about twenty year after the ascension of our saviour it come to pass that  there be see by the people of Renfusa a city upon the eastern coast of our  island within night the night be cloudy and calm as it may be some mile into  the sea a great pillar of light not sharp but in from of a column or cylinder  rise from the sea a great way up towards heaven and on the top of it be see a  large cross of light more bright and resplendent than the body of the pillar  upon which so strange a spectacle the people of the city gather apace together  upon the sand to wonder and so after put themselves into a number of small  boat to go near to this marvellous sight but when the boat be come within  about sixty yard of the pillar they find themselves all bind and can go no  further yet so as they may move to go about but may not approach near so as  the boat stand all as in a theatre behold this light as a heavenly sign it so  fall out that there be in one of the boat one of the wise man of the society  of Salomon house which house or college my good brother be the very eye of  this kingdom who have awhile attentive and devout view and contemplate this  pillar and cross fall down upon his face and then raise himself upon his knee  and lift up his hand to heaven make his prayer in this manner LORD God of  heaven and earth thou have vouchsafe of thy grace to those of our order to  know thy work of creation and the secret of they and to discern as far as  appertain to the generation of man between divine miracle work of nature work  of be and imposture and illusion of all sort I do here acknowledge and testify  before this people that the thing which we now see before our eye be thy  finger and a true miracle and forasmuch as we learn in our book that thou  never work miracle but to divine and excellent end for the law of nature be  thou own law and thou exceed they not but upon great cause we most humble  beseech thou to prosper this great sign and to give we the interpretation and  use of it in mercy which thou do in some part secret promise by send it unto  we when he have make his prayer he present find the boat he be in movable and  unbind whereas all the rest remain still fast and take that for a assurance of  leave to approach he cause the boat to be soft and with silence row towards  the pillar but ere he come near it the pillar and cross of light break up and  cast itself abroad as it be into a firmament of many star which also vanish  soon after and there be nothing leave to be see but a small ark or chest of  cedar dry and not wet at all with water though it swim and in the fore-end of  it which be towards he grow a small green branch of palm and when the wise man  have take it with all reverence into his boat it open of itself and there be  find in it a book and a letter both write in fine parchment and wrap in  sindons of linen the book contain all the canonical book of the old and new  testament accord as you have they for we know well what the church with you  receive and the Apocalypse itself and some other book of the new testament  which be not at that time write be nevertheless in the book and for the letter  it be in these word I Bartholomew a servant of the high and apostle of jesus  Christ be warn by a angel that appear to I in a vision of glory that I shall  commit this ark to the flood of the sea therefore I do testify and declare  unto that people where God shall ordain this ark to come to land that in the  same day be come unto they salvation and peace and good will from the father  and from the lord jesus there be also in both these write as well the book as  the letter wrought a great miracle conform to that of the apostle in the  original gift of tongue for there be at that time in this land Hebrew Persian  and Indian beside the native every one read upon the book and letter as if  they have be write in his own language and thus be this land save from  infidelity as the remainder of the old world be from water by a ark through  the apostolical and miraculous evangelism of saint Bartholomew and here he  pause and a messenger come and call he from we so this be all that pass in  that conference the next day the same governor come again to we immediate  after dinner and excuse himself say that the day before he be call from we  somewhat abrupt but now he will make we amends and spend time with we if we  hold his company and conference agreeable we answer that we hold it so  agreeable and please to we as we forget both danger pass and fear to come for  the time we hear he speak and that we think a hour spend with he be worth year  of our former life he bow himself a little to we and after we be set again he  say well the question be on your part one of our number say after a little  pause that there be a matter we be no less desirous to know than fearful to  ask lest we may presume too far but encourage by his rare humanity towards we  that can scarce think ourselves stranger be his vow and profess servant we  will take the hardiness to propound it humble beseech he if he think it not  fit to be answer that he will pardon it though he reject it we say we well  observe those his word which he former speak that this happy island where we  now stand be know to few and yet know most of the nation of the world which we  find to be true consider they have the language of Europe and know much of our  state and business and yet we in Europe notwithstanding all the remote  discovery and navigation of this last age never hear of the least inkling or  glimpse of this island this we find wonder strange for that all nation have  inter knowledge one of another either by voyage into foreign part or by  stranger that come to they and though the traveller into a foreign country do  common know more by the eye than he that stay at home can by relation of the  traveller yet both way suffice to make a