her course to runne aright, Nor compasse shew the ready way, were Magnes not of might. Blush then, and blemish all, bequeathe to mee thats due, Your seates in golde, your price in plate, which Jewellers doo rewe. Its I, its I alone, whom you usurpe upon, Magnes my name, the Loadstone cald, the prince of stones alone. If this you can denie, then seeme to make reply, And let the Painefull sea-man judge, the which of us doth lye. THE MARINER’S JUDGMENT The Loadstone is the stone, the only stone alone, Deserving praise above the rest, whose vertues are unknowne. THE MARCHANT’S VERDICT