where they might have liberty and live comfortably, they would then practise as as they did.

Mr. Robinson, we are told that the people had a great affection for him, and that "his love was great towards them, and his care was always bent for their best good, both II. "They saw that, although the people for soul and body. For, besides his singu- generally bore all their difficulties very lar abilities in divine things, wherein he cheerfully and with a resolute courage, beexcelled, he was able also to give direc- ing in the best of their strength, yet old tion in civil affairs, and to foresee dangers age began to come on some of them; and and inconveniences; by which means he their great and continual labours, with was every way as a common father unto other crosses and sorrows, hastened it bethem." Not only so; besides writing sev-fore the time; so as it was not only proberal books and preaching thrice a week to ably thought, but apparently seen, that his own flock, Mr. Robinson entered warm-within a few years more they were in danly into the Arminian controversy, which was raging during his residence at Leyden, and disputed often with Episcopius and other champions of the Arminian side."

Although they had begun to enjoy some degree of comfort in Holland, still they did not feel themselves at home there. Accordingly, they began to agitate the question of removing to some part of America. Their reasons for thinking of such a step, as stated in the words of their own historian, gives us new proof of the extraordinary character of this simple-hearted and excellent flock.

ger to scatter by necessity pressing them, or sink under their burdens, or both; and, therefore, according to the divine proverb, that a wise man seeth the plague when it cometh, and hideth himself, so they, like skilful and beaten soldiers, were fearful either to be entrapped or surrounded by their enemies, so as they should neither be able to fight nor fly; and, therefore, thought it better to dislodge betimes to some place of better advantage and less danger, if any could be found.

III. "As necessity was a taskmaster over them, so they were forced to be such I. "And, first, they found, and saw by not only to their servants, but, in a sort, to experience, the hardness of the place and their dearest children; the which, as it did country to be such, as few in comparison a little wound the tender hearts of many a would come to them, and fewer that would loving father and mother, so it produced, bide it out and continue with them. For also, many sad and sorrowful effects. For many that came to them could not endure many of their children, that were of best the great labour and hard fare, with other dispositions and gracious inclinations, havinconveniences which they underwent and ing learned to bear the yoke in their youth, were contented with. But though they and willing to bear part of their parents' loved their persons, and approved their burden, were oftentimes so oppressed with cause, and honoured their sufferings, yet their heavy labours, that although their they left them, as it were, weeping, as Or- minds were free and willing, yet their bodpah did her mother-in-law Naomi; or as ies bowed under the weight of the same, those Romans did Cato in Utica, who de- and became decrepit in their early youth; sired to be excused and borne with, though the vigour of nature being consumed in the they could not all be Catos. For many, very bud, as it were. But that which was though they desired to enjoy the ordinan- more lamentable, and of all sorrows most ces of God in their purity, and the liberty heavy to be borne, was, that many of their of the Gospel with them, yet, alas! they children, by these occasions, and the great admitted of bondage with danger of con- licentiousness of the youth in the country, science, rather than endure those hard- and the manifold temptations of the place, ships; yea, some preferred and chose pris- were drawn away by evil examples into exons in England rather than liberty in Hol-travagant and dangerous courses, getting land, with those afflictions. But it was thought that if a better and easier place of living could be had, it would draw many, and take away these discouragements; yea, their pastor would often say that many of those that both writ and preached against them, if they were in a place

Robinson's church increased, that it had three hundred "communicants" before any of them embarked for America.

* Besides the testimony of Winslow in his " Brief Narrative," which might be suspected of being partial, we have that of the celebrated Professor Hornbeck, in his "Summa Controversiarum Religionis," respecting Mr. Robinson, whom he calls "Vir ille (Johannes Robinsonus), gratus nostris, dum vixit, fuit, et theologis Leidensibus familiaris et honoratus." † See Plutarch's Life of Cato the Younger.

the reins on their necks, and departing from their parents. Some became soldiers, others took them upon far voyages by sea, and others some worse courses, tending to dissoluteness and the danger of their souls, to the great grief of their parents and dishonour of God; so that they saw their posterity would be in danger to degenerate and be corrupted.

IV. "Lastly (and which was not the least), a great hope and inward zeal they had of laying some good foundation, or at least to make some way thereunto, for the propagating and advancing the Gospel of the kingdom of Christ in these remote

* Quoted from the Geneva version.

parts of the world; yea, though they should be but as stepping-stones unto others for performing of so great a work."

