During the sixteenth century both England and France had sent courageous explorers to North America searching in vain for the Northwest Passage to China. But not until the London Company landed its first colonists at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607, did permanent settlements begin drawing Englishmen to the New World.

Influenced by the Separatism movement, a congregation from Scrooby, England moved to Holland for safety and freedom of worship. After ten years in Holland this congregation, led by Pastor John Robinson, realized that their children were growing up out of touch with their homeland, forgetting even their native tongue. But to return to England meant a return to the evil ways of English society. They had heard of the English colony in Virginia planted in 1607. Perhaps the new continent of America was their answer. A small number was willing to try, and they returned to England, where they were

Pastor and leader of the Scrooby congregation. When, after the Hampton Court Conference, they left the Church of England and moved to Holland for safety and freedom of worship they realized that their children were forgetting the English language and customs. So, ten years after leaving England, they returned to England and set sail from Plymouth for New England in the Mayflower.

[tags]BlogRodent, church-history, Church-of-England, ChurchRodent, Hampton-Court-Conference, history, John-Robinson[/tags]