Francis Bacon the New Atlantis 2010

8/13/2019 Francis Bacon the New Atlantis 2010

1/37

TheNewAtlantis

SirFrancisBacon


2/37


3/37

INTRODUCTORYNOTE

Baconsliteraryexecutor,Dr.Rowley,publishedTheNewAtlantisin1627,theyearaftertheauthorsdeath.Itseemstohavebeenwrittenabout 1623, during that period of literary activitywhich followedBaconspolitical fall.NoneofBaconswritingsgives inshortapacesovividapictureofhistastesandaspirationsasthisfragmentoftheplanofanidealcommonwealth.Thegenerosityandenlightenment,the dignity and splendor, the piety and public spirit, of the

inhabitantsof

Bensalem

represent

the

ideal

qualities

which

Bacon

thestatesmandesired rather thanhoped toseecharacteristicofhisowncountry;and inSolomonsHousewehaveBacon thescientistindulgingwithout restriction his prophetic vision of the future ofhuman knowledge.No reader acquainted in any degreewith theprocesses and results of modern scientific inquiry can fail to bestruck by the numerous approximations made by Baconsimagination to theactualachievementsofmodern times.Theplanandorganizationofhisgreatcollegelaydownthemainlinesofthe

modernresearch

university;

and

both

in

pure

and

applied

science

he

anticipates a strikingly large number of recent inventions anddiscoveries.InstillanotherwayisTheNewAtlantistypicalofBaconsattitude. In spiteof theenthusiasticandbroadminded schemeshelaid down for the pursuit of truth, Bacon always had an eye toutility.Theadvancementofsciencewhichhesoughtwasconceivedbyhimasameans toapracticalend the increaseofmanscontrolovernature,andthecomfortandconvenienceofhumanity.Forpuremetaphysics,oranyformofabstractthinkingthatyieldednofruit,

hehad

little

interest;

and

this

leaning

to

the

useful

is

shown

in

the

practical applications of the discoveries made by the scholars ofSolomonsHouse.Nor does the interest of thework stop here. Itcontainsmuch,bothinitspoliticalandinitsscientificideals,thatwehave as yet by no means achieved, but which contain valuableelementsofsuggestionandstimulusforthefuture.


4/37


5/37

TheNewAtlantis

1

The

New

Atlantis

WesailedfromPeru,(wherewehadcontinuedforthespaceofonewholeyear) forChinaandJapan,by theSouthSea; takingwithusvictuals for twelve months; and had good winds from the east,thoughsoftandweak,forfivemonthsspace,andmore.Butthewindcameabout,andsettled in thewest formanydays,soaswecould

makelittle

or

no

way,

and

were

sometime

in

purpose

to

turn

back.

But thenagain therearose strongandgreatwinds from the south,with a point east,which carried us up (for all thatwe could do)towardsthenorth;bywhichtimeourvictualsfailedus,thoughwehadmadegoodspareofthem.Sothatfindingourselves,inthemidstof thegreatestwildernessofwaters in theworld,withoutvictuals,wegaveourselvesforlostmenandpreparedfordeath.Yetwedidlift up our hearts and voices to God above, who showeth hiswonders in the deep,beseeching him of hismercy, that as in the

beginninghe

discovered

the

face

of

the

deep,

and

brought

forth

dry

land,sohewouldnotdiscoverlandtous,thatwemightnotperish.

Anditcametopassthatthenextdayabouteveningwesawwithinakenningbeforeus,towardsthenorth,asitwerethickclouds,whichdidputusinsomehopeofland;knowinghowthatpartoftheSouthSeawasutterlyunknown;andmighthaveislands,orcontinents,thathitherto were not come to light. Wherefore we bent our coursethither,wherewesawtheappearanceofland,allthatnight;andinthe

dawning

of

the

next

day,

we

might

plainly

discern

that

it

was

a

land; flat tooursight,and fullofboscage;whichmade itshow themoredark.Andafteranhourandahalfssailing,weenteredintoagoodhaven,being theportofafaircity;notgreat indeed,butwellbuilt,and thatgaveapleasantview from thesea:andwe thinkingeveryminutelong,tillwewereonland,cameclosetotheshore,andofferedtoland.Butstraightwayswesawdiversofthepeople,withbastonsintheirhands(asitwere)forbiddingustoland;yetwithoutanycriesoffierceness,butonlyaswarningusoff,bysignsthattheymade.

Whereupon

being

not

alittle

discomforted,

we

were

advising

withourselves,whatweshoulddo.


6/37

TheNewAtlantis

2

Duringwhichtime,theremadeforthtousasmallboat,withabouteightpersonsinit;whereofoneofthemhadinhishandatipstaffofayellowcane,tippedatbothendswithblue,whocameaboardour

ship,without

any

show

of

distrust

at

all.

And

when

he

saw

one

of

ournumber,presenthimselfsomewhatbeforetherest,hedrewforthalittlescrollofparchment(somewhatyellowerthanourparchment,andshiningliketheleavesofwritingtables,butotherwisesoftandflexible,)anddeliveredittoourforemostman.InwhichscrollwerewritteninancientHebrew,andinancientGreek,andingoodLatinoftheschool,andinSpanish,thesewords:

Landyenot,noneofyou;andprovide tobegone from thiscoast,

withinsixteen

days,

except

you

have

further

time

given

you.

Meanwhile,ifyouwantfreshwaterorvictuals,orhelpforyoursick,orthatyourshipneedethrepairs,writedownyourwants,andyoushallhavethat,whichbelongethtomercy.

Thisscrollwassignedwithastampofcherubim:wings,notspread,buthangingdownwards;andbythemacross.Thisbeingdelivered,theofficer returned,and leftonlya servantwithus to receiveouranswer.

Consultinghereuponamongstourselves,weweremuchperplexed.Thedenialoflandingandhastywarningusawaytroubledusmuch;ontheotherside,tofindthatthepeoplehadlanguages,andweresofullofhumanity,didcomfortusnotalittle.Andaboveall,thesignof thecross tothat instrumentwastousagreatrejoicing,andas itwere a certain presage of good. Our answer was in the Spanishtongue; that forour ship, itwaswell; forwehad rathermetwithcalmsandcontrarywindsthananytempests.Foroursick,theywere

many,and

in

very

ill

case;

so

that

if

they

were

not

permitted

to

land,

they ran danger of their lives. Our otherwants we set down inparticular; adding, Thatwe had some little store ofmerchandise,which if it pleased them to deal for, itmight supply ourwants,withoutbeing chargeable unto them.We offered some reward inpistolets unto the servant, and a piece of crimson velvet to bepresented to theofficer;but the servant took themnot,norwouldscarcelookuponthem;andsoleftus,andwentbackinanotherlittleboat,whichwassentforhim.

Aboutthreehoursafterwehaddispatchedouranswer, therecametowardsusaperson(asitseemed)ofplace.Hehadonhimagownwithwidesleeves,ofakindofwaterchamolet,ofanexcellentazure


7/37

TheNewAtlantis

3

colour,fairmoreglossythanours;hisunderapparelwasgreen;andsowashishat,beingintheformofaturban,daintilymade,andnotsohugeastheTurkishturbans;andthelocksofhishaircamedown

belowthe

brims

of

it.

A

reverend

man

was

he

to

behold.

He

came

in

aboat,gilt in somepartof it,with fourpersonsmoreonly in thatboat;andwasfollowedbyanotherboat,whereinweresometwenty.Whenhewascomewithinaflightshotofourship,signsweremadetous,thatweshouldsendforthsometomeethimuponthewater;whichwepresentlydidinourshipboat,sendingtheprincipalmanamongstussaveone,andfourofournumberwithhim.

Whenwewerecomewithinsixyardsoftheirboat,theycalledtous

tostay,

and

not

to

approach

farther;

which

we

did.

And

thereupon

theman,whomIbeforedescribed,stoodup,andwithaloudvoice,inSpanish,asked,AreyeChristians?Weanswered,Wewere;fearingtheless,becauseofthecrosswehadseeninthesubscription.Atwhichanswer the saidperson lifteduphis righthand towardsHeaven,anddrew itsoftly tohismouth (which is thegesture theyuse,whentheythankGod;)andthensaid :Ifyewillswear(allofyou)by themeritsof theSaviour, thatyearenopirates,norhaveshedblood, lawfully, nor unlawfullywithin forty days past, you

mayhave

licence

to

come

on

land.

We

said,

We

were

all

ready

to

takethatoath.Whereupononeofthosethatwerewithhim,being(as it seemed) a notary,made an entry of this act.Which done,anotheroftheattendantsofthegreatpersonwhichwaswithhiminthesameboat,afterhisLordhadspokenalittletohim,saidaloud:MyLordwouldhaveyouknow,thatitisnotofpride,orgreatness,thathecomethnotaboardyourship;butforthatinyouransweryoudeclarethatyouhavemanysickamongstyou,hewaswarnedbytheConservatorofHealthofthecitythatheshouldkeepadistance.We

bowedourselves

towards

him,

and

answered,

We

were

his

humble

servants; and accounted for great honour, and singular humanitytowardsus, thatwhichwasalreadydone;buthopedwell, that thenature of the sickness of our men was not infectious. So hereturned;andawhileaftercame theNotary tousaboardourship;holding in his hand a fruit of that country, like an orange,but ofcolour between orangetawney and scarlet; which cast a mostexcellentodour.Heusedit(asitseemeth)forapreservativeagainstinfection. 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

theMorning,we shouldbe sent to, andbrought to the StrangersHouse, (so he called it,) where we should be accommodated ofthings,bothforourwhole,andforoursick.Soheleftus;andwhen


8/37

TheNewAtlantis

4

weofferedhimsomepistolets,hesmilingsaid,Hemustnotbetwicepaid for one labour: meaning (as I take it) that he had salarysufficientoftheStateforhisservice.For(asIafterlearned)theycall

anofficer

that

taketh

rewards,

twice

paid.

Thenextmorningearly,therecametousthesameofficerthatcametousatfirstwithhiscane,andtoldus,HecametoconductustotheStrangersHouse;and thathehadprevented thehour,becausewemighthavethewholedaybeforeus,forourbusiness.For,saidhe,ifyouwillfollowmyadvice,thereshallfirstgowithmesomefewofyou,andsee theplace,andhow itmaybemadeconvenient foryou; and then youmay send for your sick, and the rest of your

number,which

ye

will

bring

on

land.

