_Of their departure into Holland and their troubls ther aboute, with
some of the many difficulties they found and mete withall_.
An^o. 1608.
Being thus constrained to leave their native soyle and countrie, their
lands & livings, and all their freinds & famillier acquaintance, it was
much, and thought marvelous by many. But to goe into a countrie they
knew not (but by hearsay), wher they must learne a new language, and get
their livings they knew not how, it being a dear place, & subjecte to
y^e misseries of warr, it was by many thought an adventure almost
desperate, a case intolerable, & a misserie worse then death. Espetially
seeing they were not aquainted with trads nor traffique, (by which y^t
countrie doth subsiste,) but had only been used to a plaine countrie
life, & y^e inocente trade of husbandrey. But these things did not
dismay them (though they did some times trouble them) for their desires
were sett on y^e ways of God, & to injoye his ordinances; but they
rested on his providence, & knew whom they had beleeved. Yet [8] this
was not all, for though they could not stay, yet were y^e not suffered
to goe, but y^e ports and havens were shut against them, so as they were
faine to seeke secrete means of conveance, & to bribe & fee y^e
mariners, & give exterordinarie rates for their passages. And yet were
they often times betrayed (many of them), and both they & their goods
intercepted & surprised, and therby put to great trouble & charge, of
which I will give an instance or tow, & omitte the rest.
Ther was a large companie of them purposed to get passage at Boston in
Lincoln-shire, and for that end had hired a shipe wholy to them selves,
& made agreement with the maister to be ready at a certaine day, and
take them and their goods in, at a conveniente place, wher they
accordingly would all attende in readines. So after long waiting, &
large expences, though he kepte not day with them, yet he came at
length & tooke them in, in y^e night. But when he had them & their goods
abord, he betrayed them, haveing before hand complotted with y^e
serchers & other officers so to doe; who tooke them, and put them into
open boats, & ther rifled & ransaked them, searching them to their
shirts for money, yea even y^e women furder then became modestie; and
then caried them back into y^e towne, & made them a spectackle & wonder
to the multitude, which came flocking on all sids to behould them. Being
thus first, by the chatch-poule officers, rifled, & stripte of their
money, books, and much other goods, they were presented to y^e
magestrates, and messengers sente to informe y^e lords of y^e Counsell
of them; and so they were co[=m]ited to ward. Indeed y^e magestrats used
them courteously, and shewed them what favour they could; but could not
deliver them, till order came from y^e Counsell-table. But y^e issue was
that after a months imprisonmente, y^e greatest parte were dismiste, &
sent to y^e places from whence they came; but 7. of y^e principall were
still kept in prison, and bound over to y^e Assises.
The nexte spring after, ther was another attempte made by some of these
& others, to get over at an other place. And it so fell out, that they
light of a Dutchman at Hull, having a ship of his owne belonging to
Zealand; they made agreemente with him, and acquainted [9] him with
their condition, hoping to find more faithfullnes in him, then in y^e
former of their owne nation. He bad them not fear, for he would doe well
enough. He was by appointment to take them in betweene Grimsbe & Hull,
wher was a large co[=m]one a good way distante from any towne. Now
aganst the prefixed time, the women & children, with y^e goods, were
sent to y^e place in a small barke, which they had hired for y^t end;
and y^e men were to meete them by land. But it so fell out, that they
were ther a day before y^e shipe came, & y^e sea being rough, and y^e
women very sicke, prevailed with y^e seamen to put into a creeke hardby,
wher they lay on ground at lowwater. The nexte morning y^e shipe came,
but they were fast, & could not stir till aboute noone. In y^e mean
time, y^e shipe maister, perceiveing how y^e matter was, sente his boate
to be getting y^e men abord whom he saw ready, walking aboute y^e shore.
But after y^e first boat full was gott abord, & she was ready to goe for
more, the m^r espied a greate company, both horse & foote, with bills, &
gunes, & other weapons; for y^e countrie was raised to take them. Y^e
Dutch-man seeing y^t, swore his countries oath, "sacremente," and having
y^e wind faire, waiged his Ancor, hoysed sayles, & away. But y^e poore
men which were gott abord, were in great distress for their wives and
children, which they saw thus to be taken, and were left destitute of
their helps; and them selves also, not having a cloath to shifte them
with, more then they had on their baks, & some scarce a peney aboute
them, all they had being abord y^e barke. It drew tears from their eyes,
and any thing they had they would have given to have been a shore
againe; but all in vaine, ther was no remedy, they must thus sadly part.
