JOHN ROBINSON AND THE PILGRIM FATHERS.*

MR. YOUNG's two volumes of "Chronicles" are a most important contribution to the early history of Massachusetts. They are well printed; but this is their least commendation; for they are edited with the greatest care, and illustrated (not burthened) by notes of the highest value. No research has been spared, and Mr. Young has been throughout life favourably situated for acquiring knowledge bearing on the subject of his choice. He was born and educated in Boston; at Harvard University he was, in 1820, the companion of Ezra Styles Gannett, and, like him, found an early settlement in one of the Boston churches, being ordained, on the 19th of January, 1825, minister of the new South Church. A statement of the contents of the volume which we have placed below, will at once prove its value. The first document is a history of the people and colony from 1602 to 1620, written by William Bradford, the second Governor of Plymouth. This historical document, Mr. Young observes, "takes precedence of every thing else relating to the Pilgrims in time, authority and interest." We owe it to his skill and accuracy that this work was discovered amongst the records of the first church of Plymouth. It had been resorted to by previous historians, who had failed to assign it to its proper author. It was supposed to have perished in the war of the Revolution. The second document is Bradford's and Winslow's Journal of the first settlement of the colony, containing a minute diary of events from the arrival of the Mayflower at Cape Cod, Nov. 9, 1620, to Dec. 11, 1621. The third document is a discourse delivered at Plymouth, November, 1621, by Robert Cushman, on the state of the colony and the need of public spirit in the colonists. The fourth document is Edward Winslow's relation, entitled, "Good News from New England," continuing the history of the colony to Sept. 10, 1623. The fifth is Winslow's "Brief Narrative of the True Grounds or Cause of the First Planting of New England." The sixth is a very curious Dialogue, written by Governor Bradford, and never previously printed entire. It is entitled, "A Dialogue, or the Sum of a Conference between some Young Men born in New England, and sundry Ancient Men that came out of Holland and Old England, A.D. 1648." Next follows a memoir of Elder Brewster, who died April 16, 1644, written by Governor Bradford. The volume closes with a short series of letters, from the venerable pastor John Robinson and others, which were rescued, about half a century ago, from a grocer's shop in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Dr. Cheever's volume, which is No. 3 in our note, also contains Bradford's and Winslow's Journal (Mr. Young's second document), and is

1. Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers of the Colony of Plymouth, from 1602 to 1625. Now first collected from Original Records and contemporaneous printed Documents, and illustrated with Notes. By Alexander Young. Second Edition. 8vo. Pp. 502. Boston.

2. Chronicles of the First Planters of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, from 1623 to 1636. Now first collected from Original Records and contemporaneous Manuscripts, and illustrated with Notes. By Alexander Young. Pp. 571. Boston.

3. The Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, in New England, in 1620. Reprinted from the Original Volume. With Historical and Local Illustrations of Providences, Principles and Persons. By George B. Cheever, D.D. Post 8vo. Pp. 369. New York and London-John Wiley. 1848.

followed by a series of essays on the history and principles of the Pilgrim Fathers, full of illustrative matter, and written in a very pleasant style. The Massachusetts Chronicles,-Mr. Young's second volume,-carries on the general history of the colony to 1636, and is enriched with biographies of John Cotton, the early pastor of Boston, and Thomas Shepard, the first pastor of Cambridge (an ancestor, six generations removed, of the late John Quincy Adams), and with various other historical and biographical documents.

Dr. Cheever's volume is already honoured with a popular reprint in this country. Mr. Young's far more valuable books are, we regret to say, inaccessible, save to those who can pay the somewhat costly price charged on books imported to us from Boston. We hope that Mr. Bohn, or some other equally spirited publisher, will soon present them to us in an English reprint.

The adventures of the Pilgrim Fathers of New England cannot but deeply interest even those who know or care little about the religious principles which animated the courageous band, or the momentous consequences which have flowed from their courage and success. There is not a step in their history around which we do not linger with interest. The gathering of the little flocks of earnest men in some of the north-eastern villages and towns of England; their resolution to shake off "anti-christian bondage, whatever it might cost them;" their secret meetings for religious worship, continued for more than a year, spite of the diligent malice of prelates and their pursuivants; their resolution to emigrate when persecution waxed hotter and hotter; the first unsuccessful attempt to leave England; the arrest of all, and the continued imprisonment of some; the serious dangers that attended their second attempt to embark near the mouth of the Humber, and their successful embarkation at last under Robinson and Brewster; their arrival at Amsterdam, and subsequent removal to Leyden; the negotiations with London for a patent under the Virginia Company; the interference of the prelates of Canterbury and London; the final resolution of the little church at Leyden to brave the storms and dangers of the Atlantic; the painful parting with their wise and faithful pastor, Robinson; and all the harassing adventures that chequered their progress during six anxious months, from July, 1620, to December 22, when they landed on the rock of Plymouth, in Massachusetts; -these are events of thrilling interest. The voyage of the Mayflower with its freight of Pilgrims possesses almost the sacred interest which belongs to that of the shipwrecked Paul. "Methinks" (Mr. Everett eloquently said) "I see it now, that one solitary, adventurous vessel, the Mayflower of a forlorn hope, freighted with the prospects of a future state, and bound across the unknown sea. I behold it pursuing, with a thousand misgivings, the uncertain, the tedious voyage. Suns rise and set, and weeks and months pass, and winter surprises them on the deep, but brings them not the sight of the wished-for shore. I see them now scantily supplied with provisions, crowded almost to suffocation in their ill-stored prison, delayed by calms, pursuing a circuitous route, and now driven in fury before a raging tempest on the high and giddy waves. The awful voice of the storm howls through the rigging. The labouring masts seem straining from their base; the dismal sound of the pumps is heard; the ship leaps, as it were madly, from billow

