3595
16[Figure 16]
NEW ATLANTIS.
WE ſailed from Peru (where we had continued by the
ſpace of one whole year) for China and Japan by the
South Sea, taking with us Victuals for Twelve Moneths,
and had good Winds from the Eaſt, though ſoft and
weak, for Five Moneths ſpace and more; but then the
Wind came about, and ſetled in the Weſt for many
days; ſo as we could make little or no way, and were
ſometimes in purpoſe to turn back: But then again,
there aroſe ſtrong and great Winds from the South, with a Point Eaſt,
which carried us up (for all that we could do) to wards the North; by which
time our Victuals failed us, though we had made good ſpare of them: So
that finding our ſelves in the midſt of the greateſt Wilderneſs of Waters in
the World, without Victual, we gave our ſelves for loſt men, and prepared
for death. Yet we did lift up our hearts and voices to God above, Who
ſheweth his wonders in the deep; beſeeching him of his mercy, That as in the
Beginning he diſcovered the Face of the deep, and brought forth dry-land; ſo he
would now diſcover Land to us, that we might not periſh. And it came to
paſs, that the next day about Evening, we ſaw within a Kenning before us,
towards the North, as it were thicker Clouds, which did put us in ſome
hope of Land; knowing how that part of the South-Sea was utterly un-
known, and might have lſlands or Continents that hitherto were not come
to light. Wherefore we bent our courſe thither, where we ſaw the ap-
pearance of Land all that night; and in the dawning of the next day, we
might plainly diſcern that it was a Land flat to our ſight, and full of Boſcage,
which made it ſhew the more dark; and after an hour and a halfs ſailing,
we entred into a good Haven, being the Port of a fair City, not great in-
deed, but well built, and that gave a pleafant view from the Sea: And we
thinking every minute long, till we were on Land, came cloſe to the Shore
and offered to land; but ſtraight-ways we ſaw divers of the people with
Baſtons in their hands, (as it were) forbidding us to land, yet without any
cries or fierceneſs, but onely as warning us off by ſigns that they made.
Whereupon being not a little diſcomforted, we were adviſing with our
ſelves, what we ſhould do. During which time, there made forth to us a
ſmall Boat with about eight perſons in it, where of one of them had in his
hand a Tip-ſtaff of a Yellow Cane, tipped at both ends with Blew, who
made aboard our Ship without any ſhew of diſtruſt at all: And when he
ſaw one of our number preſent himſelf ſome what afore the reſt, he drew
forth a little Scroul of Parchment (ſomewhat yellower then our
ſpace of one whole year) for China and Japan by the
South Sea, taking with us Victuals for Twelve Moneths,
and had good Winds from the Eaſt, though ſoft and
weak, for Five Moneths ſpace and more; but then the
Wind came about, and ſetled in the Weſt for many
days; ſo as we could make little or no way, and were
ſometimes in purpoſe to turn back: But then again,
there aroſe ſtrong and great Winds from the South, with a Point Eaſt,
which carried us up (for all that we could do) to wards the North; by which
time our Victuals failed us, though we had made good ſpare of them: So
that finding our ſelves in the midſt of the greateſt Wilderneſs of Waters in
the World, without Victual, we gave our ſelves for loſt men, and prepared
for death. Yet we did lift up our hearts and voices to God above, Who
ſheweth his wonders in the deep; beſeeching him of his mercy, That as in the
Beginning he diſcovered the Face of the deep, and brought forth dry-land; ſo he
would now diſcover Land to us, that we might not periſh. And it came to
paſs, that the next day about Evening, we ſaw within a Kenning before us,
towards the North, as it were thicker Clouds, which did put us in ſome
hope of Land; knowing how that part of the South-Sea was utterly un-
known, and might have lſlands or Continents that hitherto were not come
to light. Wherefore we bent our courſe thither, where we ſaw the ap-
pearance of Land all that night; and in the dawning of the next day, we
might plainly diſcern that it was a Land flat to our ſight, and full of Boſcage,
which made it ſhew the more dark; and after an hour and a halfs ſailing,
we entred into a good Haven, being the Port of a fair City, not great in-
deed, but well built, and that gave a pleafant view from the Sea: And we
thinking every minute long, till we were on Land, came cloſe to the Shore
and offered to land; but ſtraight-ways we ſaw divers of the people with
Baſtons in their hands, (as it were) forbidding us to land, yet without any
cries or fierceneſs, but onely as warning us off by ſigns that they made.
Whereupon being not a little diſcomforted, we were adviſing with our
ſelves, what we ſhould do. During which time, there made forth to us a
ſmall Boat with about eight perſons in it, where of one of them had in his
hand a Tip-ſtaff of a Yellow Cane, tipped at both ends with Blew, who
made aboard our Ship without any ſhew of diſtruſt at all: And when he
ſaw one of our number preſent himſelf ſome what afore the reſt, he drew
forth a little Scroul of Parchment (ſomewhat yellower then our