Besides these reasons, mentioned by Governor Bradford in his History of Plymouth Colony, the three following are adduced by Edward Winslow, who also was one of its founders: 1. Their desire to live under the protection of England, and to retain the language and the name of Englishmen. 2. Their inability to give their children such an education as they had themselves received. And, 3. Their grief at the profanation of the Sabbath in Holland.

One of them, to help the undertaking, lent the sum of £300, without interest, for three years, and this was afterward repaid. This advance must have been a seasonable encouragement, for a hard bargain had to be struck with some London merchants, or "adventurers," as they are called by the colonial historians, in order to raise what farther money was required. At length two ships, the Speedwell of sixty, and the Mayflower of a hundred and eighty tons, were engaged, and everything else arranged for the departure of as many as the ships could accommodate. Those went who first offered themselves, and Brewster, the ruling elder, was chosen their spiritual guide. The other leading men were John Carver, William Bradford, Miles Standish, and Edward Winslow. Mr. Robinson stayed behind, along with the greater part of the flock, with the intention of joining those who first went at some future time, should such be the will of God. A solemn fast was observed. Their beloved pastor afterward delivered a farewell charge, which must be regarded as a remarkable production for those times.*

Such were the considerations that induced the Pilgrims to send over to England a deputation, with the view of ascertaining what kind of reception their project might meet with from the king, and whether the London Company, or, as it was most commonly called, the Virginia Company, would sanction their settling as a colony on any part of its possessions in America. With all his detestation of the Independents, the king felt rather gratified than otherwise at the prospect of extending colonization, that being an object in which he had long felt an interest. Many years before this This charge is related in Edward Winslow's Brief Narrative." It is here subjoined in the lanhe had encouraged colonization in the guage in which it is given by that author, from Highlands and Western Islands of Scot-whom alone it became known to the world: land, and the North of Ireland has long "We are now ere long to part asunder, and the been indebted for a prosperity and securi- Lord knoweth whether ever he should live to see ty, such as no other part of that island has our faces again. But whether the Lord had appointed it or not, he charged us before God and his blessenjoyed, to the English and Scotch planta-ed angels to follow him no farther than he followed tions which he had been at great pains to Christ; and if God should reveal anything to us by form on lands laid waste during the deso- any other instrument of His, to be as ready to receive lating warfare of his predecessor, Eliza-it as ever we were to receive any truth by his minbeth, with certain Irish chieftains in those truth and light yet to break forth out of his holy Word. istry; for he was very confident the Lord had more parts. To extend the dominions of Eng- He took occasion, also, miserably to bewail the state land he allowed to be "a good and honest and condition of the Reformed Churches, who were motion." On his inquiring what trade come to a period in religion, and would no farther go they expected to find in the northern part of than the instruments of their reformation. As, for example, the Lutherans, they could not be drawn to Virginia,t being that in which they thought go beyond what Luther saw; for whatever part of of settling, they answered, "Fishing;" to God's will He had farther imparted and revealed which the monarch replied, with his usual unto Calvin, they will rather die than embrace it. asseveration, "So God have my soul, 'tis And so also, saith he, you see the Calvinists, they an honest trade; 'twas the apostles' own mented; for though they were precious shining lights stick where he left them, a misery much to be lacalling." But as the king wished to con- in their times, yet God hath not revealed his whole sult the Archbishop of Canterbury and the will to them; and were they now living, saith he, Bishop of London, the delegates were rec- they would be as ready and willing to embrace farommended not to press the matter, but to ther light as that they had received. Here, also, he trust to his connivance rather than to look put us in mind of our church covenant, at least that part of it whereby we promise and covenant with for his formal consent. This they resolv- God and one another, to receive whatsoever light ed to do, rightly concluding that, "should or truth shall be made known to us from his written there be a purpose to wrong us, though Word; but, withal, exhorted us to take heed what we we had a seal as broad as the house-floor, it, and weigh it with other scriptures of truth before received for truth, and well to examine and compare there would be found means enough to we received it. For saith he, it is not possible the recall it." Christian world should come so lately out of such thick antichristian darkness, and that full perfection of knowledge should break forth at once.

The Virginia Company showed the most favourable dispositions. They said "the thing was of God," and granted a large patent, which, however, proved of no use.

