382 NEW ATLANTIS. 



&quot; that of the strangers that should be permitted to land, 

 as many (at all times) might depart as would ; but as 

 many as would stay should have very good conditions 



\ and means to live from the state. Wherein he saw so 

 far, that now in so many ages since the prohibition, we 

 have memory not of one ship that ever returned ; and 

 but of thirteen persons only, at several times, that chose 

 to return in our bottoms. What those few that return 

 ed 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 trav 

 elling from hence into parts abroad, our Lawgiver 

 thought fit altogether to restrain it. So is it not in 

 China. For the Chinese sail where they will or can ; 

 which sheweth that their law of keeping out strangers 

 is a law of pusillanimity and fear. But this restraint 

 of ours hath one only exception, which is admirable ; 

 preserving the good which cometh by communicating 

 with strangers, and avoiding the hurt ; and I will now 

 open it to you. 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 amongst the 

 excellent acts of that king, one above all hath the pre 

 eminence. It was the erection and institution of an 



I Order or Society which we call Salomon s House ; the 

 noblest foundation (as we think) that ever was upon 

 the earth ; and the lanthorn of this kingdom. It is 

 dedicated to the study of the Works and Creatures 

 of God. Some think it beareth the founder s name 

 a little corrupted, as if it should be Solamona 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 stranger to us. For we 



