Pearls. 
445 
highly prized and held in great estimation. Margarite, 
from the Latin word, margarita , was a name sometimes 
given to the pearl. Drummond of Hawthornden plays on 
this word in an epitaph on a lady named Margaret:— 
u In shells and gold, pearles are not kept alone, 
A Margaret here lies beneath a stone; 
A Margaret that did excel! in worth 
All those rich gems the Indies both send forth.” 
Antonio de Herrera, of Spain, in his description of 
the West Indies, gives some account of the pearl 
fisheries:— 
“ There are in the Indian Ocean, an infinite number of fishes, the 
kindes and properties whereof the Creator onely can declare. Now that 
we intreate of the great riches that comes from the Indies, it were no' 
reason to forget the pearle, which the ancients called marguerites, and 
at the first were in so great estimation, as none but royall persons were 
suffered to weare them: but at this day there is such abundance as the 
Negres themselves doe weare chaines thereof; they grow in shels of 
oystres, in eating whereof I have found pearles in the middest of them. 
These oysters within are of the colour of heaven, very lively. In some 
places they make spoones, the which they call mother of pearle. The 
pearles doe differ much in forme, in bignesse, figure, colour and polish¬ 
ing ; so likewise in their price they differ much. Some they call Ave 
Mariaes , beiug like the small grains of beades : others are called Pater 
Nosters , being bigger. Seldome shall you finde two of one greatnesse, 
forme, and colour. For this reason the Romans (as Plinie writeth) 
called them unions. When they doe finde two that are alike in all 
points, they raise the price much, especially for eare-rings.” ( Pur elms , 
vol. iii. p. 952.) 
Before Hamlet attempts to win the wager that his uncle 
has laid upon his skill in fencing, Claudius orders some 
stoups of wine to he set on the table, and declares that at 
the first successful hit— 
“ The king shall drink to Hamlet’s better breath ; 
And in the cup an union shall he throw, 
Richer than that which four successive kings 
In Denmark’s crown have worn. 
