Puritans, scattered through the North of England, joined themselves together for free religious worship. They believed that every man has a right to know the truth of the Scriptures for himself. Such a doctrine was repugnant to the Church of England. Queen Elizabeth declared such teaching to be subversive of the monarchy. King James was also intolerant; and from time to time violent persecutions broke out against the feeble and dispersed Christians.

10. Many of the Puritans left England and went into exile in Holland. In 1608 their ship brought them in safety to Amsterdam, where, under the care of their pastor, John Robinson, they passed one winter, and then removed to Leyden. They took the name of PILGRIMS, and grew content to have no home or restingplace. But they did not forget their native land. During their ten years of residence at Leyden they longed to return to their own country. The strange language of the Dutch sounded harshly to them. They pined with unrest, and were anxious to do something to convince King James of their patriotism.

11. In 1617 the Puritans began to meditate a removal to the New World. There they would forget the past, and be at peace with their country. John Carver and Robert Cushman were despatched to England to ask permission to settle in America. The agents of the Council of Plymouth favored the request, but the king refused. The most that he would do was to make a promise to let the Pilgrims alone in America.

12. The Puritans were not discouraged. Out of their own resources they provided the means of departure, and set their faces toward the sea. The Speedwell, a small vessel, was purchased at Amsterdam, and the Mayflower, a larger ship, was hired for the voyage. The former was to carry the emigrants from Leyden to Southampton, where they were to be joined by the Mayflower, with another company from London. Assembling at the harbor of Delft, on the River Meuse, as many of the Pilgrims as could be accommodated went on board the Speedwell. The whole congrega tion accompanied them to the shore. There Robinson gave them a farewell address, and the prayers of those who were left behind followed the vessel out of sight.

13. On the 5th of August, 1620, the vessels left the harbor of Southampton; but in a few days the Speedwell was found to be shattered and leaky. Both ships anchored at Dartmouth, and eight days were spent in making repairs. Again the sails were set; but the Speedwell was unable to breast the ocean, and put back to Plymouth. Here the ship was abandoned; but the Pilgrims were encouraged by the citizens, and the more zealous went on board the Mayflower for a final effort. On the 6th of September the first colony of New England, numbering one hundred and two souls, saw the shores of Old England sink behind the sea.

14. For sixty-three days the ship was buffeted by storms. It had been the intention of the Pilgrims to found their colony on the Hudson; but the tempest carried them northward to Cape Cod. On the 9th of November the vessel was anchored in the bay; a meeting was held and the colony organized under a solemn compact. In the charter which they there made for themselves the emigrants declared their loyalty to the English king, and agreed to live in peace and harmony. Such was the simple constitution of the oldest New England State. To this instrument all the heads of families, forty-one in number, set their names. An election was held in which all had an equal voice, and John Carver was chosen governor.

15. Miles Standish, John Bradford, and a few others, went on shore and explored the country; nothing was found but a heap of Indian corn under the snow. On the 6th of December, the governor landed with fifteen companions. The weather was dreadful. Rains and snow-storms covered the clothes of the Pilgrims with ice. They were attacked by the Indians, but escaped to the ship with their lives. The vessel was steered to the southwest for forty-five miles, and at last driven by accident into a haven on the west side of the bay. The next day, being the Sabbath, was spent in religious services, and on Monday, the 11th of December (Old) Style), 1620, the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock.

16. It was the dead of winter. The houseless immigrants fell a-dying of hunger and cold. After a few days spent in explorations, a site was selected near the first landing, the snow-drifts were cleared away, and on the 9th of January the toilers began to build

New Plymouth. Every man took on himself the work of making his own house; but the ravages of disease grew daily worse. Lung-fevers wasted every family. At one time only seven men were able to work on the sheds which were built for protection. If an early spring had not brought relief, the colony must have perished. Such were the sufferings and sorrows of that winter when New England began to be.

RECAPITULATION.

King James issues patents to the London and Plymouth Companies.-The London Company to plant colonies between the 34th and the 38th parallels.-The Plymouth Company to make settlements from the 41st to the 45th degree.--Gosnold, Smith, Hakluyt, and Wingfield, the leaders.-No democratic principles in the charter.-A ship is sent out by the Plymouth Company.-A second vessel despatched to America.-A settlement is attempted on the Kennebec.-Is abandoned.--A fleet is sent out by the London Company.-Arrives in the Chesapeake.-Jamestown is founded.-The Plymouth Company revived by Smith.He explores and maps New England.-Attempts are made to form a colony.The Plymouth Company is superseded by the Council of Plymouth.-A new plan of colonization is made.-Smith appointed admiral.-The Puritans in England. They remove to Amsterdam and Leyden.-Determine to remove to America. Ask permission.-Meet with discouragements.-Procure two vessels.-Sail from Leyden, and afterward from Southampton.-The Speedwell is found unfit for the voyage.-The Pilgrims depart in the Mayflower.-A stormy voyage.-Cape Cod is reached.-The frame of government.-Carver is elected governor.-The landing is delayed.-The ship driven by storms.-Enters Plymouth harbor.-The Puritans on shore.-Begin to build.-Attacked with diseases. Many die.-An early spring brings relief.

