are called foundations, because by foundations are meant virtues.

For this reason when the stone

is said to be a foundation, it should be interpreted as a decoration of the foundation.

John says, therefore:

The first stone in the foundation of the wall is jasper.

The first foundation, that is, the adornment of the first foundation, is jasper, that is, faith ever
green, strengthening the sight, but whether it be faith in one's country or in the Church
triumphant, which is in question here, does not primarily occur except to those coming to the
Church; through it there will be entry to the aforesaid city, while he who does not have it will not
be able to enter.

Verse

Jasper is said to have seventeen species. It is also known to be of many colours. It is said to come
from many regions of the world. The best is a translucent green in colour. It is shown to have
more virtues than any other.

The second, sapphire

The second, that is, the second foundation, that is, the second decoration of the foundation, is
sapphire. Its colour is similar to that of a clear sky; struck by the rays of the sun, it sends forth,
burning, a flash of lightning, signifying the hope by which we are carried off to heaven; through
it we are fired with a love of heavenly things, disdaining love of the present world, so that we
can truly say with the apostle: 'Our conversation is in heaven' (Philippians, 3:20); 'I will lay thy
foundations with sapphires' (Isaiah, 54:11).

Verse

The image of the sapphire is most fitting for the fingers of kings. It shines in an outstanding way
and resembles most a clear sky. The power of nature has endowed it with such honour that it is
called sacred and deservedly the gemstone of gemstones.

The third, chalcedony

it is more angelic than human; moreover, it is pleasing to angels and God and man and carries
within itself the image of Christ because it follows the lamb wherever it goes; and for this reason
this stone is called the fourth, because virginity is recommended in the four Gospels.

Verse

The smaragdus surpasses every green thing in its greenness.

The fifth, sardonyx

The fifth foundation, sardonyx, gets its name from the association of two names, as Isidorus
says; for it has the white of onyx and the red of sard; and it is three-coloured, as the Glossator
says, black at the bottom, white in the middle and red at the top; and when used for sealing, it
does not pull any of the wax away.

From this, it signifies the suffering of the saints. At the bottom, that is in the world, they are
considered worthless and despised; in this context, Job, 12: 'The just upright man is laughed to
scorn ... a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease' (12:4). In the middle, that is the
righteous man in his heart or conscience, they are white, as a result of their innocence. At the top
they are red, by reason of the zeal of their martyrdom for Christ.

The stone does not pull any of the wax away, because the righteous man forgives his persecutors
fully, from the heart, retaining no bitterness, according to Ecclesiasticus, 28: 'Forgive thy
neighbour the hurt that he hath done unto thee, so shall thy sins also be forgiven when thou
prayest (28:2).

This virtue is said to be the fifth because it diminishes infirmity of the body, because it is ruled
by the five senses.

Verse

Two names, sard and onyx, make the sardonix. This single stone has taken from the two stones
three colours. Alone of precious stones, it cannot pull away wax.

The sixth, sard

The sixth foundation, sard is so called because it was first found in Sardis; it is of the colour of
blood only. For this reason it signifies the perfect constancy of the martyrs, who poured forth
their blood for Christ.
and for that reason it is placed in the sixth position, because Christ in the sixth age and on the
sixth day consecrated his martyrdom with his blood.

Verse

The sard gets its name from Sardis where it was first found. It gets its name from its reddish
colour.

The seventh, chrysolite

The seventh foundation, chrysolite, is similar in colour to gold. For this reason its name comes
from crisis [chrysos], which means 'gold'; it seems to give out glittering sparks, as the Glossator
says; and it signifies wisdom, which exceeds all other gifts, just as gold exceeds all other metals.

Wisdom, through the medium of preaching, gives out glittering sparks, that is, encouragement
and doctrine, setting alight the hearts of those who hear them. In this context, Ezekiel 1, on the
sacred animals: 'They sparkled like the colour of burnished brass' (1:7); The Wisdom of
Solomon, 3: 'The righteous shall shine and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble' (see
3:1,7).

This stone is placed in the seventh position, because it holds the seventh place in order of
ascendancy among the gifts of the holy spirit.

Verse

Chrysolite shines like gold and flashes like fire. It is similar to the sea, displaying something of
its green colour. We read that the Ethiopians send us this stone.

The eighth, beryl

The eighth foundation is beryl. This stone is polished into a hexagonal shape; it shines like water
struck by the sun; it is also said to be of such heat that it warms the hand of the holder; and it
signifies the virtue of mercy.

