Au-“.-A.A ‘—

 

inr '

PLOCKHOY AND HIS WRITINGS:
THE STUDY OF A SOCIAL REFORMER

Thesis Ior tho Degree of M. A.
MICHIGAN STATE COLLEGE
Leland David Harder
I950

 

PLOGKHOY AND HIS WRITINGS:

THE STUDY OF A. SOCIAL IEFORL‘LFB

by
Leland mvid Ihrder

A THESIS

Submitted to the School of fieduate Studies of Michigan
State college of Agriculture and. Applied Science
in partial fulfillment of the requirement.
for the degree of
MASTER OF ARTS

Department of Sociology and Anthropology

1950

fl’HESIS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

0mm TAGS
I. INTROWCTIONTOTHESTUDY .1............... 1
II. RATIONALISTIG—MYSTICAL MOVELEfiI-T'I‘S IN TIE IETIKHILANDS . . . 9
TheMennonites......................12
ThBGOIIegiante..................... 15
TheRefornateure....................‘. 18
III. REFORM IN ENGLAND DURING THE INTEIRREGNULI . o . . . . . . . 22
IV. SETTLE’ENT IN NEW BETEERIAND IN ALIERIGI . . . . . . . . . 40
V. HOMEOY'SREFORMSCIELESANDIDEAS ........... 61
‘ConcerningManandSooiety............... 6].
concerning Teachere and heaohere . . . . g . . . . . . 68
Concerning Governors and Government . . . . . . . . . . 74
For the Establishment of a Universal Chrietendom . . . . 78
For the Establishment of the Ideal Community . . . . . . 83
Divisionoflabor.................. 83
Frinciplee and Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
VI. cmcmmonorranxms.'................101
VII. RETROSPECTAND WNOLUSION . . . . e . . . . . . . . . . . 110
BIBLIOGRAPHY .........................130
APPENDIXA: AUTIDRSHIP OF THE WWIRFAEL . . . . .g . . . . . . 134

APPENDIX B: CONTRACT BETWEEN PLOCKEY AND THE AMSTERDAM
BURGOLIASTERS...................140
APPEDIDIX O: SONNBT BY KAREL VERLOOVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142

APPENDIX D: "swarmo VERSES" BY JACOB swammm . . . . . . . . 14:5

LIST OF FIGURES

magma PAGE
1. Title-page of the Later Edition or Plockhoy'e,
mmmmmmb filament embed:
Natige................... 26
2. Title-page of the later Mition of Plockhoy'e,
5. Ear. homundgd, and the Title-page of the
'fInvitetion'f appended thereto . . . . . . . . 29
3. Title-page or‘the 39;; verge; leg 111933
Hederlantleee‘eeeeeeeeeeeeeee 51
4. Title-page of Plockhoy'e, Maggy; Ontwerp 53
5. Bronle Memrial rebiet'neoed in the Town an
of Zierikzee by William mnot Griffin ii: the

Name of the Netherlands Society of Philadelphia 105

diapter I
INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY

nae account of the life, ideas, andvritinge of Pieter Gor-
nelis noekhoy (16807-17001) has never been told in ite entirety.
Katy of the facts here assenbled have heretofore been uniniovn.
Hie life encompasses activities in three countries of the 17th
century—the Betta-lands, England, and Amrica. In the Nether-
lands he one in several my. a typical product ofthe 'fGolden
Age'f in which he lived. In other ways he was so dietinot tint
soholars have doubted the authenticity of his nntoh background.
In Duritan mgland his ideas found the greatest fruition and
expression. He Ins compelled, however, to leave England after
the Reetoi-etion of Gnrlee n in 1660. me untiring hope to
realise the best possible commity culminated in the establish-
ment of a small hitch settlement on the Delaware in Nev Nether-
land in 1663. The colony, which he dreamed would era and develop
into the ideal commonalth of love and equality, Ins destroyed
scarcely a year later in the war for eupremcy in the III Iorld
betseui Holland end Englanl. An active career of reform-poli-
tical, social, and religioue--seemingly came to an abrupt end in
the sparsely populated Dutch province, autocratioally administered
and interested chiefly in the profit motive. Such a society lad
little interest in utopianl who nought the extinction of dicta-

torial rule, slavery, an! the ills of an ultra-capitalistic system.

