s by early Pilgrim
writers, and which are uniformly represented as having originated with
the Dutch, though recently it has been suggested, and even asserted,
that the overtures came from the Pilgrims themselves. But there is an
inherent improbability in this last representation, arising from the
fact that much time had been spent in procuring a patent in England,
and in negotiating with the adventurers for the requisite funds, and an
avowed object with the Pilgrims in leaving Holland was to preserve their
nationality. They had no motive, therefore, to originate such a
proposition, though when made to them by the Dutch it may have proved so
attractive that they were willing to accept it upon certain conditions,
of which one was that the government of Holland should guarantee to
protect them.

This concession was enough for the merchants to act upon. "They saw at
once that so many families going in a body to New Netherland could
hardly fail to form a successful colony." But the political part of the
question they were unable to decide. They were ready to expend their
capital in carrying the emigrants to New Netherland and in supplying
them with necessaries; but they had no authority to promise that the
Dutch government would afford to the colonists special protection after
their arrival there. "They therefore determined to apply directly to the
general government at The Hague."

The Prince of Orange was then in the zenith of his power; and to him, as
stadtholder, the merchants repaired with a memorial, professedly in the
name of the "English preacher at Leyden," praying that "the aforesaid
preacher and four hundred families may be taken under the protection of
the United Provinces, and that two ships-of-war may be sent to secure,
provisionally, the said lands to this government, since such lands may
be of great importance whenever the West India Company shall be
organized."

The Stadtholder was too wary a politician to approbate immediately so
sweeping a proposal, and referred it to the States-General. For two
months it was before this body, where it was several times discussed;
and finally, after repeated deliberations, it was resolved "peremptorily
to reject the prayer of the memorialists." Nor can we doubt the wisdom
of the policy which prompted this decision. It was well known in Holland
that the English claimed the territory of New Netherland. The Dutch had
hitherto been tolerated in settling there, because they