We

thanked

him,

and

said,

That this care,which he took of desolate strangers, Godwouldreward.Andsosixofuswentonlandwithhim:andwhenwewereonland,hewentbeforeus,andturnedtous,andsaid,Hewasbutourservant,andourguide.Heledusthroughthreefairstreets;andallthewaywewent,thereweregatheredsomepeopleonbothsides,standing inarow;but insocivila fashion,asif ithadbeen,nottowonderatus,buttowelcomeus:anddiversofthem,aswepassedbythem,puttheirarmsalittleabroad;whichistheirgesture,when

theydid

bid

any

welcome.

TheStrangersHouse isafairandspacioushouse,builtofbrick,ofsomewhat a bluer colour than our brick; and with handsomewindows,someofglass,someofakindofcambricoiled.Hebroughtus first into a fairparlour above stairs, and then askedus, Whatnumberofpersonswewere?Andhowmanysick?Weanswered,Wewereinall,(sickandwhole,)oneandfiftypersons,whereofoursickwereseventeen.Hedesiredustohavepatiencealittle,andto

staytill

he

came

back

to

us;

which

was

about

an

hour

after;

and

then

heledustoseethechamberswhichwereprovidedforus,beinginnumbernineteen:theyhavingcastit(asitseemeth)thatfourofthosechambers,whichwerebetterthantherest,mightreceivefouroftheprincipalmenofourcompany;andlodgethemalonebythemselves;and the other fifteen chambers were to lodge us two and twotogether.Thechamberswerehandsomeandcheerfulchambers,andfurnished civilly.Thenhe ledus to a long gallery, like a dorture,whereheshowedusallalongtheoneside(fortheothersidewasbut

walland

window),

seventeen

cells,

very

neat

ones,

having

partitions

ofcedarwood.Whichgalleryandcells,beinginallforty,manymorethanwe needed,were instituted as an infirmary for sick persons.Andhetolduswithal,thatasanyofoursickwaxedwell,hemight


9/37

TheNewAtlantis

5

be removed from his cell, to a chamber; forwhich purpose thereweresetforth tensparechambers,besidesthenumberwespakeofbefore.Thisdone,hebroughtusbacktotheparlour,andliftingup

hiscane

alittle,

(as

they

do

when

they

give

any

charge

or

command)

said tous,Yeare toknow, that thecustomof the land requireth,thatafterthisdayandtomorrow,(whichwegiveyouforremovingof yourpeople from your ship,) you are to keepwithindoors forthreedays.But let itnot troubleyou,nordonot thinkyourselvesrestrained, but rather left to your rest and ease. You shall wantnothing,andtherearesixofourpeopleappointedtoattendyou,foranybusinessyoumayhaveabroad.Wegavehim thanks,withallaffection and respect, and said, God surely ismanifested in this

land.We

offered

him

also

twenty

pistolets;

but

he

smiled,

and

only

said;What?twicepaid!Andsoheleftus.

Soonafterourdinnerwasserved in;whichwasrightgoodviands,both forbreadand treat:better thananycollegiatediet, that Ihaveknown inEurope.Wehadalsodrinkof threesorts,allwholesomeandgood;wineofthegrape;adrinkofgrain,suchasiswithusourale,butmore clear: And a kind of cidermade of a fruit of thatcountry; awonderfulpleasing and refreshingdrink.Besides, there

werebrought

in

to

us,

great

store

of

those

scarlet

oranges,

for

our

sick;which(theysaid)wereanassuredremedyforsicknesstakenatsea.Therewasgivenusalso,aboxof smallgray,orwhitishpills,whichtheywishedoursickshouldtake,oneofthepills,everynightbeforesleep;which(theysaid)wouldhastentheirrecovery.

Thenextday,afterthatourtroubleofcarriageandremovingofourmenandgoodsoutofourship,wassomewhatsettledandquiet, Ithought good to call our company together; andwhen theywere

assembled,said

unto

them:

Mydear friends, letusknowourselves,andhow itstandethwithus.Wearemencastonland,asJonaswas,outofthewhalesbelly,whenwewereasburied in thedeep:andnowweareon land,wearebutbetween death and life; forwe arebeyond,both the oldworld,andthenew;andwhethereverweshallseeEurope,Godonlyknoweth.Itisakindofmiraclebathbroughtushither:anditmustbe little less, that shallbringushence.Therefore in regard of ourdeliverance

past,

and

our

danger

present,

and

to

come,

let

us

look

up

toGod,andeverymanreformhisownways.BesideswearecomehereamongstaChristianpeople, fullofpietyandhumanity: letusnotbringthatconfusionoffaceuponourselves,astoshowourvices,


10/37

TheNewAtlantis

6

orunworthinessbefore them.Yet there ismore. For theyhavebycommandment, (though in form of courtesy) cloistered uswithinthesewall, for threedays:whoknoweth,whether itbenot, to take

sometaste

of

our

manners

and

conditions?

And

if

they

find

them

bad,tobanishusstraightways;ifgood,togiveusfurthertime.Forthesementhat theyhavegivenusforattendance,maywithalhaveaneyeuponus.ThereforeforGodslove,andaswelovethewealofour soulsandbodies, letus sobehaveourselves,aswemaybeatpeacewithGod,andmayfindgraceintheeyesofthispeople.

Ourcompanywithonevoicethankedmeformygoodadmonition,andpromisedmetolivesoberlyandcivilly,andwithoutgivingany

theleast

occasion

of

offence.

So

we

spent

our

three

days

joyfully,

and

withoutcare,inexpectationwhatwouldbedonewithus,whentheywere expired. Duringwhich time,we had every hourjoy of theamendment of our sick; who thought themselves cast into somedivinepoolofhealing;theymendedsokindly,andsofast.

Themorrowafterourthreedayswerepast,therecametousanewman,thatwehadnotseenbefore,clothedinblueastheformerwas,savethathisturbanwaswhite,withasmallredcrossonthetop.He

hadalso

atippet

of

fine

linen.

At

his

coming

in,

he

did

bend

to

us

a

little,andputhisarmsabroad.Weofourpartssalutedhiminaverylowlyandsubmissivemanner;aslookingthatfromhim,weshouldreceivesentenceoflife,ordeath:hedesiredtospeakwithsomefewofus:whereuponsixofusonlystaid,andtherestavoidedtheroom.Hesaid,IambyofficegovernorofthisHouseofStrangers,andbyvocation IamaChristianpriest:and therefoream come toyou tooffer youmy service,both as strangers and chiefly as Christians.SomethingsImaytellyou,whichIthinkyouwillnotbeunwilling

tohear.

The

State

hath

given

you

license

to

stay

on

land,

for

the

spaceofsixweeks;and let itnot troubleyou, ifyouroccasionsaskfurther time, for the law in thispoint is notprecise; and Idonotdoubt,butmyselfshallbeable,toobtainforyousuchfurthertime,asmaybeconvenient.Yeshallalsounderstand, that theStrangersHouse isat this time rich,andmuchaforehand; for ithath laiduprevenuethesethirtysevenyears;forso longitissinceanystrangerarrived in this part: and therefore take ye no care; the Statewilldefrayyouallthetimeyoustay;neithershallyoustayonedaythe

lessfor

that.

As

for

any

merchandise

ye

have

brought,

ye

shall

be

wellused,andhaveyour return,either inmerchandise,or ingoldandsilver:fortousitisallone.Andifyouhaveanyotherrequesttomake, hide it not. For ye shall find we will not make your


11/37

TheNewAtlantis

7

countenancetofallbytheansweryeshallreceive.OnlythisImusttellyou,thatnoneofyoumustgoaboveakaran,(thatiswiththemamile and an half) from thewalls of the city,without especial

leave.

We answered, after we had looked awhile one upon another,admiringthisgraciousandparentlikeusage;Thatwecouldnottellwhat to say: forwewantedwords to express our thanks; andhisnoblefreeoffersleftusnothingtoask.Itseemedtous,thatwehadbeforeusapictureofour salvation inHeaven; forwe thatwereawhile since in thejaws of death,were nowbrought into a place,wherewe found nothingbut consolations. For the commandment

laidupon

us,

we

would

not

fail

to

obey

it,

though

it

was

impossible

butourheartsshouldbeenflamedtotreadfurtheruponthishappyandholyground.Weadded,Thatourtonguesshouldfirstcleavetotheroofsofourmouths,ereweshouldforget,eitherhisreverendperson,orthiswholenation,inourprayers.Wealsomosthumblybesoughthim,toacceptofusashistrueservants;byasjustarightasevermenonearthwerebounden; layingandpresenting,bothourpersons,andallwehad,athis feet.Hesaid;Hewasapriest,andlookedforapriestsreward;whichwasourbrotherly love,andthe

goodof

our

souls

and

bodies.

So

he

went

from

us,

not

without

tears

of tenderness in his eyes; and left us also confusedwithjoy andkindness,sayingamongstourselves;Thatwewerecomeintoalandof angels, which did appear to us daily, and prevent us withcomforts,whichwethoughtnotof,muchlessexpected.

Thenextdayabouttenoftheclock,theGovernorcametousagain,andaftersalutations,saidfamiliarly;Thathewascometovisitus;andcalledforachair,andsathimdown:andwe,beingsometenof

us,(the

rest

were

of

the

meaner

sort,

or

else

gone

abroad,)

sat

down

withhim,Andwhenwewereset,hebeganthus:WeofthisislandofBensalem, (forso theycall it in their language,)have this; thatbymeansofoursolitarysituation;andofthelawsofsecrecy,whichwehaveforour travellers,andourrareadmissionofstrangers;weknow well most part of the habitable world, and are ourselvesunknown.Thereforebecausehe thatknoweth least is fittest toaskquestions,itismorereason,fortheentertainmentofthetime,thatyeaskmequestions,thanthatIaskyou.

Weanswered;Thatwehumblythankedhimthathewouldgiveusleaveso todo:and thatweconceivedby the tastewehadalready,thattherewasnoworldlythingonearth,moreworthytobeknown


12/37

TheNewAtlantis

8

than the stateof thathappy land.Butaboveall, (we said,)sincethatweweremet from the several ends of theworld, and hopedassuredly thatweshouldmeetoneday in thekingdomofHeaven,

(forthat

we

were

both

parts

Christians,)

we

desired

to

know,

(in

respect that land was so remote, and so divided by vast andunknownseas, from the landwhereourSaviourwalkedonearth,)whowastheapostleofthatnation,andhowitwasconvertedtothefaith?Itappearedinhisfacethathetookgreatcontentmentinthisour question: he said; Ye knit my heart to you, by asking thisquestion in the first place; for it sheweth that you first seek thekingdom of heaven; and I shall gladly, and briefly, satisfy yourdemand.