2

flirty years late noekhoy, with his wife, appealed to the ear-
ly settlers at Germantown, Pennsylvania, for aid. ihe reformer
was old, penniless, and blind. 'fi painful reflectionfl wrote

Eduard Bernstein, Germn socialist, “that so gifted a men should

1 -
fare so poorly.'f

it ie largely to niropeen scholars that we owe the histori-
cal account of Ploclohoy's endeavors in Holland and hgland.
they established hie authorship of two neglieh writings pnbliehed
in London in 1659 and signed simply mm. Several
possible authors were considered including one nigh More, who
had written in a similar vein,3 and another Abraham inn meren,
who had falsely claimed tb distinctions But when the colonization
pospeutus which nothoy published in Anterdam mile the title,
m an m m (Brief end concise plan), was discovered,
the proJect described was found to be identieel with that embodied
in the second mglish writing, ,A_ LY. W 3.9. kn m M
mmmmmmfl” .Plockhoy, it was further

 

r V

1 M Bernstein. menmmm-
_ (Stuttgart, 1922), p. 290. Bernsteinwas

mam
father of the Bevieioniet movement in Germny at the turn of the
century. His work contains a chapter on Plockhoy (hpter I).

8 1113., p. 27421. hters' authorship of Am Was
suggested by George Thomson, 17th century book collector, who
wrote: 'fl believe this pamphlet was undo by Mr. Hugh Peeters,
who hath a mu named carnelius Glover."_ See, 221198119. 91 31;;
29.9151. W. mwwht 3mm 1 We .

3.24. W 122. 1' e
w, II. (Iondon: The British nieeum, 1908), pp. 235-6.

:53. r. G. Quack, Mum (Amsterdam: Van Kampen a
icon, 1898, pp.,240-2. Quack, the principal authority on hock-
hoy in Holland, states that a hitch publication of 1688 under
the name of Lmren was |'i'rom the beginning to the end” a
plagiarised translation or l'lockhcy's, 5mm See
map”! Vle ‘ - q

 

 

 

 

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discovered, had petitioned Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of
England during the Interregnnm, to sponsor another of his reform
schemes, which sought to establish Christendom as a universal
state under a single magistracy. It was piblished under the
title, 13..” 31 1h; Mali Settlement gm Natigg w
W... 110ch had signed the English writings, "Tbter
Oormlius'f sincehthe Dutch were accustomed to use the patronvmic
after theIQn'istian name with entire omission of the surname}
The presence of Flockhoy in colonial Arteries. has been treated
by few Amer loan historians.5 This is especially unfortunate since
his writings include a fourth, comprising 117 articles of asso-
ciation and government for his settlement, which were anonymously
published as part of the 3.013. Wm mm mm...
(Brief Account of Nee Netherlands). The articles, which John
Bomeyn Brodhead placed 'famong the most extraordinary of the early
memorials of American colonimtiotuff6 define a system of popular
government. Brodhead ind, in fact,‘discovered the document in
Holland as he was searching for all extant materials relative to

the history of colonial New York. He and Edmund Burke O'Oallaghan,

 

v‘fi V w—v

‘ J. hanklin Jmaons Gave WQLMW. 1.9.9.6 "
1592. (Nation. 1909). met. nookhoy had, incidentally,
clanged his name on a later edition to fitter Oormlis-son.ff

5 ma Ghanning included a brief statement of l'lockhoy‘s utopian

ideas in hi! 'Ome' A. Mr: 91. IBM We 11. IN“
York: The Macmillan Company, 1908), p. 412.

