that the following two books were printed from the same
type. It is very likely that they knew the type well; and
that Brewer originally bought it from some Dutch printer
or type-founder. It would be well if this opinion could be
tested by some typographical expert in the present day.
5. [David Calderwood.] Perth Assembly. 1619. 4.
De regimine Ecclesifie Scoticanas brevis Belatio. 1619. 8.
Apparently two editions of this small book were printed in
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Holland ; the second one, in point of time, by William Brswstsb
at Leyden. We have only met with one of these editions. It has
no name of Author. But when Caldbrwood reprinted it in 1623,
at the end of his AUa/re Damascenvmy he gave it the name of an
imaginary Author, Hibronthus Philadblfhus. So the correct
full title is
6. HiBRONTinjs Philadklphus [Le. David Caldbrwood]. De
regimine Ecclesiee Scoticanse brevis Belatio. 1619. 8.
Before we pass from these two books, the production of
which more especially led to the suppression of the Pilgrim
Press ; we may dwell for a moment upon the Perth Assembly
of 1619.
The General Assemblies of the Kirk of Scotland were the
regular pitched battles between the British King and the
Scotch nation. In the General Assembly that sat at Perth
on 25ih — 27th August 1618; Jambs I. was particularly
aggressive and violent in his attempts to force Episcopacy
upon an unwilling people.
David Caldbrwood then wrote his book called Perth
Assemhlf/ ; which was sent over to Leyden to be printed at
the Pilgrim Press.
From the following, slightly abridged, passage from the
Rev. Thomas Thomson's Life of David Calderwood, in Vol.
VIII. of the Woodrow Society's Ed. of his History Ac,, it
would appear that copies of this invective were in Scotland
in April 1619; though they were not put into circulation
till the June following, as Caldbrwood tells us himself, see
page 181.
Sir DuDLET Carleton first met with a copy, at the Hague
on 15/25 July of that year ; see page 198.
While these violent proceedings of the Perth Assembly were
in progress, Caldbrwood was still liurking in Scotland; and
shifting from place to place, according to the emergency. His
chief concealment was in Cranstoun [near Edinburgh] ; where a
secret chamber had been prepared for him, by the kindness of
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Lady Craitstoun; and in which he could lurk unsuspected,
notwithstanding the strict search by which he was surrounded.
It may be easily imagined that the imrighteous measures of
the Prelatic faction were viewed by him, from the loopholes of
his retreat, with mingled indignation and sorrow. But he did
not confine himself merely to silent feeling ; and, although an
utterance of any kind was sure to complicate his dangers, he
wrote the well known tract entitled Pefih Assembly: in which
he demonstrated the utter nullity of that Meeting and all its
proceedings.
It was no easy matter to embody such a work in types, and
bring it before the eyes of the Scottish public And, therefore, it
had to be printed in Holland ; so anonymously withal, that it bore
the name neither of Author, Printer, nor Place of Publication :
and the copies were smuggled over into Scotland, in April 1619,
with great risk and difficulty — in short, the pamphlets were packed
up in vcUs ; as if they had been a mercantile consignment of French
wines or strong waters [brandy].
Even then, they had to encounter all the hazai'ds that commonly
belong to contraband wares.
When they were landed at Burntisland, the Minister of the
parish, being a PrelaUst, would fain have searched these suspicious
looking commodities : but was only prevented by the accredited
functionary of such inquests — the Ck)llector of the Customs.
From Burntisland, these vats were brought to Leith : and
while they lay upon the landing place, among other packages
containing French articles of traffic, the sharp-eyed [JoHif
Spottiswood] Archbishop of St Andrews passed by, and looked
at them ; but happily without suspicion.
But the matter and style of Perth Aseembly betrayed its
authorship: so that the King and Bishops, in deep resentment,
not only denounced the Work as an atrocious and seditious Libel;
but prosecuted the search after Calderwood more keenly than
ever.