And afterward endured a fearfull storme at sea, being 14. days or more
before y^ey arived at their porte, in 7. wherof they neither saw son,
moone, nor stars, & were driven near y^e coast of Norway; the mariners
them selves often despairing of life; and once with shriks & cries gave
over all, as if y^e ship had been foundred in y^e sea, & they sinking
without recoverie. But when mans hope & helpe wholy failed, y^e Lords
power & mercie appeared in ther recoverie; for y^e ship rose againe, &
gave y^e mariners courage againe to manage her. And if modestie woud
suffer me, I might declare with what fervente [10] prayres they cried
unto y^e Lord in this great distres, (espetialy some of them,) even
without any great distraction, when y^e water rane into their mouthes &
ears; & the mariners cried out, We sinke, we sinke; they cried (if not
with mirakelous, yet with a great hight or degree of devine faith), Yet
Lord thou canst save, yet Lord thou canst save; with shuch other
expressions as I will forbeare. Upon which y^e ship did not only
recover, but shortly after y^e violence of y^e storme begane to abate,
and y^e Lord filed their afflicted minds with shuch comforts as every
one ca[=n]ot understand, and in y^e end brought them to their desired
Haven, wher y^e people came flockeing admiring their deliverance, the
storme having ben so longe & sore, in which much hurt had been don, as
y^e masters freinds related unto him in their congrattulations.
But to returne to y^e others wher we left. The rest of y^e men y^t were
in greatest danger, made shift to escape away before y^e troope could
surprise them; those only staying y^t best might, to be assistante unto
y^e women. But pitifull it was to see y^e heavie case of these poore
women in this distress; what weeping & crying on every side, some for
their husbands, that were caried away in y^e ship as is before related;
others not knowing what should become of them, & their litle ones;
others againe melted in teares, seeing their poore litle ones hanging
aboute them, crying for feare, and quaking with could. Being thus
aprehended, they were hurried from one place to another, and from one
justice to another, till in y^e ende they knew not what to doe with
them; for to imprison so many women & innocent children for no other
cause (many of them) but that they must goe with their husbands, semed
to be unreasonable and all would crie out of them; and to send them home
againe was as difficult, for they aledged, as y^e trueth was, they had
no homes to goe to, for they had either sould, or otherwise disposed of
their houses & livings. To be shorte, after they had been thus turmolyed
a good while, and conveyed from one constable to another, they were glad
to be ridd of them in y^e end upon any termes; for all were wearied &
tired with them. Though in y^e mean time they (poore soules) indured
miserie enough; and thus in the end necessitie forste a way for them.
But y^t I be not tedious in these things, I will omitte y^e rest, though
I might relate many other notable passages and troubles which they
endured & underwente in these their wanderings & travells both at land &
sea; but I hast to [11] other things. Yet I may not omitte y^e fruite
that came hearby, for by these so publick troubls, in so many eminente
places, their cause became famouss, & occasioned many to looke into y^e
same; and their godly cariage & Christian behaviour was such as left a
deep impression in the minds of many. And though some few shrunk at
these first conflicts & sharp beginings, (as it was no marvell,) yet
many more came on with fresh courage, & greatly animated others. And in
y^e end, notwithstanding all these stormes of oppossition, they all gatt
over at length, some at one time & some at an other, and some in one
place & some in an other, and mette togeather againe according to their
desires, with no small rejoycing.
The 3. Chap.
_Of their setling in Holand, & their maner of living, & entertainmente
ther._
Being now come into y^e Low Countries, they saw many goodly & fortified
cities, strongly walled and garded with troopes of armed men. Also they
heard a strange & uncouth language, and beheld y^e differente ma[=n]ers
& customes of y^e people, with their strange fashons and attires; all so
farre differing from y^t of their plaine countrie villages (wherin they
were bred, & had so longe lived) as it seemed they were come into a new
world. But these were not y^e things they much looked on, or long tooke
up their thoughts; for they had other work in hand, & an other kind of
warr to wage & maintaine. For though they saw faire & bewtifull cities,
flowing with abundance of all sorts of welth & riches, yet it was not
longe before they saw the gri[=m]e & grisly face of povertie coming upon
them like an armed man, with whom they must bukle & incounter, and from
whom they could not flye; but they were armed with faith & patience
against him, and all his encounters; and though they were sometimes
foyled, yet by Gods assistance they prevailed and got y^e victorie.
Now when M^r. Robinson, M^r. Brewster, & other principall members were
come over, (for they were of y^e last, & stayed to help y^e weakest
over before them,) such things were [12] thought on as were necessarie
for their setling and best ordering of y^e church affairs. And when they
had lived at Amsterdam aboute a year, M^r. Robinson, their pastor, and
some others of best discerning, seeing how M^r. John Smith and his
companie was allready fallen in to contention with y^e church y^t was
ther before them, & no means they could use would doe any good to cure
y^e same, and also that y^e flames of contention were like to breake out
in y^t anciente church it selfe (as affterwards lamentably came to
pass); which things they prudently foreseeing, thought it was best to
remove, before they were any way engaged with y^e same; though they well
knew it would be much to y^e prejudice of their outward estats, both at
presente & in licklyhood in y^e future; as indeed it proved to be.
