1. And first we hear it in every mouth, and in many good Authors read it, That a _Diamond_, which is the hardest of stones, not yielding unto _Steel_, _Emery_, or any thing but its own powder, is yet made soft, or broke by the blood of a Goat. Thus much is affirmed by _Pliny_, _Solinus_, _Albertus_, _Cyprian_, _Austin_, _Isidore_, and many Christian Writers, alluding herein unto the heart of man and the precious bloud of our Saviour, who was typified by the Goat that was slain, and the scape-Goat in the Wilderness; and at the effusion of whose bloud, not only the hard hearts of his enemies relented, but the stony rocks and vail of the Temple were shattered. But this I perceive is easier affirmed then proved. For _Lapidaries_, and such as profess the art of cutting this stone, do generally deny it; and they that seem to countenance it, have in their deliveries so qualified it, that little from thence of moment can be inferred for it. For first, the holy Fathers, without a further enquiry did take it for granted, and rested upon the authority of the first deliverers. As for _Albertus_, he promiseth this effect, but conditionally, not except the Goat drink wine, and be fed with _Siler montanum, petroselinum_, and such herbs as are conceived of power to break the stone in the bladder. But the words of _Pliny_, from whom most likely the rest at first derived it, if strictly considered, do rather overthrow, then any way advantage this effect. His words are these: _Hircino rumpitur sanguine, nec aliter quam recenti, calidoque macerata, & sic quoque multis ictibus, tunc etiam præterquam eximias incudes malleosque ferreos frangens_. That is, it is broken with Goats blood, but not except it be fresh and warm, and that not without many blows, and then also it will break the best Anvils and Hammers of Iron. And answerable hereto, is the assertion of _Isidore_ and _Solinus_. By which account, a Diamond steeped in Goats bloud, rather increaseth in hardness, then acquireth any softness by the infusion; for the best we have are comminuible without it; and are so far from breaking hammers, that they submit unto pistillation, and resist not an ordinary pestle. [Sidenote: Pulvis Lithontripticus.]