On this account, the house of James CATHKiy (a distinguished
bookseller in Edinburgh ; and a well known adherent of the
Historian) was particularly suspected, and carefully rummaged :
but although there were five or six copies of the pamphlet lying
upon the very bed which Calderwood, at that time, had been in
the practice of using ; the searchers did not perceive them.
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At length, in August 1619, he embarked at Newhaven [, on the
Firth of Forth], for Holland ; and reached that country in safety.
The generous-hearted ladies of the Scottish metropolis took
care that the uncompromising Champion of the Church they loved
to well, should not depart into exile in a state of utter destituticm.
This was sneeringly alluded to by his enemy, Sfottiswood . . .
and he talked of " that knave who is now loupen over sea, with his
purse well filled by the wives of Edinburgh."
Cathkin was groundlessly suspected of having printed the tract
of the Perth Auembly : and, in consequence of this suspicion, he
was apprehended, in June 1619, at London; whither he had
repaired in the course of his mercantile transactions.
He was examined by no less a Personage than the august
Sovereign himself.
'^ Where were ye bom ? '' demanded the King.
" In the city of Edinburgh,'' replied the bibliopole.
"What religion are ye of?" rejoined the King.
" Of the religion your Majesty professes," said the bookseller.
"The devil take you away, both body and soul ! for you are
none of my religion. You are a recusant. You go not to
Church.'
The royal polemic, having now waxed warm, proceeded to
argue in favour of Holy Days ; but finding that the Presbyterian
bookseller would not be persuaded, he broke off with, "Ye are
worse than Turks and Jews ! " Then, turning to the Courtiers who
were standing by, he exclaimed, in a towering passion, " I can never
get order of these people of Edinburgh ! I forgave them the
seventeenth day. The devil rive their souls and bodies all in
collops, and cast them into hell ! "
After this unkingly outburst, James proceeded to question the
bookseller about the publishing of Perth Assembly ; but in this, the
latter denied all participation.
He was then asked, Whether Caldbrwood had resorted to
his house, while lurking about Edinburgh ?
And the honest bookseller, being pressed with this question,
was obliged to confess. That Calderwood had occasionally slept at
his house ; and that he had spokne with him, within these fifteen
days.
"We have found the taed ! " cried the King exultingly. " Let
The Pilgrim Fathers, 9
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242 Works printed at the Pilgrim Press.
Q8 hold m here, forsooth ! Master David Caldbrwood is a good
brother, and a good lear father ! ^
Cathkik was then charged with having declared the Assembly
of Perth to be unlawful [tkU wordy u$ed in 1849, = illegal] : and,
in allusion to the refusal of the Presbyterians to receive the
Communion kneeling, the King said of the bookseller, still on
his knees, '* See, thir people will kneel to me ; and will not kneel
to GOD!" Jaues then endeavoured alternately to puzde and
browbeat his victim into conformity with the \Five\ Art%de$:
but Cathkin*s Presbyterianism was of too sturdy a character to
be thus overcome.
He was remanded to prison for further examination : and
it was shortly after this singular interview, that his house in
Edinburgh was searched ; as has been already mentioned.
After a confinement of three weeks, he was set at liberty : as
he made it evident that he had taken no part in the printing, or
sale, of Perth AuvnMy,
We have identified a Volume in Doctor Williams's Library
in Gordon square, London, Press-mark, 12-30-32, oontaining
the five following texts in octavo.
7. An Answer to the Ten Counter Demands propounded by T.
Dbakbb [, or Thomas Draz], Preacher of the Word at H[arwich]
and D[overcourt], in the county of Essex.
By William Eurino.
Printed in the year W19. 8.
The only copy at present known. The Ten Counter Demands is
apparently totally lost : and its existence is only known from this
reply.
8. The People's Plea for the Exercise of Prophecy. Against
Master John Tates [Preacher in Norwich] his Monopoly,
By John Robinson.
Printed in the year 1618. 8.
It is not clear that Yates's book was actually printed. If it
was, it is now apparently quite lost
9. Certain Reasons of a Private Christian against Conformity to
Kneeling in the very act of receiving the Lord's Supper.