_Their remoovall to Leyden._
For these & some other reasons they removed to Leyden, a fair &
bewtifull citie, and of a sweete situation, but made more famous by y^e
universitie wherwith it is adorned, in which of late had been so many
learned men. But wanting that traffike by sea which Amsterdam injoyes,
it was not so beneficiall for their outward means of living & estats.
But being now hear pitchet they fell to such trads & imployments as they
best could; valewing peace & their spirituall comforte above any other
riches whatsoever. And at lenght they came to raise a competente &
comforteable living, but with hard and continuall labor.
Being thus setled (after many difficulties) they continued many years in
a comfortable condition, injoying much sweete & delightefull societie &
spirituall comforte togeather in y^e wayes of God, under y^e able
ministrie, and prudente governmente of M^r. John Robinson, & M^r.
William Brewster, who was an assistante unto him in y^e place of an
Elder, unto which he was now called & chosen by the church. So as they
grew in knowledge & other gifts & graces of y^e spirite of God, & lived
togeather in peace, & love, and holines; and many came unto them from
diverse parts of England, so as they grew a great congregation. And if
at any time any differences arose, or offences broak[13] out (as it
cannot be, but some time ther will, even amongst y^e best of men) they
were ever so mete with, and nipt in y^e head betims, or otherwise so
well composed, as still love, peace, and communion was continued; or els
y^e church purged of those that were incurable & incorrigible, when,
after much patience used, no other means would serve, which seldom came
to pass. Yea such was y^e mutuall love, & reciprocall respecte that this
worthy man had to his flocke, and his flocke to him, that it might be
said of them as it once was of y^t famouse Emperour Marcus Aurelious,[K]
and y^e people of Rome, that it was hard to judge wheather he delighted
more in haveing shuch a people, or they in haveing such a pastor. His
love was greate towards them, and his care was all ways bente for their
best good, both for soule and body; for besids his singuler abilities in
devine things (wherin he excelled), he was also very able to give
directions in civill affaires, and to foresee dangers & inconveniences;
by w^ch means he was very helpfull to their outward estats, & so was
every way as a commone father unto them. And none did more offend him
then those that were close and cleaving to them selves, and retired from
y^e comm[=o]e good; as also such as would be stiffe & riged in matters
of outward order, and invey against y^e evills of others, and yet be
remisse in them selves, and not so carefull to express a vertuous
conversation. They in like maner had ever a reverente regard unto him, &
had him in precious estimation, as his worth & wisdom did deserve; and
though they esteemed him highly whilst he lived & laboured amongst them,
yet much more after his death, when they came to feele y^e wante of his
help, and saw (by woefull experience) what a treasure they had lost, to
y^e greefe of their harts, and wounding of their sowls; yea such a loss
as they saw could not be repaired; for it was as hard for them to find
such another leader and feeder in all respects, as for y^e Taborits to
find another Ziska. And though they did not call themselves orphans, as
the other did, after his death, yet they had cause as much to lamente,
in another regard, their present condition, and after usage. But to
returne; I know not but it may be spoken to y^e honour of God, & without
prejudice [14] to any, that such was y^e true pietie, y^e humble zeale,
& fervent love, of this people (whilst they thus lived together) towards
God and his waies, and y^e single hartednes & sinceir affection one
towards another, that they came as near y^e primative patterne of y^e
first churches, as any other church of these later times have done,
according to their ranke & qualitie.
But seeing it is not my purpose to treat of y^e severall passages that
befell this people whilst they thus lived in y^e Low Countries, (which
might worthily require a large treatise of it selfe,) but to make way to
shew y^e begining of this plantation, which is that I aime at; yet
because some of their adversaries did, upon y^e rumore of their
removall, cast out slanders against them, as if that state had been
wearie of them, & had rather driven them out (as y^e heathen historians
did faine of Moyses & y^e Isralits when they went out of Egipte), then
y^t it was their owne free choyse & motion, I will therfore mention a
perticuler or too to shew y^e contrary, and the good acceptation they
had in y^e place wher they lived. And first though many of them weer
poore, yet ther was none so poore, but if they were known to be of y^t
congregation, the _Dutch_ (either bakers or others) would trust them in
any reasonable matter when y^ey wanted money. Because they had found by
experience how carfull they were to keep their word, and saw them so
painfull & dilligente in their callings; yea, they would strive to gett
their custome, and to imploy them above others, in their worke, for
their honestie & diligence.
Againe; y^e magistrats of y^e citie, aboute y^e time of their coming
away, or a litle before, in y^e publick place of justice, gave this
comendable testemoney of them, in y^e reproofe of the Wallons, who were
of y^e French church in y^t citie. These English, said they, have lived
amongst us now this 12. years, and yet we never had any sute or
accusation came against any of them; but your strifs & quarels are
continuall, &c. In these times allso were y^e great troubls raised by
y^e Arminians, who, as they greatly mollested y^e whole state, so this
citie in particuler, in which was y^e cheefe universitie; so as ther
were dayly & hote disputs in y^e schooles ther aboute; and as y^he
studients & other lerned were devided in their oppinions hearin, so were
y^e 2. proffessors or devinitie readers them selves; the one daly
teaching for it, y^e other against it. Which grew to that pass, that few
of the discipls of y^e one would hear y^e other teach. But M^r.
Robinson, though he taught thrise a weeke him selfe, & write sundrie
books, besids his manyfould pains otherwise, yet he went constantly [15]
to hear ther readings, and heard y^e one as well as y^e other; by which
means he was so well grounded in y^e controversie, and saw y^e force of
all their arguments, and knew y^e shifts of y^e adversarie, and being
him selfe very able, none was fitter to buckle with them then him selfe,
as appered by sundrie disputs; so as he begane to be terrible to y^e
Arminians; which made Episcopius (y^e Arminian professor) to put forth
his best stringth, and set forth sundrie Theses, which by publick
dispute he would defend against all men. Now Poliander y^e other
proffessor, and y^e cheefe preachers of y^e citie, desired M^r. Robinson
to dispute against him; but he was loath, being a stranger; yet the
other did importune him, and tould him y^t such was y^e abilitie and
nimblnes of y^e adversarie, that y^e truth would suffer if he did not
help them. So as he condescended, & prepared him selfe against the time;
and when y^e day came, the Lord did so help him to defend y^e truth &
foyle this adversarie, as he put him to an apparent nonplus, in this
great & publike audience. And y^e like he did a 2. or 3. time, upon such
like occasions. The which as it caused many to praise God y^t the trueth
had so famous victory, so it procured him much honour & respecte from
those lerned men & others which loved y^e trueth. Yea, so farr were they
from being weary of him & his people, or desiring their absence, as it
was said by some, of no mean note, that were it not for giveing offence
to y^e state of England, they would have preferd him otherwise if he
would, and alowd them some publike favour. Yea when ther was speech of
their remoovall into these parts, sundrie of note & eminencie of y^t
nation would have had them come under them, and for y^t end made them
large offers. Now though I might aledg many other perticulers & examples
of the like kinde, to shew y^e untruth & unlicklyhode of this slander,
yet these shall suffice, seeing it was beleeved of few, being only
raised by y^e malice of some, who laboured their disgrace.
The 4. Chap.
_Showing y^e reasons & causes of their remoovall._
After they had lived in this citie about some 11. or 12. years, (which
is y^e more observable being y^e whole time of y^t famose truce between
that state & y^e Spaniards,) and sundrie of them were taken away by
death, & many others begane to be well striken in years, the grave
mistris Experience haveing taught them many things, [16] those prudent
governours with sundrie of y^e sagest members begane both deeply to
apprehend their present dangers, & wisely to foresee y^e future, &
thinke of timly remedy. In y^e agitation of their thoughts, and much
discours of things hear aboute, at length they began to incline to this
conclusion, of remoovall to some other place. Not out of any
newfanglednes, or other such like giddie humor, by which men are
oftentimes transported to their great hurt & danger, but for sundrie
weightie & solid reasons; some of y^e cheefe of which I will hear
breefly touch. And first, they saw & found by experience the hardnes of
y^e place & countrie to be such, as few in comparison would come to
them, and fewer that would bide it out, and continew with them. For many
y^t came to them, and many more y^t desired to be with them, could not
endure y^t great labor and hard fare, with other inconveniences which
they underwent & were contented with. But though they loved their
persons, approved their cause, and honoured their sufferings, yet they
left them as it weer weeping, as Orpah did her mother in law Naomie, or
as those Romans did Cato in Utica, who desired to be excused & borne
with, though they could not all be Catoes. For many, though they desired
to injoye y^e ordinances of God in their puritie, and y^e libertie of
the gospell with them, yet, alass, they admitted of bondage, with danger
of conscience, rather then to indure these hardships; yea, some
preferred & chose y^e prisons in England, rather then this libertie in
Holland, with these afflictions. But it was thought that if a better and
easier place of living could be had, it would draw many, & take away
these discouragments. Yea, their pastor would often say, that many of
those w^o both wrate & preached now against them, if they were in a
place wher they might have libertie and live comfortably, they would
then practise as they did.
2^ly. They saw that though y^e people generally bore all these
difficulties very cherfully, & with a resolute courage, being in y^e
best & strength of their years, yet old age began to steale on many of
them, (and their great & continuall labours, with other crosses and
sorrows, hastened it before y^e time,) so as it was not only probably
thought, but apparently seen, that within a few years more they would be
in danger to scatter, by necessities pressing them, or sinke under their
burdens, or both. And therfore according to y^e devine proverb, y^t a
wise man seeth y^e plague when it cometh, & hideth him selfe, Pro. 22.
