36713New Atlantis.
“Queſtion;
it was not any ſuch conceit, but becauſe we remembred he
“had given a touch in his former Speech, that this Land had Laws of Se-
“crecy, touching Strangers. To this he ſaid, “You remember it right; and
“therefore in that, I ſhall ſay to you, I muſt reſerve ſome particulars which
“it is not lawful for me to reveal, but there will be enough left to give you
“ſatisfaction.
“had given a touch in his former Speech, that this Land had Laws of Se-
“crecy, touching Strangers. To this he ſaid, “You remember it right; and
“therefore in that, I ſhall ſay to you, I muſt reſerve ſome particulars which
“it is not lawful for me to reveal, but there will be enough left to give you
“ſatisfaction.
You ſhall underſtand (that which perhaps you will ſcarce think cre-
dible) that about Three thouſand years ago or ſomewhat more, the Na-
vigation of the VVorld (ſpecially for remote Voyages) was greater then
at this day. Do not think with your ſelves, that I know not how much
it is increaſed with you within theſe threeſcore years, I know it well; and
yet I ſay, greater then then now. VVhether it was, that the example of
the Ark that ſaved the remnant of Men from the Univerſal Deluge, gave
men confidence to adventure upon the VVaters, or what it was, but ſuch
is the truth. The Phœniciæns, and ſpecially the Tyrians, had great Fleets;
ſo had the Carthaginians their Colony, which is yet further VVeſt: To-
ward the Eaſt the Shipping of Egypt and of Paleſtina was likewiſe great;
China alſo, and the Great Atlantis (that you call America) which have now
but Junks and Canoaes, abounded then in tall Ships. This Iſland (as
appeareth by faithful Regiſters of thoſe times) had then Fifteen hundred
ſtrong Ships of great content. Of all this, there is with you ſparing memory
or none, but we have large know ledge thereof.
dible) that about Three thouſand years ago or ſomewhat more, the Na-
vigation of the VVorld (ſpecially for remote Voyages) was greater then
at this day. Do not think with your ſelves, that I know not how much
it is increaſed with you within theſe threeſcore years, I know it well; and
yet I ſay, greater then then now. VVhether it was, that the example of
the Ark that ſaved the remnant of Men from the Univerſal Deluge, gave
men confidence to adventure upon the VVaters, or what it was, but ſuch
is the truth. The Phœniciæns, and ſpecially the Tyrians, had great Fleets;
ſo had the Carthaginians their Colony, which is yet further VVeſt: To-
ward the Eaſt the Shipping of Egypt and of Paleſtina was likewiſe great;
China alſo, and the Great Atlantis (that you call America) which have now
but Junks and Canoaes, abounded then in tall Ships. This Iſland (as
appeareth by faithful Regiſters of thoſe times) had then Fifteen hundred
ſtrong Ships of great content. Of all this, there is with you ſparing memory
or none, but we have large know ledge thereof.
At that time this Land was known, and frequented by the Ships and
Veſſels of all the Nations beforenamed, and (as it cometh to paſs) they
had many times Men of other Countreys that were no Sailers, that came
with them, as Perſians, Chaldeans, Arabians; ſo as almoſt all Nations of
might and fame reſorted hither, of whom we have ſome Stirps and little
Tribes with us at this day. And for our own Ships, they went ſundry
Voyages, as well to your Streights, which you call the Pillars of Hercules,
as to other parts in the Atlantick and Meditterranean Seas; as to Peguin (which
is the ſame with Cambalu) and Quinſay upon the Oriental Seas, as far as to
the Borders of the Eaſt Tartary.
Veſſels of all the Nations beforenamed, and (as it cometh to paſs) they
had many times Men of other Countreys that were no Sailers, that came
with them, as Perſians, Chaldeans, Arabians; ſo as almoſt all Nations of
might and fame reſorted hither, of whom we have ſome Stirps and little
Tribes with us at this day. And for our own Ships, they went ſundry
Voyages, as well to your Streights, which you call the Pillars of Hercules,
as to other parts in the Atlantick and Meditterranean Seas; as to Peguin (which
is the ſame with Cambalu) and Quinſay upon the Oriental Seas, as far as to
the Borders of the Eaſt Tartary.
At the ſame time, and an Age after or more, the Inhabitants of the
Great Atlantis did flouriſh. For though the Narration and Deſcription
which is made by a great Man with you, of the Deſcendents of Neptune
planted there, and of the magnificent Temple, Palace, City, and Hill,
and the manifold ſtreams of goodly Navigable Rivers, which (as ſo many
Chains) invironed the ſame Site and Temple, and the ſeveral degrees of
aſcent, whereby men did climb up to the ſame, as if it had been a Scala
Cœli, be all Poetical and Fabulous; yet ſo much is true. That the ſaid
Countrey of Atlantis, as well that of Peru, then called Coya, as that of
Mexico then named Tyrambel; were mighty and proud Kingdoms in
Arms, Shipping, and Riches; ſo mighty, as at one time (or at leaſt with-
in the ſpace of ten years) they both made two great expeditions, they of
Tyrambel through the Atlantick to the Meditarranean Sea, and they of Coya
through the South-ſea upon this our Iſland. And for the former of theſe,
which was into Europe, the ſame Author amongſt you (as it ſeemeth) had
ſome relation from the Egyptian Prieſt whom he citeth, for aſſuredly ſuch
a thing there was. But whether it were the ancient Athenians that had
the glory of the repulſe and reſiſtince of thoſe Forces, I can ſay nothing;
but certain it is, there never came back either Ship or Man from that Voy-
age. Neither had the other Voyage of thoſe of Coya, upon us, had
Great Atlantis did flouriſh. For though the Narration and Deſcription
which is made by a great Man with you, of the Deſcendents of Neptune
planted there, and of the magnificent Temple, Palace, City, and Hill,
and the manifold ſtreams of goodly Navigable Rivers, which (as ſo many
Chains) invironed the ſame Site and Temple, and the ſeveral degrees of
aſcent, whereby men did climb up to the ſame, as if it had been a Scala
Cœli, be all Poetical and Fabulous; yet ſo much is true. That the ſaid
Countrey of Atlantis, as well that of Peru, then called Coya, as that of
Mexico then named Tyrambel; were mighty and proud Kingdoms in
Arms, Shipping, and Riches; ſo mighty, as at one time (or at leaſt with-
in the ſpace of ten years) they both made two great expeditions, they of
Tyrambel through the Atlantick to the Meditarranean Sea, and they of Coya
through the South-ſea upon this our Iſland. And for the former of theſe,
which was into Europe, the ſame Author amongſt you (as it ſeemeth) had
ſome relation from the Egyptian Prieſt whom he citeth, for aſſuredly ſuch
a thing there was. But whether it were the ancient Athenians that had
the glory of the repulſe and reſiſtince of thoſe Forces, I can ſay nothing;
but certain it is, there never came back either Ship or Man from that Voy-
age. Neither had the other Voyage of thoſe of Coya, upon us, had