NEW ATLANTIS. 481 



to the order of nature. The Tirsan doth also then ever choose one 

 man from amongst his sons to live in house with him, who is called 

 ever after the son of the vine : the reason will hereafter appear. On 

 the feast-day, the father or Tirsan cometh forth, after divine service, 

 into a large room where the feast is celebrated, which room hath an 

 half-pace at the upper end. Against the wall, in the middle of the 

 half-pace, is a chair placed for him, with a table and carpet before 

 it ; over the chair is a state made round or oval, and it is of ivy ; an 

 ivy somewhat whiter than ours, like the leaf of a silver asp, but more 

 shining, for it is green all winter. And the state is curiously wrought 

 with silver and silk of divers colours, broiding or binding in the ivy, 

 and is ever of the work of some of the daughters of the family, and 

 veiled over at the top with a fine net of silk and silver : but the sub 

 stance of it is true ivy, whereof, after it is taken down, the friends of 

 the family are desirous to have some leaf or sprig to keep. The 

 Tirsan cometh forth with all his generation or lineage, the males before 

 him, and the females following him. And if there be a mother from 

 whose body the whole lineage is descended, there is a traverse placed 

 in a loft above on the right hand of the chair, with a private door, 

 and a carved window of glass, leaded with gold and blue, where she 

 sittcth, but is not seen, when the Tirsan is come forth, he sittcth 

 down in the chair, and all the lineage place themselves against the 

 wall, both at his back, and upon the return of the half-pace, in order 

 of their years, without difference of sex, and stand upon their feet. 

 When he is set, the room being always full of company, but well kept, 

 and without disorder, after some pause there cometh in from the lower 

 end of the room a taratan, which is as much as an herald, and on 

 cither side of him two young lads, whereof one carricth a scroll of 

 their shining yellow parchment, and the other a cluster of grapes of 

 gold, with a long foot or stalk; the herald and children are clothed 

 with mantles of sea-water green satin, but the herald s mantle is 

 streamed with gold, and hath a train. Then the herald, with three 

 courtesies, or rather inclinations, comclh up as far as the half-pace, 

 and there first takcth into his hand the scroll. This scroll is the king s 

 charter, containing gift of revenue, and many privileges, exemptions, 

 and points of honour granted to the father of the family; and it is 

 ever styled and directed, to such an one, our well-beloved friend and 

 creditor, which is a title proj&amp;gt;cr only to this case; for they say, the 

 king is debtor to no man, but for propagation of his subjects. The 

 seal set to the king s charter is the king s image, embossed or moulded 

 in gold. And though such charters be expedited of course, and as of 

 right, yet they are varied by discretion, according to the number and 

 dignity of the family. This charter the herald readcth aloud ; and 

 while it is read, the father or Tirsan standeth up, supported by two of 

 his sons, such as he chooseth. Then the herald mountcth the half- 

 pace, and delivercth the charter into his hand, and with that there it 

 an acclamation by all that arc present, in their language, which is thus 

 much, &quot; Happy are the people of Uensalcm.&quot; Then the herald takcth 

 into his hand from the other child the cluster of grapes, which is of 



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