3., so they like skillfull & beaten souldiers were fearfull either to be
intrapped or surrounded by their enimies, so as they should neither be
able to fight nor flie; and therfor thought it better to dislodge
betimes to some place of better advantage & less danger, if any such
could be found. [16] Thirdly; as necessitie was a taskmaster over them,
so they were forced to be such, not only to their servants, but in a
sorte, to their dearest chilldren; the which as it did not a litle wound
y^e tender harts of many a loving father & mother, so it produced
likwise sundrie sad & sorowful effects. For many of their children, that
were of best dispositions and gracious inclinations, haveing lernde to
bear y^e yoake in their youth, and willing to bear parte of their
parents burden, were, often times, so oppressed with their hevie
labours, that though their minds were free and willing, yet their bodies
bowed under y^e weight of y^e same, and became decreped in their early
youth; the vigor of nature being consumed in y^e very budd as it were.
But that which was more lamentable, and of all sorowes most heavie to be
borne, was that many of their children, by these occasions, and y^e
great licentiousnes of youth in y^t countrie, and y^e manifold
temptations of the place, were drawne away by evill examples into
extravagante & dangerous courses, getting y^e raines off their neks, &
departing from their parents. Some became souldiers, others tooke upon
them farr viages by sea, and other some worse courses, tending to
dissolutnes & the danger of their soules, to y^e great greefe of their
parents and dishonour of God. So that they saw their posteritie would be
in danger to degenerate & be corrupted.
Lastly, (and which was not least,) a great hope & inward zeall they had
of laying some good foundation, or at least to make some way therunto,
for y^e propagating & advancing y^e gospell of y^e kingdom of Christ in
those remote parts of y^e world; yea, though they should be but even as
stepping-stones unto others for y^e performing of so great a work.
These, & some other like reasons, moved them to undertake this
resolution of their removall; the which they afterward prosecuted with
so great difficulties, as by the sequell will appeare.
The place they had thoughts on was some of those vast & unpeopled
countries of America, which are frutfull & fitt for habitation, being
devoyd of all civill inhabitants, wher ther are only salvage & brutish
men, which range up and downe, litle otherwise then y^e wild beasts of
the same. This proposition being made publike and coming to y^e scaning
of all, it raised many variable opinions amongst men, and caused many
fears & doubts amongst them selves. Some, from their reasons & hops
conceived, laboured to stirr up & incourage the rest to undertake &
prosecute y^e same; others, againe, out of their fears, objected against
it, & sought to diverte from it, aledging many things, and those neither
unreasonable nor unprobable; as that it was a great designe, and
subjecte to many unconceivable perills & dangers; as, besids the
casulties of y^e seas (which none can be freed from) the length of y^e
vioage was such, as y^e weake bodys of women and other persons worne out
with age & traville (as many of them were) could never be able to
endure. And yet if they should, the miseries of y^e land which they
should be [17] exposed unto, would be to hard to be borne; and lickly,
some or all of them togeither, to consume & utterly to ruinate them. For
ther they should be liable to famine, and nakednes, & y^e wante, in a
maner, of all things. The chang of aire, diate, & drinking of water,
would infecte their bodies with sore sickneses, and greevous diseases.
And also those which should escape or overcome these difficulties,
should yett be in continuall danger of y^e salvage people, who are
cruell, barbarous, & most trecherous, being most furious in their rage,
and merciles wher they overcome; not being contente only to kill, & take
away life, but delight to tormente men in y^e most bloodie ma[=n]er that
may be; fleaing some alive with y^e shells of fishes, cutting of y^e
members & joynts of others by peesmeale, and broiling on y^e coles, eate
y^e collops of their flesh in their sight whilst they live; with other
cruelties horrible to be related. And surely it could not be thought but
y^e very hearing of these things could not but move y^e very bowels of
men to grate within them, and make y^e weake to quake & tremble. It was
furder objected, that it would require greater su[=m]es of money to
furnish such a voiage, and to fitt them with necessaries, then their
consumed estats would amounte too; and yett they must as well looke to
be seconded with supplies, as presently to be tr[=a]sported. Also many
presidents of ill success, & lamentable misseries befalne others in the
like designes, were easie to be found, and not forgotten to be aledged;
besids their owne experience, in their former troubles & hardships in
their removall into Holand, and how hard a thing it was for them to live
in that strange place, though it was a neighbour countrie, & a civill
and rich comone wealth.
It was answered, that all great & honourable actions are accompanied
with great difficulties, and must be both enterprised and overcome with
answerable courages. It was granted y^e dangers were great, but not
desperate; the difficulties were many, but not invincible. For though
their were many of them likly, yet they were not cartaine; it might be
sundrie of y^e things feared might never befale; others by providente
care & y^e use of good means, might in a great measure be prevented; and
all of them, through y^e help of God, by fortitude and patience, might
either be borne, or overcome. True it was, that such atempts were not to
be made and undertaken without good ground & reason; not rashly or
lightly as many have done for curiositie or hope of gaine, &c. But their
condition was not ordinarie; their ends were good & honourable; their
calling lawfull, & urgente; and therfore they might expecte y^e blessing
of God in their proceding. Yea, though they should loose their lives in
this action, yet might they have comforte in the same, and their
endeavors would be honourable. They lived hear but as men in exile, & in
a poore condition; and as great miseries might possibly befale them in
this place, for y^e 12. years of truce were now out, & ther was nothing
but beating of drumes, and preparing for warr, the events wherof are
allway uncertaine. Y^e Spaniard might prove as cruell as [18] the
salvages of America, and y^e famine and pestelence as sore hear as ther,
& their libertie less to looke out for remedie. After many other
perticuler things answered & aledged on both sids, it was fully
concluded by y^e major parte, to put this designe in execution, and to
prosecute it by the best means they could.
