4000003870

Koyal

Commentaries.

BooKVIIt

'' found in the North-Sea, near the River called

Hacha,

where I underfiood how

" they fifhed

for chem,

and cook them; which is done

with

the great labour and

'' haz.ard of thofe poor people, who

will

dive

fix,

nine; and fometimes

twelve

'' fathoms under water to gather the

Oifl:er ,

which

include

the Pearls, and grow

" clofe to the ficfes of the Rocks ;

and

having loaded themfelves at the bottom

" of the Sea, they arife, and buoy up themfelves

again

to the furface of the

wa–

ter, and emptying their fhells which they bring up

into

their

Canoes,

they

<c.

then open them, and take out that Treafure, which good fortune hath

pref~

" ted to them: the coldnefs of the water at the bottom of the Sea

great,

and

" troublefome

the Divers,

but

much more laborious to hold their breath

for a

" quarter of an hour, and fometimes

for

full

half hour, during the time that

they remain under water; the \ hich cannot be performed by any, but rhofe

· " who have accufiomed themfelves

from their infancy, and who ufe

great

" abflinence , adventuring

no~

dive, buc when they are

fa!Hng:

Likewife

covecoufoefS

in chis

people

makes

them the more abfiemious, though

be ne·

'' ver

grievous : they drudge for

Pearls. in

divers manners,

and find

them

fuch

" quantities.,

that

chey

now firing

them in Neck-laces.

the

year

587,

Within

memory, there

came

from

lndie.1,

for the King's

account,

Mark

weight ofPearl, with three other large

Chefls

of the fame, befides

1264

Mark

'' weight

for

account of

particular

perfons, and feven other

bags full

not weigh–

ed:

the repmt of which, at any other time, would have feemed incrediole.

Thus far are the Words of

Acofta,

with

which he concludes that Chapter.

And now hereunto I iliall add two Stories about Pearls

one is,

that about

the

~ealr

)64,

they brought

fo~rnany

Pearls to

&vil

for the King's account, that being

h€awed up into a boatd like feed, the·y

ere'fet to fale in grofs to the highefi Bidder.

Out·cry

being made of the fale to him that fhould give mofi, and the price

agreed;

one of the

King's Officers

prefendy offered to him that bad

bought

them

6000

Ducacs for his

bargain;

.and

certain Merchant called

Profjero,

who

was

skilled

in tlntt

commodity, immediately

laid

down

the

Money; fo the Pearls being ta–

ken

the

fidl

buyer remained contented

with

the advantage of

6000

Ducats,

which ne.had gained forone word [peaking; and the other well fatisfied with

his

bargain, hoping

gee

much more Money and benefit by

confiderable a

parcel

of Pearls. Tlie other Story is this : I knew a young Man

Spain

coodi.

tion, and

great want; and though he were a Silver-frnirh by Trade, yet

ha–

ving ho

Srock to

fet

up with, he worked as a Journey-man. This perfon lived

Madr.id

in the year

562,

and

63,

and lodged with me at my Lodgings; and ob–

ferving

him to play away all that he got

his work, I often chid him, and told

him that I believed I !hould one day fee him in

very

great rnifery

which

replied, that his wants and rniferies could not be greater than they had been,

when

* Thirty

fix

he came on foot, and onely with_

Maravedu

his pocket to

MndYid.

This

M.,1ravedis

fellow, to improve and better his fortune, refolved

the

Indie1,

and deal m

make fix

Pear1

for

knew

had fome skill in chem: It happened that he was

uccefr ..

pence.

full in his Voyage, and

his profit, that he got ao Efrace of above thirty thou

fand Ducats; and then co {hew his Gallantry (for I knew both

him

and his

Wife)

lie ma<le him a large Coat of black Velvet,

bich he embroidered with fine

Pearl before, at

leaft

fix fingers broad, and quire round the border ; \:vhich

was

very gallant, and agreeable co the new Mode ; this Embroidery being valued at

the leafi

fuur thoufand Ducats. This Relation I have made, to !hew the

gre~

quantities ofPearl, which have been brought from the

Jndie.r:,

befides

chafe

\'vhidi

e have mentioned in the third Book and fifteenth Chapter of our Hillary

0£

Florida,

which are found in manipart of that great Kingdom, particularly in

that

rich Temple of the Province called

ofachiqui

;

the

Mark weight of Pearl, be–

fides

the two Chefis which

Acofta

mentions to have been brought for

the

King's

ac–

count, were all choice Pearls, and fuch as at feveral times ' ere culled out by die

Indians_,

and

fet

apart for the King's ufe and fervice, to whom a fifth

part

belonged

of all rhe Pearls

hich were

taken,

and accordingly delivered

into

the Royal

Wardrobe; from whence

they~

ere given out for adorning a Mamo.and

Petti–

coat for the Image of our Lady of

GHadabtpe;

embroderying a \\thole Suit,

fuch

a the drefS of her Head, Frontlets, Surcoat, hanging

Jeeves,

and hem of her

Gar-–

ments, all with the finefl: fort of Pearl

fee

Diamond-work : the Houfe, or

Chair

of tare made for this Image, which were ufually of a darkifh colour,

were

now

covered \Yith Rubies and meralds

fee

Gold ;

hich

was apparent, by

whofe