470 NEW A TLANTIS. 



to us at first with his cane, and told us, &quot; He came to conduct us to the 

 Strangers -House, and that he had prevented the hour, because we 

 might have the whole day before us for our business : for,&quot; said he, &quot; if 

 you will follow my advice, there shall first go with me some few of you 

 und see the place, and how it may be made convenient for you ; and 

 then you may send for your sick, and the rest of your number, which 

 ye will bring on land.&quot; We thanked him, and said, &quot; That this care 

 which he took of desolate strangers God would reward.&quot; And so six 

 of us went on land with him ; and when we were on land he went 

 before us, and turned to us, and said, &quot; He was but our servant and 

 our guide.&quot; He led us through three fair streets, and all the way we 

 went there were gathered some people on both sides, standing in a 

 row, but in so civil a fashion, as if it had been not to wonder at us, but 

 to welcome us ; and divers of them, as we passed by them, put their 

 arms a little abroad, which is their gesture when they bid any welcome. 

 The Strangers -House is a fair and spacious house, built of brick, of 

 somewhat a bluer colour than our brick, and with handsome windows, 

 some of glass, some of a kind of cambric oiled. He brought us first 

 into a fair parlour above-stairs, and then asked us, &quot; What number of 

 persons we were, and how many sick ?&quot; We answered, &quot; We were in 

 all, sick and whole, one-and-fifty persons, whereof our sick were seven 

 teen.&quot; He desired us to have patience a little, and to stay till he 

 came back to us, which was about an hour after ; and then he led us 

 to see the chambers which were provided for us, being in number 

 nineteen. They having cast it, as it seemeth, that four of those cham 

 bers, which were better than the rest, might receive four of the prin 

 cipal men of our company, and lodge them alone by themselves ; and 

 the other fifteen chambers were to lodge us, two and two together. 

 The chambers were handsome and cheerful chambers, and furnished 

 civilly. Then he led us to a long gallery, like a dorture, where he 

 showed us all along the one side (for the other side was but wall and 

 window) seventeen cells, very neat ones, having partitions of cedar- 

 wood. Which gallery and cells, being in all forty, many more than we 

 needed, were instituted as an infirmary for sick persons. And he told 

 us withal, that as many of our sick waxed well, he might be removed 

 from his cell to a chamber ; for which purpose there were set forth ten 

 spare chambers, besides the number we spake of before. This done, 

 he brought us back to the parlour, and lifting up his cane a little, as 

 they do when they give any charge or command, said to us, &quot; Ye are 

 to know, that the custom of the land requireth that after this day and 

 to-morrow, which we give you for removing your people from your 

 ship, you are to keep within doors for three days. But let it not trouble 

 you, nor do not think yourselves restrained, but rather left to your rest 

 and ease. You shall want nothing ; and there are six of our people 

 appointed to attend you for any business you may have abroad.&quot; We 

 gave him thanks with all affection and respect, and said, &quot; God surely 

 is manifested in this land.&quot; We offered him also twenty pistolets ; 

 but he smiled, and only said, &quot;What, twice paid?&quot; and so he 

 left us* 