5 :. noneyn redhead. mam'mum lone (r... You:
Afirper & Brothers, 1874), p. 698. For identification of the

author ship, see Appendix A.

4
who translated most of these records, were the first to ascribe
authorship of the articles to no ckhoy.

Interest in the reformer has been revived in several recent
studies. In England Iilhelm Schenk attempted to place 210ch
in his proper perspective in the history of Btgland during the
Interreemm- 31' Work. £129. 312993.11 £01 £95.21. Emu-9.6. in 12.
MW (Iondon. Lemmas. Green endow, 1948) con-
tains a sympathetic account.‘ In Lnnrioa the most recent histori-
cal work to include an account of Plockhoy's Amrican settlement,
however cursory, is Ellis Iewrence'meely'e, m 9; En.
lgtherhfl (New York, colnnbie University’rreee, 1945). Mona--
graphs by Irvin first? and Leland mrder8 have published more
recently discovered eater ials.

Bernstein points out that Ilochhoy'e reform was primarily
social, tint his religious arguments were secondary.9 Plockhoy
wrote, in fact, tint religion in practice was an activity "with
which the society in gencal is not concerned. {10 Several socio-
logical writers Lave been interested in the sociological nature

11
of nockhoy’s ideas. lbns knew, however, from whence the ideas

A

7 Irvin first, 'fheter dormliee nockhoyt An Apostle of the mile-
giants,'f W W m nun. (July 1949) pp. 161-86.

8 Ieland firder, 'fl’lockhoy‘ ani his Settlement at manendael, 1663,”
_W m III. (March 1949) pp. 138.55. ,_ Reprinted in .
Emails. W11 liaise. XXIII. . (July 1949) pm 186-99-

9 Eduard Bernstein, 93,911., p. 215.

10 Suzi an user. 5mm (no pagination)-

11 Notably. Hue-t Trash-ch. manual 12512125 21mm
Mah- (Iondon, 1931), II, p. 712, pp. 975-6; and Berry 1!.
IMillet. WW (New York: mom- I.
Q'owell 00., 1945), p. 4.211.

came.

This study embodies We related although distinct types
of sociological endeavour. It is a study in the field of social
thought an! attenpts to give an historical interpretation of the
ideas of a representative social thinker. It is also a study
of social idealism, of the relation betwoen ideals and social
progress. Behind the utopian dream is the belief that society
is mpable of improvment and can be reformed in accordance with
a rational ideal. Plockhoy was first and foremost a social reform-
er. 1 social reformer is an individual who has a conception of
social improvement embodied in definite agencies of social change
and who attempts to subject these agencies to imediate practical
utility.

The mterials concerning I'lockhoy pertain in most part either
to his socialistic writings orfito local history in Delaware. Part
of the mrit tint can be hoped from this study lies in the fact
that it is the first, to the writer's knowledge, which attonpts
to give a definitive treatment of ..5. integrated nature which con-
siders not only his writings and ideas but also his colonisation
work in English and American history. I'he mterials for this
study were athered in several ways. kinetically none of the
secondary sources used were available in local libraries. Some
were found in the historin libraries of Goshen College (Goshen,
Indian} and Bethel college (North Kewton, Xanadu—Mennonite
institutions. Others were borrowed from larger libraries on an

6
inter-library loan. In several cases microfilm of the pertin-
ent pages of a work was obtained. Numerous letters requesting
information pertaining to sources of material were sent to
libraries, historiml societies, and individuals, in five differ-
ent calntries.12 In this way only was it possible to gather
specific data and lomte original editions of the writings, which
were chained on'photostat or microfilm.