About twentyyearsafter theascensionofourSaviour, itcame topass,thattherewasseenbythepeopleofRenfusa,(acityupontheeasterncoastofourisland,)withinnight,(thenightwascloudy,andcalm,)asitmightbesomemileintothesea,agreatpillaroflight;notsharp,but in form of a column, or cylinder, rising from the sea agreatwayuptowardsheaven;andonthetopofitwasseenalargecross of light,morebright and resplendent than thebody of thepillar. Uponwhich so strange a spectacle, the people of the city

gatheredapace

together

upon

the

sands,

to

wonder;

and

so

after

put

themselves into a number of small boats, to go nearer to thismarvelloussight.Butwhentheboatswerecomewithin(about)sixtyyardsofthepillar,theyfoundthemselvesallbound,andcouldgonofurther; yet so as they might move to go about, but might notapproachnearer:soastheboatsstoodallasinatheatre,beholdingthislightasanheavenlysign.Itsofellout,thattherewasinoneoftheboatsoneof thewisemen,of the societyofSalomonsHouse;whichhouse,or college (mygoodbrethren) is theveryeyeof this

kingdom;who

having

awhile

attentively

and

devoutly

viewed

and

contemplatedthispillarandcross,felldownuponhisface;andthenraisedhimselfuponhisknees,and liftinguphishands toheaven,madehisprayersinthismanner.

LORDGodofheavenandearth,thouhastvouchsafedofthygracetothoseofourorder,toknowthyworksofCreation,andthesecretsofthem:andtodiscern(asfarasappertainethtothegenerationsofmen)betweendivinemiracles,works ofnature,works of art, and

imposturesand

illusions

of

all

sorts.

Ido

here

acknowledge

and

testifybeforethispeople,thatthethingwhichwenowseebeforeoureyesisthyFingerandatrueMiracle.Andforasmuchaswelearninour books that thou never workest miracles, but to divine and


13/37

TheNewAtlantis

9

excellentend, (for the lawsofnatureare thineown laws,and thouexceedestthemnotbutupongreatcause,)wemosthumblybeseechtheetoprosperthisgreatsign,andtogiveustheinterpretationand

useof

it

in

mercy;

which

thou

dost

in

some

part

secretly

promise

by

sendingituntous.

Whenhehadmadehisprayer,hepresentlyfoundtheboathewasin,moveableandunbound;whereasall the rest remainedstill fast;andtakingthatforanassuranceofleavetoapproach,hecausedtheboat tobesoftlyandwithsilencerowed towardsthepillar.Buterehecamenearit,thepillarandcrossoflightbrakeup,andcastitselfabroad, as it were, into a firmament of many stars; which also

vanishedsoon

after,

and

there

was

nothing

left

to

be

seen,

but

asmall ark, or chest of cedar, dry, and notwet at allwithwater,

thoughitswam.Andintheforeendofit,whichwastowardshim,grew a small greenbranch of palm; andwhen thewiseman hadtakenit,withallreverence,intohisboat,itopenedofitself,andtherewerefoundinitaBookandaLetter;bothwritteninfineparchment,and wrapped in sindons of linen. The Book contained all thecanonicalbooks of theOld andNewTestament, according asyouhavethem;(forweknowwellwhatthechurcheswithyoureceive);

andthe

Apocalypse

itself,

and

some

other

books

of

the

New

Testament,whichwerenotatthattimewritten,wereneverthelessintheBook.AndfortheLetter,itwasinthesewords:

I, Bartholomew, a servant of theHighest, and Apostle ofJesusChrist,waswarnedbyanangelthatappearethtome,inavisionofglory, that I should commit this ark to the floods of the sea.ThereforeIdotestifyanddeclareuntothatpeoplewhereGodshallordain thisark tocome to land, that in thesameday iscomeunto

themsalvation

and

peace

and

good

will,

from

the

Father,

and

from

theLordJesus.

Therewas also inboth thesewritings, aswell the Book, as theLetter,wroughtagreatmiracle,conform to thatof theApostles, intheoriginalGiftofTongues.FortherebeingatthattimeinthislandHebrews,Persians,andIndians,besidesthenatives,everyonereadupon theBook,andLetter,as if theyhadbeenwritten inhisownlanguage. And thus was this land saved from infidelity (as theremainder

of

the

old

world

was

from

water)

by

an

ark,

through

the

apostolicalandmiraculousevangelismofSaintBartholomew.Andherehepaused,andamessengercame,andcalledhimfromus.Sothiswasallthatpassedinthatconference.


14/37

TheNewAtlantis

10

Thenextday,thesamegovernorcameagaintous,immediatelyafterdinner, and excused himself, saying; That thedaybefore hewascalled from us, somewhat abruptly, but now hewouldmake us

amends,and

spend

time

with

us

if

we

held

his

company

and

conferenceagreeable.Weanswered,Thatweheld itsoagreeableandpleasingtous,asweforgotbothdangerspastandfearstocome,forthetimewehearhimspeak;andthatwethoughtanhourspentwithhim,wasworthyearsofourformer life.Hebowedhimselfalittletous,andafterweweresetagain,hesaid;Well,thequestionsareonyourpart.

Oneofournumbersaid,afteralittlepause;thattherewasamatter,

wewere

no

less

desirous

to

know,

than

fearful

to

ask,

lest

we

might

presume too far.Butencouragedbyhis rarehumanity towardsus,(that could scarce think ourselves strangers,being his vowed andprofessed servants,)wewould take the hardiness to propound it:humblybeseechinghim,ifhethoughtitnotfittobeanswered,thathe would pardon it, though he rejected it. We said; We wellobservedthosehiswords,whichheformerlyspake,thatthishappyisland,wherewenowstood,wasknowntofew,andyetknewmostofthenationsoftheworld;whichwefoundtobetrue,considering

theyhad

the

languages

of

Europe,

and

knew

much

of

our

state

and

business; and yet we in Europe, (notwithstanding all the remotediscoveriesandnavigationsofthislastage),neverheardoftheleastinklingorglimpseof thisisland.Thiswefoundwonderfulstrange;for thatallnationshave interknowledgeoneofanother, eitherbyvoyage into foreignparts, orby strangers that come to them: andthough the traveller into a foreign country,doth commonly knowmorebytheeye,thanhethatstayethathomecanbyrelationofthetraveller; yetbothways suffice tomake amutual knowledge, in

somedegree,

on

both

parts.

But

for

this

island,

we

never

heard

tell

of

any ship of theirs thathadbeen seen to arriveupon any shoreofEurope;norofeithertheEastorWestIndies;noryetofanyshipofanyotherpartof theworld, thathadmadereturn from them.Andyet the marvel rested not in this. For the situation of it (as hislordshipsaid)inthesecretconclaveofsuchavastseamightcauseit.Butthen,thattheyshouldhaveknowledgeofthelanguages,books,affairs,ofthosethatliesuchadistancefromthem,itwasathingwecouldnottellwhattomakeof;forthatitseemedtousaconditioner

andpropriety

of

divine

powers

and

beings,

to

be

hidden

and

unseen

toothers,andyettohaveothersopenandasinalighttothem.


15/37

TheNewAtlantis

11

At thisspeech theGovernorgaveagracioussmile,andsaid;Thatwedidwelltoaskpardonforthisquestionwenowasked:forthatitimported,as ifwe thought this land,a landofmagicians, thatsent

forthspirits

of

the

air

into

all

parts,

to

bring

them

news

and

intelligence of other countries. Itwas answeredby us all, in allpossiblehumbleness,butyetwithacountenancetakingknowledge,thatweknewthathespakeitbutmerrily,Thatwewereaptenoughto think therewas somewhat supernatural in this island;but yetratherasangelical thanmagical.But to lethis lordshipknow trulywhatitwasthatmadeustenderanddoubtfultoaskthisquestion,itwas not any such conceit,butbecausewe remembered, he hadgivenatouchinhisformerspeech,thatthislandhadlawsofsecrecy

touchingstrangers.

To

this

he

said;

You

remember

it

aright

and

therefore inthatIshallsaytoyou,Imustreservesomeparticulars,whichitisnotlawfulformetoreveal;buttherewillbeenoughleft,togiveyousatisfaction.

You shall understand (thatwhich perhaps youwill scarce thinkcredible) that about three thousand years ago, or somewhatmore,the navigation of theworld, (especially for remote voyages,)wasgreater thanat thisday.Donot thinkwithyourselves, that Iknow

nothow

much

it

is

increased

with

you,

within

these

six

score

years:

Iknow itwell:andyet Isaygreater then thannow;whether itwas,

thattheexampleoftheark,thatsavedtheremnantofmenfromtheuniversal deluge, gave men confidence to adventure upon thewaters;orwhat itwas;but such is the truth.ThePhoenicians,andespecially the Tyrians, had great fleets. So had the Carthaginianstheircolony,whichisyetfurtherwest.Towardtheeasttheshippingof Egypt and of Palestinewas likewise great.China also, and thegreatAtlantis, (that you callAmerica,)whichhavenowbutjunks

andcanoes,

abounded

then

in

tall

ships.

This

island,

(as

appeareth

byfaithfulregistersofthosetimes,)hadthenfifteenhundredstrongships,ofgreatcontent.Ofallthis,thereiswithyousparingmemory,ornone;butwehavelargeknowledgethereof.

Atthattime,thislandwasknownandfrequentedbytheshipsandvesselsofall thenationsbeforenamed.And (as itcometh topass)theyhadmany timesmenofother countries, thatwereno sailors,thatcamewiththem;asPersians,Chaldeans,Arabians;soasalmost

allnations

of

might

and

fame

resorted

hither;

of

whom

we

have

some stirps,and little tribeswithusat thisday.And forourownships,theywentsundryvoyages,aswelltoyourstraits,whichyoucall the Pillars ofHercules, as to other parts in the Atlantic and


16/37

TheNewAtlantis

12

MediterraneSeas;astoPaguin,(whichisthesamewithCambaline,)andQuinzy,upon theOrientalSeas,as faras to thebordersof theEastTartary.

Atthesametime,andanageafter,ormore,theinhabitantsofthegreatAtlantisdidflourish.Forthoughthenarrationanddescription,which ismadeby a greatmanwith you; that the descendants ofNeptuneplanted there;andof themagnificent temple,palace,city,andhill;andthemanifoldstreamsofgoodlynavigablerivers,(whichas somany chains environed the same site and temple); and theseveraldegreesofascent,wherebymendidclimbuptothesame,asifithadbeenascalacoeli,beallpoeticalandfabulous:yetsomuchistrue,

that

the

said

country

of

Atlantis,

as

well

that

of

Peru,

then

calledCoya,asthatofMexico,thennamedTyrambel,weremightyandproudkingdomsinarms,shippingandriches:somighty,asatone time (orat leastwithin thespaceof tenyears) theybothmadetwogreatexpeditions;theyofTyrambelthroughtheAtlantictotheMediterraneSea;andtheyofCoyathroughtheSouthSeauponthisour island:and for theformerof these,whichwas intoEurope, thesameauthoramongstyou(asitseemeth)hadsomerelationfromtheEgyptianpriestwhomhecited.Forassuredlysuchathingtherewas.

