this Question in the first place For it sheweth that you First seek the Kingdom of Heaven And I shall gladly and briefly satisfie your demand About twenty Years after the Ascension of our SAVIOUR it came to pass that there was seen by the People of Renfusa a City upon the Eastern Coast of our Island within night the Night was Cloudy and Calm as it might be some mile in the Sea a great Pillar of Light Not sharp but in form of a Column or Cylinder rising from the Sea a great way up towards Heaven and on the top of it was seen a large Crosse of Light more bright and resplendent than the Body of the Pillar Upon which so strange a Spectacle the People of the City gathered apace together upon the Sands to wonder And so after put themselves into a number of small Boats to go nearer to this Marvellous sight But when the Boats were come within about sixty yards of the Pillar they found themselves all bound and could go no further yet so as they might move to go about but might not approach nearer So as the Boats stood all as in a Theater beholding this Light as an Heavenly Sign It so fell out that there was in one of the Boats one of the Wise Men of the Society of Salomons House which House or College my good Brethren is the very Eye of this Kingdome who having a while attentively and devoutly viewed and contemplated this Pillar and Crosse fell down upon his face And then raised himself upon his knees and lifting up his Hands to Heaven made his Prayers in this manner LOrd God of Heaven and Earth thou hast vouchsafed of thy Grace to those of our Order to know thy Works of Creation and true Secrets of them And to discern as far as appertaineth to the Generations of Men between Divine Miracles Works of Nature Works of Art and Impostures and Illuâ—ions of all sorts I do here acknowledge and testifie before this People that the Thing we now see before our eyes is thy Finger and a true Miracleâ—And for as-much as we learn in our Books that thou never workest Miracles but to a Diviue and Excellent End for the Laws of Nature are thine own Laws and thou exceedest them not but upon good cause we most humbly beseech thee to prosper this great Sign And to give us the Interpretation and use of it in Mercy VVhich thou dost in some part secretly promise by sending it unto us When he had made his Prayer he presently found the Boat he was in moveable and unbound whereas all the rest remained still fast And taking that for an assurance of Leave to approach he caused the Boat to be softly and with silence rowed towards the Pillar But ere he came near it the Pillar and Crosse of Light brake up and cast it self abroad as it were into a Firmament of many Starres which also vanished soon after and there was nothing left to be seen but a small Ark or Chest of Cedar dry and not wet at all with water though it swam And in the Fore-end of it which was towards him grew a small green Branch of Palm And when the wise man had taken it with all reverence into his Boat it opened of it self and there was found in it a Book and a Letter Both written in fine Parchment and wrapped in Sindons of Linnen The Book contained all the Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament according as you have them For we know well what the Churches with you receive And the Apocalypse it self And some other Books of the New Testament which were not at that time written were neverthelesse in the Book And for the Letter it was in these words I Bartholomew a Servant of the Highest and Apostle of IESVS CHRIST was warned by an Angel that appeared to me in a vision of Glory that I should commit this Ark to the flouds of the Sea Therefore I do testifie and declare unto that People where GOD shall ordain this Ark to come to Land that in the same day is come unto them Salvation and Peace and Good VVill from the Father and from the LORD IESVS There was also in both these Writings as well the Book as the Letter wrought a great Miracle Conform to that of the Apostles in the Original Gift oâ— Tongues For there being at that time in thiâ— Land Hebrews Persians and Indians besides the Natives every one read upon the Book and Letter as if they had been written in his own Language And thus was this Land saved from Infidelity as the Remain of the Old World was from Water by an Ark through the Apostolical and Miraculous Evangelisme of S. Bartholomew And here he paused and a Messenger came and called him forth from us So this was all that passed in that Conference The next Day the same Governor came again to us immediately after Dinner and excused himself saying That the Day before be was called from us somewhat abruptly but now he would make us amends and spend time with us if we held his Company and Conference agreeable VVe answered That we held it so agreeable and pleasing to us as we forgot both Dangers past and Fears to come for the time we heard him speak And that we thought a Hour spent with him was worth Years of our former life He bowed himself a little to us and after we were set again he said Well the Questions are on your part One of our Number said after a little Pause That there was a Matter we were no lesse desirous to know than fearfull to ask lest we might presume too far But incouraged by his rare Humanity toward us that could scarce think our selves strangers being his vowed and professed Servants we would take the Hardnesse to propound it Humbly beseeching him if he thought it not fit to be answered that he would pardon it though he rejected it VVe said We well observed those his words which he formerly spake That this happy Island where we now stood was known to few and yet knew most of the Nations of the World which we fouâ—d to be true considering they had the Languages of Europe and knew much of our State and Businesse And yet we in Europe notwithstanding all the remote Discoveries and Navigations of this last Age never heard any of the least Inkling or Glimpse of this Island This we found wonderfull strange for that all Nations have Enterknowledge one of another either by Voyage into Forein Parts or by Strangers that come to them And though the Traveller into a Forein Country doth commonly know more by the Eye than he that stayed at home can by relation of the Traveller Yet both waies suffice to make a mutual Knowledge in some degree on both parts But for this Island we never heard tell of any Ship of theirs that had been seen to aâ—ive upon any shore of Europe No nor of either the East or VVest Indies nor yet
