1626
WE sailed from
And it came to pass that the next day about
evening we saw within a kenning before us, toward 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 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 straightway we saw divers of the people, with batons in
their hands, as it were forbidding us to land: yet without any cries or fierce-
ness, but only as warning us off, by signs that they made. Whereupon being not
a little discomfited, 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 made aboard our ship, without any show of distrust at all.
And when he saw one of our number present himself somewhat afore 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 He- brew, 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 victual, or help for your sick, or that
your ship needeth repair, write down your wants, and you shall have that which
belongeth to mercy." This scroll was signed with a stamp of cherubim's
wings, not spread, but hanging down- ward; and by them a cross.
This being delivered, the officer returned,
and left only a servant with us to receive our answer. Consulting hereupon
among 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 rejoic-
ing, 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 in danger
of their lives." Our other wants we set down in par- ticular, 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 re- ward 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 despatched our
answer, there came toward us a person (as it seemed) of a place. He had on him
a gown with wide sleeves, of a kind of water chamolet, of an excellent azure
color, 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 flight-shot 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 far- ther, which we did.
And thereupon the man, whom I before described,
stood up, and with a loud voice in Spanish asked, "Are ye Chris-
tians?" We answered, "We were;" fearing the less, because of the
cross we had seen in the subscription. At which answer the said person lift up
his right hand toward 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 or unlawfully, within forty days past; you may have license 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 per-
son, 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 conser- vator
of health of the city that he should keep a distance." We bowed ourselves
toward him and answered: "We were his humble servants; and accounted for
great honor and singular humanity toward 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 awhile 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-tawny and scarlet, which cast a most
excellent odor. He used it (as it seemed) 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 labor:" 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 pre- vented 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
num- ber which ye will bring on land." We thanked him and said, "That
his 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 bid any welcome.
The strangers' house is a fair and spacious
house, built of brick, of somewhat a bluer color than our brick; and with
handsome windows, some of glass, some of a kind of cambric oiled. He brought us
first into a fair parlor 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 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 num- ber nineteen. They having cast it (as it
seemeth) that four of those chambers, which were better than the rest, might
re- ceive 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 cham- ber; for which purpose there were set forth
ten spare cham- bers, besides the number we spake of before.
This done, he brought us back to the parlor,
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
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 meat:
better than any collegiate diet that I have known in
The next day, after that our trouble of
carriage and remov- ing of our men and goods out of our ship was somewhat
settled and quiet, I thought good to call our company to- gether, 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
Our company with one voice thanked me for my
good ad- monition, 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 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 sen- tence of
life or death. He desired to speak with some few of us. Whereupon six of us
only stayed, 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 myself
shall be able to obtain for you such further time as shall be convenient. Ye
shall also understand that the strangers' house is at this time rich and much
afore- hand; for it hath laid up revenue these thirty-seven years, for so long
it is since any stranger arrived in this part; and there- fore 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 you 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 a half] from the walls of the city, without
special leave."
We answered, after we had looked awhile upon
one an- other, 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 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 this 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
among 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 be- gan thus: "We of this island of Bensalem
(for so they called 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 ques- tions 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 con- verted
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 showeth 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 sight, the night was cloudy
and calm), as it might be some mile in the sea, a great pillar of light; not
sharp, but in form of a column, or cyl- inder, rising from the sea, a great way
up toward 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 a heavenly sign. It so fell
out that there was in one of the boats one of the wise men of the Society of
Saloman'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 true 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 we now see before our eyes is thy finger, and
a true mira- cle. And forasmuch as we learn in our books that thou never
workest miracles, but to a 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
prom- ise, by sending it unto us.'
"When he had made his prayer, he
presently found the boat he was in movable 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 toward the pillar; but ere
he came near it, the pillar and cross of light broke up, and cast itself
abroad, as it were, into a firmament of many stars, which also vanished soon
after, and there was noth- ing 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 toward 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 Apoca- lypse 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 appeared 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
apos- tles, in the original gift of tongues. For there being at that time, in
this land, Hebrews, Persians, and Indians, besides the natives, everyone 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 remain of the old world was
from water) by an ark, through the apostolical and miraculous evan- gelism of
St. Bartholomew." And here he paused, and a mes- senger came and called
him forth from us. So this was all that passed in that conference.
The next day the same governor came again to
us immedi- ately after dinner, and excused himself, saying that the day be-
fore 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
dan- gers past, and fears to come, for the time we heard 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 toward us
(that could scarce think ourselves stran- gers, being his vowed and professed
servants), we would take the hardness 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 na- tions 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 any of the least inkling or glimpse of this island.
