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HOLLAND
Holland was a haven for the fleeing English Separatist families. The
Dutch were unusually tolerant, having themselves suffered religious
persecution by Spain.
After first settling in Amsterdam, the Scrooby
congregation moved to the Dutch city of Leiden in 1609. Leiden was
a university town, vibrant and cosmopolitan. There, the refugees
found jobs, sometimes as textile workers. Click HERE for a quote from the 17th-century journal of
Pilgrim Governor William Bradford.
Click HERE for information about historic Leiden as the Pilgrim knew
it!
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Map of 17th century Leiden |
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| "Seeing
themselves thus molested... by a joint consent they resolved to go
into the Low Countries [Holland], where they heard was freedom of
religion for all." |
William
Bradford
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After a decade in Leiden, the low wages, the danger of renewed war with
Spain, and concern for their children's future led them to seek another solution.
The Leiden Separatist community decided to relocate to America. Click HERE for a quote from the 17th-century journal of
Pilgrim Governor William Bradford.
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Dutch seascape
by Verwer.
The ships painted here are the size of the Speedwell, the small
ship in which some of the Pilgrims sailed from Holland to
England. Both the Speedwell and the Mayflower were
meant to sail to America, but the Speedwell developed
leaks. The Pilgrims decided she could not survive the voyage. |
It took ten years to transfer most of the community
to Plymouth. Many ships after the Mayflower
carried members of the congregation. Some, including pastor John Robinson,
died before they could arrange passage.
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