ed, yet by Gods assistance they prevailed and got y^e victorie.

Now when M^r. Robinson, M^r. Brewster, & other principall members were
come over, (for they were of y^e last, & stayed to help y^e weakest
over before them,) such things were [12] thought on as were necessarie
for their setling and best ordering of y^e church affairs. And when they
had lived at Amsterdam aboute a year, M^r. Robinson, their pastor, and
some others of best discerning, seeing how M^r. John Smith and his
companie was allready fallen in to contention with y^e church y^t was
ther before them, & no means they could use would doe any good to cure
y^e same, and also that y^e flames of contention were like to breake out
in y^t anciente church it selfe (as affterwards lamentably came to
pass); which things they prudently foreseeing, thought it was best to
remove, before they were any way engaged with y^e same; though they well
knew it would be much to y^e prejudice of their outward estats, both at
presente & in licklyhood in y^e future; as indeed it proved to be.

_Their remoovall to Leyden._

For these & some other reasons they removed to Leyden, a fair &
bewtifull citie, and of a sweete situation, but made more famous by y^e
universitie wherwith it is adorned, in which of late had been so many
learned men. But wanting that traffike by sea which Amsterdam injoyes,
it was not so beneficiall for their outward means of living & estats.
But being now hear pitchet they fell to such trads & imployments as they
best could; valewing peace & their spirituall comforte above any other
riches whatsoever. And at lenght they came to raise a competente &
comforteable living, but with hard and continuall labor.

Being thus setled (after many difficulties) they continued many years in
a comfortable condition, injoying much sweete & delightefull societie &
spirituall comforte togeather in y^e wayes of God, under y^e able
ministrie, and prudente governmente of M^r. John Robinson, & M^r.
William Brewster, who was an assistante unto him in y^e place of an
Elder, unto which he was now called & chosen by the church. So as they
grew in knowledge & other gifts & graces of y^e spirite of God, & lived
togeather in peace, & love, and holines; and many came unto them from
diverse parts of England, so as they grew a great congregation. And if
at any time any differences arose, or offences broak[13] out (as it
cannot be, but some time ther will, even amongst y^e best of men) th