* See Robertson's History of Scotland, chap. viii. †The reader will remember that the whole Atlantic coast was then called Virginia by the English. Edward Winslow's Brief Narrative.

D

"Another thing he commended to us was, that we should use all means to avoid and shake off the name of Brownist, being a mere nickname and brand to make religion odious, and the professors of it, to the Christian world. And to that end, said he, I should be glad if some godly minister would go over with you before my coming; for, said he, there will be no difference between the unconformable [nonconform

All things being now ready, the emigrants, fixed, at last, on the spot now bearing the after being "feasted at the pastor's house, name of the town where they had received for it was large," by those who were to the last hospitalities of England. There remain behind, and having been "refreshed they landed on the 11th of December, old after their tears by the singing of psalms," style, or the 22d of December, according set out for Delft-haven, where the ships to the new; and to this day the very rock then lay. There they were again "feast-on which they first planted their feet at ed," and prayer having been made, they landing is shown to the passing stranger were accompanied on board by their as a cherished memorial of that interesting friends, but "were not able to speak to one event. On that rock commenced the colanother for the abundance of sorrow toonization of New-England. part." The wind being favourable, they were soon on their way.

We,

"In the name of God, Amen. whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Brit

On the day of the arrival of the Mayflower in Cape Cod harbour, the following They left Holland on the 22d of July, document was signed by all the male heads 1620, followed by the respect of the peo- of families, and unmarried men not attachple among whom they had lived. Wins-ed to families represented by their respectlow tells us that the Dutch, on learning|ive heads. that they were about to leave their country, urged them much to settle in Zealand, or, if they preferred America, to seek a home for themselves on the Hudson, within the territory discovered by the naviga-ain, France, and Ireland, king, defender of tor who gave his name to that river while in their service, and which they therefore claimed, and had resolved to colonize. But the liberal inducements then offered to the emigrants could not alter their purpose of settling in a country which should be under the government of their native land.

the faith, &c., having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honour of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do, by these presents, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one of A few days brought them safely to South- another, covenant and combine ourselves ampton, in England. On learning that the together into a civil body politic, for our captain of the smaller of the two vessels better ordering and preservation, and furwas unwilling to prosecute so long a voy- therance of the ends aforesaid, and by virage in her, after having put back, first to tue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame Dartmouth and then to Plymouth, they such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, were compelled to send the Speedwell, constitutions, and offices, from time to with part of the company, to London, and time, as shall be thought most meet and it was not until the 6th of September that convenient for the general good of the colthe Mayflower finally sailed with a hun- ony; unto which we promise all due subdred passengers. The voyage proved long mission and obedience. In witness whereand boisterous. One person died and a of, we have hereunder subscribed our child was born, so that the original num- names, at Cape Cod, the 11th of November reached the coast of America. On the ber, in the year of the reign of our sover11th of November they entered the har-eign lord, King James, of England, France, bour of Cape Cod, and after having spent fully a month in looking about for a place that seemed suitable for a settlement, they

and Ireland the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, Anno Domini 1620."

Here may be said to have been the first attempt made by an American colony to ing. but who had not actually separated from the frame a constitution or fundamental lawChurch] ministers and you, when they come to the the seminal principle, as it were, of all practice of the ordinances out of the kingdom. And that wonderful series of efforts which have so advised us by all means to endeavour to close with been put forth in the New World towards the godly party of the kingdom of England, and rather to study union than division, viz., how near we fixing the foundations of independent, volmight possibly, without sin, close with them, than in untary self-government. John Carver was the least measure to effect division or separation from chosen governor of the colony, and to asthem. And be not loath to take another pastor or sist him in administering its affairs, a counteacher, saith he; for that flock that hath two shep-cil of five, afterward increased to seven herds is not endangered, but secured by it."

Such is the remarkable farewell address, as reported by Winslow. "Words," says Prince in his " Annals," speaking of it, "almost astonishing in that age of low and universal bigotry which then prevailed in the English nation; wherein this truly great and learned man seemed to be the only divine who was capable of rising into a noble freedom of thinking and practising in religious matters, and even of urging such an equal liberty on his own people. He labours to take them off from their attachment to him, that they might be more entirely free to search and follow the Scriptures."

members, was appointed.

