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At the execution of Louis de Luxembourg, Constable of France in the reign of Louis XI. (remarks Monstrelet), he said, addressing Master John Sordun, "Reverend father, here is a stone that I have long worn round my neck, and which I loved much for its virtue of preserving the wearer from all poisons and pestilence; which stone I beg you to bear to my young son, to whom you will say that I entreat he will be careful of it, for love of me." The friar promised to obey his wishes. After the execution, however, the stone, by order of the chancellor, was delivered to the King.
The virtues of these stones fell short in the power of preserving its wearer from a violent death.
Faith in the virtues of certain precious stones for the cure of diseases was transmitted from early ages to a comparatively late period. In the church of Old St. Paul's, London, was a famous sapphire given by Richard de Preston, citizen and grocer of that city, for the cure of infirmities in the eyes of all those thus afflicted who might resort to it. In reference to Queen Elizabeth's assumed power of healing scrofulous patients by the royal touch, it was said by Vaughan, Bishop of Chester, that "she did it by virtue of some precious stone in the possession of the crown of England, that possessed such a miraculous gift." "But," observes Harrington, drily, "had Queen Elizabeth been told that the bishop ascribed more virtue to her jewels (though she loved them well) than to her person, she would never have made him Bishop of Chester." |
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Precious Stones Vol 11
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