Butwhether

it

were

the

ancient

Athenians

that

had

the

glory

of

the

repulseandresistanceofthoseforces,Icansaynothing:butcertainitis, there never came back either ship or man from that voyage.Neitherhad theothervoyageof thoseofCoyauponushadbetterfortune, if theyhadnotmetwithenemiesofgreaterclemency.Forthekingof this island, (bynameAltabin,)awisemanandagreatwarrior,knowingwellbothhisownstrengthandthatofhisenemies,handledthematterso,ashecutofftheirlandforcesfromtheirships;and entoiledboth theirnavyand their tampwithagreaterpower

thantheirs,

both

by

sea

and

land:

arid

compelled

them

to

render

themselveswithoutstrikingstrokeandaftertheywereathismercy,contenting himself onlywith their oath that they should nomorebeararmsagainsthim,dismissedthemallinsafety.

But the divine revenge overtook not long after those proudenterprises.Forwithinlessthanthespaceofonehundredyears,thegreat Atlantis was utterly lost and destroyed: not by a greatearthquake,asyourmansaith;(forthatwholetractislittlesubjectto

earthquakes;)but

by

aparticular

deluge

or

inundation;

those

countries having, at this day, far greater rivers and far highermountainstopourdownwaters,thananypartoftheoldworld.Butitistruethatthesameinundationwasnotdeep;notpastfortyfoot,


17/37

TheNewAtlantis

13

inmostplaces,fromtheground;sothatalthough itdestroyedmanandbeast generally, yet some few wild inhabitants of the woodescaped. 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 thedepth of thewater, yet that inundation, though itwereshallow,hadalongcontinuance;wherebytheyofthevalethatwere not drowned, perished for want of food and other thingsnecessary.

SoasmarvelyounotatthethinpopulationofAmerica,norattherudeness and ignorance of thepeople; for youmust account yourinhabitantsofAmericaasayoungpeople;youngerathousandyears,

atthe

least,

than

the

rest

of

the

world:

for

that

there

was

so

much

timebetweentheuniversalfloodandtheirparticularinundation.Forthe poor remnant of human seed, which remained in theirmountains,peopledthecountryagainslowly,bylittleandlittle;andbeingsimpleandsavagepeople,(notlikeNoahandhissons,whichwasthechieffamilyoftheearth;)theywerenotabletoleaveletters,arts, and civility to their posterity; and having likewise in theirmountainoushabitationsbeenused(inrespectoftheextremecoldofthose regions) to clothe themselveswith the skins of tigers,bears,

andgreat

hairy

goats,

that

they

have

in

those

parts;

when

after

they

camedownintothevalley,andfoundtheintolerableheatswhicharethere, and knew nomeans of lighter apparel, theywere forced tobeginthecustomofgoingnaked,whichcontinuethatthisday.Onlythey takegreatprideanddelight in the feathersofbirds;and thisalsotheytookfromthosetheirancestorsofthemountains,whowereinviteduntoitbytheinfiniteflightsofbirdsthatcameuptothehighgrounds,while thewaters stoodbelow. So you see,by thismainaccidentoftime,welostourtrafficwiththeAmericans,withwhom

of,all

others,

in

regard

they

lay

nearest

to

us,

we

had

most

commerce.

As for theotherpartsof theworld, it ismostmanifest that in theages following (whether itwere in respectofwars,orbyanaturalrevolutionof time,)navigationdideverywheregreatlydecay;andspecially far voyages (the ratherby the use of galleys, and suchvessels as couldhardlybrook the ocean,)were altogether left andomitted.Sothen,thatpartofintercoursewhichcouldbefromother

nationsto

sail

to

us,

you

see

how

it

hath

long

since

ceased;

except

it

werebysomerareaccident,asthisofyours.Butnowofthecessationof thatotherpartof intercourse,whichmightbebyour sailing toothernations,Imustyieldyousomeothercause.ForIcannotsay(if


18/37

TheNewAtlantis

14

Ishallsay truly,)butourshipping, fornumber,strength,mariners,pilots,andallthingsthatappertaintonavigation,isasgreatasever;and thereforewhyweshouldsitathome, I shallnowgiveyouan

accountby

itself:

and

it

will

draw

nearer

to

give

you

satisfaction

to

yourprincipalquestion.

There reigned in this land, about nineteen hundred years ago, aking,whosememoryofallotherswemostadore;notsuperstitiously,but as a divine instrument, though amortalman; his namewasSolamona: andwe esteemhim as the lawgiverofournation.Thiskinghadalargeheart,inscrutableforgood;andwaswhollybenttomake his kingdom and people happy. He therefore, taking into

considerationhow

sufficient

and

substantive

this

land

was

to

maintain itselfwithout any aid (at all) of the foreigner;being fivethousandsixhundredmiles incircuit,andofrarefertilityofsoil inthe greatest part thereof; and finding also the shipping of thiscountrymightbe plentifully set onwork,bothby fishing andbytransportationsfromporttoport,andlikewisebysailinguntosomesmallislandsthatarenotfarfromus,andareunderthecrownandlaws of this state; and, recalling into hismemory the happy andflourishing estatewherein this land thenwas; so as itmightbe a

thousandways

altered

to

the

worse,

but

scarce

any

one

way

to

the

better;thoughtnothingwantedtohisnobleandheroicalintentions,butonly(asfarashumanforesightmightreach)togiveperpetuitytothatwhichwasinhistimesohappilyestablished.Thereforeamongsthis other fundamental laws of this kingdom, he did ordain theinterdicts and prohibitions which we have touching entrance ofstrangers;which at that time (though itwas after the calamity ofAmerica) was frequent; doubting novelties, and commixture ofmanners. It is true, the like lawagainst theadmissionof strangers

withoutlicence

is

an

ancient

law

in

the

kingdom

of

China,

and

yet

continuedinuse.Butthereitisapoorthing;andhathmadethemacurious,ignorant,fearful,foolishnation.Butourlawgivermadehislaw of another temper. For first, he hath preserved all points ofhumanity, in taking order andmaking provision for the relief ofstrangersdistressed;whereofyouhavetasted.

At which speech (as reason was) we all rose up and bowedourselves.Hewenton.

Thatkingalso,stilldesiring tojoinhumanityandpolicy together;and thinking it against humanity, todetain strangers here againsttheirwills,andagainstpolicy that theyshouldreturnanddiscover


19/37

TheNewAtlantis

15

theirknowledgeofthisestate,hetookthiscourse:hedidordainthatof the strangers that shouldbe permitted to land, asmany (at alltimes)mightdepart aswould;but asmany aswould stay should

havevery

good

conditions

and

means

to

live

from

the

state.

Wherein

he saw so far, thatnow in somanyages since theprohibition,wehavememorynotofoneshipthateverreturned,andbutofthirteenpersonsonly,at several times, thatchose to return inourbottoms.WhatthosefewthatreturnedmayhavereportedabroadIknownot.Butyoumustthink,whatsoevertheyhavesaidcouldbetakenwheretheycamebutforadream.Nowforourtravellingfromhennaintopartsabroad,ourLawgiverthoughtfitaltogethertorestrainit.Soisitnot inChina.For theChinese sailwhere theywillorcan;which

sheweththat

their

law

of

keeping

out

strangers

is

alaw

of

pusillanimity and fear. But this restraint of ours hath one onlyexception,whichisadmirable;preservingthegoodwhichcomethbycommunicatingwith strangers, and avoiding the hurt; and Iwillnowopenittoyou.AndhereIshallseemalittletodigress,butyouwillbyandbyfinditpertinent.

Ye shallunderstand (mydear friends) that amongst the excellentacts of that king, one above all hath the preeminence. Itwas the

erectionand

institution

of

an

Order

or

Society,

which

we

call

SalomonsHouse;thenoblestfoundation(aswethink)thateverwasupontheearth;andthelanthornofthiskingdom.It isdedicatedtothestudyof theworksandcreaturesofGod.Somethink itbeareththe foundersnamea littlecorrupted,as if itshouldbeSolamonasHouse.But therecordswrite itas it isspoken.Soas I take it tobedenominateofthekingoftheHebrews,which isfamouswithyou,andnostranger tous.Forwehavesomepartsofhisworks,whichwithyouarelost;namely,thatnaturalhistory,whichhewrote,ofall

plants,from

the

cedar

of

Libanus

to

the

moss

that

groweth

out

of

the

wall, and of all things thathave life andmotion.Thismakethmethink that our king, finding himself to symbolize inmany thingswiththatkingoftheHebrews(whichlivedmanyyearsbeforehim),honoured himwith the title of this foundation. And I am ratherinduced tobeof thisopinion, for that I find inancient records thisOrder or Society is sometimes called Salomons House, andsometimestheCollegeoftheSixDaysWorks;wherebyIamsatisfiedthatourexcellentkinghadlearnedfromtheHebrewsthatGodhad

createdthe

world

and

all

that

therein

is

within

six

days:

and

therefore he instituting thatHouse for the finding out of the truenatureofallthings,(wherebyGodmighthavethemoregloryinthe


20/37

TheNewAtlantis

16

workmanshipofthem,andinsertthemorefruitintheuseofthem),didgiveitalsothatsecondname.

Butnow

to

come

to

our

present

purpose.

When

the

king

had

forbidden to all his people navigation into any part thatwas notunder his crown, hemade nevertheless this ordinance; that everytwelveyearsthereshouldbesetforth,outofthiskingdomtwoships,appointed to several voyages; That in either of these ships thereshouldbeamissionofthreeoftheFellowsorBrethrenofSalomonsHouse;whoseerrandwasonly togiveusknowledgeof theaffairsand state of those countries to which they were designed, andespeciallyof the sciences,arts,manufactures,and inventionsofall

theworld;

and

withal

to

bring

unto

us

books,

instruments,

and

patterns in every kind: That the ships, after they had landed thebrethren,shouldreturn;andthatthebrethrenshouldstayabroadtillthenewmission.These shipsarenototherwise fraught, thanwithstoreofvictuals,andgoodquantityof treasure to remainwith thebrethren, for the buying of such things and rewarding of suchpersons as they should think fit.Now forme to tell youhow thevulgarsortofmarinersarecontainedfrombeingdiscoveredatland;and how they that must be put on shore for any time, colour

themselvesunder

the

names

of

other

nations;

and

to

what

places

thesevoyageshavebeendesigned;andwhatplacesof rendezvousareappointedforthenewmissions;andthelikecircumstancesofthepractique;Imaynotdoit:neitherisitmuchtoyourdesire.Butthusyou seewemaintaina tradenot forgold, silver,orjewels;nor forsilks;norforspices;noranyothercommodityofmatter;butonlyforGods first creature,whichwas Light: to have light (I say) of thegrowthofallpartsoftheworld.