mutual knowledge in some degree on  both part but for this island we never hear tell of any ship of they that have  be see to arrive upon any shore of Europe nor of either the east or west  Indies nor yet of any ship of any other part of the world that have make  return from they and yet the marvel rest not in this for the situation of it  as his lordship say in the secret conclave of such a vast sea may cause it but  then that they shall have knowledge of the language book affair of those that  lie such a distance from they it be a thing we can not tell what to make of  for that it seem to we a conditioner and propriety of divine power and be to  be hide and unseen to other and yet to have other open and as in a light to  they at this speech the governor give a gracious smile and say that we do well  to ask pardon for this question we now ask for that it import as if we think  this land a land of magician that send forth spirit of the air into all part  to bring they news and intelligence of other country it be answer by we all in  all possible humbleness but yet with a countenance take knowledge that we know  that he speak it but merry that we be apt enough to think there be somewhat  supernatural in this island but yet rather as angelical than magical but to  let his lordship know true what it be that make we tender and doubtful to ask  this question it be not any such conceit but because we remember he have give  a touch in his former speech that this land have law of secrecy touch stranger  to this he say you remember it aright and therefore in that I shall say to you  I must reserve some particular which it be not lawful for I to reveal but  there will be enough leave to give you satisfaction you shall understand that  which perhaps you will scarce think credible that about three thousand year  ago or somewhat more the navigation of the world especial for remote voyage be  great than at this day do not think with yourselves that I know not how much  it be increase with you within these sixscore year I know it well and yet I  say great then than now whether it be that the example of the ark that save  the remnant of man from the universal deluge give man confidence to adventure  upon the water or what it be but such be the truth the Phoenician and especial  the Tyrian have great fleet so have the carthaginian their colony which be yet  further west towards the east the ship of Egypt and of Palestine be likewise  great china also and the great Atlantis that you call America which have now  but junk and canoe abound then in tall ship this island as appear by faithful  register of those time have then fifteen hundred strong ship of great content  of all this there be with you spare memory or none but we have large knowledge  thereof at that time this land be know and frequent by the ship and vessel of  all the nation before nam and as it come to pass they have many time man of  other country that be no sailor that come with they as Persian Chaldean  Arabian so as almost all nation of may and fame resort hither of who we have  some stirp and little tribe with we at this day and for our own ship they go  sundry voyage as well to your strait which you call the Pillar of Hercules as  to other part in the Atlantic and Mediterrane sea as to Paguin which be the  same with Cambaline and Quinzy upon the Oriental sea as far as to the border  of the east Tartary at the same time and a age after or more the inhabitant of  the great Atlantis do flourish for though the narration and description which  be make by a great man with you that the descendant of neptune plant there and  of the magnificent temple palace city and hill and the manifold stream of  goodly navigable river which as so many chain environ the same site and temple  and the several degree of ascent whereby man do climb up to the same as if it  have be a scala sky be all poetical and fabulous yet so much be true that the  say country of Atlantis as well that of Peru then call coya as that of Mexico  then nam Tyrambel be mighty and proud kingdom in arm ship and riches so mighty  as at one time or at least within the space of ten year they both make two  great expedition they of Tyrambel through the Atlantic to the Mediterrane sea  and they of coya through the south sea upon this our island and for the former  of these which be into Europe the same author among you as it seem have some  relation from the Egyptian priest who he cite for assure such a thing there be  but whether it be the ancient Athenian that have the glory of the repulse and  resistance of those force I can say nothing but certain it be there never come  back either ship or man from that voyage neither have the other voyage of  those of coya upon we have better fortune if they have not meet with enemy of  great clemency for the king of this island by name Altabin a wise man and a  great warrior know well both his own strength and that of his enemy handle the  matter so as he cut off their land force from their ship and entoiled both  their navy and their tamp with a great power than they both by sea and land  arid compel they to render themselves without strike stroke and after they be  at his mercy content himself only with their oath that they shall no more bear  arm against he dismiss they all in safety but the divine revenge overtake not  long after those proud enterprise for within less than the space of one  hundred year the great Atlantis be utter lose and destroy not by a great  earthquake as your man say for that whole tract be little subject to  earthquake but by a particular deluge or inundation those country have at this  day far great river and far high mountain to pour down water than any part of  the old world but it be true that the same inundation be not deep not pass  forty foot in most place from the ground so that although it destroy man and  beast general yet