NEW ATLANTIS. 381 



of rare fertility of soil in the greatest part thereof, a ; 

 and finding also the shipping of this country might be 

 plentifully set on work, both by fishing and by trans 

 portations from port to port, and likewise by sailing 

 unto some small islands that are not far from us, and 

 are under the crown and laws of this state ; and recall 

 ing into his memory the happy and flourishing estate 

 wherein this land then was, so asjt might be a thou 

 sand ways altered to the worse, but scarce any one way 

 to the better ; thought nothing wanted to his noble and 

 heroical intentions, but only (as far as human foresight 

 might reach) to give perpetuity to that which was in 

 his time so happily established. Therefore amongst his 

 other fundamental laws of this kingdom, he did ordain 

 the interdicts and prohibitions which we have touching 

 entrance of strangers ; which at that time (though 

 it was after the calamity of America) was frequent ; 

 doubting novelties, and commixture of manners. It v 

 is true, the like law against the admission of strangers ^ 

 without licence is an ancient law in the kingdom of 



O 



China, and yet continued in use. But there it is a 

 poor thing ; and hath made them a curious, ignorant, 

 fearful, foolish nation. But our lawgiver made his law 

 of another temper. For first, he hath preserved all 

 points of humanity, in taking order and making pro 

 vision for the relief of strangers distressed ; whereof 

 you have tasted.&quot; At which speech (as reason was) 

 we all rose up, and bowed ourselves. He went on. 

 &quot; 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 

 



