Holland, which had exhibited a republican character in its conflict with catholic Spain, and the reformed church of which inclined to the opinions of Calvin, offered a desirable retreat for the persecuted Puritans of England; “and hither, in the fall of the year 1608,” says Thomas Prince, the worthy chronicler of New England, “fled divers of Mr. Robinson’s church from the north of England, which had been extremely harassed; some cast into prison, some burnt in their houses, some forced to leave their farms and families;” thither they fled accordingly, for the purity of worship and liberty of conscience.
And now leaving England, we must attach ourselves to the history of our puritan exiles, thus commencing their momentous pilgrimage; and wherever it is possible so to do, we will take the worthy old Thomas Prince as our guide, who, like the chronicler of a second Acts of the Apostles, puts down all in good faith, even to the contentions in the church itself. “This spring” (1608), says he, “more of Mr. Robinson’s church, through great difficulties from their pursuers, got over to Holland; and afterwards the rest, with Mr. Robinson and Mr. Brewster, who are of the last, having tarried to help the weakest over before them. They first settle at Amsterdam, and stay there a year, where Mr. Smith (another minister from England) and his church had gotten before them.
“1609. Mr. Robinson’s church having staid at Amsterdam about a year, and seeing that Mr. Smith and his church was fallen into contention, and that the flames there were likely to break out in that ancient church itself, they think it best to remove in time, before they were any way engaged with the same; and valuing peace and spiritual comfort above other riches, they, with Mr. Robinson, remove to Leyden, choose Mr. Brewster assistant to him, and live in great love and harmony both among themselves and their neighbours for above eleven years.”
In 1617 the church in Leyden began to think of removing to America, for several weighty reasons; the principal of which were “the licentiousness and temptations of the place; many of their children having left their parents to become soldiers, others taking to foreign voyages, and others to courses leading to the danger of their souls, to the great grief of their parents, and the fear that religion might die among them; and also from an inward zeal and great hope of laying some foundation for the kingdom of Christ in the remote ends of the earth, though they should be but as stepping-stones to others.” The Dutch, hearing of their intention, made them large offers to emigrate to their colonies; but they, preferring to go under the English government, after humble prayers to God, decided on so doing, and to settle in a distinct body under the general government in Virginia.
Robinson, in the name of the congregation, stated to the Virginia company the wishes and feelings of the proposed emigrants, to which they all subscribed their names. This letter comprised the whole spirit of the Pilgrim Fathers. “1st (said they), We verily believe and trust the Lord is with us; to whom, and to whose service, we have given ourselves in many trials, and that he will graciously prosper our endeavours, according to the simplicity of our hearts. 2nd, We are weaned from the delicate milk of our mother-country, and inured to the difficulties of a strange land. 3rd, The people are, for the body of them, as industrious and frugal, we think we may say, as any company of people in the world. 4th, We are knit together as a body in a most strict and sacred bond and covenant of the Lord, of the violation of which we make great conscience, and by virtue whereof we hold ourselves straitly tied to all care of each other’s good, and of the whole. 5th and lastly, It is not with us, as with other men, whom small things can discourage, or small discontentments cause to wish ourselves at home again.”
The Virginia company saw, as well it might, that these were men in whom was the bone and sinew of steadfast enterprise, and they replied that “their desire should be forwarded in the best sort, that might be for their own and the public good.”
Another letter was also written, stating faithfully their religious views, which was intended to be laid before the king and privy council, praying for the royal consent to their liberty of conscience beyond the seas. Sir John Worstenholme, to whom the letter was sent, reported “very good news; for the king’s majesty and the bishops have consented; but,” says he, “for your letter I would not show it at any hand, lest it should spoil all.” Still, spite of Sir John Worstenholme’s very good news, the chronicler records that they found it a harder piece of work than they expected, to obtain their writ of the king for liberty in religion; he would only consent “to connive at them, and not molest them, provided they would carry themselves peaceably; but to tolerate them by the public authority of his seal, that he would not do.”
Nearly a year after this it is recorded that, “notwithstanding the great discouragement they met with from the king and bishops, yet casting themselves on the care of Providence, they resolve to venture,” and accordingly two agents were sent to London, to arrange all things for their departure.
Many difficulties still remained to be overcome, factions and disturbances having in the meantime occurred in the Virginia company. At length, after long attendance, a patent was granted and confirmed under the Virginia company’s seal, being made out to Mr. John Wincob, “a religious gentleman, belonging to the Countess of Lincoln, who intended at that time to go out; but Providence ordained it otherwise.” The patent was sent over to Holland, together with proposals for their transmigration from friends and merchants in London, who were willing either to go or to adventure with them. “On receiving these,” says the chronicler, “they first kept a day of solemn prayer, Mr. Robinson preaching a very suitable sermon, strengthening them against their fears, and encouraging them in their resolutions; and then they decided how many, and who should go first, for all who were willing could not be got ready quickly. The greater number remaining required their beloved pastor to remain with them; their elder, Mr. Brewster, accompanying those who should depart.”
And now, on June 10th, 1620, a ship of nine score tons being hired in London, and the ship in Holland being ready, they spent a day in solemn prayer, for with the Pilgrim every important act of life was an act of religion, and their beloved pastor, anticipating their high destiny, and the sublime doctrines of liberty that would grow out of the principles on which their religious tenets were established, gave them a farewell address, breathing a freedom of opinion and an independence of authority, such as then was hardly known in the world.[[1]]