Chapter V

Decision to make New England the place of Settlement, in preference to Guiana or Virginia—Endeavour to obtain a Patent from the King of England: 1617-1620

After humble prayers to God for His protection and assistance, and a general conference, they consulted what particular place to pitch upon. Some had thought of Guiana; some of those fertile places in hot climates; others were for some parts of Virginia, where the English had already made entrance. Those for Guiana alleged that the country was rich, fruitful, and blessed with a perpetual spring, where vigorous nature brought forth all things in abundance and plenty, without need of much labour, and that the Spaniards, having much more than they could possess, had not yet settled there, or anywhere very near.

To this it was objected that though the country was fruitful and pleasant, and might yield riches and easy maintenance to the possessors, other things considered, it would not be so fit for them. First, such hot countries are subject to horrible diseases and many noisome pests, which other more temperate places are free from, and they would not agree so well with our English bodies. Again, if they lived there and did well, the jealous Spaniards would never leave them in peace, but would dispossess them as they did the French in Florida,—and the sooner because they would have no protection, and their own strength would be insufficient to resist so potent an enemy and so near a neighbour.

On the other hand, against Virginia it was objected that if they lived among the English who had settled there, or so near them as to be under their government, they would be in as great danger of persecution for their religion as if they lived in England,—and it might be, worse; while, if they lived too far off, they would have neither help nor defence from them.

* * * * *

At length the conclusion was reached that they should live as a separate body, by themselves, under the general government of Virginia; and that through their friends they should sue his majesty to be pleased to allow them freedom of religion. That this might be granted they were led to hope by some prominent persons of rank and influence, who had become their friends.

* * * * *

Whereupon, two members of the congregation were sent to England at the expense of the rest, to arrange the matter. They found the Virginia company anxious to have them, and willing to grant them a patent, with as ample privileges as they themselves had or could grant and to give them the best assistance they could. Some of the principal officers of the Virginia Company did not doubt that they could obtain the King’s grant of liberty of religion, confirmed under his broad seal. But it proved a harder piece of work than they expected; and, though many means were used to accomplish it, it proved impossible. Many of high standing used their influence to obtain it,—though one of the King’s chief secretaries, Sir Robert Nanton, was against them,—and others urged the Archbishop to give way to it; but it proved all in vain. They succeeded, however, in sounding his majesty’s mind, and found that he would connive at them, and not molest them, provided they behaved peaceably. But to allow or tolerate their claim to religious freedom by his public authority, under his seal, was found to be impossible. This was all the leading officials of the Virginia Company or any of their best friends could do; though they persuaded the Congregation at Leyden to proceed with the undertaking, believing that they would not be troubled. With this answer the messengers returned.

This damped their enthusiasm, and caused some distraction. Many feared that if they should unsettle themselves and count upon these hopes, it might prove dangerous and be a sandy foundation. Indeed it was thought they might better have taken this understanding for granted, without making suit at all, than to have it thus rejected. But some of the chief members thought otherwise, and that they might well proceed, and that the King would not molest them, even though, for other reasons, he would not confirm it by any public act. And it was further contended that if there was no security in the promise thus intimated, there would be no great certainty in its further confirmation; for if, afterwards, there should be a desire to wrong them, though they had a seal as broad as the house floor, it would not serve their turn, for means would be found to reverse it. With this probability of success they urged that they should trust to God’s providence for the outcome, as they had done in other things.

Upon this resolution other messengers were despatched to close with the Virginia Company as well as they could and to procure a patent with as good and ample conditions as possible; also to arrange with such merchants and other friends as had manifested interest, to participate in the accomplishment of this voyage. For these ends they were instructed upon what lines to proceed,—otherwise to conclude nothing without further orders.

Here it will be necessary to insert a letter or two bearing on these proceedings.

