244 NEW ATLANTIS 



our parts saluted him in a very lowly and submissive 

 manner ; as looking that from him we should receive 

 sentence of life or death. He desired to speak with 

 some few of us. Whereupon six of us only stayed, and 

 the rest avoided the room. He said, I am by office 

 Governor of this House of Strangers, and by vocation 

 I am a Christian priest ; and therefore am come to you 

 to offer you my service, both as strangers, and chiefly 

 as Christians. Some things I may tell you, which 

 I think you will not be unwilling to hear. The State 

 hath given you licence to stay on land for the space of 

 six weeks : and let it not trouble you, if your occasions 

 ask further time, for the law in this point is not precise ; 

 and I do not doubt but myself shall be able to obtain 

 for you such further time as shall be convenient. Ye 

 shall also understand, that the Strangers House is at 

 this time rich, and much aforehand ; for it hath laid up 

 revenue these thirty-seven years : for so long it is since 

 any stranger arrived in this part : and therefore take 

 ye no care ; the State will defray you all the time you 

 stay. Neither shall you stay one day the less for that. 

 As for any merchandize ye have brought, ye shall be 

 well used, and have your return, either in merchandise 

 or in gold and silver : for to us it is all one. And if you 

 have any other request to make, hide it not ; for ye 

 shall find we will not make your countenance to fall 

 by the answer ye shall receive. Only this I must tell 

 you, that none of you must go above a karan (that is 

 with them a mile and a half) from the walls of the city, 

 without especial leave. 



We answered, after we had looked awhile one upon 

 another, admiring this gracious and parent-like usage, 

 that we could not tell what to say, for we wanted words 

 to express our thanks ; and his noble free offers left 

 us nothing to ask. It seemed to us, that we had before 

 us a picture of our salvation in Heaven ; for we that 

 were* a while since in the jaws of death, were now 

 brought into a place where we found nothing but con 

 solations. For the commandment laid upon us, we 

 would not fail to obey it, though it was impossible but 



