ng to join humanity and policy together;
and thinking it against humanity, to detain strangers here against
their wills, and against policy that they should return and discover
their knowledge of this estate, he took this course: he did ordain that
of the strangers that should be permitted to land, as many (at all
times) might depart as would; but as many as would stay should have
very good conditions and means to live from the state. Wherein he saw
so far, that now in so many ages since the prohibition, we have memory
not of one ship that ever returned, and but of thirteen persons only,
at several times, that chose to return in our bottoms. What those few
that returned may have reported abroad I know not. But you must think,
whatsoever they have said could be taken where they came but for a
dream. Now for our travelling from henna into parts abroad, our
Lawgiver thought fit altogether to restrain it. So is it not in China.
For the Chinese sail where they will or can; which sheweth that their
law of keeping out strangers is a law of pusillanimity and fear. But
this restraint of ours hath one only exception, which is admirable;
preserving the good which cometh by communicating with strangers, and
avoiding 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.

"Ye shall understand (my dear friends) that amongst the excellent acts
of that king, one above all hath the pre-eminence. It was the erection
and institution of an Order or Society, which we call Salomon's House;
the noblest foundation (as we think) that ever was upon the earth; and
the lanthorn of this kingdom. It is dedicated to the study of the
works and creatures of God. Some think it beareth the founder's name a
little corrupted, as if it should be Solamona's House. But the records
write it as it is spoken. So as I take it to be denominate of the king
of the Hebrews, which is famous with you, and no stranger to us. For
we have some parts of his works, which with you are lost; namely, that
natural history, which he wrote, of all plants, from the cedar of
Libanus to the moss that groweth out of the wall, and of all things
that have life and motion. This maketh me think that our king, finding
himself to symbolize in many things with that king of the Hebrews
(which lived many years before him), honored him with the title of this
foundation. And I am rather induced to be of this op