to billow; the ocean breaks, and settles with engulfing floods over the floating deck, and beats with deadening, shivering weight against the staggered vessel. I see them, escaped from these perils, pursuing their all but desperate undertaking, and landed at last, after a five months' passage, on the ice-clad rocks of Plymouth,-weak and weary from the voyage, poorly armed, scantily provisioned, depending on the charity of their ship-master for a draught of beer on board, drinking nothing but water on shore, without shelter, without means, surrounded by hostile tribes."

Looking at the feeble commencement of the Pilgrims, and at their protracted sufferings, we spontaneously give them our pity; but looking at what they achieved, at the firm foundations which they laid of a stately and enduring edifice, both political and religious, it is scarcely possible to express the largeness of our admiration.

Sharing, as we Englishmen and Nonconformists have an especial right to share, in the homage annually paid by the people of New England to the memory of their Pilgrim Fathers, we are pleased from time to time to receive from them the narratives of their historians and the results of antiquarian research illustrative of the deeds and woes and virtue of their founders. Such memorials are calculated to benefit in no small degree both England and America. They will teach both nations that there is something higher for which man should strive than wealth and power, and that those enterprizes only give promise of enduring value which are undertaken under the influences and guided by the sanctions of religion. The people of both countries at times need to be strongly reminded of their affinity in blood, to save them from unworthy jealousies and the disgrace of war. At length the Puritan character has been permitted to take its rightful place in the national mind, and, save by Puseyite Fellows and High-Church Rectors, is regarded as the salt which, in a critical period of our history, saved England from universal moral corruption. Both the parent nation and its offshoot-now in all things save one its equal in liberty and civilization-will feel themselves bound for ever, through the Puritan emigrants of the 17th century, in bonds of affinity and friendship, which will grow with the growth of civilization and the empire of religion.

Now that more than two centuries have cicatriced and healed the wounds occasioned by the evil sway of the prelates, we can admire the omnipotent working of Providence, which maketh the wrath of man to praise him. It was not so with the Puritan contemporaries of the emigrants. Who does not remember Milton's indignant words—“ What numbers of faithful and freeborn Englishmen and good Christians have been constrained to forsake their dearest home, their friends and kindred, whom nothing but the wide ocean and the savage deserts of America could hide and shelter from the fury of the bishops! Oh! Sir, if we could but see the shape of our dear mother England, as poets are wont to give a personal form to what they please, how would she appear, think ye, but in a mourning weed, with ashes upon her head and tears abundantly flowing from her eyes, to behold so many of her children exposed at once, and thrust from things of dearest necessity, because their consciences could not assent to things which the bishops thought indifferent?*** There cannot be a more ill-boding sign to a nation (God turn the omen from us!) than when the inhabitants, to

avoid insufferable grievances at home, are enforced by heaps to forsake their native country."

We have been permitted to live in times when the evil consequences have passed away, and a large remainder of good to all the world survives.

We now proceed to make a few extracts from Governor Bradford's History. First, we offer to our readers' notice his account of the church of John Robinson, which appears to have congregated from several towns and villages of the counties of Nottingham, Lincoln and York.

"In this church,

besides other worthy men, was Mr. Richard Clifton, a grave and reverend preacher, who by his pains and diligence had done much good, and under God had been a means of the conversion of many; and also that famous and worthy man, Mr. John Robinson, who afterwards was their pastor for many years, until the Lord took him away by death; and also Mr. William Brewster, a revered man, who afterwards was chosen an elder of the church, and lived with them until old age and death.