the Whales Belly when we were as buried in the Deep And now we are on Land we are but between Death and Life For we are beyond both the Old World and the New And whether ever we shall see Europe GOD only knoweth It is a kind of Miracle hath brought us hither And it must be little lesse that shall bring us hence Therefore in regard of our Deliverance past and our danger present and to come let us look up to GOD and every Man reform his own waies Besides we are come here amongst a Christian People full of Pietie and Humanity Let us not bring that confusion of â—ace upon our selves as to shew our vices or unworthinesse before them Yet there is more For they have by Commandement though in form of courtesie Cloystred us within these Walls for three daies Who knoweth whether it be not to take some taste of our manners and conditions And if they find them bâ—d to banish us straightwaies if good to give us further time For these men that they have given us for Attendance may withall have an Eye upon us Therefore for Gods love and as wee love the weal of our Soules and Bodies let us so behave our selves as we may be at peace with GOD and may find grace in the eyes of this People Our Company with one voyce thanked me for my good Admonition and promised me to live soberly and civilly and without giving any the least occasion of Offence So we spent our three daies joyfully and without care in expectation what would be done with us when they were expired During which time we had every hour joy of the Amendment of our Sick who thought themselves cast into some Divine Pool of Healing They mended so kindly and so fast The Morrow after our three daies were past there came to us a new Man that we had not seen before clothed in blew as the former was save that his Turban was white with a small red Crosse on the Top. He had also a Tippet of fine Linnen At his Comming in he did bend to us a little and put his Aâ—ms abroad We of our parts saluted him in a very lowly and submissive manner As looking that from him we should receive Sentence of Liâ—e or Death He desired to speak with some few of us VVhereupon six of us only stayed and the rest avoided the Room He said I am by Office Governour of this House of Strangers and by Vocation I am a Christian Priest and therefore am come to you to offer you my service both as Strangers and chiefly as Christians Some things I may tell you which I think you will not be unwilling to hear The State hath given you Licence to stay on Land for the space of six weeks And let it not trouble you if your occasions ask further time for the Law in this point is not precise And I do not doubt but my self shall be able to obtain for you such further time as shall be convenient Ye shall also understand that the Strangers House is at this time Rich and much aforehand For it hath laid up Revenew these 37 yeaâ—â— For so long it is since any Stranger arived in this part And therefore take ye no careâ— The State will defray you all the time you stay Neither shall you stay one day lesse for that As for any Merchandize you have brought ye shall be well used and have your return either in Merchandize or in Gold and Silver For to â—s it is all one And if you have any other Request to make hide it not For ye shall find we will not make your countenance to fall by the answer ye shall receive Only this I must tell you that none of you must go above a Karan that is with them a mile and an half from the Waâ—ls of the City without special leave VVe answered after we had looked a while upon one another admiring this gracious and Parent-like usage That we could not tell what to say For we wanted words to expresse our Thanks And his Noble free Offers left us nothing to ask It seemed to us that we had before us a Picture of our Salvation in Heaven For we that were a while since in the Iaws of Death were now brought into a place where we found nothing but Consolations For the Commandâ—ment laid upon us we would not fail to obey it though it was impossible but our Hearts should be enflamed to tread further upon this happy and Holy Ground VVe added That our Tongues should first cleave to the Roofes of our Mouths ere we should forget either this Reverend person or this whole Nation in our Prayers VVe also most humbly besought him to accept of us as his true servants by as just a Right as ever men on Earth were bounden laying and presenting both our Persons and all we had at his feet He said He was a Priest and looked for a Priests reward which was our Brotherly love and the good of our Souls and Bodies So he went from us not without Tears of Tendernesse in his Eyes And left us also confused with joy and kindnesse saying amongst our selves That we were come into a Land of Angelsâ— which did appear to us daily and prevent us with Comforts which we thought not of much less expected The next day about ten of the Clock the Governour came to us again and after Salutations said familiarly That he was come to visit us And called for a Chair and sate him down And we being some ten of us the rest were of the meaner sort or else gone abroad sate down with him And when we were set he began thus We of this Island of Bensalem for so they call it in their Language have this That by means of our solitary Situation and of the Laws of Secrecy which we have for our Travellers and our rare Admission of Strangers we know well most part of the â—â—bitable World and are our selves unknown Therefore because he that knoweth least is fittest to ask Questions it is more reason for the Entertainment of the time that ye ask me Questions than that I ask you VVe answered That we humbly thanked him that he would give us leave so to do And that we conceived by the taste we had already that there wâ—s no worldly thing on Earth more worthy to be known than the State of that happy Land But above all we said since that we were met from the several Ends of the world and hoped assuredly that we should meet one day in the Kingdom of Heaven for that we were both Parts Christians we desired to know in respect that Land was so remote and so divided by vast and unknown Seas from the Land where our SAVIOUR walked on Earth who was the Apostle of that Nation and how it was converted to the Faith It appeared in his face that he took great Contentment in this our Question He said Ye knit my heart to you by asking
