onditions than those you mention?

KIEFT

None, I assure you.

ROBINSON

Can you offer them in writing so that our people may consider them?

KIEFT

Indeed, yes, if you are interested, my company will make you a written
offer within a fortnight.

ROBINSON

We are interested, Master Kieft, very much so.

KIEFT

Good. You shall receive our conditions as soon as I can arrange it.
Good day!

ROBINSON

Good day, sir, and thank you.

CARVER

Jehovah has heard our prayer. The way is open. Mayhap--

ROBINSON

Is it not a generous offer?

CARVER

Generous? Aye, but still--

ROBINSON

Well?

CARVER

I like it not.

ROBINSON

Indeed, and why not?

CARVER

Why should the Dutch West India Company make us such a generous offer?

ROBINSON

Why indeed, but that we may establish for them a colony in the New
World?

CARVER

Aye, a colony that will give them a stronger hold upon disputed land.

ROBINSON

Do you think the land is disputed?

CARVER

I know but little of the New World. I know not even where the Great
North River or the Great South River may be, but only this I know:
King James and his Virginia Company would take it much amiss, that
having a patent to lands in Virginia, we turned to the Dutch and
settled under their flag.

ROBINSON

And what has King James ever done for us but persecute us, drive us
from our homes, and make of us pilgrims upon the face of the earth?

CARVER

Aye, but I am an Englishman. I had looked with joy upon our emigration
to America, because I had hoped we could once again live under British
rule.

ROBINSON

Many of our company have felt the same; but if we cannot go except
under the Dutch flag, still we must go.

CARVER

Aye.

ROBINSON

The hand of Jehovah leads us; we must follow.

ANNOUNCER

So the offer of the Dutch West India Company was received and in due
course of time the provisions were put into writing. The Pilgrim
company discussed the offer from every angle. All of them would have
preferred to settle under the British flag, if it could have been
arranged, but because more than six months had passed and they had not
found anyone who could finance them, they felt that the Dutch offer
should be accepted.

Therefore, near the end of February, 1620, Pastor Robinson and Elder
Carver meet with Wilhelm Kieft to settle finally the matter of the
emigration. Let us listen as they talk together.

KIEFT

Two ships and one