The Life and Death of John of Barneveld, Advocate of Holland, 1618-19 | Page 6

so scourged and
trampled upon themselves in England, was so anxious to crush, the
hated Arminians? Did they abhor the Contra-Remonstrants whom
James and his ambassador Carleton doted upon and whom Barneveld
called "Double Puritans" and "Flanderizers?"
Their pastor may answer for himself and his brethren.
"We profess before God and men," said Robinson in his Apologia,
"that we agree so entirely with the Reformed Dutch Churches in the

matter of religion as to be ready to subscribe to all and each of their
articles exactly as they are set forth in the Netherland Confession. We
acknowledge those Reformed Churches as true and genuine, we profess
and cultivate communion with them as much as in us lies. Those of us
who understand the Dutch language attend public worship under their
pastors. We administer the Holy Supper to such of their members as,
known to us, appear at our meetings." This was the position of the
Puritans. Absolute, unqualified accordance with the
Contra-Remonstrants.
As the controversy grew hot in the university between the Arminians
and their adversaries, Mr. Robinson, in the language of his friend
Bradford, became "terrible to the Arminians . . . . who so greatly
molested the whole state and that city in particular."
When Episcopius, the Arminian professor of theology, set forth sundry
theses, challenging all the world to the onset, it was thought that "none
was fitter to buckle with them" than Robinson. The orthodox professor
Polyander so importuned the English Puritan to enter the lists on behalf
of the Contra-Remonstrants that at last he consented and overthrew the
challenger, horse and man, in three successive encounters. Such at least
was the account given by his friend and admirer the historian. "The
Lord did so help him to defend the truth and foil this adversary as he
put him to an apparent nonplus in this great and public audience. And
the like he did a second or third time upon such like occasions," said
Bradford, adding that, if it had not been for fear of offending the
English government, the university would have bestowed preferments
and honours upon the champion.
We are concerned with this ancient and exhausted controversy only for
the intense light it threw, when burning, on the history which occupies
us.
Of the extinct volcano itself which once caused such devastation, and
in which a great commonwealth was well-nigh swallowed up, little is
left but slag and cinders. The past was made black and barren with
them. Let us disturb them as little as possible.
The little English congregation remained at Leyden till toward the end
of the Truce, thriving, orderly, respected, happy. They were witnesses
to the tumultuous, disastrous, and tragical events which darkened the
Republic in those later years, themselves unobserved and unmolested.

Not a syllable seems to remain on record of the views or emotions
which may have been excited by those scenes in their minds, nor is
there a trace left on the national records of the Netherlands of their
protracted residence on the soil.
They got their living as best they might by weaving, printing, spinning,
and other humble trades; they borrowed money on mortgages, they
built houses, they made wills, and such births, deaths, and marriages as
occurred among them were registered by the town-clerk.
And at last for a variety of reasons they resolved to leave the
Netherlands. Perhaps the solution of the problem between Church and
State in that country by the temporary subjection of State to Church
may have encouraged them to realize a more complete theocracy, if a
sphere of action could be found where the experiment might be tried
without a severe battle against time-hallowed institutions and vested
rights. Perhaps they were appalled by the excesses into which men of
their own religious sentiments had been carried by theological and
political passion. At any rate depart they would; the larger half of the
congregation remaining behind however till the pioneers should have
broken the way, and in their own language "laid the stepping-stones."
They had thought of the lands beneath the Equator, Raleigh having
recently excited enthusiasm by his poetical descriptions of Guiana. But
the tropical scheme was soon abandoned. They had opened
negotiations with the Stadholder and the States-General through
Amsterdam merchants in regard to settling in New Amsterdam, and
offered to colonize that country if assured of the protection of the
United Provinces. Their petition had been rejected. They had then
turned their faces to their old master and their own country, applying to
the Virginia Company for a land-patent, which they were only too
happy to promise, and to the King for liberty of religion in the
wilderness confirmed under his broad seal, which his Majesty of course
refused. It was hinted however that James would connive at them and
not