The 5. Chap.
_Shewing what means they used for preparation to this waightie vioag._
And first after thir humble praiers unto God for his direction &
assistance, & a generall conferrence held hear aboute, they consulted
what perticuler place to pitch upon, & prepare for. Some (& none of y^e
meanest) had thoughts & were ernest for Guiana, or some of those fertill
places in those hott climats; others were for some parts of Virginia,
wher y^e English had all ready made enterance, & begining. Those for
Guiana aledged that the cuntrie was rich, fruitfull, & blessed with a
perpetuall spring, and a florishing greenes; where vigorous nature
brought forth all things in abundance & plentie without any great labour
or art of man. So as it must needs make y^e inhabitants rich, seing less
provisions of clothing and other things would serve, then in more
coulder & less frutfull countries must be had. As also y^t the Spaniards
(having much more then they could possess) had not yet planted there,
nor any where very near y^e same. But to this it was answered, that out
of question y^e countrie was both frutfull and pleasante, and might
yeeld riches & maintenance to y^e possessors, more easily then y^e
other; yet, other things considered, it would not be so fitt for them.
And first, y^t such hott countries are subject to greevuos diseases,
and many noysome impediments, which other more temperate places are
freer from, and would not so well agree with our English bodys. Againe,
if they should ther live, & doe well, the jealous Spaniard would never
suffer them long, but would displante or overthrow them, as he did y^e
French in Florida, who were seated furder from his richest countries;
and the sooner because they should have none to protect them, & their
owne strength would be too smale to resiste so potent an enemie, & so
neare a neighbor.
On y^e other hand, for Virginia it was objected, that if they lived
among y^e English w^ch wear ther planted, or so near them as to be under
their goverment, they should be in as great danger to be troubled and
persecuted for the cause of religion, as if they lived in England, and
it might be worse. And if they lived too farr of, they should neither
have succour, nor defence from them.
But at length y^e conclusion was, to live as a distincte body by them
selves, under y^e generall Goverment of Virginia; and by their freinds
to sue to his majestie that he would be pleased to grant them freedome
of Religion; and y^t this might be obtained, they wear putt in good hope
by some great persons, of good ranke & qualitie, that were made their
freinds. Whereupon 2. were chosen [19] & sent in to England (at y^e
charge of y^e rest) to sollicite this matter, who found the Virginia
Company very desirous to have them goe thither, and willing to grante
them a patent, with as ample priviliges as they had, or could grant to
any, and to give them the best furderance they could. And some of y^e
cheefe of y^t company douted not to obtaine their suite of y^e king for
liberty in Religion, and to have it confirmed under y^e kings broad
seale, according to their desires. But it prooved a harder peece of
worke then they tooke it for; for though many means were used to bring
it aboute, yet it could not be effected; for ther were diverse of good
worth laboured with the king to obtaine it, (amongst whom was one of his
cheefe secretaries,[L]) and some other wrought with y^e archbishop to
give way therunto; but it proved all in vaine. Yet thus farr they
prevailed, in sounding his majesties mind, that he would connive at
them, & not molest them, provided they carried them selves peacably. But
to allow or tolerate them by his publick authoritie, under his seale,
they found it would not be. And this was all the cheefe of y^e Virginia
companie or any other of their best freinds could doe in the case. Yet
they perswaded them to goe on, for they presumed they should not be
troubled. And with this answer y^e messengers returned, and signified
what diligence had bene used, and to what issue things were come.
But this made a dampe in y^e busines, and caused some distraction, for
many were afraid that if they should unsetle them selves, & put of their
estates, and goe upon these hopes, it might prove dangerous, and but a
sandie foundation. Yea, it was thought they might better have presumed
hear upon without makeing any suite at all, then, haveing made it, to be
thus rejected. But some of y^e cheefest thought other wise, and y^t they
might well proceede hereupon, & that y^e kings majestie was willing
enough to suffer them without molestation, though for other reasons he
would not confirme it by any publick acte. And furdermore, if ther was
no securitie in this promise intimated, ther would be no great certainty
in a furder confirmation of y^e same; for if after wards ther should be
a purpose or desire to wrong them, though they had a seale as broad as
y^e house flore, it would not serve y^e turne; for ther would be means
enew found to recall or reverse it. Seeing therfore the course was
probable, they must rest herein on Gods providence, as they had done in
other things.