his study is arranged in twa parts. chapters II—IV contain
a biographical prevue and reveal the historical origin of most of
the ideas of nockhoy. Chapte- 11 defines the ratiomlistic-
pietis tic movements with which he was conmcted in his zative
Netha'lands. hpter III concerns him in Mgland where he pub-
lished his schemes for the establishment of a universal eristen-
dem and the little comnities designed for the relief of the
economically oppressed peoples. Attemptis made to relate the
ideas inherent in his social reform program to similar notions
among the hritan reformers. (Ilapter IV describes the organis-
tion, negotiaticns, and planting of nockhcy's settlement on the
blame in New seine-land. Altman the plan was similar in the
primary respects to the previous scheme, there are several inno-
vations, the origin of which are easily discernible as protests
to the politiul clnracter of the Dutch mticsi or as changes
necessitated by a New Iorld environment. Emphasised are the ideas
of popular govscnnent all. tie exclusion of slavery in the settle-

mast.

 

13 United States, Great Britain, at Heterlands, Belgium, and
Germany.

Chapters V-VII are concerned with the ideas. Chapter V
contains an examination of the basic not ions in Plockhoy's social
schemes--his ideas concerning man and society, teachers and prea-
chers, govermrs and government, the establishment of a universal
Christendom, and. the organisation of the ideal community. The
ideas as set down in the writings have been paraphrased in some
instances and quoted verbatim in others. Chapter VI discusses
the circulation of the ideas among two contemporaries who were
influenced by nockhoy, and several recent writers, primarily
socialists, who rave admired the reformer. In retrospect an!
conclusion, Clapter VII is intapretive. {the ideas are examined
in the light of the social and religious develOpments of the
age in an attempt to reveal those which stem from these develop-
ments and those which are distinctly original, and in the light
of social advancements which lave been made since that age.

This Chapter must conclude with a statement concerning the
edition of the writings which have been used for the study. m

13151 3331 32.9.9.9. ES. Sgtflanentpf these Nation! is the edition

"printed for Daniel White,” which included, as other editions did
' f 13 ‘
not, a letter to Riclnrd Cromwell. A 1731 W is taken

fmm the edition signed 'fieter 0ornelis-son,'f and ”pr inted for

 

13 The mniel white edition is in the British Museum. Original
copies of the edition without the letter to Riclnrd Q'omvell
and the printer's name are found in the libraries of the
University of Gent and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

It 1- raprinted in as W W dim. VI.
edited by Walter Scott. (lemon, 1811.), pp. 497-97.

8
14
the Authorflf sum was a later edition since it contains seven

subscribersat the end of the writing, while other editions,
which were "printed for G. G.,'f (Giles Calvert) have only two
or four subscribers. The Dutch prospectus, which appeared in
only one edition,15 and the seven letters submitted for Plockhoy
to the Amster dam magistrates16 have been used in translated

form.

 

14 This edition is in the Library of the University of Amsterdam.
The Giles (Elvert edition, having four subscribers to
Plockhoy's project, is in the British Museum. It is reprinted
with several omissions in a monograph by John Downie, £912;
grgliug 2199333: fin Ligg 3.123. Work. (finchester: Ooopera-
tive hinting Society, 1933). Domie, quoting from Bernstein,
uses the name "Flockboy'f imtead of "FlockhoyJ' The sevm'al
editions, minus the "Invitation," are found in the New York
Public Library. -

15 It is found in the Royal Library at the Hague, the library of
the University of Gent, the Royal Library at Gravenhage, and
the Henry E. Huntington Library at San Merino, 0511!. A
translation of the writing was trade by 8. W. Pennypacker, 3219.

Bastian} 91W (miladelphia, 1899),, pp. 198-206.

16 ‘h'anslation was made from the original copy of the gilt—EM
33 Kim Nedgrlapp. in the library of the New York Historical
Society, perinps the only copy still extant.

