New Atlantis (utopian novel)

...such an interregnum original: "Inter-regnum"; the period between the execution of Charles I in 1649 and the restoration of Charles II in 1660 of tyranny and oppression, that all laws, both divine and human, have lain dead, or at least fast asleep amidst these alarms. Every enthusiast original: "Enthusiast"; in the 17th century, this term was often used disparagingly to describe religious radicals or fanatics who claimed direct divine inspiration in this palaestra original: "Pa-le-stra"; a Greek wrestling school or arena, used here to describe the arena of political and religious conflict has done both in Church and State (as when there was no king in Israel A reference to Judges 17:6, implying that without a monarch, society descends into moral and social chaos) what was right in his own eyes.

But we hope the brightness of Your Majesty, so happily now returned, will scatter these mists; and not only restore our laws to their original vigor—by restoring them to us and all of us to our own—but make religion, as well as justice, shine again in every corner of your kingdoms.

To contribute something toward this so much desired happiness, I have ventured to present Your Majesty with this, my mite A reference to the "widow’s mite" from the Bible, meaning a small but sincere contribution or slender essay original: "Essay"; here meaning a trial, attempt, or short written work of a strong, though as yet sup-