Part 12 (2/2)
14. Leyden Dutchmen looked with curiosity upon the knot of plain foreigners, sober men, quiet women, children named after all the Bible saints and heavenly virtues. Bibles they brought and evidently read.
It was rumored that together every morning and before each meal each household held service of prayer, and long sermons and various devotions wholly filled the Sabbath. Queer people, meditated the Hollanders. But they soon found that it was safe to trust the Bible readers. Though they were peculiar about Sunday, they were surprisingly certain to keep their promises, and for all their propensity to pray without ceasing they made most faithful workmen.
Superintendents sought them for laborers, merchants willingly gave them credit; and with the pa.s.sing years they became settled and quietly prosperous. The Bibles were not neglected, the daily prayers and weekly sermons were methodically attended.
15. The unpretentious people were not un.o.bserved. Many from England came to enjoy like freedom of wors.h.i.+p, and far outside of Leyden John Robinson's learning was known. When Arminians and Calvinists fell into hot disputes, and Leyden ministers and university professors held public meetings twice a week to settle knotty points of doctrine, John Robinson was always there, listening eagerly to both sides. Many a famous talk he bad with the ministers and professors. We must have Mr.
Robinson confute the Arminians, cried his friends among themselves.
16. So on a day the Puritan pastor, somewhat demurring because he was a foreigner, yet withal not loath to ride a tilt with the enemy, confronted Episcopus, the Arminian professor; and it is reported by the Calvinists that his overwhelming arguments utterly nonplussed and put the great Episcopus to rout. Oh, those theological debates! About the paltry affairs of this world it was not right to quarrel. When personal considerations were at stake, Puritan worthies could bridle the tongue; but when was called in question some keenly felt phase of the truth, some doctrine their precious Bible seemed to teach, then the repressed fire burst into legitimate flame, and righteous indignation with magnificent effect hurled back and forth the thunderbolts of prophecy and psalm.
THE DEPARTURE FROM LEYDEN.
17. After some eleven or twelve years of this life in Leyden the Puritans began to grow restless. Holland was not home to them, and they were lonely. Some of them were growing old, and the somber burden of poverty and exile began to weary the brave shoulders. The children were growing up, and hard work and cramped life pressed all too severely upon the young natures, so that they either threw off the yoke and turned to bad ways or, bearing it patiently, missed the chance of education and grew old before their time. They feared to stay longer in this foreign country lest the children should learn from the Dutch to break the Sabbath, should lose their native language, should cease to be Englishmen.
18. Perhaps it would be best to move again and settle in some land under the flag of dear England--harsh England, that would not grant them peace at home. Though they should have to go to most distant regions, they would cheerfully go, and consider themselves G.o.d's missionaries there, if only they might have the protection of England's king. They would go and break the way for others of their countrymen less strong, and in America, if need be, prepare an English home for Englishmen.
19. Gravely the elders talked together. The uncongenial life had been cheerfully borne; a new uprooting and uncertain change would be as steadfastly carried through, once they were sure G.o.d willed it. And at last it seemed best to decide upon removal. ”The dangers were great but not desperate, the difficulties were many but not invincible--and all of them, through the help of G.o.d, by fort.i.tude and patience, might either be borne or overcome.” St.u.r.dy courage! O England, to exile such sons!
20. Where, then, should they go? ”I will guide thee,” reads the promise of the Puritan's Bible, and to G.o.d they turn in prayer for direction. A general meeting is held, and much discussion results in the decision to cross the Atlantic to Virginia, Great Britain's vast new realm. They would not settle near the colony already planted there, for that was of the Episcopal Church and might molest them; but away by themselves somewhere--anywhere, if only they might nestle in a remote corner of their king's dominions, and on English soil be free to follow their own conscience. G.o.d and the king was the loyal thought--yet, if there _must_ be choice, the king shall not be first.
21. But, sending pet.i.tion to the king, they found that he would give them no a.s.surance of freedom of wors.h.i.+p; it was intimated that, if they did go, the royal eye might be expected to wink at the proceeding; but, as for promises, royalty would not commit itself.
Here was a discouragement. How should they dare break up their homes and cross the ocean to an unknown, uncolonized land, with no a.s.surance of protection and liberty when they arrived there? But the leaders rallied again: ”If on the king's part there is a purpose or desire to wrong us,” they cried, ”though we had a seal as broad as the house-floor it would not serve the turn, for there would be means enough found to recall or reverse it... . We must rest herein on G.o.d's providence, as we have done before.” Not lacking in comprehension of the world's ways and in canny shrewdness were those Puritans!
22. Wearisome negotiations then began with men who should furnish means for the removal. Back and forth, from Leyden to London, from London to Leyden, the agents went; letters pa.s.sed from Robinson and Brewster to the London merchants, and from the London merchants back.
Poor Robert Cushman, agent for the Puritans, experienced numerous tribulations; pushed by the merchants to make an agreement, blamed by his friends for going beyond his instructions, his letters defending himself give a spirited glimpse into the harrowed soul of a quick-tempered Christian.
23. After months of all this, the arrangements were concluded. A body of London merchants agreed to furnish s.h.i.+ps and provisions for the pa.s.sage, on certain conditions: for seven years after landing the Puritans were to hold all property in common; they were to fish, plant, build, and at the end of seven years were to share with the merchants, according to certain specified conditions, the acc.u.mulated property, capital, and profits. Hard terms! But they could not choose, and go they must.
