astrologers,
and so-called physicians,—a fine collection of 'beaux' esprits! " Dr.
More, the Platonist, a scholar, and a gentleman, but an enthusiast,
though he was staying in the house all one summer, did not see the sick
lady more than once or twice. She urged him for months to search all
over Europe for an Eagle's Stone, which she said was of great use in
such diseases as hers; but when Eustace, her husband, found her one, at
great labour, and expense, she sent him back word that it was not one ;
for some of her quacks were able to decipher it at once, and declared
it to be a German stone, such as are commonly sold in London, at five
shillings apiece. By some such cabalistic stones as these the sprites
in the time of our grandsires used to preserve the fruits from hail,
and storm. There is similarly a Salamander stone. The Eagle-stone is
one made after a cabalistic art, and under certain stars, and engraved
with the sign of an Eagle. " The virtue of these stones could be
proved," Eustace went on laughingly to say, " throughout all arts and
sciences, as divinity, philosophy, astrology, physiognomy, divination
of dreams, painting, sculpture, music, and what not." This Aetites is a
yellow clay Ironstone exercising sanative virtues, and thought to
reflect mystic powers from Saturn, its patron Planet. Epiphanius,
writing—1565.—"De duodecim Gemmis in veste Aaronis," told concerning
the Eagle-Stone: "In the interior of Scythia there is a valley
inaccessible to man, down which slaughtered lambs are thrown. The small
stones at the bottom of the Valley adhere to these pieces of flesh, and
Eagles, when they carry away the flesh to their nests, carry the stones
with it. It has been believed that without these stones Eagles cannot
hatch their eggs."
