FRANCIS BACON’S THE NEW ATLANTIS
The story begins with a European journey sailing from Peru to China and Japan. Yet, they lose their way, because of the winds blowing from south to east. They are lost “in the greatest wilderness of the waters in the world”. ”So that find-ing ourselves, in the midst of the greatest wilderness of waters in the world, without victual, we gave ourselves for lost men, and prepared for death.” (Bacon) Then sailors begin to pray to God begging for mercy and deliverance.
When down comes, they discover that their prayers are answered and they approach a
land and their fate. As they approach the island,
people on the shore warn the Europeans not to disembark. “But straightway we saw divers of the people, with batons in their hands, as it were forbidding us to land: yet without any cries or fierce- ness, but only as warning us off, by signs that they made.”(Bacon) And then, a boat with seven people from the land begins to a boat trip towards them. As soon as a
man in the boat comes to the ship, he delivers a scroll written in four languages; Hebrew, Latin, Greek, Spanish. This scroll is marked by a cross and a pair of cherubim’s wing.
The apprehension of the Europeans is relieved by the familiar sign of the cross. Similarly, the Bensalemites relax when they declare themselves to be from a Christian land. The first question of the man from the island is if they are Christian or not. After they tell them that they are Christian, the man thanks to God using a gesture.
Then the man says that they have to stay in the Strangers’ House. In the land while they are walking to this house, people greet them. The next day, as they feel better, they thank to God and these people who save their life by behaving kindly to them and they begin to pray.
Then after all, they talk to office Governor of the
House of Strangers. He says that he is also a Christian priest and he is very happy to help these Christian people. After him, they meet with the Governor of the island of Bensalem, and they start a conversation. He wants them to ask question if they have in their minds. Then, the sailors say that they are amazed with their belief of Christianity even though they are in the middle of an ocean. The Governor of the Strangers’ House explains that the conversion occurred as the result of a miraculous event which happened about twenty years after the Resurrection and Ascension. One night a great column of light of a cross appears about a mile out on the ocean. A few brave souls from Renfusa, the nearest city, boards boats and sails out toward the hierophany. When they come within about 60 yards, they are mysteriously restrained from drawing closer. One of the boats, however, is a member of Solomon’s House on board, who offers a prayer.
He then declares the column to be a genuine miracle and begs God to reveal its true meaning. The wise man is allowed to move closer, and, as he does, the Pillar of Cloud is transformed, leaving an ark (small chest) floating in the water. As the wise man moves toward it, the chest opens to reveal a book and a letter. First conversation ends with the coming of Christianity to the land.
Then, second conversation begins. During the second interview with the Governor of the Strangers’ House, the Europeans ask why such a great civilization has chosen to remain hidden from the rest of humanity, while it obviously knows about all other existing civilizations, including Europe. The Governor begins his answer with an account of ancient history virtually unknown to the Europeans. But this answer is not enough to explain why Bensalem remains hidden. To give an adequate explanation requires the Governor to discuss the policies of the great king Solamona and his creation of Solomon’s House. The Governor explains that about 1,900 years earlier the Bensalemite king Solamona decides that his nation is far superior to all others in every way and can not benefit from direct intercourse with them. So he makes some laws to make the land more secure. “therefore amongst his other funda- mental laws of this kingdom he did ordain the interdicts and prohibitions which we have touching entrance of strangers.”(Bacon) After giving some information about Solamona, he tells the aim of Solomon’s House. The Governor explains that King Solamona creates Solomon’s House to explore nature.
Following his description of the founding of the House of Solomon, and of the reconnaissance missions of its members, the Governor offers to help the Europeans return to their country or to allow them to stay in Bensalem. The Europeans enthusiastically accept the offer to stay.
More reviews about the FRANCIS BACON’S THE NEW ATLANTIS