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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/2434-0.txt b/2434-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a3a5a7b --- /dev/null +++ b/2434-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1405 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 2434 *** + + + + +THE NEW ATLANTIS + + +BY + +SIR FRANCIS BACON + + + + +INTRODUCTORY NOTE + +Bacon's literary executor, Dr. Rowley, published "The New Atlantis" in +1627, the year after the author's death. It seems to have been written +about 1623, during that period of literary activity which followed +Bacon's political fall. None of Bacon's writings gives in short apace +so vivid a picture of his tastes and aspirations as this fragment of +the plan of an ideal commonwealth. The generosity and enlightenment, +the dignity and splendor, the piety and public spirit, of the +inhabitants of Bensalem represent the ideal qualities which Bacon the +statesman desired rather than hoped to see characteristic of his own +country; and in Solomon's House we have Bacon the scientist indulging +without restriction his prophetic vision of the future of human +knowledge. No reader acquainted in any degree with the processes and +results of modern scientific inquiry can fail to be struck by the +numerous approximations made by Bacon's imagination to the actual +achievements of modern times. The plan and organization of his great +college lay down the main lines of the modern research university; and +both in pure and applied science he anticipates a strikingly large +number of recent inventions and discoveries. In still another way is +"The New Atlantis" typical of Bacon's attitude. In spite of the +enthusiastic and broad-minded schemes he laid down for the pursuit of +truth, Bacon always had an eye to utility. The advancement of science +which he sought was conceived by him as a means to a practical end the +increase of man's control over nature, and the comfort and convenience +of humanity. For pure metaphysics, or any form of abstract thinking +that yielded no "fruit," he had little interest; and this leaning to +the useful is shown in the practical applications of the discoveries +made by the scholars of Solomon's House. Nor does the interest of the +work stop here. It contains much, both in its political and in its +scientific ideals, that we have as yet by no means achieved, but which +contain valuable elements of suggestion and stimulus for the future. + + + + + +THE NEW ATLANTIS + +We sailed from Peru, (where we had continued for the space of one whole +year) for China and Japan, by the South Sea; taking with us victuals +for twelve months; and had good winds from the east, though soft and +weak, for five months space, and more. But the wind came about, and +settled in the west for many days, so as we could make little or no +way, and were sometime in purpose to turn back. But then again there +arose strong and great winds from the south, with a point east, which +carried us up (for all that we could do) towards the north; by which +time our victuals failed us, though we had made good spare of them. So +that finding ourselves, in the midst of the greatest wilderness of +waters in the world, without victuals, we gave ourselves for lost men +and prepared for death. Yet we did lift up our hearts and voices to +God above, who showeth his wonders in the deep, beseeching him of his +mercy, that as in the beginning he discovered the face of the deep, and +brought forth dry land, so he would now discover land to us, that we +might not perish. + +And it came to pass that the next day about evening we saw within a +kenning before us, towards the north, as it were thick clouds, which +did put us in some hope of land; knowing how that part of the South Sea +was utterly unknown; and might have islands, or continents, that +hitherto were not come to light. Wherefore we bent our course thither, +where we saw the appearance of land, all that night; and in the dawning +of the next day, we might plainly discern that it was a land; flat to +our sight, and full of boscage; which made it show the more dark. And +after an hour and a half's sailing, we entered into a good haven, being +the port of a fair city; not great indeed, but well built, and that +gave a pleasant view from the sea: and we thinking every minute long, +till we were on land, came close to the shore, and offered to land. +But straightways we saw divers of the people, with bastons in their +hands (as it were) forbidding us to land; yet without any cries of +fierceness, but only as warning us off, by signs that they made. +Whereupon being not a little discomforted, we were advising with +ourselves, what we should do. + +During which time, there made forth to us a small boat, with about +eight persons in it; whereof one of them had in his hand a tipstaff of +a yellow cane, tipped at both ends with blue, who came aboard our ship, +without any show of distrust at all. And when he saw one of our +number, present himself somewhat before the rest, he drew forth a +little scroll of parchment (somewhat yellower than our parchment, and +shining like the leaves of writing tables, but otherwise soft and +flexible,) and delivered it to our foremost man. In which scroll were +written in ancient Hebrew, and in ancient Greek, and in good Latin of +the school, and in Spanish, these words: Land ye not, none of you; and +provide to be gone from this coast, within sixteen days, except you +have further time given you. Meanwhile, if you want fresh water or +victuals, or help for your sick, or that your ship needeth repairs, +write down your wants, and you shall have that, which belongeth to +mercy. This scroll was signed with a stamp of cherubim: wings, not +spread, but hanging downwards; and by them a cross. This being +delivered, the officer returned, and left only a servant with us to +receive our answer. + +Consulting hereupon amongst ourselves, we were much perplexed. The +denial of landing and hasty warning us away troubled us much; on the +other side, to find that the people had languages, and were so full of +humanity, did comfort us not a little. And above all, the sign of the +cross to that instrument was to us a great rejoicing, and as it were a +certain presage of good. Our answer was in the Spanish tongue; that +for our ship, it was well; for we had rather met with calms and +contrary winds than any tempests. For our sick, they were many, and in +very ill case; so that if they were not permitted to land, they ran +danger of their lives. Our other wants we set down in particular; +adding, That we had some little store of merchandise, which if it +pleased them to deal for, it might supply our wants, without being +chargeable unto them. We offered some reward in pistolets unto the +servant, and a piece of crimson velvet to be presented to the officer; +but the servant took them not, nor would scarce look upon them; and so +left us, and went back in another little boat, which was sent for him. + +About three hours after we had dispatched our answer, there came +towards us a person (as it seemed) of place. He had on him a gown with +wide sleeves, of a kind of water chamolet, of an excellent azure +colour, far more glossy than ours; his under apparel was green; and so +was his hat, being in the form of a turban, daintily made, and not so +huge as the Turkish turbans; and the locks of his hair came down below +the brims of it. A reverend man was he to behold. He came in a boat, +gilt in some part of it, with four persons more only in that boat; and +was followed by another boat, wherein were some twenty. When he was +come within a flightshot of our ship, signs were made to us, that we +should send forth some to meet him upon the water; which we presently +did in our ship-boat, sending the principal man amongst us save one, +and four of our number with him. + +When we were come within six yards of their boat, they called to us to +stay, and not to approach farther; which we did. And thereupon the +man, whom I before described, stood up, and with a loud voice, in +Spanish, asked, "Are ye Christians?" We answered, "We were;" fearing +the less, because of the cross we had seen in the subscription. At +which answer the said person lifted up his right hand towards Heaven, +and drew it softly to his mouth (which is the gesture they use, when +they thank God;) and then said: "If ye will swear (all of you) by the +merits of the Saviour, that ye are no pirates, nor have shed blood, +lawfully, nor unlawfully within forty days past, you may have licence +to come on land." We said, "We were all ready to take that oath." +Whereupon one of those that were with him, being (as it seemed) a +notary, made an entry of this act. Which done, another of the +attendants of the great person which was with him in the same boat, +after his Lord had spoken a little to him, said aloud: "My Lord would +have you know, that it is not of pride, or greatness, that he cometh +not aboard your ship; but for that in your answer you declare that you +have many sick amongst you, he was warned by the Conservator of Health +of the city that he should keep a distance." We bowed ourselves +towards him, and answered, "We were his humble servants; and accounted +for great honour, and singular humanity towards us, that which was +already done; but hoped well, that the nature of the sickness of our +men was not infectious." So he returned; and a while after came the +Notary to us aboard our ship; holding in his hand a fruit of that +country, like an orange, but of color between orange-tawney and +scarlet; which cast a most excellent odour. He used it (as it seemeth) +for a preservative against infection. He gave us our oath; "By the +name of Jesus, and his merits:" and after told us, that the next day, +by six of the Clock, in the Morning, we should be sent to, and brought +to the Strangers' House, (so he called it,) where we should be +accommodated of things, both for our whole, and for our sick. So he +left us; and when we offered him some pistolets, he smiling said, "He +must not be twice paid for one labour:" meaning (as I take it) that he +had salary sufficient of the State for his service. For (as I after +learned) they call an officer that taketh rewards, "twice paid." + +The next morning early, there came to us the same officer that came to +us at first with his cane, and told us, He came to conduct us to the +Strangers' House; and that he had prevented the hour, because we might +have the whole day before us, for our business. "For," said he, "if +you will follow my advice, there shall first go with me some few of +you, and see the place, and how it may be made convenient for you; and +then you may send for your sick, and the rest of your number, which ye +will bring on land." We thanked him, and said, "That this care, which +he took of desolate strangers, God would reward." And so six of us +went on land with him: and when we were on land, he went before us, and +turned to us, and said, "He was but our servant, and our guide." He led +us through three fair streets; and all the way we went, there were +gathered some people on both sides, standing in a row; but in so civil +a fashion, as if it had been, not to wonder at us, but to welcome us: +and divers of them, as we passed by them, put their arms a little +abroad; which is their gesture, when they did bid any welcome. + +The Strangers' House is a fair and spacious house, built of brick, of +somewhat a bluer colour than our brick; and with handsome windows, some +of glass, some of a kind of cambric oiled. He brought us first into a +fair parlour above stairs, and then asked us, "What number of persons +we were? And how many sick?" We answered, "We were in all, (sick and +whole,) one and fifty persons, whereof our sick were seventeen." He +desired us to have patience a little, and to stay till he came back to +us; which was about an hour after; and then he led us to see the +chambers which were provided for us, being in number nineteen: they +having cast it (as it seemeth) that four of those chambers, which were +better than the rest, might receive four of the principal men of our +company; and lodge them alone by themselves; and the other fifteen +chambers were to lodge us two and two together. The chambers were +handsome and cheerful chambers, and furnished civilly. Then he led us +to a long gallery, like a dorture, where he showed us all along the one +side (for the other side was but wall and window), seventeen cells, +very neat ones, having partitions of cedar wood. Which gallery and +cells, being in all forty, many more than we needed, were instituted as +an infirmary for sick persons. And he told us withal, that as any of +our sick waxed well, he might be removed from his cell, to a chamber; +for which purpose there were set forth ten spare chambers, besides the +number we spake of before. This done, he brought us back to the +parlour, and lifting up his cane a little, (as they do when they give +any charge or command) said to us, "Ye are to know, that the custom of +the land requireth, that after this day and to-morrow, (which we give +you for removing of your people from your ship,) you are to keep within +doors for three days. But let it not trouble you, nor do not think +yourselves restrained, but rather left to your rest and ease. You +shall want nothing, and there are six of our people appointed to attend +you, for any business you may have abroad." We gave him thanks, with +all affection and respect, and said, "God surely is manifested in this +land." We offered him also twenty pistolets; but he smiled, and only +said; "What? twice paid!" And so he left us. + +Soon after our dinner was served in; which was right good viands, both +for bread and treat: better than any collegiate diet, that I have known +in Europe. We had also drink of three sorts, all wholesome and good; +wine of the grape; a drink of grain, such as is with us our ale, but +more clear: And a kind of cider made of a fruit of that country; a +wonderful pleasing and refreshing drink. Besides, there were brought +in to us, great store of those scarlet oranges, for our sick; which +(they said) were an assured remedy for sickness taken at sea. There +was given us also, a box of small gray, or whitish pills, which they +wished our sick should take, one of the pills, every night before +sleep; which (they said) would hasten their recovery. + +The next day, after that our trouble of carriage and removing of our +men and goods out of our ship, was somewhat settled and quiet, I +thought good to call our company together; and when they were +assembled, said unto them; "My dear friends, let us know ourselves, and +how it standeth with us. We are men cast on land, as Jonas was, out of +the whale's belly, when we were as buried in the deep: and now we are +on land, we are but between death and life; for we are beyond, both the +old world, and the new; and whether ever we shall see Europe, God only +knoweth. It is a kind of miracle bath brought us hither: and it must +be little less, that shall bring us hence. Therefore in regard of our +deliverance past, and our danger present, and to come, let us look up +to God, and every man reform his own ways. Besides we are come here +amongst a Christian people, full of piety and humanity: let us not +bring that confusion of face upon ourselves, as to show our vices, or +unworthiness before them. Yet there is more. For they have by +commandment, (though in form of courtesy) cloistered us within these +wall, for three days: who knoweth, whether it be not, to take some +taste of our manners and conditions? And if they find them bad, to +banish us straightways; if good, to give us further time. For these +men that they have given us for attendance, may withal have an eye upon +us. Therefore for God's love, and as we love the weal of our souls and +bodies, let us so behave ourselves, as we may be at peace with God, and +may find grace in the eyes of this people." Our company with one voice +thanked me for my good admonition, and promised me to live soberly and +civilly, and without giving any the least occasion of offence. So we +spent our three days joyfully, and without care, in expectation what +would be done with us, when they were expired. During which time, we +had every hour joy of the amendment of our sick; who thought themselves +cast into some divine pool of healing; they mended so kindly, and so +fast. + +The morrow after our three days were past, there came to us a new man, +that we had not seen before, clothed in blue as the former was, save +that his turban was white, with a small red cross on the top. He had +also a tippet of fine linen. At his coming in, he did bend to us a +little, and put his arms abroad. We of our parts saluted him in a very +lowly and submissive manner; as looking that from him, we should +receive sentence of life, or death: he desired to speak with some few +of us: whereupon six of us only staid, and the rest avoided the room. +He said, "I am by office governor of this House of Strangers, and by +vocation I am a Christian priest: and therefore am come to you to offer +you my service, both as strangers and chiefly as Christians. Some +things I may tell you, which I think you will not be unwilling to hear. +The State hath given you license to stay on land, for the space of six +weeks; and let it not trouble you, if your occasions ask further time, +for the law in this point is not precise; and I do not doubt, but my +self shall be able, to obtain for you such further time, as may be +convenient. Ye shall also understand, that the Strangers' House is at +this time rich, and much aforehand; for it hath laid up revenue these +thirty-seven years; for so long it is since any stranger arrived in +this part: and therefore take ye no care; the State will defray you all +the time you stay; neither shall you stay one day the less for that. +As for any merchandise ye have brought, ye shall be well used, and have +your return, either in merchandise, or in gold and silver: for to us it +is all one. And if you have any other request to make, hide it not. +For ye shall find we will not make your countenance to fall by the +answer ye shall receive. Only this I must tell you, that none of you +must go above a karan," (that is with them a mile and an half) "from +the walls of the city, without especial leave." + +We answered, after we had looked awhile one upon another, admiring this +gracious and parent-like usage; "That we could not tell what to say: +for we wanted words to express our thanks; and his noble free offers +left us nothing to ask. It seemed to us, that we had before us a +picture of our salvation in Heaven; for we that were a while since in +the jaws of death, were now brought into a place, where we found +nothing but consolations. For the commandment laid upon us, we would +not fail to obey it, though it was impossible but our hearts should be +enflamed to tread further upon this happy and holy ground." We added, +"That our tongues should first cleave to the roofs of our mouths, ere +we should forget, either his reverend person, or this whole nation, in +our prayers." We also most humbly besought him, to accept of us as his +true servants; by as just a right as ever men on earth were bounden; +laying and presenting, both our persons, and all we had, at his feet. +He said; "He was a priest, and looked for a priest's reward; which was +our brotherly love, and the good of our souls and bodies." So he went +from us, not without tears of tenderness in his eyes; and left us also +confused with joy and kindness, saying amongst ourselves; "That we were +come into a land of angels, which did appear to us daily, and prevent +us with comforts, which we thought not of, much less expected." + +The next day about ten of the clock, the Governor came to us again, and +after salutations, said familiarly; "That he was come to visit us;" and +called for a chair, and sat him down: and we, being some ten of us, +(the rest were of the meaner sort, or else gone abroad,) sat down with +him, And when we were set, he began thus: "We of this island of +Bensalem," (for so they call it in their language,) "have this; that by +means of our solitary situation; and of the laws of secrecy, which we +have for our travellers, and our rare admission of strangers; we know +well most part of the habitable world, and are ourselves unknown. +Therefore because he that knoweth least is fittest to ask questions, it +is more reason, for the entertainment of the time, that ye ask me +questions, than that I ask you." + +We answered; "That we humbly thanked him that he would give us leave so +to do: and that we conceived by the taste we had already, that there +was no worldly thing on earth, more worthy to be known than the state +of that happy land. But above all," (we said,) "since that we were met +from the several ends of the world, and hoped assuredly that we should +meet one day in the kingdom of Heaven, (for that we were both parts +Christians,) we desired to know, (in respect that land was so remote, +and so divided by vast and unknown seas, from the land where our +Saviour walked on earth,) who was the apostle of that nation, and how +it was converted to the faith?" It appeared in his face that he took +great contentment in this our question: he said; "Ye knit my heart to +you, by asking this question in the first place; for it sheweth that +you first seek the kingdom of heaven; and I shall gladly, and briefly, +satisfy your demand. + +"About twenty years after the ascension of our Saviour, it came to +pass, that there was seen by the people of Renfusa, (a city upon the +eastern coast of our island,) within night, (the night was cloudy, and +calm,) as it might be some mile into the sea, a great pillar of light; +not sharp, but in form of a column, or cylinder, rising from the sea a +great way up towards heaven; and on the top of it was seen a large +cross of light, more bright and resplendent than the body of the +pillar. Upon which so strange a spectacle, the people of the city +gathered apace together upon the sands, to wonder; and so after put +themselves into a number of small boats, to go nearer to this +marvellous sight. But when the boats were come within (about) sixty +yards of the pillar, they found themselves all bound, and could go no +further; yet so as they might move to go about, but might not approach +nearer: so as the boats stood all as in a theatre, beholding this light +as an heavenly sign. It so fell out, that there was in one of the +boats one of the wise men, of the society of Salomon's House; which +house, or college (my good brethren) is the very eye of this kingdom; +who having awhile attentively and devoutly viewed and contemplated this +pillar and cross, fell down upon his face; and then raised himself upon +his knees, and lifting up his hands to heaven, made his prayers in this +manner. + +"'LORD God of heaven and earth, thou hast vouchsafed of thy grace to +those of our order, to know thy works of Creation, and the secrets of +them: and to discern (as far as appertaineth to the generations of men) +between divine miracles, works of nature, works of art, and impostures +and illusions of all sorts. I do here acknowledge and testify before +this people, that the thing which we now see before our eyes is thy +Finger and a true Miracle. And forasmuch as we learn in our books that +thou never workest miracles, but to divine and excellent end, (for the +laws of nature are thine own laws, and thou exceedest them not but upon +great cause,) we most humbly beseech thee to prosper this great sign, +and to give us the interpretation and use of it in mercy; which thou +dost in some part secretly promise by sending it unto us.' + +"When he had made his prayer, he presently found the boat he was in, +moveable and unbound; whereas all the rest remained still fast; and +taking that for an assurance of leave to approach, he caused the boat +to be softly and with silence rowed towards the pillar. But ere he +came near it, the pillar and cross of light brake up, and cast itself +abroad, as it were, into a firmament of many stars; which also vanished +soon after, and there was nothing left to be seen, but a small ark, or +chest of cedar, dry, and not wet at all with water, though it swam. +And in the fore-end of it, which was towards him, grew a small green +branch of palm; and when the wise man had taken it, with all reverence, +into his boat, it opened of itself, and there were found in it a Book +and a Letter; both written in fine parchment, and wrapped in sindons of +linen. The Book contained all the canonical books of the Old and New +Testament, according as you have them; (for we know well what the +churches with you receive); and the Apocalypse itself, and some other +books of the New Testament, which were not at that time written, were +nevertheless in the Book. And for the Letter, it was in these words: + +"'I, Bartholomew, a servant of the Highest, and Apostle of Jesus +Christ, was warned by an angel that appeareth to me, in a vision of +glory, that I should commit this ark to the floods of the sea. +Therefore I do testify and declare unto that people where God shall +ordain this ark to come to land, that in the same day is come unto them +salvation and peace and good-will, from the Father, and from the Lord +Jesus.' + +"There was also in both these writings, as well the Book, as the +Letter, wrought a great miracle, conform to that of the Apostles, in +the original Gift of Tongues. For there being at that time in this +land Hebrews, Persians, and Indians, besides the natives, every one +read upon the Book, and Letter, as if they had been written in his own +language. And thus was this land saved from infidelity (as the +remainder of the old world was from water) by an ark, through the +apostolical and miraculous evangelism of Saint Bartholomew." And here +he paused, and a messenger came, and called him from us. So this was +all that passed in that conference. + +The next day, the same governor came again to us, immediately after +dinner, and excused himself, saying; "That the day before he was called +from us, somewhat abruptly, but now he would make us amends, and spend +time with us if we held his company and conference agreeable." We +answered, "That we held it so agreeable and pleasing to us, as we +forgot both dangers past and fears to come, for the time we hear him +speak; and that we thought an hour spent with him, was worth years of +our former life." He bowed himself a little to us, and after we were +set again, he said; "Well, the questions are on your part." + +One of our number said, after a little pause; that there was a matter, +we were no less desirous to know, than fearful to ask, lest we might +presume too far. But encouraged by his rare humanity towards us, (that +could scarce think ourselves strangers, being his vowed and professed +servants,) we would take the hardiness to propound it: humbly +beseeching him, if he thought it not fit to be answered, that he would +pardon it, though he rejected it. We said; "We well observed those his +words, which he formerly spake, that this happy island, where we now +stood, was known to few, and yet knew most of the nations of the world; +which we found to be true, considering they had the languages of +Europe, and knew much of our state and business; and yet we in Europe, +(notwithstanding all the remote discoveries and navigations of this +last age), never heard of the least inkling or glimpse of this island. +This we found wonderful strange; for that all nations have +inter-knowledge one of another, either by voyage into foreign parts, or +by strangers that come to them: and though the traveller into a foreign +country, doth commonly know more by the eye, than he that stayeth at +home can by relation of the traveller; yet both ways suffice to make a +mutual knowledge, in some degree, on both parts. But for this island, +we never heard tell of any ship of theirs that had been seen to arrive +upon any shore of Europe; nor of either the East or West Indies; nor +yet of any ship of any other part of the world, that had made return +from them. And yet the marvel rested not in this. For the situation +of it (as his lordship said) in the secret conclave of such a vast sea +might cause it. But then, that they should have knowledge of the +languages, books, affairs, of those that lie such a distance from them, +it was a thing we could not tell what to make of; for that it seemed to +us a conditioner and propriety of divine powers and beings, to be +hidden and unseen to others, and yet to have others open and as in a +light to them." + +At this speech the Governor gave a gracious smile, and said; "That we +did well to ask pardon for this question we now asked: for that it +imported, as if we thought this land, a land of magicians, that sent +forth spirits of the air into all parts, to bring them news and +intelligence of other countries." It was answered by us all, in all +possible humbleness, but yet with a countenance taking knowledge, that +we knew that he spake it but merrily, "That we were apt enough to think +there was somewhat supernatural in this island; but yet rather as +angelical than magical. But to let his lordship know truly what it was +that made us tender and doubtful to ask this question, it was not any +such conceit, but because we remembered, he had given a touch in his +former speech, that this land had laws of secrecy touching strangers." +To this he said; "You remember it aright and therefore in that I shall +say to you, I must reserve some particulars, which it is not lawful for +me to reveal; but there will be enough left, to give you satisfaction." + +"You shall understand (that which perhaps you will scarce think +credible) that about three thousand years ago, or somewhat more, the +navigation of the world, (especially for remote voyages,) was greater +than at this day. Do not think with yourselves, that I know not how +much it is increased with you, within these six-score years: I know it +well: and yet I say greater then than now; whether it was, that the +example of the ark, that saved the remnant of men from the universal +deluge, gave men confidence to adventure upon the waters; or what it +was; but such is the truth. The Phoenicians, and especially the +Tyrians, had great fleets. So had the Carthaginians their colony, +which is yet further west. Toward the east the shipping of Egypt and +of Palestine was likewise great. China also, and the great Atlantis, +(that you call America,) which have now but junks and canoes, abounded +then in tall ships. This island, (as appeareth by faithful registers +of those times,) had then fifteen hundred strong ships, of great +content. Of all this, there is with you sparing memory, or none; but +we have large knowledge thereof. + +"At that time, this land was known and frequented by the ships and +vessels of all the nations before named. And (as it cometh to pass) +they had many times men of other countries, that were no sailors, that +came with them; as Persians, Chaldeans, Arabians; so as almost all +nations of might and fame resorted hither; of whom we have some stirps, +and little tribes with us at this day. And for our own ships, they +went sundry voyages, as well to your straits, which you call the +Pillars of Hercules, as to other parts in the Atlantic and Mediterrane +Seas; as to Paguin, (which is the same with Cambaline,) and Quinzy, +upon the Oriental Seas, as far as to the borders of the East Tartary. + +"At the same time, and an age after, or more, the inhabitants of the +great Atlantis did flourish. For though the narration and description, +which is made by a great man with you; that the descendants of Neptune +planted there; and of the magnificent temple, palace, city, and hill; +and the manifold streams of goodly navigable rivers, (which as so many +chains environed the same site and temple); and the several degrees of +ascent, whereby men did climb up to the same, as if it had been a scala +coeli, be all poetical and fabulous: yet so much is true, that the said +country of Atlantis, as well that of Peru, then called Coya, as that of +Mexico, then named Tyrambel, were mighty and proud kingdoms in arms, +shipping and riches: so mighty, as at one time (or at least within the +space of ten years) they both made two great expeditions; they of +Tyrambel through the Atlantic to the Mediterrane Sea; and they of Coya +through the South Sea upon this our island: and for the former of +these, which was into Europe, the same author amongst you (as it +seemeth) had some relation from the Egyptian priest whom he cited. For +assuredly such a thing there was. But whether it were the ancient +Athenians that had the glory of the repulse and resistance of those +forces, I can say nothing: but certain it is, there never came back +either ship or man from that voyage. Neither had the other voyage of +those of Coya upon us had better fortune, if they had not met with +enemies of greater clemency. For the king of this island, (by name +Altabin,) a wise man and a great warrior, knowing well both his own +strength and that of his enemies, handled the matter so, as he cut off +their land-forces from their ships; and entoiled both their navy and +their camp with a greater power than theirs, both by sea and land: and +compelled them to render themselves without striking stroke and after +they were at his mercy, contenting himself only with their oath that +they should no more bear arms against him, dismissed them all in safety. + +"But the divine revenge overtook not long after those proud +enterprises. For within less than the space of one hundred years, the +great Atlantis was utterly lost and destroyed: not by a great +earthquake, as your man saith; (for that whole tract is little subject +to earthquakes;) but by a particular deluge or inundation; those +countries having, at this day, far greater rivers and far higher +mountains to pour down waters, than any part of the old world. But it +is true that the same inundation was not deep; not past forty foot, in +most places, from the ground; so that although it destroyed man and +beast generally, yet some few wild inhabitants of the wood escaped. +Birds also were saved by flying to the high trees and woods. For as +for men, although they had buildings in many places, higher than the +depth of the water, yet that inundation, though it were shallow, had a +long continuance; whereby they of the vale that were not drowned, +perished for want of food and other things necessary. + +"So as marvel you not at the thin population of America, nor at the +rudeness and ignorance of the people; for you must account your +inhabitants of America as a young people; younger a thousand years, at +the least, than the rest of the world: for that there was so much time +between the universal flood and their particular inundation. For the +poor remnant of human seed, which remained in their mountains, peopled +the country again slowly, by little and little; and being simple and +savage people, (not like Noah and his sons, which was the chief family +of the earth;) they were not able to leave letters, arts, and civility +to their posterity; and having likewise in their mountainous +habitations been used (in respect of the extreme cold of those regions) +to clothe themselves with the skins of tigers, bears, and great hairy +goats, that they have in those parts; when after they came down into +the valley, and found the intolerable heats which are there, and knew +no means of lighter apparel, they were forced to begin the custom of +going naked, which continueth at this day. Only they take great pride +and delight in the feathers of birds; and this also they took from +those their ancestors of the mountains, who were invited unto it by the +infinite flights of birds that came up to the high grounds, while the +waters stood below. So you see, by this main accident of time, we lost +our traffic with the Americans, with whom of, all others, in regard +they lay nearest to us, we had most commerce. + +"As for the other parts of the world, it is most manifest that in the +ages following (whether it were in respect of wars, or by a natural +revolution of time,) navigation did every where greatly decay; and +specially far voyages (the rather by the use of galleys, and such +vessels as could hardly brook the ocean,) were altogether left and +omitted. So then, that part of intercourse which could be from other +nations to sail to us, you see how it hath long since ceased; except it +were by some rare accident, as this of yours. But now of the cessation +of that other part of intercourse, which might be by our sailing to +other nations, I must yield you some other cause. For I cannot say (if +I shall say truly,) but our shipping, for number, strength, mariners, +pilots, and all things that appertain to navigation, is as great as +ever; and therefore why we should sit at home, I shall now give you an +account by itself: and it will draw nearer to give you satisfaction to +your principal question. + +"There reigned in this land, about nineteen hundred years ago, a king, +whose memory of all others we most adore; not superstitiously, but as a +divine instrument, though a mortal man; his name was Solamona: and we +esteem him as the lawgiver of our nation. This king had a large heart, +inscrutable for good; and was wholly bent to make his kingdom and +people happy. He therefore, taking into consideration how sufficient +and substantive this land was to maintain itself without any aid (at +all) of the foreigner; being five thousand six hundred miles in +circuit, and of rare fertility of soil in the greatest part thereof; +and finding also the shipping of this country might be plentifully set +on work, both by fishing and by transportations from port to port, and +likewise by sailing unto some small islands that are not far from us, +and are under the crown and laws of this state; and, recalling into his +memory the happy and flourishing estate wherein this land then was; so +as it might be a thousand ways altered to the worse, but scarce any one +way to the better; thought nothing wanted to his noble and heroical +intentions, but only (as far as human foresight might reach) to give +perpetuity to that which was in his time so happily established. +Therefore amongst his other fundamental laws of this kingdom, he did +ordain the interdicts and prohibitions which we have touching entrance +of strangers; which at that time (though it was after the calamity of +America) was frequent; doubting novelties, and commixture of manners. +It is true, the like law against the admission of strangers without +licence is an ancient law in the kingdom of China, and yet continued in +use. But there it is a poor thing; and hath made them a curious, +ignorant, fearful, foolish nation. But our lawgiver made his law of +another temper. For first, he hath preserved all points of humanity, +in taking order and making provision for the relief of strangers +distressed; whereof you have tasted." + +At which speech (as reason was) we all rose up and bowed ourselves. He +went on. + +"That king also, still desiring to join humanity and policy together; +and thinking it against humanity, to detain strangers here against +their wills, and against policy that they should return and discover +their knowledge of this estate, he took this course: he did ordain that +of the strangers that should be permitted to land, as many (at all +times) might depart as would; but as many as would stay should have +very good conditions and means to live from the state. Wherein he saw +so far, that now in so many ages since the prohibition, we have memory +not of one ship that ever returned, and but of thirteen persons only, +at several times, that chose to return in our bottoms. What those few +that returned may have reported abroad I know not. But you must think, +whatsoever they have said could be taken where they came but for a +dream. Now for our travelling from hence into parts abroad, our +Lawgiver thought fit altogether to restrain it. So is it not in China. +For the Chinese sail where they will or can; which sheweth that their +law of keeping out strangers is a law of pusillanimity and fear. But +this restraint of ours hath one only exception, which is admirable; +preserving the good which cometh by communicating with strangers, and +avoiding the hurt; and I will now open it to you. And here I shall +seem a little to digress, but you will by and by find it pertinent. + +"Ye shall understand (my dear friends) that amongst the excellent acts +of that king, one above all hath the pre-eminence. It was the erection +and institution of an Order or Society, which we call Salomon's House; +the noblest foundation (as we think) that ever was upon the earth; and +the lanthorn of this kingdom. It is dedicated to the study of the +works and creatures of God. Some think it beareth the founder's name a +little corrupted, as if it should be Solamona's House. But the records +write it as it is spoken. So as I take it to be denominate of the king +of the Hebrews, which is famous with you, and no stranger to us. For +we have some parts of his works, which with you are lost; namely, that +natural history, which he wrote, of all plants, from the cedar of +Libanus to the moss that groweth out of the wall, and of all things +that have life and motion. This maketh me think that our king, finding +himself to symbolize in many things with that king of the Hebrews +(which lived many years before him), honored him with the title of this +foundation. And I am rather induced to be of this opinion, for that I +find in ancient records this Order or Society is sometimes called +Salomon's House, and sometimes the College of the Six Days Works; +whereby I am satisfied that our excellent king had learned from the +Hebrews that God had created the world and all that therein is within +six days: and therefore he instituting that House for the finding out +of the true nature of all things, (whereby God might have the more +glory in the workmanship of them, and insert the more fruit in the use +of them), did give it also that second name. + +"But now to come to our present purpose. When the king had forbidden +to all his people navigation into any part that was not under his +crown, he made nevertheless this ordinance; that every twelve years +there should be set forth, out of this kingdom two ships, appointed to +several voyages; That in either of these ships there should be a +mission of three of the Fellows or Brethren of Salomon's House; whose +errand was only to give us knowledge of the affairs and state of those +countries to which they were designed, and especially of the sciences, +arts, manufactures, and inventions of all the world; and withal to +bring unto us books, instruments, and patterns in every kind: That the +ships, after they had landed the brethren, should return; and that the +brethren should stay abroad till the new mission. These ships are not +otherwise fraught, than with store of victuals, and good quantity of +treasure to remain with the brethren, for the buying of such things and +rewarding of such persons as they should think fit. Now for me to tell +you how the vulgar sort of mariners are contained from being discovered +at land; and how they that must be put on shore for any time, color +themselves under the names of other nations; and to what places these +voyages have been designed; and what places of rendezvous are appointed +for the new missions; and the like circumstances of the practique; I +may not do it: neither is it much to your desire. But thus you see we +maintain a trade not for gold, silver, or jewels; nor for silks; nor +for spices; nor any other commodity of matter; but only for God's first +creature, which was Light: to have light (I say) of the growth of all +parts of the world." + +And when he had said this, he was silent; and so were we all. For +indeed we were all astonished to hear so strange things so probably +told. And he, perceiving that we were willing to say somewhat but had +it not ready in great courtesy took us off, and descended to ask us +questions of our voyage and fortunes and in the end concluded, that we +might do well to think with ourselves what time of stay we would demand +of the state; and bade us not to scant ourselves; for he would procure +such time as we desired: Whereupon we all rose up, and presented +ourselves to kiss the skirt of his tippet; but he would not suffer us; +and so took his leave. But when it came once amongst our people that +the state used to offer conditions to strangers that would stay, we had +work enough to get any of our men to look to our ship; and to keep them +from going presently to the governor to crave conditions. But with +much ado we refrained them, till we might agree what course to take. + +We took ourselves now for free men, seeing there was no danger of our +utter perdition; and lived most joyfully, going abroad and seeing what +was to be seen in the city and places adjacent within our tedder; and +obtaining acquaintance with many of the city, not of the meanest +quality; at whose hands we found such humanity, and such a freedom and +desire to take strangers as it were into their bosom, as was enough to +make us forget all that was dear to us in our own countries: and +continually we met with many things right worthy of observation and +relation: as indeed, if there be a mirror in the world worthy to hold +men's eyes, it is that country. + +One day there were two of our company bidden to a Feast of the Family, +as they call it. A most natural, pious, and reverend custom it is, +shewing that nation to be compounded of all goodness. This is the +manner of it. It is granted to any man that shall live to see thirty +persons descended of his body alive together, and all above three years +old, to make this feast which is done at the cost of the state. The +Father of the Family, whom they call the Tirsan, two days before the +feast, taketh to him three of such friends as he liketh to choose; and +is assisted also by the governor of the city or place where the feast +is celebrated; and all the persons of the family, of both sexes, are +summoned to attend him. These two days the Tirsan sitteth in +consultation concerning the good estate of the family. There, if there +be any discord or suits between any of the family, they are compounded +and appeased. There, if any of the family be distressed or decayed, +order is taken for their relief and competent means to live. There, if +any be subject to vice, or take ill courses, they are reproved and +censured. So likewise direction is given touching marriages, and the +courses of life, which any of them should take, with divers other the +like orders and advices. The governor assisteth, to the end to put in +execution by his public authority the decrees and orders of the Tirsan, +if they should be disobeyed; though that seldom needeth; such reverence +and obedience they give to the order of nature. The Tirsan doth also +then ever choose one man from among his sons, to live in house with +him; who is called ever after the Son of the Vine. The reason will +hereafter appear. + +On the feast day, the father or Tirsan cometh forth after divine +service into a large room where the feast is celebrated; which room +hath an half-pace at the upper end. Against the wall, in the middle of +the half-pace, is a chair placed for him, with a table and carpet +before it. Over the chair is a state, made round or oval, and it is of +ivy; an ivy somewhat whiter than ours, like the leaf of a silver asp; +but more shining; for it is green all winter. And the state is +curiously wrought with silver and silk of divers colors, broiding or +binding in the ivy; and is ever of the work of some of the daughters of +the family; and veiled over at the top with a fine net of silk and +silver. But the substance of it is true ivy; whereof, after it is +taken down, the friends of the family are desirous to have some leaf or +sprig to keep. + +The Tirsan cometh forth with all his generation or linage, the males +before him, and the females following him; and if there be a mother +from whose body the whole linage is descended, there is a traverse +placed in a loft above on the right hand of the chair, with a privy +door, and a carved window of glass, leaded with gold and blue; where +she sitteth, but is not seen. When the Tirsan is come forth, he +sitteth down in the chair; and all the linage place themselves against +the wall, both at his back and upon the return of the half-pace, in +order of their years without difference of sex; and stand upon their +feet. When he is set; the room being always full of company, but well +kept and without disorder; after some pause, there cometh in from the +lower end of the room, a taratan (which is as much as an herald) and on +either side of him two young lads; whereof one carrieth a scroll of +their shining yellow parchment; and the other a cluster of grapes of +gold, with a long foot or stalk. The herald and children are clothed +with mantles of sea-water green satin; but the herald's mantle is +streamed with gold, and hath a train. + +Then the herald with three curtesies, or rather inclinations, cometh up +as far as the half-pace; and there first taketh into his hand the +scroll. This scroll is the king's charter, containing gifts of +revenew, and many privileges, exemptions, and points of honour, granted +to the Father of the Family; and is ever styled and directed, To such +do one our well beloved friend and creditor: which is a title proper +only to this case. For they say the king is debtor to no man, but for +propagation of his subjects. The seal set to the king's charter is the +king's image, imbossed or moulded in gold; and though such charters be +expedited of course, and as of right, yet they are varied by +discretion, according to the number and dignity of the family. This +charter the herald readeth aloud; and while it is read, the father or +Tirsan standeth up supported by two of his sons, such as he chooseth. +Then the herald mounteth the half-pace and delivereth the charter into +his hand: and with that there is an acclamation by all that are present +in their language, which is thus much: Happy are the people of Bensalem. + +Then the herald taketh into his hand from the other child the cluster +of grapes, which is of gold, both the stalk and the grapes. But the +grapes are daintily enamelled; and if the males of the family be the +greater number, the grapes are enamelled purple, with a little sun set +on the top; if the females, then they are enamelled into a greenish +yellow, with a crescent on the top. The grapes are in number as many +as there are descendants of the family. This golden cluster the herald +delivereth also to the Tirsan; who presently delivereth it over to that +son that he had formerly chosen to be in house with him: who beareth it +before his father as an ensign of honour when he goeth in public, ever +after; and is thereupon called the Son of the Vine. + +After the ceremony endeth the father or Tirsan retireth; and after some +time cometh forth again to dinner, where he sitteth alone under the +state, as before; and none of his descendants sit with him, of what +degree or dignity soever, except he hap to be of Salomon's House. He is +served only by his own children, such as are male; who perform unto him +all service of the table upon the knee; and the women only stand about +him, leaning against the wall. The room below the half-pace hath +tables on the sides for the guests that are bidden; who are served with +great and comely order; and towards the end of dinner (which in the +greatest feasts with them lasteth never above an hour and an half) +there is an hymn sung, varied according to the invention of him that +composeth it (for they have excellent posy) but the subject of it is +(always) the praises of Adam and Noah and Abraham; whereof the former +two peopled the world, and the last was the Father of the Faithful: +concluding ever with a thanksgiving for the nativity of our Saviour, in +whose birth the births of all are only blessed. + +Dinner being done, the Tirsan retireth again; and having withdrawn +himself alone into a place, where he makes some private prayers, he +cometh forth the third time, to give the blessing with all his +descendants, who stand about him as at the first. Then he calleth them +forth by one and by one, by name, as he pleaseth, though seldom the +order of age be inverted. The person that is called (the table being +before removed) kneeleth down before the chair, and the father layeth +his hand upon his head, or her head, and giveth the blessing in these +words: Son of Bensalem, (or daughter of Bensalem,) thy father with it: +the man by whom thou hast breath and life speaketh the word: the +blessing of the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, and the Holy +Dove, be upon thee, and make the days of thy pilgrimage good and many. +This he saith to every of them; and that done, if there be any of his +sons of eminent merit and virtue, (so they be not above two,) he +calleth for them again; and saith, laying his arm over their shoulders, +they standing; Sons, it is well ye are born, give God the praise, and +persevere to the end. And withall delivereth to either of them a +jewel, made in the figure of an ear of wheat, which they ever after +wear in the front of their turban or hat. This done, they fall to +music and dances, and other recreations, after their manner, for the +rest of the day. This is the full order of that feast. + +By that time six or seven days were spent, I was fallen into straight +acquaintance with a merchant of that city, whose name was Joabin. He +was a Jew and circumcised: for they have some few stirps of Jews yet +remaining among them, whom they leave to their own religion. Which +they may the better do, because they are of a far differing disposition +from the Jews in other parts. For whereas they hate the name of +Christ; and have a secret inbred rancour against the people among whom +they live: these (contrariwise) give unto our Saviour many high +attributes, and love the nation of Bensalem extremely. Surely this man +of whom I speak would ever acknowledge that Christ was born of a virgin +and that he was more than a man; and he would tell how God made him +ruler of the seraphims which guard his throne; and they call him also +the Milken Way, and the Eliah of the Messiah; and many other high +names; which though they be inferior to his divine majesty, yet they +are far from the language of other Jews. + +And for the country of Bensalem, this man would make no end of +commending it; being desirous, by tradition among the Jews there, to +have it believed that the people thereof were of the generations of +Abraham, by another son, whom they call Nachoran; and that Moses by a +secret Cabala ordained the Laws of Bensalem which they now use; and +that when the Messiah should come, and sit in his throne at Hierusalem, +the king of Bensalem should sit at his feet, whereas other kings should +keep a great distance. But yet setting aside these Jewish dreams, the +man was a wise man, and learned, and of great policy, and excellently +seen in the laws and customs of that nation. + +Amongst other discourses, one day I told him I was much affected with +the relation I had, from some of the company, of their custom, in +holding the Feast of the Family; for that (methought) I had never heard +of a solemnity wherein nature did so much preside. And because +propagation of families proceedeth from the nuptial copulation, I +desired to know of him what laws and customs they had concerning +marriage; and whether they kept marriage well and whether they were +tied to one wife; for that where population is so much affected, and +such as with them it seemed to be, there is commonly permission of +plurality of wives. + +To this he said, "You have reason for to commend that excellent +institution of the Feast of the Family. And indeed we have experience +that those families that are partakers of the blessing of that feast do +flourish and prosper ever after in an extraordinary manner. But hear +me now, and I will tell you what I know. You shall understand that +there is not under the heavens so chaste a nation as this of Bensalem; +nor so free from all pollution or foulness. It is the virgin of the +world. I remember I have read in one of your European books, of an +holy hermit amongst you that desired to see the Spirit of Fornication; +and there appeared to him a little foul ugly Aethiop. But if he had +desired to see the Spirit of Chastity of Bensalem, it would have +appeared to him in the likeness of a fair beautiful Cherubim. For +there is nothing amongst mortal men more fair and admirable, than the +chaste minds of this people. Know therefore, that with them there are +no stews, no dissolute houses, no courtesans, nor anything of that +kind. Nay they wonder (with detestation) at you in Europe, which +permit such things. They say ye have put marriage out of office: for +marriage is ordained a remedy for unlawful concupiscence; and natural +concupiscence seemeth as a spar to marriage. But when men have at hand +a remedy more agreeable to their corrupt will, marriage is almost +expulsed. And therefore there are with you seen infinite men that +marry not, but chose rather a libertine and impure single life, than to +be yoked in marriage; and many that do marry, marry late, when the +prime and strength of their years is past. And when they do marry, what +is marriage to them but a very bargain; wherein is sought alliance, or +portion, or reputation, with some desire (almost indifferent) of issue; +and not the faithful nuptial union of man and wife, that was first +instituted. Neither is it possible that those that have cast away so +basely so much of their strength, should greatly esteem children, +(being of the same matter,) as chaste men do. So likewise during +marriage, is the case much amended, as it ought to be if those things +were tolerated only for necessity? No, but they remain still as a very +affront to marriage. The haunting of those dissolute places, or resort +to courtesans, are no more punished in married men than in bachelors. +And the depraved custom of change, and the delight in meretricious +embracements, (where sin is turned into art,) maketh marriage a dull +thing, and a kind of imposition or tax. They hear you defend these +things, as done to avoid greater evils; as advoutries, deflowering of +virgins, unnatural lust, and the like. But they say this is a +preposterous wisdom; and they call it Lot's offer, who to save his +guests from abusing, offered his daughters: nay they say farther that +there is little gained in this; for that the same vices and appetites +do still remain and abound; unlawful lust being like a furnace, that if +you stop the flames altogether, it will quench; but if you give it any +vent, it will rage. As for masculine love, they have no touch of it; +and yet there are not so faithful and inviolate friendships in the +world again as are there; and to speak generally, (as I said before,) I +have not read of any such chastity, in any people as theirs. And their +usual saying is, That whosoever is unchaste cannot reverence himself; +and they say, That the reverence of a man's self, is, next to religion, +the chiefest bridle of all vices." + +And when he had said this, the good Jew paused a little; whereupon I, +far more willing to hear him speak on than to speak myself, yet +thinking it decent that upon his pause of speech I should not be +altogether silent, said only this; "That I would say to him, as the +widow of Sarepta said to Elias; that he was come to bring to memory our +sins; and that I confess the righteousness of Bensalem was greater than +the righteousness of Europe." At which speech he bowed his head, and +went on in this manner: + +"They have also many wise and excellent laws touching marriage. They +allow no polygamy. They have ordained that none do intermarry or +contract, until a month be past from their first interview. Marriage +without consent of parents they do not make void, but they mulct it in +the inheritors: for the children of such marriages are not admitted to +inherit above a third part of their parents' inheritance. I have read +in a book of one of your men, of a Feigned Commonwealth, where the +married couple are permitted, before they contract, to see one another +naked. This they dislike; for they think it a scorn to give a refusal +after so familiar knowledge: but because of many hidden defects in men +and women's bodies, they have a more civil way; for they have near +every town a couple of pools, (which they call Adam and Eve's pools,) +where it is permitted to one of the friends of the men, and another of +the friends of the woman, to see them severally bathe naked." + +And as we were thus in conference, there came one that seemed to be a +messenger, in a rich huke, that spake with the Jew: whereupon he turned +to me and said; "You will pardon me, for I am commanded away in haste." +The next morning he came to me again, joyful as it seemed, and said; +"There is word come to the Governor of the city, that one of the +Fathers of Salomon's House will be here this day seven-night: we have +seen none of them this dozen years. His coming is in state; but the +cause of his coming is secret. I will provide you and your fellows of +a good standing to see his entry." I thanked him, and told him, I was +most glad of the news. + +The day being come, he made his entry. He was a man of middle stature +and age, comely of person, and had an aspect as if he pitied men. He +was clothed in a robe of fine black cloth, with wide sleeves and a +cape. His under garment was of excellent white linen down to the foot, +girt with a girdle of the same; and a sindon or tippet of the same +about his neck. He had gloves, that were curious, and set with +stone; and shoes of peach-coloured velvet. His neck was bare to the +shoulders. His hat was like a helmet, or Spanish montera; and his +locks curled below it decently: they were of colour brown. His beard +was cut round, and of the same colour with his hair, somewhat lighter. +He was carried in a rich chariot without wheels, litter-wise; with two +horses at either end, richly trapped in blue velvet embroidered; and +two footmen on each side in the like attire. The chariot was all of +cedar, gilt, and adorned with crystal; save that the fore-end had +panels of sapphires, set in borders of gold; and the hinder-end the +like of emeralds of the Peru colour. There was also a sun of gold, +radiant, upon the top, in the midst; and on the top before, a small +cherub of gold, with wings displayed. The chariot was covered with +cloth of gold tissued upon blue. He had before him fifty attendants, +young men all, in white satin loose coats to the mid leg; and stockings +of white silk; and shoes of blue velvet; and hats of blue velvet; with +fine plumes of diverse colours, set round like hat-bands. Next before +the chariot, went two men, bare-headed, in linen garments down the +foot, girt, and shoes of blue velvet; who carried, the one a crosier, +the other a pastoral staff like a sheep-hook; neither of them of metal, +but the crosier of balm-wood, the pastoral staff of cedar. Horsemen he +had none, neither before nor behind his chariot: as it seemeth, to +avoid all tumult and trouble. Behind his chariot went all the officers +and principals of the companies of the city. He sat alone, upon +cushions of a kind of excellent plush, blue; and under his foot curious +carpets of silk of diverse colours, like the Persian, but far finer. +He held up his bare hand as he went, as blessing the people, but in +silence. The street was wonderfully well kept: so that there was never +any army had their men stand in better battle-array than the people +stood. The windows likewise were not crowded, but every one stood in +them as if they had been placed. + +When the shew was past, the Jew said to me; "I shall not be able to +attend you as I would, in regard of some charge the city hath laid upon +me, for the entertaining of this great person." Three days after the +Jew came to me again, and said; "Ye are happy men; for the Father of +Salomon's House taketh knowledge of your being here, and commanded me +to tell you that he will admit all your company to his presence, and +have private conference with one of you, that ye shall choose: and for +this hath appointed the next day after to-morrow. And because he +meaneth to give you his blessing, he hath appointed it in the forenoon." + +We came at our day and hour, and I was chosen by my fellows for the +private access. We found him in a fair chamber, richly hanged, and +carpeted under foot without any degrees to the state. He was set upon +a low Throne richly adorned, and a rich cloth of state over his head, +of blue satin embroidered. He was alone, save that he had two pages of +honour, on either hand one, finely attired in white. His under +garments were the like that we saw him wear in the chariot; but instead +of his gown, he had on him a mantle with a cape, of the same fine +black, fastened about him. When we came in, as we were taught, we +bowed low at our first entrance; and when we were come near his chair, +he stood up, holding forth his hand ungloved, and in posture of +blessing; and we every one of us stooped down, and kissed the hem of +his tippet. That done, the rest departed, and I remained. Then he +warned the pages forth of the room, and caused me to sit down beside +him, and spake to me thus in the Spanish tongue. + +"God bless thee, my son; I will give thee the greatest jewel I have. +For I will impart unto thee, for the love of God and men, a relation of +the true state of Salomon's House. Son, to make you know the true +state of Salomon's House, I will keep this order. First, I will set +forth unto you the end of our foundation. Secondly, the preparations +and instruments we have for our works. Thirdly, the several +employments and functions whereto our fellows are assigned. And +fourthly, the ordinances and rites which we observe. + +"The end of our foundation is the knowledge of causes, and secret +motions of things; and the enlarging of the bounds of human empire, to +the effecting of all things possible. + +"The Preparations and Instruments are these. We have large and deep +caves of several depths: the deepest are sunk six hundred fathom: and +some of them are digged and made under great hills and mountains: so +that if you reckon together the depth of the hill and the depth of the +cave, they are (some of them) above three miles deep. For we find, +that the depth of a hill, and the depth of a cave from the flat, is the +same thing; both remote alike, from the sun and heaven's beams, and +from the open air. These caves we call the Lower Region; and we use +them for all coagulations, indurations, refrigerations, and +conservations of bodies. We use them likewise for the imitation of +natural mines; and the producing also of new artificial metals, by +compositions and materials which we use, and lay there for many years. +We use them also sometimes, (which may seem strange,) for curing of +some diseases, and for prolongation of life in some hermits that choose +to live there, well accommodated of all things necessary, and indeed +live very long; by whom also we learn many things. + +"We have burials in several earths, where we put diverse cements, as +the Chineses do their porcellain. But we have them in greater variety, +and some of them more fine. We have also great variety of composts and +soils, for the making of the earth fruitful. + +"We have high towers; the highest about half a mile in height; and some +of them likewise set upon high mountains; so that the vantage of the +hill with the tower is in the highest of them three miles at least. And +these places we call the Upper Region; accounting the air between the +high places and the low, as a Middle Region. We use these towers, +according to their several heights, and situations, for insolation, +refrigeration, conservation; and for the view of divers meteors; as +winds, rain, snow, hail; and some of the fiery meteors also. And upon +them, in some places, are dwellings of hermits, whom we visit +sometimes, and instruct what to observe. + +"We have great lakes, both salt, and fresh; whereof we have use for the +fish and fowl. We use them also for burials of some natural bodies: +for we find a difference in things buried in earth or in air below the +earth, and things buried in water. We have also pools, of which some +do strain fresh water out of salt; and others by art do turn fresh +water into salt. We have also some rocks in the midst of the sea, and +some bays upon the shore for some works, wherein is required the air +and vapor of the sea. We have likewise violent streams and cataracts, +which serve us for many motions: and likewise engines for multiplying +and enforcing of winds, to set also on going diverse motions. + +"We have also a number of artificial wells and fountains, made in +imitation of the natural sources and baths; as tincted upon vitriol, +sulphur, steel, brass, lead, nitre, and other minerals. And again we +have little wells for infusions of many things, where the waters take +the virtue quicker and better, than in vessels or basins. And amongst +them we have a water which we call Water of Paradise, being, by that we +do to it made very sovereign for health, and prolongation of life. + +"We have also great and spacious houses where we imitate and +demonstrate meteors; as snow, hail, rain, some artificial rains of +bodies and not of water, thunders, lightnings; also generations of +bodies in air; as frogs, flies, and divers others. + +"We have also certain chambers, which we call Chambers of Health, where +we qualify the air as we think good and proper for the cure of divers +diseases, and preservation of health. + +"We have also fair and large baths, of several mixtures, for the cure +of diseases, and the restoring of man's body from arefaction: and +others for the confirming of it in strength of sinewes, vital parts, +and the very juice and substance of the body. + +"We have also large and various orchards and gardens; wherein we do not +so much respect beauty, as variety of ground and soil, proper for +divers trees and herbs: and some very spacious, where trees and berries +are set whereof we make divers kinds of drinks, besides the vineyards. +In these we practise likewise all conclusions of grafting, and +inoculating as well of wild-trees as fruit-trees, which produceth many +effects. And we make (by art) in the same orchards and gardens, trees +and flowers to come earlier or later than their seasons; and to come up +and bear more speedily than by their natural course they do. We make +them also by art greater much than their nature; and their fruit +greater and sweeter and of differing taste, smell, colour, and figure, +from their nature. And many of them we so order, as they become of +medicinal use. + +"We have also means to make divers plants rise by mixtures of earths +without seeds; and likewise to make divers new plants, differing from +the vulgar; and to make one tree or plant turn into another. + +"We have also parks and enclosures of all sorts of beasts and birds +which we use not only for view or rareness, but likewise for +dissections and trials; that thereby we may take light what may be +wrought upon the body of man. Wherein we find many strange effects; as +continuing life in them, though divers parts, which you account vital, +be perished and taken forth; resuscitating of some that seem dead in +appearance; and the like. We try also all poisons and other medicines +upon them, as well of chirurgery, as physic. By art likewise, we make +them greater or taller than their kind is; and contrariwise dwarf them, +and stay their growth: we make them more fruitful and bearing than +their kind is; and contrariwise barren and not generative. Also we +make them differ in colour, shape, activity, many ways. We find means +to make commixtures and copulations of different kinds; which have +produced many new kinds, and them not barren, as the general opinion +is. We make a number of kinds of serpents, worms, flies, fishes, of +putrefaction; whereof some are advanced (in effect) to be perfect +creatures, like bests or birds; and have sexes, and do propagate. +Neither do we this by chance, but we know beforehand, of what matter +and commixture what kind of those creatures will arise. + +"We have also particular pools, where we make trials upon fishes, as we +have said before of beasts and birds. + +"We have also places for breed and generation of those kinds of worms +and flies which are of special use; such as are with you your +silk-worms and bees. + +"I will not hold you long with recounting of our brewhouses, +bake-houses, and kitchens, where are made divers drinks, breads, and +meats, rare and of special effects. Wines we have of grapes; and +drinks of other juice of fruits, of grains, and of roots; and of +mixtures with honey, sugar, manna, and fruits dried, and decocted; Also +of the tears or woundings of trees; and of the pulp of canes. And these +drinks are of several ages, some to the age or last of forty years. We +have drinks also brewed with several herbs, and roots, and spices; yea +with several fleshes, and white-meats; whereof some of the drinks are +such, as they are in effect meat and drink both: so that divers, +especially in age, do desire to live with them, with little or no meat +or bread. And above all, we strive to have drink of extreme thin +parts, to insinuate into the body, and yet without all biting, +sharpness, or fretting; insomuch as some of them put upon the back of +your hand will, with a little stay, pass through to the palm, and yet +taste mild to the mouth. We have also waters which we ripen in that +fashion, as they become nourishing; so that they are indeed excellent +drink; and many will use no other. Breads we have of several grains, +roots, and kernels; yea and some of flesh and fish dried; with divers +kinds of leavenings and seasonings: so that some do extremely move +appetites; some do nourish so, as divers do live of them, without any +other meat; who live very long. So for meats, we have some of them so +beaten and made tender and mortified, yet without all corrupting, as a +weak heat of the stomach will turn them into good chylus; as well as a +strong heat would meat otherwise prepared. We have some meats also and +breads and drinks, which taken by men enable them to fast long after; +and some other, that used make the very flesh of men's bodies sensibly +more hard and tough and their strength far greater than otherwise it +would be. + +"We have dispensatories, or shops of medicines. Wherein you may easily +think, if we have such variety of plants and living creatures more than +you have in Europe, (for we know what you have,) the simples, drugs, +and ingredients of medicines, must likewise be in so much the greater +variety. We have them likewise of divers ages, and long fermentations. +And for their preparations, we have not only all manner of exquisite +distillations and separations, and especially by gentle heats and +percolations through divers strainers, yea and substances; but also +exact forms of composition, whereby they incorporate almost, as they +were natural simples. + +"We have also divers mechanical arts, which you have not; and stuffs +made by them; as papers, linen, silks, tissues; dainty works of +feathers of wonderful lustre; excellent dies, and, many others; and +shops likewise, as well for such as are not brought into vulgar use +amongst us as for those that are. For you must know that of the things +before recited, many of them are grown into use throughout the kingdom; +but yet, if they did flow from our invention, we have of them also for +patterns and principals. + +"We have also furnaces of great diversities, and that keep great +diversity of heats; fierce and quick; strong and constant; soft and +mild; blown, quiet; dry, moist; and the like. But above all, we have +heats, in imitation of the Sun's and heavenly bodies' heats, that pass +divers inequalities, and (as it were) orbs, progresses, and returns, +whereby we produce admirable effects. Besides, we have heats of dungs; +and of bellies and maws of living creatures, and of their bloods and +bodies; and of hays and herbs laid up moist; of lime unquenched; and +such like. Instruments also which generate heat only by motion. And +farther, places for strong insulations; and again, places under the +earth, which by nature, or art, yield heat. These divers heats we use, +as the nature of the operation, which we intend, requireth. + +"We have also perspective-houses, where we make demonstrations of all +lights and radiations; and of all colours: and out of things uncoloured +and transparent, we can represent unto you all several colours; not in +rain-bows, (as it is in gems, and prisms,) but of themselves single. +We represent also all multiplications of light, which we carry to great +distance, and make so sharp as to discern small points and lines. Also +all colourations of light; all delusions and deceits of the sight, in +figures, magnitudes, motions, colours all demonstrations of shadows. +We find also divers means, yet unknown to you, of producing of light +originally from divers bodies. We procure means of seeing objects afar +off; as in the heaven and remote places; and represent things near as +afar off; and things afar off as near; making feigned distances. We +have also helps for the sight, far above spectacles and glasses in use. +We have also glasses and means to see small and minute bodies perfectly +and distinctly; as the shapes and colours of small flies and worms, +grains and flaws in gems, which cannot otherwise be seen, observations +in urine and blood not otherwise to be seen. We make artificial +rain-bows, halo's, and circles about light. We represent also all +manner of reflexions, refractions, and multiplications of visual beams +of objects. + +"We have also precious stones of all kinds, many of them of great +beauty, and to you unknown; crystals likewise; and glasses of divers +kinds; and amongst them some of metals vitrificated, and other +materials besides those of which you make glass. Also a number of +fossils, and imperfect minerals, which you have not. Likewise +loadstones of prodigious virtue; and other rare stones, both natural +and artificial. + +"We have also sound-houses, where we practise and demonstrate all +sounds, and their generation. We have harmonies which you have not, of +quarter-sounds, and lesser slides of sounds. Divers instruments of +music likewise to you unknown, some sweeter than any you have, together +with bells and rings that are dainty and sweet. We represent small +sounds as great and deep; likewise great sounds extenuate and sharp; we +make divers tremblings and warblings of sounds, which in their original +are entire. We represent and imitate all articulate sounds and +letters, and the voices and notes of beasts and birds. We have certain +helps which set to the ear do further the hearing greatly. We have also +divers strange and artificial echoes, reflecting the voice many times, +and as it were tossing it: and some that give back the voice louder +than it came, some shriller, and some deeper; yea, some rendering the +voice differing in the letters or articulate sound from that they +receive. We have also means to convey sounds in trunks and pipes, in +strange lines and distances. + +"We have also perfume-houses; wherewith we join also practices of +taste. We multiply smells, which may seem strange. We imitate smells, +making all smells to breathe outs of other mixtures than those that +give them. We make divers imitations of taste likewise, so that they +will deceive any man's taste. And in this house we contain also a +confiture-house; where we make all sweet-meats, dry and moist; and +divers pleasant wines, milks, broths, and sallets; in far greater +variety than you have. + +"We have also engine-houses, where are prepared engines and instruments +for all sorts of motions. There we imitate and practise to make +swifter motions than any you have, either out of your muskets or any +engine that you have: and to make them and multiply them more easily, +and with small force, by wheels and other means: and to make them +stronger and more violent than yours are; exceeding your greatest +cannons and basilisks. We represent also ordnance and instruments of +war, and engines of all kinds: and likewise new mixtures and +compositions of gun-powder, wild-fires burning in water, and +unquenchable. Also fireworks of all variety both for pleasure and use. +We imitate also flights of birds; we have some degrees of flying in the +air. We have ships and boats for going under water, and brooking of +seas; also swimming-girdles and supporters. We have divers curious +clocks, and other like motions of return: and some perpetual motions. +We imitate also motions of living creatures, by images, of men, beasts, +birds, fishes, and serpents. We have also a great number of other +various motions, strange for equality, fineness, and subtilty. + +"We have also a mathematical house, where are represented all +instruments, as well of geometry as astronomy, exquisitely made. + +"We have also houses of deceits of the senses; where we represent all +manner of feats of juggling, false apparitions, impostures, and +illusions; and their fallacies. And surely you will easily believe +that we that have so many things truly natural which induce admiration, +could in a world of particulars deceive the senses, if we would +disguise those things and labour to make them seem more miraculous. But +we do hate all impostures, and lies; insomuch as we have severely +forbidden it to all our fellows, under pain of ignominy and fines, that +they do not show any natural work or thing, adorned or swelling; but +only pure as it is, and without all affectation of strangeness. + +"These are (my son) the riches of Salomon's House. + +"For the several employments and offices of our fellows; we have twelve +that sail into foreign countries, under the names of other nations, +(for our own we conceal); who bring us the books, and abstracts, and +patterns of experiments of all other parts. These we call Merchants of +Light. + +"We have three that collect the experiments which are in all books. +These we call Depredators. + +"We have three that collect the experiments of all mechanical arts; and +also of liberal sciences; and also of practices which are not brought +into arts. These we call Mystery-men. + +"We have three that try new experiments, such as themselves think good. +These we call Pioneers or Miners. + +"We have three that draw the experiments of the former four into titles +and tables, to give the better light for the drawing of observations +and axioms out of them. These we call Compilers. + +"We have three that bend themselves, looking into the experiments of +their fellows, and cast about how to draw out of them things of use and +practise for man's life, and knowledge, as well for works as for plain +demonstration of causes, means of natural divinations, and the easy and +clear discovery of the virtues and parts of bodies. These we call +Dowry-men or Benefactors. + +"Then after divers meetings and consults of our whole number, to +consider of the former labours and collections, we have three that take +care, out of them, to direct new experiments, of a higher light, more +penetrating into nature than the former. These we call Lamps. + +"We have three others that do execute the experiments so directed, and +report them. These we call Inoculators. + +"Lastly, we have three that raise the former discoveries by experiments +into greater observations, axioms, and aphorisms. These we call +Interpreters of Nature. + +"We have also, as you must think, novices and apprentices, that the +succession of the former employed men do not fail; besides, a great +number of servants and attendants, men and women. And this we do also: +we have consultations, which of the inventions and experiences which we +have discovered shall be published, and which not: and take all an oath +of secrecy, for the concealing of those which we think fit to keep +secret: though some of those we do reveal sometimes to the state and +some not. + +"For our ordinances and rites: we have two very long and fair +galleries: in one of these we place patterns and samples of all manner +of the more rare and excellent inventions in the other we place the +statues of all principal inventors. There we have the statue of your +Columbus, that discovered the West Indies: also the inventor of ships: +your monk that was the inventor of ordnance and of gunpowder: the +inventor of music: the inventor of letters: the inventor of printing: +the inventor of observations of astronomy: the inventor of works in +metal: the inventor of glass: the inventor of silk of the worm: the +inventor of wine: the inventor of corn and bread: the inventor of +sugars: and all these, by more certain tradition than you have. Then +have we divers inventors of our own, of excellent works; which since +you have not seen, it were too long to make descriptions of them; and +besides, in the right understanding of those descriptions you might +easily err. For upon every invention of value, we erect a statue to +the inventor, and give him a liberal and honourable reward. These +statues are some of brass; some of marble and touch-stone; some of +cedar and other special woods gilt and adorned; some of iron; some of +silver; some of gold. + +"We have certain hymns and services, which we say daily, of Lord and +thanks to God for his marvellous works: and forms of prayers, imploring +his aid and blessing for the illumination of our labours, and the +turning of them into good and holy uses. + +"Lastly, we have circuits or visits of divers principal cities of the +kingdom; where, as it cometh to pass, we do publish such new profitable +inventions as we think good. And we do also declare natural +divinations of diseases, plagues, swarms-of hurtful creatures, +scarcity, tempests, earthquakes, great inundations, comets, temperature +of the year, and divers other things; and we give counsel thereupon, +what the people shall do for the prevention and remedy of them." + +And when he had said this, he stood up; and I, as I had been taught, +kneeled down, and he laid his right hand upon my head, and said; "God +bless thee, my son; and God bless this relation, which I have made. I +give thee leave to publish it for the good of other nations; for we +here are in God's bosom, a land unknown." And so he left me; having +assigned a value of about two thousand ducats, for a bounty to me and +my fellows. For they give great largesses where they come upon all +occasions. + +[The rest was not perfected.] + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 2434 *** diff --git a/2434-h.zip b/2434-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0629a90 --- /dev/null +++ b/2434-h.zip diff --git a/2434-h/2434-h.htm b/2434-h/2434-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..37b8b3a --- /dev/null +++ b/2434-h/2434-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1638 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="utf-8"> + +<TITLE>The New AtlantisProject Gutenberg</TITLE> + +<style> +BODY { color: Black; + background: White; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +h1, h2, h3 {text-align: center} + +P {text-indent: 4% } + +P.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +P.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: small } + +P.finis { text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +</STYLE> + +</HEAD> + +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 2434 ***</div> + +<H1> +THE NEW ATLANTIS +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3> +BY +</H3> + +<H2> +SIR FRANCIS BACON +</H2> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3> +INTRODUCTORY NOTE +</H3> + +<P> +Bacon's literary executor, Dr. Rowley, published "The New Atlantis" in +1627, the year after the author's death. It seems to have been written +about 1623, during that period of literary activity which followed +Bacon's political fall. None of Bacon's writings gives in short apace +so vivid a picture of his tastes and aspirations as this fragment of +the plan of an ideal commonwealth. The generosity and enlightenment, +the dignity and splendor, the piety and public spirit, of the +inhabitants of Bensalem represent the ideal qualities which Bacon the +statesman desired rather than hoped to see characteristic of his own +country; and in Solomon's House we have Bacon the scientist indulging +without restriction his prophetic vision of the future of human +knowledge. No reader acquainted in any degree with the processes and +results of modern scientific inquiry can fail to be struck by the +numerous approximations made by Bacon's imagination to the actual +achievements of modern times. The plan and organization of his great +college lay down the main lines of the modern research university; and +both in pure and applied science he anticipates a strikingly large +number of recent inventions and discoveries. In still another way is +"The New Atlantis" typical of Bacon's attitude. In spite of the +enthusiastic and broad-minded schemes he laid down for the pursuit of +truth, Bacon always had an eye to utility. The advancement of science +which he sought was conceived by him as a means to a practical end the +increase of man's control over nature, and the comfort and convenience +of humanity. For pure metaphysics, or any form of abstract thinking +that yielded no "fruit," he had little interest; and this leaning to +the useful is shown in the practical applications of the discoveries +made by the scholars of Solomon's House. Nor does the interest of the +work stop here. It contains much, both in its political and in its +scientific ideals, that we have as yet by no means achieved, but which +contain valuable elements of suggestion and stimulus for the future. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3> +THE NEW ATLANTIS +</H3> + +<P> +We sailed from Peru, (where we had continued for the space of one whole +year) for China and Japan, by the South Sea; taking with us victuals +for twelve months; and had good winds from the east, though soft and +weak, for five months space, and more. But the wind came about, and +settled in the west for many days, so as we could make little or no +way, and were sometime in purpose to turn back. But then again there +arose strong and great winds from the south, with a point east, which +carried us up (for all that we could do) towards the north; by which +time our victuals failed us, though we had made good spare of them. So +that finding ourselves, in the midst of the greatest wilderness of +waters in the world, without victuals, we gave ourselves for lost men +and prepared for death. Yet we did lift up our hearts and voices to +God above, who showeth his wonders in the deep, beseeching him of his +mercy, that as in the beginning he discovered the face of the deep, and +brought forth dry land, so he would now discover land to us, that we +might not perish. +</P> + +<P> +And it came to pass that the next day about evening we saw within a +kenning before us, towards the north, as it were thick clouds, which +did put us in some hope of land; knowing how that part of the South Sea +was utterly unknown; and might have islands, or continents, that +hitherto were not come to light. Wherefore we bent our course thither, +where we saw the appearance of land, all that night; and in the dawning +of the next day, we might plainly discern that it was a land; flat to +our sight, and full of boscage; which made it show the more dark. And +after an hour and a half's sailing, we entered into a good haven, being +the port of a fair city; not great indeed, but well built, and that +gave a pleasant view from the sea: and we thinking every minute long, +till we were on land, came close to the shore, and offered to land. +But straightways we saw divers of the people, with bastons in their +hands (as it were) forbidding us to land; yet without any cries of +fierceness, but only as warning us off, by signs that they made. +Whereupon being not a little discomforted, we were advising with +ourselves, what we should do. +</P> + +<P> +During which time, there made forth to us a small boat, with about +eight persons in it; whereof one of them had in his hand a tipstaff of +a yellow cane, tipped at both ends with blue, who came aboard our ship, +without any show of distrust at all. And when he saw one of our +number, present himself somewhat before the rest, he drew forth a +little scroll of parchment (somewhat yellower than our parchment, and +shining like the leaves of writing tables, but otherwise soft and +flexible,) and delivered it to our foremost man. In which scroll were +written in ancient Hebrew, and in ancient Greek, and in good Latin of +the school, and in Spanish, these words: Land ye not, none of you; and +provide to be gone from this coast, within sixteen days, except you +have further time given you. Meanwhile, if you want fresh water or +victuals, or help for your sick, or that your ship needeth repairs, +write down your wants, and you shall have that, which belongeth to +mercy. This scroll was signed with a stamp of cherubim: wings, not +spread, but hanging downwards; and by them a cross. This being +delivered, the officer returned, and left only a servant with us to +receive our answer. +</P> + +<P> +Consulting hereupon amongst ourselves, we were much perplexed. The +denial of landing and hasty warning us away troubled us much; on the +other side, to find that the people had languages, and were so full of +humanity, did comfort us not a little. And above all, the sign of the +cross to that instrument was to us a great rejoicing, and as it were a +certain presage of good. Our answer was in the Spanish tongue; that +for our ship, it was well; for we had rather met with calms and +contrary winds than any tempests. For our sick, they were many, and in +very ill case; so that if they were not permitted to land, they ran +danger of their lives. Our other wants we set down in particular; +adding, That we had some little store of merchandise, which if it +pleased them to deal for, it might supply our wants, without being +chargeable unto them. We offered some reward in pistolets unto the +servant, and a piece of crimson velvet to be presented to the officer; +but the servant took them not, nor would scarce look upon them; and so +left us, and went back in another little boat, which was sent for him. +</P> + +<P> +About three hours after we had dispatched our answer, there came +towards us a person (as it seemed) of place. He had on him a gown with +wide sleeves, of a kind of water chamolet, of an excellent azure +colour, far more glossy than ours; his under apparel was green; and so +was his hat, being in the form of a turban, daintily made, and not so +huge as the Turkish turbans; and the locks of his hair came down below +the brims of it. A reverend man was he to behold. He came in a boat, +gilt in some part of it, with four persons more only in that boat; and +was followed by another boat, wherein were some twenty. When he was +come within a flightshot of our ship, signs were made to us, that we +should send forth some to meet him upon the water; which we presently +did in our ship-boat, sending the principal man amongst us save one, +and four of our number with him. +</P> + +<P> +When we were come within six yards of their boat, they called to us to +stay, and not to approach farther; which we did. And thereupon the +man, whom I before described, stood up, and with a loud voice, in +Spanish, asked, "Are ye Christians?" We answered, "We were;" fearing +the less, because of the cross we had seen in the subscription. At +which answer the said person lifted up his right hand towards Heaven, +and drew it softly to his mouth (which is the gesture they use, when +they thank God;) and then said: "If ye will swear (all of you) by the +merits of the Saviour, that ye are no pirates, nor have shed blood, +lawfully, nor unlawfully within forty days past, you may have licence +to come on land." We said, "We were all ready to take that oath." +Whereupon one of those that were with him, being (as it seemed) a +notary, made an entry of this act. Which done, another of the +attendants of the great person which was with him in the same boat, +after his Lord had spoken a little to him, said aloud: "My Lord would +have you know, that it is not of pride, or greatness, that he cometh +not aboard your ship; but for that in your answer you declare that you +have many sick amongst you, he was warned by the Conservator of Health +of the city that he should keep a distance." We bowed ourselves +towards him, and answered, "We were his humble servants; and accounted +for great honour, and singular humanity towards us, that which was +already done; but hoped well, that the nature of the sickness of our +men was not infectious." So he returned; and a while after came the +Notary to us aboard our ship; holding in his hand a fruit of that +country, like an orange, but of color between orange-tawney and +scarlet; which cast a most excellent odour. He used it (as it seemeth) +for a preservative against infection. He gave us our oath; "By the +name of Jesus, and his merits:" and after told us, that the next day, +by six of the Clock, in the Morning, we should be sent to, and brought +to the Strangers' House, (so he called it,) where we should be +accommodated of things, both for our whole, and for our sick. So he +left us; and when we offered him some pistolets, he smiling said, "He +must not be twice paid for one labour:" meaning (as I take it) that he +had salary sufficient of the State for his service. For (as I after +learned) they call an officer that taketh rewards, "twice paid." +</P> + +<P> +The next morning early, there came to us the same officer that came to +us at first with his cane, and told us, He came to conduct us to the +Strangers' House; and that he had prevented the hour, because we might +have the whole day before us, for our business. "For," said he, "if +you will follow my advice, there shall first go with me some few of +you, and see the place, and how it may be made convenient for you; and +then you may send for your sick, and the rest of your number, which ye +will bring on land." We thanked him, and said, "That this care, which +he took of desolate strangers, God would reward." And so six of us +went on land with him: and when we were on land, he went before us, and +turned to us, and said, "He was but our servant, and our guide." He led +us through three fair streets; and all the way we went, there were +gathered some people on both sides, standing in a row; but in so civil +a fashion, as if it had been, not to wonder at us, but to welcome us: +and divers of them, as we passed by them, put their arms a little +abroad; which is their gesture, when they did bid any welcome. +</P> + +<P> +The Strangers' House is a fair and spacious house, built of brick, of +somewhat a bluer colour than our brick; and with handsome windows, some +of glass, some of a kind of cambric oiled. He brought us first into a +fair parlour above stairs, and then asked us, "What number of persons +we were? And how many sick?" We answered, "We were in all, (sick and +whole,) one and fifty persons, whereof our sick were seventeen." He +desired us to have patience a little, and to stay till he came back to +us; which was about an hour after; and then he led us to see the +chambers which were provided for us, being in number nineteen: they +having cast it (as it seemeth) that four of those chambers, which were +better than the rest, might receive four of the principal men of our +company; and lodge them alone by themselves; and the other fifteen +chambers were to lodge us two and two together. The chambers were +handsome and cheerful chambers, and furnished civilly. Then he led us +to a long gallery, like a dorture, where he showed us all along the one +side (for the other side was but wall and window), seventeen cells, +very neat ones, having partitions of cedar wood. Which gallery and +cells, being in all forty, many more than we needed, were instituted as +an infirmary for sick persons. And he told us withal, that as any of +our sick waxed well, he might be removed from his cell, to a chamber; +for which purpose there were set forth ten spare chambers, besides the +number we spake of before. This done, he brought us back to the +parlour, and lifting up his cane a little, (as they do when they give +any charge or command) said to us, "Ye are to know, that the custom of +the land requireth, that after this day and to-morrow, (which we give +you for removing of your people from your ship,) you are to keep within +doors for three days. But let it not trouble you, nor do not think +yourselves restrained, but rather left to your rest and ease. You +shall want nothing, and there are six of our people appointed to attend +you, for any business you may have abroad." We gave him thanks, with +all affection and respect, and said, "God surely is manifested in this +land." We offered him also twenty pistolets; but he smiled, and only +said; "What? twice paid!" And so he left us. +</P> + +<P> +Soon after our dinner was served in; which was right good viands, both +for bread and treat: better than any collegiate diet, that I have known +in Europe. We had also drink of three sorts, all wholesome and good; +wine of the grape; a drink of grain, such as is with us our ale, but +more clear: And a kind of cider made of a fruit of that country; a +wonderful pleasing and refreshing drink. Besides, there were brought +in to us, great store of those scarlet oranges, for our sick; which +(they said) were an assured remedy for sickness taken at sea. There +was given us also, a box of small gray, or whitish pills, which they +wished our sick should take, one of the pills, every night before +sleep; which (they said) would hasten their recovery. +</P> + +<P> +The next day, after that our trouble of carriage and removing of our +men and goods out of our ship, was somewhat settled and quiet, I +thought good to call our company together; and when they were +assembled, said unto them; "My dear friends, let us know ourselves, and +how it standeth with us. We are men cast on land, as Jonas was, out of +the whale's belly, when we were as buried in the deep: and now we are +on land, we are but between death and life; for we are beyond, both the +old world, and the new; and whether ever we shall see Europe, God only +knoweth. It is a kind of miracle bath brought us hither: and it must +be little less, that shall bring us hence. Therefore in regard of our +deliverance past, and our danger present, and to come, let us look up +to God, and every man reform his own ways. Besides we are come here +amongst a Christian people, full of piety and humanity: let us not +bring that confusion of face upon ourselves, as to show our vices, or +unworthiness before them. Yet there is more. For they have by +commandment, (though in form of courtesy) cloistered us within these +wall, for three days: who knoweth, whether it be not, to take some +taste of our manners and conditions? And if they find them bad, to +banish us straightways; if good, to give us further time. For these +men that they have given us for attendance, may withal have an eye upon +us. Therefore for God's love, and as we love the weal of our souls and +bodies, let us so behave ourselves, as we may be at peace with God, and +may find grace in the eyes of this people." Our company with one voice +thanked me for my good admonition, and promised me to live soberly and +civilly, and without giving any the least occasion of offence. So we +spent our three days joyfully, and without care, in expectation what +would be done with us, when they were expired. During which time, we +had every hour joy of the amendment of our sick; who thought themselves +cast into some divine pool of healing; they mended so kindly, and so +fast. +</P> + +<P> +The morrow after our three days were past, there came to us a new man, +that we had not seen before, clothed in blue as the former was, save +that his turban was white, with a small red cross on the top. He had +also a tippet of fine linen. At his coming in, he did bend to us a +little, and put his arms abroad. We of our parts saluted him in a very +lowly and submissive manner; as looking that from him, we should +receive sentence of life, or death: he desired to speak with some few +of us: whereupon six of us only staid, and the rest avoided the room. +He said, "I am by office governor of this House of Strangers, and by +vocation I am a Christian priest: and therefore am come to you to offer +you my service, both as strangers and chiefly as Christians. Some +things I may tell you, which I think you will not be unwilling to hear. +The State hath given you license to stay on land, for the space of six +weeks; and let it not trouble you, if your occasions ask further time, +for the law in this point is not precise; and I do not doubt, but my +self shall be able, to obtain for you such further time, as may be +convenient. Ye shall also understand, that the Strangers' House is at +this time rich, and much aforehand; for it hath laid up revenue these +thirty-seven years; for so long it is since any stranger arrived in +this part: and therefore take ye no care; the State will defray you all +the time you stay; neither shall you stay one day the less for that. +As for any merchandise ye have brought, ye shall be well used, and have +your return, either in merchandise, or in gold and silver: for to us it +is all one. And if you have any other request to make, hide it not. +For ye shall find we will not make your countenance to fall by the +answer ye shall receive. Only this I must tell you, that none of you +must go above a karan," (that is with them a mile and an half) "from +the walls of the city, without especial leave." +</P> + +<P> +We answered, after we had looked awhile one upon another, admiring this +gracious and parent-like usage; "That we could not tell what to say: +for we wanted words to express our thanks; and his noble free offers +left us nothing to ask. It seemed to us, that we had before us a +picture of our salvation in Heaven; for we that were a while since in +the jaws of death, were now brought into a place, where we found +nothing but consolations. For the commandment laid upon us, we would +not fail to obey it, though it was impossible but our hearts should be +enflamed to tread further upon this happy and holy ground." We added, +"That our tongues should first cleave to the roofs of our mouths, ere +we should forget, either his reverend person, or this whole nation, in +our prayers." We also most humbly besought him, to accept of us as his +true servants; by as just a right as ever men on earth were bounden; +laying and presenting, both our persons, and all we had, at his feet. +He said; "He was a priest, and looked for a priest's reward; which was +our brotherly love, and the good of our souls and bodies." So he went +from us, not without tears of tenderness in his eyes; and left us also +confused with joy and kindness, saying amongst ourselves; "That we were +come into a land of angels, which did appear to us daily, and prevent +us with comforts, which we thought not of, much less expected." +</P> + +<P> +The next day about ten of the clock, the Governor came to us again, and +after salutations, said familiarly; "That he was come to visit us;" and +called for a chair, and sat him down: and we, being some ten of us, +(the rest were of the meaner sort, or else gone abroad,) sat down with +him, And when we were set, he began thus: "We of this island of +Bensalem," (for so they call it in their language,) "have this; that by +means of our solitary situation; and of the laws of secrecy, which we +have for our travellers, and our rare admission of strangers; we know +well most part of the habitable world, and are ourselves unknown. +Therefore because he that knoweth least is fittest to ask questions, it +is more reason, for the entertainment of the time, that ye ask me +questions, than that I ask you." +</P> + +<P> +We answered; "That we humbly thanked him that he would give us leave so +to do: and that we conceived by the taste we had already, that there +was no worldly thing on earth, more worthy to be known than the state +of that happy land. But above all," (we said,) "since that we were met +from the several ends of the world, and hoped assuredly that we should +meet one day in the kingdom of Heaven, (for that we were both parts +Christians,) we desired to know, (in respect that land was so remote, +and so divided by vast and unknown seas, from the land where our +Saviour walked on earth,) who was the apostle of that nation, and how +it was converted to the faith?" It appeared in his face that he took +great contentment in this our question: he said; "Ye knit my heart to +you, by asking this question in the first place; for it sheweth that +you first seek the kingdom of heaven; and I shall gladly, and briefly, +satisfy your demand. +</P> + +<P> +"About twenty years after the ascension of our Saviour, it came to +pass, that there was seen by the people of Renfusa, (a city upon the +eastern coast of our island,) within night, (the night was cloudy, and +calm,) as it might be some mile into the sea, a great pillar of light; +not sharp, but in form of a column, or cylinder, rising from the sea a +great way up towards heaven; and on the top of it was seen a large +cross of light, more bright and resplendent than the body of the +pillar. Upon which so strange a spectacle, the people of the city +gathered apace together upon the sands, to wonder; and so after put +themselves into a number of small boats, to go nearer to this +marvellous sight. But when the boats were come within (about) sixty +yards of the pillar, they found themselves all bound, and could go no +further; yet so as they might move to go about, but might not approach +nearer: so as the boats stood all as in a theatre, beholding this light +as an heavenly sign. It so fell out, that there was in one of the +boats one of the wise men, of the society of Salomon's House; which +house, or college (my good brethren) is the very eye of this kingdom; +who having awhile attentively and devoutly viewed and contemplated this +pillar and cross, fell down upon his face; and then raised himself upon +his knees, and lifting up his hands to heaven, made his prayers in this +manner. +</P> + +<P> +"'LORD God of heaven and earth, thou hast vouchsafed of thy grace to +those of our order, to know thy works of Creation, and the secrets of +them: and to discern (as far as appertaineth to the generations of men) +between divine miracles, works of nature, works of art, and impostures +and illusions of all sorts. I do here acknowledge and testify before +this people, that the thing which we now see before our eyes is thy +Finger and a true Miracle. And forasmuch as we learn in our books that +thou never workest miracles, but to divine and excellent end, (for the +laws of nature are thine own laws, and thou exceedest them not but upon +great cause,) we most humbly beseech thee to prosper this great sign, +and to give us the interpretation and use of it in mercy; which thou +dost in some part secretly promise by sending it unto us.' +</P> + +<P> +"When he had made his prayer, he presently found the boat he was in, +moveable and unbound; whereas all the rest remained still fast; and +taking that for an assurance of leave to approach, he caused the boat +to be softly and with silence rowed towards the pillar. But ere he +came near it, the pillar and cross of light brake up, and cast itself +abroad, as it were, into a firmament of many stars; which also vanished +soon after, and there was nothing left to be seen, but a small ark, or +chest of cedar, dry, and not wet at all with water, though it swam. +And in the fore-end of it, which was towards him, grew a small green +branch of palm; and when the wise man had taken it, with all reverence, +into his boat, it opened of itself, and there were found in it a Book +and a Letter; both written in fine parchment, and wrapped in sindons of +linen. The Book contained all the canonical books of the Old and New +Testament, according as you have them; (for we know well what the +churches with you receive); and the Apocalypse itself, and some other +books of the New Testament, which were not at that time written, were +nevertheless in the Book. And for the Letter, it was in these words: +</P> + +<P> +"'I, Bartholomew, a servant of the Highest, and Apostle of Jesus +Christ, was warned by an angel that appeareth to me, in a vision of +glory, that I should commit this ark to the floods of the sea. +Therefore I do testify and declare unto that people where God shall +ordain this ark to come to land, that in the same day is come unto them +salvation and peace and good-will, from the Father, and from the Lord +Jesus.' +</P> + +<P> +"There was also in both these writings, as well the Book, as the +Letter, wrought a great miracle, conform to that of the Apostles, in +the original Gift of Tongues. For there being at that time in this +land Hebrews, Persians, and Indians, besides the natives, every one +read upon the Book, and Letter, as if they had been written in his own +language. And thus was this land saved from infidelity (as the +remainder of the old world was from water) by an ark, through the +apostolical and miraculous evangelism of Saint Bartholomew." And here +he paused, and a messenger came, and called him from us. So this was +all that passed in that conference. +</P> + +<P> +The next day, the same governor came again to us, immediately after +dinner, and excused himself, saying; "That the day before he was called +from us, somewhat abruptly, but now he would make us amends, and spend +time with us if we held his company and conference agreeable." We +answered, "That we held it so agreeable and pleasing to us, as we +forgot both dangers past and fears to come, for the time we hear him +speak; and that we thought an hour spent with him, was worth years of +our former life." He bowed himself a little to us, and after we were +set again, he said; "Well, the questions are on your part." +</P> + +<P> +One of our number said, after a little pause; that there was a matter, +we were no less desirous to know, than fearful to ask, lest we might +presume too far. But encouraged by his rare humanity towards us, (that +could scarce think ourselves strangers, being his vowed and professed +servants,) we would take the hardiness to propound it: humbly +beseeching him, if he thought it not fit to be answered, that he would +pardon it, though he rejected it. We said; "We well observed those his +words, which he formerly spake, that this happy island, where we now +stood, was known to few, and yet knew most of the nations of the world; +which we found to be true, considering they had the languages of +Europe, and knew much of our state and business; and yet we in Europe, +(notwithstanding all the remote discoveries and navigations of this +last age), never heard of the least inkling or glimpse of this island. +This we found wonderful strange; for that all nations have +inter-knowledge one of another, either by voyage into foreign parts, or +by strangers that come to them: and though the traveller into a foreign +country, doth commonly know more by the eye, than he that stayeth at +home can by relation of the traveller; yet both ways suffice to make a +mutual knowledge, in some degree, on both parts. But for this island, +we never heard tell of any ship of theirs that had been seen to arrive +upon any shore of Europe; nor of either the East or West Indies; nor +yet of any ship of any other part of the world, that had made return +from them. And yet the marvel rested not in this. For the situation +of it (as his lordship said) in the secret conclave of such a vast sea +might cause it. But then, that they should have knowledge of the +languages, books, affairs, of those that lie such a distance from them, +it was a thing we could not tell what to make of; for that it seemed to +us a conditioner and propriety of divine powers and beings, to be +hidden and unseen to others, and yet to have others open and as in a +light to them." +</P> + +<P> +At this speech the Governor gave a gracious smile, and said; "That we +did well to ask pardon for this question we now asked: for that it +imported, as if we thought this land, a land of magicians, that sent +forth spirits of the air into all parts, to bring them news and +intelligence of other countries." It was answered by us all, in all +possible humbleness, but yet with a countenance taking knowledge, that +we knew that he spake it but merrily, "That we were apt enough to think +there was somewhat supernatural in this island; but yet rather as +angelical than magical. But to let his lordship know truly what it was +that made us tender and doubtful to ask this question, it was not any +such conceit, but because we remembered, he had given a touch in his +former speech, that this land had laws of secrecy touching strangers." +To this he said; "You remember it aright and therefore in that I shall +say to you, I must reserve some particulars, which it is not lawful for +me to reveal; but there will be enough left, to give you satisfaction." +</P> + +<P> +"You shall understand (that which perhaps you will scarce think +credible) that about three thousand years ago, or somewhat more, the +navigation of the world, (especially for remote voyages,) was greater +than at this day. Do not think with yourselves, that I know not how +much it is increased with you, within these six-score years: I know it +well: and yet I say greater then than now; whether it was, that the +example of the ark, that saved the remnant of men from the universal +deluge, gave men confidence to adventure upon the waters; or what it +was; but such is the truth. The Phoenicians, and especially the +Tyrians, had great fleets. So had the Carthaginians their colony, +which is yet further west. Toward the east the shipping of Egypt and +of Palestine was likewise great. China also, and the great Atlantis, +(that you call America,) which have now but junks and canoes, abounded +then in tall ships. This island, (as appeareth by faithful registers +of those times,) had then fifteen hundred strong ships, of great +content. Of all this, there is with you sparing memory, or none; but +we have large knowledge thereof. +</P> + +<P> +"At that time, this land was known and frequented by the ships and +vessels of all the nations before named. And (as it cometh to pass) +they had many times men of other countries, that were no sailors, that +came with them; as Persians, Chaldeans, Arabians; so as almost all +nations of might and fame resorted hither; of whom we have some stirps, +and little tribes with us at this day. And for our own ships, they +went sundry voyages, as well to your straits, which you call the +Pillars of Hercules, as to other parts in the Atlantic and Mediterrane +Seas; as to Paguin, (which is the same with Cambaline,) and Quinzy, +upon the Oriental Seas, as far as to the borders of the East Tartary. +</P> + +<P> +"At the same time, and an age after, or more, the inhabitants of the +great Atlantis did flourish. For though the narration and description, +which is made by a great man with you; that the descendants of Neptune +planted there; and of the magnificent temple, palace, city, and hill; +and the manifold streams of goodly navigable rivers, (which as so many +chains environed the same site and temple); and the several degrees of +ascent, whereby men did climb up to the same, as if it had been a scala +coeli, be all poetical and fabulous: yet so much is true, that the said +country of Atlantis, as well that of Peru, then called Coya, as that of +Mexico, then named Tyrambel, were mighty and proud kingdoms in arms, +shipping and riches: so mighty, as at one time (or at least within the +space of ten years) they both made two great expeditions; they of +Tyrambel through the Atlantic to the Mediterrane Sea; and they of Coya +through the South Sea upon this our island: and for the former of +these, which was into Europe, the same author amongst you (as it +seemeth) had some relation from the Egyptian priest whom he cited. For +assuredly such a thing there was. But whether it were the ancient +Athenians that had the glory of the repulse and resistance of those +forces, I can say nothing: but certain it is, there never came back +either ship or man from that voyage. Neither had the other voyage of +those of Coya upon us had better fortune, if they had not met with +enemies of greater clemency. For the king of this island, (by name +Altabin,) a wise man and a great warrior, knowing well both his own +strength and that of his enemies, handled the matter so, as he cut off +their land-forces from their ships; and entoiled both their navy and +their camp with a greater power than theirs, both by sea and land: and +compelled them to render themselves without striking stroke and after +they were at his mercy, contenting himself only with their oath that +they should no more bear arms against him, dismissed them all in safety. +</P> + +<P> +"But the divine revenge overtook not long after those proud +enterprises. For within less than the space of one hundred years, the +great Atlantis was utterly lost and destroyed: not by a great +earthquake, as your man saith; (for that whole tract is little subject +to earthquakes;) but by a particular deluge or inundation; those +countries having, at this day, far greater rivers and far higher +mountains to pour down waters, than any part of the old world. But it +is true that the same inundation was not deep; not past forty foot, in +most places, from the ground; so that although it destroyed man and +beast generally, yet some few wild inhabitants of the wood escaped. +Birds also were saved by flying to the high trees and woods. For as +for men, although they had buildings in many places, higher than the +depth of the water, yet that inundation, though it were shallow, had a +long continuance; whereby they of the vale that were not drowned, +perished for want of food and other things necessary. +</P> + +<P> +"So as marvel you not at the thin population of America, nor at the +rudeness and ignorance of the people; for you must account your +inhabitants of America as a young people; younger a thousand years, at +the least, than the rest of the world: for that there was so much time +between the universal flood and their particular inundation. For the +poor remnant of human seed, which remained in their mountains, peopled +the country again slowly, by little and little; and being simple and +savage people, (not like Noah and his sons, which was the chief family +of the earth;) they were not able to leave letters, arts, and civility +to their posterity; and having likewise in their mountainous +habitations been used (in respect of the extreme cold of those regions) +to clothe themselves with the skins of tigers, bears, and great hairy +goats, that they have in those parts; when after they came down into +the valley, and found the intolerable heats which are there, and knew +no means of lighter apparel, they were forced to begin the custom of +going naked, which continueth at this day. Only they take great pride +and delight in the feathers of birds; and this also they took from +those their ancestors of the mountains, who were invited unto it by the +infinite flights of birds that came up to the high grounds, while the +waters stood below. So you see, by this main accident of time, we lost +our traffic with the Americans, with whom of, all others, in regard +they lay nearest to us, we had most commerce. +</P> + +<P> +"As for the other parts of the world, it is most manifest that in the +ages following (whether it were in respect of wars, or by a natural +revolution of time,) navigation did every where greatly decay; and +specially far voyages (the rather by the use of galleys, and such +vessels as could hardly brook the ocean,) were altogether left and +omitted. So then, that part of intercourse which could be from other +nations to sail to us, you see how it hath long since ceased; except it +were by some rare accident, as this of yours. But now of the cessation +of that other part of intercourse, which might be by our sailing to +other nations, I must yield you some other cause. For I cannot say (if +I shall say truly,) but our shipping, for number, strength, mariners, +pilots, and all things that appertain to navigation, is as great as +ever; and therefore why we should sit at home, I shall now give you an +account by itself: and it will draw nearer to give you satisfaction to +your principal question. +</P> + +<P> +"There reigned in this land, about nineteen hundred years ago, a king, +whose memory of all others we most adore; not superstitiously, but as a +divine instrument, though a mortal man; his name was Solamona: and we +esteem him as the lawgiver of our nation. This king had a large heart, +inscrutable for good; and was wholly bent to make his kingdom and +people happy. He therefore, taking into consideration how sufficient +and substantive this land was to maintain itself without any aid (at +all) of the foreigner; being five thousand six hundred miles in +circuit, and of rare fertility of soil in the greatest part thereof; +and finding also the shipping of this country might be plentifully set +on work, both by fishing and by transportations from port to port, and +likewise by sailing unto some small islands that are not far from us, +and are under the crown and laws of this state; and, recalling into his +memory the happy and flourishing estate wherein this land then was; so +as it might be a thousand ways altered to the worse, but scarce any one +way to the better; thought nothing wanted to his noble and heroical +intentions, but only (as far as human foresight might reach) to give +perpetuity to that which was in his time so happily established. +Therefore amongst his other fundamental laws of this kingdom, he did +ordain the interdicts and prohibitions which we have touching entrance +of strangers; which at that time (though it was after the calamity of +America) was frequent; doubting novelties, and commixture of manners. +It is true, the like law against the admission of strangers without +licence is an ancient law in the kingdom of China, and yet continued in +use. But there it is a poor thing; and hath made them a curious, +ignorant, fearful, foolish nation. But our lawgiver made his law of +another temper. For first, he hath preserved all points of humanity, +in taking order and making provision for the relief of strangers +distressed; whereof you have tasted." +</P> + +<P> +At which speech (as reason was) we all rose up and bowed ourselves. He +went on. +</P> + +<P> +"That king also, still desiring to join humanity and policy together; +and thinking it against humanity, to detain strangers here against +their wills, and against policy that they should return and discover +their knowledge of this estate, he took this course: he did ordain that +of the strangers that should be permitted to land, as many (at all +times) might depart as would; but as many as would stay should have +very good conditions and means to live from the state. Wherein he saw +so far, that now in so many ages since the prohibition, we have memory +not of one ship that ever returned, and but of thirteen persons only, +at several times, that chose to return in our bottoms. What those few +that returned may have reported abroad I know not. But you must think, +whatsoever they have said could be taken where they came but for a +dream. Now for our travelling from hence into parts abroad, our +Lawgiver thought fit altogether to restrain it. So is it not in China. +For the Chinese sail where they will or can; which sheweth that their +law of keeping out strangers is a law of pusillanimity and fear. But +this restraint of ours hath one only exception, which is admirable; +preserving the good which cometh by communicating with strangers, and +avoiding the hurt; and I will now open it to you. And here I shall +seem a little to digress, but you will by and by find it pertinent. +</P> + +<P> +"Ye shall understand (my dear friends) that amongst the excellent acts +of that king, one above all hath the pre-eminence. It was the erection +and institution of an Order or Society, which we call Salomon's House; +the noblest foundation (as we think) that ever was upon the earth; and +the lanthorn of this kingdom. It is dedicated to the study of the +works and creatures of God. Some think it beareth the founder's name a +little corrupted, as if it should be Solamona's House. But the records +write it as it is spoken. So as I take it to be denominate of the king +of the Hebrews, which is famous with you, and no stranger to us. For +we have some parts of his works, which with you are lost; namely, that +natural history, which he wrote, of all plants, from the cedar of +Libanus to the moss that groweth out of the wall, and of all things +that have life and motion. This maketh me think that our king, finding +himself to symbolize in many things with that king of the Hebrews +(which lived many years before him), honored him with the title of this +foundation. And I am rather induced to be of this opinion, for that I +find in ancient records this Order or Society is sometimes called +Salomon's House, and sometimes the College of the Six Days Works; +whereby I am satisfied that our excellent king had learned from the +Hebrews that God had created the world and all that therein is within +six days: and therefore he instituting that House for the finding out +of the true nature of all things, (whereby God might have the more +glory in the workmanship of them, and insert the more fruit in the use +of them), did give it also that second name. +</P> + +<P> +"But now to come to our present purpose. When the king had forbidden +to all his people navigation into any part that was not under his +crown, he made nevertheless this ordinance; that every twelve years +there should be set forth, out of this kingdom two ships, appointed to +several voyages; That in either of these ships there should be a +mission of three of the Fellows or Brethren of Salomon's House; whose +errand was only to give us knowledge of the affairs and state of those +countries to which they were designed, and especially of the sciences, +arts, manufactures, and inventions of all the world; and withal to +bring unto us books, instruments, and patterns in every kind: That the +ships, after they had landed the brethren, should return; and that the +brethren should stay abroad till the new mission. These ships are not +otherwise fraught, than with store of victuals, and good quantity of +treasure to remain with the brethren, for the buying of such things and +rewarding of such persons as they should think fit. Now for me to tell +you how the vulgar sort of mariners are contained from being discovered +at land; and how they that must be put on shore for any time, color +themselves under the names of other nations; and to what places these +voyages have been designed; and what places of rendezvous are appointed +for the new missions; and the like circumstances of the practique; I +may not do it: neither is it much to your desire. But thus you see we +maintain a trade not for gold, silver, or jewels; nor for silks; nor +for spices; nor any other commodity of matter; but only for God's first +creature, which was Light: to have light (I say) of the growth of all +parts of the world." +</P> + +<P> +And when he had said this, he was silent; and so were we all. For +indeed we were all astonished to hear so strange things so probably +told. And he, perceiving that we were willing to say somewhat but had +it not ready in great courtesy took us off, and descended to ask us +questions of our voyage and fortunes and in the end concluded, that we +might do well to think with ourselves what time of stay we would demand +of the state; and bade us not to scant ourselves; for he would procure +such time as we desired: Whereupon we all rose up, and presented +ourselves to kiss the skirt of his tippet; but he would not suffer us; +and so took his leave. But when it came once amongst our people that +the state used to offer conditions to strangers that would stay, we had +work enough to get any of our men to look to our ship; and to keep them +from going presently to the governor to crave conditions. But with +much ado we refrained them, till we might agree what course to take. +</P> + +<P> +We took ourselves now for free men, seeing there was no danger of our +utter perdition; and lived most joyfully, going abroad and seeing what +was to be seen in the city and places adjacent within our tedder; and +obtaining acquaintance with many of the city, not of the meanest +quality; at whose hands we found such humanity, and such a freedom and +desire to take strangers as it were into their bosom, as was enough to +make us forget all that was dear to us in our own countries: and +continually we met with many things right worthy of observation and +relation: as indeed, if there be a mirror in the world worthy to hold +men's eyes, it is that country. +</P> + +<P> +One day there were two of our company bidden to a Feast of the Family, +as they call it. A most natural, pious, and reverend custom it is, +shewing that nation to be compounded of all goodness. This is the +manner of it. It is granted to any man that shall live to see thirty +persons descended of his body alive together, and all above three years +old, to make this feast which is done at the cost of the state. The +Father of the Family, whom they call the Tirsan, two days before the +feast, taketh to him three of such friends as he liketh to choose; and +is assisted also by the governor of the city or place where the feast +is celebrated; and all the persons of the family, of both sexes, are +summoned to attend him. These two days the Tirsan sitteth in +consultation concerning the good estate of the family. There, if there +be any discord or suits between any of the family, they are compounded +and appeased. There, if any of the family be distressed or decayed, +order is taken for their relief and competent means to live. There, if +any be subject to vice, or take ill courses, they are reproved and +censured. So likewise direction is given touching marriages, and the +courses of life, which any of them should take, with divers other the +like orders and advices. The governor assisteth, to the end to put in +execution by his public authority the decrees and orders of the Tirsan, +if they should be disobeyed; though that seldom needeth; such reverence +and obedience they give to the order of nature. The Tirsan doth also +then ever choose one man from among his sons, to live in house with +him; who is called ever after the Son of the Vine. The reason will +hereafter appear. +</P> + +<P> +On the feast day, the father or Tirsan cometh forth after divine +service into a large room where the feast is celebrated; which room +hath an half-pace at the upper end. Against the wall, in the middle of +the half-pace, is a chair placed for him, with a table and carpet +before it. Over the chair is a state, made round or oval, and it is of +ivy; an ivy somewhat whiter than ours, like the leaf of a silver asp; +but more shining; for it is green all winter. And the state is +curiously wrought with silver and silk of divers colors, broiding or +binding in the ivy; and is ever of the work of some of the daughters of +the family; and veiled over at the top with a fine net of silk and +silver. But the substance of it is true ivy; whereof, after it is +taken down, the friends of the family are desirous to have some leaf or +sprig to keep. +</P> + +<P> +The Tirsan cometh forth with all his generation or linage, the males +before him, and the females following him; and if there be a mother +from whose body the whole linage is descended, there is a traverse +placed in a loft above on the right hand of the chair, with a privy +door, and a carved window of glass, leaded with gold and blue; where +she sitteth, but is not seen. When the Tirsan is come forth, he +sitteth down in the chair; and all the linage place themselves against +the wall, both at his back and upon the return of the half-pace, in +order of their years without difference of sex; and stand upon their +feet. When he is set; the room being always full of company, but well +kept and without disorder; after some pause, there cometh in from the +lower end of the room, a taratan (which is as much as an herald) and on +either side of him two young lads; whereof one carrieth a scroll of +their shining yellow parchment; and the other a cluster of grapes of +gold, with a long foot or stalk. The herald and children are clothed +with mantles of sea-water green satin; but the herald's mantle is +streamed with gold, and hath a train. +</P> + +<P> +Then the herald with three curtesies, or rather inclinations, cometh up +as far as the half-pace; and there first taketh into his hand the +scroll. This scroll is the king's charter, containing gifts of +revenew, and many privileges, exemptions, and points of honour, granted +to the Father of the Family; and is ever styled and directed, To such +do one our well beloved friend and creditor: which is a title proper +only to this case. For they say the king is debtor to no man, but for +propagation of his subjects. The seal set to the king's charter is the +king's image, imbossed or moulded in gold; and though such charters be +expedited of course, and as of right, yet they are varied by +discretion, according to the number and dignity of the family. This +charter the herald readeth aloud; and while it is read, the father or +Tirsan standeth up supported by two of his sons, such as he chooseth. +Then the herald mounteth the half-pace and delivereth the charter into +his hand: and with that there is an acclamation by all that are present +in their language, which is thus much: Happy are the people of Bensalem. +</P> + +<P> +Then the herald taketh into his hand from the other child the cluster +of grapes, which is of gold, both the stalk and the grapes. But the +grapes are daintily enamelled; and if the males of the family be the +greater number, the grapes are enamelled purple, with a little sun set +on the top; if the females, then they are enamelled into a greenish +yellow, with a crescent on the top. The grapes are in number as many +as there are descendants of the family. This golden cluster the herald +delivereth also to the Tirsan; who presently delivereth it over to that +son that he had formerly chosen to be in house with him: who beareth it +before his father as an ensign of honour when he goeth in public, ever +after; and is thereupon called the Son of the Vine. +</P> + +<P> +After the ceremony endeth the father or Tirsan retireth; and after some +time cometh forth again to dinner, where he sitteth alone under the +state, as before; and none of his descendants sit with him, of what +degree or dignity soever, except he hap to be of Salomon's House. He is +served only by his own children, such as are male; who perform unto him +all service of the table upon the knee; and the women only stand about +him, leaning against the wall. The room below the half-pace hath +tables on the sides for the guests that are bidden; who are served with +great and comely order; and towards the end of dinner (which in the +greatest feasts with them lasteth never above an hour and an half) +there is an hymn sung, varied according to the invention of him that +composeth it (for they have excellent posy) but the subject of it is +(always) the praises of Adam and Noah and Abraham; whereof the former +two peopled the world, and the last was the Father of the Faithful: +concluding ever with a thanksgiving for the nativity of our Saviour, in +whose birth the births of all are only blessed. +</P> + +<P> +Dinner being done, the Tirsan retireth again; and having withdrawn +himself alone into a place, where he makes some private prayers, he +cometh forth the third time, to give the blessing with all his +descendants, who stand about him as at the first. Then he calleth them +forth by one and by one, by name, as he pleaseth, though seldom the +order of age be inverted. The person that is called (the table being +before removed) kneeleth down before the chair, and the father layeth +his hand upon his head, or her head, and giveth the blessing in these +words: Son of Bensalem, (or daughter of Bensalem,) thy father with it: +the man by whom thou hast breath and life speaketh the word: the +blessing of the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, and the Holy +Dove, be upon thee, and make the days of thy pilgrimage good and many. +This he saith to every of them; and that done, if there be any of his +sons of eminent merit and virtue, (so they be not above two,) he +calleth for them again; and saith, laying his arm over their shoulders, +they standing; Sons, it is well ye are born, give God the praise, and +persevere to the end. And withall delivereth to either of them a +jewel, made in the figure of an ear of wheat, which they ever after +wear in the front of their turban or hat. This done, they fall to +music and dances, and other recreations, after their manner, for the +rest of the day. This is the full order of that feast. +</P> + +<P> +By that time six or seven days were spent, I was fallen into straight +acquaintance with a merchant of that city, whose name was Joabin. He +was a Jew and circumcised: for they have some few stirps of Jews yet +remaining among them, whom they leave to their own religion. Which +they may the better do, because they are of a far differing disposition +from the Jews in other parts. For whereas they hate the name of +Christ; and have a secret inbred rancour against the people among whom +they live: these (contrariwise) give unto our Saviour many high +attributes, and love the nation of Bensalem extremely. Surely this man +of whom I speak would ever acknowledge that Christ was born of a virgin +and that he was more than a man; and he would tell how God made him +ruler of the seraphims which guard his throne; and they call him also +the Milken Way, and the Eliah of the Messiah; and many other high +names; which though they be inferior to his divine majesty, yet they +are far from the language of other Jews. +</P> + +<P> +And for the country of Bensalem, this man would make no end of +commending it; being desirous, by tradition among the Jews there, to +have it believed that the people thereof were of the generations of +Abraham, by another son, whom they call Nachoran; and that Moses by a +secret Cabala ordained the Laws of Bensalem which they now use; and +that when the Messiah should come, and sit in his throne at Hierusalem, +the king of Bensalem should sit at his feet, whereas other kings should +keep a great distance. But yet setting aside these Jewish dreams, the +man was a wise man, and learned, and of great policy, and excellently +seen in the laws and customs of that nation. +</P> + +<P> +Amongst other discourses, one day I told him I was much affected with +the relation I had, from some of the company, of their custom, in +holding the Feast of the Family; for that (methought) I had never heard +of a solemnity wherein nature did so much preside. And because +propagation of families proceedeth from the nuptial copulation, I +desired to know of him what laws and customs they had concerning +marriage; and whether they kept marriage well and whether they were +tied to one wife; for that where population is so much affected, and +such as with them it seemed to be, there is commonly permission of +plurality of wives. +</P> + +<P> +To this he said, "You have reason for to commend that excellent +institution of the Feast of the Family. And indeed we have experience +that those families that are partakers of the blessing of that feast do +flourish and prosper ever after in an extraordinary manner. But hear +me now, and I will tell you what I know. You shall understand that +there is not under the heavens so chaste a nation as this of Bensalem; +nor so free from all pollution or foulness. It is the virgin of the +world. I remember I have read in one of your European books, of an +holy hermit amongst you that desired to see the Spirit of Fornication; +and there appeared to him a little foul ugly Aethiop. But if he had +desired to see the Spirit of Chastity of Bensalem, it would have +appeared to him in the likeness of a fair beautiful Cherubim. For +there is nothing amongst mortal men more fair and admirable, than the +chaste minds of this people. Know therefore, that with them there are +no stews, no dissolute houses, no courtesans, nor anything of that +kind. Nay they wonder (with detestation) at you in Europe, which +permit such things. They say ye have put marriage out of office: for +marriage is ordained a remedy for unlawful concupiscence; and natural +concupiscence seemeth as a spar to marriage. But when men have at hand +a remedy more agreeable to their corrupt will, marriage is almost +expulsed. And therefore there are with you seen infinite men that +marry not, but chose rather a libertine and impure single life, than to +be yoked in marriage; and many that do marry, marry late, when the +prime and strength of their years is past. And when they do marry, what +is marriage to them but a very bargain; wherein is sought alliance, or +portion, or reputation, with some desire (almost indifferent) of issue; +and not the faithful nuptial union of man and wife, that was first +instituted. Neither is it possible that those that have cast away so +basely so much of their strength, should greatly esteem children, +(being of the same matter,) as chaste men do. So likewise during +marriage, is the case much amended, as it ought to be if those things +were tolerated only for necessity? No, but they remain still as a very +affront to marriage. The haunting of those dissolute places, or resort +to courtesans, are no more punished in married men than in bachelors. +And the depraved custom of change, and the delight in meretricious +embracements, (where sin is turned into art,) maketh marriage a dull +thing, and a kind of imposition or tax. They hear you defend these +things, as done to avoid greater evils; as advoutries, deflowering of +virgins, unnatural lust, and the like. But they say this is a +preposterous wisdom; and they call it Lot's offer, who to save his +guests from abusing, offered his daughters: nay they say farther that +there is little gained in this; for that the same vices and appetites +do still remain and abound; unlawful lust being like a furnace, that if +you stop the flames altogether, it will quench; but if you give it any +vent, it will rage. As for masculine love, they have no touch of it; +and yet there are not so faithful and inviolate friendships in the +world again as are there; and to speak generally, (as I said before,) I +have not read of any such chastity, in any people as theirs. And their +usual saying is, That whosoever is unchaste cannot reverence himself; +and they say, That the reverence of a man's self, is, next to religion, +the chiefest bridle of all vices." +</P> + +<P> +And when he had said this, the good Jew paused a little; whereupon I, +far more willing to hear him speak on than to speak myself, yet +thinking it decent that upon his pause of speech I should not be +altogether silent, said only this; "That I would say to him, as the +widow of Sarepta said to Elias; that he was come to bring to memory our +sins; and that I confess the righteousness of Bensalem was greater than +the righteousness of Europe." At which speech he bowed his head, and +went on in this manner: +</P> + +<P> +"They have also many wise and excellent laws touching marriage. They +allow no polygamy. They have ordained that none do intermarry or +contract, until a month be past from their first interview. Marriage +without consent of parents they do not make void, but they mulct it in +the inheritors: for the children of such marriages are not admitted to +inherit above a third part of their parents' inheritance. I have read +in a book of one of your men, of a Feigned Commonwealth, where the +married couple are permitted, before they contract, to see one another +naked. This they dislike; for they think it a scorn to give a refusal +after so familiar knowledge: but because of many hidden defects in men +and women's bodies, they have a more civil way; for they have near +every town a couple of pools, (which they call Adam and Eve's pools,) +where it is permitted to one of the friends of the men, and another of +the friends of the woman, to see them severally bathe naked." +</P> + +<P> +And as we were thus in conference, there came one that seemed to be a +messenger, in a rich huke, that spake with the Jew: whereupon he turned +to me and said; "You will pardon me, for I am commanded away in haste." +The next morning he came to me again, joyful as it seemed, and said; +"There is word come to the Governor of the city, that one of the +Fathers of Salomon's House will be here this day seven-night: we have +seen none of them this dozen years. His coming is in state; but the +cause of his coming is secret. I will provide you and your fellows of +a good standing to see his entry." I thanked him, and told him, I was +most glad of the news. +</P> + +<P> +The day being come, he made his entry. He was a man of middle stature +and age, comely of person, and had an aspect as if he pitied men. He +was clothed in a robe of fine black cloth, with wide sleeves and a +cape. His under garment was of excellent white linen down to the foot, +girt with a girdle of the same; and a sindon or tippet of the same +about his neck. He had gloves, that were curious, and set with +stone; and shoes of peach-coloured velvet. His neck was bare to the +shoulders. His hat was like a helmet, or Spanish montera; and his +locks curled below it decently: they were of colour brown. His beard +was cut round, and of the same colour with his hair, somewhat lighter. +He was carried in a rich chariot without wheels, litter-wise; with two +horses at either end, richly trapped in blue velvet embroidered; and +two footmen on each side in the like attire. The chariot was all of +cedar, gilt, and adorned with crystal; save that the fore-end had +panels of sapphires, set in borders of gold; and the hinder-end the +like of emeralds of the Peru colour. There was also a sun of gold, +radiant, upon the top, in the midst; and on the top before, a small +cherub of gold, with wings displayed. The chariot was covered with +cloth of gold tissued upon blue. He had before him fifty attendants, +young men all, in white satin loose coats to the mid leg; and stockings +of white silk; and shoes of blue velvet; and hats of blue velvet; with +fine plumes of diverse colours, set round like hat-bands. Next before +the chariot, went two men, bare-headed, in linen garments down the +foot, girt, and shoes of blue velvet; who carried, the one a crosier, +the other a pastoral staff like a sheep-hook; neither of them of metal, +but the crosier of balm-wood, the pastoral staff of cedar. Horsemen he +had none, neither before nor behind his chariot: as it seemeth, to +avoid all tumult and trouble. Behind his chariot went all the officers +and principals of the companies of the city. He sat alone, upon +cushions of a kind of excellent plush, blue; and under his foot curious +carpets of silk of diverse colours, like the Persian, but far finer. +He held up his bare hand as he went, as blessing the people, but in +silence. The street was wonderfully well kept: so that there was never +any army had their men stand in better battle-array than the people +stood. The windows likewise were not crowded, but every one stood in +them as if they had been placed. +</P> + +<P> +When the shew was past, the Jew said to me; "I shall not be able to +attend you as I would, in regard of some charge the city hath laid upon +me, for the entertaining of this great person." Three days after the +Jew came to me again, and said; "Ye are happy men; for the Father of +Salomon's House taketh knowledge of your being here, and commanded me +to tell you that he will admit all your company to his presence, and +have private conference with one of you, that ye shall choose: and for +this hath appointed the next day after to-morrow. And because he +meaneth to give you his blessing, he hath appointed it in the forenoon." +</P> + +<P> +We came at our day and hour, and I was chosen by my fellows for the +private access. We found him in a fair chamber, richly hanged, and +carpeted under foot without any degrees to the state. He was set upon +a low Throne richly adorned, and a rich cloth of state over his head, +of blue satin embroidered. He was alone, save that he had two pages of +honour, on either hand one, finely attired in white. His under +garments were the like that we saw him wear in the chariot; but instead +of his gown, he had on him a mantle with a cape, of the same fine +black, fastened about him. When we came in, as we were taught, we +bowed low at our first entrance; and when we were come near his chair, +he stood up, holding forth his hand ungloved, and in posture of +blessing; and we every one of us stooped down, and kissed the hem of +his tippet. That done, the rest departed, and I remained. Then he +warned the pages forth of the room, and caused me to sit down beside +him, and spake to me thus in the Spanish tongue. +</P> + +<P> +"God bless thee, my son; I will give thee the greatest jewel I have. +For I will impart unto thee, for the love of God and men, a relation of +the true state of Salomon's House. Son, to make you know the true +state of Salomon's House, I will keep this order. First, I will set +forth unto you the end of our foundation. Secondly, the preparations +and instruments we have for our works. Thirdly, the several +employments and functions whereto our fellows are assigned. And +fourthly, the ordinances and rites which we observe. +</P> + +<P> +"The end of our foundation is the knowledge of causes, and secret +motions of things; and the enlarging of the bounds of human empire, to +the effecting of all things possible. +</P> + +<P> +"The Preparations and Instruments are these. We have large and deep +caves of several depths: the deepest are sunk six hundred fathom: and +some of them are digged and made under great hills and mountains: so +that if you reckon together the depth of the hill and the depth of the +cave, they are (some of them) above three miles deep. For we find, +that the depth of a hill, and the depth of a cave from the flat, is the +same thing; both remote alike, from the sun and heaven's beams, and +from the open air. These caves we call the Lower Region; and we use +them for all coagulations, indurations, refrigerations, and +conservations of bodies. We use them likewise for the imitation of +natural mines; and the producing also of new artificial metals, by +compositions and materials which we use, and lay there for many years. +We use them also sometimes, (which may seem strange,) for curing of +some diseases, and for prolongation of life in some hermits that choose +to live there, well accommodated of all things necessary, and indeed +live very long; by whom also we learn many things. +</P> + +<P> +"We have burials in several earths, where we put diverse cements, as +the Chineses do their porcellain. But we have them in greater variety, +and some of them more fine. We have also great variety of composts and +soils, for the making of the earth fruitful. +</P> + +<P> +"We have high towers; the highest about half a mile in height; and some +of them likewise set upon high mountains; so that the vantage of the +hill with the tower is in the highest of them three miles at least. And +these places we call the Upper Region; accounting the air between the +high places and the low, as a Middle Region. We use these towers, +according to their several heights, and situations, for insolation, +refrigeration, conservation; and for the view of divers meteors; as +winds, rain, snow, hail; and some of the fiery meteors also. And upon +them, in some places, are dwellings of hermits, whom we visit +sometimes, and instruct what to observe. +</P> + +<P> +"We have great lakes, both salt, and fresh; whereof we have use for the +fish and fowl. We use them also for burials of some natural bodies: +for we find a difference in things buried in earth or in air below the +earth, and things buried in water. We have also pools, of which some +do strain fresh water out of salt; and others by art do turn fresh +water into salt. We have also some rocks in the midst of the sea, and +some bays upon the shore for some works, wherein is required the air +and vapor of the sea. We have likewise violent streams and cataracts, +which serve us for many motions: and likewise engines for multiplying +and enforcing of winds, to set also on going diverse motions. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also a number of artificial wells and fountains, made in +imitation of the natural sources and baths; as tincted upon vitriol, +sulphur, steel, brass, lead, nitre, and other minerals. And again we +have little wells for infusions of many things, where the waters take +the virtue quicker and better, than in vessels or basins. And amongst +them we have a water which we call Water of Paradise, being, by that we +do to it made very sovereign for health, and prolongation of life. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also great and spacious houses where we imitate and +demonstrate meteors; as snow, hail, rain, some artificial rains of +bodies and not of water, thunders, lightnings; also generations of +bodies in air; as frogs, flies, and divers others. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also certain chambers, which we call Chambers of Health, where +we qualify the air as we think good and proper for the cure of divers +diseases, and preservation of health. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also fair and large baths, of several mixtures, for the cure +of diseases, and the restoring of man's body from arefaction: and +others for the confirming of it in strength of sinewes, vital parts, +and the very juice and substance of the body. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also large and various orchards and gardens; wherein we do not +so much respect beauty, as variety of ground and soil, proper for +divers trees and herbs: and some very spacious, where trees and berries +are set whereof we make divers kinds of drinks, besides the vineyards. +In these we practise likewise all conclusions of grafting, and +inoculating as well of wild-trees as fruit-trees, which produceth many +effects. And we make (by art) in the same orchards and gardens, trees +and flowers to come earlier or later than their seasons; and to come up +and bear more speedily than by their natural course they do. We make +them also by art greater much than their nature; and their fruit +greater and sweeter and of differing taste, smell, colour, and figure, +from their nature. And many of them we so order, as they become of +medicinal use. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also means to make divers plants rise by mixtures of earths +without seeds; and likewise to make divers new plants, differing from +the vulgar; and to make one tree or plant turn into another. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also parks and enclosures of all sorts of beasts and birds +which we use not only for view or rareness, but likewise for +dissections and trials; that thereby we may take light what may be +wrought upon the body of man. Wherein we find many strange effects; as +continuing life in them, though divers parts, which you account vital, +be perished and taken forth; resuscitating of some that seem dead in +appearance; and the like. We try also all poisons and other medicines +upon them, as well of chirurgery, as physic. By art likewise, we make +them greater or taller than their kind is; and contrariwise dwarf them, +and stay their growth: we make them more fruitful and bearing than +their kind is; and contrariwise barren and not generative. Also we +make them differ in colour, shape, activity, many ways. We find means +to make commixtures and copulations of different kinds; which have +produced many new kinds, and them not barren, as the general opinion +is. We make a number of kinds of serpents, worms, flies, fishes, of +putrefaction; whereof some are advanced (in effect) to be perfect +creatures, like bests or birds; and have sexes, and do propagate. +Neither do we this by chance, but we know beforehand, of what matter +and commixture what kind of those creatures will arise. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also particular pools, where we make trials upon fishes, as we +have said before of beasts and birds. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also places for breed and generation of those kinds of worms +and flies which are of special use; such as are with you your +silk-worms and bees. +</P> + +<P> +"I will not hold you long with recounting of our brewhouses, +bake-houses, and kitchens, where are made divers drinks, breads, and +meats, rare and of special effects. Wines we have of grapes; and +drinks of other juice of fruits, of grains, and of roots; and of +mixtures with honey, sugar, manna, and fruits dried, and decocted; Also +of the tears or woundings of trees; and of the pulp of canes. And these +drinks are of several ages, some to the age or last of forty years. We +have drinks also brewed with several herbs, and roots, and spices; yea +with several fleshes, and white-meats; whereof some of the drinks are +such, as they are in effect meat and drink both: so that divers, +especially in age, do desire to live with them, with little or no meat +or bread. And above all, we strive to have drink of extreme thin +parts, to insinuate into the body, and yet without all biting, +sharpness, or fretting; insomuch as some of them put upon the back of +your hand will, with a little stay, pass through to the palm, and yet +taste mild to the mouth. We have also waters which we ripen in that +fashion, as they become nourishing; so that they are indeed excellent +drink; and many will use no other. Breads we have of several grains, +roots, and kernels; yea and some of flesh and fish dried; with divers +kinds of leavenings and seasonings: so that some do extremely move +appetites; some do nourish so, as divers do live of them, without any +other meat; who live very long. So for meats, we have some of them so +beaten and made tender and mortified, yet without all corrupting, as a +weak heat of the stomach will turn them into good chylus; as well as a +strong heat would meat otherwise prepared. We have some meats also and +breads and drinks, which taken by men enable them to fast long after; +and some other, that used make the very flesh of men's bodies sensibly +more hard and tough and their strength far greater than otherwise it +would be. +</P> + +<P> +"We have dispensatories, or shops of medicines. Wherein you may easily +think, if we have such variety of plants and living creatures more than +you have in Europe, (for we know what you have,) the simples, drugs, +and ingredients of medicines, must likewise be in so much the greater +variety. We have them likewise of divers ages, and long fermentations. +And for their preparations, we have not only all manner of exquisite +distillations and separations, and especially by gentle heats and +percolations through divers strainers, yea and substances; but also +exact forms of composition, whereby they incorporate almost, as they +were natural simples. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also divers mechanical arts, which you have not; and stuffs +made by them; as papers, linen, silks, tissues; dainty works of +feathers of wonderful lustre; excellent dies, and, many others; and +shops likewise, as well for such as are not brought into vulgar use +amongst us as for those that are. For you must know that of the things +before recited, many of them are grown into use throughout the kingdom; +but yet, if they did flow from our invention, we have of them also for +patterns and principals. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also furnaces of great diversities, and that keep great +diversity of heats; fierce and quick; strong and constant; soft and +mild; blown, quiet; dry, moist; and the like. But above all, we have +heats, in imitation of the Sun's and heavenly bodies' heats, that pass +divers inequalities, and (as it were) orbs, progresses, and returns, +whereby we produce admirable effects. Besides, we have heats of dungs; +and of bellies and maws of living creatures, and of their bloods and +bodies; and of hays and herbs laid up moist; of lime unquenched; and +such like. Instruments also which generate heat only by motion. And +farther, places for strong insulations; and again, places under the +earth, which by nature, or art, yield heat. These divers heats we use, +as the nature of the operation, which we intend, requireth. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also perspective-houses, where we make demonstrations of all +lights and radiations; and of all colours: and out of things uncoloured +and transparent, we can represent unto you all several colours; not in +rain-bows, (as it is in gems, and prisms,) but of themselves single. +We represent also all multiplications of light, which we carry to great +distance, and make so sharp as to discern small points and lines. Also +all colourations of light; all delusions and deceits of the sight, in +figures, magnitudes, motions, colours all demonstrations of shadows. +We find also divers means, yet unknown to you, of producing of light +originally from divers bodies. We procure means of seeing objects afar +off; as in the heaven and remote places; and represent things near as +afar off; and things afar off as near; making feigned distances. We +have also helps for the sight, far above spectacles and glasses in use. +We have also glasses and means to see small and minute bodies perfectly +and distinctly; as the shapes and colours of small flies and worms, +grains and flaws in gems, which cannot otherwise be seen, observations +in urine and blood not otherwise to be seen. We make artificial +rain-bows, halo's, and circles about light. We represent also all +manner of reflexions, refractions, and multiplications of visual beams +of objects. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also precious stones of all kinds, many of them of great +beauty, and to you unknown; crystals likewise; and glasses of divers +kinds; and amongst them some of metals vitrificated, and other +materials besides those of which you make glass. Also a number of +fossils, and imperfect minerals, which you have not. Likewise +loadstones of prodigious virtue; and other rare stones, both natural +and artificial. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also sound-houses, where we practise and demonstrate all +sounds, and their generation. We have harmonies which you have not, of +quarter-sounds, and lesser slides of sounds. Divers instruments of +music likewise to you unknown, some sweeter than any you have, together +with bells and rings that are dainty and sweet. We represent small +sounds as great and deep; likewise great sounds extenuate and sharp; we +make divers tremblings and warblings of sounds, which in their original +are entire. We represent and imitate all articulate sounds and +letters, and the voices and notes of beasts and birds. We have certain +helps which set to the ear do further the hearing greatly. We have also +divers strange and artificial echoes, reflecting the voice many times, +and as it were tossing it: and some that give back the voice louder +than it came, some shriller, and some deeper; yea, some rendering the +voice differing in the letters or articulate sound from that they +receive. We have also means to convey sounds in trunks and pipes, in +strange lines and distances. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also perfume-houses; wherewith we join also practices of +taste. We multiply smells, which may seem strange. We imitate smells, +making all smells to breathe outs of other mixtures than those that +give them. We make divers imitations of taste likewise, so that they +will deceive any man's taste. And in this house we contain also a +confiture-house; where we make all sweet-meats, dry and moist; and +divers pleasant wines, milks, broths, and sallets; in far greater +variety than you have. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also engine-houses, where are prepared engines and instruments +for all sorts of motions. There we imitate and practise to make +swifter motions than any you have, either out of your muskets or any +engine that you have: and to make them and multiply them more easily, +and with small force, by wheels and other means: and to make them +stronger and more violent than yours are; exceeding your greatest +cannons and basilisks. We represent also ordnance and instruments of +war, and engines of all kinds: and likewise new mixtures and +compositions of gun-powder, wild-fires burning in water, and +unquenchable. Also fireworks of all variety both for pleasure and use. +We imitate also flights of birds; we have some degrees of flying in the +air. We have ships and boats for going under water, and brooking of +seas; also swimming-girdles and supporters. We have divers curious +clocks, and other like motions of return: and some perpetual motions. +We imitate also motions of living creatures, by images, of men, beasts, +birds, fishes, and serpents. We have also a great number of other +various motions, strange for equality, fineness, and subtilty. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also a mathematical house, where are represented all +instruments, as well of geometry as astronomy, exquisitely made. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also houses of deceits of the senses; where we represent all +manner of feats of juggling, false apparitions, impostures, and +illusions; and their fallacies. And surely you will easily believe +that we that have so many things truly natural which induce admiration, +could in a world of particulars deceive the senses, if we would +disguise those things and labour to make them seem more miraculous. But +we do hate all impostures, and lies; insomuch as we have severely +forbidden it to all our fellows, under pain of ignominy and fines, that +they do not show any natural work or thing, adorned or swelling; but +only pure as it is, and without all affectation of strangeness. +</P> + +<P> +"These are (my son) the riches of Salomon's House. +</P> + +<P> +"For the several employments and offices of our fellows; we have twelve +that sail into foreign countries, under the names of other nations, +(for our own we conceal); who bring us the books, and abstracts, and +patterns of experiments of all other parts. These we call Merchants of +Light. +</P> + +<P> +"We have three that collect the experiments which are in all books. +These we call Depredators. +</P> + +<P> +"We have three that collect the experiments of all mechanical arts; and +also of liberal sciences; and also of practices which are not brought +into arts. These we call Mystery-men. +</P> + +<P> +"We have three that try new experiments, such as themselves think good. +These we call Pioneers or Miners. +</P> + +<P> +"We have three that draw the experiments of the former four into titles +and tables, to give the better light for the drawing of observations +and axioms out of them. These we call Compilers. +</P> + +<P> +"We have three that bend themselves, looking into the experiments of +their fellows, and cast about how to draw out of them things of use and +practise for man's life, and knowledge, as well for works as for plain +demonstration of causes, means of natural divinations, and the easy and +clear discovery of the virtues and parts of bodies. These we call +Dowry-men or Benefactors. +</P> + +<P> +"Then after divers meetings and consults of our whole number, to +consider of the former labours and collections, we have three that take +care, out of them, to direct new experiments, of a higher light, more +penetrating into nature than the former. These we call Lamps. +</P> + +<P> +"We have three others that do execute the experiments so directed, and +report them. These we call Inoculators. +</P> + +<P> +"Lastly, we have three that raise the former discoveries by experiments +into greater observations, axioms, and aphorisms. These we call +Interpreters of Nature. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also, as you must think, novices and apprentices, that the +succession of the former employed men do not fail; besides, a great +number of servants and attendants, men and women. And this we do also: +we have consultations, which of the inventions and experiences which we +have discovered shall be published, and which not: and take all an oath +of secrecy, for the concealing of those which we think fit to keep +secret: though some of those we do reveal sometimes to the state and +some not. +</P> + +<P> +"For our ordinances and rites: we have two very long and fair +galleries: in one of these we place patterns and samples of all manner +of the more rare and excellent inventions in the other we place the +statues of all principal inventors. There we have the statue of your +Columbus, that discovered the West Indies: also the inventor of ships: +your monk that was the inventor of ordnance and of gunpowder: the +inventor of music: the inventor of letters: the inventor of printing: +the inventor of observations of astronomy: the inventor of works in +metal: the inventor of glass: the inventor of silk of the worm: the +inventor of wine: the inventor of corn and bread: the inventor of +sugars: and all these, by more certain tradition than you have. Then +have we divers inventors of our own, of excellent works; which since +you have not seen, it were too long to make descriptions of them; and +besides, in the right understanding of those descriptions you might +easily err. For upon every invention of value, we erect a statue to +the inventor, and give him a liberal and honourable reward. These +statues are some of brass; some of marble and touch-stone; some of +cedar and other special woods gilt and adorned; some of iron; some of +silver; some of gold. +</P> + +<P> +"We have certain hymns and services, which we say daily, of Lord and +thanks to God for his marvellous works: and forms of prayers, imploring +his aid and blessing for the illumination of our labours, and the +turning of them into good and holy uses. +</P> + +<P> +"Lastly, we have circuits or visits of divers principal cities of the +kingdom; where, as it cometh to pass, we do publish such new profitable +inventions as we think good. And we do also declare natural +divinations of diseases, plagues, swarms-of hurtful creatures, +scarcity, tempests, earthquakes, great inundations, comets, temperature +of the year, and divers other things; and we give counsel thereupon, +what the people shall do for the prevention and remedy of them." +</P> + +<P> +And when he had said this, he stood up; and I, as I had been taught, +kneeled down, and he laid his right hand upon my head, and said; "God +bless thee, my son; and God bless this relation, which I have made. I +give thee leave to publish it for the good of other nations; for we +here are in God's bosom, a land unknown." And so he left me; having +assigned a value of about two thousand ducats, for a bounty to me and +my fellows. For they give great largesses where they come upon all +occasions. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +[The rest was not perfected.] +</P> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 2434 ***</div> +</body> + +</HTML> + diff --git a/2434.txt b/2434.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8a9e5c4 --- /dev/null +++ b/2434.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1805 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The New Atlantis, by Frances Bacon + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The New Atlantis + +Author: Frances Bacon + +Posting Date: October 23, 2008 [EBook #2434] +Release Date: December 2000 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NEW ATLANTIS *** + + + + +Produced by Michael Pullen and William Fishburne. HTML +version by Al Haines. + + + + + + + + + + +THE NEW ATLANTIS + + +BY + +SIR FRANCIS BACON + + + + +INTRODUCTORY NOTE + +Bacon's literary executor, Dr. Rowley, published "The New Atlantis" in +1627, the year after the author's death. It seems to have been written +about 1623, during that period of literary activity which followed +Bacon's political fall. None of Bacon's writings gives in short apace +so vivid a picture of his tastes and aspirations as this fragment of +the plan of an ideal commonwealth. The generosity and enlightenment, +the dignity and splendor, the piety and public spirit, of the +inhabitants of Bensalem represent the ideal qualities which Bacon the +statesman desired rather than hoped to see characteristic of his own +country; and in Solomon's House we have Bacon the scientist indulging +without restriction his prophetic vision of the future of human +knowledge. No reader acquainted in any degree with the processes and +results of modern scientific inquiry can fail to be struck by the +numerous approximations made by Bacon's imagination to the actual +achievements of modern times. The plan and organization of his great +college lay down the main lines of the modern research university; and +both in pure and applied science he anticipates a strikingly large +number of recent inventions and discoveries. In still another way is +"The New Atlantis" typical of Bacon's attitude. In spite of the +enthusiastic and broad-minded schemes he laid down for the pursuit of +truth, Bacon always had an eye to utility. The advancement of science +which he sought was conceived by him as a means to a practical end the +increase of man's control over nature, and the comfort and convenience +of humanity. For pure metaphysics, or any form of abstract thinking +that yielded no "fruit," he had little interest; and this leaning to +the useful is shown in the practical applications of the discoveries +made by the scholars of Solomon's House. Nor does the interest of the +work stop here. It contains much, both in its political and in its +scientific ideals, that we have as yet by no means achieved, but which +contain valuable elements of suggestion and stimulus for the future. + + + + + +THE NEW ATLANTIS + +We sailed from Peru, (where we had continued for the space of one whole +year) for China and Japan, by the South Sea; taking with us victuals +for twelve months; and had good winds from the east, though soft and +weak, for five months space, and more. But the wind came about, and +settled in the west for many days, so as we could make little or no +way, and were sometime in purpose to turn back. But then again there +arose strong and great winds from the south, with a point east, which +carried us up (for all that we could do) towards the north; by which +time our victuals failed us, though we had made good spare of them. So +that finding ourselves, in the midst of the greatest wilderness of +waters in the world, without victuals, we gave ourselves for lost men +and prepared for death. Yet we did lift up our hearts and voices to +God above, who showeth his wonders in the deep, beseeching him of his +mercy, that as in the beginning he discovered the face of the deep, and +brought forth dry land, so he would now discover land to us, that we +might not perish. + +And it came to pass that the next day about evening we saw within a +kenning before us, towards the north, as it were thick clouds, which +did put us in some hope of land; knowing how that part of the South Sea +was utterly unknown; and might have islands, or continents, that +hitherto were not come to light. Wherefore we bent our course thither, +where we saw the appearance of land, all that night; and in the dawning +of the next day, we might plainly discern that it was a land; flat to +our sight, and full of boscage; which made it show the more dark. And +after an hour and a half's sailing, we entered into a good haven, being +the port of a fair city; not great indeed, but well built, and that +gave a pleasant view from the sea: and we thinking every minute long, +till we were on land, came close to the shore, and offered to land. +But straightways we saw divers of the people, with bastons in their +hands (as it were) forbidding us to land; yet without any cries of +fierceness, but only as warning us off, by signs that they made. +Whereupon being not a little discomforted, we were advising with +ourselves, what we should do. + +During which time, there made forth to us a small boat, with about +eight persons in it; whereof one of them had in his hand a tipstaff of +a yellow cane, tipped at both ends with blue, who came aboard our ship, +without any show of distrust at all. And when he saw one of our +number, present himself somewhat before the rest, he drew forth a +little scroll of parchment (somewhat yellower than our parchment, and +shining like the leaves of writing tables, but otherwise soft and +flexible,) and delivered it to our foremost man. In which scroll were +written in ancient Hebrew, and in ancient Greek, and in good Latin of +the school, and in Spanish, these words: Land ye not, none of you; and +provide to be gone from this coast, within sixteen days, except you +have further time given you. Meanwhile, if you want fresh water or +victuals, or help for your sick, or that your ship needeth repairs, +write down your wants, and you shall have that, which belongeth to +mercy. This scroll was signed with a stamp of cherubim: wings, not +spread, but hanging downwards; and by them a cross. This being +delivered, the officer returned, and left only a servant with us to +receive our answer. + +Consulting hereupon amongst ourselves, we were much perplexed. The +denial of landing and hasty warning us away troubled us much; on the +other side, to find that the people had languages, and were so full of +humanity, did comfort us not a little. And above all, the sign of the +cross to that instrument was to us a great rejoicing, and as it were a +certain presage of good. Our answer was in the Spanish tongue; that +for our ship, it was well; for we had rather met with calms and +contrary winds than any tempests. For our sick, they were many, and in +very ill case; so that if they were not permitted to land, they ran +danger of their lives. Our other wants we set down in particular; +adding, That we had some little store of merchandise, which if it +pleased them to deal for, it might supply our wants, without being +chargeable unto them. We offered some reward in pistolets unto the +servant, and a piece of crimson velvet to be presented to the officer; +but the servant took them not, nor would scarce look upon them; and so +left us, and went back in another little boat, which was sent for him. + +About three hours after we had dispatched our answer, there came +towards us a person (as it seemed) of place. He had on him a gown with +wide sleeves, of a kind of water chamolet, of an excellent azure +colour, fair more glossy than ours; his under apparel was green; and so +was his hat, being in the form of a turban, daintily made, and not so +huge as the Turkish turbans; and the locks of his hair came down below +the brims of it. A reverend man was he to behold. He came in a boat, +gilt in some part of it, with four persons more only in that boat; and +was followed by another boat, wherein were some twenty. When he was +come within a flightshot of our ship, signs were made to us, that we +should send forth some to meet him upon the water; which we presently +did in our ship-boat, sending the principal man amongst us save one, +and four of our number with him. + +When we were come within six yards of their boat, they called to us to +stay, and not to approach farther; which we did. And thereupon the +man, whom I before described, stood up, and with a loud voice, in +Spanish, asked, "Are ye Christians?" We answered, "We were;" fearing +the less, because of the cross we had seen in the subscription. At +which answer the said person lifted up his right hand towards Heaven, +and drew it softly to his mouth (which is the gesture they use, when +they thank God;) and then said: "If ye will swear (all of you) by the +merits of the Saviour, that ye are no pirates, nor have shed blood, +lawfully, nor unlawfully within forty days past, you may have licence +to come on land." We said, "We were all ready to take that oath." +Whereupon one of those that were with him, being (as it seemed) a +notary, made an entry of this act. Which done, another of the +attendants of the great person which was with him in the same boat, +after his Lord had spoken a little to him, said aloud: "My Lord would +have you know, that it is not of pride, or greatness, that he cometh +not aboard your ship; but for that in your answer you declare that you +have many sick amongst you, he was warned by the Conservator of Health +of the city that he should keep a distance." We bowed ourselves +towards him, and answered, "We were his humble servants; and accounted +for great honour, and singular humanity towards us, that which was +already done; but hoped well, that the nature of the sickness of our +men was not infectious." So he returned; and a while after came the +Notary to us aboard our ship; holding in his hand a fruit of that +country, like an orange, but of color between orange-tawney and +scarlet; which cast a most excellent odour. He used it (as it seemeth) +for a preservative against infection. He gave us our oath; "By the +name of Jesus, and his merits:" and after told us, that the next day, +by six of the Clock, in the Morning, we should be sent to, and brought +to the Strangers' House, (so he called it,) where we should be +accommodated of things, both for our whole, and for our sick. So he +left us; and when we offered him some pistolets, he smiling said, "He +must not be twice paid for one labour:" meaning (as I take it) that he +had salary sufficient of the State for his service. For (as I after +learned) they call an officer that taketh rewards, "twice paid." + +The next morning early, there came to us the same officer that came to +us at first with his cane, and told us, He came to conduct us to the +Strangers' House; and that he had prevented the hour, because we might +have the whole day before us, for our business. "For," said he, "if +you will follow my advice, there shall first go with me some few of +you, and see the place, and how it may be made convenient for you; and +then you may send for your sick, and the rest of your number, which ye +will bring on land." We thanked him, and said, "That this care, which +he took of desolate strangers, God would reward." And so six of us +went on land with him: and when we were on land, he went before us, and +turned to us, and said, "He was but our servant, and our guide." He led +us through three fair streets; and all the way we went, there were +gathered some people on both sides, standing in a row; but in so civil +a fashion, as if it had been, not to wonder at us, but to welcome us: +and divers of them, as we passed by them, put their arms a little +abroad; which is their gesture, when they did bid any welcome. + +The Strangers' House is a fair and spacious house, built of brick, of +somewhat a bluer colour than our brick; and with handsome windows, some +of glass, some of a kind of cambric oiled. He brought us first into a +fair parlour above stairs, and then asked us, "What number of persons +we were? And how many sick?" We answered, "We were in all, (sick and +whole,) one and fifty persons, whereof our sick were seventeen." He +desired us to have patience a little, and to stay till he came back to +us; which was about an hour after; and then he led us to see the +chambers which were provided for us, being in number nineteen: they +having cast it (as it seemeth) that four of those chambers, which were +better than the rest, might receive four of the principal men of our +company; and lodge them alone by themselves; and the other fifteen +chambers were to lodge us two and two together. The chambers were +handsome and cheerful chambers, and furnished civilly. Then he led us +to a long gallery, like a dorture, where he showed us all along the one +side (for the other side was but wall and window), seventeen cells, +very neat ones, having partitions of cedar wood. Which gallery and +cells, being in all forty, many more than we needed, were instituted as +an infirmary for sick persons. And he told us withal, that as any of +our sick waxed well, he might be removed from his cell, to a chamber; +for which purpose there were set forth ten spare chambers, besides the +number we spake of before. This done, he brought us back to the +parlour, and lifting up his cane a little, (as they do when they give +any charge or command) said to us, "Ye are to know, that the custom of +the land requireth, that after this day and to-morrow, (which we give +you for removing of your people from your ship,) you are to keep within +doors for three days. But let it not trouble you, nor do not think +yourselves restrained, but rather left to your rest and ease. You +shall want nothing, and there are six of our people appointed to attend +you, for any business you may have abroad." We gave him thanks, with +all affection and respect, and said, "God surely is manifested in this +land." We offered him also twenty pistolets; but he smiled, and only +said; "What? twice paid!" And so he left us. + +Soon after our dinner was served in; which was right good viands, both +for bread and treat: better than any collegiate diet, that I have known +in Europe. We had also drink of three sorts, all wholesome and good; +wine of the grape; a drink of grain, such as is with us our ale, but +more clear: And a kind of cider made of a fruit of that country; a +wonderful pleasing and refreshing drink. Besides, there were brought +in to us, great store of those scarlet oranges, for our sick; which +(they said) were an assured remedy for sickness taken at sea. There +was given us also, a box of small gray, or whitish pills, which they +wished our sick should take, one of the pills, every night before +sleep; which (they said) would hasten their recovery. + +The next day, after that our trouble of carriage and removing of our +men and goods out of our ship, was somewhat settled and quiet, I +thought good to call our company together; and when they were +assembled, said unto them; "My dear friends, let us know ourselves, and +how it standeth with us. We are men cast on land, as Jonas was, out of +the whale's belly, when we were as buried in the deep: and now we are +on land, we are but between death and life; for we are beyond, both the +old world, and the new; and whether ever we shall see Europe, God only +knoweth. It is a kind of miracle bath brought us hither: and it must +be little less, that shall bring us hence. Therefore in regard of our +deliverance past, and our danger present, and to come, let us look up +to God, and every man reform his own ways. Besides we are come here +amongst a Christian people, full of piety and humanity: let us not +bring that confusion of face upon ourselves, as to show our vices, or +unworthiness before them. Yet there is more. For they have by +commandment, (though in form of courtesy) cloistered us within these +wall, for three days: who knoweth, whether it be not, to take some +taste of our manners and conditions? And if they find them bad, to +banish us straightways; if good, to give us further time. For these +men that they have given us for attendance, may withal have an eye upon +us. Therefore for God's love, and as we love the weal of our souls and +bodies, let us so behave ourselves, as we may be at peace with God, and +may find grace in the eyes of this people." Our company with one voice +thanked me for my good admonition, and promised me to live soberly and +civilly, and without giving any the least occasion of offence. So we +spent our three days joyfully, and without care, in expectation what +would be done with us, when they were expired. During which time, we +had every hour joy of the amendment of our sick; who thought themselves +cast into some divine pool of healing; they mended so kindly, and so +fast. + +The morrow after our three days were past, there came to us a new man, +that we had not seen before, clothed in blue as the former was, save +that his turban was white, with a small red cross on the top. He had +also a tippet of fine linen. At his coming in, he did bend to us a +little, and put his arms abroad. We of our parts saluted him in a very +lowly and submissive manner; as looking that from him, we should +receive sentence of life, or death: he desired to speak with some few +of us: whereupon six of us only staid, and the rest avoided the room. +He said, "I am by office governor of this House of Strangers, and by +vocation I am a Christian priest: and therefore am come to you to offer +you my service, both as strangers and chiefly as Christians. Some +things I may tell you, which I think you will not be unwilling to hear. +The State hath given you license to stay on land, for the space of six +weeks; and let it not trouble you, if your occasions ask further time, +for the law in this point is not precise; and I do not doubt, but my +self shall be able, to obtain for you such further time, as may be +convenient. Ye shall also understand, that the Strangers' House is at +this time rich, and much aforehand; for it hath laid up revenue these +thirty-seven years; for so long it is since any stranger arrived in +this part: and therefore take ye no care; the State will defray you all +the time you stay; neither shall you stay one day the less for that. +As for any merchandise ye have brought, ye shall be well used, and have +your return, either in merchandise, or in gold and silver: for to us it +is all one. And if you have any other request to make, hide it not. +For ye shall find we will not make your countenance to fall by the +answer ye shall receive. Only this I must tell you, that none of you +must go above a karan," (that is with them a mile and an half) "from +the walls of the city, without especial leave." + +We answered, after we had looked awhile one upon another, admiring this +gracious and parent-like usage; "That we could not tell what to say: +for we wanted words to express our thanks; and his noble free offers +left us nothing to ask. It seemed to us, that we had before us a +picture of our salvation in Heaven; for we that were a while since in +the jaws of death, were now brought into a place, where we found +nothing but consolations. For the commandment laid upon us, we would +not fail to obey it, though it was impossible but our hearts should be +enflamed to tread further upon this happy and holy ground." We added, +"That our tongues should first cleave to the roofs of our mouths, ere +we should forget, either his reverend person, or this whole nation, in +our prayers." We also most humbly besought him, to accept of us as his +true servants; by as just a right as ever men on earth were bounden; +laying and presenting, both our persons, and all we had, at his feet. +He said; "He was a priest, and looked for a priest's reward; which was +our brotherly love, and the good of our souls and bodies." So he went +from us, not without tears of tenderness in his eyes; and left us also +confused with joy and kindness, saying amongst ourselves; "That we were +come into a land of angels, which did appear to us daily, and prevent +us with comforts, which we thought not of, much less expected." + +The next day about ten of the clock, the Governor came to us again, and +after salutations, said familiarly; "That he was come to visit us;" and +called for a chair, and sat him down: and we, being some ten of us, +(the rest were of the meaner sort, or else gone abroad,) sat down with +him, And when we were set, he began thus: "We of this island of +Bensalem," (for so they call it in their language,) "have this; that by +means of our solitary situation; and of the laws of secrecy, which we +have for our travellers, and our rare admission of strangers; we know +well most part of the habitable world, and are ourselves unknown. +Therefore because he that knoweth least is fittest to ask questions, it +is more reason, for the entertainment of the time, that ye ask me +questions, than that I ask you." + +We answered; "That we humbly thanked him that he would give us leave so +to do: and that we conceived by the taste we had already, that there +was no worldly thing on earth, more worthy to be known than the state +of that happy land. But above all," (we said,) "since that we were met +from the several ends of the world, and hoped assuredly that we should +meet one day in the kingdom of Heaven, (for that we were both parts +Christians,) we desired to know, (in respect that land was so remote, +and so divided by vast and unknown seas, from the land where our +Saviour walked on earth,) who was the apostle of that nation, and how +it was converted to the faith?" It appeared in his face that he took +great contentment in this our question: he said; "Ye knit my heart to +you, by asking this question in the first place; for it sheweth that +you first seek the kingdom of heaven; and I shall gladly, and briefly, +satisfy your demand. + +"About twenty years after the ascension of our Saviour, it came to +pass, that there was seen by the people of Renfusa, (a city upon the +eastern coast of our island,) within night, (the night was cloudy, and +calm,) as it might be some mile into the sea, a great pillar of light; +not sharp, but in form of a column, or cylinder, rising from the sea a +great way up towards heaven; and on the top of it was seen a large +cross of light, more bright and resplendent than the body of the +pillar. Upon which so strange a spectacle, the people of the city +gathered apace together upon the sands, to wonder; and so after put +themselves into a number of small boats, to go nearer to this +marvellous sight. But when the boats were come within (about) sixty +yards of the pillar, they found themselves all bound, and could go no +further; yet so as they might move to go about, but might not approach +nearer: so as the boats stood all as in a theatre, beholding this light +as an heavenly sign. It so fell out, that there was in one of the +boats one of the wise men, of the society of Salomon's House; which +house, or college (my good brethren) is the very eye of this kingdom; +who having awhile attentively and devoutly viewed and contemplated this +pillar and cross, fell down upon his face; and then raised himself upon +his knees, and lifting up his hands to heaven, made his prayers in this +manner. + +"'LORD God of heaven and earth, thou hast vouchsafed of thy grace to +those of our order, to know thy works of Creation, and the secrets of +them: and to discern (as far as appertaineth to the generations of men) +between divine miracles, works of nature, works of art, and impostures +and illusions of all sorts. I do here acknowledge and testify before +this people, that the thing which we now see before our eyes is thy +Finger and a true Miracle. And forasmuch as we learn in our books that +thou never workest miracles, but to divine and excellent end, (for the +laws of nature are thine own laws, and thou exceedest them not but upon +great cause,) we most humbly beseech thee to prosper this great sign, +and to give us the interpretation and use of it in mercy; which thou +dost in some part secretly promise by sending it unto us.' + +"When he had made his prayer, he presently found the boat he was in, +moveable and unbound; whereas all the rest remained still fast; and +taking that for an assurance of leave to approach, he caused the boat +to be softly and with silence rowed towards the pillar. But ere he +came near it, the pillar and cross of light brake up, and cast itself +abroad, as it were, into a firmament of many stars; which also vanished +soon after, and there was nothing left to be seen, but a small ark, or +chest of cedar, dry, and not wet at all with water, though it swam. +And in the fore-end of it, which was towards him, grew a small green +branch of palm; and when the wise man had taken it, with all reverence, +into his boat, it opened of itself, and there were found in it a Book +and a Letter; both written in fine parchment, and wrapped in sindons of +linen. The Book contained all the canonical books of the Old and New +Testament, according as you have them; (for we know well what the +churches with you receive); and the Apocalypse itself, and some other +books of the New Testament, which were not at that time written, were +nevertheless in the Book. And for the Letter, it was in these words: + +"'I, Bartholomew, a servant of the Highest, and Apostle of Jesus +Christ, was warned by an angel that appeareth to me, in a vision of +glory, that I should commit this ark to the floods of the sea. +Therefore I do testify and declare unto that people where God shall +ordain this ark to come to land, that in the same day is come unto them +salvation and peace and good-will, from the Father, and from the Lord +Jesus.' + +"There was also in both these writings, as well the Book, as the +Letter, wrought a great miracle, conform to that of the Apostles, in +the original Gift of Tongues. For there being at that time in this +land Hebrews, Persians, and Indians, besides the natives, every one +read upon the Book, and Letter, as if they had been written in his own +language. And thus was this land saved from infidelity (as the +remainder of the old world was from water) by an ark, through the +apostolical and miraculous evangelism of Saint Bartholomew." And here +he paused, and a messenger came, and called him from us. So this was +all that passed in that conference. + +The next day, the same governor came again to us, immediately after +dinner, and excused himself, saying; "That the day before he was called +from us, somewhat abruptly, but now he would make us amends, and spend +time with us if we held his company and conference agreeable." We +answered, "That we held it so agreeable and pleasing to us, as we +forgot both dangers past and fears to come, for the time we hear him +speak; and that we thought an hour spent with him, was worth years of +our former life." He bowed himself a little to us, and after we were +set again, he said; "Well, the questions are on your part." + +One of our number said, after a little pause; that there was a matter, +we were no less desirous to know, than fearful to ask, lest we might +presume too far. But encouraged by his rare humanity towards us, (that +could scarce think ourselves strangers, being his vowed and professed +servants,) we would take the hardiness to propound it: humbly +beseeching him, if he thought it not fit to be answered, that he would +pardon it, though he rejected it. We said; "We well observed those his +words, which he formerly spake, that this happy island, where we now +stood, was known to few, and yet knew most of the nations of the world; +which we found to be true, considering they had the languages of +Europe, and knew much of our state and business; and yet we in Europe, +(notwithstanding all the remote discoveries and navigations of this +last age), never heard of the least inkling or glimpse of this island. +This we found wonderful strange; for that all nations have +inter-knowledge one of another, either by voyage into foreign parts, or +by strangers that come to them: and though the traveller into a foreign +country, doth commonly know more by the eye, than he that stayeth at +home can by relation of the traveller; yet both ways suffice to make a +mutual knowledge, in some degree, on both parts. But for this island, +we never heard tell of any ship of theirs that had been seen to arrive +upon any shore of Europe; nor of either the East or West Indies; nor +yet of any ship of any other part of the world, that had made return +from them. And yet the marvel rested not in this. For the situation +of it (as his lordship said) in the secret conclave' of such a vast sea +might cause it. But then, that they should have knowledge of the +languages, books, affairs, of those that lie such a distance from them, +it was a thing we could not tell what to make of; for that it seemed to +us a conditioner and propriety of divine powers and beings, to be +hidden and unseen to others, and yet to have others open and as in a +light to them." + +At this speech the Governor gave a gracious smile, and said; "That we +did well to ask pardon for this question we now asked: for that it +imported, as if we thought this land, a land of magicians, that sent +forth spirits of the air into all parts, to bring them news and +intelligence of other countries." It was answered by us all, in all +possible humbleness, but yet with a countenance taking knowledge, that +we knew that he spake it but merrily, "That we were apt enough to think +there was somewhat supernatural in this island; but yet rather as +angelical than magical. But to let his lordship know truly what it was +that made us tender and doubtful to ask this question, it was not any +such conceit, but because we remembered, he had given a touch in his +former speech, that this land had laws of secrecy touching strangers." +To this he said; "You remember it aright and therefore in that I shall +say to you, I must reserve some particulars, which it is not lawful for +me to reveal; but there will be enough left, to give you satisfaction." + +"You shall understand (that which perhaps you will scarce think +credible) that about three thousand years ago, or somewhat more, the +navigation of the world, (especially for remote voyages,) was greater +than at this day. Do not think with yourselves, that I know not how +much it is increased with you, within these six-score years: I know it +well: and yet I say greater then than now; whether it was, that the +example of the ark, that saved the remnant of men from the universal +deluge, gave men confidence to adventure upon the waters; or what it +was; but such is the truth. The Phoenicians, and especially the +Tyrians, had great fleets. So had the Carthaginians their colony, +which is yet further west. Toward the east the shipping of Egypt and +of Palestine was likewise great. China also, and the great Atlantis, +(that you call America,) which have now but junks and canoes, abounded +then in tall ships. This island, (as appeareth by faithful registers +of those times,) had then fifteen hundred strong ships, of great +content. Of all this, there is with you sparing memory, or none; but +we have large knowledge thereof. + +"At that time, this land was known and frequented by the ships and +vessels of all the nations before named. And (as it cometh to pass) +they had many times men of other countries, that were no sailors, that +came with them; as Persians, Chaldeans, Arabians; so as almost all +nations of might and fame resorted hither; of whom we have some stirps, +and little tribes with us at this day. And for our own ships, they +went sundry voyages, as well to your straits, which you call the +Pillars of Hercules, as to other parts in the Atlantic and Mediterrane +Seas; as to Paguin, (which is the same with Cambaline,) and Quinzy, +upon the Oriental Seas, as far as to the borders of the East Tartary. + +"At the same time, and an age after, or more, the inhabitants of the +great Atlantis did flourish. For though the narration and description, +which is made by a great man with you; that the descendants of Neptune +planted there; and of the magnificent temple, palace, city, and hill; +and the manifold streams of goodly navigable rivers, (which as so many +chains environed the same site and temple); and the several degrees of +ascent, whereby men did climb up to the same, as if it had been a scala +coeli, be all poetical and fabulous: yet so much is true, that the said +country of Atlantis, as well that of Peru, then called Coya, as that of +Mexico, then named Tyrambel, were mighty and proud kingdoms in arms, +shipping and riches: so mighty, as at one time (or at least within the +space of ten years) they both made two great expeditions; they of +Tyrambel through the Atlantic to the Mediterrane Sea; and they of Coya +through the South Sea upon this our island: and for the former of +these, which was into Europe, the same author amongst you (as it +seemeth) had some relation from the Egyptian priest whom he cited. For +assuredly such a thing there was. But whether it were the ancient +Athenians that had the glory of the repulse and resistance of those +forces, I can say nothing: but certain it is, there never came back +either ship or man from that voyage. Neither had the other voyage of +those of Coya upon us had better fortune, if they had not met with +enemies of greater clemency. For the king of this island, (by name +Altabin,) a wise man and a great warrior, knowing well both his own +strength and that of his enemies, handled the matter so, as he cut off +their land-forces from their ships; and entoiled both their navy and +their tamp with a greater power than theirs, both by sea and land: arid +compelled them to render themselves without striking stroke and after +they were at his mercy, contenting himself only with their oath that +they should no more bear arms against him, dismissed them all in safety. + +"But the divine revenge overtook not long after those proud +enterprises. For within less than the space of one hundred years, the +great Atlantis was utterly lost and destroyed: not by a great +earthquake, as your man saith; (for that whole tract is little subject +to earthquakes;) but by a particular' deluge or inundation; those +countries having, at this day, far greater rivers and far higher +mountains to pour down waters, than any part of the old world. But it +is true that the same inundation was not deep; not past forty foot, in +most places, from the ground; so that although it destroyed man and +beast generally, yet some few wild inhabitants of the wood escaped. +Birds also were saved by flying to the high trees and woods. For as +for men, although they had buildings in many places, higher than the +depth of the water, yet that inundation, though it were shallow, had a +long continuance; whereby they of the vale that were not drowned, +perished for want of food and other things necessary. + +"So as marvel you not at the thin population of America, nor at the +rudeness and ignorance of the people; for you must account your +inhabitants of America as a young people; younger a thousand years, at +the least, than the rest of the world: for that there was so much time +between the universal flood and their particular inundation. For the +poor remnant of human seed, which remained in their mountains, peopled +the country again slowly, by little and little; and being simple and +savage people, (not like Noah and his sons, which was the chief family +of the earth;) they were not able to leave letters, arts, and civility +to their posterity; and having likewise in their mountainous +habitations been used (in respect of the extreme cold of those regions) +to clothe themselves with the skins of tigers, bears, and great hairy +goats, that they have in those parts; when after they came down into +the valley, and found the intolerable heats which are there, and knew +no means of lighter apparel, they were forced to begin the custom of +going naked, which continueth at this day. Only they take great pride +and delight in the feathers of birds; and this also they took from +those their ancestors of the mountains, who were invited unto it by the +infinite flights of birds that came up to the high grounds, while the +waters stood below. So you see, by this main accident of time, we lost +our traffic with the Americans, with whom of, all others, in regard +they lay nearest to us, we had most commerce. + +"As for the other parts of the world, it is most manifest that in the +ages following (whether it were in respect of wars, or by a natural +revolution of time,) navigation did every where greatly decay; and +specially far voyages (the rather by the use of galleys, and such +vessels as could hardly brook the ocean,) were altogether left and +omitted. So then, that part of intercourse which could be from other +nations to sail to us, you see how it hath long since ceased; except it +were by some rare accident, as this of yours. But now of the cessation +of that other part of intercourse, which might be by our sailing to +other nations, I must yield you some other cause. For I cannot say (if +I shall say truly,) but our shipping, for number, strength, mariners, +pilots, and all things that appertain to navigation, is as great as +ever; and therefore why we should sit at home, I shall now give you an +account by itself: and it will draw nearer to give you satisfaction to +your principal question. + +"There reigned in this land, about nineteen hundred years ago, a king, +whose memory of all others we most adore; not superstitiously, but as a +divine instrument, though a mortal man; his name was Solamona: and we +esteem him as the lawgiver of our nation. This king had a large heart, +inscrutable for good; and was wholly bent to make his kingdom and +people happy. He therefore, taking into consideration how sufficient +and substantive this land was to maintain itself without any aid (at +all) of the foreigner; being five thousand six hundred miles in +circuit, and of rare fertility of soil in the greatest part thereof; +and finding also the shipping of this country might be plentifully set +on work, both by fishing and by transportations from port to port, and +likewise by sailing unto some small islands that are not far from us, +and are under the crown and laws of this state; and, recalling into his +memory the happy and flourishing estate wherein this land then was; so +as it might be a thousand ways altered to the worse, but scarce any one +way to the better; thought nothing wanted to his noble and heroical +intentions, but only (as far as human foresight might reach) to give +perpetuity to that which was in his time so happily established. +Therefore amongst his other fundamental laws of this kingdom, he did +ordain the interdicts and prohibitions which we have touching entrance +of strangers; which at that time (though it was after the calamity of +America) was frequent; doubting novelties, and commixture of manners. +It is true, the like law against the admission of strangers without +licence is an ancient law in the kingdom of China, and yet continued in +use. But there it is a poor thing; and hath made them a curious, +ignorant, fearful, foolish nation. But our lawgiver made his law of +another temper. For first, he hath preserved all points of humanity, +in taking order and making provision for the relief of strangers +distressed; whereof you have tasted." + +At which speech (as reason was) we all rose up and bowed ourselves. He +went on. + +"That king also, still desiring to join humanity and policy together; +and thinking it against humanity, to detain strangers here against +their wills, and against policy that they should return and discover +their knowledge of this estate, he took this course: he did ordain that +of the strangers that should be permitted to land, as many (at all +times) might depart as would; but as many as would stay should have +very good conditions and means to live from the state. Wherein he saw +so far, that now in so many ages since the prohibition, we have memory +not of one ship that ever returned, and but of thirteen persons only, +at several times, that chose to return in our bottoms. What those few +that returned may have reported abroad I know not. But you must think, +whatsoever they have said could be taken where they came but for a +dream. Now for our travelling from henna into parts abroad, our +Lawgiver thought fit altogether to restrain it. So is it not in China. +For the Chinese sail where they will or can; which sheweth that their +law of keeping out strangers is a law of pusillanimity and fear. But +this restraint of ours hath one only exception, which is admirable; +preserving the good which cometh by communicating with strangers, and +avoiding the hurt; and I will now open it to you. And here I shall +seem a little to digress, but you will by and by find it pertinent. + +"Ye shall understand (my dear friends) that amongst the excellent acts +of that king, one above all hath the pre-eminence. It was the erection +and institution of an Order or Society, which we call Salomon's House; +the noblest foundation (as we think) that ever was upon the earth; and +the lanthorn of this kingdom. It is dedicated to the study of the +works and creatures of God. Some think it beareth the founder's name a +little corrupted, as if it should be Solamona's House. But the records +write it as it is spoken. So as I take it to be denominate of the king +of the Hebrews, which is famous with you, and no stranger to us. For +we have some parts of his works, which with you are lost; namely, that +natural history, which he wrote, of all plants, from the cedar of +Libanus to the moss that groweth out of the wall, and of all things +that have life and motion. This maketh me think that our king, finding +himself to symbolize in many things with that king of the Hebrews +(which lived many years before him), honored him with the title of this +foundation. And I am rather induced to be of this opinion, for that I +find in ancient records this Order or Society is sometimes called +Salomon's House, and sometimes the College of the Six Days Works; +whereby I am satisfied that our excellent king had learned from the +Hebrews that God had created the world and all that therein is within +six days: and therefore he instituting that House for the finding out +of the true nature of all things, (whereby God might have the more +glory in the workmanship of them, and insert the more fruit in the use +of them), did give it also that second name. + +"But now to come to our present purpose. When the king had forbidden +to all his people navigation into any part that was not under his +crown, he made nevertheless this ordinance; that every twelve years +there should be set forth, out of this kingdom two ships, appointed to +several voyages; That in either of these ships there should be a +mission of three of the Fellows or Brethren of Salomon's House; whose +errand was only to give us knowledge of the affairs and state of those +countries to which they were designed, and especially of the sciences, +arts, manufactures, and inventions of all the world; and withal to +bring unto us books, instruments, and patterns in every kind: That the +ships, after they had landed the brethren, should return; and that the +brethren should stay abroad till the new mission. These ships are not +otherwise fraught, than with store of victuals, and good quantity of +treasure to remain with the brethren, for the buying of such things and +rewarding of such persons as they should think fit. Now for me to tell +you how the vulgar sort of mariners are contained from being discovered +at land; and how they that must be put on shore for any time, color +themselves under the names of other nations; and to what places these +voyages have been designed; and what places of rendezvous are appointed +for the new missions; and the like circumstances of the practique; I +may not do it: neither is it much to your desire. But thus you see we +maintain a trade not for gold, silver, or jewels; nor for silks; nor +for spices; nor any other commodity of matter; but only for God's first +creature, which was Light: to have light (I say) of the growth of all +parts of the world." + +And when he had said this, he was silent; and so were we all. For +indeed we were all astonished to hear so strange things so probably +told. And he, perceiving that we were willing to say somewhat but had +it not ready in great courtesy took us off, and descended to ask us +questions of our voyage and fortunes and in the end concluded, that we +might do well to think with ourselves what time of stay we would demand +of the state; and bade us not to scant ourselves; for he would procure +such time as we desired: Whereupon we all rose up, and presented +ourselves to kiss the skirt of his tippet; but he would not suffer us; +and so took his leave. But when it came once amongst our people that +the state used to offer conditions to strangers that would stay, we had +work enough to get any of our men to look to our ship; and to keep them +from going presently to the governor to crave conditions. But with +much ado we refrained them, till we might agree what course to take. + +We took ourselves now for free men, seeing there was no danger of our +utter perdition; and lived most joyfully, going abroad and seeing what +was to be seen in the city and places adjacent within our tedder; and +obtaining acquaintance with many of the city, not of the meanest +quality; at whose hands we found such humanity, and such a freedom and +desire to take strangers as it were into their bosom, as was enough to +make us forget all that was dear to us in our own countries: and +continually we met with many things right worthy of observation and +relation: as indeed, if there be a mirror in the world worthy to hold +men's eyes, it is that country. + +One day there were two of our company bidden to a Feast of the Family, +as they call it. A most natural, pious, and reverend custom it is, +shewing that nation to be compounded of all goodness. This is the +manner of it. It is granted to any man that shall live to see thirty +persons descended of his body alive together, and all above three years +old, to make this feast which is done at the cost of the state. The +Father of the Family, whom they call the Tirsan, two days before the +feast, taketh to him three of such friends as he liketh to choose; and +is assisted also by the governor of the city or place where the feast +is celebrated; and all the persons of the family, of both sexes, are +summoned to attend him. These two days the Tirsan sitteth in +consultation concerning the good estate of the family. There, if there +be any discord or suits between any of the family, they are compounded +and appeased. There, if any of the family be distressed or decayed, +order is taken for their relief and competent means to live. There, if +any be subject to vice, or take ill courses, they are reproved and +censured. So likewise direction is given touching marriages, and the +courses of life, which any of them should take, with divers other the +like orders and advices. The governor assisteth, to the end to put in +execution by his public authority the decrees and orders of the Tirsan, +if they should be disobeyed; though that seldom needeth; such reverence +and obedience they give to the order of nature. The Tirsan doth also +then ever choose one man from among his sons, to live in house with +him; who is called ever after the Son of the Vine. The reason will +hereafter appear. + +On the feast day, the father or Tirsan cometh forth after divine +service into a large room where the feast is celebrated; which room +hath an half-pace at the upper end. Against the wall, in the middle of +the half-pace, is a chair placed for him, with a table and carpet +before it. Over the chair is a state, made round or oval, and it is of +ivy; an ivy somewhat whiter than ours, like the leaf of a silver asp; +but more shining; for it is green all winter. And the state is +curiously wrought with silver and silk of divers colors, broiding or +binding in the ivy; and is ever of the work of some of the daughters of +the family; and veiled over at the top with a fine net of silk and +silver. But the substance of it is true ivy; whereof, after it is +taken down, the friends of the family are desirous to have some leaf or +sprig to keep. + +The Tirsan cometh forth with all his generation or linage, the males +before him, and the females following him; and if there be a mother +from whose body the whole linage is descended, there is a traverse +placed in a loft above on the right hand of the chair, with a privy +door, and a carved window of glass, leaded with gold and blue; where +she sitteth, but is not seen. When the Tirsan is come forth, he +sitteth down in the chair; and all the linage place themselves against +the wall, both at his back and upon the return of the half-pace, in +order of their years without difference of sex; and stand upon their +feet. When he is set; the room being always full of company, but well +kept and without disorder; after some pause, there cometh in from the +lower end of the room, a taratan (which is as much as an herald) and on +either side of him two young lads; whereof one carrieth a scroll of +their shining yellow parchment; and the other a cluster of grapes of +gold, with a long foot or stalk. The herald and children are clothed +with mantles of sea-water green satin; but the herald's mantle is +streamed with gold, and hath a train. + +Then the herald with three curtesies, or rather inclinations, cometh up +as far as the half-pace; and there first taketh into his hand the +scroll. This scroll is the king's charter, containing gifts of +revenew, and many privileges, exemptions, and points of honour, granted +to the Father of the Family; and is ever styled and directed, To such +do one our well beloved friend and creditor: which is a title proper +only to this case. For they say the king is debtor to no man, but for +propagation of his subjects. The seal set to the king's charter is the +king's image, imbossed or moulded in gold; and though such charters be +expedited of course, and as of right, yet they are varied by +discretion, according to the number and dignity of the family. This +charter the herald readeth aloud; and while it is read, the father or +Tirsan standeth up supported by two of his sons, such as he chooseth. +Then the herald mounteth the half-pace and delivereth the charter into +his hand: and with that there is an acclamation by all that are present +in their language, which is thus much: Happy are the people of Bensalem. + +Then the herald taketh into his hand from the other child the cluster +of grapes, which is of gold, both the stalk and the grapes. But the +grapes are daintily enamelled; and if the males of the family be the +greater number, the grapes are enamelled purple, with a little sun set +on the top; if the females, then they are enamelled into a greenish +yellow, with a crescent on the top. The grapes are in number as many +as there are descendants of the family. This golden cluster the herald +delivereth also to the Tirsan; who presently delivereth it over to that +son that he had formerly chosen to be in house with him: who beareth it +before his father as an ensign of honour when he goeth in public, ever +after; and is thereupon called the Son of the Vine. + +After the ceremony endeth the father or Tirsan retireth; and after some +time cometh forth again to dinner, where he sitteth alone under the +state, as before; and none of his descendants sit with him, of what +degree or dignity soever, except he hap to be of Salomon's House. He is +served only by his own children, such as are male; who perform unto him +all service of the table upon the knee; and the women only stand about +him, leaning against the wall. The room below the half-pace hath +tables on the sides for the guests that are bidden; who are served with +great and comely order; and towards the end of dinner (which in the +greatest feasts with them lasteth never above an hour and an half) +there is an hymn sung, varied according to the invention of him that +composeth it (for they have excellent posy) but the subject of it is +(always) the praises of Adam and Noah and Abraham; whereof the former +two peopled the world, and the last was the Father of the Faithful: +concluding ever with a thanksgiving for the nativity of our Saviour, in +whose birth the births of all are only blessed. + +Dinner being done, the Tirsan retireth again; and having withdrawn +himself alone into a place, where he makes some private prayers, he +cometh forth the third time, to give the blessing with all his +descendants, who stand about him as at the first. Then he calleth them +forth by one and by one, by name, as he pleaseth, though seldom the +order of age be inverted. The person that is called (the table being +before removed) kneeleth down before the chair, and the father layeth +his hand upon his head, or her head, and giveth the blessing in these +words: Son of Bensalem, (or daughter of Bensalem,) thy father with it: +the man by whom thou hast breath and life speaketh the word: the +blessing of the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, and the Holy +Dove, be upon thee, and make the days of thy pilgrimage good and many. +This he saith to every of them; and that done, if there be any of his +sons of eminent merit and virtue, (so they be not above two,) he +calleth for them again; and saith, laying his arm over their shoulders, +they standing; Sons, it is well ye are born, give God the praise, and +persevere to the end. And withall delivereth to either of them a +jewel, made in the figure of an ear of wheat, which they ever after +wear in the front of their turban or hat. This done, they fall to +music and dances, and other recreations, after their manner, for the +rest of the day. This is the full order of that feast. + +By that time six or seven days were spent, I was fallen into straight +acquaintance with a merchant of that city, whose name was Joabin. He +was a Jew and circumcised: for they have some few stirps of Jews yet +remaining among them, whom they leave to their own religion. Which +they may the better do, because they are of a far differing disposition +from the Jews in other parts. For whereas they hate the name of +Christ; and have a secret inbred rancour against the people among whom +they live: these (contrariwise) give unto our Saviour many high +attributes, and love the nation of Bensalem extremely. Surely this man +of whom I speak would ever acknowledge that Christ was born of a virgin +and that he was more than a man; and he would tell how God made him +ruler of the seraphims which guard his throne; and they call him also +the Milken Way, and the Eliah of the Messiah; and many other high +names; which though they be inferior to his divine majesty, yet they +are far from the language of other Jews. + +And for the country of Bensalem, this man would make no end of +commending it; being desirous, by tradition among the Jews there, to +have it believed that the people thereof were of the generations of +Abraham, by another son, whom they call Nachoran; and that Moses by a +secret Cabala ordained the Laws of Bensalem which they now use; and +that when the Messiah should come, and sit in his throne at Hierusalem, +the king of Bensalem should sit at his feet, whereas other kings should +keep a great distance. But yet setting aside these Jewish dreams, the +man was a wise man, and learned, and of great policy, and excellently +seen in the laws and customs of that nation. + +Amongst other discourses, one day I told him I was much affected with +the relation I had, from some of the company, of their custom, in +holding the Feast of the Family; for that (methought) I had never heard +of a solemnity wherein nature did so much preside. And because +propagation of families proceedeth from the nuptial copulation, I +desired to know of him what laws and customs they had concerning +marriage; and whether they kept marriage well and whether they were +tied to one wife; for that where population is so much affected,' and +such as with them it seemed to be, there is commonly permission of +plurality of wives. + +To this he said, "You have reason for to commend that excellent +institution of the Feast of the Family. And indeed we have experience +that those families that are partakers of the blessing of that feast do +flourish and prosper ever after in an extraordinary manner. But hear +me now, and I will tell you what I know. You shall understand that +there is not under the heavens so chaste a nation as this of Bensalem; +nor so free from all pollution or foulness. It is the virgin of the +world. I remember I have read in one of your European books, of an +holy hermit amongst you that desired to see the Spirit of Fornication; +and there appeared to him a little foul ugly Aethiop. But if he had +desired to see the Spirit of Chastity of Bensalem, it would have +appeared to him in the likeness of a fair beautiful Cherubim. For +there is nothing amongst mortal men more fair and admirable, than the +chaste minds of this people. Know therefore, that with them there are +no stews, no dissolute houses, no courtesans, nor anything of that +kind. Nay they wonder (with detestation) at you in Europe, which +permit such things. They say ye have put marriage out of office: for +marriage is ordained a remedy for unlawful concupiscence; and natural +concupiscence seemeth as a spar to marriage. But when men have at hand +a remedy more agreeable to their corrupt will, marriage is almost +expulsed. And therefore there are with you seen infinite men that +marry not, but chose rather a libertine and impure single life, than to +be yoked in marriage; and many that do marry, marry late, when the +prime and strength of their years is past. And when they do marry, what +is marriage to them but a very bargain; wherein is sought alliance, or +portion, or reputation, with some desire (almost indifferent) of issue; +and not the faithful nuptial union of man and wife, that was first +instituted. Neither is it possible that those that have cast away so +basely so much of their strength, should greatly esteem children, +(being of the same matter,) as chaste men do. So likewise during +marriage, is the case much amended, as it ought to be if those things +were tolerated only for necessity? No, but they remain still as a very +affront to marriage. The haunting of those dissolute places, or resort +to courtesans, are no more punished in married men than in bachelors. +And the depraved custom of change, and the delight in meretricious +embracements, (where sin is turned into art,) maketh marriage a dull +thing, and a kind of imposition or tax. They hear you defend these +things, as done to avoid greater evils; as advoutries, deflowering of +virgins, unnatural lust, and the like. But they say this is a +preposterous wisdom; and they call it Lot's offer, who to save his +guests from abusing, offered his daughters: nay they say farther that +there is little gained in this; for that the same vices and appetites +do still remain and abound; unlawful lust being like a furnace, that if +you stop the flames altogether, it will quench; but if you give it any +vent, it will rage. As for masculine love, they have no touch of it; +and yet there are not so faithful and inviolate friendships in the +world again as are there; and to speak generally, (as I said before,) I +have not read of any such chastity, in any people as theirs. And their +usual saying is, That whosoever is unchaste cannot reverence himself; +and they say, That the reverence of a man's self, is, next to religion, +the chiefest bridle of all vices." + +And when he had said this, the good Jew paused a little; whereupon I, +far more willing to hear him speak on than to speak myself, yet +thinking it decent that upon his pause of speech I should not be +altogether silent, said only this; "That I would say to him, as the +widow of Sarepta said to Elias; that he was come to bring to memory our +sins; and that I confess the righteousness of Bensalem was greater than +the righteousness of Europe." At which speech he bowed his head, and +went on in this manner: + +"They have also many wise and excellent laws touching marriage. They +allow no polygamy. They have ordained that none do intermarry or +contract, until a month be past from their first interview. Marriage +without consent of parents they do not make void, but they mulct it in +the inheritors: for the children of such marriages are not admitted to +inherit above a third part of their parents' inheritance. I have read +in a book of one of your men, of a Feigned Commonwealth, where the +married couple are permitted, before they contract, to see one another +naked. This they dislike; for they think it a scorn to give a refusal +after so familiar knowledge: but because of many hidden defects in men +and women's bodies, they have a more civil way; for they have near +every town a couple of pools, (which they call Adam and Eve's pools,) +where it is permitted to one of the friends of the men, and another of +the friends of the woman, to see them severally bathe naked." + +And as we were thus in conference, there came one that seemed to be a +messenger, in a rich huke, that spake with the Jew: whereupon he turned +to me and said; "You will pardon me, for I am commanded away in haste." +The next morning he came to me again, joyful as it seemed, and said; +"There is word come to the Governor of the city, that one of the +Fathers of Salomon's House will be here this day seven-night: we have +seen none of them this dozen years. His coming is in state; but the +cause of his coming is secret. I will provide you and your fellows of +a good standing to see his entry." I thanked him, and told him, I was +most glad of the news. + +The day being come, he made his entry. He was a man of middle stature +and age, comely of person, and had an aspect as if he pitied men. He +was clothed in a robe of fine black cloth, with wide sleeves and a +cape. His under garment was of excellent white linen down to the foot, +girt with a girdle of the same; and a sindon or tippet of the same +about his neck. He had gloves, that were curious,'' and set with +stone; and shoes of peach-coloured velvet. His neck was bare to the +shoulders. His hat was like a helmet, or Spanish montera; and his +locks curled below it decently: they were of colour brown. His beard +was cut round, and of the same colour with his hair, somewhat lighter. +He was carried in a rich chariot without wheels, litter-wise; with two +horses at either end, richly trapped in blue velvet embroidered; and +two footmen on each side in the like attire. The chariot was all of +cedar, gilt, and adorned with crystal; save that the fore-end had +panels of sapphires, set in borders of gold; and the hinder-end the +like of emeralds of the Peru colour. There was also a sun of gold, +radiant, upon the top, in the midst; and on the top before, a small +cherub of gold, with wings displayed. The chariot was covered with +cloth of gold tissued upon blue. He had before him fifty attendants, +young men all, in white satin loose coats to the mid leg; and stockings +of white silk; and shoes of blue velvet; and hats of blue velvet; with +fine plumes of diverse colours, set round like hat-bands. Next before +the chariot, went two men, bare-headed, in linen garments down the +foot, girt, and shoes of blue velvet; who carried, the one a crosier, +the other a pastoral staff like a sheep-hook; neither of them of metal, +but the crosier of balm-wood, the pastoral staff of cedar. Horsemen he +had none, neither before nor behind his chariot: as it seemeth, to +avoid all tumult and trouble. Behind his chariot went all the officers +and principals of the companies of the city. He sat alone, upon +cushions of a kind of excellent plush, blue; and under his foot curious +carpets of silk of diverse colours, like the Persian, but far finer. +He held up his bare hand as he went, as blessing the people, but in +silence. The street was wonderfully well kept: so that there was never +any army had their men stand in better battle-array than the people +stood. The windows likewise were not crowded, but every one stood in +them as if they had been placed. + +When the shew was past, the Jew said to me; "I shall not be able to +attend you as I would, in regard of some charge the city hath laid upon +me, for the entertaining of this great person." Three days after the +Jew came to me again, and said; "Ye are happy men; for the Father of +Salomon's House taketh knowledge of your being here, and commanded me +to tell you that he will admit all your company to his presence, and +have private conference with one of you, that ye shall choose: and for +this hath appointed the next day after to-morrow. And because he +meaneth to give you his blessing, he hath appointed it in the forenoon." + +We came at our day and hour, and I was chosen by my fellows for the +private access. We found him in a fair chamber, richly hanged, and +carpeted under foot without any degrees to the state. He was set upon +a low Throne richly adorned, and a rich cloth of state over his head, +of blue satin embroidered. He was alone, save that he had two pages of +honour, on either hand one, finely attired in white. His under +garments were the like that we saw him wear in the chariot; but instead +of his gown, he had on him a mantle with a cape, of the same fine +black, fastened about him. When we came in, as we were taught, we +bowed low at our first entrance; and when we were come near his chair, +he stood up, holding forth his hand ungloved, and in posture of +blessing; and we every one of us stooped down, and kissed the hem of +his tippet. That done, the rest departed, and I remained. Then he +warned the pages forth of the room, and caused me to sit down beside +him, and spake to me thus in the Spanish tongue. + +"God bless thee, my son; I will give thee the greatest jewel I have. +For I will impart unto thee, for the love of God and men, a relation of +the true state of Salomon's House. Son, to make you know the true +state of Salomon's House, I will keep this order. First, I will set +forth unto you the end of our foundation. Secondly, the preparations +and instruments we have for our works. Thirdly, the several +employments and functions whereto our fellows are assigned. And +fourthly, the ordinances and rites which we observe. + +"The end of our foundation is the knowledge of causes, and secret +motions of things; and the enlarging of the bounds of human empire, to +the effecting of all things possible. + +"The Preparations and Instruments are these. We have large and deep +caves of several depths: the deepest are sunk six hundred fathom: and +some of them are digged and made under great hills and mountains: so +that if you reckon together the depth of the hill and the depth of the +cave, they are (some of them) above three miles deep. For we find, +that the depth of a hill, and the depth of a cave from the flat, is the +same thing; both remote alike, from the sun and heaven's beams, and +from the open air. These caves we call the Lower Region; and we use +them for all coagulations, indurations, refrigerations, and +conservations of bodies. We use them likewise for the imitation of +natural mines; and the producing also of new artificial metals, by +compositions and materials which we use, and lay there for many years. +We use them also sometimes, (which may seem strange,) for curing of +some diseases, and for prolongation of life in some hermits that choose +to live there, well accommodated of all things necessary, and indeed +live very long; by whom also we learn many things. + +"We have burials in several earths, where we put diverse cements, as +the Chineses do their porcellain. But we have them in greater variety, +and some of them more fine. We have also great variety of composts and +soils, for the making of the earth fruitful. + +"We have high towers; the highest about half a mile in height; and some +of them likewise set upon high mountains; so that the vantage of the +hill with the tower is in the highest of them three miles at least. And +these places we call the Upper Region; accounting the air between the +high places and the low, as a Middle Region. We use these towers, +according to their several heights, and situations, for insolation, +refrigeration, conservation; and for the view of divers meteors; as +winds, rain, snow, hail; and some of the fiery meteors also. And upon +them, in some places, are dwellings of hermits, whom we visit +sometimes, and instruct what to observe. + +"We have great lakes, both salt, and fresh; whereof we have use for the +fish and fowl. We use them also for burials of some natural bodies: +for we find a difference in things buried in earth or in air below the +earth, and things buried in water. We have also pools, of which some +do strain fresh water out of salt; and others by art do turn fresh +water into salt. We have also some rocks in the midst of the sea, and +some bays upon the shore for some works, wherein is required the air +and vapor of the sea. We have likewise violent streams and cataracts, +which serve us for many motions: and likewise engines for multiplying +and enforcing of winds, to set also on going diverse motions. + +"We have also a number of artificial wells and fountains, made in +imitation of the natural sources and baths; as tincted upon vitriol, +sulphur, steel, brass, lead, nitre, and other minerals. And again we +have little wells for infusions of many things, where the waters take +the virtue quicker and better, than in vessels or basins. And amongst +them we have a water which we call Water of Paradise, being, by that we +do to it made very sovereign for health, and prolongation of life. + +"We have also great and spacious houses where we imitate and +demonstrate meteors; as snow, hail, rain, some artificial rains of +bodies and not of water, thunders, lightnings; also generations of +bodies in air; as frogs, flies, and divers others. + +"We have also certain chambers, which we call Chambers of Health, where +we qualify the air as we think good and proper for the cure of divers +diseases, and preservation of health. + +"We have also fair and large baths, of several mixtures, for the cure +of diseases, and the restoring of man's body from arefaction: and +others for the confirming of it in strength of sinewes, vital parts, +and the very juice and substance of the body. + +"We have also large and various orchards and gardens; wherein we do not +so much respect beauty, as variety of ground and soil, proper for +divers trees and herbs: and some very spacious, where trees and berries +are set whereof we make divers kinds of drinks, besides the vineyards. +In these we practise likewise all conclusions of grafting, and +inoculating as well of wild-trees as fruit-trees, which produceth many +effects. And we make (by art) in the same orchards and gardens, trees +and flowers to come earlier or later than their seasons; and to come up +and bear more speedily than by their natural course they do. We make +them also by art greater much than their nature; and their fruit +greater and sweeter and of differing taste, smell, colour, and figure, +from their nature. And many of them we so order, as they become of +medicinal use. + +"We have also means to make divers plants rise by mixtures of earths +without seeds; and likewise to make divers new plants, differing from +the vulgar; and to make one tree or plant turn into another. + +"We have also parks and enclosures of all sorts of beasts and birds +which we use not only for view or rareness, but likewise for +dissections and trials; that thereby we may take light what may be +wrought upon the body of man. Wherein we find many strange effects; as +continuing life in them, though divers parts, which you account vital, +be perished and taken forth; resuscitating of some that seem dead in +appearance; and the like. We try also all poisons and other medicines +upon them, as well of chirurgery, as physic. By art likewise, we make +them greater or taller than their kind is; and contrariwise dwarf them, +and stay their growth: we make them more fruitful and bearing than +their kind is; and contrariwise barren and not generative. Also we +make them differ in colour, shape, activity, many ways. We find means +to make commixtures and copulations of different kinds; which have +produced many new kinds, and them not barren, as the general opinion +is. We make a number of kinds of serpents, worms, flies, fishes, of +putrefaction; whereof some are advanced (in effect) to be perfect +creatures, like bests or birds; and have sexes, and do propagate. +Neither do we this by chance, but we know beforehand, of what matter +and commixture what kind of those creatures will arise. + +"We have also particular pools, where we make trials upon fishes, as we +have said before of beasts and birds. + +"We have also places for breed and generation of those kinds of worms +and flies which are of special use; such as are with you your +silk-worms and bees. + +"I will not hold you long with recounting of our brewhouses, +bake-houses, and kitchens, where are made divers drinks, breads, and +meats, rare and of special effects. Wines we have of grapes; and +drinks of other juice of fruits, of grains, and of roots; and of +mixtures with honey, sugar, manna, and fruits dried, and decocted; Also +of the tears or woundings of trees; and of the pulp of canes. And these +drinks are of several ages, some to the age or last of forty years. We +have drinks also brewed with several herbs, and roots, and spices; yea +with several fleshes, and white-meats; whereof some of the drinks are +such, as they are in effect meat and drink both: so that divers, +especially in age, do desire to live with them, with little or no meat +or bread. And above all, we strive to have drink of extreme thin +parts, to insinuate into the body, and yet without all biting, +sharpness, or fretting; insomuch as some of them put upon the back of +your hand will, with a little stay, pass through to the palm, and yet +taste mild to the mouth. We have also waters which we ripen in that +fashion, as they become nourishing; so that they are indeed excellent +drink; and many will use no other. Breads we have of several grains, +roots, and kernels; yea and some of flesh and fish dried; with divers +kinds of leavenings and seasonings: so that some do extremely move +appetites; some do nourish so, as divers do live of them, without any +other meat; who live very long. So for meats, we have some of them so +beaten and made tender and mortified,' yet without all corrupting, as a +weak heat of the stomach will turn them into good chylus; as well as a +strong heat would meat otherwise prepared. We have some meats also and +breads and drinks, which taken by men enable them to fast long after; +and some other, that used make the very flesh of men's bodies sensibly' +more hard and tough and their strength far greater than otherwise it +would be. + +"We have dispensatories, or shops of medicines. Wherein you may easily +think, if we have such variety of plants and living creatures more than +you have in Europe, (for we know what you have,) the simples, drugs, +and ingredients of medicines, must likewise be in so much the greater +variety. We have them likewise of divers ages, and long fermentations. +And for their preparations, we have not only all manner of exquisite +distillations and separations, and especially by gentle heats and +percolations through divers strainers, yea and substances; but also +exact forms of composition, whereby they incorporate almost, as they +were natural simples. + +"We have also divers mechanical arts, which you have not; and stuffs +made by them; as papers, linen, silks, tissues; dainty works of +feathers of wonderful lustre; excellent dies, and, many others; and +shops likewise, as well for such as are not brought into vulgar use +amongst us as for those that are. For you must know that of the things +before recited, many of them are grown into use throughout the kingdom; +but yet, if they did flow from our invention, we have of them also for +patterns and principals. + +"We have also furnaces of great diversities, and that keep great +diversity of heats; fierce and quick; strong and constant; soft and +mild; blown, quiet; dry, moist; and the like. But above all, we have +heats, in imitation of the Sun's and heavenly bodies' heats, that pass +divers inequalities, and (as it were) orbs, progresses, and returns, +whereby we produce admirable effects. Besides, we have heats of dungs; +and of bellies and maws of living creatures, and of their bloods and +bodies; and of hays and herbs laid up moist; of lime unquenched; and +such like. Instruments also which generate heat only by motion. And +farther, places for strong insulations; and again, places under the +earth, which by nature, or art, yield heat. These divers heats we use, +as the nature of the operation, which we intend, requireth. + +"We have also perspective-houses, where we make demonstrations of all +lights and radiations; and of all colours: and out of things uncoloured +and transparent, we can represent unto you all several colours; not in +rain-bows, (as it is in gems, and prisms,) but of themselves single. +We represent also all multiplications of light, which we carry to great +distance, and make so sharp as to discern small points and lines. Also +all colourations of light; all delusions and deceits of the sight, in +figures, magnitudes, motions, colours all demonstrations of shadows. +We find also divers means, yet unknown to you, of producing of light +originally from divers bodies. We procure means of seeing objects afar +off; as in the heaven and remote places; and represent things near as +afar off; and things afar off as near; making feigned distances. We +have also helps for the sight, far above spectacles and glasses in use. +We have also glasses and means to see small and minute bodies perfectly +and distinctly; as the shapes and colours of small flies and worms, +grains and flaws in gems, which cannot otherwise be seen, observations +in urine and blood not otherwise to be seen. We make artificial +rain-bows, halo's, and circles about light. We represent also all +manner of reflexions, refractions, and multiplications of visual beams +of objects. + +"We have also precious stones of all kinds, many of them of great +beauty, and to you unknown; crystals likewise; and glasses of divers +kinds; and amongst them some of metals vitrificated, and other +materials besides those of which you make glass. Also a number of +fossils, and imperfect minerals, which you have not. Likewise +loadstones of prodigious virtue; and other rare stones, both natural +and artificial. + +"We have also sound-houses, where we practise and demonstrate all +sounds, and their generation. We have harmonies which you have not, of +quarter-sounds, and lesser slides of sounds. Divers instruments of +music likewise to you unknown, some sweeter than any you have, together +with bells and rings that are dainty and sweet. We represent small +sounds as great and deep; likewise great sounds extenuate and sharp; we +make divers tremblings and warblings of sounds, which in their original +are entire. We represent and imitate all articulate sounds and +letters, and the voices and notes of beasts and birds. We have certain +helps which set to the ear do further the hearing greatly. We have also +divers strange and artificial echoes, reflecting the voice many times, +and as it were tossing it: and some that give back the voice louder +than it came, some shriller, and some deeper; yea, some rendering the +voice differing in the letters or articulate sound from that they +receive. We have also means to convey sounds in trunks and pipes, in +strange lines and distances. + +"We have also perfume-houses; wherewith we join also practices of +taste. We multiply smells, which may seem strange. We imitate smells, +making all smells to breathe outs of other mixtures than those that +give them. We make divers imitations of taste likewise, so that they +will deceive any man's taste. And in this house we contain also a +confiture-house; where we make all sweet-meats, dry and moist; and +divers pleasant wines, milks, broths, and sallets; in far greater +variety than you have. + +"We have also engine-houses, where are prepared engines and instruments +for all sorts of motions. There we imitate and practise to make +swifter motions than any you have, either out of your muskets or any +engine that you have: and to make them and multiply them more easily, +and with small force, by wheels and other means: and to make them +stronger and more violent than yours are; exceeding your greatest +cannons and basilisks. We represent also ordnance and instruments of +war, and engines of all kinds: and likewise new mixtures and +compositions of gun-powder, wild-fires burning in water, and +unquenchable. Also fireworks of all variety both for pleasure and use. +We imitate also flights of birds; we have some degrees of flying in the +air. We have ships and boats for going under water, and brooking of +seas; also swimming-girdles and supporters. We have divers curious +clocks, and other like motions of return: and some perpetual motions. +We imitate also motions of living creatures, by images, of men, beasts, +birds, fishes, and serpents. We have also a great number of other +various motions, strange for equality, fineness, and subtilty. + +"We have also a mathematical house, where are represented all +instruments, as well of geometry as astronomy, exquisitely made. + +"We have also houses of deceits of the senses; where we represent all +manner of feats of juggling, false apparitions, impostures, and +illusions; and their fallacies. And surely you will easily believe +that we that have so many things truly natural which induce admiration, +could in a world of particulars deceive the senses, if we would +disguise those things and labour to make them seem more miraculous. But +we do hate all impostures, and lies; insomuch as we have severely +forbidden it to all our fellows, under pain of ignominy and fines, that +they do not show any natural work or thing, adorned or swelling; but +only pure as it is, and without all affectation of strangeness. + +"These are (my son) the riches of Salomon's House. + +"For the several employments and offices of our fellows; we have twelve +that sail into foreign countries, under the names of other nations, +(for our own we conceal); who bring us the books, and abstracts, and +patterns of experiments of all other parts. These we call Merchants of +Light. + +"We have three that collect the experiments which are in all books. +These we call Depredators. + +"We have three that collect the experiments of all mechanical arts; and +also of liberal sciences; and also of practices which are not brought +into arts. These we call Mystery-men. + +"We have three that try new experiments, such as themselves think good. +These we call Pioneers or Miners. + +"We have three that draw the experiments of the former four into titles +and tables, to give the better light for the drawing of observations +and axioms out of them. These we call Compilers. + +"We have three that bend themselves, looking into the experiments of +their fellows, and cast about how to draw out of them things of use and +practise for man's life, and knowledge, as well for works as for plain +demonstration of causes, means of natural divinations, and the easy and +clear discovery of the virtues and parts of bodies. These we call +Dowry-men or Benefactors. + +"Then after divers meetings and consults of our whole number, to +consider of the former labours and collections, we have three that take +care, out of them, to direct new experiments, of a higher light, more +penetrating into nature than the former. These we call Lamps. + +"We have three others that do execute the experiments so directed, and +report them. These we call Inoculators. + +"Lastly, we have three that raise the former discoveries by experiments +into greater observations, axioms, and aphorisms. These we call +Interpreters of Nature. + +"We have also, as you must think, novices and apprentices, that the +succession of the former employed men do not fail; besides, a great +number of servants and attendants, men and women. And this we do also: +we have consultations, which of the inventions and experiences which we +have discovered shall be published, and which not: and take all an oath +of secrecy, for the concealing of those which we think fit to keep +secret: though some of those we do reveal sometimes to the state and +some not. + +"For our ordinances and rites: we have two very long and fair +galleries: in one of these we place patterns and samples of all manner +of the more rare and excellent inventions in the other we place the +statues of all principal inventors. There we have the statue of your +Columbus, that discovered the West Indies: also the inventor of ships: +your monk that was the inventor of ordnance and of gunpowder: the +inventor of music: the inventor of letters: the inventor of printing: +the inventor of observations of astronomy: the inventor of works in +metal: the inventor of glass: the inventor of silk of the worm: the +inventor of wine: the inventor of corn and bread: the inventor of +sugars: and all these, by more certain tradition than you have. Then +have we divers inventors of our own, of excellent works; which since +you have not seen, it were too long to make descriptions of them; and +besides, in the right understanding of those descriptions you might +easily err. For upon every invention of value, we erect a statue to +the inventor, and give him a liberal and honourable reward. These +statues are some of brass; some of marble and touch-stone; some of +cedar and other special woods gilt and adorned; some of iron; some of +silver; some of gold. + +"We have certain hymns and services, which we say daily, of Lord and +thanks to God for his marvellous works: and forms of prayers, imploring +his aid and blessing for the illumination of our labours, and the +turning of them into good and holy uses. + +"Lastly, we have circuits or visits of divers principal cities of the +kingdom; where, as it cometh to pass, we do publish such new profitable +inventions as we think good. And we do also declare natural +divinations of diseases, plagues, swarms-of hurtful creatures, +scarcity, tempests, earthquakes, great inundations, comets, temperature +of the year, and divers other things; and we give counsel thereupon, +what the people shall do for the prevention and remedy of them." + +And when he had said this, he stood up; and I, as I had been taught, +kneeled down, and he laid his right hand upon my head, and said; "God +bless thee, my son; and God bless this relation, which I have made. I +give thee leave to publish it for the good of other nations; for we +here are in God's bosom, a land unknown." And so he left me; having +assigned a value of about two thousand ducats, for a bounty to me and +my fellows. For they give great largesses where they come upon all +occasions. + +[The rest was not perfected.] + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The New Atlantis, by Frances Bacon + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NEW ATLANTIS *** + +***** This file should be named 2434.txt or 2434.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/3/2434/ + +Produced by Michael Pullen and William Fishburne. HTML +version by Al Haines. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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It seems to have been +written about 1623, during that period of literary activity which +followed Bacon's political fall. None of Bacon's writings gives in +short apace so vivid a picture of his tastes and aspirations as this +fragment of the plan of an ideal commonwealth. The generosity and +enlightenment, the dignity and splendor, the piety and public spirit, +of the inhabitants of Bensalem represent the ideal qualities which +Bacon the statesman desired rather than hoped to see characteristic of +his own country; and in Solomon's House we have Bacon the scientist +indulging without restriction his prophetic vision of the future of +human knowledge. No reader acquainted in any degree with the +processes and results of modern scientific inquiry can fail to be +struck by the numerous approximations made by Bacon's imagination to +the actual achievements of modern times. The plan and organization of +his great college lay down the main lines of the modern research +university; and both in pure and applied science he anticipates a +strikingly large number of recent inventions and discoveries. In +still another way is "The New Atlantis" typical of Bacon's attitude. +In spite of the enthusiastic and broad-minded schemes he laid down for +the pursuit of truth, Bacon always had an eye to utility. The +advancement of science which he sought was conceived by him as a means +to a practical end the increase of man's control over nature, and the +comfort and convenience of humanity. For pure metaphysics, or any +form of abstract thinking that yielded no "fruit," he had little +interest; and this leaning to the useful is shown in the practical +applications of the discoveries made by the scholars of Solomon's +House. Nor does the interest of the work stop here. It contains much, +both in its political and in its scientific ideals, that we have as +yet by no means achieved, but which contain valuable elements of +suggestion and stimulus for the future. + + + + + + +THE NEW ATLANTIS + + + +We sailed from Peru, (where we had continued for the space of one +whole year) for China and Japan, by the South Sea; taking with us +victuals for twelve months; and had good winds from the east, though +soft and weak, for five months space, and more. But the wind came +about, and settled in the west for many days, so as we could make +little or no way, and were sometime in purpose to turn back. But then +again there arose strong and great winds from the south, with a point +east, which carried us up (for all that we could do) towards the north; +by which time our victuals failed us, though we had made good spare +of them. So that finding ourselves, in the midst of the greatest +wilderness of waters in the world, without victuals, we gave ourselves +for lost men and prepared for death. Yet we did lift up our hearts +and voices to God above, who showeth his wonders in the deep, +beseeching him of his mercy, that as in the beginning he discovered +the face of the deep, and brought forth dry land, so he would not +discover land to us, that we might not perish. + +And it came to pass that the next day about evening we saw within a +kenning before us, towards the north, as it were thick clouds, which +did put us in some hope of land; knowing how that part of the South +Sea was utterly unknown; and might have islands, or continents, that +hitherto were not come to light. Wherefore we bent our course thither, +where we saw the appearance of land, all that night; and in the +dawning of the next day, we might plainly discern that it was a land; +flat to our sight, and full of boscage; which made it show the more +dark. And after an hour and a half's sailing, we entered into a good +haven, being the port of a fair city; not great indeed, but well built, +and that gave a pleasant view from the sea: and we thinking every +minute long, till we were on land, came close to the shore, and +offered to land. But straightways we saw divers of the people, with +bastons in their hands (as it were) forbidding us to land; yet without +any cries of fierceness, but only as warning us off, by signs that +they made. Whereupon being not a little discomforted, we were +advising with ourselves, what we should do. + +During which time, there made forth to us a small boat, with about +eight persons in it; whereof one of them had in his hand a tipstaff of +a yellow cane, tipped at both ends with blue, who came aboard our ship, +without any show of distrust at all. And when he saw one of our +number, present himself somewhat before the rest, he drew forth a +little scroll of parchment (somewhat yellower than our parchment, and +shining like the leaves of writing tables, but otherwise soft and +flexible,) and delivered it to our foremost man. In which scroll were +written in ancient Hebrew, and in ancient Greek, and in good Latin of +the school, and in Spanish, these words: Land ye not, none of you; and +provide to be gone from this coast, within sixteen days, except you +have further time given you. Meanwhile, if you want fresh water or +victuals, or help for your sick, or that your ship needeth repairs, +write down your wants, and you shall have that, which belongeth to +mercy. This scroll was signed with a stamp of cherubim: wings, not +spread, but hanging downwards; and by them a cross. This being +delivered, the officer returned, and left only a servant with us to +receive our answer. + +Consulting hereupon amongst ourselves, we were much perplexed. The +denial of landing and hasty warning us away troubled us much; on the +other side, to find that the people had languages, and were so full of +humanity, did comfort us not a little. And above all, the sign of the +cross to that instrument was to us a great rejoicing, and as it were a +certain presage of good. Our answer was in the Spanish tongue; that +for our ship, it was well; for we had rather met with calms and +contrary winds than any tempests. For our sick, they were many, and +in very ill case; so that if they were not permitted to land, they ran +danger of their lives. Our other wants we set down in particular; +adding, That we had some little store of merchandise, which if it +pleased them to deal for, it might supply our wants, without being +chargeable unto them. We offered some reward in pistolets unto the +servant, and a piece of crimson velvet to be presented to the officer; +but the servant tools them not, nor would scarce look upon them; and +so left us, and went back in another little boat, which was sent for +him. + +About three hours after we had dispatched our answer, there came +towards us a person (as it seemed) of place. He had on him a gown +with wide sleeves, of a kind o£ water chamolet, of an excellent azure +colour, fair more glossy than ours; his under apparel was green; and +so was his hat, being in the form of a turban, daintily made, and not +so huge as the Turkish turbans; and the locks of his hair came down +below the brims of it. A reverend man was he to behold. He came in a +boat, gilt in some part of it, with four persons more only in that +boat; and was followed by another boat, wherein were some twenty. +When he was come within a flightshot of our ship, signs were made to +us, that we should send forth some to meet him upon the water; which +we presently did in our ship-boat, sending the principal man amongst +us save one, and four of our number with him. + +When we were come within six yards of their boat, they called to us to +stay, and not to approach farther; which we did. And thereupon the +man, whom I before described, stood up, and with a loud voice, in +Spanish, asked, "Are ye Christians?" We answered, "We were;" fearing +the less, because of the cross we had seen in the subscription. At +which answer the said person lifted up his right hand towards Heaven, +and drew it softly to his mouth (which is the gesture they use, when +they thank God;) and then said : "If ye will swear (all of you) by the +merits of the Saviour, that ye are no pirates, nor have shed blood, +lawfully, nor unlawfully within forty days past, you may have licence +to come on land." We said, "We were all ready to take that oath." +Whereupon one of those that were with him, being (as it seemed) a +notary, made an entry of this act. Which done, another of the +attendants of the great person which was with him in the same boat, +after his Lord had spoken a little to him, said aloud: "My Lord would +have you know, that it is not of pride, or greatness, that he cometh +not aboard your ship; but for that in your answer you declare that you +have many sick amongst you, he was warned by the Conservator of Health +of the city that he should keep a distance." We bowed ourselves +towards him, and answered, "We were his humble servants; and accounted +for great honour, and singular humanity towards us, that which was +already done; but hoped well, that the nature of the sickness of our +men was not infectious." So he returned; and a while after came the +Notary to us aboard our ship; holding in his hand a fruit of that +country, like an orange, but of color between orange-tawney and +scarlet; which cast a most excellent odour. He used it (as it +seemeth) for a preservative against infection. He gave us our oath; +"By the name of Jesus, and his merits:" and after told us, that the +next day, by six of the Clock, in the Morning, we should be sent to, +and brought to the Strangers' House, (so he called it,) where we +should be accommodated of things, both for our whole, and for our sick. +So he left us; and when we offered him some pistolets, he smiling +said, "He must not be twice paid for one labour:" meaning (as I take +it) that he had salary sufficient of the State for his service. For +(as I after learned) they call an officer that taketh rewards, twice +paid. + +The next morning early, there came to us the same officer that came to +us at first with his cane, and told us, "He came to conduct us to the +Strangers' House; and that he had prevented the hour, because we might +have the whole day before us, for our business. For," said he, "if +you will follow my advice, there shall first go with me some few of +you, and see the place, and how it may be made convenient for you; and +then you may send for your sick, and the rest of your number, which ye +will bring on land." We thanked him, and said, "That this care, which +he took of desolate strangers, God would reward." And so six of us +went on land with him: and when we were on land, he went before us, +and turned to us, and said, "He was but our servant, and our guide." +He led us through three fair streets; and all the way we went, there +were gathered some people on both sides, standing in a row; but in so +civil a fashion, as if it had been, not to wonder at us, but to +welcome us: and divers of them, as we passed by them, put their arms a +little abroad; which is their gesture, when they did bid any welcome. + +The Strangers' House is a fair and spacious house, built of brick, of +somewhat a bluer colour than our brick; and with handsome windows, +some of glass, some of a kind of cambric oiled. He brought us first +into a fair parlour above stairs, and then asked us, "What number of +persons we were? And how many sick?" We answered, "We were in all, +(sick and whole,) one and fifty persons, whereof our sick were +seventeen." He desired us to have patience a little, and to stay till +he came back to us; which was about an hour after; and then he led us +to see the chambers which were provided for us, being in number +nineteen: they having cast it (as it seemeth) that four of those +chambers, which were better than the rest, might receive four of the +principal men of our company; and lodge them alone by themselves; and +the other fifteen chambers were to lodge us two and two together. The +chambers were handsome and cheerful chambers, and furnished civilly." +Then he led us to a long gallery, like a dorture, where he showed us +all along the one side (for the other side was but wall and window), +seventeen cells, very neat ones, having partitions of cedar wood. +Which gallery and cells, being in all forty, (many more than we needed, +) were instituted as an infirmary for sick persons. And he told us +withal, that as any of our sick waxed well, he might be removed from +his cell, to a chamber; for which purpose there were set forth ten +spare chambers, besides the number we spake of before. This done, he +brought us back to the parlour, and lifting up his cane a little, (as +they do when they give any charge or command) said to us, "Ye are to +know, that the custom of the land requireth, that after this day and +to-morrow, (which we give you for removing of your people from your +ship,) you are to keep within doors for three days. But let it not +trouble you, nor do not think yourselves restrained, but rather left +to your rest and ease. You shall want nothing, and there are six of +our people appointed to attend you, for any business you may have +abroad." We gave him thanks, with all affection and respect, and said, +"God surely is manifested in this land." We offered him also twenty +pistolets; but he smiled, and only said; "What? twice paid! " And so +he left us. + +Soon after our dinner was served in; which was right good viands, both +for bread and treat: better than any collegiate diet, that I have +known in Europe. We had also drink of three sorts, all wholesome and +good; wine of the grape; a drink of grain, such as is with us our ale, +but more clear: And a kind of cider made of a fruit of that country; a +wonderful pleasing and refreshing drink. Besides, there were brought +in to us, great store of those scarlet oranges, for our sick; which +(they said) were an assured remedy for sickness taken at sea. There +was given us also, a box of small gray, or whitish pills, which they +wished our sick should take, one of the pills, every night before +sleep; which (they said) would hasten their recovery. + +The next day, after that our trouble of carriage and removing of our +men and goods out of our ship, was somewhat settled and quiet, I +thought good to call our company together; and when they were +assembled, said unto them; "My dear friends, let us know ourselves, +and how it standeth with us. We are men cast on land, as Jonas was, +out of the whale's belly, when we were as buried in the deep: and now +we are on land, we are but between death and life; for we are beyond, +both the old world, and the new; and whether ever we shall see Europe, +God only knoweth. It is a kind of miracle bath brought us hither: and +it must be little less, that shall bring us hence. Therefore in +regard of our deliverance past, and our danger present, and to come, +let us look up to God, and every man reform his own ways. Besides we +are come here amongst a Christian people, full of piety and humanity: +let us not bring that confusion of face upon ourselves, as to show our +vices, or unworthiness before them. Yet there is more. For they have +by commandment, (though in form of courtesy) cloistered us within +these wall, for three days: who knoweth, whether it be not, to take +some taste of our manners and conditions?" and if they find them bad, +to banish us straightways; if good, to give us further time. For +these men that they have given us for attendance, may withal have an +eye upon us. Therefore for God's love, and as we love the weal of our +souls and bodies, let us so behave ourselves, as we may be at peace +with God, and may find grace in the eyes of this people." Our company +with one voice thanked me for my good admonition, and promised me to +live soberly and civilly, and without giving any the least occasion of +offence. So we spent our three days joyfully, and without care, in +expectation what would be done with us, when they were expired. +During which time, we had every hour joy of the amendment of our sick; +who thought themselves cast into some divine pool of healing; they +mended so kindly, and so fast. + +The morrow after our three days were past, there came to us a new man, +that we had not seen before, clothed in blue as the former was, save +that his turban was white, with a small red cross on the top. He had +also a tippet of fine linen. At his coming in, he did bend to us a +little, and put his arms abroad. We of our parts saluted him in a +very lowly and submissive manner; as looking that from him, we should +receive sentence of life, or death: he desired to speak with some few +of us: whereupon six of us only staid, and the rest avoided the room. +He said, "I am by office governor of this House of Strangers, and by +vocation I am a Christian priest: and therefore am come to you to +offer you my service, both as strangers and chiefly as Christians. +Some things I may tell you, which I think you will not be unwilling to +hear. The State hath given you license to stay on land, for the space +of six weeks; and let it not trouble you, if your occasions ask +further time, for the law in this point is not precise; and I do not +doubt, but my self shall be able, to obtain for you such further time, +as may be convenient. Ye shall also understand, that the Strangers' +House is at this time rich, and much aforehand; for it hath laid up +revenue these thirty-seven years; for so long it is since any stranger +arrived in this part: and therefore take ye no care; the State will +defray you all the time you stay; neither shall you stay one day the +less for that. As for any merchandise ye have brought, ye shall be +well used, and have your return, either in merchandise, or in gold and +silver: for to us it is all one. And if you have any other request to +make, hide it not. For ye shall find we will not make your +countenance to fall by the answer ye shall receive. Only this I must +tell you, that none of you must go above a karan," (that is with them +a mile and an half) "from the walls of the city, without especial +leave." + +We answered, after we had looked awhile one upon another, admiring +this gracious and parent-like usage; "That we could not tell what to +say: for we wanted words to express our thanks; and his noble free +offers left us nothing to ask. It seemed to us, that we had before us +a picture of our salvation in Heaven; for we that were a while since +in the jaws of death, were now brought into a place, where we found +nothing but consolations. For the commandment laid upon us, we would +not fail to obey it, though it was impossible but our hearts should be +enflamed to tread further upon this happy and holy ground." We added; +"That our tongues should first cleave to the roofs of our mouths, ere +we should forget, either his reverend person, or this whole nation, in +our prayers." We also most humbly besought him, to accept of us as +his true servants; by as just a right as ever men on earth were +bounden; laying and presenting, both our persons, and all we had, at +his feet. He said; "He was a priest, and looked for a priest's reward; +which was our brotherly love, and the good of our souls and bodies." +So he went from us, not without tears of tenderness in his eyes; and +left us also confused with joy and kindness, saying amongst ourselves; +"That we were come into a land of angels, which did appear to us daily, +and prevent us with comforts, which we thought not of, much less +expected." + +The next day about ten of the clock, the Governor came to us again, +and after salutations, said familiarly; "That he was come to visit us;" +and called for a chair, and sat him down: and we, being some ten of +us, (the rest were of the meaner sort, or else gone abroad,) sat down +with him, And when we were set, he began thus: " We of this island of +Bensalem," (for so they call it in their language,) "have this; that +by means of our solitary situation; and of the laws of secrecy, which +we have for our travellers, and our rare admission of strangers; we +know well most part of the habitable world, and are ourselves unknown. +Therefore because he that knoweth least is fittest to ask questions, +it is more reason, for the entertainment of the time, that ye ask me +questions, than that I ask you." + +We answered; "That we humbly thanked him that he would give us leave +so to do: and that we conceived by the taste we had already, that +there was no worldly thing on earth, more worthy to be known than the +state of that happy land. But above all," (we said,) "since that we +were met from the several ends of the world, and hoped assuredly that +we should meet one day in the kingdom of Heaven, (for that we were +both parts Christians,) we desired to know, (in respect that land was +so remote, and so divided by vast and unknown seas, from the land +where our Saviour walked on earth,) who was the apostle of that nation, +and how it was converted to the faith?" It appeared in his face that +he took great contentment in this our question: he said; "Ye knit my +heart to you, by asking this question in the first place; for it +sheweth that you first seek the kingdom o f heaven; and I shall gladly, +and briefly, satisfy your demand. + +"About twenty years after the ascension of our Saviour, it came to +pass, that there was seen by the people of Renfusa, (a city upon the +eastern coast of our island,) within night, (the night was cloudy, and +calm,) as it might be some mile into the sea, a great pillar of light; +not sharp, but in form of a column, or cylinder, rising from the sea a +great way up towards heaven; and on the top of it was seen a large +cross of light, more bright and resplendent than the body of the +pillar. Upon which so strange a spectacle, the people of the city +gathered apace together upon the sands, to wonder; and so after put +themselves into a number of small boats, to go nearer to this +marvellous sight. But when the boats were come within (about) sixty +yards of the pillar, they found themselves all bound, and could go no +further; yet so as they might move to go about, but might not approach +nearer: so as the boats stood all as in a theatre, beholding this +light as an heavenly sign. It so fell out, that there was in one of +the boats one of the wise men, of the society of Salomon's House; +which house, or college (my good brethren) is the very eye of this +kingdom; who having awhile attentively and devoutly viewed and +contemplated this pillar and cross, fell down upon his face; and then +raised himself upon his knees, and lifting up his hands to heaven, +made his prayers in this manner. + +"`LORD God of heaven and earth, thou hast vouchsafed of thy grace to +those of our order, to know thy works of Creation, and the secrets of +them: and to discern (as far as appertaineth to the generations o f +men) between divine miracles, works of nature, works of art, and +impostures and illusions of all sorts. I do here acknowledge and +testify before this people, that the thing which we now see before our +eyes is thy Finger and a true Miracle. And forasmuch as we learn in +our books that thou never workest miracles, but to d divine and +excellent end, (for the laws o f nature are thine own laws, and thou +exceedest them not but upon great cause,) we most humbly beseech thee +to prosper this great sign, and to give us the interpretation and use +of it in mercy; which thou dost in some part secretly promise by +sending it unto us.' + +"When he had made his prayer, he presently found the boat he was in, +moveable and unbound; whereas all the rest remained still fast; and +taking that for an assurance of leave to approach, he caused the boat +to be softly and with silence rowed towards the pillar. But ere he +came near it, the pillar and cross of light brake up, and cast itself +abroad, as it were, into a firmament of many stars; which also +vanished soon after, and there was nothing left to be seen, but a +small ark, or chest of cedar, dry, and not wet at all with water, +though it swam. And in the fore-end of it, which was towards him, +grew a small green branch of palm; and when the wise man had taken it, +with all reverence, into his boat, it opened of itself, and there were +found in it a Book and a Letter; both written in fine parchment, and +wrapped in sindons of linen. The Book contained all the canonical +books of the Old and New Testament, according as you have them; (for +we know well what the churches with you receive); and the Apocalypse +itself, and some other books of the New Testament, which were not at +that time written, were nevertheless in the Book. And for the Letter, +it was in these words: + +"`I, Bartholomew, a servant of the Highest, and Apostle of Jesus +Christ, was warned by an angel that appeareth to me, in a vision of +glory, that I should commit this ark to the floods of the sea. +Therefore I do testify and declare unto that people where God shall +ordain this ark to come to land, that in the same day is come unto +them salvation and peace and good-will, from the Father, and from the +Lord Jesus.' + +"There was also in both these writings, as well the Book, as the +Letter, wrought a great miracle, conform to that of the Apostles, in +the original Gift of Tongues. For there being at that time in this +land Hebrews, Persians, and Indians, besides the natives, every one +read upon the Book, and Letter, as if they had been written in his own +language. And thus was this land saved from infidelity (as the +remainder of the old world was from water) by an ark, through the +apostolical and miraculous evangelism of Saint Bartholomew." And here +he paused, and a messenger came, and called him from us. So this was +all that passed in that conference. + +The next day, the same governor came again to us, immediately after +dinner, and excused himself, saying; "That the day before he was +called from us, somewhat abruptly, but now he would make us amends, +and spend time with us if we held his company and conference agreeable." +We answered, "That we held it so agreeable and pleasing to us, as +we forgot both dangers past and fears to come, for the time we hear +him speak; and that we thought an hour spent with him, was worth years +of our former life." He bowed himself a little to us, and after we +were set again, he said; "Well, the questions are on your part." + +One of our number said, after a little pause; that there was a matter, +we were no less desirous to know, than fearful to ask, lest we might +presume too far. But encouraged by his rare humanity towards us, +(that could scarce think ourselves strangers, being his vowed and +professed servants,) we would take the hardiness to propound it: +humbly beseeching him, if he thought it not fit to be answered, that +he would pardon it, though he rejected it. We said; "We well observed +those his words, which he formerly spake, that this happy island, +where we now stood, was known to few, and yet knew most of the nations +of the world; which we found to be true, considering they had the +languages of Europe, and knew much of our state and business; and yet +we in Europe, (notwithstanding all the remote discoveries and +navigations of this last age), never heard of the least inkling or +glimpse of this island. This we found wonderful strange; for that all +nations have inter-knowledge one of another, either by voyage into +foreign parts, or by strangers that come to them: and though the +traveller into a foreign country, doth commonly know more by the eye, +than he that stayeth at home can by relation of the traveller; yet +both ways suffice to make a mutual knowledge, in some degree, on both +parts. But for this island, we never heard tell of any ship of theirs +that had been seen to arrive upon any shore of Europe; nor of either +the East or West Indies; nor yet of any ship of any other part of the +world, that had made return from them. And yet the marvel rested not +in this. For the situation of it (as his lordship said) in the secret +conclave' of such a vast sea might cause it. But then, that they +should have knowledge of the languages, books, affairs, of those that +lie such a distance from them, it was a thing we could not tell what +to make of; for that it seemed to us a conditioner and propriety of +divine powers and beings, to be hidden and unseen to others, and yet +to have others open and as in a light to them." + +At this speech the Governor gave a gracious smile, and said; "That we +did well to ask pardon for this question we now asked: for that it +imported, as if we thought this land, a land of magicians, that sent +forth spirits of the air into all parts, to bring them news and +intelligence of other countries." It was answered by us all, in all +possible humbleness, but yet with a countenance taking knowledge, that +we knew that he spake it but merrily, "That we were apt enough to +think there was somewhat supernatural in this island; but yet rather +as angelical than magical. But to let his lordship know truly what it +was that made us tender and doubtful to ask this question, it was not +any such conceit," but because we remembered, he had given a touch in +his former speech, that this land had laws of secrecy touching +strangers." To this he said; "You remember it aright and therefore in +that I shall say to you, I must reserve some particulars, which it is +not lawful for me to reveal; but there will be enough left, to give +you satisfaction. + +"You shall understand (that which perhaps you will scarce think +credible) that about three thousand years ago, or somewhat more, the +navigation of the world, (especially for remote voyages,) was greater +than at this day. Do not think with yourselves, that I know not how +much it is increased with you, within these six-score years: I know it +well: and yet I say greater then than now; whether it was, that the +example of the ark, that saved the remnant of men from the universal +deluge, gave men confidence to adventure upon the waters; or what it +was; but such is the truth. The Phoenicians, and especially the +Tyrians, had great fleets. So had the Carthaginians their colony, +which is yet further west. Toward the east the shipping of Egypt and +of Palestine was likewise great. China also, and the great Atlantis, +(that you call America,) which have now but junks and canoes, abounded +then in tall ships. This island, (as appeareth by faithful registers +of those times,) had then fifteen hundred strong ships, of great +content. Of all this, there is with you sparing memory, or none; but +we have large knowledge thereof. + +"At that time, this land was known and frequented by the ships and +vessels of all the nations before named. And (as it cometh to pass) +they had many times men of other countries, that were no sailors, that +came with them; as Persians, Chaldeans, Arabians; so as almost all +nations of might and fame resorted hither; of whom we have some stirps, +and little tribes with us at this day. And for our own ships, they +went sundry voyages, as well to your straits, which you call the +Pillars of Hercules, as to other parts in the Atlantic and Mediterrane +Seas; as to Paguin, (which is the same with Cambaline,) and Quinzy, +upon the Oriental Seas, as far as to the borders of the East Tartary. + +"At the same time, and an age after, or more, the inhabitants of the +great Atlantis did flourish. For though the narration and description, +which is made by a great man with you; that the descendants of +Neptune planted" there; and of the magnificent temple, palace, city, +and hill; and the manifold streams of goodly navigable rivers, (which +as so many chains environed the same site and temple); and the several +degrees of ascent, whereby men did climb up to the same, as if it had +been a scala coeli, be all poetical and fabulous: yet so much is true, +that the said country of Atlantis, as well that of Peru, then called +Coya, as that of Mexico, then named Tyrambel, were mighty and proud +kingdoms in arms, shipping and riches: so mighty, as at one time (or +at least within the space of ten years) they both made two great +expeditions; they of Tyrambel through the Atlantic to the Mediterrane +Sea; and they of Coya through the South Sea upon this our island: and +for the former of these, which was into Europe, the same author +amongst you (as it seemeth) had some relation from the Egyptian priest +whom he cited. For assuredly such a thing there was. But whether it +were the ancient Athenians that had the glory of the repulse and +resistance of those forces, I can say nothing: but certain it is, +there never came back either ship or man from that voyage. Neither +had the other voyage of those of Coya upon us had better fortune, if +they had not met with enemies of greater clemency. For the king of +this island, (by name Altabin,) a wise man and a great warrior, +knowing well both his own strength and that of his enemies, handled +the matter so, as he cut off their land-forces from their ships; and +entoiled both their navy and their tamp with a greater power than +theirs, both by sea and land: arid compelled them to render themselves +without striking stroke and after they were at his mercy, contenting +himself only with their oath that they should no more bear arms +against him, dismissed them all in safety. + +"But the divine revenge overtook not long after those proud +enterprises. For within less than the space of one hundred years, the +great Atlantis was utterly lost and destroyed: not by a great +earthquake, as your man saith; (for that whole tract is little subject +to earthquakes;) but by a particular' deluge or inundation; those +countries having, at this day, far greater rivers and far higher +mountains to pour down waters, than any part of the old world. But it +is true that the same inundation was not deep; not past forty foot, in +most places, from the ground; so that although it destroyed man and +beast generally, yet some few wild inhabitants of the wood escaped. +Birds also were saved by flying to the high trees and woods. For as +for men, although they had buildings in many places, higher than the +depth of the water, yet that inundation, though it were shallow, had a +long continuance; whereby they of the vale that were not drowned, +perished for want of food and other things necessary. + +"So as marvel you not at the thin population of America, nor at the +rudeness and ignorance of the people; for you must account your +inhabitants of America as a young people; younger a thousand years, at +the least, than the rest of the world: for that there was so much time +between the universal flood and their particular inundation. For the +poor remnant of human seed, which remained in their mountains, peopled +the country again slowly, by little and little; and being simple and +savage people, (not like Noah and his sons, which was the chief family +of the earth;) they were not able to leave letters, arts, and civility +to their posterity; and having likewise in their mountainous +habitations been used (in respect of the extreme cold of those +regions) to clothe themselves with the skins of tigers, bears, and +great hairy goats, that they have in those parts; when after they came +down into the valley, and found the intolerable heats which are there, +and knew no means of lighter apparel, they were forced to begin the +custom of going naked, which continueth at this day. Only they take +great pride and delight in the feathers of birds; and this also they +took from those their ancestors of the mountains, who were invited +unto it by the infinite flights of birds that came up to the high +grounds, while the waters stood below. So you see, by this main +accident of time, we lost our traffic with the Americans, with whom of, +all others, in regard they lay nearest to us, we had most commerce. + +"As for the other parts of the world, it is most manifest that in the +ages following (whether it were in respect of wars, or by a natural +revolution of time,) navigation did every where greatly decay; and +specially far voyages (the rather by the use of galleys, and such +vessels as could hardly brook the ocean,) were altogether left and +omitted. So then, that part of intercourse which could be from other +nations to sail to us, you see how it hath long since ceased; except +it were by some rare accident, as this of yours. But now of the +cessation of that other part of intercourse, which might be by our +sailing to other nations, I must yield you some other cause. For I +cannot say (if I shall say truly,) but our shipping, for number, +strength, mariners, pilots, and all things that appertain to +navigation, is as great as ever; and therefore why we should sit at +home, I shall now give you an account by itself: and it will draw +nearer to give you satisfaction to your principal question. + +"There reigned in this land, about nineteen hundred years ago, a king, +whose memory of all others we most adore; not superstitiously, but as +a divine instrument, though a mortal man; his name was Solamona: and +we esteem him as the lawgiver of our nation. This king had a large +heart, inscrutable for good; and was wholly bent to make his kingdom +and people happy. He therefore, taking into consideration how +sufficient and substantive this land was to maintain itself without +any aid (at all) of the foreigner; being five thousand six hundred +miles in circuit, and of rare fertility of soil in the greatest part +thereof; and finding also the shipping of this country might be +plentifully set on work, both by fishing and by transportations from +port to port, and likewise by sailing unto some small islands that are +not far from us, and are under the crown and laws of this state; and, +recalling into his memory the happy and flourishing estate wherein +this land then was; so as it might be a thousand ways altered to the +worse, but scarce any one way to the better; thought nothing wanted to +his noble and heroical intentions, but only (as far as human foresight +might reach) to give perpetuity to that which was in his time so +happily established. Therefore amongst his other fundamental laws of +this kingdom, he did ordain the interdicts and prohibitions which we +have touching entrance of strangers; which at that time (though it was +after the calamity of America) was frequent; doubting novelties, and +commixture of manners. It is true, the like law against the admission +of strangers without licence is an ancient law in the kingdom of China, +and yet continued in use. But there it is a poor thing; and hath +made them a curious, ignorant, fearful, foolish nation. But our +lawgiver made his law of another temper. For first, he hath preserved +all points of humanity, in taking order and making provision for the +relief of strangers distressed; whereof you have tasted." + +At which speech (as reason was) we all rose up and bowed ourselves. +He went on. + +"That king also, still desiring to join humanity and policy together; +and thinking it against humanity, to detain strangers here against +their wills, and against policy that they should return and discover +their knowledge of this estate, he took this course: he did ordain +that of the strangers that should be permitted to land, as many (at +all times) might depart as would; but as many as would stay should +have very good conditions and means to live from the state. Wherein +he saw so far, that now in so many ages since the prohibition, we have +memory not of one ship that ever returned, and but of thirteen persons +only, at several times, that chose to return in our bottoms. What +those few that returned may have reported abroad I know not. But you +must think, whatsoever they have said could be taken whore they came +but for a dream. Now for our travelling from henna into parts abroad, +our Lawgiver thought fit altogether to restrain it. So is it not in +China. For the Chinese sail where they will or can; which sheweth +that their lawn of keeping out strangers is a law of pusillanimity and +fear. But this restraint of ours bath one only exception, which is +admirable; preserving the good which cometh by communicating with +strangers, and avoiding the hurt; and I will now open it to you. And +here I shall seem a little to digress, but you will by and by find it +pertinent. + +"Ye shall understand (my dear friends) that amongst the excellent acts +of that king, one above all bath the pre-eminence. It was the +erection and institution of an Order or Society, which we call +Salomon's House; the noblest foundation (as we think) that ever was +upon the earth; and the lanthorn of this kingdom. It is dedicated to +the study of the works and creatures of God. Some think it beareth +the founder's name a little corrupted, as if it should be Solamona's +House. But the records write it as it is spoken. So as I take it to +be denominate of the king of the Hebrews, which is famous with you, +and no stranger to us. For we have some parts of his works, which +with you are lost; namely, that natural history, which he wrote, of +all plants, from the cedar o f Libanus to the moss that groweth out of +the wall, and of all things that have life and motion. This maketh me +think that our king, finding himself to symbolize in many things with +that king of the Hebrews (which lived many years before him), honored +him with the title of this foundation. And I am rather induced to be +of this opinion, for that I find in ancient records this Order or +Society is sometimes called Salomon's House, and sometimes the College +of the Six Days Works; whereby I am satisfied that our excellent king +had learned from the Hebrews that God had created the world and all +that therein is within six days: and therefore he instituting that +House for the finding out of the true nature of all things, (whereby +God might have the more glory in the workmanship of them, and inert +the more fruit in the use of them), did give it also that second name. + +"But now to come to our present purpose. When the king had forbidden +to all his people navigation into any part that was not under his +crown, he made nevertheless this ordinance; that every twelve years +there should be set forth, out of this kingdom two ships, appointed to +several voyages; That in either of these ships there should be a +mission of three of the Fellows or Brethren of Salomon's House; whose +errand was only to give us knowledge of the affairs and state of those +countries to which they were designed, and especially of the sciences, +arts, manufactures, and inventions of all the world; and withal to +bring unto us books, instruments, and patterns in every kind: That the +ships, after they had landed the brethren, should return; and that the +brethren should stay abroad till the new mission. These ships are not +otherwise fraught, than with store of victuals, and good quantity of +treasure to remain with the brethren, for the buying of such things +and rewarding of such persons as they should think fit. Now for me to +tell you how the vulgar sort of mariners are contained from being +discovered at land; and how they that must be put on shore for any +time, color themselves under the names of other nations; and to what +places these voyages have been designed; and what places of rendezvous +are appointed for the new missions; and the like circumstances of the +practique; I may not do it: neither is it much to your desire. But +thus you see we maintain a trade not for gold, silver, or jewels; nor +for silks; nor for spices; nor any other commodity of matter; but only +for God's first creature, which was Light: to have light (I say) of +the growth of all parts of the world." + +And when he had said this, he was silent; and so were we all. For +indeed we were all astonished to hear so strange things so probably +told. And he, perceiving that we were willing to say somewhat but had +it not ready in great courtesy took us off, and descended to ask us +questions of our voyage and fortunes and in the end concluded, that we +might do well to think with ourselves what time of stay we would +demand of the state; and bade us not to scant ourselves; for he would +procure such time as we desired: Whereupon we all rose up, and +presented ourselves" to kiss the skirt of his tippet; but he would not +suffer us; and so took his leave. But when it came once amongst our +people that the state used to offer conditions to strangers that would +stay, we had work enough to get any of our men to look to our ship; +and to keep them from going presently to the governor to crave +conditions. But with much ado we refrained them, till we might agree +what course to take. + +We took ourselves now for free men, seeing there was no danger of our +utter perdition; and lived most joyfully, going abroad and seeing what +was to be seen in the city and places adjacent within our tedder; and +obtaining acquaintance with many of the city, not of the meanest +quality; at whose hands we found such humanity, and such a freedom and +desire to take strangers as it were into their bosom, as was enough to +make us forget all that was dear to us in our own countries: and +continually we met with many things right worthy of observation and +relation: as indeed, if there be a mirror in the world worthy to hold +men's eyes, it is that country. + +One day there were two of our company bidden to a Feast of the Family, +as they call it. A most natural, pious, and reverend custom it is, +shewing that nation to be compounded of all goodness. This is the +manner of it. It is granted to any man that shall live to see thirty +persons descended of his body alive together, and all above three +years old, to make this feast which is done at the cost of the state. +The Father of the Family, whom they call the Tirsan, two days before +the feast, taketh to him three of such friends as he liketh to choose; +and is assisted also by the governor of the city or place where the +feast is celebrated; and all the persons of the family, of both sexes, +are summoned to attend him. These two days the Tirsan sitteth in +consultation concerning the good estate of the family. There, if +there be any discord or suits between any of the family, they are +compounded and appeased. There, if any of the family be distressed or +decayed, order is taken for their relief and competent means to live. +There, if any be subject to vice, or take ill courses, they are +reproved and censured. So likewise direction is given touching +marriages, and the courses of life, which any of them should take, +with divers other the like orders and advices. The governor assisteth, +to the end to put in execution by his public authority the decrees +and orders of the Tirsan, if they should be disobeyed; though that +seldom needeth; such reverence and obedience they give to the order of +nature. The Tirsan doth also then ever choose one man from among his +sons, to live in house with him; who is called ever after the Son of +the Vine. The reason will hereafter appear. + +On the feast day, the father or Tirsan cometh forth after divine +service into a large room where the feast is celebrated; which room +bath an half-pace at the upper end. Against the wall, in the middle +of the half-pace, is a chair placed for him, with a table and carpet +before it. Over the chair is a state, made round or oval, and it is +of ivy; an ivy somewhat whiter than ours, like the leaf of a silver +asp; but more shining; for it is green all winter. And the state is +curiously wrought with silver and silk of divers colors, broiding or +binding in the ivy; and is ever of the work of some of the daughters +of the family; and veiled over at the top with a fine net of silk and +silver. But the substance of it is true ivy; whereof, after it is +taken down, the friends of the family are desirous to have some leaf +or sprig to keep. + +The Tirsan cometh forth with all his generation or linage, the males +before him, and the females following him; and if there be a mother +from whose body the whole linage is descended, there is a traverse +placed in a loft above on the right hand of the chair, with a privy +door, and a carved window of glass, leaded with gold and blue; where +she sitteth, but is not seen. When the Tirsan is come forth, he +sitteth down in the chair; and all the linage place themselves against +the wall, both at his back and upon the return of the half-pace, in +order of their years without difference of sex; and stand upon their +feet. When he is set; the room being always full of company, but well +kept and without disorder; after some pause, there cometh in from the +lower end of the room, a taratan (which is as much as an herald) and +on either side of him two young lads; whereof one carrieth a scroll of +their shining yellow parchment; and the other a cluster of grapes of +gold, with a long foot or stalk. The herald and children are clothed +with mantles of sea-water green satin; but the herald's mantle is +streamed" with gold, and hath a train. + +Then the herald with three curtesies, or rather inclinations, cometh +up as far as the half-pace; and there first taketh into his hand the +scroll. This scroll is the king's charter, containing gifts of +revenew, and many privileges, exemptions, and points of honour, +granted to the Father of the Family; and is ever styled and directed, +To such do one our well beloved friend and creditor: which is a title +proper only to this case. For they say the king is debtor to no man, +but for propagation of his subjects. The seal set to the king's +charter is the king's image, imbossed or moulded in gold; and though +such charters be expedited of course, and as of right, yet they are +varied by discretion, according to the number and dignity of the +family. This charter the herald readeth aloud; and while it is read, +the father or Tirsan standeth up supported by two of his sons, such as +he chooseth. Then the herald mounteth the half-pace and delivereth +the charter into his hand: and with that there is an acclamation by +all that are present in their language, which is thus much: Happy are +the people o f Bensalem. + +Then the herald taketh into his hand from the other child the cluster +of grapes, which is of gold, both the stalk and the grapes. But the +grapes are daintily enamelled; and if the males of the family be the +greater number, the grapes are enamelled purple, with a little sun set +on the top; if the females, then they are enamelled into a greenish +yellow, with a crescent on the top. The grapes are in number as many +as there are descendants of the family. This golden cluster the +herald delivereth also to the Tirsan; who presently delivereth it over +to that son that he had formerly chosen to be in house with him: who +beareth it before his father as an ensign of honour when he goeth in +public, ever after; and is thereupon called the Son of the Vine. + +After the ceremony endeth the father or Tirsan retireth; and after +some time cometh forth again to dinner, where he sitteth alone under +the state, as before; and none of his descendants sit with him, of +what degree or dignity soever, except he hap to be of Salomon's House. +He is served only by his own children, such as are male; who perform +unto him all service of the table upon the knee; and the women only +stand about him, leaning against the wall. The room below the +half-pace hath tables on the sides for the guests that are bidden; who +are served with great and comely order; and towards the end of dinner +(which in the greatest feasts with them lasteth never above an hour +and an half) there is an hymn sung, varied according to the invention +of him that composeth it (for they have excellent posy) but the +subject of it is (always) the praises of Adam and Noah and Abraham; +whereof the former two peopled the world, and the last was the Father +of the Faithful: concluding ever with a thanksgiving for the nativity +of our Saviour, in whose birth the births of all are only blessed. + +Dinner being done, the Tirsan retireth again; and having withdrawn +himself alone into a place, where he makes some private prayers, he +cometh forth the third time, to give the blessing with all his +descendants, who stand about him as at the first. Then he calleth +them forth by one and by one, by name, as he pleaseth, though seldom +the order of age be inverted. The person that is called (the table +being before removed) kneeleth down before the chair, and the father +layeth his hand upon his head, or her head, and giveth the blessing in +these words: Son of Bensalem, (or daughter of Bensalem,) thy father +with it: the man by whom thou hast breath and life speaketh the word: +the blessing of the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, and the +Holy Dove, be upon thee, and make the days of thy pilgrimage good and +many. This he saith to every of them; and that done, if there be any +of his sons of eminent merit and virtue, (so they be not above two,) +he calleth for them again; and saith, laying his arm over their +shoulders, they standing; Sons, it is well ye are born, give God the +praise, and persevere to the end. And withall delivereth to either of +them a jewel, made in the figure of an ear of wheat, which they ever +after wear in the front of their turban or hat. This done, they fall +to music and dances, and other recreations, after their manner, for +the rest of the day. This is the full order of that feast. + +By that time six or seven days were spent, I was fallen into straight +acquaintance with a merchant of that city, whose name was Joabin. He +was a Jew and circumcised: for they have some few stirps of Jews yet +remaining among them, whom they leave to their own religion. Which +they may the better do, because they are of a far differing +disposition from the Jews in other parts. For whereas they hate the +name of Christ; and have a secret inbred rancour against the people +among whom they live: these (contrariwise) give unto our Saviour many +high attributes, and love the nation of Bensalem extremely. Surely +this man of whom I speak would ever acknowledge that Christ was born +of a virgin and that he was more than a man; and he would tell how God +made him ruler of the seraphims which guard his throne; and they call +him also the Milken Way, and the Eliah of the Messiah; and many other +high names; which though they be inferior to his divine majesty, yet +they are far from the language of other Jews. + +And for the country of Bensalem, this man would make no end of +commending it; being desirous, by tradition among the Jews there, to +have it believed that the people thereof were of the generations of +Abraham, by another son, whom they call Nachoran; and that Moses by a +secret Cabala ordained the Laws of Bensalem which they now use; and +that when the Messiah should come, and sit in his throne at Hierusalem, +the king of Bensalem should sit at his feet, whereas other kings +should keep a great distance. But yet setting aside these Jewish +dreams, the man was a wise man, and learned, and of great policy, and +excellently seen in the laws and customs of that nation. + +Amongst other discourses, one day I told him I was much affected with +the relation I had, from some of the company, of their custom, in +holding the Feast of the Family; for that (methought) I had never +heard of a solemnity wherein nature did so much preside. And because +propagation of families proceedeth from the nuptial copulation, I +desired to know of him what laws and customs they had concerning +marriage; and whether they kept marriage well and whether they were +tied to one wife; for that where population is so much affected,' and +such as with them it seemed to be, there is commonly permission of +plurality of wives. + +To this he said, "You have reason for to commend that excellent +institution of the Feast of the Family. And indeed we have experience +that those families that are partakers of the blessing of that feast +do flourish and prosper ever after in an extraordinary manner. But +hear me now, and I will tell you what I know. You shall understand +that there is not under the heavens so chaste a nation as this of +Bensalem; nor so free from all pollution or foulness. It is the +virgin of the world. I remember I have read in one of your European +books, of an holy hermit amongst you that desired to see the Spirit of +Fornication; and there appeared to him a little foul ugly AEthiop. +But if he had desired to see the Spirit of Chastity of Bensalem, it +would have appeared to him in the likeness of a fair beautiful +Cherubin. For there is nothing amongst mortal men more fair and +admirable, than the chaste minds of this people. Know therefore, that +with them there are no stews, no dissolute houses, no courtesans, nor +anything of that kind. Nay they wonder (with detestation) at you in +Europe, which permit such things. They say ye have put marriage out +of office: for marriage is ordained a remedy for unlawful +concupiscence; and natural concupiscence seemeth as a spar to marriage. +But when men have at hand a remedy more agreeable to their corrupt +will, marriage is almost expulsed. And therefore there are with you +seen infinite men that marry not, but chose rather a libertine and +impure single life, than to be yoked in marriage; and many that do +marry, marry late,, when the prime and strength of their years is past. +And when they do marry, what is marriage to them but a very bargain; +wherein is sought alliance, or portion, or reputation, with some +desire (almost indifferent) of issue; and not the faithful nuptial +union of man and wife, that was first instituted. Neither is it +possible that those that have cast away so basely so much of their +strength, should greatly esteem children, (being of the same matter,) +as chaste men do. So likewise during marriage, is the case much +amended, as it ought to be if those things were tolerated only for +necessity? No, but they remain still as a very affront to marriage. +The haunting of those dissolute places, or resort to courtesans, are +no more punished in married men than in bachelors. And the depraved +custom of change, and the delight in meretricious embracements, (where +sin is turned into art,) maketh marriage a dull thing, and a kind of +imposition or tax. They hear you defend these things, as done to +avoid greater evils; as advoutries, deflowering of virgins, unnatural +lust, and the like. But they say this is a preposterous wisdom; and +they call it Lot's offer, who to save his guests from abusing, offered +his daughters: nay they say farther that there is little gained in +this; for that the same vices and appetites do still remain and abound; +unlawful lust being like a furnace, that if you stop the flames +altogether, it will quench; but if you give it any.vent, it will rage. +As for masculine love, they have no touch of it; and yet there are +not so faithful and inviolate friendships in the world again as are +there; and to speak generally, (as I said before,) I have not read of +any such chastity, in any people as theirs. And their usual saying is, +That whosoever is unchaste cannot reverence himself; and they say, +That the reverence of a man's self, is, next religion, the chiefest +bridle of all vices." + +And when he had said this, the good Jew paused a little; whereupon I, +far more willing to hear him speak on than to speak myself, yet +thinking it decent that upon his pause of speech I should not be +altogether silent, said only this; "That I would say to him, as the +widow of Sarepta said to Elias; that he was come to bring to memory +our sins; and that I confess the righteousness of Bensalem was greater +than the righteousness of Europe." At which speech he bowed his head, +and went on in this manner: + +"They have also many wise and excellent laws touching marriage. They +allow no polygamy. They have ordained that none do intermarry or +contract, until a month be past from their first interview. Marriage +without consent of parents they do not make void, but they mulct" it +in the inheritors: for the children of such marriages are not admitted +to inherit above a third part of their parents' inheritance. I have +read in a book of one of your men, of a Feigned Commonwealth, where +the married couple are permitted, before they contract, to see one +another naked. This they dislike; for they think it a scorn to give a +refusal after so familiar knowledge: but because of many hidden +defects in men and women's bodies, they have a more civil way; for +they have near every town a couple of pools, (which they call Adam and +Eve's pools,) where it is permitted to one of the friends of the men, +and another of the friends of the woman, to see them severally bathe +naked." + +And as we were thus in conference, there came one that seemed to be a +messenger, in a rich huke, that spake with the Jew: whereupon he +turned to me and said; "You will pardon me, for I am commanded away in +haste." The next morning he came to me again, joyful as it seemed, +and said; "There is word come to the Governor of the city, that one of +the Fathers of Salomon's House will be here this day seven-night: we +have seen none of them this dozen years. His coming is in state; but +the cause of his coming is secret. I will provide you and your +fellows of a good standing to see his entry." I thanked him, and told +him, I was most glad of the news. + +The day being come, he made his entry. He was a man of middle stature +and age, comely of person, and had an aspect as if he pitied men. He +was clothed in a robe of fine black cloth, with wide sleeves and a +cape. His under garment was of excellent white linen down to the foot, +girt with a girdle of the same; and a sindon or tippet of the same +about his neck. He had gloves, that were curious,`' and set with +stone; and shoes of peach-coloured velvet. His neck was bare to the +shoulders. His hat was like a helmet, or Spanish montera; and his +locks curled below it decently: they were of colour brown. His beard +was cut round, and of the same colour with his hair, somewhat lighter. +He was carried in a rich chariot without wheels, litter-wise; with +two horses at either end, richly trapped in blue velvet embroidered; +and two footmen on each side in the like attire. The chariot was all +of cedar, gilt, and adorned with crystal; save that the fore-end had +panels of sapphires, set in borders of gold; and the hinder-end the +like of emeralds of the Peru colour. There was also a sun of gold, +radiant, upon the top, in the midst; and on the top before, a small +cherub of gold, with wings displayed. The chariot was covered with +cloth of gold tissued upon blue. He had before him fifty attendants, +young men all, in white satin loose coats to the mid leg; and +stockings of white silk; and shoes of blue velvet; and hats of blue +velvet; with fine plumes of diverse colours, set round like hat-bands. +Next before the chariot, went two men, bare-headed, in linen garments +down the foot, girt, and shoes of blue velvet; who carried, the one a +crosier, the other a pastoral staff like a sheep-hook; neither of them +of metal, but the crosier of balm-wood, the pastoral staff of cedar. +Horsemen he had none, neither before nor behind his chariot: as it +seemeth, to avoid all tumult and trouble. Behind his chariot went all +the officers and principals of the companies of the city. He sat +alone, upon cushions of a kind of excellent plush, blue; and under his +foot curious carpets of silk of diverse colours, like the Persian, but +far finer. He held up his bare hand as he went, as blessing the +people, but in silence. The street was wonderfully well kept: so that +there was never any army had their men stand in better battle-array +than the people stood. The windows likewise were not crowded, but +every one stood in them as if they had been placed. + +When the shew was past, the Jew said to me; "I shall not be able to +attend you as I would, in regard of some charge the city hath laid +upon me, for the entertaining of this great person." Three days after +the Jew came to me again, and said; "Ye are happy men; for the Father +of Salomon's House taketh knowledge of your being here, and commanded +me to tell you that he will admit all your company to his presence, +and have private conference with one of you, that ye shall choose: and +for this hath appointed the next day after to-morrow. And because he +meaneth to give you his blessing, he hath appointed it in the forenoon. + + +We came at our day and hour, and I was chosen by my fellows for the +private access. We found him in a fair chamber, richly hanged, and +carpeted under foot without any degrees to the state. He was set upon +a low Throne richly adorned, and a rich cloth of state over his head, +of blue satin embroidered. He was alone, save that he had two pages +of honour, on either hand one, finely attired in white. His under +garments were the like that we saw him wear in the chariot; but +instead of his gown, he had on him a mantle with a cape, of the same +fine black, fastened about him. When we came in, as we were taught, +we bowed low at our first entrance; and when we were come near his +chair, he stood up, holding forth his hand ungloved, and in posture of +blessing; and we every one of us stooped down, and kissed the hem of +his tippet. That done, the rest departed, and I remained. Then he +warned" the pages forth of the room, and caused me to sit down beside +him, and spake to me thus in the Spanish tongue. + +"God bless thee, my son; I will give thee the greatest jewel I have. +For I will impart unto thee, for the love of God and men, a relation +of the true state of Salomon's House. Son, to make you know the true +state of Salomon's House, I will keep this order. First, I will set +forth unto you the end of our foundation. Secondly, the preparations +and instruments we have for our works. Thirdly, the several +employments and functions whereto our fellows are assigned. And +fourthly, the ordinances and rites which we observe. + +"The end of our foundation is the knowledge of causes, and secret +motions of things; and the enlarging of the bounds of human empire, to +the effecting of all things possible. + +"The Preparations and Instruments are these. We have large and deep +caves of several depths: the deepest are sunk six hundred fathom: and +some of them are digged and made under great hills and mountains: so +that if you reckon together the depth of the hill and the depth of the +cave, they are (some of them) above three miles deep. For we find, +that the depth of a hill, and the depth of a cave from the flat, is +the same thing; both remote alike, from the sun and heaven's beams, +and from the open air. These caves we call the Lower Region; and we +use them for all coagulations, indurations, refrigerations, and +conservations of bodies. We use them likewise for the imitation of +natural mines; and the producing also of new artificial metals, by +compositions and materials which we use, and lay there for many years. +We use them also sometimes, (which may seem strange,) for curing of +some diseases, and for prolongation of life in some hermits that +choose to live there, well accommodated of all things necessary, and +indeed live very long; by whom also we learn many things. + +"We have burials in several earths, where we put diverse cements, as +the Chineses do their porcellain. But we have them in greater variety, +and some of them more fine. We have also great variety of composts" +and soils, for the making of the earth fruitful. + +"We have high towers; the highest about half a mile in height; and +some of them likewise set upon high mountains; so that the vantage of +the hill with the tower is in the highest of them three miles at least. +And these places we call the Upper Region; accounting the air +between the high places and the low, as a Middle Region. We use these +towers, according to their several heights, and situations, for +insolation, refrigeration, conservation; and for the view of divers +meteors; as winds, rain, snow, hail; and some of the fiery meteors +also. And upon them, in some places, are dwellings of hermits, whom +we visit sometimes, and instruct what to observe. + +"We have great lakes, both salt, and fresh; whereof we have use for +the fish and fowl. We use them also for burials of some natural +bodies: for we find a difference in things buried in earth or in air +below the earth, and things buried in water. We have also pools, of +which some do strain fresh water out of salt; and others by art do +turn fresh water into salt. We have also some rocks in the midst of +the sea, and some bays upon the shore for some works, wherein is +required the air and vapor of the sea,. We have likewise violent +streams and cataracts, which serve us for many motions: and likewise +engines for multiplying and enforcing of winds, to set also on going +diverse motions. + +"We have also a number of artificial wells and fountains, made in +imitation of the natural sources and baths; as tincted upon" vitriol, +sulphur, steel, brass, lead, nitre, and other minerals. And again we +have little wells for infusions of many things, where the waters take +the virtue quicker and better, than in vessels or basins. And amongst +them we have a water which we call Water of Paradise, being, by that +we do to it made very sovereign for health, and prolongation of life. + +"We have also great and spacious houses where we imitate and +demonstrate meteors; as snow, hail, rain, some artificial rains of +bodies and not of water, thunders, lightnings; also generations of +bodies in air; as frogs, flies, and divers others. + +"We have also certain chambers, which we call Chambers of Health, +where we qualify the air as we think good and proper for the cure of +divers diseases, and preservation of health. + +"We have also fair and large baths, of several mixtures, for the cure +of diseases, and the restoring of man's body from arefaction: and +others for the confirming of it in strength of sinewes, vital parts, +and the very juice and substance of the body. + +"We have also large and various orchards and gardens; wherein we do +not so much respect beauty, as variety of ground and soil, proper for +divers trees and herbs: and some very spacious, where trees and +berries are set whereof we make divers kinds of drinks, besides the +vineyards. In these we practise likewise all conclusions of grafting, +and inoculating as well of wild-trees as fruit-trees, which produceth +many effects. And we make (by art) in the same orchards and gardens, +trees and flowers to come earlier or later than their seasons; and to +come up and bear more speedily than by their natural course they do. +We make them also by art greater much than their nature; and their +fruit greater and sweeter and of differing taste, smell, colour, and +figure, from their nature. And many of them we so order, as they +become of medicinal use. + +"We have also means to make divers plants rise by mixtures of earths +without seeds; and likewise to make divers new plants, differing from +the vulgar; and to make one tree or plant turn into another. + +"We have also parks and enclosures of all sorts of beasts and birds +which we use not only for view or rareness, but likewise for +dissections and trials; that thereby we may take light what may be +wrought upon the body of man. Wherein we find many strange effects; +as continuing life in them, though divers parts, which you account +vital, be perished and taken forth; resuscitating of some that seem +dead in appearance; and the like. We try also all poisons and other +medicines upon them, as well of chirurgery, as physic. By art +likewise, we make them greater or taller than their kind is; and +contrariwise dwarf them, and stay their growth: we make them more +fruitful and bearing than their kind is; and contrariwise barren and +not generative. Also we make them differ in colour, shape, activity, +many ways. We find means to make commixtures and copulations of +different kinds; which have produced many new kinds, and them not +barren, as the general opinion is. We make a number of kinds of +serpents, worms, flies, fishes, of putrefaction; whereof some are +advanced (in effect) to be perfect creatures, like bests or birds; and +have sexes, and do propagate. Neither do we this by chance, but we +know beforehand, of what matter and commixture what kind of those +creatures will arise. + +"We have also particular pools, where we make trials upon fishes, as +we have said before of beasts and birds. + +"We have also places for breed and generation of those kinds of worms +and flies which are of special use; such as are with you your +silk-worms and bees. + +"I will not hold you long with recounting of our brewhouses, +bake-houses, and kitchens, where are made divers drinks, breads, and +meats, rare and of special effects. Wines we have of grapes; and +drinks of other juice of fruits, of grains, and of roots; and of +mixtures with honey, sugar, manna, and fruits dried, and decocted; +Also of the tears or woundings of trees; and of the pulp of canes. +And these drinks are of several ages, some to the age or last of forty +years. We have drinks also brewed with several herbs, and roots, and +spices; yea with several fleshes, and white-meats; whereof some of the +drinks are such, as they are in effect meat and drink both: so that +divers, especially in age, do desire to live with them, with little or +no meat or bread. And above all, we strive to have drink of extreme +thin parts, to insinuate into the body, and yet without all biting, +sharpness, or fretting; insomuch as some of them put upon the back of +your hand will, with a little stay, pass through to the palm, and yet +taste mild to the mouth. We have also waters which we ripen in that +fashion, as they become nourishing; so that they are indeed excellent +drink; and.many will use no other. Breads we have of several grains, +roots, and kernels; yea and some of flesh and fish dried; with divers +kinds of leavenings and seasonings: so that some do extremely move +appetites; some do nourish so, as divers do live of them, without any +other meat; who live very long. So for meats, we have some of them so +beaten and made tender and mortified,' yet without all corrupting, as +a weak heat of the stomach will turn them into good chylus; as well as +a strong heat would meat otherwise prepared. We have some meats also +and breads and drinks, which taken by men enable them to fast long +after; and some other, that used make the very flesh of men's bodies +sensibly' more hard and tough and their strength far greater than +otherwise it would be. + +"We have dispensatories, or shops of medicines. Wherein you may +easily think, if we have such variety of plants and living creatures +more than you have in Europe, (for we know what you have,) the simples, +drugs, and ingredients of medicines, must likewise be in so much the +greater variety. We have them likewise of divers ages, and long +fermentations. And for their preparations, we have not only all +manner of exquisite distillations and separations, and especially by +gentle heats and percolations through divers strainers, yea and +substances; but also exact forms of composition, whereby they +incorporate almost, as they were natural simples. + +"We have also divers mechanical arts, which you have not; and stuffs +made by them; as papers, linen, silks, tissues; dainty works of +feathers of wonderful lustre; excellent dies, and, many others; and +shops likewise, as well for such as are not brought into vulgar use +amongst us as for those that are. For you must know that of the +things before recited, many of them are grown into use throughout the +kingdom; but yet, if they did flow from our invention, we have of them +also for patterns and principals. + +"We have also furnaces of great diversities, and that keep great +diversity of heats; fierce and quick; strong and constant; soft and +mild; blown, quiet; dry, moist; and the like. But above all, we have +heats, in imitation of the Sun's and heavenly bodies' heats, that pass +divers inequalities, and (as it were) orbs, progresses, and returns, +whereby we produce admirable effects. Besides, we have heats of dungs; +and of bellies and maws of living creatures, and of their bloods and +bodies; and of hays and herbs laid up moist; of lime unquenched; and +such like. Instruments also which generate heat only by motion. And +farther, places for strong insulations; and again, places under the +earth, which by nature, or art, yield heat. These divers heats we use, +as the nature of the operation, which we intend, requireth. + +"We have also perspective-houses, where we make demonstrations of all +lights and radiations; and of all colours: and out of things +uncoloured and transparent, we can represent unto you all several +colours; not in rain-bows, (as it is in gems, and prisms,) but of +themselves single. We represent also all multiplications of light, +which we carry to great distance, and make so sharp as to discern +small points and lines. Also all colourations of light; all delusions +and deceits of the sight, in figures, magnitudes, motions, colours all +demonstrations of shadows. We find also divers means, yet unknown to +you, of producing of light originally from divers bodies. We procure +means of seeing objects afar off; as in the heaven and remote places; +and represent things near as afar off; and things afar off as near; +making feigned distances. We have also helps for the sight, far above +spectacles and glasses in use. We have also glasses and means to see +small and minute bodies perfectly and distinctly; as the shapes and +colours of small flies and worms, grains and flaws in gems, which +cannot otherwise be seen, observations in urine and blood not +otherwise to be seen. We make artificial rain-bows, halo's, and +circles about light. We represent also all manner of reflexions, +refractions, and multiplications' of visual beams of objects. + +"We have also precious stones of all kinds, many of them of great +beauty, and to you unknown; crystals likewise; and glasses of divers +kinds; and amongst them some of metals vitrificated, and other +materials besides those of which you make glass. Also a number of +fossils, and imperfect minerals, which you have not. Likewise +loadstones of prodigious virtue; and other rare stones, both natural +and artificial. + +"We have also sound-houses, where we practise and demonstrate all +sounds, and their generation. We have harmonies which you have not, +of quarter-sounds, and lesser slides of sounds. Divers instruments of +music likewise to you unknown, some sweeter than any you have, +together with bells and rings that are dainty and sweet. We represent +small sounds as great and deep; likewise great sounds extenuate and +sharp; we make divers tremblings and warblings of sounds, which in +their original are entire. We represent and imitate all articulate +sounds and letters, and the voices and notes of beasts and birds. We +have certain helps which set to the ear do further the hearing greatly. +We have also divers strange and artificial echoes, reflecting the +voice many times, and as it were tossing it: and some that give back +the voice louder than it came, some shriller, and some deeper; yea, +some rendering the voice differing in the letters or articulate sound +from that they receive. We have also means to convey sounds in trunks +and pipes, in strange lines and distances. + +"We have also perfume-houses; wherewith we join also practices of +taste. We multiply smells, which may seem strange. We imitate smells, +making all smells to breathe outs of other mixtures than those that +give them. We make divers imitations of taste likewise, so that they +will deceive any man's taste. And in this house we contain also a +confiture-house; where we make all sweet-meats, dry and moist; and +divers pleasant wines, milks, broths, and sallets; in far greater +variety than you have. + +"We have also engine-houses, where are prepared engines and +instruments for all sorts of motions. There we imitate and practise +to make swifter motions than any you have, either out of your muskets +or any engine that you have: and to make them and multiply them more +easily, and with small force, by wheels and other means: and to make +them stronger and more violent than yours are; exceeding your greatest +cannons arid basilisks. We represent also ordnance and instruments of +war, and engines of all kinds: and likewise new mixtures and +compositions of gun-powder, wild-fires burning in water, and +unquenchable. Also fireworks of all variety both for pleasure and use. +We imitate also flights of birds; we have some degrees of flying in +the air. We have ships and boats for going under water, and brooking +of seas; also swimming-girdles and supporters. We have divers curious +clocks, and other like motions of return: and some perpetual motions. +We imitate also motions of living creatures, by images, of men, beasts, +birds, fishes, and serpents. We have also a great number of other +various motions, strange for equality, fineness, and subtilty. + +"We have also a mathematical house, where are represented all +instruments, as well of geometry as astronomy, exquisitely made. + +"We have also houses of deceits of the senses; where we represent all +manner of feats of juggling, false apparitions, impostures, and +illusions; and their fallacies. And surely you will easily believe +that we that have so many things truly natural which induce admiration, +could in a world of particulars deceive the senses, if we would +disguise those things and labour to make them seem more miraculous. +But we do hate all impostures, and lies; insomuch as we have severely +forbidden it to all our fellows, under pain of ignominy and fines, +that they do not show any natural work or thing, adorned or swelling; +but only pure as it is, and without all affectation of strangeness. + +"These are (my son) the riches of Salomon's House. + +"For the several employments and offices of our fellows; we have +twelve that sail into foreign countries, under the names of other +nations, (for our own we conceal); who bring us the books, and +abstracts, and patterns of experiments of all other parts. These we +call Merchants of Light. + +"We have three that collect the experiments which are in all books. +These we call Depredators. + +"We have three that collect the experiments of all mechanical arts; +and also of liberal sciences; and also of practices which are not +brought into arts. These we call Mystery-men. + +"We have three that try new experiments, such as themselves think good. +These we call Pioneers or Miners. + +"We have three that draw the experiments of the former four into +titles and tables, to give the better light for the drawing of +observations and axioms out of them. These we call Compilers. + +"We have three that bend themselves, looking into the experiments of +their fellows, and cast about how to draw out of them things of use +and practise for man's life, and knowledge, as well for works as for +plain demonstration of causes, means of natural divinations, and the +easy and clear discovery of the virtues and parts of bodies. These we +call Dowry-men or Benefactors. + +"Then after divers meetings and consults of our whole number, to +consider of the former labours and collections, we have three that +take care, out of them, to direct new experiments, of a higher light, +more penetrating into nature than the former. These we call Lamps. + +"We have three others that do execute the experiments so directed, and +report them. These we call Inoculators. + +"Lastly, we have three that raise the former discoveries by +experiments into greater observations, axioms, and aphorisms. These +we call Interpreters of Nature. + +"We have also, as you must think, novices and apprentices, that the +succession of the former employed men do not fail; besides, a great +number of servants and attendants, men and women. And this we do also: +we have consultations, which of the inventions and experiences which +we have discovered shall be published, and which not: and take all an +oath of secrecy, for the concealing of those which we think fit to +keep secret: though some of those we do reveal sometimes to the state +and some not. + +"For our ordinances and rites: we have two very long and fair +galleries: in one of these we place patterns and samples of all manner +of the more rare and excellent inventions in the other we place the +statues of all principal inventors. There we have the statue of your +Columbus, that discovered the West Indies: also the inventor of ships: +your- monk that was the inventor of ordnance and of gunpowder: the +inventor of music: the inventor of letters: the inventor of printing: +the inventor of observations of astronomy: the inventor of works in +metal: the inventor of glass: the inventor of silk of the worm: the +inventor of wine: the inventor of corn and bread: the inventor of +sugars: and all these, by more certain tradition than you have. Then +have we divers inventors of our own, of excellent works; which since +you have not seen, it were too long to make descriptions of them; and +besides, in the right understanding of those descriptions you might +easily err. For upon every invention of value, we erect a statue to +the inventor, and give him a liberal and honourable reward. These +statues are some of brass; some of marble and touch-stone; some of +cedar and other special woods gilt and adorned; some of iron; some of +silver; some of gold. + +"We have certain hymns and services, which we say daily, of Lord and +thanks to God for his marvellous works: and forms of prayers, +imploring his aid and blessing for the illumination of our labours, +and the turning of them into good and holy uses. + +"Lastly, we have circuits or visits of divers principal cities of the +kingdom; where, as it cometh to pass, we do publish such new +profitable inventions as we think good. And we do also declare +natural divinations of diseases, plagues, swarms-of hurtful creatures, +scarcity, tempests, earthquakes, great inundations, comets, +temperature of the year, and divers other things; and we give counsel +thereupon, what the people shall do for the prevention and remedy of +them." + +And when he had said this, he stood up; and I, as I had been taught, +kneeled down, and he laid his right hand upon my head, and said; "God +bless thee, my son; and God bless this relation, which I have made. I +give thee leave to publish it for the good of other nations; for we +here are in God's bosom, a land unknown." And so he left me; having +assigned a value of about two thousand ducats, for a bounty to me and +my fellows. For they give great largesses where they come upon all +occasions. + +[The rest was not perfected.] + + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of "The New Atlantis" by Francis Bacon + diff --git a/old/nwatl10.zip b/old/nwatl10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8dc3697 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/nwatl10.zip diff --git a/old/nwatl11.txt b/old/nwatl11.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fa2f7fb --- /dev/null +++ b/old/nwatl11.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1710 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of The New Atlantis by Francis Bacon +#2 in our series by Sir Francis Bacon + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. 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If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Association/Carnegie-Mellon + University" within the 60 days following each + date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare) + your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time, +scanning machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty +free copyright licenses, and every other sort of contribution +you can think of. Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg +Association / Carnegie-Mellon University". + +*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + +Revision to edition 11 by William Fishburne + + + + + +THE NEW ATLANTIS + +BY SIR FRANCIS BACON + + + + +INTRODUCTORY NOTE + +Bacon's literary executor, Dr. Rowley, published "The New Atlantis" in +1627, the year after the author's death. It seems to have been +written about 1623, during that period of literary activity which +followed Bacon's political fall. None of Bacon's writings gives in +short apace so vivid a picture of his tastes and aspirations as this +fragment of the plan of an ideal commonwealth. The generosity and +enlightenment, the dignity and splendor, the piety and public spirit, +of the inhabitants of Bensalem represent the ideal qualities which +Bacon the statesman desired rather than hoped to see characteristic of +his own country; and in Solomon's House we have Bacon the scientist +indulging without restriction his prophetic vision of the future of +human knowledge. No reader acquainted in any degree with the +processes and results of modern scientific inquiry can fail to be +struck by the numerous approximations made by Bacon's imagination to +the actual achievements of modern times. The plan and organization of +his great college lay down the main lines of the modern research +university; and both in pure and applied science he anticipates a +strikingly large number of recent inventions and discoveries. In +still another way is "The New Atlantis" typical of Bacon's attitude. +In spite of the enthusiastic and broad-minded schemes he laid down for +the pursuit of truth, Bacon always had an eye to utility. The +advancement of science which he sought was conceived by him as a means +to a practical end the increase of man's control over nature, and the +comfort and convenience of humanity. For pure metaphysics, or any +form of abstract thinking that yielded no "fruit," he had little +interest; and this leaning to the useful is shown in the practical +applications of the discoveries made by the scholars of Solomon's +House. Nor does the interest of the work stop here. It contains much, +both in its political and in its scientific ideals, that we have as +yet by no means achieved, but which contain valuable elements of +suggestion and stimulus for the future. + + + + + + +THE NEW ATLANTIS + + + +We sailed from Peru, (where we had continued for the space of one +whole year) for China and Japan, by the South Sea; taking with us +victuals for twelve months; and had good winds from the east, though +soft and weak, for five months space, and more. But the wind came +about, and settled in the west for many days, so as we could make +little or no way, and were sometime in purpose to turn back. But then +again there arose strong and great winds from the south, with a point +east, which carried us up (for all that we could do) towards the north; +by which time our victuals failed us, though we had made good spare +of them. So that finding ourselves, in the midst of the greatest +wilderness of waters in the world, without victuals, we gave ourselves +for lost men and prepared for death. Yet we did lift up our hearts +and voices to God above, who showeth his wonders in the deep, +beseeching him of his mercy, that as in the beginning he discovered +the face of the deep, and brought forth dry land, so he would not +discover land to us, that we might not perish. + +And it came to pass that the next day about evening we saw within a +kenning before us, towards the north, as it were thick clouds, which +did put us in some hope of land; knowing how that part of the South +Sea was utterly unknown; and might have islands, or continents, that +hitherto were not come to light. Wherefore we bent our course thither, +where we saw the appearance of land, all that night; and in the +dawning of the next day, we might plainly discern that it was a land; +flat to our sight, and full of boscage; which made it show the more +dark. And after an hour and a half's sailing, we entered into a good +haven, being the port of a fair city; not great indeed, but well built, +and that gave a pleasant view from the sea: and we thinking every +minute long, till we were on land, came close to the shore, and +offered to land. But straightways we saw divers of the people, with +bastons in their hands (as it were) forbidding us to land; yet without +any cries of fierceness, but only as warning us off, by signs that +they made. Whereupon being not a little discomforted, we were +advising with ourselves, what we should do. + +During which time, there made forth to us a small boat, with about +eight persons in it; whereof one of them had in his hand a tipstaff of +a yellow cane, tipped at both ends with blue, who came aboard our ship, +without any show of distrust at all. And when he saw one of our +number, present himself somewhat before the rest, he drew forth a +little scroll of parchment (somewhat yellower than our parchment, and +shining like the leaves of writing tables, but otherwise soft and +flexible,) and delivered it to our foremost man. In which scroll were +written in ancient Hebrew, and in ancient Greek, and in good Latin of +the school, and in Spanish, these words: Land ye not, none of you; and +provide to be gone from this coast, within sixteen days, except you +have further time given you. Meanwhile, if you want fresh water or +victuals, or help for your sick, or that your ship needeth repairs, +write down your wants, and you shall have that, which belongeth to +mercy. This scroll was signed with a stamp of cherubim: wings, not +spread, but hanging downwards; and by them a cross. This being +delivered, the officer returned, and left only a servant with us to +receive our answer. + +Consulting hereupon amongst ourselves, we were much perplexed. The +denial of landing and hasty warning us away troubled us much; on the +other side, to find that the people had languages, and were so full of +humanity, did comfort us not a little. And above all, the sign of the +cross to that instrument was to us a great rejoicing, and as it were a +certain presage of good. Our answer was in the Spanish tongue; that +for our ship, it was well; for we had rather met with calms and +contrary winds than any tempests. For our sick, they were many, and +in very ill case; so that if they were not permitted to land, they ran +danger of their lives. Our other wants we set down in particular; +adding, That we had some little store of merchandise, which if it +pleased them to deal for, it might supply our wants, without being +chargeable unto them. We offered some reward in pistolets unto the +servant, and a piece of crimson velvet to be presented to the officer; +but the servant took them not, nor would scarce look upon them; and +so left us, and went back in another little boat, which was sent for +him. + +About three hours after we had dispatched our answer, there came +towards us a person (as it seemed) of place. He had on him a gown +with wide sleeves, of a kind of water chamolet, of an excellent azure +colour, fair more glossy than ours; his under apparel was green; and +so was his hat, being in the form of a turban, daintily made, and not +so huge as the Turkish turbans; and the locks of his hair came down +below the brims of it. A reverend man was he to behold. He came in a +boat, gilt in some part of it, with four persons more only in that +boat; and was followed by another boat, wherein were some twenty. +When he was come within a flightshot of our ship, signs were made to +us, that we should send forth some to meet him upon the water; which +we presently did in our ship-boat, sending the principal man amongst +us save one, and four of our number with him. + +When we were come within six yards of their boat, they called to us to +stay, and not to approach farther; which we did. And thereupon the +man, whom I before described, stood up, and with a loud voice, in +Spanish, asked, "Are ye Christians?" We answered, "We were;" fearing +the less, because of the cross we had seen in the subscription. At +which answer the said person lifted up his right hand towards Heaven, +and drew it softly to his mouth (which is the gesture they use, when +they thank God;) and then said : "If ye will swear (all of you) by the +merits of the Saviour, that ye are no pirates, nor have shed blood, +lawfully, nor unlawfully within forty days past, you may have licence +to come on land." We said, "We were all ready to take that oath." +Whereupon one of those that were with him, being (as it seemed) a +notary, made an entry of this act. Which done, another of the +attendants of the great person which was with him in the same boat, +after his Lord had spoken a little to him, said aloud: "My Lord would +have you know, that it is not of pride, or greatness, that he cometh +not aboard your ship; but for that in your answer you declare that you +have many sick amongst you, he was warned by the Conservator of Health +of the city that he should keep a distance." We bowed ourselves +towards him, and answered, "We were his humble servants; and accounted +for great honour, and singular humanity towards us, that which was +already done; but hoped well, that the nature of the sickness of our +men was not infectious." So he returned; and a while after came the +Notary to us aboard our ship; holding in his hand a fruit of that +country, like an orange, but of color between orange-tawney and +scarlet; which cast a most excellent odour. He used it (as it +seemeth) for a preservative against infection. He gave us our oath; +"By the name of Jesus, and his merits:" and after told us, that the +next day, by six of the Clock, in the Morning, we should be sent to, +and brought to the Strangers' House, (so he called it,) where we +should be accommodated of things, both for our whole, and for our sick. +So he left us; and when we offered him some pistolets, he smiling +said, "He must not be twice paid for one labour:" meaning (as I take +it) that he had salary sufficient of the State for his service. For +(as I after learned) they call an officer that taketh rewards, "twice +paid." + +The next morning early, there came to us the same officer that came to +us at first with his cane, and told us, He came to conduct us to the +Strangers' House; and that he had prevented the hour, because we might +have the whole day before us, for our business. "For," said he, "if +you will follow my advice, there shall first go with me some few of +you, and see the place, and how it may be made convenient for you; and +then you may send for your sick, and the rest of your number, which ye +will bring on land." We thanked him, and said, "That this care, which +he took of desolate strangers, God would reward." And so six of us +went on land with him: and when we were on land, he went before us, +and turned to us, and said, "He was but our servant, and our guide." +He led us through three fair streets; and all the way we went, there +were gathered some people on both sides, standing in a row; but in so +civil a fashion, as if it had been, not to wonder at us, but to +welcome us: and divers of them, as we passed by them, put their arms a +little abroad; which is their gesture, when they did bid any welcome. + +The Strangers' House is a fair and spacious house, built of brick, of +somewhat a bluer colour than our brick; and with handsome windows, +some of glass, some of a kind of cambric oiled. He brought us first +into a fair parlour above stairs, and then asked us, "What number of +persons we were? And how many sick?" We answered, "We were in all, +(sick and whole,) one and fifty persons, whereof our sick were +seventeen." He desired us to have patience a little, and to stay till +he came back to us; which was about an hour after; and then he led us +to see the chambers which were provided for us, being in number +nineteen: they having cast it (as it seemeth) that four of those +chambers, which were better than the rest, might receive four of the +principal men of our company; and lodge them alone by themselves; and +the other fifteen chambers were to lodge us two and two together. The +chambers were handsome and cheerful chambers, and furnished civilly." +Then he led us to a long gallery, like a dorture, where he showed us +all along the one side (for the other side was but wall and window), +seventeen cells, very neat ones, having partitions of cedar wood. +Which gallery and cells, being in all forty, many more than we needed, +were instituted as an infirmary for sick persons. And he told us +withal, that as any of our sick waxed well, he might be removed from +his cell, to a chamber; for which purpose there were set forth ten +spare chambers, besides the number we spake of before. This done, he +brought us back to the parlour, and lifting up his cane a little, (as +they do when they give any charge or command) said to us, "Ye are to +know, that the custom of the land requireth, that after this day and +to-morrow, (which we give you for removing of your people from your +ship,) you are to keep within doors for three days. But let it not +trouble you, nor do not think yourselves restrained, but rather left +to your rest and ease. You shall want nothing, and there are six of +our people appointed to attend you, for any business you may have +abroad." We gave him thanks, with all affection and respect, and said, +"God surely is manifested in this land." We offered him also twenty +pistolets; but he smiled, and only said; "What? twice paid!" And so +he left us. + +Soon after our dinner was served in; which was right good viands, both +for bread and treat: better than any collegiate diet, that I have +known in Europe. We had also drink of three sorts, all wholesome and +good; wine of the grape; a drink of grain, such as is with us our ale, +but more clear: And a kind of cider made of a fruit of that country; a +wonderful pleasing and refreshing drink. Besides, there were brought +in to us, great store of those scarlet oranges, for our sick; which +(they said) were an assured remedy for sickness taken at sea. There +was given us also, a box of small gray, or whitish pills, which they +wished our sick should take, one of the pills, every night before +sleep; which (they said) would hasten their recovery. + +The next day, after that our trouble of carriage and removing of our +men and goods out of our ship, was somewhat settled and quiet, I +thought good to call our company together; and when they were +assembled, said unto them; "My dear friends, let us know ourselves, +and how it standeth with us. We are men cast on land, as Jonas was, +out of the whale's belly, when we were as buried in the deep: and now +we are on land, we are but between death and life; for we are beyond, +both the old world, and the new; and whether ever we shall see Europe, +God only knoweth. It is a kind of miracle bath brought us hither: and +it must be little less, that shall bring us hence. Therefore in +regard of our deliverance past, and our danger present, and to come, +let us look up to God, and every man reform his own ways. Besides we +are come here amongst a Christian people, full of piety and humanity: +let us not bring that confusion of face upon ourselves, as to show our +vices, or unworthiness before them. Yet there is more. For they have +by commandment, (though in form of courtesy) cloistered us within +these wall, for three days: who knoweth, whether it be not, to take +some taste of our manners and conditions? And if they find them bad, +to banish us straightways; if good, to give us further time. For +these men that they have given us for attendance, may withal have an +eye upon us. Therefore for God's love, and as we love the weal of our +souls and bodies, let us so behave ourselves, as we may be at peace +with God, and may find grace in the eyes of this people." Our company +with one voice thanked me for my good admonition, and promised me to +live soberly and civilly, and without giving any the least occasion of +offence. So we spent our three days joyfully, and without care, in +expectation what would be done with us, when they were expired. +During which time, we had every hour joy of the amendment of our sick; +who thought themselves cast into some divine pool of healing; they +mended so kindly, and so fast. + +The morrow after our three days were past, there came to us a new man, +that we had not seen before, clothed in blue as the former was, save +that his turban was white, with a small red cross on the top. He had +also a tippet of fine linen. At his coming in, he did bend to us a +little, and put his arms abroad. We of our parts saluted him in a +very lowly and submissive manner; as looking that from him, we should +receive sentence of life, or death: he desired to speak with some few +of us: whereupon six of us only staid, and the rest avoided the room. +He said, "I am by office governor of this House of Strangers, and by +vocation I am a Christian priest: and therefore am come to you to +offer you my service, both as strangers and chiefly as Christians. +Some things I may tell you, which I think you will not be unwilling to +hear. The State hath given you license to stay on land, for the space +of six weeks; and let it not trouble you, if your occasions ask +further time, for the law in this point is not precise; and I do not +doubt, but my self shall be able, to obtain for you such further time, +as may be convenient. Ye shall also understand, that the Strangers' +House is at this time rich, and much aforehand; for it hath laid up +revenue these thirty-seven years; for so long it is since any stranger +arrived in this part: and therefore take ye no care; the State will +defray you all the time you stay; neither shall you stay one day the +less for that. As for any merchandise ye have brought, ye shall be +well used, and have your return, either in merchandise, or in gold and +silver: for to us it is all one. And if you have any other request to +make, hide it not. For ye shall find we will not make your +countenance to fall by the answer ye shall receive. Only this I must +tell you, that none of you must go above a karan," (that is with them +a mile and an half) "from the walls of the city, without especial +leave." + +We answered, after we had looked awhile one upon another, admiring +this gracious and parent-like usage; "That we could not tell what to +say: for we wanted words to express our thanks; and his noble free +offers left us nothing to ask. It seemed to us, that we had before us +a picture of our salvation in Heaven; for we that were a while since +in the jaws of death, were now brought into a place, where we found +nothing but consolations. For the commandment laid upon us, we would +not fail to obey it, though it was impossible but our hearts should be +enflamed to tread further upon this happy and holy ground." We added, +"That our tongues should first cleave to the roofs of our mouths, ere +we should forget, either his reverend person, or this whole nation, in +our prayers." We also most humbly besought him, to accept of us as +his true servants; by as just a right as ever men on earth were +bounden; laying and presenting, both our persons, and all we had, at +his feet. He said; "He was a priest, and looked for a priest's reward; +which was our brotherly love, and the good of our souls and bodies." +So he went from us, not without tears of tenderness in his eyes; and +left us also confused with joy and kindness, saying amongst ourselves; +"That we were come into a land of angels, which did appear to us daily, +and prevent us with comforts, which we thought not of, much less +expected." + +The next day about ten of the clock, the Governor came to us again, +and after salutations, said familiarly; "That he was come to visit us;" +and called for a chair, and sat him down: and we, being some ten of +us, (the rest were of the meaner sort, or else gone abroad,) sat down +with him, And when we were set, he began thus: " We of this island of +Bensalem," (for so they call it in their language,) "have this; that +by means of our solitary situation; and of the laws of secrecy, which +we have for our travellers, and our rare admission of strangers; we +know well most part of the habitable world, and are ourselves unknown. +Therefore because he that knoweth least is fittest to ask questions, +it is more reason, for the entertainment of the time, that ye ask me +questions, than that I ask you." + +We answered; "That we humbly thanked him that he would give us leave +so to do: and that we conceived by the taste we had already, that +there was no worldly thing on earth, more worthy to be known than the +state of that happy land. But above all," (we said,) "since that we +were met from the several ends of the world, and hoped assuredly that +we should meet one day in the kingdom of Heaven, (for that we were +both parts Christians,) we desired to know, (in respect that land was +so remote, and so divided by vast and unknown seas, from the land +where our Saviour walked on earth,) who was the apostle of that nation, +and how it was converted to the faith?" It appeared in his face that +he took great contentment in this our question: he said; "Ye knit my +heart to you, by asking this question in the first place; for it +sheweth that you first seek the kingdom of heaven; and I shall gladly, +and briefly, satisfy your demand. + +"About twenty years after the ascension of our Saviour, it came to +pass, that there was seen by the people of Renfusa, (a city upon the +eastern coast of our island,) within night, (the night was cloudy, and +calm,) as it might be some mile into the sea, a great pillar of light; +not sharp, but in form of a column, or cylinder, rising from the sea a +great way up towards heaven; and on the top of it was seen a large +cross of light, more bright and resplendent than the body of the +pillar. Upon which so strange a spectacle, the people of the city +gathered apace together upon the sands, to wonder; and so after put +themselves into a number of small boats, to go nearer to this +marvellous sight. But when the boats were come within (about) sixty +yards of the pillar, they found themselves all bound, and could go no +further; yet so as they might move to go about, but might not approach +nearer: so as the boats stood all as in a theatre, beholding this +light as an heavenly sign. It so fell out, that there was in one of +the boats one of the wise men, of the society of Salomon's House; +which house, or college (my good brethren) is the very eye of this +kingdom; who having awhile attentively and devoutly viewed and +contemplated this pillar and cross, fell down upon his face; and then +raised himself upon his knees, and lifting up his hands to heaven, +made his prayers in this manner. + +"`LORD God of heaven and earth, thou hast vouchsafed of thy grace to +those of our order, to know thy works of Creation, and the secrets of +them: and to discern (as far as appertaineth to the generations of +men) between divine miracles, works of nature, works of art, and +impostures and illusions of all sorts. I do here acknowledge and +testify before this people, that the thing which we now see before our +eyes is thy Finger and a true Miracle. And forasmuch as we learn in +our books that thou never workest miracles, but to divine and +excellent end, (for the laws of nature are thine own laws, and thou +exceedest them not but upon great cause,) we most humbly beseech thee +to prosper this great sign, and to give us the interpretation and use +of it in mercy; which thou dost in some part secretly promise by +sending it unto us.' + +"When he had made his prayer, he presently found the boat he was in, +moveable and unbound; whereas all the rest remained still fast; and +taking that for an assurance of leave to approach, he caused the boat +to be softly and with silence rowed towards the pillar. But ere he +came near it, the pillar and cross of light brake up, and cast itself +abroad, as it were, into a firmament of many stars; which also +vanished soon after, and there was nothing left to be seen, but a +small ark, or chest of cedar, dry, and not wet at all with water, +though it swam. And in the fore-end of it, which was towards him, +grew a small green branch of palm; and when the wise man had taken it, +with all reverence, into his boat, it opened of itself, and there were +found in it a Book and a Letter; both written in fine parchment, and +wrapped in sindons of linen. The Book contained all the canonical +books of the Old and New Testament, according as you have them; (for +we know well what the churches with you receive); and the Apocalypse +itself, and some other books of the New Testament, which were not at +that time written, were nevertheless in the Book. And for the Letter, +it was in these words: + +"`I, Bartholomew, a servant of the Highest, and Apostle of Jesus +Christ, was warned by an angel that appeareth to me, in a vision of +glory, that I should commit this ark to the floods of the sea. +Therefore I do testify and declare unto that people where God shall +ordain this ark to come to land, that in the same day is come unto +them salvation and peace and good-will, from the Father, and from the +Lord Jesus.' + +"There was also in both these writings, as well the Book, as the +Letter, wrought a great miracle, conform to that of the Apostles, in +the original Gift of Tongues. For there being at that time in this +land Hebrews, Persians, and Indians, besides the natives, every one +read upon the Book, and Letter, as if they had been written in his own +language. And thus was this land saved from infidelity (as the +remainder of the old world was from water) by an ark, through the +apostolical and miraculous evangelism of Saint Bartholomew." And here +he paused, and a messenger came, and called him from us. So this was +all that passed in that conference. + +The next day, the same governor came again to us, immediately after +dinner, and excused himself, saying; "That the day before he was +called from us, somewhat abruptly, but now he would make us amends, +and spend time with us if we held his company and conference agreeable." +We answered, "That we held it so agreeable and pleasing to us, as +we forgot both dangers past and fears to come, for the time we hear +him speak; and that we thought an hour spent with him, was worth years +of our former life." He bowed himself a little to us, and after we +were set again, he said; "Well, the questions are on your part." + +One of our number said, after a little pause; that there was a matter, +we were no less desirous to know, than fearful to ask, lest we might +presume too far. But encouraged by his rare humanity towards us, +(that could scarce think ourselves strangers, being his vowed and +professed servants,) we would take the hardiness to propound it: +humbly beseeching him, if he thought it not fit to be answered, that +he would pardon it, though he rejected it. We said; "We well observed +those his words, which he formerly spake, that this happy island, +where we now stood, was known to few, and yet knew most of the nations +of the world; which we found to be true, considering they had the +languages of Europe, and knew much of our state and business; and yet +we in Europe, (notwithstanding all the remote discoveries and +navigations of this last age), never heard of the least inkling or +glimpse of this island. This we found wonderful strange; for that all +nations have inter-knowledge one of another, either by voyage into +foreign parts, or by strangers that come to them: and though the +traveller into a foreign country, doth commonly know more by the eye, +than he that stayeth at home can by relation of the traveller; yet +both ways suffice to make a mutual knowledge, in some degree, on both +parts. But for this island, we never heard tell of any ship of theirs +that had been seen to arrive upon any shore of Europe; nor of either +the East or West Indies; nor yet of any ship of any other part of the +world, that had made return from them. And yet the marvel rested not +in this. For the situation of it (as his lordship said) in the secret +conclave' of such a vast sea might cause it. But then, that they +should have knowledge of the languages, books, affairs, of those that +lie such a distance from them, it was a thing we could not tell what +to make of; for that it seemed to us a conditioner and propriety of +divine powers and beings, to be hidden and unseen to others, and yet +to have others open and as in a light to them." + +At this speech the Governor gave a gracious smile, and said; "That we +did well to ask pardon for this question we now asked: for that it +imported, as if we thought this land, a land of magicians, that sent +forth spirits of the air into all parts, to bring them news and +intelligence of other countries." It was answered by us all, in all +possible humbleness, but yet with a countenance taking knowledge, that +we knew that he spake it but merrily, "That we were apt enough to +think there was somewhat supernatural in this island; but yet rather +as angelical than magical. But to let his lordship know truly what it +was that made us tender and doubtful to ask this question, it was not +any such conceit," but because we remembered, he had given a touch in +his former speech, that this land had laws of secrecy touching +strangers." To this he said; "You remember it aright and therefore in +that I shall say to you, I must reserve some particulars, which it is +not lawful for me to reveal; but there will be enough left, to give +you satisfaction. + +"You shall understand (that which perhaps you will scarce think +credible) that about three thousand years ago, or somewhat more, the +navigation of the world, (especially for remote voyages,) was greater +than at this day. Do not think with yourselves, that I know not how +much it is increased with you, within these six-score years: I know it +well: and yet I say greater then than now; whether it was, that the +example of the ark, that saved the remnant of men from the universal +deluge, gave men confidence to adventure upon the waters; or what it +was; but such is the truth. The Phoenicians, and especially the +Tyrians, had great fleets. So had the Carthaginians their colony, +which is yet further west. Toward the east the shipping of Egypt and +of Palestine was likewise great. China also, and the great Atlantis, +(that you call America,) which have now but junks and canoes, abounded +then in tall ships. This island, (as appeareth by faithful registers +of those times,) had then fifteen hundred strong ships, of great +content. Of all this, there is with you sparing memory, or none; but +we have large knowledge thereof. + +"At that time, this land was known and frequented by the ships and +vessels of all the nations before named. And (as it cometh to pass) +they had many times men of other countries, that were no sailors, that +came with them; as Persians, Chaldeans, Arabians; so as almost all +nations of might and fame resorted hither; of whom we have some stirps, +and little tribes with us at this day. And for our own ships, they +went sundry voyages, as well to your straits, which you call the +Pillars of Hercules, as to other parts in the Atlantic and Mediterrane +Seas; as to Paguin, (which is the same with Cambaline,) and Quinzy, +upon the Oriental Seas, as far as to the borders of the East Tartary. + +"At the same time, and an age after, or more, the inhabitants of the +great Atlantis did flourish. For though the narration and description, +which is made by a great man with you; that the descendants of +Neptune planted there; and of the magnificent temple, palace, city, +and hill; and the manifold streams of goodly navigable rivers, (which +as so many chains environed the same site and temple); and the several +degrees of ascent, whereby men did climb up to the same, as if it had +been a scala coeli, be all poetical and fabulous: yet so much is true, +that the said country of Atlantis, as well that of Peru, then called +Coya, as that of Mexico, then named Tyrambel, were mighty and proud +kingdoms in arms, shipping and riches: so mighty, as at one time (or +at least within the space of ten years) they both made two great +expeditions; they of Tyrambel through the Atlantic to the Mediterrane +Sea; and they of Coya through the South Sea upon this our island: and +for the former of these, which was into Europe, the same author +amongst you (as it seemeth) had some relation from the Egyptian priest +whom he cited. For assuredly such a thing there was. But whether it +were the ancient Athenians that had the glory of the repulse and +resistance of those forces, I can say nothing: but certain it is, +there never came back either ship or man from that voyage. Neither +had the other voyage of those of Coya upon us had better fortune, if +they had not met with enemies of greater clemency. For the king of +this island, (by name Altabin,) a wise man and a great warrior, +knowing well both his own strength and that of his enemies, handled +the matter so, as he cut off their land-forces from their ships; and +entoiled both their navy and their tamp with a greater power than +theirs, both by sea and land: arid compelled them to render themselves +without striking stroke and after they were at his mercy, contenting +himself only with their oath that they should no more bear arms +against him, dismissed them all in safety. + +"But the divine revenge overtook not long after those proud +enterprises. For within less than the space of one hundred years, the +great Atlantis was utterly lost and destroyed: not by a great +earthquake, as your man saith; (for that whole tract is little subject +to earthquakes;) but by a particular' deluge or inundation; those +countries having, at this day, far greater rivers and far higher +mountains to pour down waters, than any part of the old world. But it +is true that the same inundation was not deep; not past forty foot, in +most places, from the ground; so that although it destroyed man and +beast generally, yet some few wild inhabitants of the wood escaped. +Birds also were saved by flying to the high trees and woods. For as +for men, although they had buildings in many places, higher than the +depth of the water, yet that inundation, though it were shallow, had a +long continuance; whereby they of the vale that were not drowned, +perished for want of food and other things necessary. + +"So as marvel you not at the thin population of America, nor at the +rudeness and ignorance of the people; for you must account your +inhabitants of America as a young people; younger a thousand years, at +the least, than the rest of the world: for that there was so much time +between the universal flood and their particular inundation. For the +poor remnant of human seed, which remained in their mountains, peopled +the country again slowly, by little and little; and being simple and +savage people, (not like Noah and his sons, which was the chief family +of the earth;) they were not able to leave letters, arts, and civility +to their posterity; and having likewise in their mountainous +habitations been used (in respect of the extreme cold of those +regions) to clothe themselves with the skins of tigers, bears, and +great hairy goats, that they have in those parts; when after they came +down into the valley, and found the intolerable heats which are there, +and knew no means of lighter apparel, they were forced to begin the +custom of going naked, which continueth at this day. Only they take +great pride and delight in the feathers of birds; and this also they +took from those their ancestors of the mountains, who were invited +unto it by the infinite flights of birds that came up to the high +grounds, while the waters stood below. So you see, by this main +accident of time, we lost our traffic with the Americans, with whom of, +all others, in regard they lay nearest to us, we had most commerce. + +"As for the other parts of the world, it is most manifest that in the +ages following (whether it were in respect of wars, or by a natural +revolution of time,) navigation did every where greatly decay; and +specially far voyages (the rather by the use of galleys, and such +vessels as could hardly brook the ocean,) were altogether left and +omitted. So then, that part of intercourse which could be from other +nations to sail to us, you see how it hath long since ceased; except +it were by some rare accident, as this of yours. But now of the +cessation of that other part of intercourse, which might be by our +sailing to other nations, I must yield you some other cause. For I +cannot say (if I shall say truly,) but our shipping, for number, +strength, mariners, pilots, and all things that appertain to +navigation, is as great as ever; and therefore why we should sit at +home, I shall now give you an account by itself: and it will draw +nearer to give you satisfaction to your principal question. + +"There reigned in this land, about nineteen hundred years ago, a king, +whose memory of all others we most adore; not superstitiously, but as +a divine instrument, though a mortal man; his name was Solamona: and +we esteem him as the lawgiver of our nation. This king had a large +heart, inscrutable for good; and was wholly bent to make his kingdom +and people happy. He therefore, taking into consideration how +sufficient and substantive this land was to maintain itself without +any aid (at all) of the foreigner; being five thousand six hundred +miles in circuit, and of rare fertility of soil in the greatest part +thereof; and finding also the shipping of this country might be +plentifully set on work, both by fishing and by transportations from +port to port, and likewise by sailing unto some small islands that are +not far from us, and are under the crown and laws of this state; and, +recalling into his memory the happy and flourishing estate wherein +this land then was; so as it might be a thousand ways altered to the +worse, but scarce any one way to the better; thought nothing wanted to +his noble and heroical intentions, but only (as far as human foresight +might reach) to give perpetuity to that which was in his time so +happily established. Therefore amongst his other fundamental laws of +this kingdom, he did ordain the interdicts and prohibitions which we +have touching entrance of strangers; which at that time (though it was +after the calamity of America) was frequent; doubting novelties, and +commixture of manners. It is true, the like law against the admission +of strangers without licence is an ancient law in the kingdom of China, +and yet continued in use. But there it is a poor thing; and hath +made them a curious, ignorant, fearful, foolish nation. But our +lawgiver made his law of another temper. For first, he hath preserved +all points of humanity, in taking order and making provision for the +relief of strangers distressed; whereof you have tasted." + +At which speech (as reason was) we all rose up and bowed ourselves. +He went on. + +"That king also, still desiring to join humanity and policy together; +and thinking it against humanity, to detain strangers here against +their wills, and against policy that they should return and discover +their knowledge of this estate, he took this course: he did ordain +that of the strangers that should be permitted to land, as many (at +all times) might depart as would; but as many as would stay should +have very good conditions and means to live from the state. Wherein +he saw so far, that now in so many ages since the prohibition, we have +memory not of one ship that ever returned, and but of thirteen persons +only, at several times, that chose to return in our bottoms. What +those few that returned may have reported abroad I know not. But you +must think, whatsoever they have said could be taken where they came +but for a dream. Now for our travelling from henna into parts abroad, +our Lawgiver thought fit altogether to restrain it. So is it not in +China. For the Chinese sail where they will or can; which sheweth +that their law of keeping out strangers is a law of pusillanimity and +fear. But this restraint of ours hath one only exception, which is +admirable; preserving the good which cometh by communicating with +strangers, and avoiding the hurt; and I will now open it to you. And +here I shall seem a little to digress, but you will by and by find it +pertinent. + +"Ye shall understand (my dear friends) that amongst the excellent acts +of that king, one above all hath the pre-eminence. It was the +erection and institution of an Order or Society, which we call +Salomon's House; the noblest foundation (as we think) that ever was +upon the earth; and the lanthorn of this kingdom. It is dedicated to +the study of the works and creatures of God. Some think it beareth +the founder's name a little corrupted, as if it should be Solamona's +House. But the records write it as it is spoken. So as I take it to +be denominate of the king of the Hebrews, which is famous with you, +and no stranger to us. For we have some parts of his works, which +with you are lost; namely, that natural history, which he wrote, of +all plants, from the cedar of Libanus to the moss that groweth out of +the wall, and of all things that have life and motion. This maketh me +think that our king, finding himself to symbolize in many things with +that king of the Hebrews (which lived many years before him), honored +him with the title of this foundation. And I am rather induced to be +of this opinion, for that I find in ancient records this Order or +Society is sometimes called Salomon's House, and sometimes the College +of the Six Days Works; whereby I am satisfied that our excellent king +had learned from the Hebrews that God had created the world and all +that therein is within six days: and therefore he instituting that +House for the finding out of the true nature of all things, (whereby +God might have the more glory in the workmanship of them, and insert +the more fruit in the use of them), did give it also that second name. + +"But now to come to our present purpose. When the king had forbidden +to all his people navigation into any part that was not under his +crown, he made nevertheless this ordinance; that every twelve years +there should be set forth, out of this kingdom two ships, appointed to +several voyages; That in either of these ships there should be a +mission of three of the Fellows or Brethren of Salomon's House; whose +errand was only to give us knowledge of the affairs and state of those +countries to which they were designed, and especially of the sciences, +arts, manufactures, and inventions of all the world; and withal to +bring unto us books, instruments, and patterns in every kind: That the +ships, after they had landed the brethren, should return; and that the +brethren should stay abroad till the new mission. These ships are not +otherwise fraught, than with store of victuals, and good quantity of +treasure to remain with the brethren, for the buying of such things +and rewarding of such persons as they should think fit. Now for me to +tell you how the vulgar sort of mariners are contained from being +discovered at land; and how they that must be put on shore for any +time, color themselves under the names of other nations; and to what +places these voyages have been designed; and what places of rendezvous +are appointed for the new missions; and the like circumstances of the +practique; I may not do it: neither is it much to your desire. But +thus you see we maintain a trade not for gold, silver, or jewels; nor +for silks; nor for spices; nor any other commodity of matter; but only +for God's first creature, which was Light: to have light (I say) of +the growth of all parts of the world." + +And when he had said this, he was silent; and so were we all. For +indeed we were all astonished to hear so strange things so probably +told. And he, perceiving that we were willing to say somewhat but had +it not ready in great courtesy took us off, and descended to ask us +questions of our voyage and fortunes and in the end concluded, that we +might do well to think with ourselves what time of stay we would +demand of the state; and bade us not to scant ourselves; for he would +procure such time as we desired: Whereupon we all rose up, and +presented ourselves to kiss the skirt of his tippet; but he would not +suffer us; and so took his leave. But when it came once amongst our +people that the state used to offer conditions to strangers that would +stay, we had work enough to get any of our men to look to our ship; +and to keep them from going presently to the governor to crave +conditions. But with much ado we refrained them, till we might agree +what course to take. + +We took ourselves now for free men, seeing there was no danger of our +utter perdition; and lived most joyfully, going abroad and seeing what +was to be seen in the city and places adjacent within our tedder; and +obtaining acquaintance with many of the city, not of the meanest +quality; at whose hands we found such humanity, and such a freedom and +desire to take strangers as it were into their bosom, as was enough to +make us forget all that was dear to us in our own countries: and +continually we met with many things right worthy of observation and +relation: as indeed, if there be a mirror in the world worthy to hold +men's eyes, it is that country. + +One day there were two of our company bidden to a Feast of the Family, +as they call it. A most natural, pious, and reverend custom it is, +shewing that nation to be compounded of all goodness. This is the +manner of it. It is granted to any man that shall live to see thirty +persons descended of his body alive together, and all above three +years old, to make this feast which is done at the cost of the state. +The Father of the Family, whom they call the Tirsan, two days before +the feast, taketh to him three of such friends as he liketh to choose; +and is assisted also by the governor of the city or place where the +feast is celebrated; and all the persons of the family, of both sexes, +are summoned to attend him. These two days the Tirsan sitteth in +consultation concerning the good estate of the family. There, if +there be any discord or suits between any of the family, they are +compounded and appeased. There, if any of the family be distressed or +decayed, order is taken for their relief and competent means to live. +There, if any be subject to vice, or take ill courses, they are +reproved and censured. So likewise direction is given touching +marriages, and the courses of life, which any of them should take, +with divers other the like orders and advices. The governor assisteth, +to the end to put in execution by his public authority the decrees +and orders of the Tirsan, if they should be disobeyed; though that +seldom needeth; such reverence and obedience they give to the order of +nature. The Tirsan doth also then ever choose one man from among his +sons, to live in house with him; who is called ever after the Son of +the Vine. The reason will hereafter appear. + +On the feast day, the father or Tirsan cometh forth after divine +service into a large room where the feast is celebrated; which room +hath an half-pace at the upper end. Against the wall, in the middle +of the half-pace, is a chair placed for him, with a table and carpet +before it. Over the chair is a state, made round or oval, and it is +of ivy; an ivy somewhat whiter than ours, like the leaf of a silver +asp; but more shining; for it is green all winter. And the state is +curiously wrought with silver and silk of divers colors, broiding or +binding in the ivy; and is ever of the work of some of the daughters +of the family; and veiled over at the top with a fine net of silk and +silver. But the substance of it is true ivy; whereof, after it is +taken down, the friends of the family are desirous to have some leaf +or sprig to keep. + +The Tirsan cometh forth with all his generation or linage, the males +before him, and the females following him; and if there be a mother +from whose body the whole linage is descended, there is a traverse +placed in a loft above on the right hand of the chair, with a privy +door, and a carved window of glass, leaded with gold and blue; where +she sitteth, but is not seen. When the Tirsan is come forth, he +sitteth down in the chair; and all the linage place themselves against +the wall, both at his back and upon the return of the half-pace, in +order of their years without difference of sex; and stand upon their +feet. When he is set; the room being always full of company, but well +kept and without disorder; after some pause, there cometh in from the +lower end of the room, a taratan (which is as much as an herald) and +on either side of him two young lads; whereof one carrieth a scroll of +their shining yellow parchment; and the other a cluster of grapes of +gold, with a long foot or stalk. The herald and children are clothed +with mantles of sea-water green satin; but the herald's mantle is +streamed with gold, and hath a train. + +Then the herald with three curtesies, or rather inclinations, cometh +up as far as the half-pace; and there first taketh into his hand the +scroll. This scroll is the king's charter, containing gifts of +revenew, and many privileges, exemptions, and points of honour, +granted to the Father of the Family; and is ever styled and directed, +To such do one our well beloved friend and creditor: which is a title +proper only to this case. For they say the king is debtor to no man, +but for propagation of his subjects. The seal set to the king's +charter is the king's image, imbossed or moulded in gold; and though +such charters be expedited of course, and as of right, yet they are +varied by discretion, according to the number and dignity of the +family. This charter the herald readeth aloud; and while it is read, +the father or Tirsan standeth up supported by two of his sons, such as +he chooseth. Then the herald mounteth the half-pace and delivereth +the charter into his hand: and with that there is an acclamation by +all that are present in their language, which is thus much: Happy are +the people of Bensalem. + +Then the herald taketh into his hand from the other child the cluster +of grapes, which is of gold, both the stalk and the grapes. But the +grapes are daintily enamelled; and if the males of the family be the +greater number, the grapes are enamelled purple, with a little sun set +on the top; if the females, then they are enamelled into a greenish +yellow, with a crescent on the top. The grapes are in number as many +as there are descendants of the family. This golden cluster the +herald delivereth also to the Tirsan; who presently delivereth it over +to that son that he had formerly chosen to be in house with him: who +beareth it before his father as an ensign of honour when he goeth in +public, ever after; and is thereupon called the Son of the Vine. + +After the ceremony endeth the father or Tirsan retireth; and after +some time cometh forth again to dinner, where he sitteth alone under +the state, as before; and none of his descendants sit with him, of +what degree or dignity soever, except he hap to be of Salomon's House. +He is served only by his own children, such as are male; who perform +unto him all service of the table upon the knee; and the women only +stand about him, leaning against the wall. The room below the +half-pace hath tables on the sides for the guests that are bidden; who +are served with great and comely order; and towards the end of dinner +(which in the greatest feasts with them lasteth never above an hour +and an half) there is an hymn sung, varied according to the invention +of him that composeth it (for they have excellent posy) but the +subject of it is (always) the praises of Adam and Noah and Abraham; +whereof the former two peopled the world, and the last was the Father +of the Faithful: concluding ever with a thanksgiving for the nativity +of our Saviour, in whose birth the births of all are only blessed. + +Dinner being done, the Tirsan retireth again; and having withdrawn +himself alone into a place, where he makes some private prayers, he +cometh forth the third time, to give the blessing with all his +descendants, who stand about him as at the first. Then he calleth +them forth by one and by one, by name, as he pleaseth, though seldom +the order of age be inverted. The person that is called (the table +being before removed) kneeleth down before the chair, and the father +layeth his hand upon his head, or her head, and giveth the blessing in +these words: Son of Bensalem, (or daughter of Bensalem,) thy father +with it: the man by whom thou hast breath and life speaketh the word: +the blessing of the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, and the +Holy Dove, be upon thee, and make the days of thy pilgrimage good and +many. This he saith to every of them; and that done, if there be any +of his sons of eminent merit and virtue, (so they be not above two,) +he calleth for them again; and saith, laying his arm over their +shoulders, they standing; Sons, it is well ye are born, give God the +praise, and persevere to the end. And withall delivereth to either of +them a jewel, made in the figure of an ear of wheat, which they ever +after wear in the front of their turban or hat. This done, they fall +to music and dances, and other recreations, after their manner, for +the rest of the day. This is the full order of that feast. + +By that time six or seven days were spent, I was fallen into straight +acquaintance with a merchant of that city, whose name was Joabin. He +was a Jew and circumcised: for they have some few stirps of Jews yet +remaining among them, whom they leave to their own religion. Which +they may the better do, because they are of a far differing +disposition from the Jews in other parts. For whereas they hate the +name of Christ; and have a secret inbred rancour against the people +among whom they live: these (contrariwise) give unto our Saviour many +high attributes, and love the nation of Bensalem extremely. Surely +this man of whom I speak would ever acknowledge that Christ was born +of a virgin and that he was more than a man; and he would tell how God +made him ruler of the seraphims which guard his throne; and they call +him also the Milken Way, and the Eliah of the Messiah; and many other +high names; which though they be inferior to his divine majesty, yet +they are far from the language of other Jews. + +And for the country of Bensalem, this man would make no end of +commending it; being desirous, by tradition among the Jews there, to +have it believed that the people thereof were of the generations of +Abraham, by another son, whom they call Nachoran; and that Moses by a +secret Cabala ordained the Laws of Bensalem which they now use; and +that when the Messiah should come, and sit in his throne at Hierusalem, +the king of Bensalem should sit at his feet, whereas other kings +should keep a great distance. But yet setting aside these Jewish +dreams, the man was a wise man, and learned, and of great policy, and +excellently seen in the laws and customs of that nation. + +Amongst other discourses, one day I told him I was much affected with +the relation I had, from some of the company, of their custom, in +holding the Feast of the Family; for that (methought) I had never +heard of a solemnity wherein nature did so much preside. And because +propagation of families proceedeth from the nuptial copulation, I +desired to know of him what laws and customs they had concerning +marriage; and whether they kept marriage well and whether they were +tied to one wife; for that where population is so much affected,' and +such as with them it seemed to be, there is commonly permission of +plurality of wives. + +To this he said, "You have reason for to commend that excellent +institution of the Feast of the Family. And indeed we have experience +that those families that are partakers of the blessing of that feast +do flourish and prosper ever after in an extraordinary manner. But +hear me now, and I will tell you what I know. You shall understand +that there is not under the heavens so chaste a nation as this of +Bensalem; nor so free from all pollution or foulness. It is the +virgin of the world. I remember I have read in one of your European +books, of an holy hermit amongst you that desired to see the Spirit of +Fornication; and there appeared to him a little foul ugly Aethiop. +But if he had desired to see the Spirit of Chastity of Bensalem, it +would have appeared to him in the likeness of a fair beautiful +Cherubim. For there is nothing amongst mortal men more fair and +admirable, than the chaste minds of this people. Know therefore, that +with them there are no stews, no dissolute houses, no courtesans, nor +anything of that kind. Nay they wonder (with detestation) at you in +Europe, which permit such things. They say ye have put marriage out +of office: for marriage is ordained a remedy for unlawful +concupiscence; and natural concupiscence seemeth as a spar to marriage. +But when men have at hand a remedy more agreeable to their corrupt +will, marriage is almost expulsed. And therefore there are with you +seen infinite men that marry not, but chose rather a libertine and +impure single life, than to be yoked in marriage; and many that do +marry, marry late, when the prime and strength of their years is past. +And when they do marry, what is marriage to them but a very bargain; +wherein is sought alliance, or portion, or reputation, with some +desire (almost indifferent) of issue; and not the faithful nuptial +union of man and wife, that was first instituted. Neither is it +possible that those that have cast away so basely so much of their +strength, should greatly esteem children, (being of the same matter,) +as chaste men do. So likewise during marriage, is the case much +amended, as it ought to be if those things were tolerated only for +necessity? No, but they remain still as a very affront to marriage. +The haunting of those dissolute places, or resort to courtesans, are +no more punished in married men than in bachelors. And the depraved +custom of change, and the delight in meretricious embracements, (where +sin is turned into art,) maketh marriage a dull thing, and a kind of +imposition or tax. They hear you defend these things, as done to +avoid greater evils; as advoutries, deflowering of virgins, unnatural +lust, and the like. But they say this is a preposterous wisdom; and +they call it Lot's offer, who to save his guests from abusing, offered +his daughters: nay they say farther that there is little gained in +this; for that the same vices and appetites do still remain and abound; +unlawful lust being like a furnace, that if you stop the flames +altogether, it will quench; but if you give it any vent, it will rage. +As for masculine love, they have no touch of it; and yet there are +not so faithful and inviolate friendships in the world again as are +there; and to speak generally, (as I said before,) I have not read of +any such chastity, in any people as theirs. And their usual saying is, +That whosoever is unchaste cannot reverence himself; and they say, +That the reverence of a man's self, is, next to religion, the chiefest +bridle of all vices." + +And when he had said this, the good Jew paused a little; whereupon I, +far more willing to hear him speak on than to speak myself, yet +thinking it decent that upon his pause of speech I should not be +altogether silent, said only this; "That I would say to him, as the +widow of Sarepta said to Elias; that he was come to bring to memory +our sins; and that I confess the righteousness of Bensalem was greater +than the righteousness of Europe." At which speech he bowed his head, +and went on in this manner: + +"They have also many wise and excellent laws touching marriage. They +allow no polygamy. They have ordained that none do intermarry or +contract, until a month be past from their first interview. Marriage +without consent of parents they do not make void, but they mulct" it +in the inheritors: for the children of such marriages are not admitted +to inherit above a third part of their parents' inheritance. I have +read in a book of one of your men, of a Feigned Commonwealth, where +the married couple are permitted, before they contract, to see one +another naked. This they dislike; for they think it a scorn to give a +refusal after so familiar knowledge: but because of many hidden +defects in men and women's bodies, they have a more civil way; for +they have near every town a couple of pools, (which they call Adam and +Eve's pools,) where it is permitted to one of the friends of the men, +and another of the friends of the woman, to see them severally bathe +naked." + +And as we were thus in conference, there came one that seemed to be a +messenger, in a rich huke, that spake with the Jew: whereupon he +turned to me and said; "You will pardon me, for I am commanded away in +haste." The next morning he came to me again, joyful as it seemed, +and said; "There is word come to the Governor of the city, that one of +the Fathers of Salomon's House will be here this day seven-night: we +have seen none of them this dozen years. His coming is in state; but +the cause of his coming is secret. I will provide you and your +fellows of a good standing to see his entry." I thanked him, and told +him, I was most glad of the news. + +The day being come, he made his entry. He was a man of middle stature +and age, comely of person, and had an aspect as if he pitied men. He +was clothed in a robe of fine black cloth, with wide sleeves and a +cape. His under garment was of excellent white linen down to the foot, +girt with a girdle of the same; and a sindon or tippet of the same +about his neck. He had gloves, that were curious,`' and set with +stone; and shoes of peach-coloured velvet. His neck was bare to the +shoulders. His hat was like a helmet, or Spanish montera; and his +locks curled below it decently: they were of colour brown. His beard +was cut round, and of the same colour with his hair, somewhat lighter. +He was carried in a rich chariot without wheels, litter-wise; with +two horses at either end, richly trapped in blue velvet embroidered; +and two footmen on each side in the like attire. The chariot was all +of cedar, gilt, and adorned with crystal; save that the fore-end had +panels of sapphires, set in borders of gold; and the hinder-end the +like of emeralds of the Peru colour. There was also a sun of gold, +radiant, upon the top, in the midst; and on the top before, a small +cherub of gold, with wings displayed. The chariot was covered with +cloth of gold tissued upon blue. He had before him fifty attendants, +young men all, in white satin loose coats to the mid leg; and +stockings of white silk; and shoes of blue velvet; and hats of blue +velvet; with fine plumes of diverse colours, set round like hat-bands. +Next before the chariot, went two men, bare-headed, in linen garments +down the foot, girt, and shoes of blue velvet; who carried, the one a +crosier, the other a pastoral staff like a sheep-hook; neither of them +of metal, but the crosier of balm-wood, the pastoral staff of cedar. +Horsemen he had none, neither before nor behind his chariot: as it +seemeth, to avoid all tumult and trouble. Behind his chariot went all +the officers and principals of the companies of the city. He sat +alone, upon cushions of a kind of excellent plush, blue; and under his +foot curious carpets of silk of diverse colours, like the Persian, but +far finer. He held up his bare hand as he went, as blessing the +people, but in silence. The street was wonderfully well kept: so that +there was never any army had their men stand in better battle-array +than the people stood. The windows likewise were not crowded, but +every one stood in them as if they had been placed. + +When the shew was past, the Jew said to me; "I shall not be able to +attend you as I would, in regard of some charge the city hath laid +upon me, for the entertaining of this great person." Three days after +the Jew came to me again, and said; "Ye are happy men; for the Father +of Salomon's House taketh knowledge of your being here, and commanded +me to tell you that he will admit all your company to his presence, +and have private conference with one of you, that ye shall choose: and +for this hath appointed the next day after to-morrow. And because he +meaneth to give you his blessing, he hath appointed it in the forenoon." + +We came at our day and hour, and I was chosen by my fellows for the +private access. We found him in a fair chamber, richly hanged, and +carpeted under foot without any degrees to the state. He was set upon +a low Throne richly adorned, and a rich cloth of state over his head, +of blue satin embroidered. He was alone, save that he had two pages +of honour, on either hand one, finely attired in white. His under +garments were the like that we saw him wear in the chariot; but +instead of his gown, he had on him a mantle with a cape, of the same +fine black, fastened about him. When we came in, as we were taught, +we bowed low at our first entrance; and when we were come near his +chair, he stood up, holding forth his hand ungloved, and in posture of +blessing; and we every one of us stooped down, and kissed the hem of +his tippet. That done, the rest departed, and I remained. Then he +warned the pages forth of the room, and caused me to sit down beside +him, and spake to me thus in the Spanish tongue. + +"God bless thee, my son; I will give thee the greatest jewel I have. +For I will impart unto thee, for the love of God and men, a relation +of the true state of Salomon's House. Son, to make you know the true +state of Salomon's House, I will keep this order. First, I will set +forth unto you the end of our foundation. Secondly, the preparations +and instruments we have for our works. Thirdly, the several +employments and functions whereto our fellows are assigned. And +fourthly, the ordinances and rites which we observe. + +"The end of our foundation is the knowledge of causes, and secret +motions of things; and the enlarging of the bounds of human empire, to +the effecting of all things possible. + +"The Preparations and Instruments are these. We have large and deep +caves of several depths: the deepest are sunk six hundred fathom: and +some of them are digged and made under great hills and mountains: so +that if you reckon together the depth of the hill and the depth of the +cave, they are (some of them) above three miles deep. For we find, +that the depth of a hill, and the depth of a cave from the flat, is +the same thing; both remote alike, from the sun and heaven's beams, +and from the open air. These caves we call the Lower Region; and we +use them for all coagulations, indurations, refrigerations, and +conservations of bodies. We use them likewise for the imitation of +natural mines; and the producing also of new artificial metals, by +compositions and materials which we use, and lay there for many years. +We use them also sometimes, (which may seem strange,) for curing of +some diseases, and for prolongation of life in some hermits that +choose to live there, well accommodated of all things necessary, and +indeed live very long; by whom also we learn many things. + +"We have burials in several earths, where we put diverse cements, as +the Chineses do their porcellain. But we have them in greater variety, +and some of them more fine. We have also great variety of composts +and soils, for the making of the earth fruitful. + +"We have high towers; the highest about half a mile in height; and +some of them likewise set upon high mountains; so that the vantage of +the hill with the tower is in the highest of them three miles at least. +And these places we call the Upper Region; accounting the air +between the high places and the low, as a Middle Region. We use these +towers, according to their several heights, and situations, for +insolation, refrigeration, conservation; and for the view of divers +meteors; as winds, rain, snow, hail; and some of the fiery meteors +also. And upon them, in some places, are dwellings of hermits, whom +we visit sometimes, and instruct what to observe. + +"We have great lakes, both salt, and fresh; whereof we have use for +the fish and fowl. We use them also for burials of some natural +bodies: for we find a difference in things buried in earth or in air +below the earth, and things buried in water. We have also pools, of +which some do strain fresh water out of salt; and others by art do +turn fresh water into salt. We have also some rocks in the midst of +the sea, and some bays upon the shore for some works, wherein is +required the air and vapor of the sea. We have likewise violent +streams and cataracts, which serve us for many motions: and likewise +engines for multiplying and enforcing of winds, to set also on going +diverse motions. + +"We have also a number of artificial wells and fountains, made in +imitation of the natural sources and baths; as tincted upon vitriol, +sulphur, steel, brass, lead, nitre, and other minerals. And again we +have little wells for infusions of many things, where the waters take +the virtue quicker and better, than in vessels or basins. And amongst +them we have a water which we call Water of Paradise, being, by that +we do to it made very sovereign for health, and prolongation of life. + +"We have also great and spacious houses where we imitate and +demonstrate meteors; as snow, hail, rain, some artificial rains of +bodies and not of water, thunders, lightnings; also generations of +bodies in air; as frogs, flies, and divers others. + +"We have also certain chambers, which we call Chambers of Health, +where we qualify the air as we think good and proper for the cure of +divers diseases, and preservation of health. + +"We have also fair and large baths, of several mixtures, for the cure +of diseases, and the restoring of man's body from arefaction: and +others for the confirming of it in strength of sinewes, vital parts, +and the very juice and substance of the body. + +"We have also large and various orchards and gardens; wherein we do +not so much respect beauty, as variety of ground and soil, proper for +divers trees and herbs: and some very spacious, where trees and +berries are set whereof we make divers kinds of drinks, besides the +vineyards. In these we practise likewise all conclusions of grafting, +and inoculating as well of wild-trees as fruit-trees, which produceth +many effects. And we make (by art) in the same orchards and gardens, +trees and flowers to come earlier or later than their seasons; and to +come up and bear more speedily than by their natural course they do. +We make them also by art greater much than their nature; and their +fruit greater and sweeter and of differing taste, smell, colour, and +figure, from their nature. And many of them we so order, as they +become of medicinal use. + +"We have also means to make divers plants rise by mixtures of earths +without seeds; and likewise to make divers new plants, differing from +the vulgar; and to make one tree or plant turn into another. + +"We have also parks and enclosures of all sorts of beasts and birds +which we use not only for view or rareness, but likewise for +dissections and trials; that thereby we may take light what may be +wrought upon the body of man. Wherein we find many strange effects; +as continuing life in them, though divers parts, which you account +vital, be perished and taken forth; resuscitating of some that seem +dead in appearance; and the like. We try also all poisons and other +medicines upon them, as well of chirurgery, as physic. By art +likewise, we make them greater or taller than their kind is; and +contrariwise dwarf them, and stay their growth: we make them more +fruitful and bearing than their kind is; and contrariwise barren and +not generative. Also we make them differ in colour, shape, activity, +many ways. We find means to make commixtures and copulations of +different kinds; which have produced many new kinds, and them not +barren, as the general opinion is. We make a number of kinds of +serpents, worms, flies, fishes, of putrefaction; whereof some are +advanced (in effect) to be perfect creatures, like bests or birds; and +have sexes, and do propagate. Neither do we this by chance, but we +know beforehand, of what matter and commixture what kind of those +creatures will arise. + +"We have also particular pools, where we make trials upon fishes, as +we have said before of beasts and birds. + +"We have also places for breed and generation of those kinds of worms +and flies which are of special use; such as are with you your +silk-worms and bees. + +"I will not hold you long with recounting of our brewhouses, +bake-houses, and kitchens, where are made divers drinks, breads, and +meats, rare and of special effects. Wines we have of grapes; and +drinks of other juice of fruits, of grains, and of roots; and of +mixtures with honey, sugar, manna, and fruits dried, and decocted; +Also of the tears or woundings of trees; and of the pulp of canes. +And these drinks are of several ages, some to the age or last of forty +years. We have drinks also brewed with several herbs, and roots, and +spices; yea with several fleshes, and white-meats; whereof some of the +drinks are such, as they are in effect meat and drink both: so that +divers, especially in age, do desire to live with them, with little or +no meat or bread. And above all, we strive to have drink of extreme +thin parts, to insinuate into the body, and yet without all biting, +sharpness, or fretting; insomuch as some of them put upon the back of +your hand will, with a little stay, pass through to the palm, and yet +taste mild to the mouth. We have also waters which we ripen in that +fashion, as they become nourishing; so that they are indeed excellent +drink; and.many will use no other. Breads we have of several grains, +roots, and kernels; yea and some of flesh and fish dried; with divers +kinds of leavenings and seasonings: so that some do extremely move +appetites; some do nourish so, as divers do live of them, without any +other meat; who live very long. So for meats, we have some of them so +beaten and made tender and mortified,' yet without all corrupting, as +a weak heat of the stomach will turn them into good chylus; as well as +a strong heat would meat otherwise prepared. We have some meats also +and breads and drinks, which taken by men enable them to fast long +after; and some other, that used make the very flesh of men's bodies +sensibly' more hard and tough and their strength far greater than +otherwise it would be. + +"We have dispensatories, or shops of medicines. Wherein you may +easily think, if we have such variety of plants and living creatures +more than you have in Europe, (for we know what you have,) the simples, +drugs, and ingredients of medicines, must likewise be in so much the +greater variety. We have them likewise of divers ages, and long +fermentations. And for their preparations, we have not only all +manner of exquisite distillations and separations, and especially by +gentle heats and percolations through divers strainers, yea and +substances; but also exact forms of composition, whereby they +incorporate almost, as they were natural simples. + +"We have also divers mechanical arts, which you have not; and stuffs +made by them; as papers, linen, silks, tissues; dainty works of +feathers of wonderful lustre; excellent dies, and, many others; and +shops likewise, as well for such as are not brought into vulgar use +amongst us as for those that are. For you must know that of the +things before recited, many of them are grown into use throughout the +kingdom; but yet, if they did flow from our invention, we have of them +also for patterns and principals. + +"We have also furnaces of great diversities, and that keep great +diversity of heats; fierce and quick; strong and constant; soft and +mild; blown, quiet; dry, moist; and the like. But above all, we have +heats, in imitation of the Sun's and heavenly bodies' heats, that pass +divers inequalities, and (as it were) orbs, progresses, and returns, +whereby we produce admirable effects. Besides, we have heats of dungs; +and of bellies and maws of living creatures, and of their bloods and +bodies; and of hays and herbs laid up moist; of lime unquenched; and +such like. Instruments also which generate heat only by motion. And +farther, places for strong insulations; and again, places under the +earth, which by nature, or art, yield heat. These divers heats we use, +as the nature of the operation, which we intend, requireth. + +"We have also perspective-houses, where we make demonstrations of all +lights and radiations; and of all colours: and out of things +uncoloured and transparent, we can represent unto you all several +colours; not in rain-bows, (as it is in gems, and prisms,) but of +themselves single. We represent also all multiplications of light, +which we carry to great distance, and make so sharp as to discern +small points and lines. Also all colourations of light; all delusions +and deceits of the sight, in figures, magnitudes, motions, colours all +demonstrations of shadows. We find also divers means, yet unknown to +you, of producing of light originally from divers bodies. We procure +means of seeing objects afar off; as in the heaven and remote places; +and represent things near as afar off; and things afar off as near; +making feigned distances. We have also helps for the sight, far above +spectacles and glasses in use. We have also glasses and means to see +small and minute bodies perfectly and distinctly; as the shapes and +colours of small flies and worms, grains and flaws in gems, which +cannot otherwise be seen, observations in urine and blood not +otherwise to be seen. We make artificial rain-bows, halo's, and +circles about light. We represent also all manner of reflexions, +refractions, and multiplications of visual beams of objects. + +"We have also precious stones of all kinds, many of them of great +beauty, and to you unknown; crystals likewise; and glasses of divers +kinds; and amongst them some of metals vitrificated, and other +materials besides those of which you make glass. Also a number of +fossils, and imperfect minerals, which you have not. Likewise +loadstones of prodigious virtue; and other rare stones, both natural +and artificial. + +"We have also sound-houses, where we practise and demonstrate all +sounds, and their generation. We have harmonies which you have not, +of quarter-sounds, and lesser slides of sounds. Divers instruments of +music likewise to you unknown, some sweeter than any you have, +together with bells and rings that are dainty and sweet. We represent +small sounds as great and deep; likewise great sounds extenuate and +sharp; we make divers tremblings and warblings of sounds, which in +their original are entire. We represent and imitate all articulate +sounds and letters, and the voices and notes of beasts and birds. We +have certain helps which set to the ear do further the hearing greatly. +We have also divers strange and artificial echoes, reflecting the +voice many times, and as it were tossing it: and some that give back +the voice louder than it came, some shriller, and some deeper; yea, +some rendering the voice differing in the letters or articulate sound +from that they receive. We have also means to convey sounds in trunks +and pipes, in strange lines and distances. + +"We have also perfume-houses; wherewith we join also practices of +taste. We multiply smells, which may seem strange. We imitate smells, +making all smells to breathe outs of other mixtures than those that +give them. We make divers imitations of taste likewise, so that they +will deceive any man's taste. And in this house we contain also a +confiture-house; where we make all sweet-meats, dry and moist; and +divers pleasant wines, milks, broths, and sallets; in far greater +variety than you have. + +"We have also engine-houses, where are prepared engines and +instruments for all sorts of motions. There we imitate and practise +to make swifter motions than any you have, either out of your muskets +or any engine that you have: and to make them and multiply them more +easily, and with small force, by wheels and other means: and to make +them stronger and more violent than yours are; exceeding your greatest +cannons and basilisks. We represent also ordnance and instruments of +war, and engines of all kinds: and likewise new mixtures and +compositions of gun-powder, wild-fires burning in water, and +unquenchable. Also fireworks of all variety both for pleasure and use. +We imitate also flights of birds; we have some degrees of flying in +the air. We have ships and boats for going under water, and brooking +of seas; also swimming-girdles and supporters. We have divers curious +clocks, and other like motions of return: and some perpetual motions. +We imitate also motions of living creatures, by images, of men, beasts, +birds, fishes, and serpents. We have also a great number of other +various motions, strange for equality, fineness, and subtilty. + +"We have also a mathematical house, where are represented all +instruments, as well of geometry as astronomy, exquisitely made. + +"We have also houses of deceits of the senses; where we represent all +manner of feats of juggling, false apparitions, impostures, and +illusions; and their fallacies. And surely you will easily believe +that we that have so many things truly natural which induce admiration, +could in a world of particulars deceive the senses, if we would +disguise those things and labour to make them seem more miraculous. +But we do hate all impostures, and lies; insomuch as we have severely +forbidden it to all our fellows, under pain of ignominy and fines, +that they do not show any natural work or thing, adorned or swelling; +but only pure as it is, and without all affectation of strangeness. + +"These are (my son) the riches of Salomon's House. + +"For the several employments and offices of our fellows; we have +twelve that sail into foreign countries, under the names of other +nations, (for our own we conceal); who bring us the books, and +abstracts, and patterns of experiments of all other parts. These we +call Merchants of Light. + +"We have three that collect the experiments which are in all books. +These we call Depredators. + +"We have three that collect the experiments of all mechanical arts; +and also of liberal sciences; and also of practices which are not +brought into arts. These we call Mystery-men. + +"We have three that try new experiments, such as themselves think good. +These we call Pioneers or Miners. + +"We have three that draw the experiments of the former four into +titles and tables, to give the better light for the drawing of +observations and axioms out of them. These we call Compilers. + +"We have three that bend themselves, looking into the experiments of +their fellows, and cast about how to draw out of them things of use +and practise for man's life, and knowledge, as well for works as for +plain demonstration of causes, means of natural divinations, and the +easy and clear discovery of the virtues and parts of bodies. These we +call Dowry-men or Benefactors. + +"Then after divers meetings and consults of our whole number, to +consider of the former labours and collections, we have three that +take care, out of them, to direct new experiments, of a higher light, +more penetrating into nature than the former. These we call Lamps. + +"We have three others that do execute the experiments so directed, and +report them. These we call Inoculators. + +"Lastly, we have three that raise the former discoveries by +experiments into greater observations, axioms, and aphorisms. These +we call Interpreters of Nature. + +"We have also, as you must think, novices and apprentices, that the +succession of the former employed men do not fail; besides, a great +number of servants and attendants, men and women. And this we do also: +we have consultations, which of the inventions and experiences which +we have discovered shall be published, and which not: and take all an +oath of secrecy, for the concealing of those which we think fit to +keep secret: though some of those we do reveal sometimes to the state +and some not. + +"For our ordinances and rites: we have two very long and fair +galleries: in one of these we place patterns and samples of all manner +of the more rare and excellent inventions in the other we place the +statues of all principal inventors. There we have the statue of your +Columbus, that discovered the West Indies: also the inventor of ships: +your monk that was the inventor of ordnance and of gunpowder: the +inventor of music: the inventor of letters: the inventor of printing: +the inventor of observations of astronomy: the inventor of works in +metal: the inventor of glass: the inventor of silk of the worm: the +inventor of wine: the inventor of corn and bread: the inventor of +sugars: and all these, by more certain tradition than you have. Then +have we divers inventors of our own, of excellent works; which since +you have not seen, it were too long to make descriptions of them; and +besides, in the right understanding of those descriptions you might +easily err. For upon every invention of value, we erect a statue to +the inventor, and give him a liberal and honourable reward. These +statues are some of brass; some of marble and touch-stone; some of +cedar and other special woods gilt and adorned; some of iron; some of +silver; some of gold. + +"We have certain hymns and services, which we say daily, of Lord and +thanks to God for his marvellous works: and forms of prayers, +imploring his aid and blessing for the illumination of our labours, +and the turning of them into good and holy uses. + +"Lastly, we have circuits or visits of divers principal cities of the +kingdom; where, as it cometh to pass, we do publish such new +profitable inventions as we think good. And we do also declare +natural divinations of diseases, plagues, swarms-of hurtful creatures, +scarcity, tempests, earthquakes, great inundations, comets, +temperature of the year, and divers other things; and we give counsel +thereupon, what the people shall do for the prevention and remedy of +them." + +And when he had said this, he stood up; and I, as I had been taught, +kneeled down, and he laid his right hand upon my head, and said; "God +bless thee, my son; and God bless this relation, which I have made. I +give thee leave to publish it for the good of other nations; for we +here are in God's bosom, a land unknown." And so he left me; having +assigned a value of about two thousand ducats, for a bounty to me and +my fellows. For they give great largesses where they come upon all +occasions. + +[The rest was not perfected.] + + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of "The New Atlantis" by Francis Bacon + diff --git a/old/nwatl11.zip b/old/nwatl11.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2239211 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/nwatl11.zip diff --git a/old/nwatl11h.htm b/old/nwatl11h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..10da2b2 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/nwatl11h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1707 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<HTML> +<HEAD> +<TITLE>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The New Atlantis, by Sir Francis Bacon</TITLE> +<META HTTP-EQUIV="content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=utf-8"> +</HEAD> +<BODY> +<H1>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The New Atlantis, by Sir Francis Bacon</H1> + +<PRE> +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The New Atlantis + +Author: Sir Francis Bacon + +Release Date: December, 2000 [EBook #2434] +[This HTML file was first posted on June 11, 2003] + +Edition: 11 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: utf-8 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE NEW ATLANTIS *** + + + + +Revision to edition 11 and preparation of HTML version by William Fishburne + + + +</PRE> +<div align="center"><h1>The New Atlantis</h1> +<h2>By Sir Francis Bacon</h2></div> +<div align="center"><h2>INTRODUCTORY NOTE</h2></div> +<p>Bacon's literary executor, Dr. Rowley, published <i>The New Atlantis"</i> in +1627, the year after the author's death. It seems to have been +written about 1623, during that period of literary activity which +followed Bacon's political fall. None of Bacon's writings gives in +short apace so vivid a picture of his tastes and aspirations as this +fragment of the plan of an ideal commonwealth. The generosity and +enlightenment, the dignity and splendor, the piety and public spirit, +of the inhabitants of Bensalem represent the ideal qualities which +Bacon the statesman desired rather than hoped to see characteristic of +his own country; and in Solomon's House we have Bacon the scientist +indulging without restriction his prophetic vision of the future of +human knowledge. No reader acquainted in any degree with the +processes and results of modern scientific inquiry can fail to be +struck by the numerous approximations made by Bacon's imagination to +the actual achievements of modern times. The plan and organization of +his great college lay down the main lines of the modern research +university; and both in pure and applied science he anticipates a +strikingly large number of recent inventions and discoveries. In +still another way is <i>The New Atlantis</i> typical of Bacon's attitude. +In spite of the enthusiastic and broad-minded schemes he laid down for +the pursuit of truth, Bacon always had an eye to utility. The +advancement of science which he sought was conceived by him as a means +to a practical end the increase of man's control over nature, and the +comfort and convenience of humanity. For pure metaphysics, or any +form of abstract thinking that yielded no "fruit," he had little +interest; and this leaning to the useful is shown in the practical +applications of the discoveries made by the scholars of Solomon's +House. Nor does the interest of the work stop here. It contains much, +both in its political and in its scientific ideals, that we have as +yet by no means achieved, but which contain valuable elements of +suggestion and stimulus for the future.</p> +<div align="center"><h1>The New Atlantis</h1></div> +<p>We sailed from Peru, (where we had continued for the space of one +whole year) for China and Japan, by the South Sea; taking with us +victuals for twelve months; and had good winds from the east, though +soft and weak, for five months space, and more. But the wind came +about, and settled in the west for many days, so as we could make +little or no way, and were sometime in purpose to turn back. But then +again there arose strong and great winds from the south, with a point +east, which carried us up (for all that we could do) towards the north; +by which time our victuals failed us, though we had made good spare +of them. So that finding ourselves, in the midst of the greatest +wilderness of waters in the world, without victuals, we gave ourselves +for lost men and prepared for death. Yet we did lift up our hearts +and voices to God above, who showeth his wonders in the deep, +beseeching him of his mercy, that as in the beginning he discovered +the face of the deep, and brought forth dry land, so he would not +discover land to us, that we might not perish.</p> +<p>And it came to pass that the next day about evening we saw within a +kenning before us, towards the north, as it were thick clouds, which +did put us in some hope of land; knowing how that part of the South +Sea was utterly unknown; and might have islands, or continents, that +hitherto were not come to light. Wherefore we bent our course thither, +where we saw the appearance of land, all that night; and in the +dawning of the next day, we might plainly discern that it was a land; +flat to our sight, and full of boscage; which made it show the more +dark. And after an hour and a half's sailing, we entered into a good +haven, being the port of a fair city; not great indeed, but well built, +and that gave a pleasant view from the sea: and we thinking every +minute long, till we were on land, came close to the shore, and +offered to land. But straightways we saw divers of the people, with +<i>bastons</i> in their hands (as it were) forbidding us to land; yet without +any cries of fierceness, but only as warning us off, by signs that +they made. Whereupon being not a little discomforted, we were +advising with ourselves, what we should do.</p> +<p>During which time, there made forth to us a small boat, with about +eight persons in it; whereof one of them had in his hand a tipstaff of +a yellow cane, tipped at both ends with blue, who came aboard our ship, +without any show of distrust at all. And when he saw one of our +number, present himself somewhat before the rest, he drew forth a +little scroll of parchment (somewhat yellower than our parchment, and +shining like the leaves of writing tables, but otherwise soft and +flexible,) and delivered it to our foremost man. In which scroll were +written in ancient Hebrew, and in ancient Greek, and in good Latin of +the school, and in Spanish, these words: </p> +<blockquote> +Land ye not, none of you; and +provide to be gone from this coast, within sixteen days, except you +have further time given you. Meanwhile, if you want fresh water or +victuals, or help for your sick, or that your ship needeth repairs, +write down your wants, and you shall have that, which belongeth to +mercy. +</blockquote> +<p>This scroll was signed with a stamp of cherubim: wings, not +spread, but hanging downwards; and by them a cross. This being +delivered, the officer returned, and left only a servant with us to +receive our answer.</p> +<p>Consulting hereupon amongst ourselves, we were much perplexed. The +denial of landing and hasty warning us away troubled us much; on the +other side, to find that the people had languages, and were so full of +humanity, did comfort us not a little. And above all, the sign of the +cross to that instrument was to us a great rejoicing, and as it were a +certain presage of good. Our answer was in the Spanish tongue; that +for our ship, it was well; for we had rather met with calms and +contrary winds than any tempests. For our sick, they were many, and +in very ill case; so that if they were not permitted to land, they ran +danger of their lives. Our other wants we set down in particular; +adding, That we had some little store of merchandise, which if it +pleased them to deal for, it might supply our wants, without being +chargeable unto them. We offered some reward in <i>pistolets</i> unto the +servant, and a piece of crimson velvet to be presented to the officer; +but the servant took them not, nor would scarce look upon them; and +so left us, and went back in another little boat, which was sent for +him.</p> +<p>About three hours after we had dispatched our answer, there came +towards us a person (as it seemed) of place. He had on him a gown +with wide sleeves, of a kind of water chamolet, of an excellent azure +colour, fair more glossy than ours; his under apparel was green; and +so was his hat, being in the form of a turban, daintily made, and not +so huge as the Turkish turbans; and the locks of his hair came down +below the brims of it. A reverend man was he to behold. He came in a +boat, gilt in some part of it, with four persons more only in that +boat; and was followed by another boat, wherein were some twenty. +When he was come within a flightshot of our ship, signs were made to +us, that we should send forth some to meet him upon the water; which +we presently did in our ship-boat, sending the principal man amongst +us save one, and four of our number with him.</p> +<p>When we were come within six yards of their boat, they called to us to +stay, and not to approach farther; which we did. And thereupon the +man, whom I before described, stood up, and with a loud voice, in +Spanish, asked, "Are ye Christians?" We answered, "We were;" fearing +the less, because of the cross we had seen in the subscription. At +which answer the said person lifted up his right hand towards Heaven, +and drew it softly to his mouth (which is the gesture they use, when +they thank God;) and then said : "If ye will swear (all of you) by the +merits of the Saviour, that ye are no pirates, nor have shed blood, +lawfully, nor unlawfully within forty days past, you may have licence +to come on land." We said, "We were all ready to take that oath." +Whereupon one of those that were with him, being (as it seemed) a +notary, made an entry of this act. Which done, another of the +attendants of the great person which was with him in the same boat, +after his Lord had spoken a little to him, said aloud: "My Lord would +have you know, that it is not of pride, or greatness, that he cometh +not aboard your ship; but for that in your answer you declare that you +have many sick amongst you, he was warned by the Conservator of Health +of the city that he should keep a distance." We bowed ourselves +towards him, and answered, "We were his humble servants; and accounted +for great honour, and singular humanity towards us, that which was +already done; but hoped well, that the nature of the sickness of our +men was not infectious." So he returned; and a while after came the +Notary to us aboard our ship; holding in his hand a fruit of that +country, like an orange, but of color between orange-tawney and +scarlet; which cast a most excellent odour. He used it (as it +seemeth) for a preservative against infection. He gave us our oath; +"By the name of Jesus, and his merits:" and after told us, that the +next day, by six of the Clock, in the Morning, we should be sent to, +and brought to the Strangers' House, (so he called it,) where we +should be accommodated of things, both for our whole, and for our sick. +So he left us; and when we offered him some <i>pistolets</i>, he smiling +said, "He must not be twice paid for one labour:" meaning (as I take +it) that he had salary sufficient of the State for his service. For +(as I after learned) they call an officer that taketh rewards, "twice +paid."</p> +<p>The next morning early, there came to us the same officer that came to +us at first with his cane, and told us, He came to conduct us to the +Strangers' House; and that he had prevented the hour, because we might +have the whole day before us, for our business. "For," said he, "if +you will follow my advice, there shall first go with me some few of +you, and see the place, and how it may be made convenient for you; and +then you may send for your sick, and the rest of your number, which ye +will bring on land." We thanked him, and said, "That this care, which +he took of desolate strangers, God would reward." And so six of us +went on land with him: and when we were on land, he went before us, +and turned to us, and said, "He was but our servant, and our guide." +He led us through three fair streets; and all the way we went, there +were gathered some people on both sides, standing in a row; but in so +civil a fashion, as if it had been, not to wonder at us, but to +welcome us: and divers of them, as we passed by them, put their arms a +little abroad; which is their gesture, when they did bid any welcome.</p> +<p>The Strangers' House is a fair and spacious house, built of brick, of +somewhat a bluer colour than our brick; and with handsome windows, +some of glass, some of a kind of cambric oiled. He brought us first +into a fair parlour above stairs, and then asked us, "What number of +persons we were? And how many sick?" We answered, "We were in all, +(sick and whole,) one and fifty persons, whereof our sick were +seventeen." He desired us to have patience a little, and to stay till +he came back to us; which was about an hour after; and then he led us +to see the chambers which were provided for us, being in number +nineteen: they having cast it (as it seemeth) that four of those +chambers, which were better than the rest, might receive four of the +principal men of our company; and lodge them alone by themselves; and +the other fifteen chambers were to lodge us two and two together. The +chambers were handsome and cheerful chambers, and furnished civilly." +Then he led us to a long gallery, like a <i>dorture</i>, where he showed us +all along the one side (for the other side was but wall and window), +seventeen cells, very neat ones, having partitions of cedar wood. +Which gallery and cells, being in all forty, many more than we needed, were instituted as an infirmary for sick persons. And he told us +withal, that as any of our sick waxed well, he might be removed from +his cell, to a chamber; for which purpose there were set forth ten +spare chambers, besides the number we spake of before. This done, he +brought us back to the parlour, and lifting up his cane a little, (as +they do when they give any charge or command) said to us, "Ye are to +know, that the custom of the land requireth, that after this day and +to-morrow, (which we give you for removing of your people from your +ship,) you are to keep within doors for three days. But let it not +trouble you, nor do not think yourselves restrained, but rather left +to your rest and ease. You shall want nothing, and there are six of +our people appointed to attend you, for any business you may have +abroad." We gave him thanks, with all affection and respect, and said, +"God surely is manifested in this land." We offered him also twenty +<i>pistolets</i>; but he smiled, and only said; "What? twice paid!" And so +he left us.</p> +<p>Soon after our dinner was served in; which was right good viands, both +for bread and treat: better than any collegiate diet, that I have +known in Europe. We had also drink of three sorts, all wholesome and +good; wine of the grape; a drink of grain, such as is with us our ale, +but more clear: And a kind of cider made of a fruit of that country; a +wonderful pleasing and refreshing drink. Besides, there were brought +in to us, great store of those scarlet oranges, for our sick; which +(they said) were an assured remedy for sickness taken at sea. There +was given us also, a box of small gray, or whitish pills, which they +wished our sick should take, one of the pills, every night before +sleep; which (they said) would hasten their recovery.</p> +<p>The next day, after that our trouble of carriage and removing of our +men and goods out of our ship, was somewhat settled and quiet, I +thought good to call our company together; and when they were +assembled, said unto them:</p> +<blockquote> +"My dear friends, let us know ourselves, +and how it standeth with us. We are men cast on land, as Jonas was, +out of the whale's belly, when we were as buried in the deep: and now +we are on land, we are but between death and life; for we are beyond, +both the old world, and the new; and whether ever we shall see Europe, +God only knoweth. It is a kind of miracle bath brought us hither: and +it must be little less, that shall bring us hence. Therefore in +regard of our deliverance past, and our danger present, and to come, +let us look up to God, and every man reform his own ways. Besides we +are come here amongst a Christian people, full of piety and humanity: +let us not bring that confusion of face upon ourselves, as to show our +vices, or unworthiness before them. Yet there is more. For they have +by commandment, (though in form of courtesy) cloistered us within +these wall, for three days: who knoweth, whether it be not, to take +some taste of our manners and conditions? And if they find them bad, +to banish us straightways; if good, to give us further time. For +these men that they have given us for attendance, may withal have an +eye upon us. Therefore for God's love, and as we love the weal of our +souls and bodies, let us so behave ourselves, as we may be at peace +with God, and may find grace in the eyes of this people." +</blockquote> +<p>Our company +with one voice thanked me for my good admonition, and promised me to +live soberly and civilly, and without giving any the least occasion of +offence. So we spent our three days joyfully, and without care, in +expectation what would be done with us, when they were expired. +During which time, we had every hour joy of the amendment of our sick; +who thought themselves cast into some divine pool of healing; they +mended so kindly, and so fast.</p> +<p>The morrow after our three days were past, there came to us a new man, +that we had not seen before, clothed in blue as the former was, save +that his turban was white, with a small red cross on the top. He had +also a tippet of fine linen. At his coming in, he did bend to us a +little, and put his arms abroad. We of our parts saluted him in a +very lowly and submissive manner; as looking that from him, we should +receive sentence of life, or death: he desired to speak with some few +of us: whereupon six of us only staid, and the rest avoided the room. +He said, "I am by office governor of this House of Strangers, and by +vocation I am a Christian priest: and therefore am come to you to +offer you my service, both as strangers and chiefly as Christians. +Some things I may tell you, which I think you will not be unwilling to +hear. The State hath given you license to stay on land, for the space +of six weeks; and let it not trouble you, if your occasions ask +further time, for the law in this point is not precise; and I do not +doubt, but my self shall be able, to obtain for you such further time, +as may be convenient. Ye shall also understand, that the Strangers' +House is at this time rich, and much aforehand; for it hath laid up +revenue these thirty-seven years; for so long it is since any stranger +arrived in this part: and therefore take ye no care; the State will +defray you all the time you stay; neither shall you stay one day the +less for that. As for any merchandise ye have brought, ye shall be +well used, and have your return, either in merchandise, or in gold and +silver: for to us it is all one. And if you have any other request to +make, hide it not. For ye shall find we will not make your +countenance to fall by the answer ye shall receive. Only this I must +tell you, that none of you must go above a karan," (that is with them +a mile and an half) "from the walls of the city, without especial +leave."</p> +<p>We answered, after we had looked awhile one upon another, admiring +this gracious and parent-like usage; "That we could not tell what to +say: for we wanted words to express our thanks; and his noble free +offers left us nothing to ask. It seemed to us, that we had before us +a picture of our salvation in Heaven; for we that were a while since +in the jaws of death, were now brought into a place, where we found +nothing but consolations. For the commandment laid upon us, we would +not fail to obey it, though it was impossible but our hearts should be +enflamed to tread further upon this happy and holy ground." We added, +"That our tongues should first cleave to the roofs of our mouths, ere +we should forget, either his reverend person, or this whole nation, in +our prayers." We also most humbly besought him, to accept of us as +his true servants; by as just a right as ever men on earth were +bounden; laying and presenting, both our persons, and all we had, at +his feet. He said; "He was a priest, and looked for a priest's reward; +which was our brotherly love, and the good of our souls and bodies." +So he went from us, not without tears of tenderness in his eyes; and +left us also confused with joy and kindness, saying amongst ourselves; +"That we were come into a land of angels, which did appear to us daily, +and prevent us with comforts, which we thought not of, much less +expected."</p> +<p>The next day about ten of the clock, the Governor came to us again, +and after salutations, said familiarly; "That he was come to visit us;" +and called for a chair, and sat him down: and we, being some ten of +us, (the rest were of the meaner sort, or else gone abroad,) sat down +with him, And when we were set, he began thus: " We of this island of +Bensalem," (for so they call it in their language,) "have this; that +by means of our solitary situation; and of the laws of secrecy, which +we have for our travellers, and our rare admission of strangers; we +know well most part of the habitable world, and are ourselves unknown. +Therefore because he that knoweth least is fittest to ask questions, +it is more reason, for the entertainment of the time, that ye ask me +questions, than that I ask you."</p> +<p>We answered; "That we humbly thanked him that he would give us leave +so to do: and that we conceived by the taste we had already, that +there was no worldly thing on earth, more worthy to be known than the +state of that happy land. But above all," (we said,) "since that we +were met from the several ends of the world, and hoped assuredly that +we should meet one day in the kingdom of Heaven, (for that we were +both parts Christians,) we desired to know, (in respect that land was +so remote, and so divided by vast and unknown seas, from the land +where our Saviour walked on earth,) who was the apostle of that nation, +and how it was converted to the faith?" It appeared in his face that +he took great contentment in this our question: he said; "Ye knit my +heart to you, by asking this question in the first place; for it +sheweth that you first seek the kingdom of heaven; and I shall gladly, +and briefly, satisfy your demand.</p> +<p>"About twenty years after the ascension of our Saviour, it came to +pass, that there was seen by the people of Renfusa, (a city upon the +eastern coast of our island,) within night, (the night was cloudy, and +calm,) as it might be some mile into the sea, a great pillar of light; +not sharp, but in form of a column, or cylinder, rising from the sea a +great way up towards heaven; and on the top of it was seen a large +cross of light, more bright and resplendent than the body of the +pillar. Upon which so strange a spectacle, the people of the city +gathered apace together upon the sands, to wonder; and so after put +themselves into a number of small boats, to go nearer to this +marvellous sight. But when the boats were come within (about) sixty +yards of the pillar, they found themselves all bound, and could go no +further; yet so as they might move to go about, but might not approach +nearer: so as the boats stood all as in a theatre, beholding this +light as an heavenly sign. It so fell out, that there was in one of +the boats one of the wise men, of the society of Salomon's House; +which house, or college (my good brethren) is the very eye of this +kingdom; who having awhile attentively and devoutly viewed and +contemplated this pillar and cross, fell down upon his face; and then +raised himself upon his knees, and lifting up his hands to heaven, +made his prayers in this manner.</p> +<blockquote> +"'LORD God of heaven and earth, thou hast vouchsafed of thy grace to +those of our order, to know thy works of Creation, and the secrets of +them: and to discern (as far as appertaineth to the generations of +men) between divine miracles, works of nature, works of art, and +impostures and illusions of all sorts. I do here acknowledge and +testify before this people, that the thing which we now see before our +eyes is thy Finger and a true Miracle. And forasmuch as we learn in +our books that thou never workest miracles, but to divine and +excellent end, (for the laws of nature are thine own laws, and thou +exceedest them not but upon great cause,) we most humbly beseech thee +to prosper this great sign, and to give us the interpretation and use +of it in mercy; which thou dost in some part secretly promise by +sending it unto us.' +</blockquote> +<p>"When he had made his prayer, he presently found the boat he was in, +moveable and unbound; whereas all the rest remained still fast; and +taking that for an assurance of leave to approach, he caused the boat +to be softly and with silence rowed towards the pillar. But ere he +came near it, the pillar and cross of light brake up, and cast itself +abroad, as it were, into a firmament of many stars; which also +vanished soon after, and there was nothing left to be seen, but a +small ark, or chest of cedar, dry, and not wet at all with water, +though it swam. And in the fore-end of it, which was towards him, +grew a small green branch of palm; and when the wise man had taken it, +with all reverence, into his boat, it opened of itself, and there were +found in it a Book and a Letter; both written in fine parchment, and +wrapped in sindons of linen. The Book contained all the canonical +books of the Old and New Testament, according as you have them; (for +we know well what the churches with you receive); and the Apocalypse +itself, and some other books of the New Testament, which were not at +that time written, were nevertheless in the Book. And for the Letter, +it was in these words:</p> +<blockquote> +"'I, Bartholomew, a servant of the Highest, and Apostle of Jesus +Christ, was warned by an angel that appeareth to me, in a vision of +glory, that I should commit this ark to the floods of the sea. +Therefore I do testify and declare unto that people where God shall +ordain this ark to come to land, that in the same day is come unto +them salvation and peace and good-will, from the Father, and from the +Lord Jesus.' +</blockquote> +<p>"There was also in both these writings, as well the Book, as the +Letter, wrought a great miracle, conform to that of the Apostles, in +the original Gift of Tongues. For there being at that time in this +land Hebrews, Persians, and Indians, besides the natives, every one +read upon the Book, and Letter, as if they had been written in his own +language. And thus was this land saved from infidelity (as the +remainder of the old world was from water) by an ark, through the +apostolical and miraculous evangelism of Saint Bartholomew." And here +he paused, and a messenger came, and called him from us. So this was +all that passed in that conference.</p> +<p>The next day, the same governor came again to us, immediately after +dinner, and excused himself, saying; "That the day before he was +called from us, somewhat abruptly, but now he would make us amends, +and spend time with us if we held his company and conference agreeable." +We answered, "That we held it so agreeable and pleasing to us, as +we forgot both dangers past and fears to come, for the time we hear +him speak; and that we thought an hour spent with him, was worth years +of our former life." He bowed himself a little to us, and after we +were set again, he said; "Well, the questions are on your part."</p> +<p>One of our number said, after a little pause; that there was a matter, +we were no less desirous to know, than fearful to ask, lest we might +presume too far. But encouraged by his rare humanity towards us, +(that could scarce think ourselves strangers, being his vowed and +professed servants,) we would take the hardiness to propound it: +humbly beseeching him, if he thought it not fit to be answered, that +he would pardon it, though he rejected it. We said; "We well observed +those his words, which he formerly spake, that this happy island, +where we now stood, was known to few, and yet knew most of the nations +of the world; which we found to be true, considering they had the +languages of Europe, and knew much of our state and business; and yet +we in Europe, (notwithstanding all the remote discoveries and +navigations of this last age), never heard of the least inkling or +glimpse of this island. This we found wonderful strange; for that all +nations have inter-knowledge one of another, either by voyage into +foreign parts, or by strangers that come to them: and though the +traveller into a foreign country, doth commonly know more by the eye, +than he that stayeth at home can by relation of the traveller; yet +both ways suffice to make a mutual knowledge, in some degree, on both +parts. But for this island, we never heard tell of any ship of theirs +that had been seen to arrive upon any shore of Europe; nor of either +the East or West Indies; nor yet of any ship of any other part of the +world, that had made return from them. And yet the marvel rested not +in this. For the situation of it (as his lordship said) in the secret +conclave of such a vast sea might cause it. But then, that they +should have knowledge of the languages, books, affairs, of those that +lie such a distance from them, it was a thing we could not tell what +to make of; for that it seemed to us a conditioner and propriety of +divine powers and beings, to be hidden and unseen to others, and yet +to have others open and as in a light to them."</p> +<p>At this speech the Governor gave a gracious smile, and said; "That we +did well to ask pardon for this question we now asked: for that it +imported, as if we thought this land, a land of magicians, that sent +forth spirits of the air into all parts, to bring them news and +intelligence of other countries." It was answered by us all, in all +possible humbleness, but yet with a countenance taking knowledge, that +we knew that he spake it but merrily, "That we were apt enough to +think there was somewhat supernatural in this island; but yet rather +as angelical than magical. But to let his lordship know truly what it +was that made us tender and doubtful to ask this question, it was not +any such conceit," but because we remembered, he had given a touch in +his former speech, that this land had laws of secrecy touching +strangers." To this he said; "You remember it aright and therefore in +that I shall say to you, I must reserve some particulars, which it is +not lawful for me to reveal; but there will be enough left, to give +you satisfaction.</p> +<p>"You shall understand (that which perhaps you will scarce think +credible) that about three thousand years ago, or somewhat more, the +navigation of the world, (especially for remote voyages,) was greater +than at this day. Do not think with yourselves, that I know not how +much it is increased with you, within these six-score years: I know it +well: and yet I say greater then than now; whether it was, that the +example of the ark, that saved the remnant of men from the universal +deluge, gave men confidence to adventure upon the waters; or what it +was; but such is the truth. The Phoenicians, and especially the +Tyrians, had great fleets. So had the Carthaginians their colony, +which is yet further west. Toward the east the shipping of Egypt and +of Palestine was likewise great. China also, and the great Atlantis, +(that you call America,) which have now but junks and canoes, abounded +then in tall ships. This island, (as appeareth by faithful registers +of those times,) had then fifteen hundred strong ships, of great +content. Of all this, there is with you sparing memory, or none; but +we have large knowledge thereof.</p> +<p>"At that time, this land was known and frequented by the ships and +vessels of all the nations before named. And (as it cometh to pass) +they had many times men of other countries, that were no sailors, that +came with them; as Persians, Chaldeans, Arabians; so as almost all +nations of might and fame resorted hither; of whom we have some stirps, +and little tribes with us at this day. And for our own ships, they +went sundry voyages, as well to your straits, which you call the +Pillars of Hercules, as to other parts in the Atlantic and Mediterrane +Seas; as to Paguin, (which is the same with Cambaline,) and Quinzy, +upon the Oriental Seas, as far as to the borders of the East Tartary.</p> +<p>"At the same time, and an age after, or more, the inhabitants of the +great Atlantis did flourish. For though the narration and description, +which is made by a great man with you; that the descendants of +Neptune planted there; and of the magnificent temple, palace, city, +and hill; and the manifold streams of goodly navigable rivers, (which +as so many chains environed the same site and temple); and the several +degrees of ascent, whereby men did climb up to the same, as if it had +been a <i>scala coeli</i>, be all poetical and fabulous: yet so much is true, +that the said country of Atlantis, as well that of Peru, then called +Coya, as that of Mexico, then named Tyrambel, were mighty and proud +kingdoms in arms, shipping and riches: so mighty, as at one time (or +at least within the space of ten years) they both made two great +expeditions; they of Tyrambel through the Atlantic to the Mediterrane +Sea; and they of Coya through the South Sea upon this our island: and +for the former of these, which was into Europe, the same author +amongst you (as it seemeth) had some relation from the Egyptian priest +whom he cited. For assuredly such a thing there was. But whether it +were the ancient Athenians that had the glory of the repulse and +resistance of those forces, I can say nothing: but certain it is, +there never came back either ship or man from that voyage. Neither +had the other voyage of those of Coya upon us had better fortune, if +they had not met with enemies of greater clemency. For the king of +this island, (by name Altabin,) a wise man and a great warrior, +knowing well both his own strength and that of his enemies, handled +the matter so, as he cut off their land-forces from their ships; and +entoiled both their navy and their tamp with a greater power than +theirs, both by sea and land: arid compelled them to render themselves +without striking stroke and after they were at his mercy, contenting +himself only with their oath that they should no more bear arms +against him, dismissed them all in safety.</p> +<p>"But the divine revenge overtook not long after those proud +enterprises. For within less than the space of one hundred years, the +great Atlantis was utterly lost and destroyed: not by a great +earthquake, as your man saith; (for that whole tract is little subject +to earthquakes;) but by a particular' deluge or inundation; those +countries having, at this day, far greater rivers and far higher +mountains to pour down waters, than any part of the old world. But it +is true that the same inundation was not deep; not past forty foot, in +most places, from the ground; so that although it destroyed man and +beast generally, yet some few wild inhabitants of the wood escaped. +Birds also were saved by flying to the high trees and woods. For as +for men, although they had buildings in many places, higher than the +depth of the water, yet that inundation, though it were shallow, had a +long continuance; whereby they of the vale that were not drowned, +perished for want of food and other things necessary.</p> +<p>"So as marvel you not at the thin population of America, nor at the +rudeness and ignorance of the people; for you must account your +inhabitants of America as a young people; younger a thousand years, at +the least, than the rest of the world: for that there was so much time +between the universal flood and their particular inundation. For the +poor remnant of human seed, which remained in their mountains, peopled +the country again slowly, by little and little; and being simple and +savage people, (not like Noah and his sons, which was the chief family +of the earth;) they were not able to leave letters, arts, and civility +to their posterity; and having likewise in their mountainous +habitations been used (in respect of the extreme cold of those +regions) to clothe themselves with the skins of tigers, bears, and +great hairy goats, that they have in those parts; when after they came +down into the valley, and found the intolerable heats which are there, +and knew no means of lighter apparel, they were forced to begin the +custom of going naked, which continueth at this day. Only they take +great pride and delight in the feathers of birds; and this also they +took from those their ancestors of the mountains, who were invited +unto it by the infinite flights of birds that came up to the high +grounds, while the waters stood below. So you see, by this main +accident of time, we lost our traffic with the Americans, with whom of, +all others, in regard they lay nearest to us, we had most commerce.</p> +<p>"As for the other parts of the world, it is most manifest that in the +ages following (whether it were in respect of wars, or by a natural +revolution of time,) navigation did every where greatly decay; and +specially far voyages (the rather by the use of galleys, and such +vessels as could hardly brook the ocean,) were altogether left and +omitted. So then, that part of intercourse which could be from other +nations to sail to us, you see how it hath long since ceased; except +it were by some rare accident, as this of yours. But now of the +cessation of that other part of intercourse, which might be by our +sailing to other nations, I must yield you some other cause. For I +cannot say (if I shall say truly,) but our shipping, for number, +strength, mariners, pilots, and all things that appertain to +navigation, is as great as ever; and therefore why we should sit at +home, I shall now give you an account by itself: and it will draw +nearer to give you satisfaction to your principal question.</p> +<p>"There reigned in this land, about nineteen hundred years ago, a king, +whose memory of all others we most adore; not superstitiously, but as +a divine instrument, though a mortal man; his name was Solamona: and +we esteem him as the lawgiver of our nation. This king had a large +heart, inscrutable for good; and was wholly bent to make his kingdom +and people happy. He therefore, taking into consideration how +sufficient and substantive this land was to maintain itself without +any aid (at all) of the foreigner; being five thousand six hundred +miles in circuit, and of rare fertility of soil in the greatest part +thereof; and finding also the shipping of this country might be +plentifully set on work, both by fishing and by transportations from +port to port, and likewise by sailing unto some small islands that are +not far from us, and are under the crown and laws of this state; and, +recalling into his memory the happy and flourishing estate wherein +this land then was; so as it might be a thousand ways altered to the +worse, but scarce any one way to the better; thought nothing wanted to +his noble and heroical intentions, but only (as far as human foresight +might reach) to give perpetuity to that which was in his time so +happily established. Therefore amongst his other fundamental laws of +this kingdom, he did ordain the interdicts and prohibitions which we +have touching entrance of strangers; which at that time (though it was +after the calamity of America) was frequent; doubting novelties, and +commixture of manners. It is true, the like law against the admission +of strangers without licence is an ancient law in the kingdom of China, +and yet continued in use. But there it is a poor thing; and hath +made them a curious, ignorant, fearful, foolish nation. But our +lawgiver made his law of another temper. For first, he hath preserved +all points of humanity, in taking order and making provision for the +relief of strangers distressed; whereof you have tasted."</p> +<p>At which speech (as reason was) we all rose up and bowed ourselves. +He went on.</p> +<p>"That king also, still desiring to join humanity and policy together; +and thinking it against humanity, to detain strangers here against +their wills, and against policy that they should return and discover +their knowledge of this estate, he took this course: he did ordain +that of the strangers that should be permitted to land, as many (at +all times) might depart as would; but as many as would stay should +have very good conditions and means to live from the state. Wherein +he saw so far, that now in so many ages since the prohibition, we have +memory not of one ship that ever returned, and but of thirteen persons +only, at several times, that chose to return in our bottoms. What +those few that returned may have reported abroad I know not. But you +must think, whatsoever they have said could be taken where they came +but for a dream. Now for our travelling from henna into parts abroad, +our Lawgiver thought fit altogether to restrain it. So is it not in +China. For the Chinese sail where they will or can; which sheweth +that their law of keeping out strangers is a law of pusillanimity and +fear. But this restraint of ours hath one only exception, which is +admirable; preserving the good which cometh by communicating with +strangers, and avoiding the hurt; and I will now open it to you. And +here I shall seem a little to digress, but you will by and by find it +pertinent.</p> +<p>"Ye shall understand (my dear friends) that amongst the excellent acts +of that king, one above all hath the pre-eminence. It was the +erection and institution of an Order or Society, which we call +Salomon's House; the noblest foundation (as we think) that ever was +upon the earth; and the lanthorn of this kingdom. It is dedicated to +the study of the works and creatures of God. Some think it beareth +the founder's name a little corrupted, as if it should be Solamona's +House. But the records write it as it is spoken. So as I take it to +be denominate of the king of the Hebrews, which is famous with you, +and no stranger to us. For we have some parts of his works, which +with you are lost; namely, that natural history, which he wrote, of +all plants, from the cedar of Libanus to the moss that groweth out of +the wall, and of all things that have life and motion. This maketh me +think that our king, finding himself to symbolize in many things with +that king of the Hebrews (which lived many years before him), honored +him with the title of this foundation. And I am rather induced to be +of this opinion, for that I find in ancient records this Order or +Society is sometimes called Salomon's House, and sometimes the College +of the Six Days Works; whereby I am satisfied that our excellent king +had learned from the Hebrews that God had created the world and all +that therein is within six days: and therefore he instituting that +House for the finding out of the true nature of all things, (whereby +God might have the more glory in the workmanship of them, and insert +the more fruit in the use of them), did give it also that second name.</p> +<p>"But now to come to our present purpose. When the king had forbidden +to all his people navigation into any part that was not under his +crown, he made nevertheless this ordinance; that every twelve years +there should be set forth, out of this kingdom two ships, appointed to +several voyages; That in either of these ships there should be a +mission of three of the Fellows or Brethren of Salomon's House; whose +errand was only to give us knowledge of the affairs and state of those +countries to which they were designed, and especially of the sciences, +arts, manufactures, and inventions of all the world; and withal to +bring unto us books, instruments, and patterns in every kind: That the +ships, after they had landed the brethren, should return; and that the +brethren should stay abroad till the new mission. These ships are not +otherwise fraught, than with store of victuals, and good quantity of +treasure to remain with the brethren, for the buying of such things +and rewarding of such persons as they should think fit. Now for me to +tell you how the vulgar sort of mariners are contained from being +discovered at land; and how they that must be put on shore for any +time, color themselves under the names of other nations; and to what +places these voyages have been designed; and what places of rendezvous +are appointed for the new missions; and the like circumstances of the +practique; I may not do it: neither is it much to your desire. But +thus you see we maintain a trade not for gold, silver, or jewels; nor +for silks; nor for spices; nor any other commodity of matter; but only +for God's first creature, which was Light: to have light (I say) of +the growth of all parts of the world."</p> +<p>And when he had said this, he was silent; and so were we all. For +indeed we were all astonished to hear so strange things so probably +told. And he, perceiving that we were willing to say somewhat but had +it not ready in great courtesy took us off, and descended to ask us +questions of our voyage and fortunes and in the end concluded, that we +might do well to think with ourselves what time of stay we would +demand of the state; and bade us not to scant ourselves; for he would +procure such time as we desired: Whereupon we all rose up, and +presented ourselves to kiss the skirt of his tippet; but he would not +suffer us; and so took his leave. But when it came once amongst our +people that the state used to offer conditions to strangers that would +stay, we had work enough to get any of our men to look to our ship; +and to keep them from going presently to the governor to crave +conditions. But with much ado we refrained them, till we might agree +what course to take.</p> +<p>We took ourselves now for free men, seeing there was no danger of our +utter perdition; and lived most joyfully, going abroad and seeing what +was to be seen in the city and places adjacent within our tedder; and +obtaining acquaintance with many of the city, not of the meanest +quality; at whose hands we found such humanity, and such a freedom and +desire to take strangers as it were into their bosom, as was enough to +make us forget all that was dear to us in our own countries: and +continually we met with many things right worthy of observation and +relation: as indeed, if there be a mirror in the world worthy to hold +men's eyes, it is that country.</p> +<p>One day there were two of our company bidden to a Feast of the Family, +as they call it. A most natural, pious, and reverend custom it is, +shewing that nation to be compounded of all goodness. This is the +manner of it. It is granted to any man that shall live to see thirty +persons descended of his body alive together, and all above three +years old, to make this feast which is done at the cost of the state. +The Father of the Family, whom they call the Tirsan, two days before +the feast, taketh to him three of such friends as he liketh to choose; +and is assisted also by the governor of the city or place where the +feast is celebrated; and all the persons of the family, of both sexes, +are summoned to attend him. These two days the Tirsan sitteth in +consultation concerning the good estate of the family. There, if +there be any discord or suits between any of the family, they are +compounded and appeased. There, if any of the family be distressed or +decayed, order is taken for their relief and competent means to live. +There, if any be subject to vice, or take ill courses, they are +reproved and censured. So likewise direction is given touching +marriages, and the courses of life, which any of them should take, +with divers other the like orders and advices. The governor assisteth, +to the end to put in execution by his public authority the decrees +and orders of the Tirsan, if they should be disobeyed; though that +seldom needeth; such reverence and obedience they give to the order of +nature. The Tirsan doth also then ever choose one man from among his +sons, to live in house with him; who is called ever after the Son of +the Vine. The reason will hereafter appear.</p> +<p>On the feast day, the father or Tirsan cometh forth after divine +service into a large room where the feast is celebrated; which room +hath an half-pace at the upper end. Against the wall, in the middle +of the half-pace, is a chair placed for him, with a table and carpet +before it. Over the chair is a state, made round or oval, and it is +of ivy; an ivy somewhat whiter than ours, like the leaf of a silver +asp; but more shining; for it is green all winter. And the state is +curiously wrought with silver and silk of divers colors, broiding or +binding in the ivy; and is ever of the work of some of the daughters +of the family; and veiled over at the top with a fine net of silk and +silver. But the substance of it is true ivy; whereof, after it is +taken down, the friends of the family are desirous to have some leaf +or sprig to keep.</p> +<p>The Tirsan cometh forth with all his generation or linage, the males +before him, and the females following him; and if there be a mother +from whose body the whole linage is descended, there is a traverse +placed in a loft above on the right hand of the chair, with a privy +door, and a carved window of glass, leaded with gold and blue; where +she sitteth, but is not seen. When the Tirsan is come forth, he +sitteth down in the chair; and all the linage place themselves against +the wall, both at his back and upon the return of the half-pace, in +order of their years without difference of sex; and stand upon their +feet. When he is set; the room being always full of company, but well +kept and without disorder; after some pause, there cometh in from the +lower end of the room, a taratan (which is as much as an herald) and +on either side of him two young lads; whereof one carrieth a scroll of +their shining yellow parchment; and the other a cluster of grapes of +gold, with a long foot or stalk. The herald and children are clothed +with mantles of sea-water green satin; but the herald's mantle is +streamed with gold, and hath a train.</p> +<p>Then the herald with three curtesies, or rather inclinations, cometh +up as far as the half-pace; and there first taketh into his hand the +scroll. This scroll is the king's charter, containing gifts of +revenew, and many privileges, exemptions, and points of honour, +granted to the Father of the Family; and is ever styled and directed, +To such do one our well beloved friend and creditor: which is a title +proper only to this case. For they say the king is debtor to no man, +but for propagation of his subjects. The seal set to the king's +charter is the king's image, imbossed or moulded in gold; and though +such charters be expedited of course, and as of right, yet they are +varied by discretion, according to the number and dignity of the +family. This charter the herald readeth aloud; and while it is read, +the father or Tirsan standeth up supported by two of his sons, such as +he chooseth. Then the herald mounteth the half-pace and delivereth +the charter into his hand: and with that there is an acclamation by +all that are present in their language, which is thus much: Happy are +the people of Bensalem.</p> +<p>Then the herald taketh into his hand from the other child the cluster +of grapes, which is of gold, both the stalk and the grapes. But the +grapes are daintily enamelled; and if the males of the family be the +greater number, the grapes are enamelled purple, with a little sun set +on the top; if the females, then they are enamelled into a greenish +yellow, with a crescent on the top. The grapes are in number as many +as there are descendants of the family. This golden cluster the +herald delivereth also to the Tirsan; who presently delivereth it over +to that son that he had formerly chosen to be in house with him: who +beareth it before his father as an ensign of honour when he goeth in +public, ever after; and is thereupon called the Son of the Vine.</p> +<p>After the ceremony endeth the father or Tirsan retireth; and after +some time cometh forth again to dinner, where he sitteth alone under +the state, as before; and none of his descendants sit with him, of +what degree or dignity soever, except he hap to be of Salomon's House. +He is served only by his own children, such as are male; who perform +unto him all service of the table upon the knee; and the women only +stand about him, leaning against the wall. The room below the +half-pace hath tables on the sides for the guests that are bidden; who +are served with great and comely order; and towards the end of dinner +(which in the greatest feasts with them lasteth never above an hour +and an half) there is an hymn sung, varied according to the invention +of him that composeth it (for they have excellent posy) but the +subject of it is (always) the praises of Adam and Noah and Abraham; +whereof the former two peopled the world, and the last was the Father +of the Faithful: concluding ever with a thanksgiving for the nativity +of our Saviour, in whose birth the births of all are only blessed.</p> +<p>Dinner being done, the Tirsan retireth again; and having withdrawn +himself alone into a place, where he makes some private prayers, he +cometh forth the third time, to give the blessing with all his +descendants, who stand about him as at the first. Then he calleth +them forth by one and by one, by name, as he pleaseth, though seldom +the order of age be inverted. The person that is called (the table +being before removed) kneeleth down before the chair, and the father +layeth his hand upon his head, or her head, and giveth the blessing in +these words:</p> +<blockquote> +Son of Bensalem, (or daughter of Bensalem,) thy father +with it: the man by whom thou hast breath and life speaketh the word: +the blessing of the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, and the +Holy Dove, be upon thee, and make the days of thy pilgrimage good and +many. +</blockquote> +<p>This he saith to every of them; and that done, if there be any +of his sons of eminent merit and virtue, (so they be not above two,) +he calleth for them again; and saith, laying his arm over their +shoulders, they standing:</p> +<blockquote> +Sons, it is well ye are born, give God the +praise, and persevere to the end. +</blockquote> +<p>And withall delivereth to either of +them a jewel, made in the figure of an ear of wheat, which they ever +after wear in the front of their turban or hat. This done, they fall +to music and dances, and other recreations, after their manner, for +the rest of the day. This is the full order of that feast.</p> +<p>By that time six or seven days were spent, I was fallen into straight +acquaintance with a merchant of that city, whose name was Joabin. He +was a Jew and circumcised: for they have some few stirps of Jews yet +remaining among them, whom they leave to their own religion. Which +they may the better do, because they are of a far differing +disposition from the Jews in other parts. For whereas they hate the +name of Christ; and have a secret inbred rancour against the people +among whom they live: these (contrariwise) give unto our Saviour many +high attributes, and love the nation of Bensalem extremely. Surely +this man of whom I speak would ever acknowledge that Christ was born +of a virgin and that he was more than a man; and he would tell how God +made him ruler of the seraphims which guard his throne; and they call +him also the Milken Way, and the Eliah of the Messiah; and many other +high names; which though they be inferior to his divine majesty, yet +they are far from the language of other Jews.</p> +<p>And for the country of Bensalem, this man would make no end of +commending it; being desirous, by tradition among the Jews there, to +have it believed that the people thereof were of the generations of +Abraham, by another son, whom they call Nachoran; and that Moses by a +secret Cabala ordained the Laws of Bensalem which they now use; and +that when the Messiah should come, and sit in his throne at Hierusalem, +the king of Bensalem should sit at his feet, whereas other kings +should keep a great distance. But yet setting aside these Jewish +dreams, the man was a wise man, and learned, and of great policy, and +excellently seen in the laws and customs of that nation.</p> +<p>Amongst other discourses, one day I told him I was much affected with +the relation I had, from some of the company, of their custom, in +holding the Feast of the Family; for that (methought) I had never +heard of a solemnity wherein nature did so much preside. And because +propagation of families proceedeth from the nuptial copulation, I +desired to know of him what laws and customs they had concerning +marriage; and whether they kept marriage well and whether they were +tied to one wife; for that where population is so much affected,' and +such as with them it seemed to be, there is commonly permission of +plurality of wives.</p> +<p>To this he said, "You have reason for to commend that excellent +institution of the Feast of the Family. And indeed we have experience +that those families that are partakers of the blessing of that feast +do flourish and prosper ever after in an extraordinary manner. But +hear me now, and I will tell you what I know. You shall understand +that there is not under the heavens so chaste a nation as this of +Bensalem; nor so free from all pollution or foulness. It is the +virgin of the world. I remember I have read in one of your European +books, of an holy hermit amongst you that desired to see the Spirit of +Fornication; and there appeared to him a little foul ugly Æthiop. +But if he had desired to see the Spirit of Chastity of Bensalem, it +would have appeared to him in the likeness of a fair beautiful +Cherubim. For there is nothing amongst mortal men more fair and +admirable, than the chaste minds of this people. Know therefore, that +with them there are no stews, no dissolute houses, no courtesans, nor +anything of that kind. Nay they wonder (with detestation) at you in +Europe, which permit such things. They say ye have put marriage out +of office: for marriage is ordained a remedy for unlawful +concupiscence; and natural concupiscence seemeth as a spar to marriage. +But when men have at hand a remedy more agreeable to their corrupt +will, marriage is almost expulsed. And therefore there are with you +seen infinite men that marry not, but chose rather a libertine and +impure single life, than to be yoked in marriage; and many that do +marry, marry late, when the prime and strength of their years is past. +And when they do marry, what is marriage to them but a very bargain; +wherein is sought alliance, or portion, or reputation, with some +desire (almost indifferent) of issue; and not the faithful nuptial +union of man and wife, that was first instituted. Neither is it +possible that those that have cast away so basely so much of their +strength, should greatly esteem children, (being of the same matter,) +as chaste men do. So likewise during marriage, is the case much +amended, as it ought to be if those things were tolerated only for +necessity? No, but they remain still as a very affront to marriage. +The haunting of those dissolute places, or resort to courtesans, are +no more punished in married men than in bachelors. And the depraved +custom of change, and the delight in meretricious embracements, (where +sin is turned into art,) maketh marriage a dull thing, and a kind of +imposition or tax. They hear you defend these things, as done to +avoid greater evils; as advoutries, deflowering of virgins, unnatural +lust, and the like. But they say this is a preposterous wisdom; and +they call it Lot's offer, who to save his guests from abusing, offered +his daughters: nay they say farther that there is little gained in +this; for that the same vices and appetites do still remain and abound; +unlawful lust being like a furnace, that if you stop the flames +altogether, it will quench; but if you give it any vent, it will rage. +As for masculine love, they have no touch of it; and yet there are +not so faithful and inviolate friendships in the world again as are +there; and to speak generally, (as I said before,) I have not read of +any such chastity, in any people as theirs. And their usual saying is, +That whosoever is unchaste cannot reverence himself; and they say, +That the reverence of a man's self, is, next to religion, the chiefest +bridle of all vices."</p> +<p>And when he had said this, the good Jew paused a little; whereupon I, +far more willing to hear him speak on than to speak myself, yet +thinking it decent that upon his pause of speech I should not be +altogether silent, said only this; "That I would say to him, as the +widow of Sarepta said to Elias; that he was come to bring to memory +our sins; and that I confess the righteousness of Bensalem was greater +than the righteousness of Europe." At which speech he bowed his head, +and went on in this manner:</p> +<p>"They have also many wise and excellent laws touching marriage. They +allow no polygamy. They have ordained that none do intermarry or +contract, until a month be past from their first interview. Marriage +without consent of parents they do not make void, but they mulct it +in the inheritors: for the children of such marriages are not admitted +to inherit above a third part of their parents' inheritance. I have +read in a book of one of your men, of a Feigned Commonwealth, where +the married couple are permitted, before they contract, to see one +another naked. This they dislike; for they think it a scorn to give a +refusal after so familiar knowledge: but because of many hidden +defects in men and women's bodies, they have a more civil way; for +they have near every town a couple of pools, (which they call Adam and +Eve's pools,) where it is permitted to one of the friends of the men, +and another of the friends of the woman, to see them severally bathe +naked."</p> +<p>And as we were thus in conference, there came one that seemed to be a +messenger, in a rich huke, that spake with the Jew: whereupon he +turned to me and said; "You will pardon me, for I am commanded away in +haste." The next morning he came to me again, joyful as it seemed, +and said; "There is word come to the Governor of the city, that one of +the Fathers of Salomon's House will be here this day seven-night: we +have seen none of them this dozen years. His coming is in state; but +the cause of his coming is secret. I will provide you and your +fellows of a good standing to see his entry." I thanked him, and told +him, I was most glad of the news.</p> +<p>The day being come, he made his entry. He was a man of middle stature +and age, comely of person, and had an aspect as if he pitied men. He +was clothed in a robe of fine black cloth, with wide sleeves and a +cape. His under garment was of excellent white linen down to the foot, +girt with a girdle of the same; and a sindon or tippet of the same +about his neck. He had gloves, that were curious, and set with +stone; and shoes of peach-coloured velvet. His neck was bare to the +shoulders. His hat was like a helmet, or Spanish montera; and his +locks curled below it decently: they were of colour brown. His beard +was cut round, and of the same colour with his hair, somewhat lighter. +He was carried in a rich chariot without wheels, litter-wise; with +two horses at either end, richly trapped in blue velvet embroidered; +and two footmen on each side in the like attire. The chariot was all +of cedar, gilt, and adorned with crystal; save that the fore-end had +panels of sapphires, set in borders of gold; and the hinder-end the +like of emeralds of the Peru colour. There was also a sun of gold, +radiant, upon the top, in the midst; and on the top before, a small +cherub of gold, with wings displayed. The chariot was covered with +cloth of gold tissued upon blue. He had before him fifty attendants, +young men all, in white satin loose coats to the mid leg; and +stockings of white silk; and shoes of blue velvet; and hats of blue +velvet; with fine plumes of diverse colours, set round like hat-bands. +Next before the chariot, went two men, bare-headed, in linen garments +down the foot, girt, and shoes of blue velvet; who carried, the one a +crosier, the other a pastoral staff like a sheep-hook; neither of them +of metal, but the crosier of balm-wood, the pastoral staff of cedar. +Horsemen he had none, neither before nor behind his chariot: as it +seemeth, to avoid all tumult and trouble. Behind his chariot went all +the officers and principals of the companies of the city. He sat +alone, upon cushions of a kind of excellent plush, blue; and under his +foot curious carpets of silk of diverse colours, like the Persian, but +far finer. He held up his bare hand as he went, as blessing the +people, but in silence. The street was wonderfully well kept: so that +there was never any army had their men stand in better battle-array +than the people stood. The windows likewise were not crowded, but +every one stood in them as if they had been placed.</p> +<p>When the shew was past, the Jew said to me; "I shall not be able to +attend you as I would, in regard of some charge the city hath laid +upon me, for the entertaining of this great person." Three days after +the Jew came to me again, and said; "Ye are happy men; for the Father +of Salomon's House taketh knowledge of your being here, and commanded +me to tell you that he will admit all your company to his presence, +and have private conference with one of you, that ye shall choose: and +for this hath appointed the next day after to-morrow. And because he +meaneth to give you his blessing, he hath appointed it in the forenoon."</p> +<p>We came at our day and hour, and I was chosen by my fellows for the +private access. We found him in a fair chamber, richly hanged, and +carpeted under foot without any degrees to the state. He was set upon +a low Throne richly adorned, and a rich cloth of state over his head, +of blue satin embroidered. He was alone, save that he had two pages +of honour, on either hand one, finely attired in white. His under +garments were the like that we saw him wear in the chariot; but +instead of his gown, he had on him a mantle with a cape, of the same +fine black, fastened about him. When we came in, as we were taught, +we bowed low at our first entrance; and when we were come near his +chair, he stood up, holding forth his hand ungloved, and in posture of +blessing; and we every one of us stooped down, and kissed the hem of +his tippet. That done, the rest departed, and I remained. Then he +warned the pages forth of the room, and caused me to sit down beside +him, and spake to me thus in the Spanish tongue.</p> +<p>"God bless thee, my son; I will give thee the greatest jewel I have. +For I will impart unto thee, for the love of God and men, a relation +of the true state of Salomon's House. Son, to make you know the true +state of Salomon's House, I will keep this order. First, I will set +forth unto you the end of our foundation. Secondly, the preparations +and instruments we have for our works. Thirdly, the several +employments and functions whereto our fellows are assigned. And +fourthly, the ordinances and rites which we observe.</p> +<p>"The end of our foundation is the knowledge of causes, and secret +motions of things; and the enlarging of the bounds of human empire, to +the effecting of all things possible.</p> +<p>"The Preparations and Instruments are these. We have large and deep +caves of several depths: the deepest are sunk six hundred fathom: and +some of them are digged and made under great hills and mountains: so +that if you reckon together the depth of the hill and the depth of the +cave, they are (some of them) above three miles deep. For we find, +that the depth of a hill, and the depth of a cave from the flat, is +the same thing; both remote alike, from the sun and heaven's beams, +and from the open air. These caves we call the Lower Region; and we +use them for all coagulations, indurations, refrigerations, and +conservations of bodies. We use them likewise for the imitation of +natural mines; and the producing also of new artificial metals, by +compositions and materials which we use, and lay there for many years. +We use them also sometimes, (which may seem strange,) for curing of +some diseases, and for prolongation of life in some hermits that +choose to live there, well accommodated of all things necessary, and +indeed live very long; by whom also we learn many things.</p> +<p>"We have burials in several earths, where we put diverse cements, as +the Chineses do their porcellain. But we have them in greater variety, +and some of them more fine. We have also great variety of composts +and soils, for the making of the earth fruitful.</p> +<p>"We have high towers; the highest about half a mile in height; and +some of them likewise set upon high mountains; so that the vantage of +the hill with the tower is in the highest of them three miles at least. +And these places we call the Upper Region; accounting the air +between the high places and the low, as a Middle Region. We use these +towers, according to their several heights, and situations, for +insolation, refrigeration, conservation; and for the view of divers +meteors; as winds, rain, snow, hail; and some of the fiery meteors +also. And upon them, in some places, are dwellings of hermits, whom +we visit sometimes, and instruct what to observe.</p> +<p>"We have great lakes, both salt, and fresh; whereof we have use for +the fish and fowl. We use them also for burials of some natural +bodies: for we find a difference in things buried in earth or in air +below the earth, and things buried in water. We have also pools, of +which some do strain fresh water out of salt; and others by art do +turn fresh water into salt. We have also some rocks in the midst of +the sea, and some bays upon the shore for some works, wherein is +required the air and vapor of the sea. We have likewise violent +streams and cataracts, which serve us for many motions: and likewise +engines for multiplying and enforcing of winds, to set also on going +diverse motions.</p> +<p>"We have also a number of artificial wells and fountains, made in +imitation of the natural sources and baths; as tincted upon vitriol, +sulphur, steel, brass, lead, nitre, and other minerals. And again we +have little wells for infusions of many things, where the waters take +the virtue quicker and better, than in vessels or basins. And amongst +them we have a water which we call Water of Paradise, being, by that +we do to it made very sovereign for health, and prolongation of life.</p> +<p>"We have also great and spacious houses where we imitate and +demonstrate meteors; as snow, hail, rain, some artificial rains of +bodies and not of water, thunders, lightnings; also generations of +bodies in air; as frogs, flies, and divers others.</p> +<p>"We have also certain chambers, which we call Chambers of Health, +where we qualify the air as we think good and proper for the cure of +divers diseases, and preservation of health.</p> +<p>"We have also fair and large baths, of several mixtures, for the cure +of diseases, and the restoring of man's body from arefaction: and +others for the confirming of it in strength of sinewes, vital parts, +and the very juice and substance of the body.</p> +<p>"We have also large and various orchards and gardens; wherein we do +not so much respect beauty, as variety of ground and soil, proper for +divers trees and herbs: and some very spacious, where trees and +berries are set whereof we make divers kinds of drinks, besides the +vineyards. In these we practise likewise all conclusions of grafting, +and inoculating as well of wild-trees as fruit-trees, which produceth +many effects. And we make (by art) in the same orchards and gardens, +trees and flowers to come earlier or later than their seasons; and to +come up and bear more speedily than by their natural course they do. +We make them also by art greater much than their nature; and their +fruit greater and sweeter and of differing taste, smell, colour, and +figure, from their nature. And many of them we so order, as they +become of medicinal use.</p> +<p>"We have also means to make divers plants rise by mixtures of earths +without seeds; and likewise to make divers new plants, differing from +the vulgar; and to make one tree or plant turn into another.</p> +<p>"We have also parks and enclosures of all sorts of beasts and birds +which we use not only for view or rareness, but likewise for +dissections and trials; that thereby we may take light what may be +wrought upon the body of man. Wherein we find many strange effects; +as continuing life in them, though divers parts, which you account +vital, be perished and taken forth; resuscitating of some that seem +dead in appearance; and the like. We try also all poisons and other +medicines upon them, as well of chirurgery, as physic. By art +likewise, we make them greater or taller than their kind is; and +contrariwise dwarf them, and stay their growth: we make them more +fruitful and bearing than their kind is; and contrariwise barren and +not generative. Also we make them differ in colour, shape, activity, +many ways. We find means to make commixtures and copulations of +different kinds; which have produced many new kinds, and them not +barren, as the general opinion is. We make a number of kinds of +serpents, worms, flies, fishes, of putrefaction; whereof some are +advanced (in effect) to be perfect creatures, like bests or birds; and +have sexes, and do propagate. Neither do we this by chance, but we +know beforehand, of what matter and commixture what kind of those +creatures will arise.</p> +<p>"We have also particular pools, where we make trials upon fishes, as +we have said before of beasts and birds.</p> +<p>"We have also places for breed and generation of those kinds of worms +and flies which are of special use; such as are with you your +silk-worms and bees.</p> +<p>"I will not hold you long with recounting of our brewhouses, +bake-houses, and kitchens, where are made divers drinks, breads, and +meats, rare and of special effects. Wines we have of grapes; and +drinks of other juice of fruits, of grains, and of roots; and of +mixtures with honey, sugar, manna, and fruits dried, and decocted; +Also of the tears or woundings of trees; and of the pulp of canes. +And these drinks are of several ages, some to the age or last of forty +years. We have drinks also brewed with several herbs, and roots, and +spices; yea with several fleshes, and white-meats; whereof some of the +drinks are such, as they are in effect meat and drink both: so that +divers, especially in age, do desire to live with them, with little or +no meat or bread. And above all, we strive to have drink of extreme +thin parts, to insinuate into the body, and yet without all biting, +sharpness, or fretting; insomuch as some of them put upon the back of +your hand will, with a little stay, pass through to the palm, and yet +taste mild to the mouth. We have also waters which we ripen in that +fashion, as they become nourishing; so that they are indeed excellent +drink; and.many will use no other. Breads we have of several grains, +roots, and kernels; yea and some of flesh and fish dried; with divers +kinds of leavenings and seasonings: so that some do extremely move +appetites; some do nourish so, as divers do live of them, without any +other meat; who live very long. So for meats, we have some of them so +beaten and made tender and mortified,' yet without all corrupting, as +a weak heat of the stomach will turn them into good chylus; as well as +a strong heat would meat otherwise prepared. We have some meats also +and breads and drinks, which taken by men enable them to fast long +after; and some other, that used make the very flesh of men's bodies +sensibly' more hard and tough and their strength far greater than +otherwise it would be.</p> +<p>"We have dispensatories, or shops of medicines. Wherein you may +easily think, if we have such variety of plants and living creatures +more than you have in Europe, (for we know what you have,) the simples, +drugs, and ingredients of medicines, must likewise be in so much the +greater variety. We have them likewise of divers ages, and long +fermentations. And for their preparations, we have not only all +manner of exquisite distillations and separations, and especially by +gentle heats and percolations through divers strainers, yea and +substances; but also exact forms of composition, whereby they +incorporate almost, as they were natural simples.</p> +<p>"We have also divers mechanical arts, which you have not; and stuffs +made by them; as papers, linen, silks, tissues; dainty works of +feathers of wonderful lustre; excellent dies, and, many others; and +shops likewise, as well for such as are not brought into vulgar use +amongst us as for those that are. For you must know that of the +things before recited, many of them are grown into use throughout the +kingdom; but yet, if they did flow from our invention, we have of them +also for patterns and principals.</p> +<p>"We have also furnaces of great diversities, and that keep great +diversity of heats; fierce and quick; strong and constant; soft and +mild; blown, quiet; dry, moist; and the like. But above all, we have +heats, in imitation of the Sun's and heavenly bodies' heats, that pass +divers inequalities, and (as it were) orbs, progresses, and returns, +whereby we produce admirable effects. Besides, we have heats of dungs; +and of bellies and maws of living creatures, and of their bloods and +bodies; and of hays and herbs laid up moist; of lime unquenched; and +such like. Instruments also which generate heat only by motion. And +farther, places for strong insulations; and again, places under the +earth, which by nature, or art, yield heat. These divers heats we use, +as the nature of the operation, which we intend, requireth.</p> +<p>"We have also perspective-houses, where we make demonstrations of all +lights and radiations; and of all colours: and out of things +uncoloured and transparent, we can represent unto you all several +colours; not in rain-bows, (as it is in gems, and prisms,) but of +themselves single. We represent also all multiplications of light, +which we carry to great distance, and make so sharp as to discern +small points and lines. Also all colourations of light; all delusions +and deceits of the sight, in figures, magnitudes, motions, colours all +demonstrations of shadows. We find also divers means, yet unknown to +you, of producing of light originally from divers bodies. We procure +means of seeing objects afar off; as in the heaven and remote places; +and represent things near as afar off; and things afar off as near; +making feigned distances. We have also helps for the sight, far above +spectacles and glasses in use. We have also glasses and means to see +small and minute bodies perfectly and distinctly; as the shapes and +colours of small flies and worms, grains and flaws in gems, which +cannot otherwise be seen, observations in urine and blood not +otherwise to be seen. We make artificial rain-bows, halo's, and +circles about light. We represent also all manner of reflexions, +refractions, and multiplications of visual beams of objects.</p> +<p>"We have also precious stones of all kinds, many of them of great +beauty, and to you unknown; crystals likewise; and glasses of divers +kinds; and amongst them some of metals vitrificated, and other +materials besides those of which you make glass. Also a number of +fossils, and imperfect minerals, which you have not. Likewise +loadstones of prodigious virtue; and other rare stones, both natural +and artificial.</p> +<p>"We have also sound-houses, where we practise and demonstrate all +sounds, and their generation. We have harmonies which you have not, +of quarter-sounds, and lesser slides of sounds. Divers instruments of +music likewise to you unknown, some sweeter than any you have, +together with bells and rings that are dainty and sweet. We represent +small sounds as great and deep; likewise great sounds extenuate and +sharp; we make divers tremblings and warblings of sounds, which in +their original are entire. We represent and imitate all articulate +sounds and letters, and the voices and notes of beasts and birds. We +have certain helps which set to the ear do further the hearing greatly. +We have also divers strange and artificial echoes, reflecting the +voice many times, and as it were tossing it: and some that give back +the voice louder than it came, some shriller, and some deeper; yea, +some rendering the voice differing in the letters or articulate sound +from that they receive. We have also means to convey sounds in trunks +and pipes, in strange lines and distances.</p> +<p>"We have also perfume-houses; wherewith we join also practices of +taste. We multiply smells, which may seem strange. We imitate smells, +making all smells to breathe outs of other mixtures than those that +give them. We make divers imitations of taste likewise, so that they +will deceive any man's taste. And in this house we contain also a +confiture-house; where we make all sweet-meats, dry and moist; and +divers pleasant wines, milks, broths, and sallets; in far greater +variety than you have.</p> +<p>"We have also engine-houses, where are prepared engines and +instruments for all sorts of motions. There we imitate and practise +to make swifter motions than any you have, either out of your muskets +or any engine that you have: and to make them and multiply them more +easily, and with small force, by wheels and other means: and to make +them stronger and more violent than yours are; exceeding your greatest +cannons and basilisks. We represent also ordnance and instruments of +war, and engines of all kinds: and likewise new mixtures and +compositions of gun-powder, wild-fires burning in water, and +unquenchable. Also fireworks of all variety both for pleasure and use. +We imitate also flights of birds; we have some degrees of flying in +the air. We have ships and boats for going under water, and brooking +of seas; also swimming-girdles and supporters. We have divers curious +clocks, and other like motions of return: and some perpetual motions. +We imitate also motions of living creatures, by images, of men, beasts, +birds, fishes, and serpents. We have also a great number of other +various motions, strange for equality, fineness, and subtilty.</p> +<p>"We have also a mathematical house, where are represented all +instruments, as well of geometry as astronomy, exquisitely made.</p> +<p>"We have also houses of deceits of the senses; where we represent all +manner of feats of juggling, false apparitions, impostures, and +illusions; and their fallacies. And surely you will easily believe +that we that have so many things truly natural which induce admiration, +could in a world of particulars deceive the senses, if we would +disguise those things and labour to make them seem more miraculous. +But we do hate all impostures, and lies; insomuch as we have severely +forbidden it to all our fellows, under pain of ignominy and fines, +that they do not show any natural work or thing, adorned or swelling; +but only pure as it is, and without all affectation of strangeness.</p> +<p>"These are (my son) the riches of Salomon's House.</p> +<p>"For the several employments and offices of our fellows; we have +twelve that sail into foreign countries, under the names of other +nations, (for our own we conceal); who bring us the books, and +abstracts, and patterns of experiments of all other parts. These we +call Merchants of Light.</p> +<p>"We have three that collect the experiments which are in all books. +These we call Depredators.</p> +<p>"We have three that collect the experiments of all mechanical arts; +and also of liberal sciences; and also of practices which are not +brought into arts. These we call Mystery-men.</p> +<p>"We have three that try new experiments, such as themselves think good. +These we call Pioneers or Miners.</p> +<p>"We have three that draw the experiments of the former four into +titles and tables, to give the better light for the drawing of +observations and axioms out of them. These we call Compilers.</p> +<p>"We have three that bend themselves, looking into the experiments of +their fellows, and cast about how to draw out of them things of use +and practise for man's life, and knowledge, as well for works as for +plain demonstration of causes, means of natural divinations, and the +easy and clear discovery of the virtues and parts of bodies. These we +call Dowry-men or Benefactors.</p> +<p>"Then after divers meetings and consults of our whole number, to +consider of the former labours and collections, we have three that +take care, out of them, to direct new experiments, of a higher light, +more penetrating into nature than the former. These we call Lamps.</p> +<p>"We have three others that do execute the experiments so directed, and +report them. These we call Inoculators.</p> +<p>"Lastly, we have three that raise the former discoveries by +experiments into greater observations, axioms, and aphorisms. These +we call Interpreters of Nature.</p> +<p>"We have also, as you must think, novices and apprentices, that the +succession of the former employed men do not fail; besides, a great +number of servants and attendants, men and women. And this we do also: +we have consultations, which of the inventions and experiences which +we have discovered shall be published, and which not: and take all an +oath of secrecy, for the concealing of those which we think fit to +keep secret: though some of those we do reveal sometimes to the state +and some not.</p> +<p>"For our ordinances and rites: we have two very long and fair +galleries: in one of these we place patterns and samples of all manner +of the more rare and excellent inventions in the other we place the +statues of all principal inventors. There we have the statue of your +Columbus, that discovered the West Indies: also the inventor of ships: +your monk that was the inventor of ordnance and of gunpowder: the +inventor of music: the inventor of letters: the inventor of printing: +the inventor of observations of astronomy: the inventor of works in +metal: the inventor of glass: the inventor of silk of the worm: the +inventor of wine: the inventor of corn and bread: the inventor of +sugars: and all these, by more certain tradition than you have. Then +have we divers inventors of our own, of excellent works; which since +you have not seen, it were too long to make descriptions of them; and +besides, in the right understanding of those descriptions you might +easily err. For upon every invention of value, we erect a statue to +the inventor, and give him a liberal and honourable reward. These +statues are some of brass; some of marble and touch-stone; some of +cedar and other special woods gilt and adorned; some of iron; some of +silver; some of gold.</p> +<p>"We have certain hymns and services, which we say daily, of Lord and +thanks to God for his marvellous works: and forms of prayers, +imploring his aid and blessing for the illumination of our labours, +and the turning of them into good and holy uses.</p> +<p>"Lastly, we have circuits or visits of divers principal cities of the +kingdom; where, as it cometh to pass, we do publish such new +profitable inventions as we think good. And we do also declare +natural divinations of diseases, plagues, swarms-of hurtful creatures, +scarcity, tempests, earthquakes, great inundations, comets, +temperature of the year, and divers other things; and we give counsel +thereupon, what the people shall do for the prevention and remedy of +them."</p> +<p>And when he had said this, he stood up; and I, as I had been taught, +kneeled down, and he laid his right hand upon my head, and said; "God +bless thee, my son; and God bless this relation, which I have made. I +give thee leave to publish it for the good of other nations; for we +here are in God's bosom, a land unknown." And so he left me; having +assigned a value of about two thousand ducats, for a bounty to me and +my fellows. For they give great largesses where they come upon all +occasions.</p> +<p>[The rest was not perfected.]</p> +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<PRE> +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE NEW ATLANTIS *** + +This file should be named nwatl11h.htm or nwatl11h.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, nwatl12h.htm +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, nwatl11ah.htm + + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* +</PRE> + +</BODY> +</HTML> diff --git a/old/nwatl11h.zip b/old/nwatl11h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..73988da --- /dev/null +++ b/old/nwatl11h.zip diff --git a/old/old-2024-11-30/2434-h.zip b/old/old-2024-11-30/2434-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0629a90 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old-2024-11-30/2434-h.zip diff --git a/old/old-2024-11-30/2434-h/2434-h.htm b/old/old-2024-11-30/2434-h/2434-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d14cc15 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old-2024-11-30/2434-h/2434-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2060 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<HTML> +<HEAD> + +<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<TITLE> +The Project Gutenberg E-text of The New Atlantis, by Francis Bacon +</TITLE> + +<STYLE TYPE="text/css"> +BODY { color: Black; + background: White; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +P {text-indent: 4% } + +P.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +P.