After selecting what they considered to be the best spot for a settlement, as the ship's boat could not come close to the water's edge, they suffered much in their health by having to wade ashore. The few intervals of good weather they could catch, between snow and rain, they spent in erecting houses; but before the first summer came round, nearly half their number

had fallen victims to consumptions and fevers, the natural effects of the hardships to which they had been exposed. What must have been the distress they suffered during that long winter, passed beneath unknown skies, with a gloomy, unbroken forest on the one hand, and the dreary ocean on the other!

public devotions until they came to have a regular minister. Their affairs as a church were conducted with the same system and order that marked their civil economy.

But

Such is a brief account of the founding of Plymouth Colony, the earliest of all that were planted in New-England. Placed on a sandy and but moderately productive part But with the return of spring came of the coast, and commanding a very limhealth, and hope, and courage. The colo- ited extent of inland territory from which ny took root. The ground it occupied had to derive the materials of commerce and been cleared for it by the previous destruc- wealth, it could not be expected to betion, by pestilence, of the tribe of Indians come a great and important colony, likę which had occupied it. Of course, the col- others of which I have yet to speak. onists could not buy land which there was it was excelled by none in the moral nobody to sell. They soon made the ac- worth of its founders. All professing godquaintance of the neighbouring tribes, ac- liness, they almost without exception, as quired their friendship, and entered into far as we know, did honour to that profestreaty with them. Their numbers were in sion. True religion was with them the course of time increased by successive ar- first of all possessions. They feared God, rivals of emigrants, until, in 1630. they ex- and He walked among them, and dwelt ceeded 300. After the second year they among them, and His blessing rested upon raised grain not only to supply all their own them. The anniversary of their disembarwants, but with a surplus for exportation.* cation at Plymouth has long been regularThey soon had a number of vessels em- ly celebrated upon the yearly return of the ployed at the fisheries. They even planted 22d of December, in prose and in verse, in a colony on the Kennebec, in Maine, and oration and in poem: a patriotic and reliextended their trade to the Connecticut gious duty, to which have been consecrated River, before the close of the first ten years the highest efforts of many of the noblest of their settlement, and before any other and purest minds ever produced by the English colony had been formed on the country to whose colonization they led the coast of Northern Virginia, or New-Eng-way. land, the name given it by Captain Smith in 1614, and by which it was ever after to be distinguished.

The governor and council were chosen every year. At first, and for above eigh

CHAPTER III.

teen years, "the people" met, as in Athens RELIGIOUS CHARACTER OF THE EARLY COLO

of old, for the discussion and adoption of laws. But as the colony extended, and towns and villages rose along the coasts and in the interior, the "Democratic" form of government gave place to the "Republican," by two delegates being chosen from each township to form "the General Court," or Legislature of the commonwealth.

For some time they had no pastor or preaching elder, but Mr. Brewster led their

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* During the first two or three years they suffered greatly at times for want of food. Sometimes they subsisted on half allowance for months. They were once saved from famishing by the benevolence of some fishermen off the coast. "I have seen men," says Winslow, "stagger by reason of faintness for want of food." "Tradition declares, that at one time the colonists were reduced to a pint of corn, which, being parched and distributed, gave to each individual only five kernels: but tradition falls far short of reality; for three or four months together they had no corn whatever. When a few of their old friends arrived to join them, a lobster, or a piece of fish, without bread or anything else but a cup of fair spring water, was the best dish which the hospitality of the whole colony could afford. Neat cattle were not introduced till the fourth year of the settlement. Yet, during all this season of self-denial and suffering, the cheerful confidence of the Pilgrims in the mercies of Providence remained unshaken."-Bancroft's History of the United States, vol. i., p. 315.

NISTS.-FOUNDERS OF NEW-ENGLAND.-COL

ONY OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY.

THE first English settlements in America arose, it will be remembered,* from James I.'s investing two Companies, the one formed at London, the other at Bristol and other towns in the West of England, each with a belt of territory extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean; the one lying between the 34th and 38th, the other between the 41st and 48th degrees of north latitude. Both Companies were formed in a purely commercial spirit; each was to have its own council, but the Royal Council was to have the superintendence of their whole colonial system. The London Company was dissolved, we have seen, after an existence of eighteen years. The other accomplished nothing beyond giving encouragement to sundry trading voyages to the coast of the country made over to it by its charter.