_Sir Edwin Sandys in London to John Robinson and William Brewster
at Leyden_:

After my hearty salutations.... The agents of your congregation,
Robert Cushman and John Carver, have been in communication with
some of the more important members of his majesty’s counsel for
Virginia; and by presentation of the seven articles subscribed
with your names have given them such satisfaction as has decided
them to further your wishes as well as possible, for your own and
the public good. Several particulars we will leave to the faithful
report of your agents, who have carried themselves here with a
discretion that is as creditable to themselves as to those they
represent. Having requested time to confer with those who are
interested in this undertaking, about several particulars, it has
been very willingly assented to and so they now return to you. If,
therefore, it may so please God to direct you that on your parts
there occur no just impediments, I trust by the same direction it
shall appear, that on our part all reasonable assistance will be
given. And so I leave you, with your undertaking (which I hope is
indeed the work of God), to the gracious protection and blessing of
the Highest.

Your very loving friend,
EDWIN SANDYS.
_London, Nov. 12th, 1617._

_John Robinson and William Brewster at Leyden to Sir Edwin Sandys
in London_:

Right Worshipful,

Our humble duties, with grateful acknowledgment of your singular
love, especially shown in your earnest endeavour for our good
in this weighty business about Virginia. We have set down our
request in writing, subscribed as you wished by the majority of
the congregation and have sent it to the Council of the Virginia
Company by our agent, John Carver, a deacon of our Church, whom a
gentleman of our congregation accompanies.

We need not urge you to any more tender care of us, since, under
God, above all persons and things in the world, we rely upon you,
expecting the care of your love, the counsel of your wisdom, and
the countenance of your authority. Notwithstanding, for your
encouragement in the work we will mention these inducements to our
enterprise:

1. We verily believe and trust that the Lord is with us, unto Whom
and Whose service we have given ourselves in many trials; and
that He will graciously prosper our endeavours according to the
simplicity of our hearts therein.

2. We are well weaned from the delicate milk of our mother
country, and inured to the difficulties of a strange and hard land,
which by patience we have largely overcome.

3. The people are for the most part as industrious and frugal, we
think we may safely say, as any company of people in the world.

4. We are knit together as a body in a most strict and sacred bond
and covenant of the Lord, of the violation whereof we make great
conscience, and by virtue whereof we hold ourselves straitly tied
to all care of each other’s good.

5. Lastly, we are not like some, whom small things discourage,
or small discontents cause to wish themselves at home again. We
know what we can expect both in England and in Holland, and that
we shall not improve our material well-being by our departure;
whereas, should we be forced to return, we could not hope to regain
our present position, either here or elsewhere during our lives,
which are now drawing towards their periods.[2]

These motives we have been bold to put to you, and, as you think
well, to any other of our friends of the Council. We will not be
further troublesome, but with our humble duties to your Worship,
and to any other of our well-willers of the Council, we take our
leaves, committing you to the guidance of the Almighty.

Yours much bounden in all duty,
JOHN ROBINSON.
WILLIAM BREWSTER.
_Leyden, Dec. 15th, 1617._

For further light on these proceedings, here follow some other letters and notes.

_Mr. John Robinson and Mr. William Brewster at Leyden to Sir John
Worstenholme in London_:

Right Worshipful,

With due acknowledgment of our gratitude for your singular care
and pains in the business of Virginia, we have sent enclosed,
as is required, a further explanation of our judgments in the
three points specified by some of his majesty’s Honourable Privy
Council; and though we are grieved that such unjust insinuations
are made against us, we are glad of the opportunity of clearing
ourselves before such honourable personages. The declarations we
have enclosed. The one is more brief and general, which we think
fitter to be presented; the other is somewhat more comprehensive,
expressing some small accidental differences, which if you think
well you can send instead of the former. Our prayer to God is, that
your Worship may see the fruit of your endeavours, which on our
parts we shall not fail to further. And so praying you, as soon as
convenient, to give us knowledge of the success of the business
with his majesty’s Privy Council, and accordingly what your further
pleasure is, so we rest,

Your worshipful in all duty,
JOHN ROBINSON.
WILLIAM BREWSTER.
_Leyden, Jan. 27th, 1617._

The first brief declaration was this:

As regards the Ecclesiastical ministry, namely of pastors for
teaching, elders for ruling, and deacons for distributing the
churches’ contribution, as also for the two sacraments,—baptism
and the Lord’s supper,—we agree wholly and in all points with the
French Reformed Churches, according to their public Confession of
Faith.

The Oath of Supremacy we shall willingly take, if it be required of
us, and if it be not sufficient that we take the Oath of Allegiance.

