we al know, what Pearls of sanctitie are lightly
brought into the world, with so great importuni∣ties.
But if we looke into the other congruities
between them, we shal find them to sympathize so,
as we may wel tearme our Virgin-Mother, a Pearl or
Margarit of the Heauens, as the other of the
Seas.
The Margarit, as I sayd, is bred in the Sea; which
Isidor affirmes, and that in this manner. At certain
times of the yeare, to wit, in the Spring and Autum∣ne,
the cockles, oysters, or scollops, or cal them what
you wil, approach to the Sea-shore, and lye there ga∣ping,
and opening themselues, and receaue the
celestial deaw into their bowels; from the coagula∣tion
wherof, as abouesayd, are the Margarits en∣gendred.
Now this Shelfish, oyster, or Mother-Pearl
(for the Mother, or issue Pearl, are al of a substance,
as mothers and embrions vse to be) is the Virgin-Mo∣ther-Pearl
it self, which opened her Virginal soule,
at her mysterious Annunciation, in the Spring of the
yeare, by the quiet shore of her tacit and silent
contemplation, to receiue the heauenlie Deaw, the
new Margarit: that is, to conceaue that precious
Pearl, Christ Iesus, in her womb. For she opened her
consent, to the great Angel, her singular Paranimph,
to obey GOD in al things, saying: Behold the hand∣mayd
of our Lord, &c. and her soule likewise to the
Holie-Ghost, to ouershadow her: and after the opening
thus of her free consent, and her Angelical soule, the
Celestial deaw of the Holie-Ghost descended into her,
and so this infant-Pearl was diuinely begot in the
virginal womb of the Virgin-mother - Pearl. Of
which deawing of the Holie-Ghost, and opening of
the Blessed Virgin therevnto, it is prophetically sayd: