New Atlantis
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