Summary
The Governor of the House of Strangers explains how the island developed Christianity.
He tells the story of how, 20 years after the ascension of Christ, the inhabitants on the island spied a large pillar of light. They followed it, but were eventually stopped by an unknown force. A wise man of the House of Salomon prostrated himself in front of the light and exclaimed his faith, which allowed him to move toward the light.
The light disappeared into a thousand stars, leaving only a cedar chest behind. Inside the chest was a palm leaf, a Bible, and a letter from Saint Bartholomew proclaiming the love of Jesus Christ for the people of the island.
The next day, the crew asks the Governor how it is that they have never heard of the island, but the inhabitants are all familiar with Europe.
He explains that the island was once, centuries ago, a hub of commerce for many nations. But war between civilizations led to destruction that cut them off from their trading partners, chief among them the Americas.
The Governor goes on to explain that, after the island became isolated from the rest of the world, the king at that time – Solamona – implemented laws that he thought would help preserve the humanity of the island. One of these laws forbids the touching of strangers. Another law forbids strangers to land on the island, with the exception of the sick or diseased. Those who did land on the island were treated with the utmost respect and care, as the king sought to encourage knowledge of other lands without the negative consequences that often come with exploration.
This, the Governor explains, is why the island can appear so restrictive.
Analysis
This section of the narrative reveals the island's utopian vision as it relates to politics and leadership.
When the Governor tells the sailors about how the island came to be a Christian nation, the story itself is divinely inspired: the inhabitants were not converted by another nation or by explorers (as was often the case with European imperialism). Instead, the island was Christianized only 20 years after the ascension of Christ, and was done so through the divine intervention of God through Saint Bartholomew.
Crucially, it was one of the "wise men" of Salomon's House who catalyzed this Christianization, as he prostrated himself at the beam of light when the other people of the island were all stuck, seemingly through supernatural force, in the water. This story foreshadows the importance of the House of Salomon as a beacon of knowledge, understanding, and exploration.
The Governor's description of King Solamona and his policies also provides a utopian approach to governance and leadership. Some of the more mysterious elements of Bensalem that the sailors have encountered – like their unwillingness to touch strangers and their relative isolation – are explained here as products of Solamona's reign. This is a significant explication because it offers readers the vision of an ideal king, one who wants to protect his people from harm while still allowing them access to the world beyond their island. Solamona's policies are rooted in love for the people of Bensalem, as well as recognition that knowledge is central to the development and maintenance of humanity.
In this way, the Governor's story provides a portrait of a revered and dedicated ruler, which many have interpreted as a critical take on the English monarchy at the time Bacon was writing. (The text was published in 1626, when Charles I sat on the throne. Charles was often criticized for his belief in the Divine Right of Kings, just one attribute that led to his execution in 1649.)
