Chapter III: Part 3

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,

S. B.

[24] These things being long in agitation, & messengers passing too and againe aboute them, after all their hopes they were long delayed by many rubs that fell in y^e way; for at y^e returne of these messengers into England they found things farr otherwise then they expected. For y^e Virginia Counsell was now so disturbed with factions and quarrels amongst them selves, as no bussines could well goe forward. The which may the better appear in one of the messengers letters as followeth.

To his loving freinds, &c.

I had thought long since to have write unto you, but could not effecte
y^t which I aimed at, neither can yet sett things as I wished; yet,
notwithstanding, I doubt not but M^r. B. hath writen to M^r. Robinson.
But I thinke my selfe bound also to doe something, least I be thought
to neglecte you. The maine hinderance of our proseedings in y^e
Virginia bussines, is the dissentions and factions, as they terme it,
amongs y^e Counsell & Company of Virginia; which are such, as that
ever since we came up no busines could by them be dispatched. The
occasion of this trouble amongst them is, for that a while since S^r.
Thomas Smith, repining at his many offices & troubls, wished y^e
Company of Virginia to ease him of his office in being Treasurer &
Gover^r. of y^e Virginia Company. Wereupon y^e Company tooke occasion
to dismisse him, and chose S^r. Edwin Sands Treasure^r & Gover^r of
y^e Company. He having 60. voyces, S^r. John Worstenholme 16. voices,
and Alderman Johnsone 24. But S^r. Thomas Smith, when he saw some
parte of his honour lost, was very angrie, & raised a faction to
cavill & contend aboute y^e election, and sought to taxe S^r. Edwin
with many things that might both disgrace him, and allso put him by
his office of Governour. In which contentions they yet stick, and are
not fit nor readie to intermedle in any bussines; and what issue
things will come to we are not yet certaine. It is most like S^r.
Edwin will carrie it away, and if he doe, things will goe well in
Virginia; if otherwise, they will goe ill enough allways. We hope in
some 2. or 3. Court days things will setle. Mean space I thinke to goe
downe into Kente, & come up againe aboute 14. days, or 3. weeks hence;
except either by these afforesaid contentions, or by y^e ille tidings
from Virginia, we be wholy discouraged, of which tidings I am now to
speake.

Captaine Argoll is come home this weeke (he upon notice of y^e intente
of y^e Counsell, came away before S^r. Georg Yeardley came ther, and
so ther is no small dissention). But his tidings are ill, though his
person be wellcome. He saith M^r. Blackwells shipe came not ther till
March, but going towards winter, they had still norwest winds, which
carried them to the southward beyond their course. And y^e m^r of y^e
ship & some 6. of y^e mariners dieing, it seemed they could not find
y^e bay, till after long seeking & beating aboute. M^r. Blackwell is
dead, & M^r. Maggner, y^e Captain; yea, ther are dead, he saith, 130.
persons, one & other in y^t ship; it is said ther was in all an 180.
persons in y^e ship, so as they were packed togeather like herings.
They had amongst them y^e fluxe, and allso wante of fresh water; so as
it is hear rather wondred at y^t so many are alive, then that so many
are dead. The marchants hear say it was M^r. Blackwells faulte to pack
so many in y^e ship; yea, & ther were great mutterings & repinings
amongst them, and upbraiding of M^r. Blackwell, for his dealing and
dispossing of them, when they saw how he had dispossed of them, & how
he insulted over them. Yea, y^e streets at Gravsend runge of their
extreame quarrelings, crying out one of another, Thou hast brought me
to this, and, I may thanke the for this. Heavie newes it is, and I
would be glad to heare how farr it will discourage. I see none hear
discouraged much, [25] but rather desire to larne to beware by other
mens harmes, and to amend that wherin they have failed. As we desire
to serve one another in love, so take heed of being inthraled by any
imperious persone, espetially if they be discerned to have an eye to
them selves. It doth often trouble me to thinke that in this bussines
we are all to learne and none to teach; but better so, then to depend
upon such teachers as M^r. Blackwell was. Such a strategeme he once
made for M^r. Johnson & his people at Emden, w^ch was their
subversion. But though he ther clenlily (yet unhonstly) plucked his
neck out of y^e collar, yet at last his foote is caught. Hear are no
letters come, y^e ship captain Argole came in is yet in y^e west
parts; all y^t we hear is but his report; it seemeth he came away
secretly. The ship y^t M^r. Blackwell went in will be hear shortly. It
is as M^r. Robinson once said; he thought we should hear no good of
them.

