Online Texts for Craig White's Literature Courses

[Instructor’s note: The importance of Chapter 3 for Immigrant Literature is that the Pilgrims in The Netherlands live out two classic immigrant narratives: 1) The shock of a new culture and language, with the implicit challenge of assimilation; and 2) The immigrant’s “double journey” not just to a new culture and language but from an old country style of life to the life of a modern city. The greater significance will be that the Pilgrims reject assimilation to the Dutch culture and instead continue their journey to America, where assimilation to the Indian culture is not considered an option.]

[chapter 3, paragraph 1a = ¶3.1a]
Being now come into the Low Countries [Holland or The Netherlands], they saw many goodly and fortified cities, strongly walled and guarded with troops of armed men. Also they heard a strange and uncouth language, and beheld the different manners and customs of the people, with their strange fashions and attires; all so far differing from that of their plain country villages (wherein they were bred, and had so long lived) as it seemed they were come into a new world. But these were not the things they much looked on, or long took up their thoughts; for they had other work in hand, and another kind of war to wage and maintain. For though they saw fair and beautiful cities, flowing with abundance of all sorts of wealth and riches, yet it was not long before they saw the grim and grisly face of poverty coming upon them like an armed man, with whom they must buckle [apply themselves] and encounter [face], and from whom they could not flee; but they were armed with faith and patience against him, and all his encounters; and though they were sometimes foiled, yet by God’s assistance they prevailed and got the victory.

[¶3.1b] Now when Mr. Robinson, Mr. Brewster, and other principal members were come over, (for they were of the last, and stayed to help the weakest over before them,) such things were thought on as were necessary for their settling and best ordering of the church affairs. And when they had lived at Amsterdam about a year, Mr. Robinson, their pastor, and some others of best discerning, seeing how Mr. John Smith and his company was already fallen into contention with the church that was there before them, and no means they could use would do any good to cure the same, and also that the flames of contention were like to break out in that ancient church itself (as afterwards lamentably came to pass); which things they prudently foreseeing, thought it was best to remove [to the interior Dutch city of Leiden], before they were any way engaged with the same; though they well knew it would be much to the prejudice of their outward estates [their finances and goods], both at present and in likelihood in the future; as indeed it proved to be.

Their removal [from Amsterdam] to Leyden

[¶3.2] For these and some other reasons they removed to Leyden, a fair and beautiful city, and of a sweet situation [pleasant setting], but made more famous by the university wherewith it is adorned, in which of late had been so many learned men. But wanting that traffic by sea which Amsterdam enjoys, it was not so beneficial for their outward means of living and estates. But being now here pitched [camped], 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, but with hard and continual labor. [classic immigrant story: hard work gains material security]

[¶3.3a] 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, 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 carne unto them from diverse parts of England, so as they grew a great congregation. And if at any time any differences arose, or offences broke out (as it cannot be, but some time 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 carne to pass.

Pastor Robinson's house in Leiden, Holland

[¶3.3b] Yea such was the mutual love, and reciprocal respect that this worthy man [Pastor John Robinson] had to his flock, and his flock to him, that it might be said of them as it once was of that famous [Roman] 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 best good, both for soul and body; for besides his singular abilities in divine things (wherein he excelled), he was also very able to give directions in civil affaires, 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 [complain] against the evils of others, and yet be remiss in themselves, and not so careful to express a virtuous conversation.

[¶3.3c] They in like manner had ever a reverent regard unto him [Pastor Robinson], and had him in precious estimation, as his worth and wisdom did deserve; and though they esteemed him highly whilst he lived and labored amongst them, yet much more after his death,l when they carne to feel the want of his help, and saw (by woeful 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 as hard for them to find such another leader and feeder in all respects, as for the Taborites to find another Ziska. [an anti-Catholic Husserite sect in Bohemia whose military leader was Jan Zizka] And though they did not call themselves orphans (as the other [Taborites] did) after his death, yet they had cause as much to lament, in another regard, their present condition, and after usage.