Inundation For the poor Râ—mnant of Humane Seed which remained in their Mountains Peâ—pled the Countrie again sloâ—ly by little and little And being simple and a savage People Not like Noah and his Sons which was the chief Family of the Earth they were not able to leave Letters Arts and Civility to their Posterity And having likewise in their Mountainous Habitations been used in respect of the Extreme Cold of those Regions to cloath themselves with the Skinnes of Tygers Beares and great Hairy Goats that they have in those Parts When afer they came down into the Valley and foâ—nd the intolerable Heats which are there and knew no means of lighter Apparell they were forced to begin the custoâ—e of Going Naked which continueth at this day Only they take great Pride and delight in the Feathers of Birds And this alâ—o they took from those their Ancestors of the Mountains who werâ— invited unto it by the infinite Flight of Birds that came up to the high Grounds while the Waters stood below So you see by this main Accident of Time we lost our Traffique with the Amercians 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 Warres or by a Natural Revolution of Time Navigation did eveâ—y where greatly decay And specially farre Voyages the rather by the Use of Gallies and such Vessels as could hardly brook the Ocean were altogether left and omitted So then that Part oâ— Entercourse which could be from other Nations to sayl 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 Entercourse which mought be by our Sayling to other Nations I must yield you some other Cause For I cannot say if I should say truly but our Shipping for Number Strength Mariners Pylots and all things that appertain to Navigation is as great as ever And therefore why we should sit at home I shall now give you an account by it self And it â—ill draw nearer to give you satisfaction to your principal Question There reigned in this Island about 1900 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 Salomona And we esteem him as the Law-giver of our Nation This King had a large heart inscrutable â—or good and was wholly bent to make his Kingdome and People Happy He therefore taking into consideration how sufficient and substantive this Land was to maintain it self without any ayd at all of the Foreiner Being 5600 Mile in Circuit and of rare Fertility of Soyl in the greatest part thereof And finding also the Shipping of this Country moâ—ght be plentifully set on work both by Fishing and by Transportations from Port to Port and likewise by Sayling unto some small Islands that are not farre 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 waies alteâ—eâ— to the worse but scarce any one way to the better thought nothing wanted to his Noble and Heroical Intentions but only as farre as Humane foresight mought reach to give perpetuity to that which was in his time so happily establishedâ— therefore amongst his other Fundamental Laws of this Kingdome he did ordain the Interdicts and Prohibitions which we have touching Entrance of Strangers which at that time though it was after the Calamity of America was frequent Doubting Novelties and Commixture of Manners It is true the Like Law against the admission of Strangers without Licence is an antient Law in the Kingdome of China and yet continued in use But there it is a poor thing And hath made them a curious ignoraâ—t fearfâ—ll foolish Nation But our Law-giver made his Law of anâ—ther temper For fiâ—st he hath preserved all points of Humanity in taking Order and making Provision for the Relieâ— of Strangers distressed whereof you have tâ—sted At which Speech as reason was we all rose upâ— and bowed our selves He went on That King also still desiring to joyn Humanity and Policy together And thinking it against Humanity to detein Strangers here against their Wills and against Policy that they should return and discover their knowledge of this Estate hee took this Course Hâ— did ordain that of the Strangers that should be permitted to Landâ— as many at aâ—l times might depart as would But as manâ— as would stay should have very good Conditions and Means to live from the State Wherein he saw so farre that now in so many Ages since the Prohibition we have memory not of one Ship that ever returned and but of thirteen Persons only at several times that chose to return in our Bottomes What those few that returned may have reported abroad I know not But you must think Whatsoever they have said could be taken where they came but for a Dream Now for our Travelling from hence into Parts abroad our Law-giver thought fit altogether to restrein it So is it not in China For the Chineses sail where they will or can which sheweth that their Law of keeping out Strangers is a Law of Pusillanimity and fear But this restraint of ours hath one only Excepâ—ion which is admirable Preserving the Good which commeth by communicating with Strangers and avoiding the Hurt And I will now open it to you And here I shall seem a little to digresse but you will by and by find it pertinent Ye shall understand my dear friends that amongst the Excellent acts of that King one above all hath the preheminenâ—e It was the Erection and Institution of an Order or Society which we call Salomons House The Noblest Foundation as we think that ever was upon the Earth And the Lanthorâ—e of this Kingdome It is dedicated to the Study of the VVorks and Creatures of GOD Some think it beareth the Founders Name a little corrupted as if it should be Solamon's House But the Records write it as it is spoken So as I take it to be denominate of the King of the Hebrews which is famous with you and no stranger to us For we have some Parts of his Works which with you are lost Namely that Natural History which he wrote of all plants from the Cedar of Libanus to the Mosse that groweth out of the VVall And of all things that have Life and Motion This maketh me think that our King finding himself to Symbolize in many things with that King of the Hebrewes which lived many years before him honoured him with the Title of this Foundation And I am the rather induced to be of this Opinion for that I find in antient Records this Order or Society is sometimes called Salomons House And sometimes the College of the Six