246 NEW ATLANTIS 



BO remote, and so divided by vast and unknown seas 

 from the land where our Saviour walked on earth) who 

 was the apostle of that nation, and how it was converted 

 to the faith ? It appeared in his face, that he took 

 great contentment in this our question ; he said, Ye 

 knit my heart to you, by asking this question in the 

 first place : for it showeth that you first seek the king 

 dom of Heaven : and I shall gladly, and briefly, satisfy 

 your demand. 



About twenty years after the Ascension of our 

 Saviour it came to pass, that there was seen by the 

 people of Renfusa (a city upon the eastern coast of 

 our island), within sight, (the night was cloudy and 

 calm), as it might be some mile in the sea, a great pillar 

 of light ; not sharp, but in form of a column, or cylinder, 

 rising from the sea, a great way up towards Heaven ; 

 and on the top of it was seen a large cross of light, more 

 bright and resplendent than the body of the pillar. 

 Upon which so strange a spectacle the people of the 

 city gathered apace together upon the sands, to wonder ; 

 and so after put themselves into a number of small 

 boats to go nearer to this marvellous sight. But when 

 the boats were come within about sixty yards of the 

 pillar they found themselves all bound, and could go 

 no further, yet so as they might move to go about, but 

 might not approach nearer : so as the boats stood all as 

 in a theatre, beholding this light, as an heavenly sign. 

 It so fell out, that there was in one of the boats one of 

 our wise men, of the Society of Salomon s House ; 

 which house or college, my good brethren, is the very 

 eye of this kingdom, who having awhile attentively and 

 devoutly viewed and contemplated this pillar and cross, 

 fell down upon his face ; and then raised himself upon 

 his knees, and lifting up his hands to Heaven, made 

 his prayers in this manner : 



&quot; Lord God of Heaven and Earth ; Thou hast vouch 

 safed of Thy grace, to those of our order, to know Thy 

 works of creation, and the secrets of them ; and to 

 discern (as far as appertaineth to the generations of men) 

 between divine miracles, works of Nature, works of art, 