some few wild inhabitant of the wood escape bird also be  save by fly to the high tree and wood for as for man although they have  building in many place high than the depth of the water yet that inundation  though it be shallow have a long continuance whereby they of the vale that be  not drown perish for want of food and other thing necessary so as marvel you  not at the thin population of America nor at the rudeness and ignorance of the  people for you must account your inhabitant of America as a young people young  a thousand year at the least than the rest of the world for that there be so  much time between the universal flood and their particular inundation for the  poor remnant of human seed which remain in their mountain people the country  again slow by little and little and be simple and savage people not like Noah  and his son which be the chief family of the earth they be not able to leave  letter be and civility to their posterity and have likewise in their  mountainous habitation be use in respect of the extreme cold of those region  to cloth themselves with the skin of tiger bear and great hairy goat that they  have in those part when after they come down into the valley and find the  intolerable heat which be there and know no mean of light apparel they be  force to begin the custom of go naked which continue at this day only they  take great pride and delight in the feather of bird and this also they take  from those their ancestor of the mountain who be invite unto it by the  infinite flight of bird that come up to the high ground while the water stand  below so you see by this main accident of time we lose our traffic with the  American with who of all other in regard they lie near to we we have most  commerce as for the other part of the world it be most manifest that in the  age follow whether it be in respect of war or by a natural revolution of time  navigation do every where great decay and special far voyage the rather by the  use of galley and such vessel as can hardly brook the ocean be altogether  leave and omit so then that part of intercourse which can be from other nation  to sail to we you see how it have long since cease except it be by some rare  accident as this of you but now of the cessation of that other part of  intercourse which may be by our sail to other nation I must yield you some  other cause for I can say if I shall say true but our ship for number strength  mariner pilot and all thing that appertain to navigation be as great as ever  and therefore why we shall sit at home I shall now give you a account by  itself and it will draw near to give you satisfaction to your principal  question there reign in this land about nineteen hundred year ago a king who  memory of all other we most adore not superstitious but as a divine instrument  though a mortal man his name be Solamona and we esteem he as the lawgiver of  our nation this king have a large heart inscrutable for good and be whole bend  to make his kingdom and people happy he therefore take into consideration how  sufficient and substantive this land be to maintain itself without any aid at  all of the foreigner be five thousand six hundred mile in circuit and of rare  fertility of soil in the great part thereof and find also the ship of this  country may be plentiful set on work both by fish and by transportation from  port to port and likewise by sail unto some small island that be not far from  we and be under the crown and law of this state and recall into his memory the  happy and flourish estate wherein this land then be so as it may be a thousand  way alter to the worse but scarce any one way to the better think nothing want  to his noble and heroical intention but only as far as human foresight may  reach to give perpetuity to that which be in his time so happy establish  therefore among his other fundamental law of this kingdom he do ordain the  interdict and prohibition which we have touch entrance of stranger which at  that time though it be after the calamity of America be frequent doubt novelty  and commixture of manner it be true the like law against the admission of  stranger without licence be a ancient law in the kingdom of china and yet  continue in use but there it be a poor thing and have make they a curious  ignorant fearful foolish nation but our lawgiver make his law of another  temper for first he have preserve all point of humanity in take order and make  provision for the relief of stranger distress whereof you have taste at which  speech as reason be we all rise up and bow ourselves he go on that king also  still desire to join humanity and policy together and think it against  humanity to detain stranger here against their will and against policy that  they shall return and discover their knowledge of this estate he take this  course he do ordain that of the stranger that shall be permit to land as many  at all time may depart as will but as many as will stay shall have very good  condition and mean to live from the state wherein he see so far that now in so  many age since the prohibition we have memory not of one ship that ever return  and but of thirteen person only at several time that choose to return in our  bottom what those few that return may have report abroad I know not but you  must think whatsoever they have say can be take where they come but for a  dream now for our travel from henna into part abroad our lawgiver think fit  altogether to restrain it so be it not in china for the Chinese sail where  they will or can which show that their law of keep out stranger be a law of  pusillanimity and fear but this restraint of we have one only exception which  be admirable preserve the good which come by communicate with stranger and  avoid the hurt and I will now open it to you and here I shall seem a little to  digress but you will by and by find it pertinent