Chapter 11
mnommxc-msrmu names m m mums

The fee existent contanporary references to the activities of
Pieter Coulis nocthoy in the hetherlands reveal (1) that he sees
tron neriksee,’ com-rem center in Iceland, (2) that he associa-
ted with hlenns Abs-shame de Haan, physician and the leading mini-
ster more he hemcnites at Amsterdam, (3) tint his most important
somectien was with the Collegiant movement, the essence or which
as freedom in religion, speech, and thought, and (4) that he 1nd
frieuie among a group or poets who gathered in the 'fheet But:
an inn inmterdam, andwhc came to be mosses them,
Ibis cbpter will attempt to reconstruct these activities and place
that in the perspective or the age in which 310ch lived and or
which he was a product. H

After a precarious forty-year period or revolution in the
latter 131! of the 16th century the people of the Low Countries at
last succeeded in throwing off the yoke or specimen-cm. Ll-
bert,’ the archduke of Austria, into whose lands the letherlaue had
passed, hastened to conclude a truce with the rebellious northern
states. E agreed to deal with them as he ‘fwould deal with a free
independent state.'f1 he provinces of Holland and beland soon be-
came the principaheentere of commerce and industry in Europe.

 

1 W‘- Home, mummm. (30" York! '0!
lubliehers, 1945), p. 162. ror refereme to nocthoy, see p. 187

10
And although the revolution Ind nilcd to substitute complete re-
ligious tolerance for a state-church, or democraq for oligarchy,‘
the new period in the evolution of the Dutch mtion, correctly
called the 'fGolden Age of Hellsnd,"'_ brought a greater degree of
individual freedom thn me ever been known before. the period
was Mcterised in part by its cultural cemopolitani-s. Dur-
ing the brief six years of Plockhoy's energetic reform activities
(1680-1664). '2th and'Vermeer'were painting their canvases;
Vandal was'wri‘ting his drama; Bpinosa had Joined the Collegian"
and Descartes Ind cone to Amsterdam'fz his» leading lights of
culture were, into nocrhoy, dissenters of a conventioml mode and
the established worm mm or Holland.

Ileclhoy's original home is known from records which contain
his lane, to which usually was appended "van wit-Iced: His
writings were signed in this mnner,‘ aui‘the colonisation contract
whifi he obhined from the Amsterdam bnrgonnsters included the
seas inscription. the facts tint his American settlement was com-
posed, in large part at least, of lemonitee, tint he was affilia-
ted with the Mennonite Church of Amsterdam, and tint he sought aid
in his firm]. days in a llennonite village in colonial lennsylvania,‘
has led scholsre to surmise that his family and mutt-smug were
lihevise hemonite. m the basis of this conclusion one can see

 

2 Irvin Horst, "lieter Oomliss nccfiioy: in Apostle of the Gelle-
cunts.“ WWW... XXIII (July 1949). p- 178.

3 as date of his birth is unknown. it might be estinted between
1620 and 1625.

11

tint his anti-sectarian ideas might have developed in an early
association with the mill group of Mennonites in zicriksee, who
lad previously refused to become partisan to am one of the sev-
eral factions among the Dutch nennoniteeuthe hisians,‘ ncmish,
and Iatcrlanders. The Mennonites of lieritsee had been banned

as 'fetill-standers'f for their stubborn policy of neutrality. It
ns‘doubtless hers‘thst nocrhcy first new Galenus Abrahams de
scan, for Calculus was born here in idea and his father was the
minietc of the Mennonite march of Zieriksee. nockhoy and the
young do man were of about the same age, both became imbued
with the Collegiant philosoplw, and were at Amsterdam together.

