desolate strangers God would reward. And so any collegiate diet that I have known in Europe. six of us went on land with him: and when we We had also drink of three sorts, all wholesome were on land, he went before us, and turned to us, and good; wine of the grape; a drink of grain, and said, "he was but our servant, and our guide." such as is with us our ale but more clear; and a He led us through three fair streets; and all the kind of cider made of a fruit of that country; a wonway we went there were gathered some people derful pleasing and refreshing drink. Besides, on both sides, standing in a row; but in so civil there were brought into us great store of those a fashion, as if it had been, not to wonder at us scarlet oranges for our sick; which, they said, but to welcome us; and divers of them, as we were an assured remedy for sickness taken at sea. passed by them, put their arms a little abroad; There was given us also, a box of small gray or which is their gesture when they bid any wel- whitish pills, which they wished our sick should come. The Strangers' House is a fair and spa- take, one of the pills every night before sleep; cious house, built of brick, of somewhat a bluer which, they said, would hasten their recovery. colour than our brick; and with handsome win- The next day, after that our trouble of carriage, dows, some of glass, some of a kind of cambric and removing of our men and goods out of our oiled. He brought us first into a fair parlour ship was somewhat settled and quiet, I thought above stairs, and then asked us, "What number good to call our company together; and when of persons we were? And how many sick?" they were assembled said unto them; "My dear We answered, "we were in all, sick and whole, friends, let us know ourselves, and how it standone-and-fifty persons, whereof our sick were eth with us. We are men cast on land, as Jonas seventeen." He desired us to have patience a was, out of the whale's belly, when we were little, and to stay till he came back to us, which as buried in the deep; and now we are on land, was about an hour after; and then he led us to we are but between death and life; for we are besee the chambers, which were provided for us, yond both the old world and the new; and whebeing in number nineteen: they having cast it, as ther ever we shall see Europe, God only knoweth. it seemeth, that four of those chambers, which It is a kind of miracle hath brought us hither: were better than the rest, might receive four of and it must be little less that shall bring us hence. the principal men of our company, and lodge them Therefore in regard of our deliverance past, alone by themselves; and the other fifteen cham- and our danger present and to come, let us bers, were to lodge us two and two together. | look up to God, and every man reform his own 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 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 ap-pired. During which time, we had every hour pointed 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 meat: better than VOL. I.-33

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 walls 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 ex

joy of the amendment of our sick, who thought themselves cast into some divine pool of healing, they mended sondly 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 bite as the former was, save that his turban was white, with a smail red cross on the top. He had also a tippet of fine linen

Y 2

angels, which did appear to us daily, and prevent us with comforts which we thought not of, much less expected.">

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 The next day, about ten of the clock, the goof life or death. He desired to speak with some vernor came to us again, and after salutations said few of us whereupon six of us only stayed, and familiarly, that he was come to visit us: and called the rest avoided the room. He said, "I am by for a chair, and sat him down: and we being some office governor of this House of Strangers, and ten of us, the rest were of the meaner sort, or else by vocation I am a Christian priest; and there- gone abroad, sat down with him. And when we fore am come to you, to offer you my service, both were set, he began thus: "We of this island of as strangers and chiefly as Christians. Some Bensalem," for so they call it in their language, things I may tell you, which I think you will not have this, that by means of our solitary situation, be unwilling to hear. The state hath given you and of the laws of secrecy which we have for our licence to stay on land for the space of six weeks: travellers, and our rare admission of strangers, we and let it not trouble you if your occasions ask know well most part of the habitable world and further time, for the law in this point is not pre- are ourselves unknown. Therefore, because he cise; and I do not doubt but myself shall be able that knowest least is fittest to ask questions, it is to obtain for you such further time as may be con- more reason for the entertainment of the time, that venient. Ye shall also understand, that the ye ask me questions, than that I ask you." We Strangers' House is at this time rich, and much answered; "That we humbly thanked him that aforehand; for it hath laid up revenue these thir- he would give us leave so to do: and that we conty-seven years; for so long it is since any stranger ceived by the taste we had already, that there was arrived in this part: and therefore take ye no care; no worldly thing on earth more worthy to be the state will defray you all the time you stay; known than the state of that happy land. But neither shall you stay one day the less for that. above all," we said, "since that we were met from As for any merchandise ye have brought, ye shall the several ends of the world, and hoped assuredly be well used, and have your return either in mer- that we should meet one day in the kingdom of chandise or in gold and silver: for to us it is all heaven, for that we were both parts Christians, one. And if you have any other request to make, we desired to know, in respect that land was so hide it not. For ye shall find, we will not make remote, and so divided by vast and unknown seas, your countenance to fall by the answer ye shall from the land where our Saviour walked on earth, receive. Only this I must tell you, that none of who was the apostle of that nation, and how it you must go above a karan," that is with them a was converted to the faith?" It appeared in his mile and a half, "from the walls of the city with- face that he took great contentment in this our out special leave." We answered, after we had question: he said, "Ye knit my heart to you, by looked awhile one upon another, admiring this asking this question in the first place; for it gracious and parent-like usage; "that we could showeth that you first seek the kingdom of heanot tell what to say: for we wanted words to ex-ven;' and I shall gladly and briefly satisfy your press 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 awhile 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 inflamed 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

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 Solomon's

House, which house or college, my good brethren, | of tongues. For there being at that time in this is the very eye of this kingdom; who having land, Hebrews, Persians and Indians, besides the 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:

Mediterranean Seas; as to Peguin, which is the
same with Cambaline, and Quinzy, upon the
Oriental Seas; as far as to the borders of the East
Tartary.

the languages, books, affairs, of those that lie | well to your straits which you call the pillars of such a distance from them, it was a thing we Hercules, as to the other part in the Atlantic and could not tell what to make of; for that it seemed to us a condition 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 something 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

"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 cæli, be all poetical and fabulous: yet so much is true, that the said country of Atlantis, as well as 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 Mediterranean 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 Ægyptian priest whom he citeth. 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 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 es- | others we most adore; not superstitiously, but as caped. Birds also were saved by flying to the a divine instrument, though a mortal man; his high trees and woods. For as for men, although name was Solomona: and we esteem him as the they had buildings 'in many places higher than lawgiver of our nation. This king had a large the depth of the water; yet that inundation, heart, inscrutable for good, and was wholly bent though it were shallow, had a long continuance; to make his kingdom and people happy. He whereby they of the vale, that were not drowned, therefore, taking into consideration how sufficient perished for want of food and other things neces- and substantive this land was to maintain itself, sary. So as marvel you not at the thin population without any aid at all from the foreigner, being of America, nor at the rudeness and ignorance of five thousand six hundred miles in circuit, and of the people; for you must account your inhabitants rare fertility of soil, in the greatest part thereof; of America as a young people; younger a thou- and finding also the shipping of this country sand years at the least than the rest of the world; might be plentifully set on work, both by fishing for that there was so much time between the uni- and by transportations from port to port, and likeversal flood and their particular inundation. For wise by sailing unto some small islands that the poor remnant of human seed, which remained are not far from us, and are under the crown and in their mountains, peopled the country again slow-laws of this state; and recalling into his memory ly, 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 everywhere greatly decay; and especially 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 other things that appertain to navigation, is as great as ever: and therefore why should we 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 island about nineteen hundred years ago, a king whose memory of ali

the happy and flourishing state wherein this land 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