Mercy operates in six ways, warming the cold hearts of the infirm to a love of God and one's
neighbour, according to Proverbs, 25: 'If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he
thirsty give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head' (25:21-23).
Matthew, 5: 'Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify
your Father which is in heaven' (5:16).

This virtue is placed in the eighth position, because not here but in the eighth age
it expects its reward. In this context, the psalm: 'Thou shall eat the labour of thine hands: happy
shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee' (Psalms, 128:2). Gregory: 'It will be bad for those
who eat their labours here, like hypocrites.'

Verse

Its hexagonal form causes beryl to shine brightly; otherwise it seems to have a faint pallor.

The ninth, topaz

The ninth foundation is topaz; this stone, although it is multi-coloured, has two colours
especially, gold and a clear colour, as the Glossator of Exodus, 34, says: And it is touched by the
splendour of the sun. It exceeds all other gemstones in clearness; its appearance is singularly
pleasing to those who look at it; if it were polished, it would be dulled; left to its own nature, it is
clearer; it is the largest of stones; and it is cherished by kings.

Topaz signifies contemplation. The love with which contemplation burns, colours it gold; the
understanding which illuminates contemplation, gives it its clear colour. In contemplation the
Lord is seen more clearly; and men are more especially drawn to his love when they are open to
it. Their nature is such that, if they are embellished by the honours of this world, they see less
clearly, because, like Martha, they have many distractions. This stone shines with every colour,
because contemplation shines with the splendour of every virtue. It is the biggest of stones,
because contemplation expands the heart greatly, and those who are truly kings think nothing of
the flesh. It is placed in the ninth position, because contemplation aligns contemplative men with
the nine orders of angels.

Verse

Topaz comes from the island of the same name. It is all the more precious as it is rare. The land
of the Arabs, rich in stones, produces it.
The tenth, chrysoprase

The tenth foundation is chrysoprase. This stone, according to Isidorus, comes from India, and is
purple in colour with separate, small gold marks; for this reason it gets its name crisopassus,
'scattered everywhere with gold'. It signifies desire of the the heavenly land, which burns the
more brightly, the more it is affected by tribulation, because, as Gregory says: 'What a bellows
does to coal, tribulation does to love.'

Chrisoprase is placed in the tenth position, because holy men, in their desire for heaven, hasten
to reach the tenth order of angels by observing the ten commandments. The tenth order is the one
which will be renewed from men. In this context, man is called, in Luke, 15, the tenth piece of
silver which the woman searched for and found (see 15:8-10).

Verse

India, its home, sends us the stone called chrysoprase. It shines with the sap of the leek and is of
mixed colour, tinted with purple and marked with gold.

The eleventh, hyacinth

The eleventh foundation is hyacinth. This stone changes in accordance with the weather: on clear
days, it is transparent; when the sky is overcast, it is opaque. For this reason it signifies the
judgement of holy men, who use it, as the Lord did, to adapt to all conditions of life, in order to
win the hearts of all men; as the apostle says, 1 Corinthians, 9: 'I am made all things to all men,
that I might by all means save all' (see 9:22); Romans, 12: ' Rejoice with them that do rejoice,
and weep with them that weep' (12:15). This virtue enables holy teachers to know what, to
whom, when and how to preach.

This stone is placed in the eleventh position, because through it, especially, all manner of sin is
avoided.

Verse

The learned say that there are three kinds of hyacinth. The best is the kind whose colour is not so
dense as to be obscure or so light as to be transparent but has a purple, myrtle-like bloom drawn
from both parts of the spectrum.
This stone, placed in the mouth, proves to be colder than others. It is very hard and resists cutting
or engraving. But it can be marked by a fragment of diamond.

The twelfth, amethyst

The twelfth foundation is amethyst. Isidorus says of it: Among purple stones, the Indian amethyst
holds first position; it is, indeed, purple but of mixed coloration, giving forth violet and rose-
coloured lights; it is easy to engrave. For this reason the humility of the saints is signified by it;
associated with humility is obedience, as Ambrose says: 'Humility is small, like the violet,
beautiful like the rose, easy to apply to all things'; or: 'They are like burning flames, looking at
love'. For humility is acceptable to everyone, even to our enemies; as pride, in contrast, is viewed
by everyone with detestation, as it says in Ecclesiasticus, 15: 'Pride is hateful before God and
men' (see 10: 7). For this reason the amethyst is placed in the final position, as if watching over
all, and as if humility always reckons itself the least and always takes the last place. In this
context, Gregory: 'He who assembles in himself the other virtues without humility is like one
who carries dust in the wind. Also Paul: 'He who is modest, that is to be understood as humble,
deserves to possess the tenth place.'