Andwhen

he

had

said

this,

he

was

silent;

and

so

were

we

all.

For

indeedwewereallastonishedtohearsostrangethingssoprobablytold.Andhe,perceiving thatwewerewillingtosaysomewhatbuthaditnotreadyingreatcourtesytookusoff,anddescendedtoaskusquestionsofourvoyageand fortunesand in theendconcluded,thatwemightdowelltothinkwithourselveswhattimeofstaywewoulddemandof thestate;andbadeusnot toscantourselves; forhewouldprocuresuch timeaswedesired:Whereuponweallroseup, and presented ourselves to kiss the skirt of his tippet;but he

wouldnot

suffer

us;

and

so

took

his

leave.

But

when

it

came

once

amongst our people that the state used to offer conditions tostrangers thatwould stay,wehadwork enough togetanyofourmen to look toourship;and tokeep them fromgoingpresently to


21/37

TheNewAtlantis

17

thegovernor to crave conditions.Butwithmuchadowe refrainedthem,tillwemightagreewhatcoursetotake.

Wetook

ourselves

now

for

free

men,

seeing

there

was

no

danger

of

ourutterperdition;andlivedmostjoyfully,goingabroadandseeingwhat was to be seen in the city and places adjacent within ourtedder;andobtainingacquaintancewithmanyofthecity,notofthemeanestquality;atwhosehandswefoundsuchhumanity,andsuchafreedomanddesiretotakestrangersasitwereintotheirbosom,aswas enough tomakeus forget all thatwasdear tous inourowncountries:andcontinuallywemetwithmanythingsrightworthyofobservationandrelation:asindeed,iftherebeamirrorintheworld

worthyto

hold

mens

eyes,

it

is

that

country.

Oneday therewere twoofour companybidden to aFeastof theFamily,astheycallit.Amostnatural,pious,andreverendcustomitis,shewingthatnationtobecompoundedofallgoodness.Thisisthemanner of it. It is granted to anyman that shall live to see thirtypersonsdescended of hisbody alive together, and all above threeyearsold, tomake this feastwhich isdoneat thecostof the state.TheFatheroftheFamily,whomtheycalltheTirsan,twodaysbefore

thefeast,

taketh

to

him

three

of

such

friends

as

he

liketh

to

choose;

and isassistedalsoby thegovernorof the cityorplacewhere thefeast iscelebrated;andall thepersonsof the family,ofboth sexes,are summoned toattendhim.These twodays theTirsan sitteth inconsultationconcerningthegoodestateofthefamily.There,iftherebe any discord or suits between any of the family, they arecompoundedandappeased.There,ifanyofthefamilybedistressedordecayed,order is taken for their reliefand competentmeans tolive. There, if anybe subject to vice, or take ill courses, they are

reprovedand

censured.

So

likewise

direction

is

given

touching

marriages,and the coursesof life,whichanyof them should take,withdiversotherthelikeordersandadvices.Thegovernorassisteth,totheendtoputinexecutionbyhispublicauthoritythedecreesandordersoftheTirsan,iftheyshouldbedisobeyed;thoughthatseldomneedeth; such reverence and obedience they give to the order ofnature.TheTirsandothalsotheneverchooseonemanfromamonghissons,toliveinhousewithhim;whoiscalledeveraftertheSonoftheVine.Thereasonwillhereafterappear.

On the feast day, the father or Tirsan cometh forth after divineservice intoa largeroomwhere thefeast iscelebrated;whichroomhathanhalfpaceattheupperend.Againstthewall,inthemiddleof


22/37

TheNewAtlantis

18

thehalfpace,isachairplacedforhim,withatableandcarpetbeforeit.Overthechair isastate,maderoundoroval,and itisofivy;anivysomewhatwhiterthanours,liketheleafofasilverasp;butmore

shining;for

it

is

green

all

winter.

And

the

state

is

curiously

wrought

withsilverandsilkofdiverscolours,broidingorbindingintheivy;andiseveroftheworkofsomeofthedaughtersofthefamily;andveiled over at the topwith a fine net of silk and silver. But thesubstanceofitistrueivy;whereof,afteritistakendown,thefriendsofthefamilyaredesiroustohavesomeleaforsprigtokeep.

TheTirsancomethforthwithallhisgenerationorlinage,themalesbeforehim,andthefemalesfollowinghim;andiftherebeamother

fromwhose

body

the

whole

linage

is

descended,

there

is

atraverse

placed ina loftaboveon the righthandof the chair,withaprivydoor, and a carvedwindow of glass, leadedwith gold andblue;whereshesitteth,butisnotseen.WhentheTirsaniscomeforth,hesittethdowninthechair;andallthelinageplacethemselvesagainstthewall,bothathisbackandupon the returnof thehalfpace, inorderof theiryearswithoutdifferenceofsex;andstandupon theirfeet.Whenheisset;theroombeingalwaysfullofcompany,butwellkeptandwithoutdisorder;aftersomepause, therecometh in from

thelower

end

of

the

room,

ataratan

(which

is

as

much

as

an

herald)

andon either side ofhim two young lads;whereof one carrieth ascrollof their shiningyellowparchment;and theotheraclusterofgrapesofgold,withalongfootorstalk.Theheraldandchildrenareclothed with mantles of seawater green satin; but the heraldsmantleisstreamedwithgold,andhathatrain.

Then theheraldwith threecurtesies,or rather inclinations,comethup as far as thehalfpace; and there first taketh intohishand the

scroll.This

scroll

is

the

kings

charter,

containing

gifts

of

revenew,

andmanyprivileges,exemptions,andpointsofhonour,granted totheFatheroftheFamily;andiseverstyledanddirected,Tosuchdooneourwellbelovedfriendandcreditor:whichisatitleproperonlyto this case. For they say the king is debtor to noman,but forpropagationofhissubjects.Thesealset to thekingscharter is thekings image, imbossed or moulded in gold; and though suchchartersbeexpeditedofcourse,andasofright,yettheyarevariedby discretion, according to the number and dignity of the family.

Thischarter

the

herald

readeth

aloud;

and

while

it

is

read,

the

father

or Tirsan standeth up supportedby two of his sons, such as hechooseth.Thentheheraldmounteththehalfpaceanddelivereththecharter intohishand: andwith that there isanacclamationby all


23/37

TheNewAtlantis

19

thatarepresent in their language,which is thusmuch:HappyarethepeopleofBensalem.

Thenthe

herald

taketh

into

his

hand

from

the

other

child

the

cluster

ofgrapes,which isofgold,both the stalkand thegrapes.But thegrapesaredaintilyenamelled;and if themalesofthe familybethegreaternumber,thegrapesareenamelledpurple,withalittlesunseton the top; if the females, then theyare enamelled intoagreenishyellow,with a crescent on the top. The grapes are in number asmanyastherearedescendantsofthefamily.ThisgoldenclustertheheralddeliverethalsototheTirsan;whopresentlydeliverethitovertothatsonthathehadformerlychosentobeinhousewithhim:who

bearethit

before

his

father

as

an

ensign

of

honour

when

he

goeth

in

public,everafter;andisthereuponcalledtheSonoftheVine.

After the ceremony endeth the father or Tirsan retireth; and aftersome time cometh forth again to dinner, where he sitteth aloneunderthestate,asbefore;andnoneofhisdescendantssitwithhim,ofwhatdegreeordignitysoever,excepthehap tobeofSalomonsHouse.Heisservedonlybyhisownchildren,suchasaremale;whoperform unto him all service of the table upon the knee; and the

womenonly

stand

about

him,

leaning

against

the

wall.

The

room

below thehalfpacehath tableson the sides for theguests thatarebidden;whoareservedwithgreatandcomelyorder;and towardsthe end of dinner (which in the greatest feastswith them lastethnever above an hour and an half) there is an hymn sung, variedaccording to the inventionofhim that composeth it (for theyhaveexcellentposy)butthesubjectof it is (always) thepraisesofAdamandNoahandAbraham;whereoftheformertwopeopledtheworld,and the lastwas theFatherof theFaithful: concludingeverwitha

thanksgivingfor

the

nativity

of

our

Saviour,

in

whose

birth

the

births

ofallareonlyblessed.

Dinnerbeingdone,theTirsanretirethagain;andhavingwithdrawnhimselfaloneintoaplace,wherehemakessomeprivateprayers,hecometh forth the third time, to give the blessing with all hisdescendants,who stand about him as at the first.Then he calleththem forthby one andby one,by name, as he pleaseth, thoughseldom theorderofagebe inverted.Theperson that is called (thetable

being

before

removed)

kneeleth

down

before

the

chair,

and

the

father layethhishanduponhishead,orherhead,andgiveth theblessinginthesewords:


24/37

TheNewAtlantis

20

SonofBensalem, (ordaughterofBensalem,) thy fatherwith it: themanby whom thou hastbreath and life speaketh theword: theblessingoftheeverlastingFather,thePrinceofPeace,andtheHoly

Dove,be

upon

thee,

and

make

the

days

of

thy

pilgrimage

good

and

many.

Thishesaithtoeveryofthem;andthatdone,iftherebeanyofhissons of eminentmerit and virtue, (so theybe not above two,) hecallethforthemagain;andsaith,layinghisarmovertheirshoulders,theystanding:

Sons,itiswellyeareborn,giveGodthepraise,andperseveretothe

end.

Andwithalldeliverethtoeitherofthemajewel,madeinthefigureofanearofwheat,which theyeverafterwear in the frontof theirturbanorhat.Thisdone, they fall tomusicanddances,andotherrecreations,aftertheirmanner,fortherestoftheday.Thisisthefullorderofthatfeast.

Bythattimesixorsevendayswerespent,Iwasfallenintostraightacquaintance

with

amerchant

of

that

city,

whose

name

was

Joabin.

