This prophecy, though appearing in English tardily, may be dated from 1667, when the Latin poem was already written.
Dr. Johnson called attention to a tract of Sir Thomas Browne entitled “A Prophecy concerning the Future State of Several Nations,” where the famous author “plainly discovers his expectation to be the same with that entertained lately with more confidence by Dr. Berkeley, _that America will be the seat of the fifth empire_.”[272] The tract is vague, but prophetic.
Sir Thomas Browne was born 19th October, 1605, and died 19th October, 1682. His tract was published two years after his death, in a collection of Miscellanies, edited by Dr. Tenison. As a much-admired author, some of whose writings belong to our English classics, his prophetic prolusions are not unworthy of notice. Among them are the following:--
“When New England shall trouble New Spain; When Jamaica shall be lady of the isles and the main; When Spain shall be in America hid, And Mexico shall prove a Madrid;
_When Africa shall no more sell out their blacks,_ _To make slaves and drudges to the American tracts;_
_When America shall cease to send out its treasure,_ _But employ it at home in American pleasure;_ _When the New World shall the Old invade,_ _Nor count them their lords, but their fellows in trade;_
Then think strange things are come to light, Whereof but few have had a foresight.”[273]
Some of these words are striking, especially when we consider their early date. In a commentary on each verse the author seeks to explain it. New England is “that thriving colony which hath so much increased in our days”; its people are already “industrious,” and when they have so far increased “that the neighboring country will not contain them, they will range still farther, and be able in time to set forth great armies, seek for new possessions, or _make considerable and conjoined migrations_.”[274] The verse touching Africa will be fulfilled “when African countries shall no longer make it a common trade to sell away their people.” And this may come to pass “whenever they shall be well civilized, and acquainted with arts and affairs sufficient to employ people in their countries: if also they should be converted to Christianity, but especially unto Mahometism; for then they would never sell those of their religion to be slaves unto Christians.”[275] The verse concerning America is expounded thus:--