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: small } + +P.finis { text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +</STYLE> + +</HEAD> + +<BODY> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The New Atlantis, by Frances Bacon + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The New Atlantis + +Author: Frances Bacon + +Posting Date: October 23, 2008 [EBook #2434] +Release Date: December 2000 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NEW ATLANTIS *** + + + + +Produced by Michael Pullen and William Fishburne. HTML +version by Al Haines. + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +THE NEW ATLANTIS +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +BY +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +SIR FRANCIS BACON +</H2> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +INTRODUCTORY NOTE +</H3> + +<P> +Bacon's literary executor, Dr. Rowley, published "The New Atlantis" in +1627, the year after the author's death. It seems to have been written +about 1623, during that period of literary activity which followed +Bacon's political fall. None of Bacon's writings gives in short apace +so vivid a picture of his tastes and aspirations as this fragment of +the plan of an ideal commonwealth. The generosity and enlightenment, +the dignity and splendor, the piety and public spirit, of the +inhabitants of Bensalem represent the ideal qualities which Bacon the +statesman desired rather than hoped to see characteristic of his own +country; and in Solomon's House we have Bacon the scientist indulging +without restriction his prophetic vision of the future of human +knowledge. No reader acquainted in any degree with the processes and +results of modern scientific inquiry can fail to be struck by the +numerous approximations made by Bacon's imagination to the actual +achievements of modern times. The plan and organization of his great +college lay down the main lines of the modern research university; and +both in pure and applied science he anticipates a strikingly large +number of recent inventions and discoveries. In still another way is +"The New Atlantis" typical of Bacon's attitude. In spite of the +enthusiastic and broad-minded schemes he laid down for the pursuit of +truth, Bacon always had an eye to utility. The advancement of science +which he sought was conceived by him as a means to a practical end the +increase of man's control over nature, and the comfort and convenience +of humanity. For pure metaphysics, or any form of abstract thinking +that yielded no "fruit," he had little interest; and this leaning to +the useful is shown in the practical applications of the discoveries +made by the scholars of Solomon's House. Nor does the interest of the +work stop here. It contains much, both in its political and in its +scientific ideals, that we have as yet by no means achieved, but which +contain valuable elements of suggestion and stimulus for the future. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE NEW ATLANTIS +</H3> + +<P> +We sailed from Peru, (where we had continued for the space of one whole +year) for China and Japan, by the South Sea; taking with us victuals +for twelve months; and had good winds from the east, though soft and +weak, for five months space, and more. But the wind came about, and +settled in the west for many days, so as we could make little or no +way, and were sometime in purpose to turn back. But then again there +arose strong and great winds from the south, with a point east, which +carried us up (for all that we could do) towards the north; by which +time our victuals failed us, though we had made good spare of them. So +that finding ourselves, in the midst of the greatest wilderness of +waters in the world, without victuals, we gave ourselves for lost men +and prepared for death. Yet we did lift up our hearts and voices to +God above, who showeth his wonders in the deep, beseeching him of his +mercy, that as in the beginning he discovered the face of the deep, and +brought forth dry land, so he would now discover land to us, that we +might not perish. +</P> + +<P> +And it came to pass that the next day about evening we saw within a +kenning before us, towards the north, as it were thick clouds, which +did put us in some hope of land; knowing how that part of the South Sea +was utterly unknown; and might have islands, or continents, that +hitherto were not come to light. Wherefore we bent our course thither, +where we saw the appearance of land, all that night; and in the dawning +of the next day, we might plainly discern that it was a land; flat to +our sight, and full of boscage; which made it show the more dark. And +after an hour and a half's sailing, we entered into a good haven, being +the port of a fair city; not great indeed, but well built, and that +gave a pleasant view from the sea: and we thinking every minute long, +till we were on land, came close to the shore, and offered to land. +But straightways we saw divers of the people, with bastons in their +hands (as it were) forbidding us to land; yet without any cries of +fierceness, but only as warning us off, by signs that they made. +Whereupon being not a little discomforted, we were advising with +ourselves, what we should do. +</P> + +<P> +During which time, there made forth to us a small boat, with about +eight persons in it; whereof one of them had in his hand a tipstaff of +a yellow cane, tipped at both ends with blue, who came aboard our ship, +without any show of distrust at all. And when he saw one of our +number, present himself somewhat before the rest, he drew forth a +little scroll of parchment (somewhat yellower than our parchment, and +shining like the leaves of writing tables, but otherwise soft and +flexible,) and delivered it to our foremost man. In which scroll were +written in ancient Hebrew, and in ancient Greek, and in good Latin of +the school, and in Spanish, these words: Land ye not, none of you; and +provide to be gone from this coast, within sixteen days, except you +have further time given you. Meanwhile, if you want fresh water or +victuals, or help for your sick, or that your ship needeth repairs, +write down your wants, and you shall have that, which belongeth to +mercy. This scroll was signed with a stamp of cherubim: wings, not +spread, but hanging downwards; and by them a cross. This being +delivered, the officer returned, and left only a servant with us to +receive our answer. +</P> + +<P> +Consulting hereupon amongst ourselves, we were much perplexed. The +denial of landing and hasty warning us away troubled us much; on the +other side, to find that the people had languages, and were so full of +humanity, did comfort us not a little. And above all, the sign of the +cross to that instrument was to us a great rejoicing, and as it were a +certain presage of good. Our answer was in the Spanish tongue; that +for our ship, it was well; for we had rather met with calms and +contrary winds than any tempests. For our sick, they were many, and in +very ill case; so that if they were not permitted to land, they ran +danger of their lives. Our other wants we set down in particular; +adding, That we had some little store of merchandise, which if it +pleased them to deal for, it might supply our wants, without being +chargeable unto them. We offered some reward in pistolets unto the +servant, and a piece of crimson velvet to be presented to the officer; +but the servant took them not, nor would scarce look upon them; and so +left us, and went back in another little boat, which was sent for him. +</P> + +<P> +About three hours after we had dispatched our answer, there came +towards us a person (as it seemed) of place. He had on him a gown with +wide sleeves, of a kind of water chamolet, of an excellent azure +colour, fair more glossy than ours; his under apparel was green; and so +was his hat, being in the form of a turban, daintily made, and not so +huge as the Turkish turbans; and the locks of his hair came down below +the brims of it. A reverend man was he to behold. He came in a boat, +gilt in some part of it, with four persons more only in that boat; and +was followed by another boat, wherein were some twenty. When he was +come within a flightshot of our ship, signs were made to us, that we +should send forth some to meet him upon the water; which we presently +did in our ship-boat, sending the principal man amongst us save one, +and four of our number with him. +</P> + +<P> +When we were come within six yards of their boat, they called to us to +stay, and not to approach farther; which we did. And thereupon the +man, whom I before described, stood up, and with a loud voice, in +Spanish, asked, "Are ye Christians?" We answered, "We were;" fearing +the less, because of the cross we had seen in the subscription. At +which answer the said person lifted up his right hand towards Heaven, +and drew it softly to his mouth (which is the gesture they use, when +they thank God;) and then said: "If ye will swear (all of you) by the +merits of the Saviour, that ye are no pirates, nor have shed blood, +lawfully, nor unlawfully within forty days past, you may have licence +to come on land." We said, "We were all ready to take that oath." +Whereupon one of those that were with him, being (as it seemed) a +notary, made an entry of this act. Which done, another of the +attendants of the great person which was with him in the same boat, +after his Lord had spoken a little to him, said aloud: "My Lord would +have you know, that it is not of pride, or greatness, that he cometh +not aboard your ship; but for that in your answer you declare that you +have many sick amongst you, he was warned by the Conservator of Health +of the city that he should keep a distance." We bowed ourselves +towards him, and answered, "We were his humble servants; and accounted +for great honour, and singular humanity towards us, that which was +already done; but hoped well, that the nature of the sickness of our +men was not infectious." So he returned; and a while after came the +Notary to us aboard our ship; holding in his hand a fruit of that +country, like an orange, but of color between orange-tawney and +scarlet; which cast a most excellent odour. He used it (as it seemeth) +for a preservative against infection. He gave us our oath; "By the +name of Jesus, and his merits:" and after told us, that the next day, +by six of the Clock, in the Morning, we should be sent to, and brought +to the Strangers' House, (so he called it,) where we should be +accommodated of things, both for our whole, and for our sick. So he +left us; and when we offered him some pistolets, he smiling said, "He +must not be twice paid for one labour:" meaning (as I take it) that he +had salary sufficient of the State for his service. For (as I after +learned) they call an officer that taketh rewards, "twice paid." +</P> + +<P> +The next morning early, there came to us the same officer that came to +us at first with his cane, and told us, He came to conduct us to the +Strangers' House; and that he had prevented the hour, because we might +have the whole day before us, for our business. "For," said he, "if +you will follow my advice, there shall first go with me some few of +you, and see the place, and how it may be made convenient for you; and +then you may send for your sick, and the rest of your number, which ye +will bring on land." We thanked him, and said, "That this care, which +he took of desolate strangers, God would reward." And so six of us +went on land with him: and when we were on land, he went before us, and +turned to us, and said, "He was but our servant, and our guide." He led +us through three fair streets; and all the way we went, there were +gathered some people on both sides, standing in a row; but in so civil +a fashion, as if it had been, not to wonder at us, but to welcome us: +and divers of them, as we passed by them, put their arms a little +abroad; which is their gesture, when they did bid any welcome. +</P> + +<P> +The Strangers' House is a fair and spacious house, built of brick, of +somewhat a bluer colour than our brick; and with handsome windows, some +of glass, some of a kind of cambric oiled. He brought us first into a +fair parlour above stairs, and then asked us, "What number of persons +we were? And how many sick?" We answered, "We were in all, (sick and +whole,) one and fifty persons, whereof our sick were seventeen." He +desired us to have patience a little, and to stay till he came back to +us; which was about an hour after; and then he led us to see the +chambers which were provided for us, being in number nineteen: they +having cast it (as it seemeth) that four of those chambers, which were +better than the rest, might receive four of the principal men of our +company; and lodge them alone by themselves; and the other fifteen +chambers were to lodge us two and two together. The chambers were +handsome and cheerful chambers, and furnished civilly. Then he led us +to a long gallery, like a dorture, where he showed us all along the one +side (for the other side was but wall and window), seventeen cells, +very neat ones, having partitions of cedar wood. Which gallery and +cells, being in all forty, many more than we needed, were instituted as +an infirmary for sick persons. And he told us withal, that as any of +our sick waxed well, he might be removed from his cell, to a chamber; +for which purpose there were set forth ten spare chambers, besides the +number we spake of before. This done, he brought us back to the +parlour, and lifting up his cane a little, (as they do when they give +any charge or command) said to us, "Ye are to know, that the custom of +the land requireth, that after this day and to-morrow, (which we give +you for removing of your people from your ship,) you are to keep within +doors for three days. But let it not trouble you, nor do not think +yourselves restrained, but rather left to your rest and ease. You +shall want nothing, and there are six of our people appointed to attend +you, for any business you may have abroad." We gave him thanks, with +all affection and respect, and said, "God surely is manifested in this +land." We offered him also twenty pistolets; but he smiled, and only +said; "What? twice paid!" And so he left us. +</P> + +<P> +Soon after our dinner was served in; which was right good viands, both +for bread and treat: better than any collegiate diet, that I have known +in Europe. We had also drink of three sorts, all wholesome and good; +wine of the grape; a drink of grain, such as is with us our ale, but +more clear: And a kind of cider made of a fruit of that country; a +wonderful pleasing and refreshing drink. Besides, there were brought +in to us, great store of those scarlet oranges, for our sick; which +(they said) were an assured remedy for sickness taken at sea. There +was given us also, a box of small gray, or whitish pills, which they +wished our sick should take, one of the pills, every night before +sleep; which (they said) would hasten their recovery. +</P> + +<P> +The next day, after that our trouble of carriage and removing of our +men and goods out of our ship, was somewhat settled and quiet, I +thought good to call our company together; and when they were +assembled, said unto them; "My dear friends, let us know ourselves, and +how it standeth with us. We are men cast on land, as Jonas was, out of +the whale's belly, when we were as buried in the deep: and now we are +on land, we are but between death and life; for we are beyond, both the +old world, and the new; and whether ever we shall see Europe, God only +knoweth. It is a kind of miracle bath brought us hither: and it must +be little less, that shall bring us hence. Therefore in regard of our +deliverance past, and our danger present, and to come, let us look up +to God, and every man reform his own ways. Besides we are come here +amongst a Christian people, full of piety and humanity: let us not +bring that confusion of face upon ourselves, as to show our vices, or +unworthiness before them. Yet there is more. For they have by +commandment, (though in form of courtesy) cloistered us within these +wall, for three days: who knoweth, whether it be not, to take some +taste of our manners and conditions? And if they find them bad, to +banish us straightways; if good, to give us further time. For these +men that they have given us for attendance, may withal have an eye upon +us. Therefore for God's love, and as we love the weal of our souls and +bodies, let us so behave ourselves, as we may be at peace with God, and +may find grace in the eyes of this people." Our company with one voice +thanked me for my good admonition, and promised me to live soberly and +civilly, and without giving any the least occasion of offence. So we +spent our three days joyfully, and without care, in expectation what +would be done with us, when they were expired. During which time, we +had every hour joy of the amendment of our sick; who thought themselves +cast into some divine pool of healing; they mended so kindly, and so +fast. +</P> + +<P> +The morrow after our three days were past, there came to us a new man, +that we had not seen before, clothed in blue as the former was, save +that his turban was white, with a small red cross on the top. He had +also a tippet of fine linen. At his coming in, he did bend to us a +little, and put his arms abroad. We of our parts saluted him in a very +lowly and submissive manner; as looking that from him, we should +receive sentence of life, or death: he desired to speak with some few +of us: whereupon six of us only staid, and the rest avoided the room. +He said, "I am by office governor of this House of Strangers, and by +vocation I am a Christian priest: and therefore am come to you to offer +you my service, both as strangers and chiefly as Christians. Some +things I may tell you, which I think you will not be unwilling to hear. +The State hath given you license to stay on land, for the space of six +weeks; and let it not trouble you, if your occasions ask further time, +for the law in this point is not precise; and I do not doubt, but my +self shall be able, to obtain for you such further time, as may be +convenient. Ye shall also understand, that the Strangers' House is at +this time rich, and much aforehand; for it hath laid up revenue these +thirty-seven years; for so long it is since any stranger arrived in +this part: and therefore take ye no care; the State will defray you all +the time you stay; neither shall you stay one day the less for that. +As for any merchandise ye have brought, ye shall be well used, and have +your return, either in merchandise, or in gold and silver: for to us it +is all one. And if you have any other request to make, hide it not. +For ye shall find we will not make your countenance to fall by the +answer ye shall receive. Only this I must tell you, that none of you +must go above a karan," (that is with them a mile and an half) "from +the walls of the city, without especial leave." +</P> + +<P> +We answered, after we had looked awhile one upon another, admiring this +gracious and parent-like usage; "That we could not tell what to say: +for we wanted words to express our thanks; and his noble free offers +left us nothing to ask. It seemed to us, that we had before us a +picture of our salvation in Heaven; for we that were a while since in +the jaws of death, were now brought into a place, where we found +nothing but consolations. For the commandment laid upon us, we would +not fail to obey it, though it was impossible but our hearts should be +enflamed to tread further upon this happy and holy ground." We added, +"That our tongues should first cleave to the roofs of our mouths, ere +we should forget, either his reverend person, or this whole nation, in +our prayers." We also most humbly besought him, to accept of us as his +true servants; by as just a right as ever men on earth were bounden; +laying and presenting, both our persons, and all we had, at his feet. +He said; "He was a priest, and looked for a priest's reward; which was +our brotherly love, and the good of our souls and bodies." So he went +from us, not without tears of tenderness in his eyes; and left us also +confused with joy and kindness, saying amongst ourselves; "That we were +come into a land of angels, which did appear to us daily, and prevent +us with comforts, which we thought not of, much less expected." +</P> + +<P> +The next day about ten of the clock, the Governor came to us again, and +after salutations, said familiarly; "That he was come to visit us;" and +called for a chair, and sat him down: and we, being some ten of us, +(the rest were of the meaner sort, or else gone abroad,) sat down with +him, And when we were set, he began thus: "We of this island of +Bensalem," (for so they call it in their language,) "have this; that by +means of our solitary situation; and of the laws of secrecy, which we +have for our travellers, and our rare admission of strangers; we know +well most part of the habitable world, and are ourselves unknown. +Therefore because he that knoweth least is fittest to ask questions, it +is more reason, for the entertainment of the time, that ye ask me +questions, than that I ask you." +</P> + +<P> +We answered; "That we humbly thanked him that he would give us leave so +to do: and that we conceived by the taste we had already, that there +was no worldly thing on earth, more worthy to be known than the state +of that happy land. But above all," (we said,) "since that we were met +from the several ends of the world, and hoped assuredly that we should +meet one day in the kingdom of Heaven, (for that we were both parts +Christians,) we desired to know, (in respect that land was so remote, +and so divided by vast and unknown seas, from the land where our +Saviour walked on earth,) who was the apostle of that nation, and how +it was converted to the faith?" It appeared in his face that he took +great contentment in this our question: he said; "Ye knit my heart to +you, by asking this question in the first place; for it sheweth that +you first seek the kingdom of heaven; and I shall gladly, and briefly, +satisfy your demand. +</P> + +<P> +"About twenty years after the ascension of our Saviour, it came to +pass, that there was seen by the people of Renfusa, (a city upon the +eastern coast of our island,) within night, (the night was cloudy, and +calm,) as it might be some mile into the sea, a great pillar of light; +not sharp, but in form of a column, or cylinder, rising from the sea a +great way up towards heaven; and on the top of it was seen a large +cross of light, more bright and resplendent than the body of the +pillar. Upon which so strange a spectacle, the people of the city +gathered apace together upon the sands, to wonder; and so after put +themselves into a number of small boats, to go nearer to this +marvellous sight. But when the boats were come within (about) sixty +yards of the pillar, they found themselves all bound, and could go no +further; yet so as they might move to go about, but might not approach +nearer: so as the boats stood all as in a theatre, beholding this light +as an heavenly sign. It so fell out, that there was in one of the +boats one of the wise men, of the society of Salomon's House; which +house, or college (my good brethren) is the very eye of this kingdom; +who having awhile attentively and devoutly viewed and contemplated this +pillar and cross, fell down upon his face; and then raised himself upon +his knees, and lifting up his hands to heaven, made his prayers in this +manner. +</P> + +<P> +"'LORD God of heaven and earth, thou hast vouchsafed of thy grace to +those of our order, to know thy works of Creation, and the secrets of +them: and to discern (as far as appertaineth to the generations of men) +between divine miracles, works of nature, works of art, and impostures +and illusions of all sorts. I do here acknowledge and testify before +this people, that the thing which we now see before our eyes is thy +Finger and a true Miracle. And forasmuch as we learn in our books that +thou never workest miracles, but to divine and excellent end, (for the +laws of nature are thine own laws, and thou exceedest them not but upon +great cause,) we most humbly beseech thee to prosper this great sign, +and to give us the interpretation and use of it in mercy; which thou +dost in some part secretly promise by sending it unto us.' +</P> + +<P> +"When he had made his prayer, he presently found the boat he was in, +moveable and unbound; whereas all the rest remained still fast; and +taking that for an assurance of leave to approach, he caused the boat +to be softly and with silence rowed towards the pillar. But ere he +came near it, the pillar and cross of light brake up, and cast itself +abroad, as it were, into a firmament of many stars; which also vanished +soon after, and there was nothing left to be seen, but a small ark, or +chest of cedar, dry, and not wet at all with water, though it swam. +And in the fore-end of it, which was towards him, grew a small green +branch of palm; and when the wise man had taken it, with all reverence, +into his boat, it opened of itself, and there were found in it a Book +and a Letter; both written in fine parchment, and wrapped in sindons of +linen. The Book contained all the canonical books of the Old and New +Testament, according as you have them; (for we know well what the +churches with you receive); and the Apocalypse itself, and some other +books of the New Testament, which were not at that time written, were +nevertheless in the Book. And for the Letter, it was in these words: +</P> + +<P> +"'I, Bartholomew, a servant of the Highest, and Apostle of Jesus +Christ, was warned by an angel that appeareth to me, in a vision of +glory, that I should commit this ark to the floods of the sea. +Therefore I do testify and declare unto that people where God shall +ordain this ark to come to land, that in the same day is come unto them +salvation and peace and good-will, from the Father, and from the Lord +Jesus.' +</P> + +<P> +"There was also in both these writings, as well the Book, as the +Letter, wrought a great miracle, conform to that of the Apostles, in +the original Gift of Tongues. For there being at that time in this +land Hebrews, Persians, and Indians, besides the natives, every one +read upon the Book, and Letter, as if they had been written in his own +language. And thus was this land saved from infidelity (as the +remainder of the old world was from water) by an ark, through the +apostolical and miraculous evangelism of Saint Bartholomew." And here +he paused, and a messenger came, and called him from us. So this was +all that passed in that conference. +</P> + +<P> +The next day, the same governor came again to us, immediately after +dinner, and excused himself, saying; "That the day before he was called +from us, somewhat abruptly, but now he would make us amends, and spend +time with us if we held his company and conference agreeable." We +answered, "That we held it so agreeable and pleasing to us, as we +forgot both dangers past and fears to come, for the time we hear him +speak; and that we thought an hour spent with him, was worth years of +our former life." He bowed himself a little to us, and after we were +set again, he said; "Well, the questions are on your part." +</P> + +<P> +One of our number said, after a little pause; that there was a matter, +we were no less desirous to know, than fearful to ask, lest we might +presume too far. But encouraged by his rare humanity towards us, (that +could scarce think ourselves strangers, being his vowed and professed +servants,) we would take the hardiness to propound it: humbly +beseeching him, if he thought it not fit to be answered, that he would +pardon it, though he rejected it. We said; "We well observed those his +words, which he formerly spake, that this happy island, where we now +stood, was known to few, and yet knew most of the nations of the world; +which we found to be true, considering they had the languages of +Europe, and knew much of our state and business; and yet we in Europe, +(notwithstanding all the remote discoveries and navigations of this +last age), never heard of the least inkling or glimpse of this island. +This we found wonderful strange; for that all nations have +inter-knowledge one of another, either by voyage into foreign parts, or +by strangers that come to them: and though the traveller into a foreign +country, doth commonly know more by the eye, than he that stayeth at +home can by relation of the traveller; yet both ways suffice to make a +mutual knowledge, in some degree, on both parts. But for this island, +we never heard tell of any ship of theirs that had been seen to arrive +upon any shore of Europe; nor of either the East or West Indies; nor +yet of any ship of any other part of the world, that had made return +from them. And yet the marvel rested not in this. For the situation +of it (as his lordship said) in the secret conclave' of such a vast sea +might cause it. But then, that they should have knowledge of the +languages, books, affairs, of those that lie such a distance from them, +it was a thing we could not tell what to make of; for that it seemed to +us a conditioner and propriety of divine powers and beings, to be +hidden and unseen to others, and yet to have others open and as in a +light to them." +</P> + +<P> +At this speech the Governor gave a gracious smile, and said; "That we +did well to ask pardon for this question we now asked: for that it +imported, as if we thought this land, a land of magicians, that sent +forth spirits of the air into all parts, to bring them news and +intelligence of other countries." It was answered by us all, in all +possible humbleness, but yet with a countenance taking knowledge, that +we knew that he spake it but merrily, "That we were apt enough to think +there was somewhat supernatural in this island; but yet rather as +angelical than magical. But to let his lordship know truly what it was +that made us tender and doubtful to ask this question, it was not any +such conceit, but because we remembered, he had given a touch in his +former speech, that this land had laws of secrecy touching strangers." +To this he said; "You remember it aright and therefore in that I shall +say to you, I must reserve some particulars, which it is not lawful for +me to reveal; but there will be enough left, to give you satisfaction." +</P> + +<P> +"You shall understand (that which perhaps you will scarce think +credible) that about three thousand years ago, or somewhat more, the +navigation of the world, (especially for remote voyages,) was greater +than at this day. Do not think with yourselves, that I know not how +much it is increased with you, within these six-score years: I know it +well: and yet I say greater then than now; whether it was, that the +example of the ark, that saved the remnant of men from the universal +deluge, gave men confidence to adventure upon the waters; or what it +was; but such is the truth. The Phoenicians, and especially the +Tyrians, had great fleets. So had the Carthaginians their colony, +which is yet further west. Toward the east the shipping of Egypt and +of Palestine was likewise great. China also, and the great Atlantis, +(that you call America,) which have now but junks and canoes, abounded +then in tall ships. This island, (as appeareth by faithful registers +of those times,) had then fifteen hundred strong ships, of great +content. Of all this, there is with you sparing memory, or none; but +we have large knowledge thereof. +</P> + +<P> +"At that time, this land was known and frequented by the ships and +vessels of all the nations before named. And (as it cometh to pass) +they had many times men of other countries, that were no sailors, that +came with them; as Persians, Chaldeans, Arabians; so as almost all +nations of might and fame resorted hither; of whom we have some stirps, +and little tribes with us at this day. And for our own ships, they +went sundry voyages, as well to your straits, which you call the +Pillars of Hercules, as to other parts in the Atlantic and Mediterrane +Seas; as to Paguin, (which is the same with Cambaline,) and Quinzy, +upon the Oriental Seas, as far as to the borders of the East Tartary. +</P> + +<P> +"At the same time, and an age after, or more, the inhabitants of the +great Atlantis did flourish. For though the narration and description, +which is made by a great man with you; that the descendants of Neptune +planted there; and of the magnificent temple, palace, city, and hill; +and the manifold streams of goodly navigable rivers, (which as so many +chains environed the same site and temple); and the several degrees of +ascent, whereby men did climb up to the same, as if it had been a scala +coeli, be all poetical and fabulous: yet so much is true, that the said +country of Atlantis, as well that of Peru, then called Coya, as that of +Mexico, then named Tyrambel, were mighty and proud kingdoms in arms, +shipping and riches: so mighty, as at one time (or at least within the +space of ten years) they both made two great expeditions; they of +Tyrambel through the Atlantic to the Mediterrane Sea; and they of Coya +through the South Sea upon this our island: and for the former of +these, which was into Europe, the same author amongst you (as it +seemeth) had some relation from the Egyptian priest whom he cited. For +assuredly such a thing there was. But whether it were the ancient +Athenians that had the glory of the repulse and resistance of those +forces, I can say nothing: but certain it is, there never came back +either ship or man from that voyage. Neither had the other voyage of +those of Coya upon us had better fortune, if they had not met with +enemies of greater clemency. For the king of this island, (by name +Altabin,) a wise man and a great warrior, knowing well both his own +strength and that of his enemies, handled the matter so, as he cut off +their land-forces from their ships; and entoiled both their navy and +their tamp with a greater power than theirs, both by sea and land: arid +compelled them to render themselves without striking stroke and after +they were at his mercy, contenting himself only with their oath that +they should no more bear arms against him, dismissed them all in safety. +</P> + +<P> +"But the divine revenge overtook not long after those proud +enterprises. For within less than the space of one hundred years, the +great Atlantis was utterly lost and destroyed: not by a great +earthquake, as your man saith; (for that whole tract is little subject +to earthquakes;) but by a particular' deluge or inundation; those +countries having, at this day, far greater rivers and far higher +mountains to pour down waters, than any part of the old world. But it +is true that the same inundation was not deep; not past forty foot, in +most places, from the ground; so that although it destroyed man and +beast generally, yet some few wild inhabitants of the wood escaped. +Birds also were saved by flying to the high trees and woods. For as +for men, although they had buildings in many places, higher than the +depth of the water, yet that inundation, though it were shallow, had a +long continuance; whereby they of the vale that were not drowned, +perished for want of food and other things necessary. +</P> + +<P> +"So as marvel you not at the thin population of America, nor at the +rudeness and ignorance of the people; for you must account your +inhabitants of America as a young people; younger a thousand years, at +the least, than the rest of the world: for that there was so much time +between the universal flood and their particular inundation. For the +poor remnant of human seed, which remained in their mountains, peopled +the country again slowly, by little and little; and being simple and +savage people, (not like Noah and his sons, which was the chief family +of the earth;) they were not able to leave letters, arts, and civility +to their posterity; and having likewise in their mountainous +habitations been used (in respect of the extreme cold of those regions) +to clothe themselves with the skins of tigers, bears, and great hairy +goats, that they have in those parts; when after they came down into +the valley, and found the intolerable heats which are there, and knew +no means of lighter apparel, they were forced to begin the custom of +going naked, which continueth at this day. Only they take great pride +and delight in the feathers of birds; and this also they took from +those their ancestors of the mountains, who were invited unto it by the +infinite flights of birds that came up to the high grounds, while the +waters stood below. So you see, by this main accident of time, we lost +our traffic with the Americans, with whom of, all others, in regard +they lay nearest to us, we had most commerce. +</P> + +<P> +"As for the other parts of the world, it is most manifest that in the +ages following (whether it were in respect of wars, or by a natural +revolution of time,) navigation did every where greatly decay; and +specially far voyages (the rather by the use of galleys, and such +vessels as could hardly brook the ocean,) were altogether left and +omitted. So then, that part of intercourse which could be from other +nations to sail to us, you see how it hath long since ceased; except it +were by some rare accident, as this of yours. But now of the cessation +of that other part of intercourse, which might be by our sailing to +other nations, I must yield you some other cause. For I cannot say (if +I shall say truly,) but our shipping, for number, strength, mariners, +pilots, and all things that appertain to navigation, is as great as +ever; and therefore why we should sit at home, I shall now give you an +account by itself: and it will draw nearer to give you satisfaction to +your principal question. +</P> + +<P> +"There reigned in this land, about nineteen hundred years ago, a king, +whose memory of all others we most adore; not superstitiously, but as a +divine instrument, though a mortal man; his name was Solamona: and we +esteem him as the lawgiver of our nation. This king had a large heart, +inscrutable for good; and was wholly bent to make his kingdom and +people happy. He therefore, taking into consideration how sufficient +and substantive this land was to maintain itself without any aid (at +all) of the foreigner; being five thousand six hundred miles in +circuit, and of rare fertility of soil in the greatest part thereof; +and finding also the shipping of this country might be plentifully set +on work, both by fishing and by transportations from port to port, and +likewise by sailing unto some small islands that are not far from us, +and are under the crown and laws of this state; and, recalling into his +memory the happy and flourishing estate wherein this land then was; so +as it might be a thousand ways altered to the worse, but scarce any one +way to the better; thought nothing wanted to his noble and heroical +intentions, but only (as far as human foresight might reach) to give +perpetuity to that which was in his time so happily established. +Therefore amongst his other fundamental laws of this kingdom, he did +ordain the interdicts and prohibitions which we have touching entrance +of strangers; which at that time (though it was after the calamity of +America) was frequent; doubting novelties, and commixture of manners. +It is true, the like law against the admission of strangers without +licence is an ancient law in the kingdom of China, and yet continued in +use. But there it is a poor thing; and hath made them a curious, +ignorant, fearful, foolish nation. But our lawgiver made his law of +another temper. For first, he hath preserved all points of humanity, +in taking order and making provision for the relief of strangers +distressed; whereof you have tasted." +</P> + +<P> +At which speech (as reason was) we all rose up and bowed ourselves. He +went on. +</P> + +<P> +"That king also, still desiring to join humanity and policy together; +and thinking it against humanity, to detain strangers here against +their wills, and against policy that they should return and discover +their knowledge of this estate, he took this course: he did ordain that +of the strangers that should be permitted to land, as many (at all +times) might depart as would; but as many as would stay should have +very good conditions and means to live from the state. Wherein he saw +so far, that now in so many ages since the prohibition, we have memory +not of one ship that ever returned, and but of thirteen persons only, +at several times, that chose to return in our bottoms. What those few +that returned may have reported abroad I know not. But you must think, +whatsoever they have said could be taken where they came but for a +dream. Now for our travelling from henna into parts abroad, our +Lawgiver thought fit altogether to restrain it. So is it not in China. +For the Chinese sail where they will or can; which sheweth that their +law of keeping out strangers is a law of pusillanimity and fear. But +this restraint of ours hath one only exception, which is admirable; +preserving the good which cometh by communicating with strangers, and +avoiding the hurt; and I will now open it to you. And here I shall +seem a little to digress, but you will by and by find it pertinent. +</P> + +<P> +"Ye shall understand (my dear friends) that amongst the excellent acts +of that king, one above all hath the pre-eminence. It was the erection +and institution of an Order or Society, which we call Salomon's House; +the noblest foundation (as we think) that ever was upon the earth; and +the lanthorn of this kingdom. It is dedicated to the study of the +works and creatures of God. Some think it beareth the founder's name a +little corrupted, as if it should be Solamona's House. But the records +write it as it is spoken. So as I take it to be denominate of the king +of the Hebrews, which is famous with you, and no stranger to us. For +we have some parts of his works, which with you are lost; namely, that +natural history, which he wrote, of all plants, from the cedar of +Libanus to the moss that groweth out of the wall, and of all things +that have life and motion. This maketh me think that our king, finding +himself to symbolize in many things with that king of the Hebrews +(which lived many years before him), honored him with the title of this +foundation. And I am rather induced to be of this opinion, for that I +find in ancient records this Order or Society is sometimes called +Salomon's House, and sometimes the College of the Six Days Works; +whereby I am satisfied that our excellent king had learned from the +Hebrews that God had created the world and all that therein is within +six days: and therefore he instituting that House for the finding out +of the true nature of all things, (whereby God might have the more +glory in the workmanship of them, and insert the more fruit in the use +of them), did give it also that second name. +</P> + +<P> +"But now to come to our present purpose. When the king had forbidden +to all his people navigation into any part that was not under his +crown, he made nevertheless this ordinance; that every twelve years +there should be set forth, out of this kingdom two ships, appointed to +several voyages; That in either of these ships there should be a +mission of three of the Fellows or Brethren of Salomon's House; whose +errand was only to give us knowledge of the affairs and state of those +countries to which they were designed, and especially of the sciences, +arts, manufactures, and inventions of all the world; and withal to +bring unto us books, instruments, and patterns in every kind: That the +ships, after they had landed the brethren, should return; and that the +brethren should stay abroad till the new mission. These ships are not +otherwise fraught, than with store of victuals, and good quantity of +treasure to remain with the brethren, for the buying of such things and +rewarding of such persons as they should think fit. Now for me to tell +you how the vulgar sort of mariners are contained from being discovered +at land; and how they that must be put on shore for any time, color +themselves under the names of other nations; and to what places these +voyages have been designed; and what places of rendezvous are appointed +for the new missions; and the like circumstances of the practique; I +may not do it: neither is it much to your desire. But thus you see we +maintain a trade not for gold, silver, or jewels; nor for silks; nor +for spices; nor any other commodity of matter; but only for God's first +creature, which was Light: to have light (I say) of the growth of all +parts of the world." +</P> + +<P> +And when he had said this, he was silent; and so were we all. For +indeed we were all astonished to hear so strange things so probably +told. And he, perceiving that we were willing to say somewhat but had +it not ready in great courtesy took us off, and descended to ask us +questions of our voyage and fortunes and in the end concluded, that we +might do well to think with ourselves what time of stay we would demand +of the state; and bade us not to scant ourselves; for he would procure +such time as we desired: Whereupon we all rose up, and presented +ourselves to kiss the skirt of his tippet; but he would not suffer us; +and so took his leave. But when it came once amongst our people that +the state used to offer conditions to strangers that would stay, we had +work enough to get any of our men to look to our ship; and to keep them +from going presently to the governor to crave conditions. But with +much ado we refrained them, till we might agree what course to take. +</P> + +<P> +We took ourselves now for free men, seeing there was no danger of our +utter perdition; and lived most joyfully, going abroad and seeing what +was to be seen in the city and places adjacent within our tedder; and +obtaining acquaintance with many of the city, not of the meanest +quality; at whose hands we found such humanity, and such a freedom and +desire to take strangers as it were into their bosom, as was enough to +make us forget all that was dear to us in our own countries: and +continually we met with many things right worthy of observation and +relation: as indeed, if there be a mirror in the world worthy to hold +men's eyes, it is that country. +</P> + +<P> +One day there were two of our company bidden to a Feast of the Family, +as they call it. A most natural, pious, and reverend custom it is, +shewing that nation to be compounded of all goodness. This is the +manner of it. It is granted to any man that shall live to see thirty +persons descended of his body alive together, and all above three years +old, to make this feast which is done at the cost of the state. The +Father of the Family, whom they call the Tirsan, two days before the +feast, taketh to him three of such friends as he liketh to choose; and +is assisted also by the governor of the city or place where the feast +is celebrated; and all the persons of the family, of both sexes, are +summoned to attend him. These two days the Tirsan sitteth in +consultation concerning the good estate of the family. There, if there +be any discord or suits between any of the family, they are compounded +and appeased. There, if any of the family be distressed or decayed, +order is taken for their relief and competent means to live. There, if +any be subject to vice, or take ill courses, they are reproved and +censured. So likewise direction is given touching marriages, and the +courses of life, which any of them should take, with divers other the +like orders and advices. The governor assisteth, to the end to put in +execution by his public authority the decrees and orders of the Tirsan, +if they should be disobeyed; though that seldom needeth; such reverence +and obedience they give to the order of nature. The Tirsan doth also +then ever choose one man from among his sons, to live in house with +him; who is called ever after the Son of the Vine. The reason will +hereafter appear. +</P> + +<P> +On the feast day, the father or Tirsan cometh forth after divine +service into a large room where the feast is celebrated; which room +hath an half-pace at the upper end. Against the wall, in the middle of +the half-pace, is a chair placed for him, with a table and carpet +before it. Over the chair is a state, made round or oval, and it is of +ivy; an ivy somewhat whiter than ours, like the leaf of a silver asp; +but more shining; for it is green all winter. And the state is +curiously wrought with silver and silk of divers colors, broiding or +binding in the ivy; and is ever of the work of some of the daughters of +the family; and veiled over at the top with a fine net of silk and +silver. But the substance of it is true ivy; whereof, after it is +taken down, the friends of the family are desirous to have some leaf or +sprig to keep. +</P> + +<P> +The Tirsan cometh forth with all his generation or linage, the males +before him, and the females following him; and if there be a mother +from whose body the whole linage is descended, there is a traverse +placed in a loft above on the right hand of the chair, with a privy +door, and a carved window of glass, leaded with gold and blue; where +she sitteth, but is not seen. When the Tirsan is come forth, he +sitteth down in the chair; and all the linage place themselves against +the wall, both at his back and upon the return of the half-pace, in +order of their years without difference of sex; and stand upon their +feet. When he is set; the room being always full of company, but well +kept and without disorder; after some pause, there cometh in from the +lower end of the room, a taratan (which is as much as an herald) and on +either side of him two young lads; whereof one carrieth a scroll of +their shining yellow parchment; and the other a cluster of grapes of +gold, with a long foot or stalk. The herald and children are clothed +with mantles of sea-water green satin; but the herald's mantle is +streamed with gold, and hath a train. +</P> + +<P> +Then the herald with three curtesies, or rather inclinations, cometh up +as far as the half-pace; and there first taketh into his hand the +scroll. This scroll is the king's charter, containing gifts of +revenew, and many privileges, exemptions, and points of honour, granted +to the Father of the Family; and is ever styled and directed, To such +do one our well beloved friend and creditor: which is a title proper +only to this case. For they say the king is debtor to no man, but for +propagation of his subjects. The seal set to the king's charter is the +king's image, imbossed or moulded in gold; and though such charters be +expedited of course, and as of right, yet they are varied by +discretion, according to the number and dignity of the family. This +charter the herald readeth aloud; and while it is read, the father or +Tirsan standeth up supported by two of his sons, such as he chooseth. +Then the herald mounteth the half-pace and delivereth the charter into +his hand: and with that there is an acclamation by all that are present +in their language, which is thus much: Happy are the people of Bensalem. +</P> + +<P> +Then the herald taketh into his hand from the other child the cluster +of grapes, which is of gold, both the stalk and the grapes. But the +grapes are daintily enamelled; and if the males of the family be the +greater number, the grapes are enamelled purple, with a little sun set +on the top; if the females, then they are enamelled into a greenish +yellow, with a crescent on the top. The grapes are in number as many +as there are descendants of the family. This golden cluster the herald +delivereth also to the Tirsan; who presently delivereth it over to that +son that he had formerly chosen to be in house with him: who beareth it +before his father as an ensign of honour when he goeth in public, ever +after; and is thereupon called the Son of the Vine. +</P> + +<P> +After the ceremony endeth the father or Tirsan retireth; and after some +time cometh forth again to dinner, where he sitteth alone under the +state, as before; and none of his descendants sit with him, of what +degree or dignity soever, except he hap to be of Salomon's House. He is +served only by his own children, such as are male; who perform unto him +all service of the table upon the knee; and the women only stand about +him, leaning against the wall. The room below the half-pace hath +tables on the sides for the guests that are bidden; who are served with +great and comely order; and towards the end of dinner (which in the +greatest feasts with them lasteth never above an hour and an half) +there is an hymn sung, varied according to the invention of him that +composeth it (for they have excellent posy) but the subject of it is +(always) the praises of Adam and Noah and Abraham; whereof the former +two peopled the world, and the last was the Father of the Faithful: +concluding ever with a thanksgiving for the nativity of our Saviour, in +whose birth the births of all are only blessed. +</P> + +<P> +Dinner being done, the Tirsan retireth again; and having withdrawn +himself alone into a place, where he makes some private prayers, he +cometh forth the third time, to give the blessing with all his +descendants, who stand about him as at the first. Then he calleth them +forth by one and by one, by name, as he pleaseth, though seldom the +order of age be inverted. The person that is called (the table being +before removed) kneeleth down before the chair, and the father layeth +his hand upon his head, or her head, and giveth the blessing in these +words: Son of Bensalem, (or daughter of Bensalem,) thy father with it: +the man by whom thou hast breath and life speaketh the word: the +blessing of the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, and the Holy +Dove, be upon thee, and make the days of thy pilgrimage good and many. +This he saith to every of them; and that done, if there be any of his +sons of eminent merit and virtue, (so they be not above two,) he +calleth for them again; and saith, laying his arm over their shoulders, +they standing; Sons, it is well ye are born, give God the praise, and +persevere to the end. And withall delivereth to either of them a +jewel, made in the figure of an ear of wheat, which they ever after +wear in the front of their turban or hat. This done, they fall to +music and dances, and other recreations, after their manner, for the +rest of the day. This is the full order of that feast. +</P> + +<P> +By that time six or seven days were spent, I was fallen into straight +acquaintance with a merchant of that city, whose name was Joabin. He +was a Jew and circumcised: for they have some few stirps of Jews yet +remaining among them, whom they leave to their own religion. Which +they may the better do, because they are of a far differing disposition +from the Jews in other parts. For whereas they hate the name of +Christ; and have a secret inbred rancour against the people among whom +they live: these (contrariwise) give unto our Saviour many high +attributes, and love the nation of Bensalem extremely. Surely this man +of whom I speak would ever acknowledge that Christ was born of a virgin +and that he was more than a man; and he would tell how God made him +ruler of the seraphims which guard his throne; and they call him also +the Milken Way, and the Eliah of the Messiah; and many other high +names; which though they be inferior to his divine majesty, yet they +are far from the language of other Jews. +</P> + +<P> +And for the country of Bensalem, this man would make no end of +commending it; being desirous, by tradition among the Jews there, to +have it believed that the people thereof were of the generations of +Abraham, by another son, whom they call Nachoran; and that Moses by a +secret Cabala ordained the Laws of Bensalem which they now use; and +that when the Messiah should come, and sit in his throne at Hierusalem, +the king of Bensalem should sit at his feet, whereas other kings should +keep a great distance. But yet setting aside these Jewish dreams, the +man was a wise man, and learned, and of great policy, and excellently +seen in the laws and customs of that nation. +</P> + +<P> +Amongst other discourses, one day I told him I was much affected with +the relation I had, from some of the company, of their custom, in +holding the Feast of the Family; for that (methought) I had never heard +of a solemnity wherein nature did so much preside. And because +propagation of families proceedeth from the nuptial copulation, I +desired to know of him what laws and customs they had concerning +marriage; and whether they kept marriage well and whether they were +tied to one wife; for that where population is so much affected,' and +such as with them it seemed to be, there is commonly permission of +plurality of wives. +</P> + +<P> +To this he said, "You have reason for to commend that excellent +institution of the Feast of the Family. And indeed we have experience +that those families that are partakers of the blessing of that feast do +flourish and prosper ever after in an extraordinary manner. But hear +me now, and I will tell you what I know. You shall understand that +there is not under the heavens so chaste a nation as this of Bensalem; +nor so free from all pollution or foulness. It is the virgin of the +world. I remember I have read in one of your European books, of an +holy hermit amongst you that desired to see the Spirit of Fornication; +and there appeared to him a little foul ugly Aethiop. But if he had +desired to see the Spirit of Chastity of Bensalem, it would have +appeared to him in the likeness of a fair beautiful Cherubim. For +there is nothing amongst mortal men more fair and admirable, than the +chaste minds of this people. Know therefore, that with them there are +no stews, no dissolute houses, no courtesans, nor anything of that +kind. Nay they wonder (with detestation) at you in Europe, which +permit such things. They say ye have put marriage out of office: for +marriage is ordained a remedy for unlawful concupiscence; and natural +concupiscence seemeth as a spar to marriage. But when men have at hand +a remedy more agreeable to their corrupt will, marriage is almost +expulsed. And therefore there are with you seen infinite men that +marry not, but chose rather a libertine and impure single life, than to +be yoked in marriage; and many that do marry, marry late, when the +prime and strength of their years is past. And when they do marry, what +is marriage to them but a very bargain; wherein is sought alliance, or +portion, or reputation, with some desire (almost indifferent) of issue; +and not the faithful nuptial union of man and wife, that was first +instituted. Neither is it possible that those that have cast away so +basely so much of their strength, should greatly esteem children, +(being of the same matter,) as chaste men do. So likewise during +marriage, is the case much amended, as it ought to be if those things +were tolerated only for necessity? No, but they remain still as a very +affront to marriage. The haunting of those dissolute places, or resort +to courtesans, are no more punished in married men than in bachelors. +And the depraved custom of change, and the delight in meretricious +embracements, (where sin is turned into art,) maketh marriage a dull +thing, and a kind of imposition or tax. They hear you defend these +things, as done to avoid greater evils; as advoutries, deflowering of +virgins, unnatural lust, and the like. But they say this is a +preposterous wisdom; and they call it Lot's offer, who to save his +guests from abusing, offered his daughters: nay they say farther that +there is little gained in this; for that the same vices and appetites +do still remain and abound; unlawful lust being like a furnace, that if +you stop the flames altogether, it will quench; but if you give it any +vent, it will rage. As for masculine love, they have no touch of it; +and yet there are not so faithful and inviolate friendships in the +world again as are there; and to speak generally, (as I said before,) I +have not read of any such chastity, in any people as theirs. And their +usual saying is, That whosoever is unchaste cannot reverence himself; +and they say, That the reverence of a man's self, is, next to religion, +the chiefest bridle of all vices." +</P> + +<P> +And when he had said this, the good Jew paused a little; whereupon I, +far more willing to hear him speak on than to speak myself, yet +thinking it decent that upon his pause of speech I should not be +altogether silent, said only this; "That I would say to him, as the +widow of Sarepta said to Elias; that he was come to bring to memory our +sins; and that I confess the righteousness of Bensalem was greater than +the righteousness of Europe." At which speech he bowed his head, and +went on in this manner: +</P> + +<P> +"They have also many wise and excellent laws touching marriage. They +allow no polygamy. They have ordained that none do intermarry or +contract, until a month be past from their first interview. Marriage +without consent of parents they do not make void, but they mulct it in +the inheritors: for the children of such marriages are not admitted to +inherit above a third part of their parents' inheritance. I have read +in a book of one of your men, of a Feigned Commonwealth, where the +married couple are permitted, before they contract, to see one another +naked. This they dislike; for they think it a scorn to give a refusal +after so familiar knowledge: but because of many hidden defects in men +and women's bodies, they have a more civil way; for they have near +every town a couple of pools, (which they call Adam and Eve's pools,) +where it is permitted to one of the friends of the men, and another of +the friends of the woman, to see them severally bathe naked." +</P> + +<P> +And as we were thus in conference, there came one that seemed to be a +messenger, in a rich huke, that spake with the Jew: whereupon he turned +to me and said; "You will pardon me, for I am commanded away in haste." +The next morning he came to me again, joyful as it seemed, and said; +"There is word come to the Governor of the city, that one of the +Fathers of Salomon's House will be here this day seven-night: we have +seen none of them this dozen years. His coming is in state; but the +cause of his coming is secret. I will provide you and your fellows of +a good standing to see his entry." I thanked him, and told him, I was +most glad of the news. +</P> + +<P> +The day being come, he made his entry. He was a man of middle stature +and age, comely of person, and had an aspect as if he pitied men. He +was clothed in a robe of fine black cloth, with wide sleeves and a +cape. His under garment was of excellent white linen down to the foot, +girt with a girdle of the same; and a sindon or tippet of the same +about his neck. He had gloves, that were curious,'' and set with +stone; and shoes of peach-coloured velvet. His neck was bare to the +shoulders. His hat was like a helmet, or Spanish montera; and his +locks curled below it decently: they were of colour brown. His beard +was cut round, and of the same colour with his hair, somewhat lighter. +He was carried in a rich chariot without wheels, litter-wise; with two +horses at either end, richly trapped in blue velvet embroidered; and +two footmen on each side in the like attire. The chariot was all of +cedar, gilt, and adorned with crystal; save that the fore-end had +panels of sapphires, set in borders of gold; and the hinder-end the +like of emeralds of the Peru colour. There was also a sun of gold, +radiant, upon the top, in the midst; and on the top before, a small +cherub of gold, with wings displayed. The chariot was covered with +cloth of gold tissued upon blue. He had before him fifty attendants, +young men all, in white satin loose coats to the mid leg; and stockings +of white silk; and shoes of blue velvet; and hats of blue velvet; with +fine plumes of diverse colours, set round like hat-bands. Next before +the chariot, went two men, bare-headed, in linen garments down the +foot, girt, and shoes of blue velvet; who carried, the one a crosier, +the other a pastoral staff like a sheep-hook; neither of them of metal, +but the crosier of balm-wood, the pastoral staff of cedar. Horsemen he +had none, neither before nor behind his chariot: as it seemeth, to +avoid all tumult and trouble. Behind his chariot went all the officers +and principals of the companies of the city. He sat alone, upon +cushions of a kind of excellent plush, blue; and under his foot curious +carpets of silk of diverse colours, like the Persian, but far finer. +He held up his bare hand as he went, as blessing the people, but in +silence. The street was wonderfully well kept: so that there was never +any army had their men stand in better battle-array than the people +stood. The windows likewise were not crowded, but every one stood in +them as if they had been placed. +</P> + +<P> +When the shew was past, the Jew said to me; "I shall not be able to +attend you as I would, in regard of some charge the city hath laid upon +me, for the entertaining of this great person." Three days after the +Jew came to me again, and said; "Ye are happy men; for the Father of +Salomon's House taketh knowledge of your being here, and commanded me +to tell you that he will admit all your company to his presence, and +have private conference with one of you, that ye shall choose: and for +this hath appointed the next day after to-morrow. And because he +meaneth to give you his blessing, he hath appointed it in the forenoon." +</P> + +<P> +We came at our day and hour, and I was chosen by my fellows for the +private access. We found him in a fair chamber, richly hanged, and +carpeted under foot without any degrees to the state. He was set upon +a low Throne richly adorned, and a rich cloth of state over his head, +of blue satin embroidered. He was alone, save that he had two pages of +honour, on either hand one, finely attired in white. His under +garments were the like that we saw him wear in the chariot; but instead +of his gown, he had on him a mantle with a cape, of the same fine +black, fastened about him. When we came in, as we were taught, we +bowed low at our first entrance; and when we were come near his chair, +he stood up, holding forth his hand ungloved, and in posture of +blessing; and we every one of us stooped down, and kissed the hem of +his tippet. That done, the rest departed, and I remained. Then he +warned the pages forth of the room, and caused me to sit down beside +him, and spake to me thus in the Spanish tongue. +</P> + +<P> +"God bless thee, my son; I will give thee the greatest jewel I have. +For I will impart unto thee, for the love of God and men, a relation of +the true state of Salomon's House. Son, to make you know the true +state of Salomon's House, I will keep this order. First, I will set +forth unto you the end of our foundation. Secondly, the preparations +and instruments we have for our works. Thirdly, the several +employments and functions whereto our fellows are assigned. And +fourthly, the ordinances and rites which we observe. +</P> + +<P> +"The end of our foundation is the knowledge of causes, and secret +motions of things; and the enlarging of the bounds of human empire, to +the effecting of all things possible. +</P> + +<P> +"The Preparations and Instruments are these. We have large and deep +caves of several depths: the deepest are sunk six hundred fathom: and +some of them are digged and made under great hills and mountains: so +that if you reckon together the depth of the hill and the depth of the +cave, they are (some of them) above three miles deep. For we find, +that the depth of a hill, and the depth of a cave from the flat, is the +same thing; both remote alike, from the sun and heaven's beams, and +from the open air. These caves we call the Lower Region; and we use +them for all coagulations, indurations, refrigerations, and +conservations of bodies. We use them likewise for the imitation of +natural mines; and the producing also of new artificial metals, by +compositions and materials which we use, and lay there for many years. +We use them also sometimes, (which may seem strange,) for curing of +some diseases, and for prolongation of life in some hermits that choose +to live there, well accommodated of all things necessary, and indeed +live very long; by whom also we learn many things. +</P> + +<P> +"We have burials in several earths, where we put diverse cements, as +the Chineses do their porcellain. But we have them in greater variety, +and some of them more fine. We have also great variety of composts and +soils, for the making of the earth fruitful. +</P> + +<P> +"We have high towers; the highest about half a mile in height; and some +of them likewise set upon high mountains; so that the vantage of the +hill with the tower is in the highest of them three miles at least. And +these places we call the Upper Region; accounting the air between the +high places and the low, as a Middle Region. We use these towers, +according to their several heights, and situations, for insolation, +refrigeration, conservation; and for the view of divers meteors; as +winds, rain, snow, hail; and some of the fiery meteors also. And upon +them, in some places, are dwellings of hermits, whom we visit +sometimes, and instruct what to observe. +</P> + +<P> +"We have great lakes, both salt, and fresh; whereof we have use for the +fish and fowl. We use them also for burials of some natural bodies: +for we find a difference in things buried in earth or in air below the +earth, and things buried in water. We have also pools, of which some +do strain fresh water out of salt; and others by art do turn fresh +water into salt. We have also some rocks in the midst of the sea, and +some bays upon the shore for some works, wherein is required the air +and vapor of the sea. We have likewise violent streams and cataracts, +which serve us for many motions: and likewise engines for multiplying +and enforcing of winds, to set also on going diverse motions. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also a number of artificial wells and fountains, made in +imitation of the natural sources and baths; as tincted upon vitriol, +sulphur, steel, brass, lead, nitre, and other minerals. And again we +have little wells for infusions of many things, where the waters take +the virtue quicker and better, than in vessels or basins. And amongst +them we have a water which we call Water of Paradise, being, by that we +do to it made very sovereign for health, and prolongation of life. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also great and spacious houses where we imitate and +demonstrate meteors; as snow, hail, rain, some artificial rains of +bodies and not of water, thunders, lightnings; also generations of +bodies in air; as frogs, flies, and divers others. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also certain chambers, which we call Chambers of Health, where +we qualify the air as we think good and proper for the cure of divers +diseases, and preservation of health. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also fair and large baths, of several mixtures, for the cure +of diseases, and the restoring of man's body from arefaction: and +others for the confirming of it in strength of sinewes, vital parts, +and the very juice and substance of the body. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also large and various orchards and gardens; wherein we do not +so much respect beauty, as variety of ground and soil, proper for +divers trees and herbs: and some very spacious, where trees and berries +are set whereof we make divers kinds of drinks, besides the vineyards. +In these we practise likewise all conclusions of grafting, and +inoculating as well of wild-trees as fruit-trees, which produceth many +effects. And we make (by art) in the same orchards and gardens, trees +and flowers to come earlier or later than their seasons; and to come up +and bear more speedily than by their natural course they do. We make +them also by art greater much than their nature; and their fruit +greater and sweeter and of differing taste, smell, colour, and figure, +from their nature. And many of them we so order, as they become of +medicinal use. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also means to make divers plants rise by mixtures of earths +without seeds; and likewise to make divers new plants, differing from +the vulgar; and to make one tree or plant turn into another. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also parks and enclosures of all sorts of beasts and birds +which we use not only for view or rareness, but likewise for +dissections and trials; that thereby we may take light what may be +wrought upon the body of man. Wherein we find many strange effects; as +continuing life in them, though divers parts, which you account vital, +be perished and taken forth; resuscitating of some that seem dead in +appearance; and the like. We try also all poisons and other medicines +upon them, as well of chirurgery, as physic. By art likewise, we make +them greater or taller than their kind is; and contrariwise dwarf them, +and stay their growth: we make them more fruitful and bearing than +their kind is; and contrariwise barren and not generative. Also we +make them differ in colour, shape, activity, many ways. We find means +to make commixtures and copulations of different kinds; which have +produced many new kinds, and them not barren, as the general opinion +is. We make a number of kinds of serpents, worms, flies, fishes, of +putrefaction; whereof some are advanced (in effect) to be perfect +creatures, like bests or birds; and have sexes, and do propagate. +Neither do we this by chance, but we know beforehand, of what matter +and commixture what kind of those creatures will arise. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also particular pools, where we make trials upon fishes, as we +have said before of beasts and birds. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also places for breed and generation of those kinds of worms +and flies which are of special use; such as are with you your +silk-worms and bees. +</P> + +<P> +"I will not hold you long with recounting of our brewhouses, +bake-houses, and kitchens, where are made divers drinks, breads, and +meats, rare and of special effects. Wines we have of grapes; and +drinks of other juice of fruits, of grains, and of roots; and of +mixtures with honey, sugar, manna, and fruits dried, and decocted; Also +of the tears or woundings of trees; and of the pulp of canes. And these +drinks are of several ages, some to the age or last of forty years. We +have drinks also brewed with several herbs, and roots, and spices; yea +with several fleshes, and white-meats; whereof some of the drinks are +such, as they are in effect meat and drink both: so that divers, +especially in age, do desire to live with them, with little or no meat +or bread. And above all, we strive to have drink of extreme thin +parts, to insinuate into the body, and yet without all biting, +sharpness, or fretting; insomuch as some of them put upon the back of +your hand will, with a little stay, pass through to the palm, and yet +taste mild to the mouth. We have also waters which we ripen in that +fashion, as they become nourishing; so that they are indeed excellent +drink; and many will use no other. Breads we have of several grains, +roots, and kernels; yea and some of flesh and fish dried; with divers +kinds of leavenings and seasonings: so that some do extremely move +appetites; some do nourish so, as divers do live of them, without any +other meat; who live very long. So for meats, we have some of them so +beaten and made tender and mortified,' yet without all corrupting, as a +weak heat of the stomach will turn them into good chylus; as well as a +strong heat would meat otherwise prepared. We have some meats also and +breads and drinks, which taken by men enable them to fast long after; +and some other, that used make the very flesh of men's bodies sensibly' +more hard and tough and their strength far greater than otherwise it +would be. +</P> + +<P> +"We have dispensatories, or shops of medicines. Wherein you may easily +think, if we have such variety of plants and living creatures more than +you have in Europe, (for we know what you have,) the simples, drugs, +and ingredients of medicines, must likewise be in so much the greater +variety. We have them likewise of divers ages, and long fermentations. +And for their preparations, we have not only all manner of exquisite +distillations and separations, and especially by gentle heats and +percolations through divers strainers, yea and substances; but also +exact forms of composition, whereby they incorporate almost, as they +were natural simples. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also divers mechanical arts, which you have not; and stuffs +made by them; as papers, linen, silks, tissues; dainty works of +feathers of wonderful lustre; excellent dies, and, many others; and +shops likewise, as well for such as are not brought into vulgar use +amongst us as for those that are. For you must know that of the things +before recited, many of them are grown into use throughout the kingdom; +but yet, if they did flow from our invention, we have of them also for +patterns and principals. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also furnaces of great diversities, and that keep great +diversity of heats; fierce and quick; strong and constant; soft and +mild; blown, quiet; dry, moist; and the like. But above all, we have +heats, in imitation of the Sun's and heavenly bodies' heats, that pass +divers inequalities, and (as it were) orbs, progresses, and returns, +whereby we produce admirable effects. Besides, we have heats of dungs; +and of bellies and maws of living creatures, and of their bloods and +bodies; and of hays and herbs laid up moist; of lime unquenched; and +such like. Instruments also which generate heat only by motion. And +farther, places for strong insulations; and again, places under the +earth, which by nature, or art, yield heat. These divers heats we use, +as the nature of the operation, which we intend, requireth. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also perspective-houses, where we make demonstrations of all +lights and radiations; and of all colours: and out of things uncoloured +and transparent, we can represent unto you all several colours; not in +rain-bows, (as it is in gems, and prisms,) but of themselves single. +We represent also all multiplications of light, which we carry to great +distance, and make so sharp as to discern small points and lines. Also +all colourations of light; all delusions and deceits of the sight, in +figures, magnitudes, motions, colours all demonstrations of shadows. +We find also divers means, yet unknown to you, of producing of light +originally from divers bodies. We procure means of seeing objects afar +off; as in the heaven and remote places; and represent things near as +afar off; and things afar off as near; making feigned distances. We +have also helps for the sight, far above spectacles and glasses in use. +We have also glasses and means to see small and minute bodies perfectly +and distinctly; as the shapes and colours of small flies and worms, +grains and flaws in gems, which cannot otherwise be seen, observations +in urine and blood not otherwise to be seen. We make artificial +rain-bows, halo's, and circles about light. We represent also all +manner of reflexions, refractions, and multiplications of visual beams +of objects. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also precious stones of all kinds, many of them of great +beauty, and to you unknown; crystals likewise; and glasses of divers +kinds; and amongst them some of metals vitrificated, and other +materials besides those of which you make glass. Also a number of +fossils, and imperfect minerals, which you have not. Likewise +loadstones of prodigious virtue; and other rare stones, both natural +and artificial. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also sound-houses, where we practise and demonstrate all +sounds, and their generation. We have harmonies which you have not, of +quarter-sounds, and lesser slides of sounds. Divers instruments of +music likewise to you unknown, some sweeter than any you have, together +with bells and rings that are dainty and sweet. We represent small +sounds as great and deep; likewise great sounds extenuate and sharp; we +make divers tremblings and warblings of sounds, which in their original +are entire. We represent and imitate all articulate sounds and +letters, and the voices and notes of beasts and birds. We have certain +helps which set to the ear do further the hearing greatly. We have also +divers strange and artificial echoes, reflecting the voice many times, +and as it were tossing it: and some that give back the voice louder +than it came, some shriller, and some deeper; yea, some rendering the +voice differing in the letters or articulate sound from that they +receive. We have also means to convey sounds in trunks and pipes, in +strange lines and distances. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also perfume-houses; wherewith we join also practices of +taste. We multiply smells, which may seem strange. We imitate smells, +making all smells to breathe outs of other mixtures than those that +give them. We make divers imitations of taste likewise, so that they +will deceive any man's taste. And in this house we contain also a +confiture-house; where we make all sweet-meats, dry and moist; and +divers pleasant wines, milks, broths, and sallets; in far greater +variety than you have. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also engine-houses, where are prepared engines and instruments +for all sorts of motions. There we imitate and practise to make +swifter motions than any you have, either out of your muskets or any +engine that you have: and to make them and multiply them more easily, +and with small force, by wheels and other means: and to make them +stronger and more violent than yours are; exceeding your greatest +cannons and basilisks. We represent also ordnance and instruments of +war, and engines of all kinds: and likewise new mixtures and +compositions of gun-powder, wild-fires burning in water, and +unquenchable. Also fireworks of all variety both for pleasure and use. +We imitate also flights of birds; we have some degrees of flying in the +air. We have ships and boats for going under water, and brooking of +seas; also swimming-girdles and supporters. We have divers curious +clocks, and other like motions of return: and some perpetual motions. +We imitate also motions of living creatures, by images, of men, beasts, +birds, fishes, and serpents. We have also a great number of other +various motions, strange for equality, fineness, and subtilty. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also a mathematical house, where are represented all +instruments, as well of geometry as astronomy, exquisitely made. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also houses of deceits of the senses; where we represent all +manner of feats of juggling, false apparitions, impostures, and +illusions; and their fallacies. And surely you will easily believe +that we that have so many things truly natural which induce admiration, +could in a world of particulars deceive the senses, if we would +disguise those things and labour to make them seem more miraculous. But +we do hate all impostures, and lies; insomuch as we have severely +forbidden it to all our fellows, under pain of ignominy and fines, that +they do not show any natural work or thing, adorned or swelling; but +only pure as it is, and without all affectation of strangeness. +</P> + +<P> +"These are (my son) the riches of Salomon's House. +</P> + +<P> +"For the several employments and offices of our fellows; we have twelve +that sail into foreign countries, under the names of other nations, +(for our own we conceal); who bring us the books, and abstracts, and +patterns of experiments of all other parts. These we call Merchants of +Light. +</P> + +<P> +"We have three that collect the experiments which are in all books. +These we call Depredators. +</P> + +<P> +"We have three that collect the experiments of all mechanical arts; and +also of liberal sciences; and also of practices which are not brought +into arts. These we call Mystery-men. +</P> + +<P> +"We have three that try new experiments, such as themselves think good. +These we call Pioneers or Miners. +</P> + +<P> +"We have three that draw the experiments of the former four into titles +and tables, to give the better light for the drawing of observations +and axioms out of them. These we call Compilers. +</P> + +<P> +"We have three that bend themselves, looking into the experiments of +their fellows, and cast about how to draw out of them things of use and +practise for man's life, and knowledge, as well for works as for plain +demonstration of causes, means of natural divinations, and the easy and +clear discovery of the virtues and parts of bodies. These we call +Dowry-men or Benefactors. +</P> + +<P> +"Then after divers meetings and consults of our whole number, to +consider of the former labours and collections, we have three that take +care, out of them, to direct new experiments, of a higher light, more +penetrating into nature than the former. These we call Lamps. +</P> + +<P> +"We have three others that do execute the experiments so directed, and +report them. These we call Inoculators. +</P> + +<P> +"Lastly, we have three that raise the former discoveries by experiments +into greater observations, axioms, and aphorisms. These we call +Interpreters of Nature. +</P> + +<P> +"We have also, as you must think, novices and apprentices, that the +succession of the former employed men do not fail; besides, a great +number of servants and attendants, men and women. And this we do also: +we have consultations, which of the inventions and experiences which we +have discovered shall be published, and which not: and take all an oath +of secrecy, for the concealing of those which we think fit to keep +secret: though some of those we do reveal sometimes to the state and +some not. +</P> + +<P> +"For our ordinances and rites: we have two very long and fair +galleries: in one of these we place patterns and samples of all manner +of the more rare and excellent inventions in the other we place the +statues of all principal inventors. There we have the statue of your +Columbus, that discovered the West Indies: also the inventor of ships: +your monk that was the inventor of ordnance and of gunpowder: the +inventor of music: the inventor of letters: the inventor of printing: +the inventor of observations of astronomy: the inventor of works in +metal: the inventor of glass: the inventor of silk of the worm: the +inventor of wine: the inventor of corn and bread: the inventor of +sugars: and all these, by more certain tradition than you have. Then +have we divers inventors of our own, of excellent works; which since +you have not seen, it were too long to make descriptions of them; and +besides, in the right understanding of those descriptions you might +easily err. For upon every invention of value, we erect a statue to +the inventor, and give him a liberal and honourable reward. These +statues are some of brass; some of marble and touch-stone; some of +cedar and other special woods gilt and adorned; some of iron; some of +silver; some of gold. +</P> + +<P> +"We have certain hymns and services, which we say daily, of Lord and +thanks to God for his marvellous works: and forms of prayers, imploring +his aid and blessing for the illumination of our labours, and the +turning of them into good and holy uses. +</P> + +<P> +"Lastly, we have circuits or visits of divers principal cities of the +kingdom; where, as it cometh to pass, we do publish such new profitable +inventions as we think good. And we do also declare natural +divinations of diseases, plagues, swarms-of hurtful creatures, +scarcity, tempests, earthquakes, great inundations, comets, temperature +of the year, and divers other things; and we give counsel thereupon, +what the people shall do for the prevention and remedy of them." +</P> + +<P> +And when he had said this, he stood up; and I, as I had been taught, +kneeled down, and he laid his right hand upon my head, and said; "God +bless thee, my son; and God bless this relation, which I have made. I +give thee leave to publish it for the good of other nations; for we +here are in God's bosom, a land unknown." And so he left me; having +assigned a value of about two thousand ducats, for a bounty to me and +my fellows. For they give great largesses where they come upon all +occasions. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +[The rest was not perfected.] +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The New Atlantis, by Frances Bacon + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NEW ATLANTIS *** + +***** This file should be named 2434-h.htm or 2434-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/3/2434/ + +Produced by Michael Pullen and William Fishburne. HTML +version by Al Haines. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The New Atlantis + +Author: Frances Bacon + +Posting Date: October 23, 2008 [EBook #2434] +Release Date: December 2000 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NEW ATLANTIS *** + + + + +Produced by Michael Pullen and William Fishburne. HTML +version by Al Haines. + + + + + + + + + + +THE NEW ATLANTIS + + +BY + +SIR FRANCIS BACON + + + + +INTRODUCTORY NOTE + +Bacon's literary executor, Dr. Rowley, published "The New Atlantis" in +1627, the year after the author's death. It seems to have been written +about 1623, during that period of literary activity which followed +Bacon's political fall. None of Bacon's writings gives in short apace +so vivid a picture of his tastes and aspirations as this fragment of +the plan of an ideal commonwealth. The generosity and enlightenment, +the dignity and splendor, the piety and public spirit, of the +inhabitants of Bensalem represent the ideal qualities which Bacon the +statesman desired rather than hoped to see characteristic of his own +country; and in Solomon's House we have Bacon the scientist indulging +without restriction his prophetic vision of the future of human +knowledge. No reader acquainted in any degree with the processes and +results of modern scientific inquiry can fail to be struck by the +numerous approximations made by Bacon's imagination to the actual +achievements of modern times. The plan and organization of his great +college lay down the main lines of the modern research university; and +both in pure and applied science he anticipates a strikingly large +number of recent inventions and discoveries. In still another way is +"The New Atlantis" typical of Bacon's attitude. In spite of the +enthusiastic and broad-minded schemes he laid down for the pursuit of +truth, Bacon always had an eye to utility. The advancement of science +which he sought was conceived by him as a means to a practical end the +increase of man's control over nature, and the comfort and convenience +of humanity. For pure metaphysics, or any form of abstract thinking +that yielded no "fruit," he had little interest; and this leaning to +the useful is shown in the practical applications of the discoveries +made by the scholars of Solomon's House. Nor does the interest of the +work stop here. It contains much, both in its political and in its +scientific ideals, that we have as yet by no means achieved, but which +contain valuable elements of suggestion and stimulus for the future. + + + + + +THE NEW ATLANTIS + +We sailed from Peru, (where we had continued for the space of one whole +year) for China and Japan, by the South Sea; taking with us victuals +for twelve months; and had good winds from the east, though soft and +weak, for five months space, and more. But the wind came about, and +settled in the west for many days, so as we could make little or no +way, and were sometime in purpose to turn back. But then again there +arose strong and great winds from the south, with a point east, which +carried us up (for all that we could do) towards the north; by which +time our victuals failed us, though we had made good spare of them. So +that finding ourselves, in the midst of the greatest wilderness of +waters in the world, without victuals, we gave ourselves for lost men +and prepared for death. Yet we did lift up our hearts and voices to +God above, who showeth his wonders in the deep, beseeching him of his +mercy, that as in the beginning he discovered the face of the deep, and +brought forth dry land, so he would now discover land to us, that we +might not perish. + +And it came to pass that the next day about evening we saw within a +kenning before us, towards the north, as it were thick clouds, which +did put us in some hope of land; knowing how that part of the South Sea +was utterly unknown; and might have islands, or continents, that +hitherto were not come to light. Wherefore we bent our course thither, +where we saw the appearance of land, all that night; and in the dawning +of the next day, we might plainly discern that it was a land; flat to +our sight, and full of boscage; which made it show the more dark. And +after an hour and a half's sailing, we entered into a good haven, being +the port of a fair city; not great indeed, but well built, and that +gave a pleasant view from the sea: and we thinking every minute long, +till we were on land, came close to the shore, and offered to land. +But straightways we saw divers of the people, with bastons in their +hands (as it were) forbidding us to land; yet without any cries of +fierceness, but only as warning us off, by signs that they made. +Whereupon being not a little discomforted, we were advising with +ourselves, what we should do. + +During which time, there made forth to us a small boat, with about +eight persons in it; whereof one of them had in his hand a tipstaff of +a yellow cane, tipped at both ends with blue, who came aboard our ship, +without any show of distrust at all. And when he saw one of our +number, present himself somewhat before the rest, he drew forth a +little scroll of parchment (somewhat yellower than our parchment, and +shining like the leaves of writing tables, but otherwise soft and +flexible,) and delivered it to our foremost man. In which scroll were +written in ancient Hebrew, and in ancient Greek, and in good Latin of +the school, and in Spanish, these words: Land ye not, none of you; and +provide to be gone from this coast, within sixteen days, except you +have further time given you. Meanwhile, if you want fresh water or +victuals, or help for your sick, or that your ship needeth repairs, +write down your wants, and you shall have that, which belongeth to +mercy. This scroll was signed with a stamp of cherubim: wings, not +spread, but hanging downwards; and by them a cross. This being +delivered, the officer returned, and left only a servant with us to +receive our answer. + +Consulting hereupon amongst ourselves, we were much perplexed. The +denial of landing and hasty warning us away troubled us much; on the +other side, to find that the people had languages, and were so full of +humanity, did comfort us not a little. And above all, the sign of the +cross to that instrument was to us a great rejoicing, and as it were a +certain presage of good. Our answer was in the Spanish tongue; that +for our ship, it was well; for we had rather met with calms and +contrary winds than any tempests. For our sick, they were many, and in +very ill case; so that if they were not permitted to land, they ran +danger of their lives. Our other wants we set down in particular; +adding, That we had some little store of merchandise, which if it +pleased them to deal for, it might supply our wants, without being +chargeable unto them. We offered some reward in pistolets unto the +servant, and a piece of crimson velvet to be presented to the officer; +but the servant took them not, nor would scarce look upon them; and so +left us, and went back in another little boat, which was sent for him. + +About three hours after we had dispatched our answer, there came +towards us a person (as it seemed) of place. He had on him a gown with +wide sleeves, of a kind of water chamolet, of an excellent azure +colour, fair more glossy than ours; his under apparel was green; and so +was his hat, being in the form of a turban, daintily made, and not so +huge as the Turkish turbans; and the locks of his hair came down below +the brims of it. A reverend man was he to behold. He came in a boat, +gilt in some part of it, with four persons more only in that boat; and +was followed by another boat, wherein were some twenty. When he was +come within a flightshot of our ship, signs were made to us, that we +should send forth some to meet him upon the water; which we presently +did in our ship-boat, sending the principal man amongst us save one, +and four of our number with him. + +When we were come within six yards of their boat, they called to us to +stay, and not to approach farther; which we did. And thereupon the +man, whom I before described, stood up, and with a loud voice, in +Spanish, asked, "Are ye Christians?" We answered, "We were;" fearing +the less, because of the cross we had seen in the subscription. At +which answer the said person lifted up his right hand towards Heaven, +and drew it softly to his mouth (which is the gesture they use, when +they thank God;) and then said: "If ye will swear (all of you) by the +merits of the Saviour, that ye are no pirates, nor have shed blood, +lawfully, nor unlawfully within forty days past, you may have licence +to come on land." We said, "We were all ready to take that oath." +Whereupon one of those that were with him, being (as it seemed) a +notary, made an entry of this act. Which done, another of the +attendants of the great person which was with him in the same boat, +after his Lord had spoken a little to him, said aloud: "My Lord would +have you know, that it is not of pride, or greatness, that he cometh +not aboard your ship; but for that in your answer you declare that you +have many sick amongst you, he was warned by the Conservator of Health +of the city that he should keep a distance." We bowed ourselves +towards him, and answered, "We were his humble servants; and accounted +for great honour, and singular humanity towards us, that which was +already done; but hoped well, that the nature of the sickness of our +men was not infectious." So he returned; and a while after came the +Notary to us aboard our ship; holding in his hand a fruit of that +country, like an orange, but of color between orange-tawney and +scarlet; which cast a most excellent odour. He used it (as it seemeth) +for a preservative against infection. He gave us our oath; "By the +name of Jesus, and his merits:" and after told us, that the next day, +by six of the Clock, in the Morning, we should be sent to, and brought +to the Strangers' House, (so he called it,) where we should be +accommodated of things, both for our whole, and for our sick. So he +left us; and when we offered him some pistolets, he smiling said, "He +must not be twice paid for one labour:" meaning (as I take it) that he +had salary sufficient of the State for his service. For (as I after +learned) they call an officer that taketh rewards, "twice paid." + +The next morning early, there came to us the same officer that came to +us at first with his cane, and told us, He came to conduct us to the +Strangers' House; and that he had prevented the hour, because we might +have the whole day before us, for our business. "For," said he, "if +you will follow my advice, there shall first go with me some few of +you, and see the place, and how it may be made convenient for you; and +then you may send for your sick, and the rest of your number, which ye +will bring on land." We thanked him, and said, "That this care, which +he took of desolate strangers, God would reward." And so six of us +went on land with him: and when we were on land, he went before us, and +turned to us, and said, "He was but our servant, and our guide." He led +us through three fair streets; and all the way we went, there were +gathered some people on both sides, standing in a row; but in so civil +a fashion, as if it had been, not to wonder at us, but to welcome us: +and divers of them, as we passed by them, put their arms a little +abroad; which is their gesture, when they did bid any welcome. + +The Strangers' House is a fair and spacious house, built of brick, of +somewhat a bluer colour than our brick; and with handsome windows, some +of glass, some of a kind of cambric oiled. He brought us first into a +fair parlour above stairs, and then asked us, "What number of persons +we were? And how many sick?" We answered, "We were in all, (sick and +whole,) one and fifty persons, whereof our sick were seventeen." He +desired us to have patience a little, and to stay till he came back to +us; which was about an hour after; and then he led us to see the +chambers which were provided for us, being in number nineteen: they +having cast it (as it seemeth) that four of those chambers, which were +better than the rest, might receive four of the principal men of our +company; and lodge them alone by themselves; and the other fifteen +chambers were to lodge us two and two together. The chambers were +handsome and cheerful chambers, and furnished civilly. Then he led us +to a long gallery, like a dorture, where he showed us all along the one +side (for the other side was but wall and window), seventeen cells, +very neat ones, having partitions of cedar wood. Which gallery and +cells, being in all forty, many more than we needed, were instituted as +an infirmary for sick persons. And he told us withal, that as any of +our sick waxed well, he might be removed from his cell, to a chamber; +for which purpose there were set forth ten spare chambers, besides the +number we spake of before. This done, he brought us back to the +parlour, and lifting up his cane a little, (as they do when they give +any charge or command) said to us, "Ye are to know, that the custom of +the land requireth, that after this day and to-morrow, (which we give +you for removing of your people from your ship,) you are to keep within +doors for three days. But let it not trouble you, nor do not think +yourselves restrained, but rather left to your rest and ease. You +shall want nothing, and there are six of our people appointed to attend +you, for any business you may have abroad." We gave him thanks, with +all affection and respect, and said, "God surely is manifested in this +land." We offered him also twenty pistolets; but he smiled, and only +said; "What? twice paid!" And so he left us. + +Soon after our dinner was served in; which was right good viands, both +for bread and treat: better than any collegiate diet, that I have known +in Europe. We had also drink of three sorts, all wholesome and good; +wine of the grape; a drink of grain, such as is with us our ale, but +more clear: And a kind of cider made of a fruit of that country; a +wonderful pleasing and refreshing drink. Besides, there were brought +in to us, great store of those scarlet oranges, for our sick; which +(they said) were an assured remedy for sickness taken at sea. There +was given us also, a box of small gray, or whitish pills, which they +wished our sick should take, one of the pills, every night before +sleep; which (they said) would hasten their recovery. + +The next day, after that our trouble of carriage and removing of our +men and goods out of our ship, was somewhat settled and quiet, I +thought good to call our company together; and when they were +assembled, said unto them; "My dear friends, let us know ourselves, and +how it standeth with us. We are men cast on land, as Jonas was, out of +the whale's belly, when we were as buried in the deep: and now we are +on land, we are but between death and life; for we are beyond, both the +old world, and the new; and whether ever we shall see Europe, God only +knoweth. It is a kind of miracle bath brought us hither: and it must +be little less, that shall bring us hence. Therefore in regard of our +deliverance past, and our danger present, and to come, let us look up +to God, and every man reform his own ways. Besides we are come here +amongst a Christian people, full of piety and humanity: let us not +bring that confusion of face upon ourselves, as to show our vices, or +unworthiness before them. Yet there is more. For they have by +commandment, (though in form of courtesy) cloistered us within these +wall, for three days: who knoweth, whether it be not, to take some +taste of our manners and conditions? And if they find them bad, to +banish us straightways; if good, to give us further time. For these +men that they have given us for attendance, may withal have an eye upon +us. Therefore for God's love, and as we love the weal of our souls and +bodies, let us so behave ourselves, as we may be at peace with God, and +may find grace in the eyes of this people." Our company with one voice +thanked me for my good admonition, and promised me to live soberly and +civilly, and without giving any the least occasion of offence. So we +spent our three days joyfully, and without care, in expectation what +would be done with us, when they were expired. During which time, we +had every hour joy of the amendment of our sick; who thought themselves +cast into some divine pool of healing; they mended so kindly, and so +fast. + +The morrow after our three days were past, there came to us a new man, +that we had not seen before, clothed in blue as the former was, save +that his turban was white, with a small red cross on the top. He had +also a tippet of fine linen. At his coming in, he did bend to us a +little, and put his arms abroad. We of our parts saluted him in a very +lowly and submissive manner; as looking that from him, we should +receive sentence of life, or death: he desired to speak with some few +of us: whereupon six of us only staid, and the rest avoided the room. +He said, "I am by office governor of this House of Strangers, and by +vocation I am a Christian priest: and therefore am come to you to offer +you my service, both as strangers and chiefly as Christians. Some +things I may tell you, which I think you will not be unwilling to hear. +The State hath given you license to stay on land, for the space of six +weeks; and let it not trouble you, if your occasions ask further time, +for the law in this point is not precise; and I do not doubt, but my +self shall be able, to obtain for you such further time, as may be +convenient. Ye shall also understand, that the Strangers' House is at +this time rich, and much aforehand; for it hath laid up revenue these +thirty-seven years; for so long it is since any stranger arrived in +this part: and therefore take ye no care; the State will defray you all +the time you stay; neither shall you stay one day the less for that. +As for any merchandise ye have brought, ye shall be well used, and have +your return, either in merchandise, or in gold and silver: for to us it +is all one. And if you have any other request to make, hide it not. +For ye shall find we will not make your countenance to fall by the +answer ye shall receive. Only this I must tell you, that none of you +must go above a karan," (that is with them a mile and an half) "from +the walls of the city, without especial leave." + +We answered, after we had looked awhile one upon another, admiring this +gracious and parent-like usage; "That we could not tell what to say: +for we wanted words to express our thanks; and his noble free offers +left us nothing to ask. It seemed to us, that we had before us a +picture of our salvation in Heaven; for we that were a while since in +the jaws of death, were now brought into a place, where we found +nothing but consolations. For the commandment laid upon us, we would +not fail to obey it, though it was impossible but our hearts should be +enflamed to tread further upon this happy and holy ground." We added, +"That our tongues should first cleave to the roofs of our mouths, ere +we should forget, either his reverend person, or this whole nation, in +our prayers." We also most humbly besought him, to accept of us as his +true servants; by as just a right as ever men on earth were bounden; +laying and presenting, both our persons, and all we had, at his feet. +He said; "He was a priest, and looked for a priest's reward; which was +our brotherly love, and the good of our souls and bodies." So he went +from us, not without tears of tenderness in his eyes; and left us also +confused with joy and kindness, saying amongst ourselves; "That we were +come into a land of angels, which did appear to us daily, and prevent +us with comforts, which we thought not of, much less expected." + +The next day about ten of the clock, the Governor came to us again, and +after salutations, said familiarly; "That he was come to visit us;" and +called for a chair, and sat him down: and we, being some ten of us, +(the rest were of the meaner sort, or else gone abroad,) sat down with +him, And when we were set, he began thus: "We of this island of +Bensalem," (for so they call it in their language,) "have this; that by +means of our solitary situation; and of the laws of secrecy, which we +have for our travellers, and our rare admission of strangers; we know +well most part of the habitable world, and are ourselves unknown. +Therefore because he that knoweth least is fittest to ask questions, it +is more reason, for the entertainment of the time, that ye ask me +questions, than that I ask you." + +We answered; "That we humbly thanked him that he would give us leave so +to do: and that we conceived by the taste we had already, that there +was no worldly thing on earth, more worthy to be known than the state +of that happy land. But above all," (we said,) "since that we were met +from the several ends of the world, and hoped assuredly that we should +meet one day in the kingdom of Heaven, (for that we were both parts +Christians,) we desired to know, (in respect that land was so remote, +and so divided by vast and unknown seas, from the land where our +Saviour walked on earth,) who was the apostle of that nation, and how +it was converted to the faith?" It appeared in his face that he took +great contentment in this our question: he said; "Ye knit my heart to +you, by asking this question in the first place; for it sheweth that +you first seek the kingdom of heaven; and I shall gladly, and briefly, +satisfy your demand. + +"About twenty years after the ascension of our Saviour, it came to +pass, that there was seen by the people of Renfusa, (a city upon the +eastern coast of our island,) within night, (the night was cloudy, and +calm,) as it might be some mile into the sea, a great pillar of light; +not sharp, but in form of a column, or cylinder, rising from the sea a +great way up towards heaven; and on the top of it was seen a large +cross of light, more bright and resplendent than the body of the +pillar. Upon which so strange a spectacle, the people of the city +gathered apace together upon the sands, to wonder; and so after put +themselves into a number of small boats, to go nearer to this +marvellous sight. But when the boats were come within (about) sixty +yards of the pillar, they found themselves all bound, and could go no +further; yet so as they might move to go about, but might not approach +nearer: so as the boats stood all as in a theatre, beholding this light +as an heavenly sign. It so fell out, that there was in one of the +boats one of the wise men, of the society of Salomon's House; which +house, or college (my good brethren) is the very eye of this kingdom; +who having awhile attentively and devoutly viewed and contemplated this +pillar and cross, fell down upon his face; and then raised himself upon +his knees, and lifting up his hands to heaven, made his prayers in this +manner. + +"'LORD God of heaven and earth, thou hast vouchsafed of thy grace to +those of our order, to know thy works of Creation, and the secrets of +them: and to discern (as far as appertaineth to the generations of men) +between divine miracles, works of nature, works of art, and impostures +and illusions of all sorts. I do here acknowledge and testify before +this people, that the thing which we now see before our eyes is thy +Finger and a true Miracle. And forasmuch as we learn in our books that +thou never workest miracles, but to divine and excellent end, (for the +laws of nature are thine own laws, and thou exceedest them not but upon +great cause,) we most humbly beseech thee to prosper this great sign, +and to give us the interpretation and use of it in mercy; which thou +dost in some part secretly promise by sending it unto us.' + +"When he had made his prayer, he presently found the boat he was in, +moveable and unbound; whereas all the rest remained still fast; and +taking that for an assurance of leave to approach, he caused the boat +to be softly and with silence rowed towards the pillar. But ere he +came near it, the pillar and cross of light brake up, and cast itself +abroad, as it were, into a firmament of many stars; which also vanished +soon after, and there was nothing left to be seen, but a small ark, or +chest of cedar, dry, and not wet at all with water, though it swam. +And in the fore-end of it, which was towards him, grew a small green +branch of palm; and when the wise man had taken it, with all reverence, +into his boat, it opened of itself, and there were found in it a Book +and a Letter; both written in fine parchment, and wrapped in sindons of +linen. The Book contained all the canonical books of the Old and New +Testament, according as you have them; (for we know well what the +churches with you receive); and the Apocalypse itself, and some other +books of the New Testament, which were not at that time written, were +nevertheless in the Book. And for the Letter, it was in these words: + +"'I, Bartholomew, a servant of the Highest, and Apostle of Jesus +Christ, was warned by an angel that appeareth to me, in a vision of +glory, that I should commit this ark to the floods of the sea. +Therefore I do testify and declare unto that people where God shall +ordain this ark to come to land, that in the same day is come unto them +salvation and peace and good-will, from the Father, and from the Lord +Jesus.' + +"There was also in both these writings, as well the Book, as the +Letter, wrought a great miracle, conform to that of the Apostles, in +the original Gift of Tongues. For there being at that time in this +land Hebrews, Persians, and Indians, besides the natives, every one +read upon the Book, and Letter, as if they had been written in his own +language. And thus was this land saved from infidelity (as the +remainder of the old world was from water) by an ark, through the +apostolical and miraculous evangelism of Saint Bartholomew." And here +he paused, and a messenger came, and called him from us. So this was +all that passed in that conference. + +The next day, the same governor came again to us, immediately after +dinner, and excused himself, saying; "That the day before he was called +from us, somewhat abruptly, but now he would make us amends, and spend +time with us if we held his company and conference agreeable." We +answered, "That we held it so agreeable and pleasing to us, as we +forgot both dangers past and fears to come, for the time we hear him +speak; and that we thought an hour spent with him, was worth years of +our former life." He bowed himself a little to us, and after we were +set again, he said; "Well, the questions are on your part." + +One of our number said, after a little pause; that there was a matter, +we were no less desirous to know, than fearful to ask, lest we might +presume too far. But encouraged by his rare humanity towards us, (that +could scarce think ourselves strangers, being his vowed and professed +servants,) we would take the hardiness to propound it: humbly +beseeching him, if he thought it not fit to be answered, that he would +pardon it, though he rejected it. We said; "We well observed those his +words, which he formerly spake, that this happy island, where we now +stood, was known to few, and yet knew most of the nations of the world; +which we found to be true, considering they had the languages of +Europe, and knew much of our state and business; and yet we in Europe, +(notwithstanding all the remote discoveries and navigations of this +last age), never heard of the least inkling or glimpse of this island. +This we found wonderful strange; for that all nations have +inter-knowledge one of another, either by voyage into foreign parts, or +by strangers that come to them: and though the traveller into a foreign +country, doth commonly know more by the eye, than he that stayeth at +home can by relation of the traveller; yet both ways suffice to make a +mutual knowledge, in some degree, on both parts. But for this island, +we never heard tell of any ship of theirs that had been seen to arrive +upon any shore of Europe; nor of either the East or West Indies; nor +yet of any ship of any other part of the world, that had made return +from them. And yet the marvel rested not in this. For the situation +of it (as his lordship said) in the secret conclave' of such a vast sea +might cause it. But then, that they should have knowledge of the +languages, books, affairs, of those that lie such a distance from them, +it was a thing we could not tell what to make of; for that it seemed to +us a conditioner and propriety of divine powers and beings, to be +hidden and unseen to others, and yet to have others open and as in a +light to them." + +At this speech the Governor gave a gracious smile, and said; "That we +did well to ask pardon for this question we now asked: for that it +imported, as if we thought this land, a land of magicians, that sent +forth spirits of the air into all parts, to bring them news and +intelligence of other countries." It was answered by us all, in all +possible humbleness, but yet with a countenance taking knowledge, that +we knew that he spake it but merrily, "That we were apt enough to think +there was somewhat supernatural in this island; but yet rather as +angelical than magical. But to let his lordship know truly what it was +that made us tender and doubtful to ask this question, it was not any +such conceit, but because we remembered, he had given a touch in his +former speech, that this land had laws of secrecy touching strangers." +To this he said; "You remember it aright and therefore in that I shall +say to you, I must reserve some particulars, which it is not lawful for +me to reveal; but there will be enough left, to give you satisfaction." + +"You shall understand (that which perhaps you will scarce think +credible) that about three thousand years ago, or somewhat more, the +navigation of the world, (especially for remote voyages,) was greater +than at this day. Do not think with yourselves, that I know not how +much it is increased with you, within these six-score years: I know it +well: and yet I say greater then than now; whether it was, that the +example of the ark, that saved the remnant of men from the universal +deluge, gave men confidence to adventure upon the waters; or what it +was; but such is the truth. The Phoenicians, and especially the +Tyrians, had great fleets. So had the Carthaginians their colony, +which is yet further west. Toward the east the shipping of Egypt and +of Palestine was likewise great. China also, and the great Atlantis, +(that you call America,) which have now but junks and canoes, abounded +then in tall ships. This island, (as appeareth by faithful registers +of those times,) had then fifteen hundred strong ships, of great +content. Of all this, there is with you sparing memory, or none; but +we have large knowledge thereof. + +"At that time, this land was known and frequented by the ships and +vessels of all the nations before named. And (as it cometh to pass) +they had many times men of other countries, that were no sailors, that +came with them; as Persians, Chaldeans, Arabians; so as almost all +nations of might and fame resorted hither; of whom we have some stirps, +and little tribes with us at this day. And for our own ships, they +went sundry voyages, as well to your straits, which you call the +Pillars of Hercules, as to other parts in the Atlantic and Mediterrane +Seas; as to Paguin, (which is the same with Cambaline,) and Quinzy, +upon the Oriental Seas, as far as to the borders of the East Tartary. + +"At the same time, and an age after, or more, the inhabitants of the +great Atlantis did flourish. For though the narration and description, +which is made by a great man with you; that the descendants of Neptune +planted there; and of the magnificent temple, palace, city, and hill; +and the manifold streams of goodly navigable rivers, (which as so many +chains environed the same site and temple); and the several degrees of +ascent, whereby men did climb up to the same, as if it had been a scala +coeli, be all poetical and fabulous: yet so much is true, that the said +country of Atlantis, as well that of Peru, then called Coya, as that of +Mexico, then named Tyrambel, were mighty and proud kingdoms in arms, +shipping and riches: so mighty, as at one time (or at least within the +space of ten years) they both made two great expeditions; they of +Tyrambel through the Atlantic to the Mediterrane Sea; and they of Coya +through the South Sea upon this our island: and for the former of +these, which was into Europe, the same author amongst you (as it +seemeth) had some relation from the Egyptian priest whom he cited. For +assuredly such a thing there was. But whether it were the ancient +Athenians that had the glory of the repulse and resistance of those +forces, I can say nothing: but certain it is, there never came back +either ship or man from that voyage. Neither had the other voyage of +those of Coya upon us had better fortune, if they had not met with +enemies of greater clemency. For the king of this island, (by name +Altabin,) a wise man and a great warrior, knowing well both his own +strength and that of his enemies, handled the matter so, as he cut off +their land-forces from their ships; and entoiled both their navy and +their tamp with a greater power than theirs, both by sea and land: arid +compelled them to render themselves without striking stroke and after +they were at his mercy, contenting himself only with their oath that +they should no more bear arms against him, dismissed them all in safety. + +"But the divine revenge overtook not long after those proud +enterprises. For within less than the space of one hundred years, the +great Atlantis was utterly lost and destroyed: not by a great +earthquake, as your man saith; (for that whole tract is little subject +to earthquakes;) but by a particular' deluge or inundation; those +countries having, at this day, far greater rivers and far higher +mountains to pour down waters, than any part of the old world. But it +is true that the same inundation was not deep; not past forty foot, in +most places, from the ground; so that although it destroyed man and +beast generally, yet some few wild inhabitants of the wood escaped. +Birds also were saved by flying to the high trees and woods. For as +for men, although they had buildings in many places, higher than the +depth of the water, yet that inundation, though it were shallow, had a +long continuance; whereby they of the vale that were not drowned, +perished for want of food and other things necessary. + +"So as marvel you not at the thin population of America, nor at the +rudeness and ignorance of the people; for you must account your +inhabitants of America as a young people; younger a thousand years, at +the least, than the rest of the world: for that there was so much time +between the universal flood and their particular inundation. For the +poor remnant of human seed, which remained in their mountains, peopled +the country again slowly, by little and little; and being simple and +savage people, (not like Noah and his sons, which was the chief family +of the earth;) they were not able to leave letters, arts, and civility +to their posterity; and having likewise in their mountainous +habitations been used (in respect of the extreme cold of those regions) +to clothe themselves with the skins of tigers, bears, and great hairy +goats, that they have in those parts; when after they came down into +the valley, and found the intolerable heats which are there, and knew +no means of lighter apparel, they were forced to begin the custom of +going naked, which continueth at this day. Only they take great pride +and delight in the feathers of birds; and this also they took from +those their ancestors of the mountains, who were invited unto it by the +infinite flights of birds that came up to the high grounds, while the +waters stood below. So you see, by this main accident of time, we lost +our traffic with the Americans, with whom of, all others, in regard +they lay nearest to us, we had most commerce. + +"As for the other parts of the world, it is most manifest that in the +ages following (whether it were in respect of wars, or by a natural +revolution of time,) navigation did every where greatly decay; and +specially far voyages (the rather by the use of galleys, and such +vessels as could hardly brook the ocean,) were altogether left and +omitted. So then, that part of intercourse which could be from other +nations to sail to us, you see how it hath long since ceased; except it +were by some rare accident, as this of yours. But now of the cessation +of that other part of intercourse, which might be by our sailing to +other nations, I must yield you some other cause. For I cannot say (if +I shall say truly,) but our shipping, for number, strength, mariners, +pilots, and all things that appertain to navigation, is as great as +ever; and therefore why we should sit at home, I shall now give you an +account by itself: and it will draw nearer to give you satisfaction to +your principal question. + +"There reigned in this land, about nineteen hundred years ago, a king, +whose memory of all others we most adore; not superstitiously, but as a +divine instrument, though a mortal man; his name was Solamona: and we +esteem him as the lawgiver of our nation. This king had a large heart, +inscrutable for good; and was wholly bent to make his kingdom and +people happy. He therefore, taking into consideration how sufficient +and substantive this land was to maintain itself without any aid (at +all) of the foreigner; being five thousand six hundred miles in +circuit, and of rare fertility of soil in the greatest part thereof; +and finding also the shipping of this country might be plentifully set +on work, both by fishing and by transportations from port to port, and +likewise by sailing unto some small islands that are not far from us, +and are under the crown and laws of this state; and, recalling into his +memory the happy and flourishing estate wherein this land then was; so +as it might be a thousand ways altered to the worse, but scarce any one +way to the better; thought nothing wanted to his noble and heroical +intentions, but only (as far as human foresight might reach) to give +perpetuity to that which was in his time so happily established. +Therefore amongst his other fundamental laws of this kingdom, he did +ordain the interdicts and prohibitions which we have touching entrance +of strangers; which at that time (though it was after the calamity of +America) was frequent; doubting novelties, and commixture of manners. +It is true, the like law against the admission of strangers without +licence is an ancient law in the kingdom of China, and yet continued in +use. But there it is a poor thing; and hath made them a curious, +ignorant, fearful, foolish nation. But our lawgiver made his law of +another temper. For first, he hath preserved all points of humanity, +in taking order and making provision for the relief of strangers +distressed; whereof you have tasted." + +At which speech (as reason was) we all rose up and bowed ourselves. He +went on. + +"That king also, still desiring to join humanity and policy together; +and thinking it against humanity, to detain strangers here against +their wills, and against policy that they should return and discover +their knowledge of this estate, he took this course: he did ordain that +of the strangers that should be permitted to land, as many (at all +times) might depart as would; but as many as would stay should have +very good conditions and means to live from the state. Wherein he saw +so far, that now in so many ages since the prohibition, we have memory +not of one ship that ever returned, and but of thirteen persons only, +at several times, that chose to return in our bottoms. What those few +that returned may have reported abroad I know not. But you must think, +whatsoever they have said could be taken where they came but for a +dream. Now for our travelling from henna into parts abroad, our +Lawgiver thought fit altogether to restrain it. So is it not in China. +For the Chinese sail where they will or can; which sheweth that their +law of keeping out strangers is a law of pusillanimity and fear. But +this restraint of ours hath one only exception, which is admirable; +preserving the good which cometh by communicating with strangers, and +avoiding the hurt; and I will now open it to you. And here I shall +seem a little to digress, but you will by and by find it pertinent. + +"Ye shall understand (my dear friends) that amongst the excellent acts +of that king, one above all hath the pre-eminence. It was the erection +and institution of an Order or Society, which we call Salomon's House; +the noblest foundation (as we think) that ever was upon the earth; and +the lanthorn of this kingdom. It is dedicated to the study of the +works and creatures of God. Some think it beareth the founder's name a +little corrupted, as if it should be Solamona's House. But the records +write it as it is spoken. So as I take it to be denominate of the king +of the Hebrews, which is famous with you, and no stranger to us. For +we have some parts of his works, which with you are lost; namely, that +natural history, which he wrote, of all plants, from the cedar of +Libanus to the moss that groweth out of the wall, and of all things +that have life and motion. This maketh me think that our king, finding +himself to symbolize in many things with that king of the Hebrews +(which lived many years before him), honored him with the title of this +foundation. And I am rather induced to be of this opinion, for that I +find in ancient records this Order or Society is sometimes called +Salomon's House, and sometimes the College of the Six Days Works; +whereby I am satisfied that our excellent king had learned from the +Hebrews that God had created the world and all that therein is within +six days: and therefore he instituting that House for the finding out +of the true nature of all things, (whereby God might have the more +glory in the workmanship of them, and insert the more fruit in the use +of them), did give it also that second name. + +"But now to come to our present purpose. When the king had forbidden +to all his people navigation into any part that was not under his +crown, he made nevertheless this ordinance; that every twelve years +there should be set forth, out of this kingdom two ships, appointed to +several voyages; That in either of these ships there should be a +mission of three of the Fellows or Brethren of Salomon's House; whose +errand was only to give us knowledge of the affairs and state of those +countries to which they were designed, and especially of the sciences, +arts, manufactures, and inventions of all the world; and withal to +bring unto us books, instruments, and patterns in every kind: That the +ships, after they had landed the brethren, should return; and that the +brethren should stay abroad till the new mission. These ships are not +otherwise fraught, than with store of victuals, and good quantity of +treasure to remain with the brethren, for the buying of such things and +rewarding of such persons as they should think fit. Now for me to tell +you how the vulgar sort of mariners are contained from being discovered +at land; and how they that must be put on shore for any time, color +themselves under the names of other nations; and to what places these +voyages have been designed; and what places of rendezvous are appointed +for the new missions; and the like circumstances of the practique; I +may not do it: neither is it much to your desire. But thus you see we +maintain a trade not for gold, silver, or jewels; nor for silks; nor +for spices; nor any other commodity of matter; but only for God's first +creature, which was Light: to have light (I say) of the growth of all +parts of the world." + +And when he had said this, he was silent; and so were we all. For +indeed we were all astonished to hear so strange things so probably +told. And he, perceiving that we were willing to say somewhat but had +it not ready in great courtesy took us off, and descended to ask us +questions of our voyage and fortunes and in the end concluded, that we +might do well to think with ourselves what time of stay we would demand +of the state; and bade us not to scant ourselves; for he would procure +such time as we desired: Whereupon we all rose up, and presented +ourselves to kiss the skirt of his tippet; but he would not suffer us; +and so took his leave. But when it came once amongst our people that +the state used to offer conditions to strangers that would stay, we had +work enough to get any of our men to look to our ship; and to keep them +from going presently to the governor to crave conditions. But with +much ado we refrained them, till we might agree what course to take. + +We took ourselves now for free men, seeing there was no danger of our +utter perdition; and lived most joyfully, going abroad and seeing what +was to be seen in the city and places adjacent within our tedder; and +obtaining acquaintance with many of the city, not of the meanest +quality; at whose hands we found such humanity, and such a freedom and +desire to take strangers as it were into their bosom, as was enough to +make us forget all that was dear to us in our own countries: and +continually we met with many things right worthy of observation and +relation: as indeed, if there be a mirror in the world worthy to hold +men's eyes, it is that country. + +One day there were two of our company bidden to a Feast of the Family, +as they call it. A most natural, pious, and reverend custom it is, +shewing that nation to be compounded of all goodness. This is the +manner of it. It is granted to any man that shall live to see thirty +persons descended of his body alive together, and all above three years +old, to make this feast which is done at the cost of the state. The +Father of the Family, whom they call the Tirsan, two days before the +feast, taketh to him three of such friends as he liketh to choose; and +is assisted also by the governor of the city or place where the feast +is celebrated; and all the persons of the family, of both sexes, are +summoned to attend him. These two days the Tirsan sitteth in +consultation concerning the good estate of the family. There, if there +be any discord or suits between any of the family, they are compounded +and appeased. There, if any of the family be distressed or decayed, +order is taken for their relief and competent means to live. There, if +any be subject to vice, or take ill courses, they are reproved and +censured. So likewise direction is given touching marriages, and the +courses of life, which any of them should take, with divers other the +like orders and advices. The governor assisteth, to the end to put in +execution by his public authority the decrees and orders of the Tirsan, +if they should be disobeyed; though that seldom needeth; such reverence +and obedience they give to the order of nature. The Tirsan doth also +then ever choose one man from among his sons, to live in house with +him; who is called ever after the Son of the Vine. The reason will +hereafter appear. + +On the feast day, the father or Tirsan cometh forth after divine +service into a large room where the feast is celebrated; which room +hath an half-pace at the upper end. Against the wall, in the middle of +the half-pace, is a chair placed for him, with a table and carpet +before it. Over the chair is a state, made round or oval, and it is of +ivy; an ivy somewhat whiter than ours, like the leaf of a silver asp; +but more shining; for it is green all winter. And the state is +curiously wrought with silver and silk of divers colors, broiding or +binding in the ivy; and is ever of the work of some of the daughters of +the family; and veiled over at the top with a fine net of silk and +silver. But the substance of it is true ivy; whereof, after it is +taken down, the friends of the family are desirous to have some leaf or +sprig to keep. + +The Tirsan cometh forth with all his generation or linage, the males +before him, and the females following him; and if there be a mother +from whose body the whole linage is descended, there is a traverse +placed in a loft above on the right hand of the chair, with a privy +door, and a carved window of glass, leaded with gold and blue; where +she sitteth, but is not seen. When the Tirsan is come forth, he +sitteth down in the chair; and all the linage place themselves against +the wall, both at his back and upon the return of the half-pace, in +order of their years without difference of sex; and stand upon their +feet. When he is set; the room being always full of company, but well +kept and without disorder; after some pause, there cometh in from the +lower end of the room, a taratan (which is as much as an herald) and on +either side of him two young lads; whereof one carrieth a scroll of +their shining yellow parchment; and the other a cluster of grapes of +gold, with a long foot or stalk. The herald and children are clothed +with mantles of sea-water green satin; but the herald's mantle is +streamed with gold, and hath a train. + +Then the herald with three curtesies, or rather inclinations, cometh up +as far as the half-pace; and there first taketh into his hand the +scroll. This scroll is the king's charter, containing gifts of +revenew, and many privileges, exemptions, and points of honour, granted +to the Father of the Family; and is ever styled and directed, To such +do one our well beloved friend and creditor: which is a title proper +only to this case. For they say the king is debtor to no man, but for +propagation of his subjects. The seal set to the king's charter is the +king's image, imbossed or moulded in gold; and though such charters be +expedited of course, and as of right, yet they are varied by +discretion, according to the number and dignity of the family. This +charter the herald readeth aloud; and while it is read, the father or +Tirsan standeth up supported by two of his sons, such as he chooseth. +Then the herald mounteth the half-pace and delivereth the charter into +his hand: and with that there is an acclamation by all that are present +in their language, which is thus much: Happy are the people of Bensalem. + +Then the herald taketh into his hand from the other child the cluster +of grapes, which is of gold, both the stalk and the grapes. But the +grapes are daintily enamelled; and if the males of the family be the +greater number, the grapes are enamelled purple, with a little sun set +on the top; if the females, then they are enamelled into a greenish +yellow, with a crescent on the top. The grapes are in number as many +as there are descendants of the family. This golden cluster the herald +delivereth also to the Tirsan; who presently delivereth it over to that +son that he had formerly chosen to be in house with him: who beareth it +before his father as an ensign of honour when he goeth in public, ever +after; and is thereupon called the Son of the Vine. + +After the ceremony endeth the father or Tirsan retireth; and after some +time cometh forth again to dinner, where he sitteth alone under the +state, as before; and none of his descendants sit with him, of what +degree or dignity soever, except he hap to be of Salomon's House. He is +served only by his own children, such as are male; who perform unto him +all service of the table upon the knee; and the women only stand about +him, leaning against the wall. The room below the half-pace hath +tables on the sides for the guests that are bidden; who are served with +great and comely order; and towards the end of dinner (which in the +greatest feasts with them lasteth never above an hour and an half) +there is an hymn sung, varied according to the invention of him that +composeth it (for they have excellent posy) but the subject of it is +(always) the praises of Adam and Noah and Abraham; whereof the former +two peopled the world, and the last was the Father of the Faithful: +concluding ever with a thanksgiving for the nativity of our Saviour, in +whose birth the births of all are only blessed. + +Dinner being done, the Tirsan retireth again; and having withdrawn +himself alone into a place, where he makes some private prayers, he +cometh forth the third time, to give the blessing with all his +descendants, who stand about him as at the first. Then he calleth them +forth by one and by one, by name, as he pleaseth, though seldom the +order of age be inverted. The person that is called (the table being +before removed) kneeleth down before the chair, and the father layeth +his hand upon his head, or her head, and giveth the blessing in these +words: Son of Bensalem, (or daughter of Bensalem,) thy father with it: +the man by whom thou hast breath and life speaketh the word: the +blessing of the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, and the Holy +Dove, be upon thee, and make the days of thy pilgrimage good and many. +This he saith to every of them; and that done, if there be any of his +sons of eminent merit and virtue, (so they be not above two,) he +calleth for them again; and saith, laying his arm over their shoulders, +they standing; Sons, it is well ye are born, give God the praise, and +persevere to the end. And withall delivereth to either of them a +jewel, made in the figure of an ear of wheat, which they ever after +wear in the front of their turban or hat. This done, they fall to +music and dances, and other recreations, after their manner, for the +rest of the day. This is the full order of that feast. + +By that time six or seven days were spent, I was fallen into straight +acquaintance with a merchant of that city, whose name was Joabin. He +was a Jew and circumcised: for they have some few stirps of Jews yet +remaining among them, whom they leave to their own religion. Which +they may the better do, because they are of a far differing disposition +from the Jews in other parts. For whereas they hate the name of +Christ; and have a secret inbred rancour against the people among whom +they live: these (contrariwise) give unto our Saviour many high +attributes, and love the nation of Bensalem extremely. Surely this man +of whom I speak would ever acknowledge that Christ was born of a virgin +and that he was more than a man; and he would tell how God made him +ruler of the seraphims which guard his throne; and they call him also +the Milken Way, and the Eliah of the Messiah; and many other high +names; which though they be inferior to his divine majesty, yet they +are far from the language of other Jews. + +And for the country of Bensalem, this man would make no end of +commending it; being desirous, by tradition among the Jews there, to +have it believed that the people thereof were of the generations of +Abraham, by another son, whom they call Nachoran; and that Moses by a +secret Cabala ordained the Laws of Bensalem which they now use; and +that when the Messiah should come, and sit in his throne at Hierusalem, +the king of Bensalem should sit at his feet, whereas other kings should +keep a great distance. But yet setting aside these Jewish dreams, the +man was a wise man, and learned, and of great policy, and excellently +seen in the laws and customs of that nation. + +Amongst other discourses, one day I told him I was much affected with +the relation I had, from some of the company, of their custom, in +holding the Feast of the Family; for that (methought) I had never heard +of a solemnity wherein nature did so much preside. And because +propagation of families proceedeth from the nuptial copulation, I +desired to know of him what laws and customs they had concerning +marriage; and whether they kept marriage well and whether they were +tied to one wife; for that where population is so much affected,' and +such as with them it seemed to be, there is commonly permission of +plurality of wives. + +To this he said, "You have reason for to commend that excellent +institution of the Feast of the Family. And indeed we have experience +that those families that are partakers of the blessing of that feast do +flourish and prosper ever after in an extraordinary manner. But hear +me now, and I will tell you what I know. You shall understand that +there is not under the heavens so chaste a nation as this of Bensalem; +nor so free from all pollution or foulness. It is the virgin of the +world. I remember I have read in one of your European books, of an +holy hermit amongst you that desired to see the Spirit of Fornication; +and there appeared to him a little foul ugly Aethiop. But if he had +desired to see the Spirit of Chastity of Bensalem, it would have +appeared to him in the likeness of a fair beautiful Cherubim. For +there is nothing amongst mortal men more fair and admirable, than the +chaste minds of this people. Know therefore, that with them there are +no stews, no dissolute houses, no courtesans, nor anything of that +kind. Nay they wonder (with detestation) at you in Europe, which +permit such things. They say ye have put marriage out of office: for +marriage is ordained a remedy for unlawful concupiscence; and natural +concupiscence seemeth as a spar to marriage. But when men have at hand +a remedy more agreeable to their corrupt will, marriage is almost +expulsed. And therefore there are with you seen infinite men that +marry not, but chose rather a libertine and impure single life, than to +be yoked in marriage; and many that do marry, marry late, when the +prime and strength of their years is past. And when they do marry, what +is marriage to them but a very bargain; wherein is sought alliance, or +portion, or reputation, with some desire (almost indifferent) of issue; +and not the faithful nuptial union of man and wife, that was first +instituted. Neither is it possible that those that have cast away so +basely so much of their strength, should greatly esteem children, +(being of the same matter,) as chaste men do. So likewise during +marriage, is the case much amended, as it ought to be if those things +were tolerated only for necessity? No, but they remain still as a very +affront to marriage. The haunting of those dissolute places, or resort +to courtesans, are no more punished in married men than in bachelors. +And the depraved custom of change, and the delight in meretricious +embracements, (where sin is turned into art,) maketh marriage a dull +thing, and a kind of imposition or tax. They hear you defend these +things, as done to avoid greater evils; as advoutries, deflowering of +virgins, unnatural lust, and the like. But they say this is a +preposterous wisdom; and they call it Lot's offer, who to save his +guests from abusing, offered his daughters: nay they say farther that +there is little gained in this; for that the same vices and appetites +do still remain and abound; unlawful lust being like a furnace, that if +you stop the flames altogether, it will quench; but if you give it any +vent, it will rage. As for masculine love, they have no touch of it; +and yet there are not so faithful and inviolate friendships in the +world again as are there; and to speak generally, (as I said before,) I +have not read of any such chastity, in any people as theirs. And their +usual saying is, That whosoever is unchaste cannot reverence himself; +and they say, That the reverence of a man's self, is, next to religion, +the chiefest bridle of all vices." + +And when he had said this, the good Jew paused a little; whereupon I, +far more willing to hear him speak on than to speak myself, yet +thinking it decent that upon his pause of speech I should not be +altogether silent, said only this; "That I would say to him, as the +widow of Sarepta said to Elias; that he was come to bring to memory our +sins; and that I confess the righteousness of Bensalem was greater than +the righteousness of Europe." At which speech he bowed his head, and +went on in this manner: + +"They have also many wise and excellent laws touching marriage. They +allow no polygamy. They have ordained that none do intermarry or +contract, until a month be past from their first interview. Marriage +without consent of parents they do not make void, but they mulct it in +the inheritors: for the children of such marriages are not admitted to +inherit above a third part of their parents' inheritance. I have read +in a book of one of your men, of a Feigned Commonwealth, where the +married couple are permitted, before they contract, to see one another +naked. This they dislike; for they think it a scorn to give a refusal +after so familiar knowledge: but because of many hidden defects in men +and women's bodies, they have a more civil way; for they have near +every town a couple of pools, (which they call Adam and Eve's pools,) +where it is permitted to one of the friends of the men, and another of +the friends of the woman, to see them severally bathe naked." + +And as we were thus in conference, there came one that seemed to be a +messenger, in a rich huke, that spake with the Jew: whereupon he turned +to me and said; "You will pardon me, for I am commanded away in haste." +The next morning he came to me again, joyful as it seemed, and said; +"There is word come to the Governor of the city, that one of the +Fathers of Salomon's House will be here this day seven-night: we have +seen none of them this dozen years. His coming is in state; but the +cause of his coming is secret. I will provide you and your fellows of +a good standing to see his entry." I thanked him, and told him, I was +most glad of the news. + +The day being come, he made his entry. He was a man of middle stature +and age, comely of person, and had an aspect as if he pitied men. He +was clothed in a robe of fine black cloth, with wide sleeves and a +cape. His under garment was of excellent white linen down to the foot, +girt with a girdle of the same; and a sindon or tippet of the same +about his neck. He had gloves, that were curious,'' and set with +stone; and shoes of peach-coloured velvet. His neck was bare to the +shoulders. His hat was like a helmet, or Spanish montera; and his +locks curled below it decently: they were of colour brown. His beard +was cut round, and of the same colour with his hair, somewhat lighter. +He was carried in a rich chariot without wheels, litter-wise; with two +horses at either end, richly trapped in blue velvet embroidered; and +two footmen on each side in the like attire. The chariot was all of +cedar, gilt, and adorned with crystal; save that the fore-end had +panels of sapphires, set in borders of gold; and the hinder-end the +like of emeralds of the Peru colour. There was also a sun of gold, +radiant, upon the top, in the midst; and on the top before, a small +cherub of gold, with wings displayed. The chariot was covered with +cloth of gold tissued upon blue. He had before him fifty attendants, +young men all, in white satin loose coats to the mid leg; and stockings +of white silk; and shoes of blue velvet; and hats of blue velvet; with +fine plumes of diverse colours, set round like hat-bands. Next before +the chariot, went two men, bare-headed, in linen garments down the +foot, girt, and shoes of blue velvet; who carried, the one a crosier, +the other a pastoral staff like a sheep-hook; neither of them of metal, +but the crosier of balm-wood, the pastoral staff of cedar. Horsemen he +had none, neither before nor behind his chariot: as it seemeth, to +avoid all tumult and trouble. Behind his chariot went all the officers +and principals of the companies of the city. He sat alone, upon +cushions of a kind of excellent plush, blue; and under his foot curious +carpets of silk of diverse colours, like the Persian, but far finer. +He held up his bare hand as he went, as blessing the people, but in +silence. The street was wonderfully well kept: so that there was never +any army had their men stand in better battle-array than the people +stood. The windows likewise were not crowded, but every one stood in +them as if they had been placed. + +When the shew was past, the Jew said to me; "I shall not be able to +attend you as I would, in regard of some charge the city hath laid upon +me, for the entertaining of this great person." Three days after the +Jew came to me again, and said; "Ye are happy men; for the Father of +Salomon's House taketh knowledge of your being here, and commanded me +to tell you that he will admit all your company to his presence, and +have private conference with one of you, that ye shall choose: and for +this hath appointed the next day after to-morrow. And because he +meaneth to give you his blessing, he hath appointed it in the forenoon." + +We came at our day and hour, and I was chosen by my fellows for the +private access. We found him in a fair chamber, richly hanged, and +carpeted under foot without any degrees to the state. He was set upon +a low Throne richly adorned, and a rich cloth of state over his head, +of blue satin embroidered. He was alone, save that he had two pages of +honour, on either hand one, finely attired in white. His under +garments were the like that we saw him wear in the chariot; but instead +of his gown, he had on him a mantle with a cape, of the same fine +black, fastened about him. When we came in, as we were taught, we +bowed low at our first entrance; and when we were come near his chair, +he stood up, holding forth his hand ungloved, and in posture of +blessing; and we every one of us stooped down, and kissed the hem of +his tippet. That done, the rest departed, and I remained. Then he +warned the pages forth of the room, and caused me to sit down beside +him, and spake to me thus in the Spanish tongue. + +"God bless thee, my son; I will give thee the greatest jewel I have. +For I will impart unto thee, for the love of God and men, a relation of +the true state of Salomon's House. Son, to make you know the true +state of Salomon's House, I will keep this order. First, I will set +forth unto you the end of our foundation. Secondly, the preparations +and instruments we have for our works. Thirdly, the several +employments and functions whereto our fellows are assigned. And +fourthly, the ordinances and rites which we observe. + +"The end of our foundation is the knowledge of causes, and secret +motions of things; and the enlarging of the bounds of human empire, to +the effecting of all things possible. + +"The Preparations and Instruments are these. We have large and deep +caves of several depths: the deepest are sunk six hundred fathom: and +some of them are digged and made under great hills and mountains: so +that if you reckon together the depth of the hill and the depth of the +cave, they are (some of them) above three miles deep. For we find, +that the depth of a hill, and the depth of a cave from the flat, is the +same thing; both remote alike, from the sun and heaven's beams, and +from the open air. These caves we call the Lower Region; and we use +them for all coagulations, indurations, refrigerations, and +conservations of bodies. We use them likewise for the imitation of +natural mines; and the producing also of new artificial metals, by +compositions and materials which we use, and lay there for many years. +We use them also sometimes, (which may seem strange,) for curing of +some diseases, and for prolongation of life in some hermits that choose +to live there, well accommodated of all things necessary, and indeed +live very long; by whom also we learn many things. + +"We have burials in several earths, where we put diverse cements, as +the Chineses do their porcellain. But we have them in greater variety, +and some of them more fine. We have also great variety of composts and +soils, for the making of the earth fruitful. + +"We have high towers; the highest about half a mile in height; and some +of them likewise set upon high mountains; so that the vantage of the +hill with the tower is in the highest of them three miles at least. And +these places we call the Upper Region; accounting the air between the +high places and the low, as a Middle Region. We use these towers, +according to their several heights, and situations, for insolation, +refrigeration, conservation; and for the view of divers meteors; as +winds, rain, snow, hail; and some of the fiery meteors also. And upon +them, in some places, are dwellings of hermits, whom we visit +sometimes, and instruct what to observe. + +"We have great lakes, both salt, and fresh; whereof we have use for the +fish and fowl. We use them also for burials of some natural bodies: +for we find a difference in things buried in earth or in air below the +earth, and things buried in water. We have also pools, of which some +do strain fresh water out of salt; and others by art do turn fresh +water into salt. We have also some rocks in the midst of the sea, and +some bays upon the shore for some works, wherein is required the air +and vapor of the sea. We have likewise violent streams and cataracts, +which serve us for many motions: and likewise engines for multiplying +and enforcing of winds, to set also on going diverse motions. + +"We have also a number of artificial wells and fountains, made in +imitation of the natural sources and baths; as tincted upon vitriol, +sulphur, steel, brass, lead, nitre, and other minerals. And again we +have little wells for infusions of many things, where the waters take +the virtue quicker and better, than in vessels or basins. And amongst +them we have a water which we call Water of Paradise, being, by that we +do to it made very sovereign for health, and prolongation of life. + +"We have also great and spacious houses where we imitate and +demonstrate meteors; as snow, hail, rain, some artificial rains of +bodies and not of water, thunders, lightnings; also generations of +bodies in air; as frogs, flies, and divers others. + +"We have also certain chambers, which we call Chambers of Health, where +we qualify the air as we think good and proper for the cure of divers +diseases, and preservation of health. + +"We have also fair and large baths, of several mixtures, for the cure +of diseases, and the restoring of man's body from arefaction: and +others for the confirming of it in strength of sinewes, vital parts, +and the very juice and substance of the body. + +"We have also large and various orchards and gardens; wherein we do not +so much respect beauty, as variety of ground and soil, proper for +divers trees and herbs: and some very spacious, where trees and berries +are set whereof we make divers kinds of drinks, besides the vineyards. +In these we practise likewise all conclusions of grafting, and +inoculating as well of wild-trees as fruit-trees, which produceth many +effects. And we make (by art) in the same orchards and gardens, trees +and flowers to come earlier or later than their seasons; and to come up +and bear more speedily than by their natural course they do. We make +them also by art greater much than their nature; and their fruit +greater and sweeter and of differing taste, smell, colour, and figure, +from their nature. And many of them we so order, as they become of +medicinal use. + +"We have also means to make divers plants rise by mixtures of earths +without seeds; and likewise to make divers new plants, differing from +the vulgar; and to make one tree or plant turn into another. + +"We have also parks and enclosures of all sorts of beasts and birds +which we use not only for view or rareness, but likewise for +dissections and trials; that thereby we may take light what may be +wrought upon the body of man. Wherein we find many strange effects; as +continuing life in them, though divers parts, which you account vital, +be perished and taken forth; resuscitating of some that seem dead in +appearance; and the like. We try also all poisons and other medicines +upon them, as well of chirurgery, as physic. By art likewise, we make +them greater or taller than their kind is; and contrariwise dwarf them, +and stay their growth: we make them more fruitful and bearing than +their kind is; and contrariwise barren and not generative. Also we +make them differ in colour, shape, activity, many ways. We find means +to make commixtures and copulations of different kinds; which have +produced many new kinds, and them not barren, as the general opinion +is. We make a number of kinds of serpents, worms, flies, fishes, of +putrefaction; whereof some are advanced (in effect) to be perfect +creatures, like bests or birds; and have sexes, and do propagate. +Neither do we this by chance, but we know beforehand, of what matter +and commixture what kind of those creatures will arise. + +"We have also particular pools, where we make trials upon fishes, as we +have said before of beasts and birds. + +"We have also places for breed and generation of those kinds of worms +and flies which are of special use; such as are with you your +silk-worms and bees. + +"I will not hold you long with recounting of our brewhouses, +bake-houses, and kitchens, where are made divers drinks, breads, and +meats, rare and of special effects. Wines we have of grapes; and +drinks of other juice of fruits, of grains, and of roots; and of +mixtures with honey, sugar, manna, and fruits dried, and decocted; Also +of the tears or woundings of trees; and of the pulp of canes. And these +drinks are of several ages, some to the age or last of forty years. We +have drinks also brewed with several herbs, and roots, and spices; yea +with several fleshes, and white-meats; whereof some of the drinks are +such, as they are in effect meat and drink both: so that divers, +especially in age, do desire to live with them, with little or no meat +or bread. And above all, we strive to have drink of extreme thin +parts, to insinuate into the body, and yet without all biting, +sharpness, or fretting; insomuch as some of them put upon the back of +your hand will, with a little stay, pass through to the palm, and yet +taste mild to the mouth. We have also waters which we ripen in that +fashion, as they become nourishing; so that they are indeed excellent +drink; and many will use no other. Breads we have of several grains, +roots, and kernels; yea and some of flesh and fish dried; with divers +kinds of leavenings and seasonings: so that some do extremely move +appetites; some do nourish so, as divers do live of them, without any +other meat; who live very long. So for meats, we have some of them so +beaten and made tender and mortified,' yet without all corrupting, as a +weak heat of the stomach will turn them into good chylus; as well as a +strong heat would meat otherwise prepared. We have some meats also and +breads and drinks, which taken by men enable them to fast long after; +and some other, that used make the very flesh of men's bodies sensibly' +more hard and tough and their strength far greater than otherwise it +would be. + +"We have dispensatories, or shops of medicines. Wherein you may easily +think, if we have such variety of plants and living creatures more than +you have in Europe, (for we know what you have,) the simples, drugs, +and ingredients of medicines, must likewise be in so much the greater +variety. We have them likewise of divers ages, and long fermentations. +And for their preparations, we have not only all manner of exquisite +distillations and separations, and especially by gentle heats and +percolations through divers strainers, yea and substances; but also +exact forms of composition, whereby they incorporate almost, as they +were natural simples. + +"We have also divers mechanical arts, which you have not; and stuffs +made by them; as papers, linen, silks, tissues; dainty works of +feathers of wonderful lustre; excellent dies, and, many others; and +shops likewise, as well for such as are not brought into vulgar use +amongst us as for those that are. For you must know that of the things +before recited, many of them are grown into use throughout the kingdom; +but yet, if they did flow from our invention, we have of them also for +patterns and principals. + +"We have also furnaces of great diversities, and that keep great +diversity of heats; fierce and quick; strong and constant; soft and +mild; blown, quiet; dry, moist; and the like. But above all, we have +heats, in imitation of the Sun's and heavenly bodies' heats, that pass +divers inequalities, and (as it were) orbs, progresses, and returns, +whereby we produce admirable effects. Besides, we have heats of dungs; +and of bellies and maws of living creatures, and of their bloods and +bodies; and of hays and herbs laid up moist; of lime unquenched; and +such like. Instruments also which generate heat only by motion. And +farther, places for strong insulations; and again, places under the +earth, which by nature, or art, yield heat. These divers heats we use, +as the nature of the operation, which we intend, requireth. + +"We have also perspective-houses, where we make demonstrations of all +lights and radiations; and of all colours: and out of things uncoloured +and transparent, we can represent unto you all several colours; not in +rain-bows, (as it is in gems, and prisms,) but of themselves single. +We represent also all multiplications of light, which we carry to great +distance, and make so sharp as to discern small points and lines. Also +all colourations of light; all delusions and deceits of the sight, in +figures, magnitudes, motions, colours all demonstrations of shadows. +We find also divers means, yet unknown to you, of producing of light +originally from divers bodies. We procure means of seeing objects afar +off; as in the heaven and remote places; and represent things near as +afar off; and things afar off as near; making feigned distances. We +have also helps for the sight, far above spectacles and glasses in use. +We have also glasses and means to see small and minute bodies perfectly +and distinctly; as the shapes and colours of small flies and worms, +grains and flaws in gems, which cannot otherwise be seen, observations +in urine and blood not otherwise to be seen. We make artificial +rain-bows, halo's, and circles about light. We represent also all +manner of reflexions, refractions, and multiplications of visual beams +of objects. + +"We have also precious stones of all kinds, many of them of great +beauty, and to you unknown; crystals likewise; and glasses of divers +kinds; and amongst them some of metals vitrificated, and other +materials besides those of which you make glass. Also a number of +fossils, and imperfect minerals, which you have not. Likewise +loadstones of prodigious virtue; and other rare stones, both natural +and artificial. + +"We have also sound-houses, where we practise and demonstrate all +sounds, and their generation. We have harmonies which you have not, of +quarter-sounds, and lesser slides of sounds. Divers instruments of +music likewise to you unknown, some sweeter than any you have, together +with bells and rings that are dainty and sweet. We represent small +sounds as great and deep; likewise great sounds extenuate and sharp; we +make divers tremblings and warblings of sounds, which in their original +are entire. We represent and imitate all articulate sounds and +letters, and the voices and notes of beasts and birds. We have certain +helps which set to the ear do further the hearing greatly. We have also +divers strange and artificial echoes, reflecting the voice many times, +and as it were tossing it: and some that give back the voice louder +than it came, some shriller, and some deeper; yea, some rendering the +voice differing in the letters or articulate sound from that they +receive. We have also means to convey sounds in trunks and pipes, in +strange lines and distances. + +"We have also perfume-houses; wherewith we join also practices of +taste. We multiply smells, which may seem strange. We imitate smells, +making all smells to breathe outs of other mixtures than those that +give them. We make divers imitations of taste likewise, so that they +will deceive any man's taste. And in this house we contain also a +confiture-house; where we make all sweet-meats, dry and moist; and +divers pleasant wines, milks, broths, and sallets; in far greater +variety than you have. + +"We have also engine-houses, where are prepared engines and instruments +for all sorts of motions. There we imitate and practise to make +swifter motions than any you have, either out of your muskets or any +engine that you have: and to make them and multiply them more easily, +and with small force, by wheels and other means: and to make them +stronger and more violent than yours are; exceeding your greatest +cannons and basilisks. We represent also ordnance and instruments of +war, and engines of all kinds: and likewise new mixtures and +compositions of gun-powder, wild-fires burning in water, and +unquenchable. Also fireworks of all variety both for pleasure and use. +We imitate also flights of birds; we have some degrees of flying in the +air. We have ships and boats for going under water, and brooking of +seas; also swimming-girdles and supporters. We have divers curious +clocks, and other like motions of return: and some perpetual motions. +We imitate also motions of living creatures, by images, of men, beasts, +birds, fishes, and serpents. We have also a great number of other +various motions, strange for equality, fineness, and subtilty. + +"We have also a mathematical house, where are represented all +instruments, as well of geometry as astronomy, exquisitely made. + +"We have also houses of deceits of the senses; where we represent all +manner of feats of juggling, false apparitions, impostures, and +illusions; and their fallacies. And surely you will easily believe +that we that have so many things truly natural which induce admiration, +could in a world of particulars deceive the senses, if we would +disguise those things and labour to make them seem more miraculous. But +we do hate all impostures, and lies; insomuch as we have severely +forbidden it to all our fellows, under pain of ignominy and fines, that +they do not show any natural work or thing, adorned or swelling; but +only pure as it is, and without all affectation of strangeness. + +"These are (my son) the riches of Salomon's House. + +"For the several employments and offices of our fellows; we have twelve +that sail into foreign countries, under the names of other nations, +(for our own we conceal); who bring us the books, and abstracts, and +patterns of experiments of all other parts. These we call Merchants of +Light. + +"We have three that collect the experiments which are in all books. +These we call Depredators. + +"We have three that collect the experiments of all mechanical arts; and +also of liberal sciences; and also of practices which are not brought +into arts. These we call Mystery-men. + +"We have three that try new experiments, such as themselves think good. +These we call Pioneers or Miners. + +"We have three that draw the experiments of the former four into titles +and tables, to give the better light for the drawing of observations +and axioms out of them. These we call Compilers. + +"We have three that bend themselves, looking into the experiments of +their fellows, and cast about how to draw out of them things of use and +practise for man's life, and knowledge, as well for works as for plain +demonstration of causes, means of natural divinations, and the easy and +clear discovery of the virtues and parts of bodies. These we call +Dowry-men or Benefactors. + +"Then after divers meetings and consults of our whole number, to +consider of the former labours and collections, we have three that take +care, out of them, to direct new experiments, of a higher light, more +penetrating into nature than the former. These we call Lamps. + +"We have three others that do execute the experiments so directed, and +report them. These we call Inoculators. + +"Lastly, we have three that raise the former discoveries by experiments +into greater observations, axioms, and aphorisms. These we call +Interpreters of Nature. + +"We have also, as you must think, novices and apprentices, that the +succession of the former employed men do not fail; besides, a great +number of servants and attendants, men and women. And this we do also: +we have consultations, which of the inventions and experiences which we +have discovered shall be published, and which not: and take all an oath +of secrecy, for the concealing of those which we think fit to keep +secret: though some of those we do reveal sometimes to the state and +some not. + +"For our ordinances and rites: we have two very long and fair +galleries: in one of these we place patterns and samples of all manner +of the more rare and excellent inventions in the other we place the +statues of all principal inventors. There we have the statue of your +Columbus, that discovered the West Indies: also the inventor of ships: +your monk that was the inventor of ordnance and of gunpowder: the +inventor of music: the inventor of letters: the inventor of printing: +the inventor of observations of astronomy: the inventor of works in +metal: the inventor of glass: the inventor of silk of the worm: the +inventor of wine: the inventor of corn and bread: the inventor of +sugars: and all these, by more certain tradition than you have. Then +have we divers inventors of our own, of excellent works; which since +you have not seen, it were too long to make descriptions of them; and +besides, in the right understanding of those descriptions you might +easily err. For upon every invention of value, we erect a statue to +the inventor, and give him a liberal and honourable reward. These +statues are some of brass; some of marble and touch-stone; some of +cedar and other special woods gilt and adorned; some of iron; some of +silver; some of gold. + +"We have certain hymns and services, which we say daily, of Lord and +thanks to God for his marvellous works: and forms of prayers, imploring +his aid and blessing for the illumination of our labours, and the +turning of them into good and holy uses. + +"Lastly, we have circuits or visits of divers principal cities of the +kingdom; where, as it cometh to pass, we do publish such new profitable +inventions as we think good. And we do also declare natural +divinations of diseases, plagues, swarms-of hurtful creatures, +scarcity, tempests, earthquakes, great inundations, comets, temperature +of the year, and divers other things; and we give counsel thereupon, +what the people shall do for the prevention and remedy of them." + +And when he had said this, he stood up; and I, as I had been taught, +kneeled down, and he laid his right hand upon my head, and said; "God +bless thee, my son; and God bless this relation, which I have made. I +give thee leave to publish it for the good of other nations; for we +here are in God's bosom, a land unknown." And so he left me; having +assigned a value of about two thousand ducats, for a bounty to me and +my fellows. For they give great largesses where they come upon all +occasions. + +[The rest was not perfected.] + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The New Atlantis, by Frances Bacon + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NEW ATLANTIS *** + +***** This file should be named 2434.txt or 2434.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/3/2434/ + +Produced by Michael Pullen and William Fishburne. HTML +version by Al Haines. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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