NEW ATLANTIS. 385 



had it not ready, in great courtesy took us off, and 

 descended to ask us questions of our voyage and for 

 tunes ; and in the end concluded, that we might do 

 well to think with ourselves what time of stay we 

 would demand of the state ; and bade us not to scant 

 ourselves ; for he would procure such time as we 

 desired. Whereupon we all rose up, and presented 

 ourselves to kiss the skirt of his tippet ; but he would 

 not suffer us ; and so took his leave. But when it 

 came once amongst our people that the state used to 

 offer conditions to strangers that would stay, we had 

 work enough to get any of our men to look to our 

 ship, and to keep them from going presently to the 



governor to crave conditions. But with much ado 

 & 



we refrained them, till AVC might agree what course 

 to take. 



We took ourselves now for free men, seeing there 

 was no danger of our utter perdition ; and lived most 

 joyfully, going abroad and seeing what was to be seen 

 in the city and places adjacent within our tedder ; and 

 obtaining acquaintance with many of the city, not of 

 the meanest quality ; at whose hands we found such 

 humanity, and such a freedom and desire to take 

 strangers as it were into their bosom, as was enough 

 to make us forget all that was dear to us in our own 

 countries: and continually we met with many things 

 right, worthy of observation and relation ; as indeed, 

 if there be a mirror in the world worthy to hold men s 

 eyes, it is that country. One day there were two of 

 our company bidden to a Feast of the Family, as they 

 call it. A most natural, pious, and reverend custom 

 it is, shewing that nation to be compounded of all 

 goodness. This is the manner of it. It is granted to 



VOL. V. 25 



