William the Silent held it in check by law.  All persons who came to Holland, and led decorous lives there, were protected in their opinions and customs.  By contemporary writers in other countries this eccentric behaviour of the Dutch government was treated with unspeakable scorn.  “All strange religions flock thither,” says one; it is “a common harbour of all heresies,” a “cage of unclean birds,” says another; “the great mingle mangle of religion,” says a third. [4] In spite of the relief from persecution, however, the Pilgrims were not fully satisfied with their new home.  The expiration of the truce with Spain might prove that this relief was only temporary; and at any rate, complete toleration did not fill the measure of their wants.  Had they come to Holland as scattered bands of refugees, they might have been absorbed into the Dutch population, as Huguenot refugees have been absorbed in Germany, England, and America.  But they had come as an organized community, and absorption into a foreign nation was something to be dreaded.  They wished to preserve their English speech and English traditions, keep up their organization, and find some favoured spot where they might lay the corner-stone of a great Christian state.  The spirit of nationality was strong in them; the spirit of self-government was strong in them; and the only thing which could satisfy these feelings was such a migration as had not been seen since ancient times, a migration like that of Phokaians to Massilia or Tyrians to Carthage. [Sidenote:  The flight to Holland] [Sidenote:  Why the Pilgrims did not stay there]

It was too late in the world’s history to carry out such a scheme upon European soil.  Every acre of territory there was appropriated.  The only favourable outlook was upon the Atlantic coast of America, where English cruisers had now successfully disputed the pretensions of Spain, and where after forty years of disappointment and disaster a flourishing colony had at length been founded in Virginia.  The colonization of the North American coast had now become part of the avowed policy of the British government.  In 1606 a great joint-stock company was formed for the establishment of two colonies in America.  The branch which was to take charge of the proposed southern colony had its headquarters in London; the management of the northern branch was at Plymouth in Devonshire.  Hence the two branches are commonly spoken of as the London and Plymouth companies.  The former was also called the Virginia Company, and the latter the North Virginia Company, as the name of Virginia was then loosely applied to the entire Atlantic coast north of Florida.  The London Company had jurisdiction from 34 degrees to 38 degrees north latitude; the Plymouth Company had jurisdiction from 45 degrees down to 41 degrees; the intervening territory, between 38 degrees and 41 degrees was to go to whichever company should first plant a self-supporting colony.  The local government of each colony was to be entrusted to a council resident in America and nominated by the king; while general supervision over both colonies was to be exercised by a council resident in England. [Sidenote:  The London and Plymouth companies]