The New Atlantis | Page 5

daintily made, and not so huge as the
Turkish turbans; and the locks of his hair came down below the brims
of it. A reverend man was he to behold. He came in a boat, gilt in some

part of it, with four persons more only in that boat; and was followed
by another boat, wherein were some twenty. When he was come within
a flightshot of our ship, signs were made to us, that we should send
forth some to meet him upon the water; which we presently did in our
ship-boat, sending the principal man amongst us save one, and four of
our number with him.
When we were come within six yards of their boat, they called to us to
stay, and not to approach farther; which we did. And thereupon the man,
whom I before described, stood up, and with a loud voice, in Spanish,
asked, "Are ye Christians?" We answered, "We were;" fearing the less,
because of the cross we had seen in the subscription. At which answer
the said person lifted up his right hand towards Heaven, and drew it
softly to his mouth (which is the gesture they use, when they thank
God;) and then said : "If ye will swear (all of you) by the merits of the
Saviour, that ye are no pirates, nor have shed blood, lawfully, nor
unlawfully within forty days past, you may have licence to come on
land." We said, "We were all ready to take that oath." Whereupon one
of those that were with him, being (as it seemed) a notary, made an
entry of this act. Which done, another of the attendants of the great
person which was with him in the same boat, after his Lord had spoken
a little to him, said aloud: "My Lord would have you know, that it is
not of pride, or greatness, that he cometh not aboard your ship; but for
that in your answer you declare that you have many sick amongst you,
he was warned by the Conservator of Health of the city that he should
keep a distance." We bowed ourselves towards him, and answered,
"We were his humble servants; and accounted for great honour, and
singular humanity towards us, that which was already done; but hoped
well, that the nature of the sickness of our men was not infectious." So
he returned; and a while after came the Notary to us aboard our ship;
holding in his hand a fruit of that country, like an orange, but of color
between orange-tawney and scarlet; which cast a most excellent odour.
He used it (as it seemeth) for a preservative against infection. He gave
us our oath; "By the name of Jesus, and his merits:" and after told us,
that the next day, by six of the Clock, in the Morning, we should be
sent to, and brought to the Strangers' House, (so he called it,) where we
should be accommodated of things, both for our whole, and for our sick.
So he left us; and when we offered him some pistolets, he smiling said,

"He must not be twice paid for one labour:" meaning (as I take it) that
he had salary sufficient of the State for his service. For (as I after
learned) they call an officer that taketh rewards, "twice paid."
The next morning early, there came to us the same officer that came to
us at first with his cane, and told us, He came to conduct us to the
Strangers' House; and that he had prevented the hour, because we might
have the whole day before us, for our business. "For," said he, "if you
will follow my advice, there shall first go with me some few of you,
and see the place, and how it may be made convenient for you; and
then you may send for your sick, and the rest of your number, which ye
will bring on land." We thanked him, and said, "That this care, which
he took of desolate strangers, God would reward." And so six of us
went on land with him: and when we were on land, he went before us,
and turned to us, and said, "He was but our servant, and our guide." He
led us through three fair streets; and all the way we went, there were
gathered some people on both sides, standing in a row; but in so civil a
fashion, as if it had been, not to wonder at us, but to welcome us: and
divers of them, as we passed by them, put their arms a little abroad;
which is their gesture, when they did bid any welcome.
The Strangers' House is a fair and spacious house, built of brick, of
somewhat a bluer colour than our brick;