M^r. B. is not well at this time; whether he will come back to you or
goe into y^e north, I yet know not. For my selfe, I hope to see an end
of this bussines ere I come, though I am sorie to be thus from you; if
things had gone roundly forward, I should have been with you within
these 14. days. I pray God directe us, and give us that spirite which
is fitting for such a bussines. Thus having su[=m]arily pointed at
things w^ch M^r. Brewster (I thinke) hath more largly write of to M^r.
Robinson, I leave you to the Lords protection.

Yours in all readines, &c.
ROBART CUSHMAN.

London, May 8.
An^o: 1619.

A word or tow by way of digression touching this M^r. Blackwell; he was an elder of y^e church at Amsterdam, a man well known of most of them. He declined from y^e trueth w^th M^r. Johnson & y^e rest, and went with him when y^ey parted assunder in y^t wofull maner, w^ch brought so great dishonour to God, scandall to y^e trueth, & outward ruine to them selves in this world. But I hope, notwithstanding, through y^e mercies of y^e Lord, their souls are now at rest with him in y^e heavens, and y^t they are arrived in y^e Haven of hapines; though some of their bodies were thus buried in y^e terrable seas, and others sunke under y^e burthen of bitter afflictions. He with some others had prepared for to goe to Virginia. And he, with sundrie godly citizens, being at a private me[=e]ing (I take it a fast) in London, being discovered, many of them were apprehended, wherof M^r. Blackwell was one; but he so glosed w^th y^e b[~p]s,[N] and either dissembled or flatly denyed y^e trueth which formerly he had maintained; and not only so, but very unworthily betrayed and accused another godly man who had escaped, that so he might slip his own neck out of y^e collar, & to obtaine his owne freedome brought others into bonds. Wherupon he so wone y^e b[~p]s favour (but lost y^e Lord's) as he was not only dismiste, but in open courte y^e arch-bishop gave him great applause and his sollemne blessing to proseed in his vioage. But if such events follow y^e b[~p]s blessing, happie are they y^t misse y^e same; it is much better to keepe a good conscience and have y^e Lords blessing, whether in life or death.

But see how y^e man thus apprehended by M^r. Blackwells means, writs to a freind of his.

Right dear friend & christian brother, _M^r. Carver_, I salute you &
yours in y^e Lord, &c. As for my owne presente condition, I doubt not
but you well understand it ere this by our brother Maistersone, who
should have tasted of y^e same cupp, had his place of residence & his
person been as well knowne as my selfe. Some what I have written to
_M^r. Cushman_ how y^e matter _still continues_. I have petitioned
_twise_ to M^r. Sherives, and _once_ to my Lord Cooke, and have used
such reasons to move them to pittie, that if they were not overruled
by some others, I suppose I should soone gaine my libertie; as that I
was a yonge man living by my [26] credite, indebted to diverse in our
citie, living at more then ordinarie charges in a close & tedious
prison; besids great rents abroad, all my bussines lying still, my
only servante lying lame in y^e countrie, my wife being also great
with child. And yet no answer till y^e lords of his majesties Counsell
gave consente. Howbeit, M^r. Blackwell, a man as deepe in this action
as I, was delivered at a cheaper rate, with a great deale less adoe;
yea, with an addition of y^e Arch[~p]: blessing. I am sorie for M^r.
Blackwels weaknes, I wish it may prove no worse. But yet he & some
others of them, _before their going_, were not sorie, but thought it
was for y^e best that I was nominated, not because y^e Lord sanctifies
evill to good, but that y^e action was good, yea for y^e best. One
reason I well remember he used was, because this trouble would
encrease y^e Virginia plantation, in that now people begane to be more
generally inclined to goe; and if he had not nomminated some such as
I, he had not bene free, being it was knowne that diverse citizens
besids them selves were ther. I expecte an answer shortly what they
intende conscerning me; I purpose to write to some others of you, by
whom you shall know the certaintie. Thus not haveing further at
present to acquaint you withall, co[=m]ending myselfe to your prairs,
I cease, & co[=m]itte you and us all to y^e Lord.

From my chamber in Wodstreete Compter.
Your freind, & brother in bonds,
SABIN STARESMORE.

Sept^r: 4. An^o: 1618.

But thus much by y^e way, which may be of instruction & good use.

But at last, after all these things, and their long attendance, they had a patent granted them, and confirmed under y^e Companies seale; but these devissions and distractions had shaken of many of ther pretended freinds, and disappointed them of much of their hoped for & proffered means. By the advise of some freinds this pattente was not taken in y^e name of any of their owne, but in y^e name of Mr. John Wincob (a religious gentleman then belonging to y^e Countess of Lincoline), who intended to goe with them. But God so disposed as he never went, nor they ever made use of this patente, which had cost them so much labour and charge, as by y^e sequell will appeare. This patente being sente over for them to veiw & consider, as also the passages aboute y^e propossitions between them & such marchants & freinds as should either goe or adventure with them, and espetially with those[O] on whom y^ey did cheefly depend for shipping and means, whose proffers had been large, they were requested to fitt and prepare them selves with all speed. A right emblime, it may be, of y^e uncertine things of this world; y^t when men have toyld them selves for them, they vanish into smoke.