This we found wonderful strange; for that all nations have interknowledge 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
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 magi- cians, that
sent forth spirits of the air into all parts, to bring them news and
intelligence of other countries. It was an- swered by us all, in all possible
humbleness, but yet with a coun- tenance taking knowledge, that we knew that he
spake it but merrily. That we were apt enough to think there was some- what
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 3,000 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 threescore 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 confi- dence to venture
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 farther west. Toward the east the shipping of
"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, Chal- deans, Arabians, so as almost
all nations of might and fame re- sorted 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 Mediterranean seas; as to Paguin (which is the
same with Cambalaine) 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 magnifi- cent 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, where- by 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
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
among you, as it seemeth, had some relation from the Egyptian 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 re- sistance 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
bet- ter fortune, if they had not met with enemies of greater clem- ency. 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 a 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 100 years
the Great Atlantis was utterly lost and destroyed; not by a great earthquake,
as your man saith, for that whole tract is little sub- ject 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, nor 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 thou- sand years at the least than the
rest of the world, for that there was so much time between the universal flood
and their particu- lar 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 a 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 them- selves 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 moun- tains, who were invited
unto it, by the infinite flight 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 follow- ing (whether it were in respect of
wars, or by a natural revolu- tion of time) navigation did everywhere 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. But I cannot say if I shall say truly, but our ship- ping, 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
prin- cipal question.
"There reigned in this land, about 1,900
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
Salomana; 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, there- fore, taking into consideration how sufficient and
substantive this land was, to maintain itself without any aid at all of the
foreigner; being 5,000 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 sail- ing 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; though nothing wanted to his noble and heroical intentions, but only
(as far as human fore- sight might reach) to give perpetuity to that which was
in his time so happily established, therefore among his other funda- mental
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 Amer- ica) was frequent; doubting novelties and commixture of
man- ners. It is true, the like law against the admission of strangers without
license is an ancient law in the
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 knowl- edge 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 many 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
"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 among 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
Saloman's House, the noblest foundation, as we think, that ever was upon the
earth, and the lantern of this kingdom. It is dedicated to the study of the
works and creatures of God. Some think it beareth the found- er's name a little
corrupted, as if it should be Solomon'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 strangers 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 the rather induced to be of this opinion, for that I find
in ancient records, this order or society is sometimes called Solomon'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 instituted 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 men the more fruit in their
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 Saloman'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 re- turn; and that the brethren should stay abroad till the new mis-
sion, the 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 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 rendez- vous are appointed for the new missions,
and the like circum- stances of the practice, 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 pre- sented ourselves to kiss the skirt of his
tippet, but he would not suffer us, and so took his leave. But when it came
once among 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 restrained them, till we might agree what course to take.
We took ourselves now for freemen, 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 con- tinually 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, showing 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 per- sons 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 per- sons 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 touch- ing marriages,
and the courses of life which any of them should take, with divers other the
like orders and advices. The gov- ernor sitteth to the end, to put in
execution, by his public au- thority, 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 a 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 win- ter. 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 lineage, the males before him, and the females following him; and if there
be a mother, from whose body the whole lineage 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 lineage 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 a 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 courtesies, 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 char- ter, containing gift of
revenue, and many privileges, exemp- tions, and points of honor, granted to the
father of the family; and it is ever styled and directed, "To such an 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, embossed
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 green- ish yellow,
with a crescent on the top. The grapes are in num- ber 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 honor, when he goeth in public ever after; and is thereupon called the Son
of the Vine. After this ceremony ended 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 so ever, except he hap to be of Salo- man'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 his half-pace hath tables on the sides for the guests that
are bidden; who are served with great and comely order; and toward the end of
dinner (which in the greatest feasts with them lasteth never above an hour and
a half) there is a hymn sung, varied according to the invention of him that
composeth it (for they have excellent poesy), 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 maketh 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 saith 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 emi- nent 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 you are born, give God the praise, and
persevere to the end;" and withal 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
rancor 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 seraphim, 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 Ben- salem, 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 Messias
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.
Among other discourses one day I told him, I
was much af- fected with the relation I had from some of the company of their
custom in holding the feast of the family, for that, me- thought, I had never
heard of a solemnity wherein nature did so much preside. And because
propagation of families pro- ceedeth 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 per- mission 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 blessings 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 a holy hermit among you, that desired to see
the spirit of fornication, and there ap- peared to him a little foul ugly
Ethiope; 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 cherub. For
there is nothing, among mortal men, more fair and admirable than the chaste
minds of this people.
