Shakespeare and America

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1898. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... pearles (which they call Tenaros) exchanging the same for our merchandise. When they departed from Curiana--to returne to Spayne, they had threescore an XVI. pounds weight after VIII. unces to the pound of pearls, which they bought for exchange of our thinges amounting to the value of five shillinges. * * * At the length they came home so laden with pearles, that they were with every mariner, in maner as common as chaffe. * * * Many of these pearles were as bigge as hasell nuttes and as oriente (as we call it) as they be of the East partes. Of another island it is written: In the sea neere about this Ilande sea muscles are engendred, of such quantitie, that many of them are as brode as bucklers. In these are pearles founde oftentimes as bigge as beanes, sometimes bigger than Olives and such as sumptuous Cleopatra might have desired. Writing of King Tennaccus, Peter Martyr further says: After that hee knewe that our menne desired golde and pearles, hee sent for six hundred and fourteene Pesos of golde, and two hundred and fourtie of the byggest and fayrest pearles, besides a great number of the small sort. Of another King, Teaocha, the historian writes: He gave Vaschus twentie pounds waight of wrought golde, after eight ounces to the pounde; also two hundred bigge pearles. Another base Indian brought foorth a basket of curious workmanship, and full of pearles, which hee gave them. The surame of these pearles amounted to the weight of a hundred & ten pounds. * * * They say that these pearles were marvelous precious, faire, orient, & exceeding big: Insomuch that they brought many with them bigger than hasell nuttes. Of what pryse & value they may be I consider by one pearle the whiche Paulus predecessour to your holines, bought at the second ha...