The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-05-04

=. were farmers, unacquainted with an,
other trade or business, and singularl,
untitled to earn their livelihood in
! country like Holland, where tn
: language, customs and occupations o
the people were all equally strang
and foreign to them. Bradford him
self, though his parents had left him 1
considerable estate, possessed nothing
because he was not yet of age; no
could he expect help from his .uncles
with whom he then lived, for they
hated the Puritans Nevertheless tn,
youth had cast in his lot with tn.
church at Scrooby, and he determined
to 90 with them. ... -.s-..... ...
The enterprise was the more diff
cult, because the king had forbidden
the Non-conformists to leave the coun.
try, and no spy was more welcome tc
the Tory magistrates Of the time than
one who came to give information oi
innocent people designing to abandon
England tor a reason rs theirs. The
seaport most convenient for their pur.
pose was Boston, in Lincolnshire,
about forty miles distant from Scrooby.
This poor company of farmers, after
selling their household goods as best
they could, concealing the act from
hostile neighbors, were Obliged to pro-
cure secret means of conveyance to
Boston and while hiding there, to
.bribe the captains of vessels to secrecy,
and offer extortionate rates for a pas
sage. Several times, Governor Brad
ford states, when they had paid their
passage, apd made every arrangement
for their departure, their captain be-
trayed them, and left them and their
goods the prey of the Kings officers.
One instance of this nature he relates
in most simple and affecting man
ner. ~ -.
After many disappointments, large
company of them, one of whom was
Bradford himself, hired whale ship,
and time was appointed for their
coming on board In the darkness os
the night they left their hiding placer
in Boston, bearing with them theft
personal effects, and rowed off to the
vessel lying at anchor i'll the stream.
This captain also was traitor. The
kings officers came on board the next
day; "who took them," says Bradford.
"and put them into open boats, and
there rifed and ransacked them,
searching them to their shirts for mon
ey; yea, even the women further than
became modesty; and then carried
them back into the town, and made
them a spectacle and wonder to the
which came hocking on all
sides to behold them"
Robbed thus of their money, books
and apparel. they were carried before
the magistrates; by whom they were
to prison. After a months
Imprisonment, they were all dismissed
except seven, one of whom was Brad
ford; and these leaders of the fugtives
were kent in prison until the next
court. Before they were released the
winter was well advanced, and these
poor, innocent people, who had then
no homes of their own, lived during
the rest OF the rigorous season in the
homes of their friends about Scrooby.
Undismayed, they renewed the at
tempt in the spring, this time hiring
l Dutch ship, hoping to find Dutch
captain more faithful than
hose of their own nation. On the
shores of the broad Humber, not far
rom the town of Great Grimsby,
here was a lonely place suitable for
heir purpose, where the Dutch cap
ain agreed to meet them on certain
lay, and take them on board his yes
vel. AS the time drew near, the
company gathered at Hull, city on
he other side Of the Humber, and
Ibout fifteen miles distant from the |
place agreed upon. -
When the day came the women and |
;hildren were placed on board small
'essel at Hull, and conveyed to the |
while the men crossed |
he Humber at Hnll, and made their
Tay by land. When the women ar
iyed there was no ship in sight; and
s they were sick with the roughness
{ the sea, they begged the sailors to
ut into a creek near by, where their
oat wonld be at ease. The sailors
omplied with their request, and in the
curse of the night the tide fell and
sft them aground. In the morning
ne ship arrived but the women could
OF stir until the tide rose. To save
me, the Dutch captain sent his boat
} get the men aboard, whom he saw
eady and walking about the shore.
me boat-load was got safely On the
essel, but just as the boat was ready (;
, push off for another load, the cap
lin saw great company of armed {
len, horse and foot, coming to cap ]
Ire his passengers. If
Sacrament" !" cried the Dutchman,
wearing the familiar oath of his coun-
y, and instantly weighed his anchor,
Id put to sea with fair wind
1t is difficult to say which Of the !
rlorn party were most to be pitied-l :
e men aboard the vessel, borne away ,
ON their wives and children, the wo- :
en- left hard and fast in the middle !
the creek, or the men who had to :
N and make their escape from the :
oops. Bradford, to his honor be it 8
id, and few others, staid to assist =
e women in their agony e
"Pitiful it was" he says, ''to see the !,
'avy case of these poor women in this =
stress; what weeping and crying on !
cry side; some for their husbands :
at were carried away in the ship;
hers not knowing what should be-
me of them and their little ones; p
hers, again, melted in tears, seeing t
cir poor little ones hanging about o
em crying for fear and quaking with b
Id" il
The helpless women were seized by a
e troopers; but, after being hurried d
I'm one place to another. and from 9
urt to court. they were released and U