NEW A TLANTIS. 



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.&quot; 



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 con 

 cluded, that we might do well to think with ourselves what time of 

 stay we would demand of the state ; and bade us not to scant our 

 selves, for he would procure such time as we desired. Whereupon wo 

 all rose up, and presented ourselves to kiss the skirt of his tippet ; but 

 he would not suffer us, and so took his leave. But when it came once 

 amongst our people, that the state used to offer conditions to strangers 

 that would stay, we had work enough to get any of our men to look to 

 our ship, and to keep them from going presently to the governor to 

 crave conditions ; but with much ado we refrained them, till we might 

 agree what course to take. 



We took ourselves now for free men, seeing there was no danger of 

 our utter perdition, and lived most joyfully, going abroad, and seeing 

 what was to be seen in the city and places adjacent within our tedder, 

 and obtaining acquaintance with many of the city, not of the meanest 

 quality, at whose hands we found such humanity, and such a freedom 

 and desire to take strangers as it were into their bosom, as was enough 

 to make us forget all that was dear to us in our own countries ; and 

 continually we met with many things right worthy of observation and 

 relation ; as indeed, if there be a mirror in the world worthy to hold 

 men s eyes, it is that country. One day there were two of our com 

 pany bidden to a feast of the family, as they call it ; a most natural, 

 pious, and reverend custom it is, showing that nation to be com 

 pounded of all goodness. This is the manner of it : it is granted to 

 any man that shall live to see thirty persons descended of his body 

 alive together, and all above three years old, to make this feast, which 

 is done at the cost of the state. The father of the family, whom they 

 call the Tirsan, two days before the feast, taketh to him three of such 

 friends as he liketh to choose, and is assisted also by the governor of 

 the city or place where the feast is celebrated ; and all the persons of 

 the family of both sexes are summoned to attend him. These two 

 days the Tirsan sitteth in consultation concerning the good estate of 

 the family. There, if there be any discord or suits between any of tha 

 family, they are compounded and appeased ; there, if any of the 

 family be distressed or decayed, order is taken for their relief, and 

 competent means to live ; there, if any be subject to vice or take ill 

 courses, they are reproved and censured. So likewise, direction is 

 tfiven touching marriages, and the courses of life which any of them 

 should take, with divers other the like orders and advices. The 

 governor assisteth to the end, to put in execution by his public autho- 

 rity the decrees and orders of the Tirsan, if they should be disobeyed 

 though that seldom needeth, surh reverence and obedience they give 