Upon this resolution, other messengers were dispatched, to end with y^e
Virginia Company as well as they could. And to procure [20] a patent
with as good and ample conditions as they might by any good means
obtaine. As also to treate and conclude with such merchants and other
freinds as had manifested their forwardnes to provoke too and adventure
in this vioage. For which end they had instructions given them upon
what conditions they should proceed with them, or els to conclude
nothing without further advice. And here it will be requisite to inserte
a letter or too that may give light to these proceedings.
_A coppie of leter from Sir Edwin Sands, directed to M^r. John Robinson
& M^r. William Brewster._
After my hartie salutations. The agents of your congregation, Robert
Cushman & John Carver, have been in co[=m]unication with diverse
selecte gentlemen of his Majesties Counsell for Virginia; and by y^e
writing of 7. Articles subscribed with your names, have given them y^t
good degree of satisfaction, which hath caried them on with a
resolution to sett forward your desire in y^e best sorte y^t may be,
for your owne & the publick good. Divers perticulers wherof we leave
to their faithfull reporte; having carried them selves heere with that
good discretion, as is both to their owne and their credite from
whence they came. And wheras being to treate for a multitude of
people, they have requested further time to conferr with them that are
to be interessed in this action, aboute y^e severall particularities
which in y^e prosecution therof will fall out considerable, it hath
been very willingly assented too. And so they doe now returne unto
you. If therfore it may please God so to directe your desires as that
on your parts ther fall out no just impediments, I trust by y^e same
direction it shall likewise appear, that on our parte, all forwardnes
to set you forward shall be found in the best sorte which with reason
may be expected. And so I betake you with this designe (w^ch I hope
verily is y^e worke of God), to the gracious protection and blessing
of the Highest.
Your very loving freind
EDWIN SANDYS.
London, No[~v]b^r 12.
An^o 1617.
_Their answer was as foloweth._
Righte Wor^pl:
Our humble duties remembred, in our owne, our messengers, and our
churches name, with all thankfull acknowledgmente of your singuler
love, expressing [21] itselfe, as otherwise, so more spetially in your
great care and earnest endeavor of our good in this weightie bussines
aboute Virginia, which y^e less able we are to requite, we shall
thinke our selves the more bound to commend in our prayers unto God
for recompence; whom, as for y^e presente you rightly behould in our
indeavors, so shall we not be wanting on our parts (the same God
assisting us) to returne all answerable fruite, and respecte unto y^e
labour of your love bestowed upon us. We have with y^e best speed and
consideration withall that we could, sett downe our requests in
writing, subscribed, as you willed, w^th the hands of y^e greatest
parte of our congregation, and have sente y^e same unto y^e Counsell
by our agente, & a deacon of our church, John Carver, unto whom we
have also requested a gentleman of our company to adyone him selfe; to
the care & discretion of which two, we doe referr y^e prosecuting of
y^e bussines. Now we perswade our selves Right Wor^pp: that we need
not provoke your godly & loving minde to any further or more tender
care of us, since you have pleased so farr to interest us in your
selfe, that, under God, above all persons and things in the world, we
relye upon you, expecting the care of your love, counsell of your
wisdome, & the help & countenance of your authority. Notwithstanding,
for your encouragmente in y^e worke, so farr as probabilities may
leade, we will not forbeare to mention these instances of indusmente.
1. We veryly beleeve & trust y^e Lord is with us, unto whom & whose
service we have given our selves in many trialls; and that he will
graciously prosper our indeavours according to y^e simplicitie of our
harts therin.
2^ly. We are well weaned from y^e delicate milke of our mother
countrie, and enured to y^e difficulties of a strange and hard land,
which yet in a great parte we have by patience overcome.
3^ly. The people are for the body of them, industrious, & frugall, we
thinke we may safly say, as any company of people in the world.
4^ly. We are knite togeather as a body in a most stricte & sacred bond
and covenante of the Lord, of the violation[M] wherof we make great
conscience, and by vertue wherof we doe hould our selves straitly tied
to all care of each others good, and of y^e whole by every one and so
mutually.
5. Lastly, it is not with us as with other men, whom small things can
discourage, or small discontentments cause to wish them selves at home
againe. We knowe our entertainmente in England, and in Holand; we
shall much prejudice both our arts & means by removall; who, if we
should be driven to returne, we should not hope to recover our present
helps and comforts, neither indeed looke ever, for our selves, to
attaine unto y^e like in any other place during our lives, w^ch are
now drawing towards their periods.
[22] These motives we have been bould to tender unto you, which you
in your wisdome may also imparte to any other our wor^pp: freinds of
y^e Counsell with you; of all whose godly dispossition and loving
towards our despised persons, we are most glad, & shall not faile by
all good means to continue & increase y^e same. We will not be further
troublesome, but doe, with y^e renewed remembrance of our humble
duties to your Wor^pp: and (so farr as in modestie we may be bould) to
any other of our wellwillers of the Counsell with you, we take our
leaves, co[=m]iting your persons and counsels to y^e guidance and
direction of the Almighty.