By Thomas Diohton €rent[leman].
Anno 1618. 8.
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Works printed at the Pilgrim Press, 243
There is another copy of this Woiic in the Bodleian Library,
Oxford. Press-mark 8. D. 57. Th.
10. The Second Part of a plain Discourse of an unlettered
Christian ... in refusing Conformity to Kneeling in the act of
Receiving the Lord's Supper.
By Thomas Dighton (Jent[leman].
Printed in the year 1619. 8.
? The only copy at present known.
11. A true, modest, and just Defence of The Petition far Refor-
nuUion exhibited [in 1603] to the King's most excellent Majesty.
Containing an Antwer to the Confutatum published [in 1603]
under the names of some of the University of Oxford [; and
reprinted in 1608 and 1612].
Imprinted 1618. 8.
Any one seeing this volume in Doctor Williams's Library,
would at once say, That all these five rare texts came from
the same Press ; but that there was nothing to show where
that Press was.
If however we look at their literary character and general
drift, we cannot but believe that they issued from the Pilgrim
Press at Leyden : for if one was printed there, the rest were.
If any one doubts this; he must indicate where else, in
the years 1618 and^l619, it would have been possible to have
printed such English books as these. Who, for instance,
would have dared to have printed William Eurinq's book
but the Pilgrims themselves ?
We now come to editions which are more uncertain ; but
which still may be reasonably assigned to the Pilgrim Press
at Leyden: mainly because, for books of such a character,
and of those dates, no other place of origin can be suggested.
Typographical experts could however settle the question.
They are all reprints of " Holy Discipline," or of Brownist,
tracts.
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244 Works printed at the Pilgrim Press.
[18. (Walter TRAvxita) A full and plain Declaration of
Ecclesiastical Discipline out of the Word of GOD; and of the
declining of the Church of England from the same. Reprinted
1617. 4.
Copies of this Edition are in the British Museum, Press-mark,
4106. b.; and the Bodleian Library, Oxford, Press-mark, A. 9. 16.
Line.]
[13. (JohkFixld and Thomas WiLoox.) An Admonition to the
Parliament holden 13 Elu.y 1570—1671.
An Exhortation to the Bishops to deal brotheriy with
their Bretheren.
An Exhortation to the Bishops to answer a little book
[The Admonitumr dbc.'] that came forth the last Parliament.
(Thomas Cabtwbioht.) A Second Admonition to the
Parliament.
Imprinted 1617. 4.
A oop7 of this Edition is in the Bodleian Library, Oxford,
Press-mark A. 9. 6. Line.]
The late Doctor H. Marttn Dbzter had a copy of each
of the following reprint editions. They will probably be
found in the Dexter Collection; now in Yale University
Library, New Haven, Connecticut.
[14. R H. (Richard Harbison). A Little Treatise upon Ps.
cxxii 1, stirring up unto careful desiring, and dutifully labouring
for, true Church Qovemment. 1618. 16.]
[16. (Laurbkcb Chadbrton). A fruitful Sermon on Romans,
xil3^. 1618. 16.]
It is possible that the identification of other issues of the
Pilgrim Press may reward the bibliographical hunt that will
now set in after them: and hunting after lost books, beats
fox-hunting.
Should, however, the above List prove to be complete ; it
abundantly witnesses to the great energy with which William
Brbwstbb drave on this printing effort.
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Works printed at the Pilgrim Press. 245
Let us arrange the Works chronologically under the years.
A stricter sequence is not possible.
1617.
1. Thomas Cartwrioht. Commentarii ... in Proverbia
Salomokis. 4.
2. Doctor William Ambs. Bescriptio contracta. 16.
12. [Walter Travers.] A Declaration of Ecclesiastical Dis-
cipline. 4.
13. [John Fixld and Thomas Wilcox.] An Admonition to the
Parliament.
[Thomas Cartwrioht.] A Second Admonition to the
Parliament. 4
1618.