HewasaJewandcircumcised:fortheyhavesomefewstirpsofJewsyetremainingamongthem,whomthey leavetotheirownreligion.Which theymay thebetterdo,because they are of a fardifferingdisposition from theJews inotherparts.Forwhereas theyhate thenameofChrist;andhaveasecretinbredrancouragainstthepeopleamongwhom they live: these (contrariwise)giveuntoourSaviourmany high attributes, and love the nation of Bensalem extremely.Surely thisman of whom I speak would ever acknowledge thatChrist

was

born

of

avirgin

and

that

he

was

more

than

aman;

and

he

would tellhowGodmadehimruleroftheseraphimswhichguardhisthrone;andtheycallhimalsotheMilkenWay,andtheEliahoftheMessiah; andmany other high names;which though theybeinferior tohisdivinemajesty,yet theyare far from the languageofotherJews.

And for thecountryofBensalem, thismanwouldmakenoendof

commending

it;

being

desirous,

by

tradition

among

the

Jews

there,

to

have itbelieved that thepeople thereofwereof thegenerationsofAbraham,byanotherson,whomtheycallNachoran;andthatMosesbyasecretCabalaordained theLawsofBensalemwhich theynow


25/37

TheNewAtlantis

21

use;andthatwhentheMessiahshouldcome,andsitinhisthroneatHierusalem, the king of Bensalem should sit at his feet,whereasotherkingsshouldkeepagreatdistance.Butyetsettingasidethese

Jewishdreams,

the

man

was

awise

man,

and

learned,

and

of

great

policy,andexcellentlyseeninthelawsandcustomsofthatnation.

Amongstotherdiscourses,oneday I toldhim IwasmuchaffectedwiththerelationIhad,fromsomeofthecompany,oftheircustom,inholdingtheFeastoftheFamily;forthat(methought)Ihadneverheard of a solemnity wherein nature did so much preside. Andbecause propagation of families proceedeth from the nuptialcopulation, Idesired toknowofhimwhat lawsand customs they

hadconcerning

marriage;

and

whether

they

kept

marriage

well

and

whethertheyweretiedtoonewife;forthatwherepopulationissomuch affected, and such aswith them it seemed tobe, there iscommonlypermissionofpluralityofwives.

To this he said, You have reason for to commend that excellentinstitution of the Feast of the Family. And indeed we haveexperience that those families that arepartakers of theblessing ofthat feast do flourish and prosper ever after in an extraordinary

manner.But

hear

me

now,

and

Iwill

tell

you

what

Iknow.

You

shall

understandthatthereisnotundertheheavenssochasteanationasthisofBensalem;norsofreefromallpollutionorfoulness. It is thevirginoftheworld.IrememberIhavereadinoneofyourEuropeanbooks,ofanholyhermitamongstyouthatdesiredtoseetheSpiritofFornication;andthereappearedtohimalittlefouluglythiop.ButifhehaddesiredtoseetheSpiritofChastityofBensalem,itwouldhaveappeared tohim in the likenessofa fairbeautifulCherubim.For there isnothingamongstmortalmenmore fairandadmirable,

thanthe

chaste

minds

of

this

people.

Know

therefore,

that

with

them

therearenostews,nodissolutehouses,nocourtesans,noranythingof thatkind.Nay theywonder (withdetestation)atyou inEurope,which permit such things. They say ye have putmarriage out ofoffice: for marriage is ordained a remedy for unlawfulconcupiscence; and natural concupiscence seemeth as a spar tomarriage.Butwhenmenhaveathandaremedymoreagreeable totheircorruptwill,marriage isalmostexpulsed.Andthereforetherearewith you seen infinitemen thatmarry not,but chose rather a

libertineand

impure

single

life,

than

to

be

yoked

in

marriage;

and

many that domarry,marry late,when the prime and strength oftheir years ispast.Andwhen theydomarry,what ismarriage tothembutaverybargain;wherein is soughtalliance,orportion,or


26/37

TheNewAtlantis

22

reputation,with somedesire (almost indifferent) of issue; andnotthefaithfulnuptialunionofmanandwife,thatwasfirstinstituted.Neither is it possible that those that have cast away sobasely so

muchof

their

strength,

should

greatly

esteem

children,

(being

of

the

samematter,)aschastemendo.Solikewiseduringmarriage,isthecasemuchamended,asitoughttobeifthosethingsweretoleratedonly for necessity?No,but they remain still as a very affront tomarriage. The haunting of those dissolute places, or resort tocourtesans,arenomorepunishedinmarriedmenthaninbachelors.Andthedepravedcustomofchange,andthedelightinmeretriciousembracements,(wheresinisturnedintoart,)makethmarriageadullthing,andakindof impositionor tax.Theyhearyoudefend these

things,as

done

to

avoid

greater

evils;

as

advoutries,

deflowering

of

virgins, unnatural lust, and the like. But they say this is apreposterouswisdom;and they call itLots offer,who to savehisguestsfromabusing,offeredhisdaughters:naytheysayfartherthatthereislittlegainedinthis;forthatthesamevicesandappetitesdostill remainandabound;unlawful lustbeing likea furnace, that ifyoustoptheflamesaltogether,itwillquench;butifyougiveitanyvent,itwillrage.Asformasculinelove,theyhavenotouchofit;andyet therearenot so faithfuland inviolate friendships in theworld

againas

are

there;

and

to

speak

generally,

(as

Isaid

before,)

Ihave

notreadofanysuchchastity,inanypeopleastheirs.Andtheirusualsayingis,Thatwhosoeverisunchastecannotreverencehimself;andtheysay,That thereverenceofamansself, is,next toreligion, thechiefestbridleofallvices.

Andwhenhehadsaidthis,thegoodJewpausedalittle;whereuponI, farmorewilling tohearhim speakon than to speakmyself,yetthinking it decent that upon his pause of speech I should notbe

altogethersilent,

said

only

this;

That

Iwould

say

to

him,

as

the

widowofSareptasaidtoElias;thathewascometobringtomemoryour sins; and that I confess the righteousness of Bensalem wasgreater than the righteousness of Europe. At which speech hebowedhishead,andwentoninthismanner:

Theyhavealsomanywise and excellent laws touchingmarriage.They allow no polygamy. They have ordained that none dointermarry or contract, until a month be past from their first

interview.Marriage

without

consent

of

parents

they

do

not

make

void,but theymulct it in the inheritors: for the children of suchmarriages are not admitted to inherit above a third part of theirparents inheritance.Ihaveread inabookofoneofyourmen,ofa


27/37

TheNewAtlantis

23

FeignedCommonwealth,where themarried couple arepermitted,beforetheycontract,toseeoneanothernaked.Thistheydislike;fortheythinkitascorntogivearefusalaftersofamiliarknowledge:but

becauseof

many

hidden

defects

in

men

and

womens

bodies,

they

haveamore civilway; for theyhavenear every towna coupleofpools,(whichtheycallAdamandEvespools,)whereitispermittedtooneof the friendsof themen,andanotherof the friendsof thewoman,toseethemseverallybathenaked.

Andaswewere thus inconference, therecameone thatseemed tobeamessenger,inarichhuke,thatspakewiththeJew:whereuponhe turned to me and said; You will pardon me, for I am

commandedaway

in

haste.

The

next

morning

he

came

to

me

again,

joyfulasitseemed,andsaid;There iswordcometotheGovernorof thecity, thatoneof theFathersofSalomonsHousewillbeherethisday sevennight:wehave seennoneof them thisdozenyears.His coming is in state;but the causeofhis coming is secret. Iwillprovideyouandyourfellowsofagoodstandingtoseehisentry.Ithankedhim,andtoldhim,Iwasmostgladofthenews.

Thedaybeing come,hemadehis entry.Hewasamanofmiddle

statureand

age,

comely

of

person,

and

had

an

aspect

as

if

he

pitied

men.Hewasclothedinarobeoffineblackcloth,withwidesleevesandacape.Hisundergarmentwasofexcellentwhitelinendowntothefoot,girtwithagirdleofthesame;andasindonortippetofthesameabouthisneck.Hehadgloves,thatwerecurious,andsetwithstone;andshoesofpeachcolouredvelvet.Hisneckwasbaretotheshoulders.Hishatwas likeahelmet,orSpanishmontera;andhislockscurledbelowitdecently:theywereofcolourbrown.Hisbeardwas cut round, and of the same colourwith his hair, somewhat

lighter.He

was

carried

in

arich

chariot

without

wheels,

litter

wise;

with two horses at either end, richly trapped in blue velvetembroidered;and two footmenon each side in the likeattire.Thechariotwasallofcedar,gilt,andadornedwithcrystal;savethattheforeend had panels of sapphires, set inborders of gold; and thehinderendthelikeofemeraldsofthePerucolour.Therewasalsoasun of gold, radiant, upon the top, in themidst; and on the topbefore, a small cherub of gold,withwings displayed. The chariotwascoveredwithclothofgoldtissueduponblue.Hehadbeforehim

fiftyattendants,

young

men

all,

in

white

satin

loose

coats

to

the

mid

leg;andstockingsofwhitesilk;andshoesofbluevelvet;andhatsofbluevelvet;withfineplumesofdiversecolours,setround likehatbands.Nextbeforethechariot,wenttwomen,bareheaded,inlinen


28/37

TheNewAtlantis

24

garmentsdownthefoot,girt,andshoesofbluevelvet;whocarried,theoneacrosier,theotherapastoralstafflikeasheephook;neitherofthemofmetal,butthecrosierofbalmwood,thepastoralstaffof

cedar.Horsemen

he

had

none,

neither

before

nor

behind

his

chariot:

as it seemeth, to avoid all tumult and trouble. Behind his chariotwentalltheofficersandprincipalsofthecompaniesofthecity.Hesatalone,uponcushionsofakindofexcellentplush,blue;andunderhisfootcuriouscarpetsofsilkofdiversecolours,likethePersian,butfar finer. He held up his bare hand as he went, as blessing thepeople,butinsilence.Thestreetwaswonderfullywellkept:sothattherewasneveranyarmyhadtheirmenstandinbetterbattlearraythanthepeoplestood.Thewindowslikewisewerenotcrowded,but

everyone

stood

in

them

as

if

they

had

been

placed.

Whentheshewwaspast,theJewsaidtome;Ishallnotbeabletoattendyouas Iwould, in regardof somecharge the cityhath laiduponme,fortheentertainingofthisgreatperson.ThreedaysaftertheJew came tome again, and said; Ye are happymen; for theFather of SalomonsHouse taketh knowledge of yourbeing here,andcommandedmetotellyouthathewilladmitallyourcompanytohispresence,andhaveprivateconferencewithoneofyou,thatye

shallchoose:

and

for

this

hath

appointed

the

next

day

after

to

morrow.Andbecausehemeanethtogiveyouhisblessing,hehathappointeditintheforenoon.

