Departure of the Pilgrims from England, and their sojourn in 1. IN 1592, a law was passed in England, requiring all PT. 1. persons to attend the established worship, under pen‐ P’D. III. alty of banishment, and if they returned, of death. CH. 1. Among those who could not conscientiously comply 1592. with these exactions, were JOHN ROBINSON and his Robinson congregation, who lived in the north of England. and his They belonged to that sect of the Puritans, or dissenters from the church of England, called Separatists. 2. To enjoy their religion, the pastor, and his whole flock, determined to exile themselves to Holland. But CHAPTER I.-1. Who were John Robinson and his congregation? 2. What was their object in seeking to change their country? people. 52 1607. THE PILGRIM MOTHERS. PT.I. this was a difficult undertaking. Once they embarked P'D. III. with their families and goods at Boston, in LincolnCH. I. shire. But the treacherous captain had plotted with English officers, who came on board the vessel, took Attempt their effects, searched the persons of the whole company for money, and then, in presence of a gazing multitude, led them on shore, and to prison. They were soon released, except seven of the principal men, who were detained and brought to trial, but at length freed. to go to Holland. Second 3. Again they bargained with a Dutch ship-master at Hull, who was to take them in from a common, hard by. At the time appointed, the women and children sailed to the place of rendezvous in a small bark, and 1608. the men came by land. The bark had grounded; but attempt. the Dutch captain sent his boat and took the men from the strand. But the authorities of Hull had, in the meantime, got notice; and the Dutch commander, at the sight of a large armed company, having a fair wind, with oaths, hoisted anchor, and sailed away; although the pilgrims even wept, thus to leave their wives and children. 4. Behold now these desolate women, the mothers of a future nation, their husbands forcibly carried off to sea, while on land an armed multitude are approachof the ing! They are taken, and dragged from one magistrate women. to another, while their children, cold and hungry, and Distress affrighted, are weeping and clinging around them. But their piteous condition and Christian demeanor softened, at length, the hearts of their persecutors, and even gained friends to their cause. 5. The men, in the meantime, encountered one of Storm at the most terrific sea storms ever known, continuing fourteen days, during seven of which, they saw neither sun, moon, or stars. sea. At length they all arrived in Holland. They settled at first in Amsterdam. They did not, however, find 2. What happened on their first attempt ?-3. What on their second? 4. What trouble did the women meet with? -- 5. What the men? When in Holland, where did they first settle PECULIARITIES OF THE PILGRIMS. 53 P'D. III. cause to be satisfied, and they removed to Leyden. PT.I. Here, by hard labor and frugal honesty, they lived highly respected; but after a few years they experi- CH.1. enced evils, which made them think of another removal. Leyden.. 6. Not only were their own toils constant and severe, but they were obliged to employ their children, so that they were necessarily deprived of education. And the health of the young, often fell a sacrifice to for rethe length of time and confined positions, in which moval. they labored. Some died, and some became deformed. Their morals also were likely to suffer from the habitual profanation of the sabbath, witnessed around them. Reasons 7. The Pilgrims had heard of America; and in its wilderness, they believed that they might serve God unmolested, and found a church, where not only the oppressed in England, but unborn generations, might Agents enjoy a pure worship. The Dutch wished them to colonize under their government. But they still loved gland. their country; and they sent agents to England, to procure, by the influence of Sir Edwin Sandys, a patent under the Virginia Company. 8. For the encouragement of this company, disheartened by the failures at Chesapeake Bay, Robinson, and Brewster, the ruling elder of his church, wrote to Sir Edwin, showing, in five particulars, the difference of their motives, their circumstances, and characters, from those of other adventurers. First, "We verily believe the Lord is with us, to whose service we have given ourselves, and that he will graciously prosper our endeavors, according to the simplicity of our hearts therein. Second, We are all well weaned from the delicate milk of our mother country, and inured to a strange and hard land, wherein we have learned patience. 9. Third, our people are as industrious and frugal as any in the world. Fourth, We are knit together in a 5. Where remove? In what estimation were they held? 6. What reasons had they for another removal?-7. What for thinking of America? What did the Dutch wish? What moved the Pilgrims to send agents to England?-8. Who wrote a letter? To whom? To show what? Mention the first particular? The second?-9. The third ?-fourth? go to En Letter to Sir E. Sandys. The Pilgrims a peculiar people. |