Of stones and what they can do

The diamond is amongst all stones the hardest, cutting all other precious stones; it likes to be set
in steel; it does not wish to be given away; and it will not allow the goods of him who possesses
it to be divided.

2 The ruby has the virtue of all precious stones, that if it is washed in water and that water is then
given to the sick who are thirsty, they grow well if each one is according to his nature virtuous.

3 The smaragdus refreshes the eyes; it cheers the body of him who looks upon it; and
preserves love.

4 The sapphire restrains the flow of and blood and kills le felun.

5 Topaz is saffron coloured, like amber, but more pleasing and it prevents a pot from boiling
over; placed in the mouth of a thirsting man it removes his thirst.

6 Turquoise brings anger and boldness.

7 Sardonyx is tri-coloured; it gives you boldness and brings victory.

8 The toadstone brings you victory in achieving your ends and in war.

9 The amethyst brings an omen of wood and water; it is better given than desired.

10 Jasper is green like the the smaragdus but not so pleasing; it restrains the flow of blood and
preserves the love of the person who gives or receives it.

11 Carnelian is red and restrains the flow of blood.

12 The pearl, parlus, is white and round and disposes you to sleep.

12 The stone decapun is of the same colour; it seems to be marked with blood and brings victory
in every field.

13 Crystal when ground and drunk in water restores milk to a woman who has lost it.

Note that hot goat's blood dissolves a diamond. 14 The pearl, margarita, is a small stone but a
precious one; it is white, compact, found in shellfish and conceived by heavenly dew, as Isidore
says.

16 Note that the pearl conceived from the morning dew is whiter and of better quality than that
from the evening dew. Sometimes, however, margarita is a general word for a precious stone.
However the word is to be understood, it is certain that the twelve 'pearls', interpreted in the
moral sense, are the twelve virtues, symbolised by twelve stones as you will more plainly see.

The diamond, adamas or dyamas, is a transparent stone, like crystal, but

having the colour of polished iron, but it cannot be destroyed by iron, fire or any other means,
unless it is placed in the hot blood of a goat; with sharp pieces of diamond other stones are
engraved and polished. It is no greater than a small nut. There are six kinds, however Adamant
attracts metal; it expels venom; it produces amber [and is efficacious against empty fears and for
those resisting spells]. It is found in India, in Greece and in Cyprus, where magicians make use
of it. It gives you courage; it averts apparitions; it removes anger and quarrels; it heals the mad; it
defends you from your enemies. It should be set in gold or silver and worn on the left arm. It is
likewise found in Arabia.

Acates is a stone so called from the name of a river flowing through the middle of Sicily. It is a
black stone with white lines, having several images, sometimes of a king, sometimes of beasts,
placed there by nature. Another kind is found in Crete, similar to coral, having veins like gold.
This stone is used against poison.

Another kind is found in India; it is marked with veins like the branches of a tree, and in the form
of men. This stone removes thirst and strengthens the sight.

There is another kind which has the scent of myrrh when it is placed in fire.

Another kind has marks the colour of blood.

Another has the colour of wax. But because there are so many kinds, it is of less value. It defends
a man, however; it gives him strength; puts colour in his face; it endows him with good counsel;
and it makes him persuasive.

Electorius grows in the stomach of a fowl after it is three years old and grows until the bird is
seven. It is no bigger than a nut or a bean; it is clear like crystal or water; it gives victory to the
man who wears it; it takes away thirst if it is placed in the mouth of the thirsty; it summons back
those who are scattered; it acquires friends for him; it makes him eloquent and loved. It bestows
love between a man and a woman. It has all these virtues if it is carried in the mouth.

Sernatites is a black stone of such a nature that if it is placed in the mouth and held under the
tongue, a man can perceive what people think of him, and no woman can withstand his will. You
can test its nature by smearing someone with honey and milk and placing him in the midst of a
swarm of flies; if he has the stone
he is not bitten; remove the stone and the flies bite him ceaselessly. There are seventeen kinds of
jasper; it has many colours; and it grows in parts of Sicily. The green and translucent kind is
better and of more virtue than the rest. Jasper defends any chaste person wearing it from fever
and the dropsy, and from apparitions; it strengthens friendship, keeps you safe and gives you
courage. It is of greater virtue if set in silver rather than gold.

