At which speech (as reason was) we all rose up and bowed ourselves.
He went on.

"That king also, still desiring 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