JOHN ROBINSON.
WILLIAM BREWSTER.

The second and ampler declaration was this:

As regards the Ecclesiastical ministry, etc., as in the former
declaration, we agree in all things with the French Reformed
Churches, according to their public Confession of Faith; though
some small differences may be found in our practices,—not at
all in the substance of the things, but only in some accidental
circumstances.

1. Their ministers pray with their heads covered; ours uncovered.

2. We choose none for governing elders but such as are able to
teach; which ability they do not require.

3. Their elders and deacons are annual, or at most for two or three
years; ours perpetual.

4. Our elders deliver admonitions and excommunications for public
scandals, publicly, before the congregation; theirs more privately,
in their consistories.

5. We administer baptism only to infants of whom one parent, at
least, is of some church, which some of their churches do not
observe; though in this our practice accords with their public
confession, and with the judgments of the most learned amongst them.

Other differences worth mentioning, we know of none. Then about the
Oath of Supremacy, as in the former declaration.

Subscribed,
JOHN ROBINSON.
WILLIAM BREWSTER.

_Part of a letter from the messenger in England, who delivered the
foregoing, to Mr. John Robinson and Mr. William Brewster at Leyden_:

Your letter to Sir John Worstenholme I delivered into his own hands
almost as soon as I received it, and stayed with him whilst he
opened and read it. There were two papers enclosed, which he read
to himself, and also the letter; and while reading it he asked me:
“Who will make them?” (viz., the ministers). I answered that the
power of making ministers rested with the church; that they were
ordained by the imposition of hands, by its fittest members; that
it must rest either with the church or with the pope, and the pope
is antichrist. “Ho!” said Sir John, “what the pope holds good,—as
the Trinity,—we do well to assent to; but we will not enter into
dispute now.” As for your letters, he said he would not show them,
lest he should spoil all. He had expected that you would be of the
Archbishop’s mind in regard to the appointment of ministers; but
it seems you differed. I could have wished to know the contents
of your two enclosures, at which he stuck so much,—especially the
larger.

I asked his Worship what good news he had for me to write
to-morrow. He told me very good news, for both the King’s majesty
and the bishops had consented. He said he would go to the
Chancellor, Sir Fulk Greville, this day, and next week I should
know more. I met Sir Edwin Sandys on Wednesday night; he wished me
to be at the Virginia Court next Wednesday, where I purpose to be.
I hope next week to have something certain to communicate. I commit
you to the Lord.

Yours,
S. B.
_London, Feb. 14th, 1617._

These things being lengthily discussed, and messengers passing to and fro about them, they were long delayed by many rubs. At the return of the messengers to England they found things far otherwise than they expected. The Virginia Council was now so disturbed with quarrels among themselves, that no business could well go forward. This will appear in one of the messenger’s letters which follows:

_Robert Cushman in England to the Congregation at Leyden_:

I intended long since to have written to you, but could not effect
it; but I doubt not that Mr. B. has written to Mr. Robinson. The
main hindrance to the Virginia business is the dissensions in the
Council of Virginia. The cause of the trouble is, that, recently,
Sir Thomas Smith, weary of his many offices, wished the Company of
Virginia to relieve him of being its treasurer and governor,—he
having 60 votes, Sir John Worstenholme 16 votes, and Alderman
Johnstone 24. But Sir Thomas Smith, finding his honours diminished,
was very angry, and raised a faction to contest the election, and
sought to tax Sir Edwin Sandys, the new Governor, with many things
which would both disgrace him and deprive him of his office as
Governor. In these contentions they still stick, and what will
result we are not yet certain. Most likely Sir Edwin will win, and
if he does, things will go well in Virginia; if otherwise, they
will go ill. We hope in some two or three Court-days things will be
settled. Meanwhile, I intend to go down to Kent, and come up again
about 14 days or three weeks hence unless these contentions or the
ill tidings from Virginia (of which I will now speak) should wholly
discourage us.