Yours much bounden in all duty,
JOHN ROBINSON,
WILLIAM BREWSTER.
Leyden, Desem: 15.
An^o: 1617.
For further light in these proceedings see some other letters & notes as
followeth.
_The coppy of a letter sent to S^r. John Worssenham._
Right Wor^pll: with due acknowledgmente of our thankfullnse for your
singular care & pains in the bussines of Virginia, for our, &, we
hope, the co[=m]one good, we doe remember our humble dutys unto you,
and have sent inclosed, as is required, a further explanation of our
judgments in the 3. points specified by some of his majesties Hon^bl
Privie Counsell; and though it be greevious unto us that such unjust
insinuations are made against us, yet we are most glad of y^e occasion
of making our just purgation unto so honourable personages. The
declarations we have sent inclosed, the one more breefe & generall,
which we thinke y^e fitter to be presented; the other something more
large, and in which we express some smale accidentall differances,
which if it seeme good unto you and other of our wor^pl freinds, you
may send in stead of y^e former. Our prayers unto God is, y^t your
Wor^pp may see the frute of your worthy endeaours, which on our parts
we shall not faile to furder by all good means in us. And so praing
y^t you would please with y^e convenientest speed y^t may be, to give
us knowledge of y^e success of y^e bussines with his majesties Privie
Counsell, and accordingly what your further pleasure is, either for
our direction or furtherance in y^e same, so we rest
Your Wor^pp in all duty,
JOHN ROBINSON,
WILLIAM BREWSTER.
Leyden, Jan: 27.
An^o: 1617. old stile.
_The first breefe note was this._
Touching y^e Ecclesiasticall ministrie, namly of pastores for
teaching, elders for ruling, & deacons for distributing y^e churches
contribution, as allso for y^e too Sacrements, baptisme, and y^e Lords
supper, we doe wholy and in all points agree [23] with y^e French
reformed churches, according to their publick confession of faith.
The oath of Supremacie we shall willingly take if it be required of
us, and that conveniente satisfaction be not given by our taking y^e
oath of Alleagence.
JOHN ROB:
WILLIAM BREWSTER.
_Y^e 2. was this._
Touching y^e Ecclesiasticall ministrie, &c. as in y^e former, we agree
in all things with the French reformed churches, according to their
publick confession of faith; though some small differences be to be
found in our practises, not at all in y^e substance of the things, but
only in some accidentall circumstances.
1. As first, their ministers doe pray with their heads covered; ours
uncovered.
2. We chose none for Governing Elders but such as are able to teach;
which abilitie they doe not require.
3. Their elders & deacons are an[=u]all, or at most for 2. or 3.
years; ours perpetuall.
4. Our elders doe administer their office in admonitions &
excommunications for publick scandals, publickly & before y^e
congregation; theirs more privately, & in their consistories.
5. We doe administer baptisme only to such infants as wherof y^e one
parente, at y^e least, is of some church, which some of ther churches
doe not observe; though in it our practice accords with their publick
confession and y^e judgmente of y^e most larned amongst them.
Other differences, worthy mentioning, we know none in these points.
Then aboute y^e oath, as in y^e former.
Subscribed,
JOHN R.
W. B.
_Part of another letter from him that delivered these._
London. Feb: 14.
1617.
Your letter to S^r. John Worstenholme I delivered allmost as soone as
I had it, to his owne hands, and staid with him y^e opening & reading.
Ther were 2. papers inclosed, he read them to him selfe, as also y^e
letter, and in y^e reading he spake to me & said, Who shall make them?
viz. y^e ministers; I answered his Wor^pp that y^e power of making was
in y^e church, to be ordained by y^e imposition of hands, by y^e
fittest instruments they had. It must either be in y^e church or from
y^e pope, & y^e pope is Antichrist. Ho! said S^r. John, what y^e pope
houlds good, (as in y^e Trinitie,) that we doe well to assente too;
but, said he, we will not enter into dispute now. And as for your
letters he would not show them at any hand, least he should spoyle
all. He expected you should have been of y^e archb[~p] minde for y^e
calling of ministers, but it seems you differed. I could have wished
to have known y^e contents of your tow inclosed, at w^ch he stuck so
much, espetially y^e larger. I asked his Wor^p what good news he had
for me to write to morrow. He tould me very good news, for both the
kings majestie and y^e bishops have consented. He said he would goe to
M^r. Chancelor, S^r. Fulk Grivell, as this day, & nexte weeke I should
know more. I mett S^r. Edw: Sands on Wedensday night; he wished me to
be at the Virginia Courte y^e nexte Wedensday, wher I purpose to be.
Thus loath to be troublsome at present, I hope to have somewhate nexte
week of certentie concerning you. I co[=m]itte you to y^e Lord. Yours,