The 6. Chap.

_Conscerning y^e agreements and artickles between them, and such marchants & others as adventured moneys; with other things falling out aboute making their provissions._

Upon y^e receite of these things by one of their messengers, they had a sollemne meeting and a day of humilliation to seeke y^e Lord for his direction; and their pastor tooke this texte, 1 _Sam_. 23. 3, 4. _And David's men said unto him, see, we be afraid hear in Judah, how much more if we come to Keilah against the host of the Phillistines? Then David asked counsell of y^e Lord againe, &c._ From which texte he taught many things very aptly, and befitting ther present occasion and condition, strengthing them against their fears and perplexities, and incouraging them in their resolutions. [27] After which they concluded both what number and what persons should prepare them selves to goe with y^e first; for all y^t were willing to have gone could not gett ready for their other affairs in so shorte a time; neither if all could have been ready, had ther been means to have trasported them alltogeather. Those that staied being y^e greater number required y^e pastor to stay with them; and indeede for other reasons he could not then well goe, and so it was y^e more easilie yeelded unto. The other then desired y^e elder, M^r. Brewster, to goe with them, which was also condescended unto. It was also agreed on by mutuall consente and covenante, that those that went should be an absolute church of them selves, as well as those y^t staid; seing in such a dangrous vioage, and a removall to such a distance, it might come to pass they should (for y^e body of them) never meete againe in this world; yet with this proviso, that as any of y^e rest came over to them, or of y^e other returned upon occasion, they should be reputed as members without any further dismission or testimoniall. It was allso promised to those y^t wente first, by y^e body of y^e rest, that if y^e Lord gave them life, & me[=a]s, & opportunitie, they would come to them as soone as they could.

Aboute this time, whilst they were perplexed with y^e proseedings of y^e Virginia Company, & y^e ill news from thence aboute M^r. Blackwell & his company, and making inquirey about y^e hiring & buying of shiping for their vioage, some Dutchmen made them faire offers aboute goeing with them. Also one M^r. Thomas Weston, a m^{r}chant of London, came to Leyden aboute y^e same time, (who was well aquainted with some of them, and a furtherer of them in their former proseedings,) haveing much conferance w^th M^r. Robinson & other of y^e cheefe of them, perswaded them to goe on (as it seems) & not to medle with y^e Dutch, or too much to depend on the Virginia Company; for if that failed, if they came to resolution, he and such marchants as were his freinds (togeather with their owne means) would sett them forth; and they should make ready, and neither feare wante of shipping nor money; for what they wanted should be provided. And, not so much for him selfe as for y^e satisfing of such frends as he should procure to adventure in this bussines, they were to draw such articls of agreemente, and make such propossitions, as might y^e better induce his freinds to venture. Upon which (after y^e formere conclusion) articles were drawne & agreed unto, and were showne unto him, and approved by him; and afterwards by their messenger (M^r. John Carver) sent into England, who, togeather with Robart Cushman, were to receive y^e moneys & make provissione both for shiping & other things for y^e vioage; with this charge, not to exseede their co[=m]ission, but to proseed according to y^e former articles. Also some were chossen to doe y^e like for such things as were to be prepared there; so those that weare to goe, prepared them selves with all speed, and sould of their estats and (such as were able) put in their moneys into y^e commone stock, which was disposed by those appointed, for y^e making of generall provissions. Aboute this time also they had heard, both by M^r. Weston and others, y^t sundrie Hon^bl: Lords had obtained a large grante from y^e king, for y^e more northerly parts of that countrie, derived out of y^e Virginia patente, and wholy secluded from their Govermente, and to be called by another name, viz. New-England. Unto which M^r. Weston, and y^e cheefe of them, begane to incline it was [28] best for them to goe, as for other reasons, so cheefly for y^e hope of present profite to be made by y^e fishing that was found in y^t countrie.

But as in all bussineses y^e acting parte is most difficulte, espetially wher y^e worke of many agents must concurr, so it was found in this; for some of those y^t should have gone in England, fell of & would not goe; other marchants & freinds y^t had offered to adventure their moneys withdrew, and pretended many excuses. Some disliking they wente not to Guiana; others againe would adventure nothing excepte they wente to Virginia. Some againe (and those that were most relied on) fell in utter dislike with Virginia, and would doe nothing if they wente thither. In y^e midds of these distractions, they of Leyden, who had put of their estats, and laid out their moneys, were brought into a greate streight, fearing what issue these things would come too; but at length y^e generalitie was swaid to this latter opinion.