[¶3.3d] But to return: I know not but it may be spoken to the honor of God, and without prejudice to any, that such was the true piety, the humble zeal, and fervent love, of this people (whilst they thus lived together) towards God and his ways, and the single-heartedness and sincere affection one towards another, that they carne as near the primitive pattern of the first churches, as any other church of those later times have done, according to their rank and quality. [Typology: the early Protestant value of imitating the “first churches” founded by Christ’s Apostles is re-emphasized]

[¶3.4] But seeing it is not my purpose to treat of the several passages that befell this people whilst they thus lived in the Low Countries [Holland or The Netherlands], (which might worthily require a large treatise of it self,) but to make way to show the beginning of this plantation [Plymouth Plantation in Massachusetts], which is that I aim at; yet because some of their adversaries did, upon the rumor of their removal, cast out slanders against them, as if that state had been weary of them, and had rather driven them out (as the heathen historians did feign [fabricate] of Moses and the Israelites when they went out of Egypt), [Typology or correspondence between original Exodus story and Pilgrims’ story] than that it was their own free choice and motion, I will therefore mention a particular [example] or two to show the contrary, and the good acceptance they had in the place where they lived. And first though many of them [English Pilgrims in Holland] were poor, yet there was none so poor, but if they were known to be of that congregation, the Dutch (either bakers or others) would trust them in any reasonable matter when they wanted money. Because they had found by experience how careful they were to keep their word, and saw them so painful [conscientious] and diligent in their callings; yea, they would strive to get their custom [business], and to employ them above others, in their work, for their honesty and diligence. [classic immigrant story: the Pilgrims in Holland gain acceptance through hard, honest labor]

[¶3.5a] Again; the magistrates of the city [Leiden], about the time of their coming away, or a little before, in the public place of justice, gave this commendable testimony of them, in the reproof of the Walloons who were of the French church in that city. [Walloons = French-speaking Protestants also seeking refuge in The Netherlands] These English, said they, have lived amongst us now this 12 years, and yet we never had any suit or accusation came against any of them; but your strifes and quarrels are continual, etc.

[¶3.5b] In these times also were the great troubles raised by the Arminians [a rival theological movement of the Reformation], who, as they greatly molested [damaged] the whole state, so this city in particular, in which was the chief university; so as there were daily and hot disputes in the schools thereabout; and as the students and other learned were divided in their opinions herein, so were the two Professors or divinity readers themselves; the one dally teaching for it, the other against it. Which grew to that pass, that few of the disciples of the one would hear the other teach.

[¶3.5c] But Mr. Robinson [the Pilgrims’ pastor], though he taught thrice a week himself [lectured to his own congregation ], and wrote sundry books [Puritan literacy!],  besides his many-fold pains otherwise, yet he went constantly to hear their readings, and heard the one as well as the. other by which means he was so well grounded in the controversy, and saw the force of all their arguments, and knew the shifts of the adversary, and being him self very able, none was fitter to buckle [engage] with them than himself, as appeared by sundry disputes; so as he began to be terrible [a formidable opponent] to the Arminians; which made Episcopius (the Arminian professor) to put forth his best strength, and set forth sundry theses [ideas], which by public dispute he would defend against all men.

[¶3.5d] Now Poliander the other professor, and the chief preachers of the city, desired Mr. Robinson to dispute against him [Episcopius]; but he was loath [hesitant], being a stranger; yet the other [Pollander] did importune [urgently ask] him, and told him that such was the ability and nimbleness of the adversary, that the truth would suffer if he did not help them. So as he condescended, and prepared himself against the time; and when the day came, the Lord did so help him to defend the truth and foil this adversary, as he put him to an apparent nonplus [confusion], in this great and public audience. And the like he did a second or third time, upon such like occasions.

[¶3.5e] The which as it caused many to praise God that the truth had so famous victory, so it procured him [Pastor Robinson] much honor and respect from those learned men and others which loved the truth. Yea, so far were they from being weary of him and his people, or desiring their absence, as it was said by some, of no mean [small] note, that were. it not for giving offence to the state of England, they would have preferred him otherwise if he would, and allowed them some public favor. Yea when there was speech of their [Pilgrims’] removal into these parts [America], sundry of note and eminence [various social leaders] of that nation would have had them come under them, and for that end made then large offers. Now though I might allege many other particulars and examples of the like kind, to show the untruth and unlikelihood of this slander, yet these shall suffice, seeing it was believed of few, being only raised by the malice of some, who labored their disgrace.