3. De vera et genuina Jbsu Christi . . . Religione. 16.
4. Thomas Cartwrioht. A Confutation of the Bhemists'
Translation, &c. fol.
8. John Robinson. The People's Plea. 8.
9. Thomas Dighton. Certain Beasons . . . against Conformity
to Kneeling &c. 8.
11. A Defence of Ths Petition fw Beformatton. 8.
14. B. H. [BicHARD Harrison.] A little Treatise upon P&
cxxii 1. 16.
15. [Laurence Chaderton.] A Sermon on Bom. xiL 3-8. 16.
1619.
5. [David Caldbrwood.] Perth Assembly. 4.
6. [David Calderwood.] De regimine Ecclesiae Scotican»
brevis Belatio. 8.
7. William Eurino. An Answer to Thomas Drassb' Ten
Counter Demands. 8.
10. Thomas Dighton. The Second Part . . . refusing Con-
formity to kneeling. 8.
The above fifteen books, if not more, were produced in the
thirty-three months, at the furthest, between October 1616
and June 1619, both inclusive.
Considering the rate at which books were then produced,
the amount of matter, both in Latin and in English, that
was put into type, was certainly considerable; as the secret
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246 Works printed at the Pilgrim Press,
orgftnization for its production could not, in any case, have
been a large one.
We assume that the books were printed off, or as it is now
called " machined," at Dutch hand printing presses.
Thomas Brewer was nothing daunted with his Leyden
experiences. He lived for the "Holy Discipline"; and
suffered much ou its behalf.
The following extracts tell us briefly the story of the rest
of his life.
JAMBS martin's DBTECTION OF BROWNISTS IN KENT.
SUNDAY, 17/27 SEPTEMBER 1626.
A Detection of certain dangerous Puritans and Brownists
in Kent.
1. Thomas Brewer, Gentleman, who hath writ a book \bwt
? not printed it], containing about half a quire of paper ; wherein
he prophecies the destruction of England within three years, by
two Kings : one from the North, another from the South.
The said Brewer coming, not long since, from Amsterdam,
where he became a perfect Brownist ; and being a man of good
estate, is the general patron of the Kentish Brownists : who, by
his means, daily and dangerously increase.
He, the said Brewer, hath printed a most pestilent book beyond
the seas : wherein he affirmeth, That King James would be the
ruin of Religion. To the like purpose, he published a book or two
more : which David Pareus, at Neustadt, shewed to a Knight^
who told me of it.
2. One Turner, a candle-maker or chandler, of Sutton Valence
in Kent, preaches in houses, bams, and woods. That the Church of
England is the Whore of Babylon, and the Synagogue of Satan,
&c. He hath many followers : and is maintained principally by
the said Thomas Brewer ; whose Chaplain he seems to be.
8 and 4. One Winook and [one] Crumpe at Maidstone, both
rich men, as far as in them lies, maintain these Sectaries.
Witnesses of the Premisses are
Sir P. H ; Knight.
Master Barrell, Preacher of Maidstone.
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Master Sixondson, Schoolmaster of Maidstone, and
Master Fishsb, of Maidstone.
With many more.
Testified by them, September 16 and 17, 1626.
Jambs Maetin, M.A.
S.P. Dom. Ck, /., Vol. 36, No. 110.
A posthumous Work by Thomas Brbwer, appeared in
London, [on 25 August] 1656, in 8vo. British Museum
Press-mark E. 1654 (1). It is entitled Gospd Public Worship
<&c,, and is an Exposition of Rom. xii. 1-8, and Matthew xviii,
already referred to at pp. 27, 30. The following extracts from
its Preface tell us of the fate which overtook Brewer ; and
which would certainly have overtaken William Brewster,
had he been caught.
Header. In the ensuing Treatises are represented to thy view,
a few of those many excellent manuscripts penned by Master
Thomas Brewer : who (besides many former, and some long,
persecutions endured under the Prelates) suffered imprisonment
[on and from 18th October 1626] by the Bishops in the King's
Bench Prison, above tiie space of foiirteen years [together with a
fine of £1,000], for saying
That because the Prelates did not derive their Offices from
His Majesty as they ought : therefore he durst not partake
with them, nor the derivers of their Offices from them, in
the proper works of their Offices.
