Ancient Ideas on their Origin and Virtues. 5 1 



perfection, and may be sound and good indeed, have 

 many folds and skins wherein they be lapt, not 

 unproperly as it may be thought, a thicke, hard, 

 and callous rind of the bodie, which they that be 

 skilfuU doe pill and cleanse from them. Certes, I 

 carmot chuse but wonder how they should so 

 greatly be affected with the aire, and joy so much 

 therein : for with the same they wax red, and loose 

 their native whitenesse and beautie, even as the 

 bodie of a man or woman that is caught and burnt 

 with the sunne. And therefore those shells that 

 keepe in the maine sea, and lie deeper than that 

 the sun-beames can pierce unto them, keepe the 

 finest and most delicate Pearles. And yet they, 

 as orient as they be, waxe yellow with age, become 

 riveled, and looke dead, without any lively vigor ; 

 so as that commendable orient lustre (so much 

 sought for of our great lords and costly dames), 

 continueth but in their youth, and decayeth with 

 yeeres. When they be old, they will proove thicke 

 and grosse in the very shells, and sticke fast unto 

 their sides, so as they cannot be parted from them, 

 unlesse they be filed asunder. These have no 

 more but one faire face, and on that side are 

 round, for the back part is flat and plaine, and 

 hereupon such are called Tympaiiia, as one would 

 say. Bell Pearles." 



A similar notion as to the origin of Pearls is 