At length, at the repeated instance of Captain Smith, the Western Company sought a renewal of their patent, with additional powers, similar to those of the London Company's second charter in 1609,

Book i., chap. iv.

with the view of attempting an extensive Massachusetts Bay, and three miles north plan of colonization; and, notwithstanding of every part of the River Merrimac. Of opposition from the Parliament and the these six, three, namely, Humphrey, Endicountry at large, they succeeded in their cot, and Whetcomb, retained their shares; request. On November 3d, 1620, the king while the other three sold theirs to Wingranted a charter to forty of his subjects, throp, Dudley, Johnson, Pynchon, Eaton, among whom were members of his house- Saltonstall, and Bellingham, so famous in hold and government, and some of the colonial history, besides many others, men wealthiest and most powerful of the Eng- of fortune and friends to colonial enterlish nobility, conveying to them in abso-prise. Thus strengthened, this new comlute property, to be disposed of and admin-pany sent out two hundred colonists under istered as they might think proper, the Endicot, a man every way fitted for such whole of that part of North America which an enterprise-courageous, cheerful, and stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific, having firmness of purpose and warmth of between the 40th and 48th degrees of north temper, softened by an austere benevolatitude, under the title of "The Council lence. These arrived in Massachusetts established at Plymouth, in the County of Bay in September, 1628, and settled at SaDevon, for the planting, ruling, ordering, lem, where several members of the Plym and governing New-England, in America."outh colony had already established themUnder the auspices of a vast trading corporation, invested with such despotic powers, The news of this event still farther augthe colonization of New-England com- mented the now growing interest felt in menced. While this charter was in course England on the subject of colonizing Amerof being granted, the Pilgrims were fast ica. In the painful circumstances in which approaching the American coast. No val- the Puritans were placed, they could not id title had given them, as yet, any legal | fail to have their attention drawn to the right to set their feet upon it, but this they obtained a few years after from the newlyformed Plymouth Company.

selves.

passed the seals on the 4th of March, 1629.

continued prosperity of the Plymouth settlement, and naturally rejoiced to hear of a land towards the setting sun where they From its very commencement the new might enjoy a tranquillity to which they company began to lavish away grants of had long been strangers in the land of their the immense territory which had been fathers. Such was the interest felt throughconveyed to it, so that during the fifteen out the kingdom, that not only in London, years of its existence it covered with Bristol, and Plymouth, but at Boston, and its patents the whole country now com- other inland towns, influential persons were prising Massachusetts, New-Hampshire, found ready to risk their fortunes in the Maine, and the vast region westward of cause. Efforts were made to procure the these as far as the Pacific Ocean. Such royal sanction for the patent granted by was the utter disregard shown in those the Plymouth Company to that of Massagrants for anything like clear and precise chusetts, and a royal charter in favour of boundaries, that we cannot so much won-the latter, after much trouble and expense, der at the number of lawsuits that arose from them, as that these were ever terminated. To Mason and Gorges were granted the territories now forming the States of New-Hampshire and Maine; to Sir William Alexander, the country between the River St. Croix and the mouth of the St. Lawrence, notwithstanding that it was all well known to be claimed by the French, who had even planted a colony upon it, called by them Acadie, but ultimately destined to receive the name of Nova Scotia. But the most important grant made by The freemen were to meet four the Plymouth Company, often called in times a year, or oftener if necessary, and history the Council for New-England, was were empowered to pass laws for the regone conveying the Massachusetts territory ulation of their affairs, without any provisto a body organized in England in 1628, for ion rendering the royal assent indispensathe purpose of at once providing an asy-ble to the validity of their acts. Strictly lum for persons suffering for conscience' considered, the patent simply conferred sake in the Old World, and of extending the rights of English subjects, without any the kingdom of Christ in the New, by enlargement of religious liberty. It emfounding a colony on a large scale. With powered, but did not require the governor this view, six Dorchester gentlemen bought to administer the oaths of supremacy and from the company a belt of land stretching allegiance. The persons in whose favour from the Atlantic to the Pacific, between it was granted were still members of the three miles south of Charles River and Church of England-not Independents or

This charter, bearing the signature of Charles I., was evidently granted under the idea that the persons whom it incorporated were to be rather a trading community than a civil government. They were constituted a body politic, by the name of "The Governor and Company of Massachusetts Bay in New-England." The administration of its affairs was committed to a governor, deputy-governor, and thirteen assistants, elected by the shareholders.