THE

CHAPTER VIII.

VOYAGES AND SETTLEMENTS OF THE DUTCH.

HE first Dutch settlement in America was made on Manhattan Island. The colony resulted from the voyages of SIR HENRY HUDSON. In the year 1607 this great sailor was employed by a company of London merchants to discover a new route to the

Indies. He first made a voyage in a single ship into the North Atlantic, but was compelled by the icebergs to return to England. Another voyage also resulted in failure; and his employers gave up the enterprise. In 1609 the Dutch East India Company furnished him with a ship called the Half Moon, and in April he set out on his third voyage for the Indies. Again he ran among the icebergs, and further sailing was impossible. But not discouraged, he imme diately set sail for America.

2. In July,Hudson reached the coast of Maine. Sailing southward, he passed Cape Cod, and in August reached the Chesapeake. Again he turned to the north, and on the 28th of the month anchored in Delaware Bay. Then the voyage was continued along the coast of New Jersey, until, on the 3d of September, the Half Moon came to anchorage in the bay of Sandy Hook. Two days later a landing was effected. The natives came with gifts of corn, wild fruit, and oysters. On the 10th of the month the vessel passed the Narrows and entered the noble river which bears the name of HUDSON.

3. For eight days the Half Moon sailed up the river. Such beautiful forests and valleys the Dutch had never seen before. On the 19th of September the vessel was moored at Kinderhook; but an exploring party rowed up stream beyond the site of Albany. After some days they returned to the ship, the vessel dropped down the river, and on the 4th of October the sails were spread for Holland. On the homeward voyage the Half Moon was detained in England, and the crew were claimed as Englishmen.

4. In the summer of 1610, a ship, called the Discovery, was given to Hudson, who now left England never to return. He sailed in the track which Frobisher had taken, and on the 2d day of August entered the strait which bears the name of its discoverer. No ship had ever before been in these waters. The great captain and his crew believed that the route to China was at last discovered; but he soon found himself environed with the terrors of winter in the frozen gulf of the North. With great courage he bore up until his provisions were almost exhausted. Then the treacherous crew broke out in mutiny. They seized Hudson and his only son, with seven other faithful sailors, threw them into an

open boat, and cast them off among the icebergs. The fate of the illustrious mariner has never been ascertained.

5. In 1610 the Half Moon was liberated and returned to Amsterdam. In the same year several ships owned by Dutch merchants sailed to the banks of the Hudson and engaged in the furtrade. In 1614 an act was passed by the States-General of Holland giving to merchants of Amsterdam the right to trade and establish settlements in the country explored by Hudson. A fleet of five trading-vessels arrived in the summer of the same year at Manhattan Island. Here some rude huts had already been built by former traders, and the settlement was named New Amsterdam.

6. In the fall of 1614, Adrian Block sailed into Long Island Sound, made explorations to the mouth of the Connecticut, thence to Narraganset Bay, and to Cape Cod. Christianson, another Dutch commander, sailed up the river from Manhattan to Castle Island, and erected a block-house, which was named Fort Nassau. Cornelius May, the captain of a small vessel called the Fortune, sailed from New Amsterdam and explored the Jersey coast as far as the Bay of Delaware. Upon these two voyages Holland set up a claim to the country which was now named NEW NETHERLAND, extending from Cape Henlopen to Cape Cod-a claim which Great Britain and France treated with contempt. Such were the feeble beginnings of the Dutch colonies in New York and Jersey.

RECAPITULATION.

Dutch settlements in America result from the voyages of Hudson.-He is employed to find the Indies.-Sails into the North Atlantic.-Fails in his effort.Is sent on a second voyage.-And fails.-Goes into the service of the Dutch.Sails on a third voyage.-Is driven back by the icebergs.-Turns to America.Explores the coast.-Enters New York harbor.-Discovers the Hudson River.Explores that stream as far as Albany.-Returns to Dartmouth.-Is detained by the English.-Is sent on a fourth expedition.-Discovers Hudson Strait and Bay. Is overtaken by winter.-The crew mutiny.-Hudson is cast off among the icebergs.-Dutch vessels begin to trade at Manhattan.-The States-General grant a right to trade.-A settlement is made on Manhattan Island.-Block explores Long Island Sound.-Christianson builds Fort Nassau.-May explores the coast of New Jersey.-Holland claims the country from Delaware Bay to Cape Cod.