NEW ATLANTIS. basilisks. We represent also ordnance and in struments of war, and engines of all kinds : and likewise new mixtures and compositions of gun powder, wildfires burning in water, and unquench able. Also fireworks of all variety both for plea sure and use. We imitate also flight of birds; we have & me degrees of flying in the air ; we have ships and boats for going under water, and brooking of seas ; also swimming-girdles and supporters. We have divers curious clocks, and other like motions of return, and some perpetual motions. We imitate also motions of living crea tures by images of men, beasts, birds, fishes, and serpents ; we have also a great number of other various motions, strange for equality, fineness, and subtilty. "We have also a mathematical house, where are represented all instruments, as well of geome try as astronomy, exquisitely made. " We have also houses of deceits of the senses ; where we represent all manner of feats of jug gling, false apparitions, impostures, and illusions; and their fallacies. And surely you will easily believe that we that have so many things truly natural, which induce admiration, could in a world of particulars deceive the senses if we would disguise those things, and labour to make them seem more miraculous. But we do hate all impostures and lies : insomuch as we have severally forbidden it to all our fellows, under pain of ignominy and fines, that they do not show any natural work or thing, adorned or swelling; but only pure as it is, and without all affectation of strangeness. "These are, my son, the riches of Solomon s House. "For the several employments and offices of our fellows; we have twelve that sail into fo reign countries, under the names of other na tions, for our own we conceal, who bring us the books, and obstructs, and patterns of experi ments of all other parts. These we call mer chants of light. " We have three that collect the experiments which are in all books. These we call depre dators. " We have three that collect the experiments of all mechanical arts; and also of liberal sciences; and also of practices which are not brought into arts. These we call mystery-men. "We have three that try new experiments, such as themselves think good. These we call pioneers or miners. "We have three that draw the experiments of tht former four into titles, and tablets, to give tht. better light for the drawing of observations and axioms out of them. These we call com pilers. " We have three that bend themselves, looking into the experiments of their fellows, and cast about how to draw out of them things of use and practice for man s liti- and knowledge, as well for works as for plain demonstration of causes, means, natural divinations, and the easy and clear disco very of the virtues and parts of bodies. These we call dowry-men or benefactors. " Then after divers meetings and consults of our whole number, to consider of the former labours and collections, we have three that take care, out of them, to direct new experiments, of a higher light, more penetrating into nature than the for mer. These we call lamps. " We have three others that do execute the ex periments so directed, and report them. These we call inoculators. " Lastly, we have three that raise the former discoveries by experiments into greater observa tions, axioms, and aphorisms. These we call interpreters of nature. "We have also, as you must think, novices and apprentices, that the succession of the former em ployed men do not fail: besides a great number of servants, and attendants, men and women. And this we do also: we have consultation, which of the inventions and experiences which we have dis covered shall be published, and which not : and take all an oath of secrecy, for the concealing of those which we think fit to keep a secret : though some of those we do reveal sometimes to the state, and some not. " For our ordinances and rites : we have two very long and fair galleries: in one of these we place patterns and samples of all manner of the more rare and excellent inventions : in the other we place the statues of all principal inventors. There we have the statue of your Columbus, that discovered the West Indies : also the inventor of ships : your monk that was the inventor of ordnance, and of gunpowder : the inventor of music: the inventor of letters: the inventor of printing: the inventor of observations of astrono my : the inventor of works in metal : the in ventor of glass : the inventor of silk of the worm : the inventor of wine : the inventor of corn and bread : the inventor of sugars : and all these by more certain tradition than you have. Then have we divers inventors of our own excellent works ; which since you have not seen, it were too long to make descriptions of them; and besides, in tho right understanding of these descriptions you might easily err. For upon every invention of value, we erect a statue to the inventor, and give him a liberal and honourable reward. These statues are some of brass ; some of marble and touch-stone; some of cedar, and other special woods gilt and adorned : some of iron; some of silver; some of gold. " We have certain hymns and services, which we say daily, of laud and thanks to God for his marvellous works : and forms of prayers, iinplor- 1
