256 NEW ATLANTIS 



this ordinance : that every twelve years there should 

 be set forth out of this kingdom two ships, appointed 

 to several voyages ; that in either of these ships there 

 should be a mission of three of the fellows or brethren 

 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 return ; and that the 

 brethren should stay abroad till the new mission. These 

 ships are not otherwise fraught than with store of vic 

 tuals, and good quantity of treasure 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 discovered at land, and how they that must 

 be put on shore for any 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 

 circumstances of the practice, 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 : to have 

 light, I say, of the growth of all parts of the world. 



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 had it not 

 ready, in great courtesy took us off, and descended to 

 ask us questions of our voyage and fortunes, and in the 

 end concluded that we mought 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. 



