384 NEW ATLANTIS. 



several voyages ; That in either of these ships there 

 should be a mission of three of the Fellows or Breth 

 ren of Salomon 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 mission. These ships are not otherwise fraught, 

 than with store of victuals, and good quantity of treas 

 ure 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 discov 

 ered at land ; and how they that must be put 01$ shore 

 for anv time, colour 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 practique ; 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 : 

 ^_t.o have light (I say) of the growth of all parts of the 

 world.&quot; l 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 



1 t. e., in whatever parts of the world it is to be found. Luce, inquam^ 

 in quacunque tandem terrce regime prorumpente et germinatite. 