It is thus not unlikely tint they were friends in their youth and
derived nut-.1 ideas in a sermon Mennonite environaent. Hie pro-
bability of nocrhoy's Mennonite bscigrcund is further substantiated
by the rutch'nsnuouite historian, de hoop schsrrsr. who investi-
gstsd the early church records sud found that the name, nockhoy,
was cannon among the Mennonites of that day.‘'
then dalenus became a minister in the nemish nennonite church

in Anstcdsm in 1648, Plochhoy also was there. this period, 1550-
1664., was s critissi one in the history of that church and of the

 

43. r. G. hack, an- (Amsterdam, Yanhmpend:
Icon, 1892), p. 215n. In his letterto Quack, do Hoop Scheffer
writes: "If you wish to can your friend nockhoy a Mennonite
you can do that. It appears to me from official records that
his ancestors all belonged to tint denomination. Jacusmijntie
hetero, wida of I. R. Plockhoy, became a member in our church
here on 5 November 1662, with a church letter from Middelburg;
her son Wrnelis P. was baptised here on confession of faith
on 23 hbrmry 1670....Iith the carelessness existing in the
17th century the name is written in the Registers one time
'rluckhoy, ' then again 'Mckhoy,‘ and sometimes 'Eloquoy'

or'nucuore "‘

12
whole Mennonite mowemuit in the Betherlands. ihe period was one
or internsi eentiiet,‘ end ended in 1554 with the division of the
church into two bodies. Among the charges tint had been hurled
easiest the liberal menus was thst his church had differing
factions; one or which was the W. niece factions, the
account asserted, fright like in a mdianite battledf the accu-
sation continued that 'fheter nocthcy, Galenus' countrymnflf
went so far with his radical ideas as to sdvooete the practice or
poly-gain, "proclaiming with Scriptml authority fiat a nun may
have as many wives as he can support)5 no parties within the
Antwan church were Gellegiant groups. blends had introduced
collegianiln and became one or its principal leaders. Ehe con-
flict which Oollsgianism brought to a crisis sas between the cen-
serutives who believed tint the airistian life should be regu-
lated by rules of conduct and prescribed confessions or faith,“ and
the progressives who minimised the importance of creeds or a strict
applinticn of disciplinary rules and who emphasised instead a
spiritml lire guided by an enliditcned conscience. blows and
money were included among the latter group.

1e rm woman

he Mennonite movement originted as the Anabaptist wing of

 

5 W: WWW 1668. An arisi- '
-ml cepy or this tract is in the Bethel College Historical Litury.
Ehe collegiant parties listed were Elmelisten,-Knyperisten,
donnisten, Boreelisten, and nocrhoyisten. i'he pamphlet was
anomalously written and was one or several of its kind in the
Iamerenkrijsh (war among the lambs). his charge against Flock-
boy will be discussed below.

13
the hinglian rerorntion in lwitserlend in 1525. no movement was
an attempt to restore Giristianity once mre to a basis of indivi-
d'ul responsibility and to reproduce as literally as possible the
primitive Apostolic diurch in its origiml purity and simplicity.
he Bible was their sole source or spiritual authority and the
sermn on the hunt interpreted their social and religious pro-
gram. Adult baptism alone was accepted as binding. Belief in
non-resistance was basic in accordance with wrist 's injunction to
'fLove thine emiss,"f and flcsist not «11.7 wsr they remed to
sanction and military service they rejecteias undiristian. Ilen-
bers were to obey the governnent,‘ but to have no active part in
the government. aaths were not to be taken. The simple life as
prescribed and members were to dress plainly. his was prompted
by the Scriptural injunction to be fin the world, but not or the
worlde‘f , \

rho movement developed rapidly in the letharlands inspitc or -
a half-century of extreme persecution under the Spanish overlords.‘
Iilliem of Grange, revolutionist leader, opposed‘the persecution
of“ the Anabaptist-flenuonites; but the policy of religious toler-
ance which he attanpted to inaugurate failed when the filvinists
won a privileged place in the New Republic an! demanded the sup-
Fenian of all non-Mvinist public worship. httmtely the

tunporal authorities. often disregarded this demnd. lhny of the

 

6 It is estinted tint 1,500 hitch lhnnenites met a martyrs death
during the Spanish regime. e Bee, 0. Hem-y hith, mm g1
321W. (Barns, hidianai Mennonite Book concern, 1941,