Wecameatourdayandhour,andIwaschosenbymy fellowsfortheprivateaccess.We foundhim ina fairchamber, richlyhanged,andcarpetedunderfootwithoutanydegreestothestate.HewassetuponalowThronerichlyadorned,andarichclothofstateoverhishead,ofbluesatinembroidered.Hewasalone,savethathehadtwo

pagesof

honour,

on

either

hand

one,

finely

attired

in

white.

His

undergarmentswere the like thatwesawhimwear in thechariot;butinsteadofhisgown,hehadonhimamantlewithacape,ofthesamefineblack,fastenedabouthim.Whenwecamein,asweweretaught,webowedlowatourfirstentrance;andwhenwewerecomenearhischair,hestoodup,holdingforthhishandungloved,andinposture ofblessing; andwe every one of us stooped down, andkissed the hem of his tippet. That done, the rest departed, and Iremained.Thenhewarnedthepagesforthoftheroom,andcaused

meto

sit

down

beside

him,

and

spake

to

me

thus

in

the

Spanish

tongue.


29/37

TheNewAtlantis

25

Godbless thee,my son; Iwillgive thee thegreatestjewel Ihave.ForIwillimpartuntothee,fortheloveofGodandmen,arelationofthetruestateofSalomonsHouse.Son, tomakeyouknow the true

stateof

Salomons

House,

Iwill

keep

this

order.

First,

Iwill

set

forth

untoyoutheendofourfoundation.Secondly,thepreparationsandinstruments we have for our works. Thirdly, the severalemploymentsand functionswheretoour fellowsareassigned.Andfourthly,theordinancesandriteswhichweobserve.

Theendofour foundation is theknowledgeofcauses,andsecretmotionsofthings;andtheenlargingoftheboundsofhumanempire,totheeffectingofallthingspossible.

The Preparations and Instruments are these.We have large anddeep caves of several depths: the deepest are sunk six hundredfathom: and someof them aredigged andmadeundergreathillsandmountains:so that ifyou reckon together thedepthof thehillandthedepthofthecave,theyare(someofthem)abovethreemilesdeep.Forwe find, that thedepthofahill,and thedepthofacavefromtheflat,isthesamething;bothremotealike,fromthesunandheavensbeams, and from the open air. These caves we call the

LowerRegion;

and

we

use

them

for

all

coagulations,

indurations,

refrigerations,andconservationsofbodies.Weusethemlikewiseforthe imitation of natural mines; and the producing also of newartificialmetals,by compositionsandmaterialswhichweuse,andlaythereformanyyears.Weusethemalsosometimes,(whichmayseemstrange,) forcuringofsomediseases,and forprolongationoflifeinsomehermitsthatchoosetolivethere,wellaccommodatedofall thingsnecessary, and indeed livevery long;bywhom alsowelearnmanythings.

Wehaveburialsinseveralearths,whereweputdiversecements,asthe Chineses do their porcellain. But we have them in greatervariety,andsomeof themmore fine.Wehavealsogreatvarietyofcompostsandsoils,forthemakingoftheearthfruitful.

Wehavehigh towers; thehighestabouthalfamile inheight;andsomeofthemlikewisesetuponhighmountains;sothatthevantageofthehillwiththetowerisinthehighestofthemthreemilesatleast.And

these

places

we

call

the

Upper

Region;

accounting

the

air

between thehighplacesand the low,asaMiddleRegion.Weusethese towers,according to their severalheights,and situations, forinsolation, refrigeration, conservation; and for the view of divers


30/37

TheNewAtlantis

26

meteors;aswinds, rain, snow,hail;and someof the fierymeteorsalso. And upon them, in some places, are dwellings of hermits,whomwevisitsometimes,andinstructwhattoobserve.

Wehavegreatlakes,bothsalt,andfresh;whereofwehaveuseforthe fish and fowl.We use them also forburials of some naturalbodies: forwe find adifference in thingsburied in earthor in airbelowtheearth,andthingsburiedinwater.Wehavealsopools,ofwhich somedo strain freshwateroutof salt;andothersbyartdoturn freshwater intosalt.Wehavealsosomerocks in themidstofthesea,andsomebaysupon theshore forsomeworks,wherein isrequired the air and vapor of the sea.We have likewise violent

streamsand

cataracts,

which

serve

us

for

many

motions:

and

likewiseenginesformultiplyingandenforcingofwinds,tosetalsoongoingdiversemotions.

Wehavealsoanumberofartificialwellsand fountains,made inimitation of thenatural sources andbaths; as tincteduponvitriol,sulphur, steel,brass, lead,nitre,andotherminerals.Andagainwehavelittlewellsforinfusionsofmanythings,wherethewaterstakethevirtuequickerandbetter,thaninvesselsorbasins.Andamongst

themwe

have

awater

which

we

call

Water

of

Paradise,

being,

by

thatwedotoitmadeverysovereignforhealth,andprolongationoflife.

We have also great and spacious houses wherewe imitate anddemonstrate meteors; as snow, hail, rain, some artificial rains ofbodies and not ofwater, thunders, lightnings; also generations ofbodiesinair;asfrogs,flies,anddiversothers.

Wehave

also

certain

chambers,

which

we

call

Chambers

of

Health,

wherewequalifytheairaswethinkgoodandproperforthecureofdiversdiseases,andpreservationofhealth.

Wehavealsofairandlargebaths,ofseveralmixtures,forthecureof diseases, and the restoring ofmansbody from arefaction: andothersfortheconfirmingofitinstrengthofsinewes,vitalparts,andtheveryjuiceandsubstanceofthebody.

Wehavealsolargeandvariousorchardsandgardens;whereinwedonotsomuchrespectbeauty,asvarietyofgroundandsoil,properfordiverstreesandherbs:andsomeveryspacious,wheretreesand


31/37

TheNewAtlantis

27

berriesaresetwhereofwemakediverskindsofdrinks,besidesthevineyards. In thesewepractise likewiseallconclusionsofgrafting,andinoculatingaswellofwildtreesasfruittrees,whichproduceth

manyeffects.

And

we

make

(by

art)

in

the

same

orchards

and

gardens,treesandflowerstocomeearlierorlaterthantheirseasons;andtocomeupandbearmorespeedilythanbytheirnaturalcoursetheydo.Wemakethemalsobyartgreatermuch thantheirnature;and their fruit greater and sweeter and of differing taste, smell,colour, and figure, from their nature. Andmany of them we soorder,astheybecomeofmedicinaluse.

We have alsomeans tomake divers plants risebymixtures of

earthswithout

seeds;

and

likewise

to

make

divers

new

plants,

differing from thevulgar;and tomakeone treeorplant turn intoanother.

Wehavealsoparksandenclosuresofallsortsofbeastsandbirdswhich we use not only for view or rareness, but likewise fordissectionsand trials; that therebywemay take lightwhatmaybewrought upon thebody ofman.Whereinwe findmany strangeeffects; as continuing life in them, thoughdiversparts,whichyou

accountvital,

be

perished

and

taken

forth;

resuscitating

of

some

that

seemdead inappearance;and the like.We tryalsoallpoisonsandothermedicinesupon them,aswellofchirurgery,asphysic.Byartlikewise, wemake them greater or taller than their kind is; andcontrariwisedwarfthem,andstaytheirgrowth:wemakethemmorefruitfulandbearing than theirkind is;andcontrariwisebarrenandnotgenerative.Alsowemakethemdiffer incolour,shape,activity,manyways.Wefindmeanstomakecommixturesandcopulationsofdifferent kinds;which haveproducedmany new kinds, and them

notbarren,

as

the

general

opinion

is.

We

make

anumber

of

kinds

of

serpents, worms, flies, fishes, of putrefaction; whereof some areadvanced (ineffect) tobeperfectcreatures, likebestsorbirds;andhavesexes,anddopropagate.Neitherdowethisbychance,butweknowbeforehand, of whatmatter and commixturewhat kind ofthosecreatureswillarise.

Wehavealsoparticularpools,wherewemaketrialsuponfishes,aswehavesaidbeforeofbeastsandbirds.

We have also places forbreed and generation of those kinds ofwormsandflieswhichareofspecialuse;suchasarewithyouyoursilkwormsandbees.


32/37

TheNewAtlantis

28

Iwillnotholdyoulongwithrecountingofourbrewhouses,bakehouses, and kitchens,where aremade divers drinks,breads, andmeats, rare and of special effects.Wineswe have of grapes; and

drinksof

other

juice

of

fruits,

of

grains,

and

of

roots;

and

of

mixtures

withhoney, sugar,manna,and fruitsdried, anddecocted;Alsoofthetearsorwoundingsoftrees;andofthepulpofcanes.Andthesedrinksareofseveralages,sometotheageorlastoffortyyears.Wehavedrinksalsobrewedwith severalherbs,and roots,and spices;yea with several fleshes, and whitemeats; whereof some of thedrinks are such,as they are in effectmeat anddrinkboth: so thatdivers,especiallyinage,dodesiretolivewiththem,withlittleornomeatorbread.Andaboveall,westrivetohavedrinkofextremethin

parts,to

insinuate

into

the

body,

and

yet

without

all

biting,

sharpness,orfretting;insomuchassomeofthemputuponthebackofyourhandwill,witha littlestay,pass through to thepalm,andyettastemildtothemouth.Wehavealsowaterswhichweripeninthat fashion, as theybecome nourishing; so that they are indeedexcellent drink; and.many will use no other. Breads we have ofseveral grains, roots, and kernels; yea and some of flesh and fishdried;withdiverskindsofleaveningsandseasonings:sothatsomedoextremelymoveappetites;somedonourishso,asdiversdolive

ofthem,

without

any

other

meat;

who

live

very

long.

So

for

meats,

wehavesomeofthemsobeatenandmadetenderandmortified,yetwithoutallcorrupting,asaweakheatofthestomachwillturntheminto good chylus; aswell as a strong heatwouldmeat otherwiseprepared.Wehave somemeatsalsoandbreadsanddrinks,whichtakenbymen enable them to fast long after;and someother, thatusedmake thevery fleshofmensbodies sensiblymorehardandtoughandtheirstrengthfargreaterthanotherwiseitwouldbe.

Wehave

dispensatories,

or

shops

of

medicines.

Wherein

you

may

easily think, ifwehave suchvarietyofplantsand living creaturesmore thanyouhave inEurope, (forweknowwhatyouhave,) thesimples,drugs,andingredientsofmedicines,mustlikewisebeinsomuchthegreatervariety.Wehavethemlikewiseofdiversages,andlongfermentations.Andfortheirpreparations,wehavenotonlyallmannerofexquisitedistillationsandseparations,andespeciallybygentle heats and percolations through divers strainers, yea andsubstances; but also exact forms of composition, whereby they

incorporatealmost,

as

they

were

natural

simples.

