Pilgrims to America: A Pictorial History

Brewster's publishing efforts were financed by Thomas Brewer. Not content to merely circulate their books in Holland, the men had them smuggled elsewhere - which greatly annoyed the English monarch, King James I (son of Mary Queen of Scots).

The printing operations ended, thanks to pressure on Dutch authorities by the English ambassador, and both Brewster and Brewer were arrested. Leiden's official court registry, regarding the case, still exists.

Although Leiden's Sheriff freed Brewster, Thomas Brewer was not so fortunate. His home (across the street from the Rogers family) is still standing, but he was sent back to England where he was imprisoned fourteen years for his religious beliefs.

Despite the good life they'd had in Leiden, it was time for the Pilgrims to leave. The growing lack of religious toleration made clear to these Englishmen that if they wished to freely worship God as they saw fit, they would have to leave Europe. There were other reasons to leave, as well.

As often happens to immigrants, the Pilgrims were unable to work at the best (or the highest-paying) jobs. Their children were assimilating into Dutch culture. And, not the least of their worries, it appeared that Spain might once again go to war with Holland.

William Brewster arranged for members of the group to leave Holland and sail (after first stopping in England) to America.

On 21 July 1620, they left Leiden (their adopted city of eleven years), traveling initially down the Vliet River (in Leiden) on river barges and then, on the Rapenburg Canal, through Delft (made famous by the Porceleyne Fles and the paintings of Jan Vermeer) to Delfshaven. There they boarded a ship called the Speedwell and, after living in The Netherlands a dozen years, sailed to Britain on the 22nd of July.

Further complications awaited them in England.