264 NEW ATLANTIS 



a sun of gold, radiant upon the top, in the midst ; and 

 on the top before, a small cherub of gold, with wings 

 displayed. The chariot was covered with cloth of gold 

 tissued upon blue. He had before him fifty attendants, 

 young men all, in white satin loose coats to the mid- 

 leg ; and stockings of white silk, and shoes of blue 

 velvet ; and hats of blue velvet, with fine plumes of 

 divers colours, set round like hat-bands. Next before 

 the chariot went two men, bare-headed, in linen gar- 

 ments down to the foot, girt, and shoes of blue velvet, 

 who carried the one a crosier, the other a pastoral staff 

 like a sheep-hook : neither of them of metal, but the 

 crosier of balm-wood, the pastoral staff of cedar. 

 Horsemen he had none, neither before nor behind his 

 chariot : as it seemeth, to avoid all tumult and trouble. 

 Behind his chariot went all the officers and principals 

 of the companies of the city. He sat alone, upon 

 cushions, of a kind of excellent plush, blue ; and under 

 his foot curious carpets of silk of divers colours, like the 

 Persian, but far finer. He held up his bare hand, as 

 he went, as blessing the people, but in silence. The 

 street was wonderfully well kept ; so that there was 

 never any army had their men stand in better battle- 

 array than the people stood. The windows likewise 

 were not crowded, but every one stood in them, as if 

 they had been placed. 



When the show was passed, the Jew said to me, 

 * T shall not be able to attend you as I would, in regard 

 of some charge the city hath laid upon me for the enter- 

 taining of this great person.' Three days after the Jew 

 came to me again, and said, ' Ye are happy men ; for 

 the father of Salomon's House taketh knowledge of 

 your being here, and commanded me to tell you, that 

 he will admit all your company to his presence, and 

 have private conference with one of you, that ye shall 

 choose ; and for this hath appointed the next day after 

 to-morrow. And because he meaneth to give you his 

 blessing, he hath appointed it in the forenoon.' 



We came at our day and hour, and I was chosen by 

 my fellows for the private access. We found him in 