Sapphire is of such virtue that it is called the gemstone of gemstones. In colour, it is like the sky
when it is cloudless. It is called serc[t]ites because it is found on the shore of Libya in front of
sandbanks. This kind is clear; but a better kind is that found in the land of the Turks, although it
is not so clear. Its virtue strengthens him who wears it, preserves his limbs intact, overcomes
envy and deception, takes away fear, brings him out of prison, and loosens his bonds. It gets rid
of an ulcer and cools you if you are overheated internally. Ground up with milk, it serves as an
emollient; it is good for the eyes and for an injury to the tongue, and it takes away a headache. If
you wear it, you should behave in a chaste fashion.

Smaragdus surpasses everything in its greenness. There are six kinds: from Scythia, from
Britannia [Bactria], from the Nile, which flows from Paradise; one is found in the veins of mines;
one is called Chalcedonian. The one from Scythia is so clear that you can see through it; it
colours the air around. It is the better kind. Smaragdus does not change its colour on account of
the sun or moon or shade; it is so even that you can look through it, as Nero used to do; you can
use it to find things under water. It brings wealth if it is worn chastely; it endows you with
persuasive eloquence if it is worn on the neck. It cures fever; it gets rid of the hemitertian fever
and epilepsy; and it banishes storms and wantonness. It also takes on colour: if it is discoloured
and washed in wine and anointed with green oil, the discoloration is dissolved.

Crisapacion comes from Ethiopia; its colour is like gold and at night it shines like fire etc.

Sardonyx gets its name from two stones, and from these it gets three colours. Its first colour is
black; above the black is white; above the white is red. This stone has five types, but the one
which has the three colours not mixed together is worth more. It does not stick to wax; it has no
other virtue, but you must be chaste and humble for it to have this virtue. The stone comes from
Arabia and India. If worn on the neck or finger, it brings deep sleep, cures strife and also makes
infants somewhat sharp-sighted. There are five kinds.
Sard gets its name from the island where it was first found; it is red in colour; the least valuable
of gemstones, it has no virtue other than its beauty and the fact that it removes the harmful effect
of the onyx stone. There are five kinds.

Chrysolite resembles the water of the sea and has a grain of gold within it, and sparks like fire.
Its virtue is to counter night-time fears; if it is pierced, with the hair of an ass placed in the
middle, and worn on the left arm, it puts demons to flight. It is found in Ethiopia.

Beryl has a hexagonal shape to give it greater clarity; the better kind has the colour of oil or sea
water. It is found in India. It bestows love between a man and a woman; it brings honour to him
who wears it; it warms the hand of anyone who holds it; water in which it has lain is good for the
eyes; and it takes away asthma and the pains of fevers. There are nine kinds.

Topaz gets its name from the island, Topazos, where it is found. It is valued more because it has
two kinds of radiance: one the colour of gold; the other, clearer. It is quite good for piles; it is
said to feel the pull of the moon; and it causes water to stop boiling. It comes from Arabia.

The chrysoprase comes from India. Its colour is like the sap of a leek, with golden marks; but
there is nothing on record about its virtue.

There are three kinds of hyacinth. Each one gives strength, and removes sadness and false
suspicion. The kind with a watery colour chills you; anyone who wears it on his neck or finger
can go in safety in foreign parts and is safe from overeating; he will be honoured by his enemies
and anything he seeks in a righteous fashion, he will receive. The stone cannot be engraved.

The amethyst is the colour of a violet or a drop of red wine or whiteish. It comes from India. It is
easy to shatter. If it were rarer, it would be more valuable. There are five kinds to look for.

Chelidony is a stone. It is found in the stomach of the swallow; it has two colours, black and red;
the black kind is helpful to the insane, heals demonic possession and other kinds of weakness; it
makes a man eloquent and loved; it should be worn on the left arm wrapped in a linen cloth.

The red kind helps to bring things to completion; it offers protection against the threats and rages
of kings and princes; if it is moistened in saffron and worn in a linen cloth, it heals anyone with a
fever and restrains noxious humours.

