The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

NEW ATLANTIS. 259
House, which house or college, my good brethren, of tongues. For there being at that time in this
is the very eye of this kingdom; who having land, Hebrews, Persians and Indians, besides the
awhile attentively and devoutly viewed and con- natives, every one read upon the book and letter,
temnplated this pillar and cross, fell down upon as if they had been written in his own language.
his face; and then raised himself upon his knees, And thus was this land saved from infidelity, as
and lifting up his hands to heaven, made his the remain of the old world was from water, by
prayers in this manner: an ark, through the apostolical and miraculous
6"'Lord God of heaven and earth, thou hast evangelism of St. Bartholomew." And here he
vouchsafed of thy grace, to those of our order, to paused, and a messenger came, and called him
know thy works of creation, and the secrets of from us. to5 this was all that passed in that conthemn; and to discern, as far as appertaineth to ference.
the generations of men, between divine miracles, The next day the same governor came again to
works of nature, works of art, and impostures and us immediately after dinner, and excused himself,
illusions of all sorts. I do here acknowledge and saying, 4" that the day before he was called from
testify before this people, that the thing which we us somewhat abruptly, but now he would make
now see before our eyes, is thy finger, and a true us amends, and spend time with us, if we held
miracle; and forasmuch as we learn in our books, his company and conference agreeable:" We
that thou never workest miracles, but to a divine answered, ", that we held it so agreeable and
and excellent end, for the laws of nature are pleasing to us, as we forgot both dangers past
thine own laws, and thou exceedest them not but and fears to come for the time we heard him
upon great cause, we most humbly beseech thee speak; and that we thought an hour spent with
to prosper this great sign, and to give us the him was worth years of our former life." He
interpretation and use of it in mercy; which thou bowed himself a little to us, and after we were
dost in some part secretly promise by sending it set again, he said; ", Well the questions are on
unto us.' your part." One of our number said, after a' "When he had made his prayer, he presently little pause; "6 that there was a matter we were
found the boat he was in movable and unbound: no less desirous to know, than fearful to ask, lest
whereas all the rest remained still fast; and taking we might presume too far. But encouraged by
that for an assurance of leave to approach, he his rare humanity towards us, that could scarce
caused the boat to be softly and with silence rowed think ourselves strangers, being his vowed and
towards the pillar. But ere he came near it, the professed servants, we would take the hardiness
pillar and cross of light brake up, and cast itself to propound it: humbly beseeching him, if he
abroad, as it were into a firmament of many stars; thought it not fit to be answered, that he would
which also vanished soon after, and there was no- pardon it, though he rejected it." We said;
thing left to be seen but a small ark or chest of, we well observed those his words which he forcedar, dry, and not wet at all with water, though merly spake, that this happy island where we
it swam. And in the fore-end of it, which was now stood, was known to few, and yet knew
towards him, grew a small green branch of palm; most of the nations of the world; which we
and when the wise man had taken it with all re- found to be true, considering they had the lanverence into his boat, it opened of itself, and there guages of Europe, and knew much of our state
were found in it a book and a letter, both-written and business; and yet we in Europe, notwithin fine parchment, and wrapped in sindons of linen. standing all the remote discoveries and navigaThe book contained all the canonical books of the tions of this last age, never heard any of the least
Old and New Testament, according as you have inkling or glimpse of this island. This we found
them, for we know well what the churches with wonderful strange; for that all nations have
you receive, and the Apocalypse itself: and some inter-knowledge one of another either by voyage
other books of the New Testament, which were into foreign parts, or by strangers that come to
not at that time written, were nevertheless in the them: and though the traveller into a foreign
book: and for the letter it was in these words: country doth commonly know more by the eye,
"' I, Bartholomew, a servant of the Highest, and than he that stayeth at home can by relation of
apostle of Jesus% Christ, was warned by an angel the traveller; yet both ways suffice to make a
that appeared to me in a vision of glory, that I mutual knowledge, in some degree, on both parts.
should commit this ark to the floods of the sea. But for this island, we never heard tell of any
Therefore I do testify and declare, unto that people ship of theirs that had been seen to arrive upon
where God shall ordain this ark to come to land, any shore of Europe; no, nor of either the East
that in the same day is come unto them salvation, or West Indies, nor yet of any ship of any other
and peace, and good-will, from the Father, and part of the world, that had made return from
from the Lord Jesus.' them. And yet the marvel rested not in this.
", There was also in both these writings, as well For the situation of it, as his lordship said, in the
the book as the letter, wrought a great miracle, secret conclave of such a vast sea might cause it.
conform to that of the apostles in the original gift But then, that they should have knowledge of