We have also diversmechanical arts, which you have not; andstuffsmadebythem;aspapers,linen,silks,tissues;daintyworksof


33/37

TheNewAtlantis

29

feathersofwonderful lustre; excellentdies, and,manyothers;andshops likewise,aswell forsuchasarenotbrought intovulgaruseamongst us as for those that are. For youmust know that of the

thingsbefore

recited,

many

of

them

are

grown

into

use

throughout

thekingdom;butyet,iftheydidflowfromourinvention,wehaveofthemalsoforpatternsandprincipals.

We have also furnaces of great diversities, and that keep greatdiversity of heats; fierce and quick; strong and constant; soft andmild;blown,quiet;dry,moist;and the like.Butaboveall,wehaveheats,inimitationoftheSunsandheavenlybodiesheats,thatpassdivers inequalities, and (as itwere) orbs, progresses, and returns,

wherebywe

produce

admirable

effects.

Besides,

we

have

heats

of

dungs; and ofbellies andmaws of living creatures, and of theirbloods andbodies; and of hays and herbs laid upmoist; of limeunquenched; and such like. Instruments alsowhich generate heatonlybymotion.Andfarther,placesforstronginsulations;andagain,places under the earth,whichby nature, or art, yield heat. Thesediversheatsweuse,asthenatureoftheoperation,whichweintend,requireth.

Wehave

also

perspective

houses,

where

we

make

demonstrations

of all lights and radiations; and of all colours: and out of thingsuncolouredand transparent,we can representuntoyouall severalcolours; not in rainbows, (as it is in gems, and prisms,) but ofthemselves single. We represent also all multiplications of light,whichwe carry togreatdistance,andmake so sharpas todiscernsmallpoints and lines.Also all colourations of light; alldelusionsanddeceitsofthesight,infigures,magnitudes,motions,coloursalldemonstrations of shadows. We find also divers means, yet

unknownto

you,

of

producing

of

light

originally

from

divers

bodies.

Weprocuremeansof seeingobjectsafaroff;as in theheavenandremoteplaces;andrepresentthingsnearasafaroff;andthingsafaroff as near;making feigned distances.We have also helps for thesight, farabovespectaclesandglasses inuse.Wehavealsoglassesandmeans toseesmallandminutebodiesperfectlyanddistinctly;astheshapesandcoloursofsmallfliesandworms,grainsandflawsingems,whichcannototherwisebeseen,observationsinurineandbloodnototherwisetobeseen.Wemakeartificialrainbows,halos,

andcircles

about

light.

We

represent

also

all

manner

of

reflexions,

refractions,andmultiplicationsofvisualbeamsofobjects.


34/37

TheNewAtlantis

30

Wehavealsoprecious stonesofallkinds,manyof themofgreatbeauty,andtoyouunknown;crystalslikewise;andglassesofdiverskinds; and amongst them some of metals vitrificated, and other

materialsbesides

those

of

which

you

make

glass.

Also

anumber

of

fossils, and imperfect minerals, which you have not. Likewiseloadstonesofprodigiousvirtue;andotherrarestones,bothnaturalandartificial.

Wehavealsosoundhouses,wherewepractiseanddemonstrateallsounds,and theirgeneration.Wehaveharmonieswhichyouhavenot, of quartersounds, and lesser slides of sounds. Diversinstrumentsofmusic likewise toyouunknown,somesweeter than

anyyou

have,

together

with

bells

and

rings

that

are

dainty

and

sweet.Werepresentsmallsoundsasgreatanddeep;likewisegreatsounds extenuate and sharp; we make divers tremblings andwarblingsofsounds,whichintheiroriginalareentire.Werepresentandimitateallarticulatesoundsandletters,andthevoicesandnotesofbeastsandbirds.Wehave certainhelpswhich set to theeardofurtherthehearinggreatly.Wehavealsodiversstrangeandartificialechoes,reflectingthevoicemanytimes,andasitweretossingit:andsomethatgivebackthevoicelouderthanitcame,someshriller,and

somedeeper;

yea,

some

rendering

the

voice

differing

in

the

letters

or

articulate sound from that they receive. We have also means toconveysoundsintrunksandpipes,instrangelinesanddistances.

Wehavealsoperfumehouses;wherewithwejoinalsopracticesoftaste. We multiply smells, which may seem strange. We imitatesmells,makingallsmellstobreatheoutsofothermixturesthanthosethatgivethem.Wemakedivers imitationsoftaste likewise,sothattheywilldeceiveanymanstaste.Andinthishousewecontainalso

aconfiture

house;

where

we

make

all

sweet

meats,

dry

and

moist;

anddiverspleasantwines,milks,broths,and sallets; in fargreatervarietythanyouhave.

We have also enginehouses, where are prepared engines andinstrumentsforallsortsofmotions.Thereweimitateandpractisetomakeswiftermotionsthananyyouhave,eitheroutofyourmusketsoranyengine thatyouhave:andtomakethemandmultiplythemmoreeasily,andwithsmallforce,bywheelsandothermeans:andtomake

them

stronger

and

more

violent

than

yours

are;

exceeding

yourgreatestcannonsandbasilisks.Werepresentalsoordnanceandinstruments of war, and engines of all kinds: and likewise newmixtures and compositions of gunpowder, wildfires burning in


35/37

TheNewAtlantis

31

water, and unquenchable. Also fireworks of all variety both forpleasure and use.We imitate also flights ofbirds;we have somedegreesofflyingintheair.Wehaveshipsandboatsforgoingunder

water,and

brooking

of

seas;

also

swimming

girdles

and

supporters.

Wehavediverscuriousclocks,andotherlikemotionsofreturn:andsomeperpetualmotions.Weimitatealsomotionsoflivingcreatures,byimages,ofmen,beasts,birds,fishes,andserpents.Wehavealsoagreatnumberofothervariousmotions,strangeforequality,fineness,andsubtilty.

We have also a mathematical house, where are represented allinstruments,aswellofgeometryasastronomy,exquisitelymade.

Wehavealsohousesofdeceitsofthesenses;wherewerepresentallmanner of feats of juggling, false apparitions, impostures, andillusions;andtheir fallacies.Andsurelyyouwilleasilybelieve thatwethathavesomanythingstrulynaturalwhichinduceadmiration,could in a world of particulars deceive the senses, if we woulddisguise those things and labour to make them seem moremiraculous.Butwedohateallimpostures,andlies;insomuchaswehaveseverelyforbiddenittoallourfellows,underpainofignominy

andfines,

that

they

do

not

show

any

natural

work

or

thing,

adorned

or swelling;but only pure as it is, andwithout all affectation ofstrangeness.

Theseare(myson)therichesofSalomonsHouse.

For the several employments and officesofour fellows;wehavetwelve that sail into foreign countries, under the names of othernations, (for our ownwe conceal);whobring us thebooks, andabstracts,

and

patterns

of

experiments

of

all

other

parts.

These

we

callMerchantsofLight.

Wehave three thatcollect theexperimentswhichare inallbooks.ThesewecallDepredators.

Wehave three that collect the experimentsofallmechanicalarts;and also of liberal sciences; and also of practices which are not

broughtinto

arts.

These

we

call

Mystery

men.

Wehavethreethattrynewexperiments,suchasthemselvesthinkgood.ThesewecallPioneersorMiners.


36/37

TheNewAtlantis

32

Wehave three thatdraw the experimentsof the former four intotitles and tables, to give the better light for the drawing ofobservationsandaxiomsoutofthem.ThesewecallCompilers.

Wehave three thatbend themselves, looking intotheexperimentsof their fellows,andcastabouthow todrawoutof them thingsofuseandpractiseformanslife,andknowledge,aswellforworksasforplaindemonstrationofcauses,meansofnaturaldivinations,andtheeasyandcleardiscoveryofthevirtuesandpartsofbodies.ThesewecallDowrymenorBenefactors.

Thenafterdiversmeetingsand consultsofourwholenumber, to

considerof

the

former

labours

and

collections,

we

have

three

that

takecare,outof them, todirectnewexperiments,ofahigher light,morepenetratingintonaturethantheformer.ThesewecallLamps.

Wehave threeothers thatdoexecute theexperimentssodirected,andreportthem.ThesewecallInoculators.

Lastly, we have three that raise the former discoveries byexperimentsintogreaterobservations,axioms,andaphorisms.Thesewe

call

Interpreters

of

Nature.

Wehavealso,asyoumustthink,novicesandapprentices,thatthesuccessionoftheformeremployedmendonotfail;besides,agreatnumberofservantsandattendants,menandwomen.And thiswedo also: we have consultations, which of the inventions andexperiences which we have discovered shall be published, andwhichnot:andtakeallanoathofsecrecy,fortheconcealingofthose

which

we

think

fit

to

keep

secret:

though

some

of

those

we

do

reveal

sometimestothestateandsomenot.

For our ordinances and rites: we have two very long and fairgalleries:inoneoftheseweplacepatternsandsamplesofallmannerof themore rareandexcellent inventions in theotherweplace thestatuesofallprincipal inventors.Therewehave the statueofyourColumbus, that discovered the West Indies: also the inventor ofships: your monk that was the inventor of ordnance and of

gunpowder:the

inventor

of

music:

the

inventor

of

letters:

the

inventorofprinting: the inventorofobservationsofastronomy:theinventorofworksinmetal:theinventorofglass:theinventorofsilkof theworm: the inventorofwine: the inventorofcornandbread:


37/37

TheNewAtlantis

the inventorofsugars:andallthese,bymorecertaintraditionthanyouhave.Thenhavewedivers inventorsofourown,of excellentworks;which since you have not seen, itwere too long tomake

descriptionsof

them;

and

besides,

in

the

right

understanding

of

thosedescriptionsyoumighteasilyerr.Foruponeveryinventionofvalue,weerectastatue to the inventor,andgivehima liberalandhonourablereward.Thesestatuesaresomeofbrass;someofmarbleand touchstone; some of cedar and other specialwoods gilt andadorned;someofiron;someofsilver;someofgold.

Wehavecertainhymnsandservices,whichwesaydaily,ofLordandthankstoGodforhismarvellousworks:andformsofprayers,

imploringhis

aid

and

blessing

for

the

illumination

of

our

labours,

andtheturningofthemintogoodandholyuses.

Lastly,we have circuits or visits of divers principal cities of thekingdom; where, as it cometh to pass, we do publish such newprofitable inventions as we think good.

Documents

Francis Bacon the New Atlantis 2010