KING SOLAMONA 253 



you seC; by this main accident of time, we lost our traffic 

 with the Americans, with whom of all others, in regard 

 they lay nearest to us, we had most commerce. 



As for the other parts of the world, it is most manifest 

 that in the ages following (whether it were in respect of 

 wars, or by a natural revolution of time) navigation did 

 everywhere greatly decay, and specially far voyages 

 (the rather by the use of galleys, and such vessels as 

 could hardly brook the ocean) were altogether left and 

 omitted. So then, that part of intercourse which could 

 be from other nations, to sail to us, you see how it hath 

 long since ceased ; except it were by some rare accident, 

 as this of yours. But now of the cessation of that other 

 part of intercourse, which mought be by our sailing to 

 other nations, I must yield you some other cause. For 

 I cannot say, if I shall say truly, but our shipping, for 

 number, strength, mariners, pilots, and all things that 

 appertain to navigation, is as great as ever ; and there- 

 fore why we should sit at home, I shall now give you 

 an account by itself ; and it will draw nearer, to give you 

 satisfaction, to your principal question. 



' There reigned in this island, about 1,900 years ago, 

 a king, whose memory of all others we most adore ; not 

 superstitiously, but as a divine instrument, though 

 a mortal man : his name was Solamona ; and we 

 esteem him as the lawgiver of our nation. This king 

 had a large heart, inscrutable for good, and was wholly 

 bent to make his kingdom and people happy. He 

 therefore taking into consideration how sufficient and 

 substantive this land was, to maintain itself without 

 any aid at all of the foreigner ; being 5,600 miles in 

 circuit, and of rare fertility of soil, in the greatest part 

 thereof ; and finding also the shipping of this country 

 mought be plentifully set on work, both by fishing and 

 by transportations from port to port, and likewise by 

 Bailing unto some small islands that are not far from 

 us, and are under the crown and laws of this State; 

 and recalling into his memory the happy and flourishing 

 estate wherein this land then was, so as it mought be 

 a thousand ways altered to the worse, but scarce any 