"Know, therefore, that with them there
are no stews, no dis- solute houses, no courtesans, nor anything of that kind.
Nay, they wonder, with detestation, at you in
"The haunting of those dissolute places,
or resort to courte- sans, are no more punished in married men than in
bachelors. And the depraved custom of change, and the delight in mere- tricious
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 further, 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 be- fore) 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
righteous- ness of Europe. At which speech he bowed his head, and went on 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 man, 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 this 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 and wide sleeves, and
a cape: his under-garment was of ex- cellent 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-colored
velvet. His neck was bare to the shoulders. His hat was like a helmet, or
Spanish montero; and his locks curled below it decently; they were of color
brown. His heard was cut round and of the same color with his hair, somewhat
lighter. He was carried in a rich chariot, without wheels, lit- ter-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
When the show was passed, 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 knowl- edge 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 honor, 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
end 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 foun- dation. Secondly, the preparations and
instruments we have for our works. Thirdly, the several employments and func-
tions 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 600
fathoms; 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 are 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 con- servations 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
accommo- dated 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 divers ce- ments, as the Chinese do their porcelain. But we have
them in greater variety, and some of them more fine. We also have 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, account 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 insulation, refrigera-
tion, 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 are 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 divers 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 min- erals;
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 among them we
have a water, which we call water of paradise, being by that we do 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 gen-
erations 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 are- faction; and others for the confirming of it in strength of sinews,
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 spa- cious, where trees
and berries are set, whereof we make divers kinds of drinks, beside 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, color, and figure, from their nature. And many of them
we so order as that 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
like- wise for dissections and trials, that thereby 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; resusci- tating 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 smaller 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 color, shape, activity, many ways. We
find means to make commixtures and copulations of divers 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 beasts or
birds, and have sexes, and do propagate. Neither do we this by chance, but we
know beforehand of what matter and com- mixture, 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 silkworms and bees.
"I will not hold you long with
recounting of our brew- houses, 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 wounding 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 sev- eral 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 drinks of ex- treme
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 drinks, and many will use no other. Bread we
have of several grains, roots, and kernels; yea, and some of flesh, and fish,
dried; with divers kinds of leavings 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 chilus, as well as a strong heat would meat
otherwise prepared. We have some meats also and bread, 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 al- most 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 dyes, and many others,
and shops likewise as well for such as are not brought into vulgar use among
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, prog- resses, and returns
whereby we produce admirable effects. Be- sides, 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 demon- strations of all lights and radiations and of all colors; and
out of things uncolored and transparent we can represent unto you all several
colors, not in rainbows, 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
colorations of light: all delusions and deceits of the sight, in figures,
magni- tudes, motions, colors; 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 see- ing 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 dis- tinctly; as the shapes and colors of small
flies and worms, grains, and flaws in gems which cannot otherwise be seen, ob-
servations in urine and blood not otherwise to be seen. We make artificial
rainbows, halos, and circles about light. We represent also all manner of
reflections, refractions, and multi- plications 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 kind; and among them some of metals vitrifi- cated, 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 demon- strate all sounds and their generation. We have harmony
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;
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 orig- inal 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,
re- flecting 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 all 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 out 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 sweatmeats, dry and moist, and divers pleas- ant wines,
milks, broths, and salads, far in 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 com- positions of gunpowder, wild-fires burning in water and un-
quenchable, also fire-works 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 sup- porters. We have divers curious clocks and other like
motions of return, and some perpetual motions. We imitate also mo- tions 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 rep- resent all manner of feats of juggling, false
apparitions, im- postures 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 de- ceive the senses if we would
disguise those things, and labor to make them 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 mechani- cal 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
draw- ing 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 practice for man's
life and knowl- edge, 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 num- ber, to consider of the former labors 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; be- sides 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 sometime 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 in- ventor 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 we have 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 de- scriptions you might
easily err. For upon every invention of value we erect a statue to the
inventor, and give him a liberal and honorable reward. These statues are some
of brass, some of marble and touchstone, 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 laud and thanks to God for His marvellous works. And
forms of prayers, imploring His aid and blessing for the illumi- nation of our
labors; and turning 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, tempest, earthquakes, great inunda- tions, 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, knelt 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 un- known." And so he left me; having assigned
a value of about 2,000 ducats for a bounty to me and my fellows. For they give
great largesses, where they come, upon all occasions.