Escape: Holland
_The Migration to Holland_ was not accomplished without its set-backs
and misgivings. In the first place it was unlawful under an old statute
which made emigrating without authority a penal crime. They were several
times intercepted in their attempt to depart from English soil. But they
were determined in purpose and brave in heart.
“Being thus constrained to leave their native country, their lands and
livings, and all their friends and familiar acquaintance, it was much,
and thought marvellous by many. But to go into a country they knew not,
but by hearsay, where they must learn a new language, and get their
livings they knew not how, it being a dear place, and subject to the
miseries of war,[1] it was by many thought an adventure almost
desperate, a case intolerable, and a misery worse than death; especially
seeing they were not acquainted with trades nor traffic, (by which the
country doth subsist) but had only been used to a plain country life and
the innocent trade of husbandry. But these things did not dismay them,
(although they did sometimes trouble them,) for their desires were set
on the ways of God, and to enjoy his ordinances. But they rested on his
providence, and knew whom they had believed. Yet this was not all. For
although they could not stay, yet were they not suffered to go; but the
ports and havens were shut against them, so as they were fain to seek
secret means of conveyance, and to fee the mariners, and give
extraordinary rates for their passages. And yet were they oftentimes
betrayed, many of them, and both they and their goods intercepted and
surprised, and thereby put to great trouble and charge; of which I will
give an instance or two, and omit the rest.”
“There was a great company of them purposed to get passage at Boston, in
Lincolnshire; and for that end had hired a ship wholly to themselves,
and made agreement with the master to be ready at a certain day, and
take them and their goods in, at a convenient place, where they
accordingly would all attend in readiness. So after long waiting and
large expenses, though he kept not the day with them, yet he came at
length, and took them in, in the night. And when he had them and their
goods aboard, he betrayed them, having beforehand complotted with the
searchers and other officers so to do; who took them and put them into
open boats, and there rifled and ransacked them, searching them to their
shirts for money, yae, even the women, further than became modesty; and
then carried them back into the town, and made them a spectacle and
wonderment to the multitude, which came flocking on all sides to behold
them. Being thus by the catchpole officers riffled and stripped of their
money, books and much other goods, they were presented to the
magistrates, and messengers sent to inform the Lords of the Council of
them; and so they were committed to ward. Indeed the magistrates used
them courteously, and showed them what favor they could; but could not
deliver them until order came from the Council table. But the issue was,
that after a month’s imprisonment the greatest part were dismissed, and
sent to the places from whence they came; but seven of the principal men
were still kept in prison and bound over to the assizes.”
In the spring of 1608 another attempt was made to embark and another
Dutch shipmaster engaged. This second party assembled at a point between
Grimsby and Hull not far from the mouth of the Humber. The women and
children arrived in a small bark which became grounded at low water and
while some of the men on shore were taken off in the ship’s boat they
were again apprehended. And to quote again:
“But after the first boat-full was got aboard, and she was ready to go
for more, the master espied a great company, both horse and foot, with
bills and guns and other weapons: for the country was raised to take
them.”
“But the poor men which were got on board were in great distress for
their wives and children, which they saw thus to be taken, and were left
distitute of their helps, and themselves also not having a cloth to
shift them with, more than they had on their backs, and some scarce a
penny about them, all they had being on the bark. It drew tears from
their eyes, and anything they had they would have given to have been on
shore again. But all in vain; there was no remedy; they must thus sadly
part; and afterwards endured a fearful storm at sea, being fourteen days
or more before they arrived at their port; in seven whereof they neither
saw sun, moon, nor stars, and were driven to the coast of Norway; the
mariners themselves often despairing of life, and once with shrieks and
cries gave over all, as if the ship had been foundered in the sea, and
they sinking without recovery. But when man’s hope and help wholly
failed, the Lord’s power and mercy appeared for their recovery; for the
ship rose again, and gave the mariners courage again to manager her; and
if modesty would suffer me, I might declare with what fervent prayers
they cried unto the Lord in this great distress, (especially some of
them,) even without any great distraction.”[2]
Those left ashore were in a pitiable state, women were left without
their husbands and children without their fathers, their property had
been sold in anticipation of a safe departure and the situation was, for
a time at least, desperate. But a kind Providence intervened and while
their purpose was thus hindered, they finally were united at Amsterdam.
As Bradford states: “Notwithstanding all these storms of opposition,
they all got over at length, some at one time and some at another, and
yet met together again, according to their desires, with no small
rejoicing.”
Let us pause here a moment and reflect. In our contemplation of the
present and concern for the future, we must not be unmindful of the
past. It was not easy to make final decision in such matter as
permanently breaking away from homes, relatives and friends, not to
mention the material factors involved. Fortunately however for them and
for us, this devout band was imbued with enduring faith. Faith fortified
by grim determination.
Thus they planned and executed. They left the land of their nativity.
They braved the perils of an unknown ocean and a still more unknown
future that they might find a refuge free from religious bondage and
where they might worship God according to their conscience. This they
accomplished in the face of almost insurmountable hardships.
They made concord with the Indians, they builded homes, they framed laws
and agreements in accordance with the time and the necessity. They
established a governmental process sufficient for their needs, an
outgrowth of the government of their religious life in which decisions
were made by the will of the majority. They paved the way for future
generations. They suffered much. They attained much. They left a
heritage that must not be sacrificed.
We of today are faced with ominous problems. A re-dedication to the
faith, vision and determination of our fathers, will be America’s
salvation.
[Illustration: Love Scene, showing actual bridge and the Cloth Hall
in Leyden, headquarters of the guild of woolen workers, of whom the
Pilgrims were a part]