They could not long continue in any peaceable manner, but were hunted and persecuted on every side, so as their former afflictions were but as mole-hills to mountains in comparison to these which now came upon them. For some were taken and clapped up in prisons, others had their houses beset and watched night and day, and hardly escaped their hands; and the most were fain to fly and leave their houses and habitations, and the means of their livelihood. Yet these and many other sharper things which afterward befel them, were no other than they looked for, and therefore were the better prepared to bear them, by the assistance of God's grace and spirit. Yet, seeing themselves thus molested, and that there was no hope of their continuance there, by a joint consent they resolved to go into the Low Countries, where they heard was freedom of religion for all men, as also how sundry from London and other parts of the land, that had been exiled and persecuted for the same cause, were gone thither, and lived at Amsterdam and in other places of the land. So, after they had continued together about a year, and kept their meetings every sabbath in one place or another, exercising the worship of God amongst themselves, notwithstanding all the diligence and malice of their adversaries, they, seeing they could no longer continue in that condition, they resolved to get over into Holland, as they could, which was in the year 1607 and 1608."-Plymouth Chronicles, pp. 22—25.

We next extract from the same document Bradford's account of the church at Leyden, and his description of their saint-like pastor. There is great sweetness in the whole passage.

"For these and some other reasons they removed to Leyden, a fair and beautiful city, and of a sweet situation, but made more famous by the university wherewith it is adorned, in which of late it had been by so many learned men; but wanting that traffic by sea which Amsterdam enjoyed, it was not so beneficial for their outward means of living and estates. But being now here pitched, they fell to such trades and employments as they best could, valuing peace and their spiritual comfort above any other riches whatsoever; and at length they came to raise a competent and comfortable living, and with hard and continual labour. Being thus settled, after many difficulties, they continued many years in a comfortable condition, enjoying much sweet and delightful society and spiritual comfort together, in the ways of God, under the able ministry and prudent government of Mr. John Robinson and Mr. William Brewster, who was an assistant unto him in the place of an elder,

* "Of Reformation touching Church Discipline in England," 1641.

unto which he was now called and chosen by the church; so as they grew in knowledge and other gifts and graces of the spirit of God, and lived together in peace and love and holiness. And many came unto them from divers parts of England, so as they grew a great congregation. And if at any time any differences did arise or offences broke out (as it cannot be but that sometimes there will, even amongst the best of men), they were ever so met with and nipped in the head betimes, or otherwise so well composed, as still love, peace and communion was continued, or else the church purged of those that were incurable and incorrigible, when, after much patience used, no other means would serve; which seldom comes to pass. Yea, such was the mutual love and reciprocal respect that this worthy man had to his flock, and his flock to him, that it might be said of them, as it was once said of that famous emperor Marcus Aurelius, and the people of Rome, that it was hard to judge whether he delighted more in having such a people, or they in having such a pastor. His love was great towards them, and his care was always bent for their greatest good, both for soul and body. For, besides his singular abilities in divine things, wherein he excelled, he was able also to give direction in civil affairs, and to foresee dangers and inconveniences; by which means he was very helpful to their outward estates, and so was every way as a common father unto them. And none did more offend him than those that were close and cleaving to themselves and retired from the common good; as also such as would be stiff and rigid in matters of outward order, and inveigh against the evils of others, and yet be remiss in themselves, and not so careful to express a virtuous conversation. They, in like manner, had ever a reverent regard unto him, and had him in precious estimation, as his worth and wisdom did deserve; and although they esteemed him highly whilst he lived and laboured amongst them, yet much more after his death, when they came to feel the want of his help, and saw by woful experience what a treasure they had lost, to the grief of their hearts and wounding of their souls; yea, such a loss as they saw could not be repaired; for it was hard for them to find such another leader and feeder in all respects, as the Taborites to find another Ziska.”—Pp. 35-38.

This is high praise, yet is it justified by all we know of John Robinson. That he possessed the qualities that befit the statesman as well as the divine, we can well conceive from the tenor of that noble address, full of wisdom in advance of his age, which he delivered to the Pilgrims before they embarked at Delft-Haven. He charged his departing flock to follow him no further than they had scen him follow the Lord Jesus Christ; he implored them to be prepared to receive God's truth, by whatever instrument it might be revealed; and, prophet-like, declared his conviction that the Lord had more truth yet to break forth out of his holy word. Governor Bradford's description of the parting at Leyden has almost the solemnity of a Scripture story.

"So being ready to depart, they had a day of solemn humiliation, their pastor taking his text from Ezra viii. 21: And there, by the river at Ahava, I proclaimed a fast, that we might humble ourselves before our God, and seek of him a right way for us, and for our children, and all our substance. Upon which he spent a good part of the day very profitably, and suitably to their present occasion. The rest of the time was spent in pouring out prayers to the Lord with great fervency, mixed with abundance of tears. And the time being come that they must depart, they were accompanied with the most of their brethren out of the city unto a town sundry miles off, called Delft-Haven, where the ship lay ready to receive them. So they left that goodly and pleasant city, which had been their resting-place near twelve years. But they knew they were PILGRIMS, and looked not much on those things, but lifted up their eyes to Heaven, their dearest country, and quieted their spirits. When