A FURTHER QUESTION 249 



Europe, and knew much of our state and business ; 

 and yet we in Europe (notwithstanding all the remote 

 discoveries and navigations of this last age) never heard 

 any of the least inkling or glimpse of this island. This 

 we found wonderful strange ; for that all nations have 

 interknowledge one of another, either by voyage into 

 foreign parts, or by strangers that come to them ; and 

 though the traveller into a foreign country doth com 

 monly know more by the eye than he that stayeth at 

 home can by relation of the traveller ; yet both ways 

 suffice to make a mutual knowledge, in some degree, on 

 both parts. But for this island, we never heard tell 

 of any ship of theirs that had been seen to arrive upon 

 any shore of Europe ; no, nor of either the East or 

 West Indies, nor yet of any ship of any other part of the 

 world, that had made return from them. And yet the 

 marvel rested not in this ; for the situation of it (as 

 his lordship said) in the secret conclave of such a vast 

 sea mought cause it. But then, that they should have 

 knowledge of the languages, books, affairs, of those that 

 lie such a distance from them, it was a thing we could 

 not tell what to make of; for that it seemed to us 

 a condition and propriety of divine powers and beings, 

 to be hidden and unseen to others, and yet to have 

 others open, and as in a light to them. 



At this speech the Governor gave a gracious smile and 

 said, that we did well to ask pardon for this question 

 we now asked, for that it imported, as if we thought 

 this land a land of magicians, that sent forth spirits of 

 the air into all parts, to bring them news and intelli 

 gence of other countries. It was answered by us all, 

 in all possible humbleness, but yet with a countenance 

 taking knowledge, that we knew he spake it but merrily ; 

 that we were apt enough to think there was somewhat 

 supernatural in this island, but yet rather as angelical 

 than magical. But to let his lordship know truly what 

 it was that made us tender and doubtful to ask this 

 question, it was not any such conceit, but because we 

 remembered he had given a touch in his former speech 

 that this land had laws of secrecy touching strangers. 



