Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/76

 opinions to larger liberty, and more extended toleration, than the age was prepared for; and as time passed on and the way was gradually opened, they developped their views more and more, particularly as the government endeavored, both unwisely and unfairly, to force conformity by stringent and oppressive legislation.

Notwithstanding the hardships of their position, antagonistic to the government and the Established Church, the Puritans were divided among themselves. Some desired to remain in the Church of England, and endeavor to effect more complete reformation. But there were many who, repudiating alike Episcopal and Presbyterian government, contended for the absolute independence of every separate congregation of believers, and their right to frame for themselves, unrestricted by human authority, such a form of church government and discipline as they could derive from the study of Scripture. This section of the Puritan party who called themselves Independents, but had obtained the appellation, at once distinctive and contemptuous, of Brownists, from the name of one of their leaders, a man whose intemperate zeal was speedily succeeded by his ignominious recantation, still continued, to exist, in the north of England, and was subjected to the severest measures on the part of the government. Many of them had fled for refuge to the States of Holland, and established a Congregational church in the city of Amsterdam.

Of those who remained in England a church was gradually formed through the influence of "Elder Brewster," the occupant of a large mansion-house at Scrooby, in Yorkshire, belonging to the bishop of York. Bradford, afterwards governor of New Plymouth, was one of this congregation; and Robinson was invited to be their pastor. This latter was a man of high character, and universally respected and beloved by his congregation, whose interests, both temporal and spiritual, were ever near his heart.

Greatly distressed at the discomforts of their position, the congregation over which Robinson presided, earnestly meditated upon following the example of the other refugees of their persuasion who had emigrated to Holland. It was in the autumn or early winter of 1607, that the church at Scrooby began to put into execution the intention, which must have been forming months before, of leaving their native country, and settling in a land of which they knew little more than that there they should find the toleration denied them at home. Bradford