CHAP. II.

Measures adopted for removing; their voyage; their disappointment as to the place of their settlement, through the treachery of the Dutch; the form of government established; their landing at Cape Cod.

HAVING resolved on a removal, the first measure they adopted was a meeting for prayer, to seek direction and assistance from God. A general conference was then holden to consult on the subject, and determine to what particular place they should remove. Some, and those not the least respectable, preferred Guiana, in South America, on account of the warmth of the climate, the fertility of the soil, and the ease with which they might be supported. To these arguments were objected, the unhealthiness of all hot countries, and the hostility of the Spaniards. The objection against Virginia was, that they should be exposed to the persecution of the English government, without the privilege of its protection; finally, it was concluded to live in a distinct body by themselves, under the general government of Virginia, and "by their friends to sue his majesty for liberty and freedom of religion." This they were encouraged to hope they should obtain by the agency of some persons of rank and quality, who were their friends.

Two persons were then chosen and sent to England, to make application to the Virginia company, whom they found ready to grant them a patent with as ample privileges, as they had themselves, and to afford them all the assistance in their power. The principal persons of the company believed that the king would grant their request, as to free dom of religion. This was found impossible. Though the

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leading members of the Virginia company, with their friends, and one of the chief secretaries of state, urged the king, and others made application to the archbishop, all was vain. The king intimated that he would not disturb them in their religion, while they conducted peaceably. This hope of his connivance was all they could obtain. The Virginia company, presuming that they would not be troubled, urged them to proceed. The agents returned to Holland; some were discouraged, but they finally concluded to proceed, "resting on God's providence, as they had done in other things."

Upon this resolution, Messrs. ROBERT CUSHMAN and JOHN CARVER were sent to conclude the business with the Virginia company, to obtain as good a patent as they could, and agree with such merchants and friends, as were disposed to encourage the voyage: Written instructions were given them, beyond which they were not to proceed without further advice. New difficulties occurring, these agents returned to Holland to confer with their brethren.

After a long and troublesome negociation, which began in 1617, the patent was obtained in 1619; yet God so ordered their affairs, that this patent, which had cost them so much expense, labor, and anxiety, was never of the least advantage to them, as they did not settle in a part of the country within the Virginia patent. So precarious are the most sanguine hopes of man.

Having received the patent and proposals from the merchants and friends on whom they depended for assistance, they began to "prepare themselves with all speed." A ship of sixty tons was hired in Holland, and another of one hundred and eighty in England. All things being in readiness for their departure from Leyden, they kept a day of solemn humiliation and prayer. Their pastor preached from Ezra viii. 21. "Then I proclaimed a fast at the river

Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us and for our little ones, and for all our substance."

The time of their departure being come, they were accompanied by most of their brethren several miles to Delft Haven, where the ship waited to receive them. They now left the pleasant city of Leyden, which had been their hiding place for twelve years. They found the ship and all things ready. Friends from Leyden, who could not embark with them, followed and arrived before their departure; friends from Amsterdam came to take their leave of them. The night was spent with little sleep, but "with friendly entertainment, and christian discourse, and real expressions of purest love."

The next day the wind was fair; they went on board, their friends with them. Distressing was the sight of that sad and mournful parting. The sighs and sobs and prayers, which burst from every lip, were sufficient to melt the coldest heart; tears gushed from every eye; the kindest speeches were stifled by unutterable tenderness of soul. The Dutch strangers, who were present, could not refrain from weeping. Unfeigned love glowed in every heart; but the tide, which waits for no man, called them away; the moment was overwhelming. Their pastor fell on his knees, and they all with him, with cheeks bedewed with tears, commended themselves with most fervent prayer to God; then with mutual embraces and many tears, they parted. To many this was a final parting on earth. A prosperous gale soon bore them to the English shore. At Southampton they found the larger ship, and the rest of their company ready to sail for America.

After their parting, Mr. Robinson wrote a letter to Mr. John Carver,* and another to the company, both full of

This interesting letter is preserved in Hazard's Hist. Col. vol. i. p. 96.

affection, and of confidence in their wisdom and goodness, and of wise and most salutary advice.

Mr. Robinson's letter to the company was read before they left Southampton, and very gratefully received; afterward it produced the most happy effects. A governor and two or three assistants being chosen for each ship, they sailed from the old for the new world, Aug. 5, 1620. New calamities befel them; one of their vessels sprung a leak, and they were obliged to return, and make repairs; again they sailed, and again were they beaten back, and obliged to leave their small vessel. Being all crowded into one ship, they put to sea again, Sept. 6; but a dreadful storm opposed their passage, and they seriously contemplated relinquishing the voyage, and returning home.

These repeated disasters gave them full opportunity deliberately to "count the cost" of their designs, to estimate and feel their dangers and distresses, to compare them with the value of those religious privileges, which were the object of all these daring enterprises, of all these overwhelming sufferings. Never did martyrs, dying for their religion and their Saviour, have a more favorable time for cool reflection, to form a deliberate judgment, and to examine the rock on which they built their best hopes.

In their native country their sufferings had been great and of long duration, giving them full time to reflect and recant, had they felt that to be their duty. In Holland for twelve or thirteen years, they had endured trials and labors, which had exhausted their strength, and produced a premature old age. Still, however, they persevered, pursuing their design with unappalled resolution. Every effort to gain the American coast, was a new demonstration of the reality, the infinite value, and the invincible energy of the. Christian Religion, when it reigns in the hearts of good men. Was there ever an object presented to mankind,

which could more powerfully persuade them to believe the gospel, than this company of holy puritans, crossing the stormy ocean in search of a place to worship God in peace and purity of conscience? Must not that religion be from heaven, which could sooth, support, comfort, and animate people in circumstances so painful and hazardous? Nor were these daring efforts prompted by the passion of the moment; they had been repeated and continued for eighteen years. They were not like meteors, which blaze, dazzle, and expire; but the sun, shining in his strength to enlighten the world.

After being tossed more than two months on the boisterous deep, they descried, Nov. 9th, the bleak and barren shores of Cape Cod. Two days after, they anchored in Cape Cod harbor. But this bleak and barren region was not the place which they had in view for their settlement.

Their intention was to have settled at the mouth of Hud. son's river; but the Dutch, intending to plant there a colony of their own, privately hired the master of the ship to contrive delays in England, and then to conduct them to these northern coasts, and there, under the pretence of shoals and winter, to discourage them from venturing to the place of destination. Although Cape Cod harbor, in which they first anchored, was good, the surrounding country was sandy and barren. These were discouraging circumstances; but the season being far advanced, they prudently determined to make the best of their present situation. As they were not within the limits of the patent, and consequently not under the jurisdiction of the Virginia company, and having some factious persons among them, in the capacity of servants, who, possessing a portion of the modern spirit of liberty and equality, had intimated, that when on shore, they should be under no government, and that one man would then be as good as another, the more