Captain Argoll came home from Virginia this week. Upon receiving
notice of the intentions of the Council, he left before Sir George
Yeardley had arrived there; so there is no small dissatisfaction.
But his tidings are ill. He says Mr. Blackwell’s ship did not reach
there till March, owing to northwest winds, which carried them to
the southward beyond their course. The captain of the ship and
some six of the sailors dying, it seems they could not find the
bay till after long beating about. Mr. Blackwell is dead, and Mr.
Maggner, the Captain; in fact Captain Argoll says 130 persons on
that ship died out of a total of 180. There were so many that they
were packed together like herrings. They were ill with the flux,
and they lacked fresh water; so here it is rather wondered at that
as many are alive, than that so many are dead. The merchants here
say it was Mr. Blackwell’s fault for packing so many in the ship.
There was much grumbling at the time, and Mr. Blackwell was blamed
for his disposition of them and his insults to them. They say the
streets of Gravesend rang with their quarreling, crying out at each
other: “Thou hast brought me to this;” and, “I may thank thee for
this!” Heavy news it is, and I wonder how far it will discourage
our project. No one here is much discouraged; they seem only to
wish to learn by other men’s misfortunes. As we desire to serve one
another in love, so take heed of being enthralled by any imperious
persons,—especially if they seem to have an eye to their own
advantage. It often troubles me to think that in this business all
of us must learn, and none can teach; but better so, than to depend
upon such teachers as Mr. Blackwell was. He once laid a similar
trap for Mr. Johnson and his people at Emden,—which was their ruin.
But though in that instance he managed to pluck his neck out of
the collar, at last his foot is caught. No letters have arrived
yet, as the ship Captain Argoll came in is still on the west coast;
all that we hear is his report; it seems he came away secretly.
The ship that Mr. Blackwell went in will be here shortly. What Mr.
Robinson once said has come true: that we should hear no good of
them.

Mr. B. is not well; whether he will return to you or go north, I
do not know. For myself I hope to see an end of this business ere
I come, though I am sorry to be away from you. If things had gone
straight forward, I should have been with you within these 14 days.
I pray God direct us, and give us the spirit which is fitting for
such a business. Thus having summarily pointed at things which Mr.
Brewster I think has more largely written of to Mr. Robinson, I
leave you to the Lord’s protection.

Yours in all readiness, etc.,
ROBERT CUSHMAN.
_London, May 8th, 1619._

A word or two, by way of digression, about this Mr. Blackwell. He was an Elder of the church at Amsterdam,—a man well known to most of them. He declined from the truth with Mr. Johnson and the rest, and went with them when they parted from the congregation in that woful manner, which brought such great dishonour to God, scandal to the truth, and ruin to themselves in this world. But, I hope, notwithstanding, through the mercies of the Lord, their souls are now at rest with Him in the heavens, and that they have reached the haven of happiness; though some of their bodies were thus buried in the terrible seas, and others sank under the burden of bitter afflictions.

He, with some others, had prepared to go by way of London to Virginia. Being a private meeting—I take it a fast—in London, and being discovered, many of them were arrested, Mr. Blackwell being one; but he so glozed with the bishops, and either dissembled or flatly denied the truth which he had formerly maintained, and very unworthily betrayed another godly man who had escaped, so that he might slip his own neck out of the collar, that he won the bishop’s favour (but lost the Lord’s) and was not only acquitted, but in open court the Archbishop praised him highly, and gave him his solemn blessing to proceed on his voyage. But if such events follow the Archbishop’s blessing, happy are they that miss it; it is much better to keep a good conscience and have the Lord’s blessing, whether in life or death.

But to return to the concerns of the congregation at Leyden. At last, after all these occurrences, and their long waiting, they had a patent granted them and confirmed under the Virginia Company’s seal. But these divisions had alienated many of their less constant supporters, and they were thus disappointed of much of their hoped for and proffered means. By the advice of some friends the patent was not taken out in the name of any of their own members, but in the name of Mr. J. Wincot (a religious gentleman then in the service of the Countess of Lincoln), who intended to go with them. But God so disposed things that he never went, nor did they ever make use of this patent, which had cost them so much labour and expense, as will appear. The patent being sent over for those at Leyden to consider, and also the propositions of such merchants and friends as would go with them or participate in the adventure,—and especially those (Mr. Thomas Weston, etc.), on whom they chiefly depended for shipping and stores,—they were requested to prepare with all speed. And this matter of the patent is a true emblem of the uncertain things of this world, which, when men have toiled to acquire them vanish into smoke!