24. Who should go? This question agitated the Leyden congregation. Not all could take the voyage. Perhaps not all cared to: it was so far, so far! Yet the most were willing, and it remained to select from the large congregation those most fit for the hard task. There was dividing of friend from friend, of husband from wife, of father from child. Elder Brewster would go as their spiritual leader, since the beloved pastor must for the present stay with those who remained, hoping later to cross the sea and come to them.
25. A s.h.i.+p, the Speedwell, was fitted up in Holland; another, the Mayflower, awaited them in England. When all was ready they appointed a day of solemn fasting and prayer. Pastor Robinson preached to them ”a good part of the day” on the text, ”And there at the river, by Ahava, I proclaimed a fast, that we might humble ourselves before our G.o.d and seek of him a right way for us and for our children and for all our substance,” and ”the rest of the time was spent in pouring out prayers to the Lord with great fervency mixed with abundance of tears.
” Again they met together in a ”feast” at the pastor's house. Sorry feasting!
26. The hospitality was large, but hearts were too full for much but tears: a tender, painful farewell gathering, their white-haired pastor going about among them with words of comfort and counsel, gentle last suggestions, scripture texts believed, though the voice that repeats them trembles and breaks--believed and clung to through the tug of parting. ”Fear thou not, for I am with thee. Be not dismayed, for I am thy G.o.d. I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness!” ”G.o.d is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. The Lord of hosts is with us; the G.o.d of Jacob is our refuge.” Yes, they believed. And believing, they sang through tears--quivering pain notes at first, then, faith dominating, the tones grew firmer and sustained, until the final words rang out clear and strong; and with the end of the hymn they were ready for last earnest hand-clasps and quiet good-night.
27. To take s.h.i.+p, they went to Delft Haven, fourteen miles from Leyden, and to the port Pastor Robinson, with most of their friends, accompanied them. One more night on land, then the long voyage and the uncertain future. There was little sleep that night; and again, with Bible words and Christian counsel, hearts were strengthened.
28. In the morning, the wind being fair, ”they went aboard and their friends with them, where truly doleful was the sight of that sad and mournful parting, to see what sighs and sobs and prayers did sound among them.” We know, we know--G.o.d _is_ our refuge--but sore is the parting. We _are_ willing--but our hearts are wrung. There is no thought of regret or turning--but oh, the pain of it! The Dutchmen, loitering in the suns.h.i.+ne on the sh.o.r.e, watching with heavy curiosity this strange departure, suddenly find their own eyes filled with sympathetic tears. We must be off! cries the captain, half impatient over so much fervency and tears. They kneel around the pastor, and, with unsteady voice, though his trust is firm, he calls upon the G.o.d in whom they believe to guide and bless these his children. Once more the arms cling close. ”Mother, mother, how can I let you go!” ”My child, my child!” ”Beloved, you will come over to me soon.” ”Oh, my husband!” ”G.o.d wills it; I must go.” ”My son, I shall not live to see your face again.” Loosen the clasping arms; unfold the clinging fingers. You stay and we go, and the ocean lies between. The wind comes breathing, the sails fill; good-by! good-by! across the widening s.p.a.ce--and they are gone.
THE VOYAGE.
29. They sailed first to meet the Mayflower and others of the Puritan company at Southampton, England. There they called Robert Cushman to account, fell out with one of their London patrons, read together an affectionate farewell letter from Mr. Robinson, made all final arrangements for the voyage, and on August 5th, 1620, set sail in the two s.h.i.+ps for America. But the captain of the Speedwell, half-hearted in the business, twice had them back to land to repair pretended leaks; and the second time, putting in at Plymouth, it was determined to leave the Speedwell and a part of the Puritan band. The little company, small enough before, was again reduced, ”like Gideon's army.
” Some were discouraged with the many hindrances and willingly stayed; some were beginning to fear for the success of the voyage, undertaken so late in the season; some were weak, and, could be spared where there was need of the strongest; some little children were sent back to await a later pa.s.sage; Robert Cushman, vexed to the soul by the unsatisfactoriness of his negotiations, sick and disheartened, stayed behind. Again there were sad parting, tears, and prayers; but G.o.d would sustain, and, leaving the companion s.h.i.+p and the last friends, the Mayflower sailed from Plymouth, September 6th.
30. One hundred and two ”Pilgrims,” seeking a better country: men, women, children, servants and hand-maidens. Elder William Brewster with his wife Mary, his two sons Love and Wrestling, and a boy, Richard More; the Winslows, with two men-servants and Richard More's little sister Ellen; William Bradford and his wife Dorothy, their only child being left behind; the Allertons, the Martins, the Whites, with their son Resolved; Mr. and Mrs. Mullins with their children Joseph and Priscilla, and a servant; Mr. Hopkins and his family; Mr. Warren, lonely enough without the wife and children left behind; John Billington, his wife Ellen, and his two sons; the two Tilley families, with their cousins Henry Samson and Humility Cooper, children whose parents were not with them; Mr. Cook and John his son, his wife and other children being in England yet, John Rigdale and Alice his wife; Miles Standish, bold English soldier, with Rose his wife; John Alden, the cooper, ”a hopeful young man and much desired”; Thomas Tinker, with his wife and child; these and many others in the little s.h.i.+p sailed over the wide ocean in search of an English home where Englishmen might freely wors.h.i.+p G.o.d.
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