Jet comes from Lycia. The better kind is found in England. When it is made warm it attracts
straw; it burns
in water; it is quenched in oil, Anyone wearing it who suffers from a swelling between the skin
and the flesh (ie dropsy), will benefit, if it is poured in. Ground and mixed with water, it fixes
loose teeth in place. By means of inhalation in hot baths it restores menstrual flow. The odour
given out by jet when it burns will, in inhaled, get rid of epilepsy, and it puts snakes and demons
to flight. It helps those who have an upset stomach; it is good for ringing in the ears; and it offers
protection against spells; it is said to be a test for virginity. A woman who suffers from the flux, if
it is of the womb, will be healed by water in which jet has been soaked for three days.

Lodestone is found in the land of the cave-dwellers and in India. It has a metallic colour and
attracts iron. Its virtue is that if a man wants to know if his wife is chaste or not, he should place
the stone under her head when she is asleep; if she is chaste, she will embrace him warmly;
otherwise, she will fall from the bed as if struck by a hand; this happens because of the odour of
the stone. If a thief should enter a house to rob it, and should place in different parts of the house
a live coal and on top of it powdered lodestone, so that it gives off smoke to the four corners of
the house, it will seem to those who are in the house that the house is collapsing; as a result, they
will flee and the thief can rob the place. Lodestone produces harmony between man and woman;
it bestows grace, eloquence, skill in argument. If it is given in the form of a drink, it purges
dropsy. Its powder, put on a fire, quenches it.

Coral grows like a tree in the sea, at which time it is green; afterwards, however, it hardens and
takes on a reddish colour. It resembles the branch of a tree. Its virtue is that it drives away
lightning and storms, wherever it is; and if it is scattered around a vineyard or olive-grove, or on
a field or on seeded ground, it protects it from hail and storms and it increases its yield. It
banishes apparitions and brings a good outcome to legal business.

Almandine comes from the part of Asia called Alablanda. It resembles sard and is not easily
distinguished from it.

Carnelian has a pale colour. Its virtue is this: it quenches the anger of people in dispute, and it
staunches blood flowing from any part of the body, especially menstrual flow.

The carbuncle is found in Libya where cave-dwellers live; it sends out rays like a live coal, by
night but not by day.

Ligurium comes from the urine of the lynx. You can see through the middle of the stone as
through glass. The beast hides its urine in the sand lest it should be found. The virtue of ligurium
is that it takes away stomach-ache and staunches
flux and takes away jaundice. Eaglestone is a stone which the eagle carries from the ends of the
earth to its nest. It does not put the stone down until it is inside the nest; there the stone remains
until the eagle's young have grown up. This stone has another stone within it: for this reason it is
of benefit to pregant women; likewise at childbirth. It should be worn on the left side. It prevents
drunkenness; it increases wealth; it bestows love and victory; it keeps young children healthy;
and it takes away epilepsy. If anyone should be suspected of giving poison, the stone should be
placed under his plate; as long as it stays there, the suspect will not be able to eat; if the suspicion
is true, he can eat only when the stone has been removed.

Moonstone has the colour of jasper. It is called silenites because it waxes and wanes with the
moon. It bestows love; it is good for the health. It comes from Persia.

Gagatromen is a stone which is marked like the skin of a a wild goat. It gives a leader victory
and puts his enemies to flight.

The thunderstone falls to earth with a bolt of lightning. If you wear it and behave chastely,
lightning will not strike the spot on which you stand, and no storms will arise. It helps you in war
and to achieve your purpose. It bestows sleep and sweet dreams. It has two colours.

The bloodstone is of this nature: if you place it in a vessel facing the sun, it makes the sun turn
red and causes a new eclipse; it also makes the vessel boil and spill water if it is full. Anyone
wearing it can foretell much of the future. It bestows praise on a man, and good health. It
staunches a flow of blood and works against poison and trickery. If you wear it together with the
herb of the same name, you can go where you want, invisible, using the appropriate spell. The
bloodstone comes from Ethiopia and Africa. It is of the colour of the emerald with blood-
coloured marks.

Epistites is a brilliant red stone. Its nature is that it quenches a boiling cauldron, and after a short
while cools it. It scares harmful birds away from seeded ground; it repels storms; it banishes
quarrels; and it keeps you safe safe. Placed in the sun, it gives out light like fire; It is better worn
on the left.

Hematite gets its name from blood. Powdered and mixed with the white of egg, it is good for
roughness of the eyelids. Ground and mixed with water, it helps anyone who spits blood. It
restrains menstruation; it takes away the scar tissue that grows in wounds; and it restrains a flux
of the stomach. Drunk in wine, it works against poison