Who upon the presentation of the said Petition [to the House of
Lords on 24 November 1640] was released : but^ about a month
after, he died in a good old age and full of days [<Bt. 65.]
Most of which were the Author's own experiences and practices
and experimental observations. Who, in the time of his liberty,
was a frequent publisher of them himself at Leyden in Holland ;
where he walked in communion with Master Bobinson and also
with Master Ainsworth. Also, after the time of his restraint,
procuring liberty of his Keeper ; and sometimes in the Prison ; he
taught them frequently in several Congregations in London.
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CHAPTER XXVI.
The two Virqihia Companies.
{IHE two English Virginia Companies were tlie
stepping stones to our colonization of New
England. In themselves, they did not prosper :
the London one became bankrupt, and had
its Charter annulled; and the Plymouth one voluntarily
surrendered up its Charter to King Chablbs I. But it is
hard to conceive how New England and Virginia could ever
have been peopled by Englishmen, but for these Societies.
King James I. created them, by giving them Charters on
the 10/20 April 1606, as
The First, or London, Virginia Company ; to which
was assigned American territory between 34 " and 41°
N. Lat.
The Second, or Plymouth, Virginia Company; to
which was assigned American territory between 38^
and 45** N. Lat.
We will now very briefly sketch the history of each
Company; and then gather from their Minutes, what
information they can give us respecting the Pilgrim Fathers,
down to 1623.
24
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The two Virginia Companies. 249
THE FIRST, OB LONDON, VIRGINIA COMPANY.
TUESDAY, 10/20 APRIL 1606— WEDNESDAY,
16/26 JUNE 1624.
AFTER WHICH THERE WERE
THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS FOR VIRQINIA.
THURSDAY, 15/25 JULY 1624 — ?
|£ shall see, at page 289, Robert Cushman's
account of the Split in this Society on the
28th April 1619. From that day, until the
16th June 1624, when Milton's James Ley
(afterwards the 1st Lord Ley, and later on, the 1st Earl of
MARiiBOROUGH), Lord Chief Justice, pronounced a Judgement
against the Company, and annulled its ChaHer : during
all these years, the Council of this Society was torn in
sunder by two factions. This was however nothing but
what was going on all over Great Britain. Everywhere there
was a struggle between the Royal Prerogative and Popular
Election.
What may be regarded as the King's Party, being those
to whom he shewed favour, was headed by Bobbrt Rich,
2nd Earl of Warwick; Sir Thomas Smith; Sir Nathaniel
Rich; Sir Henry Mildmay; and Alderman Sir Robert
Johnson.
What may be regarded as the People's Party, was
headed by Henry Wriothbsly, 3rd Earl of Southampton
(the Patron of Shakespeare) ; William Cavendish, 1st Earl
of Devonshire; Sir Edward Sackvillb; Sir John Ogle;
and Sir Edwin Sandys.
(S. P. Colonial, VoL H., 11 <fe 25 March 1623).
According to modem ideas, the action of Sir Thomas
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250 The two Virginia Companies.
Smith, after he had voluntarily laid down the Treasorership
of the Society, was perfectly indefensible.
The State Papers represent the views of the Popular
Party: and the Duke of Manchester's Papers, now
temporarily lodged in the Public Record Office^ represent
the views of the King's Party.
On the 7/17 May 1623, the Council, in which the Popular
Party (of which Sir Edwin Sandys was the moving spirit)
had then the majority, issued a Declaration setting forth,
That the one chief root of all these divisions has been some
Instruments of the Earl of Warwick. This DedowaJtion will
be found in John Burk's History of Virginia^ L 316, Ed.
1822, 8.
Arthur Woodnoth, who was also of the Popular Party,
published A Short Collection of the most rema/rkahle Passages^
from the Original to the Dissolution of the Virginia Company.
