A MIRACLE " 247 



and impostures and illusions of all sorts, t do here 

 acknowledge and testify before this people, that the 

 thing which we now see before our eyes is Thy finger, and 

 a true miracle. And forasmuch as we learn in our books 

 that Thou never workest miracles, but to a divine and 

 excellent end (for the laws of nature are Thine own 

 laws, and thou exceedest them not but upon great 

 cause), we most humbly beseech thee to prosper this 

 great sign, and to give us the interpretation and use of 

 it in mercy ; which Thou dost in some part secretly 

 promise, by sending it unto us." 



' When he had made his prayer, he presently found 

 the boat he was in movable and unbound ; whereas 

 all the rest remained still fast ; and taking that for an 

 assurance of leave to approach, he caused the boat to 

 be softly and with silence rowed towards the pillar. 

 But ere he came near it, the pillar and cross of light 

 broke up, and cast itself abroad, as it were, into a firma- 

 ment of many stars, which also vanished soon after, 

 and there was nothing left to be seen but a small ark, 

 or chest of cedar, dry, and not wet at all with water, 

 though it swam. And in the fore-end of it, which was 

 towards him, grew a small green branch of palm ; and 

 when the wise man had taken it with all reverence into 

 his boat, it opened of itself, and there were found in it 

 a book and a letter, both written in fine parchment, 

 and wrapped in sindons of linen. The book contained 

 all the canonical books of the Old and New Testament, 

 according as you have them (for we know well what 

 the Churches with you receive), and the Apocalypse 

 itself ; and some other books of the New Testament, 

 which were not at that time written, were nevertheless 

 in the book. And for the letter, it was in these 

 words : 



' " I Bartholomew, a servant of the Highest, and 

 apostle of Jesus Christ, was warned by an angel that 

 appeared to me in a vision of glory, that I should commit 

 this ark to the floods of the sea. Therefore I do testify 

 and declare unto that people where God shall ordain 

 this ark to come to land, that in the same day is come 



