Superstitions About Jasper

"But (as I said) Vincentius, making mention of the jasper stone, touching which (by the waie of a parenthesis) I have inferred Marbodeus, his verses, he saith that some jasper stones are found having in them the livelie image of a naturall man, with a sheeld at his necke, and a speare in his hand, and under his feete a serpent; which stones so marked and figured, he preferreth before all the rest, because they are antidotaries, or remedies, notablie resisting poison. Othersome are also found figured and marked with the forme of a man bearing on his necke a bundle of hearbs and flowers, with the estimation and value of them noted, that they have in them a facultie or power restrictive, and will in an instant or moment of time staunch blood. Such a kind of stone (as it is reported) Galen wore on his finger. Othersome are marked with a crosse, as the same author writeth, and these be right excellent against inundations or overflowings of waters. I could hold you long occupied in declarations like unto these, wherein I laie before you what other men have published and set forth to the world, choosing rather to be an academical discourser, than an universall determiner, but I am desirous of brevitie."