London, 1651, 4. British Museum Press-mark, B. 626 (3).
Mr Conway Robinson has edited for the Virginia
Historical Society {Collections^ New Series, VoL 7), An
Abstract of the Proceedings of the Virginia Company of
London, 1619—1621, Richmond, Va., 1888, 8. ; from Two
Volumes which contain the duplicate Minutes of the Company,
from the 28th April 1619 (the day Sir Edwin Sandys was
made Treasurer) until the 7th June 1624, nine days before
Lord Chief Justice Ley annulled the Company's Charter.
Tliese two Volumes of Minutes, after many wanderings,
are now amongst the manuscript treasures of the Library of
Congress at Washington.
The original Minutes have apparently perished. It
would have been distinctly to the interest of Sir Thomas
Smfth and his party, that they should perish.
The history of the preservation of a contemporaneous
Copy of the original Records is thus given.
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The two Virginia Companies. 251
'* In one of the old mAnflions of ruiul Chelsea (which, tradition
sajs, was the home of Sir Thomas Morb, the warm friend of
Erasnios, and author of the political romance of Utopia\ there
dwelt, in 1624, Sir Johk Davtbrs, a prominent member of the
Virginia Company ; who had married the gentle and oomelj
Widow Herbxbt : already the mother of ten children ; two of
whom were Gborob the holy Poet, and Edwabd the philosophical
Deist.
"After the King had resolved to annul the Charter of the
Company ; an attempt was made to obtain the Records by their
opponents.
"The Secretary of the Company [Edwabd] Colliwowood,
probably under the dii*ection of Deputy [Governor] Nicholas
Fbrbab, one day visited Sir John Dakvbrs ; and mentioned. That
three London merchants had lately called upon him, to obtain
information.
"A Clerk of Collinowood's [Edwabd Watbbhousb] was
immediately secured as [a] copyist : and, to preclude discovery, [he]
was locked up in a room in Daitvbbs' house ; while he transcribed
the Minutes.
"After the Transactions were copied on folio paper; to
prevent interpolation, each page was carefuUy compared with the
originals by Collikqwood; and then subscribed Con [t.«. Congruit]
CoLLiKOWooD : [when] Dakvbrs took them to the President of the
Company, Hbkbt Wbiotheslbt, Earl of Southampton.
"The Earl was highly gratified in the possession of a duplicate
copy of the Company's Transactions : and expressed it, by throwing
his arms around the neck of Sir John ; and then, turning to his
brother, said, < Let them be kept at my house at Tichfield. Thoy
are the Evidences [Title^ieecU] of my honour : and I value them
more th^ the Evidences of my lands.' " Eev. Dr. E. D. Nbill,
Hutory dtc.y pp. iii. iv., Ed. 1869, 4.
The Rev. Doctor Edward D. Nbill searched these
duplicate Minutes at Wfishington, and printed his gatherings
in his History of the Virginia Company of London^ Ed.
1869, 4.
We give at pp. 253, 254, such Minutes from this Work,
as relate to our present Story.
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252 The two Virginia Companies.
THB SECOND, OB PLYMOUTH, VIRGINIA COMPANY.
TUESDAY, 10/20 APRIL 1606— MONDAY,
2/12 NOVEMBER 1620.
THEN, ON THE GRANTING OF THE GREAT CHARTER,
THB COUNCIL FOR THE AFFAIRS OF NEW ENGLAND
IN AMERICA,
OR MORE BRIEFLY,
THE COUNCIL FOR NEW ENGLAND.
TUESDAY, 3/13 NOVEMBER 1620 — SUNDAY,
7/17 JUNE 1635.
N spite of its title, the Coxmcil of this Society
usually met for business in London.
Sir Ferdinando (Gorges was the ruling spirit
of this Company.
Many of the original Minutes of the Council of this
Company are preserved in the Public Record Office at
London, in S. P. Colonial^ Vols. I. and XL