14
Kennonites were people of wealth during a time when capitalistic
uterprise was loomed upon with favor. his and the fact that pse—
sens of prestige 1nd Joined tin Mennonites assured them a more
secure place in the cities as well as in rin'al districts. By 1660
the validity of a llennonite baptism as a airistian sacrament was
accepted by the m of the hitch Reformed (lurch. i'he ruling
inns in amwer to a controvery which had arisen in New “storm
as to whether a certain Mennonite, baptised in the Mennonite church
of Amsterdam could be admitted to the Lord's Supper in the Be-
romsd church without rebaptism. ihe m ruled that 'fsihee he
has been baptised. once, he need not again be baptised. such is
indeed the practice of the churches in this country. Holy Baptism
is not administered snow to such as have been previously baptised
by Epists or Mennonites. Such are admitted to the Lord's flapper
on confession of their faififlf? “ I

created some degree of liberty in religious matters the lav-a1

groups of Hensonites attauptcd to compromise their differences in
doctrines end practises and to unite. nae Istericnders, coming
from the southern end of Holland, were the most liberal in their
vicws. hey had discarded most forms of externl discipline and
r1814 recall-luau of behavior. he nemish, who had moved into the
northerly province of hiesland, were different in language and
cultml traits than the hisians among whom they settled; am the
hisians did not fellowship with that. Both, however, were somewhat

 

7 wmmmmincium 1. Compiled by
3. To “Mn. “In“, 1901-1916 ' pps 6134a

15
more conservative tun the Interlanders. file attempt at unifi-
cation succeeded in pcrt‘but was ultimately thwarted when some of
the liberal minded groups Joined the ocusgicnt movement, which
was sleeping through the Rather-lands at this time.

He 1‘33 communism

he Dollegiants were not an cruised religious sect. but as
urban of various denominations simply met together to discuss
the common inith. they believed these meetings were superior to
other forms of worship. hey were anti-Oalvinist, advomted the
separation of church and state, and accepted no set creed. Eis-
torioally the movement has been traced back to 1519 and the homom-
strant movement.8 the Buonstrants,‘ or erinians, opposed the in-
position of the Reformed religion upon the people; and in 1619
their ministers were driven from their pulpits. Osrhin leaders,
however, devised a my of holding the members of the preacher-less
churches together. They simply not without a preacher, read the
Scriptures to each other, and spoke and consumed as the 'fapirit'f
moved. they soon found they could do very well without preachers.
may turned any from church organintion, a professioml ministry,
and the idea of imperative doctrinal beliefs. leople of all reli-
gious groups were irrited to attend the meetings provided they
accepted the Bible as divine authority for all behavior, which was

the only reeuirahmt of the members. then the Remonstrants were

 

G M1 ll- “le LWQ‘W: Wanna
W. (midget hrvard University h'ess, 1947), p. 563.

16
alle'ed to resins their religions services they new groups remained
apart. inlay rented a building at Bynsburg for their gatherings,
which they ulled m. hey became known both as hasburgers
and Gaussiants. Iilhur sunrises their activities and beliefs:

‘be procedure at the meetings was simple. home
passages of Scripture were read, a prayer was offered,
and one or more made an edifying address. in invi-
tation was then given for anyone that felt so moved
to speak. Sud: addresses sometimes lasted an hour, and
in use of several in succession the meeting mld run
far into the night. In this way they aimed to revive
the practice of the first all-istian churches....'me
manhoo- ship of the collegiants was composed of some from
the Monstrants, a few from the Reformed and many
that were not committed to any confession; but by far
the largest number came from the liennonites. It was
never thought necessary for one to leave another church
to Join them, and even some of the ministers of churches
attended their gatherings. heir meetings were usually
held on holiday, but there were often week-day meetings
as well. .. hptism (by immersion) as practiced as a
valued sign of adherence to mristianity, but was not
insisted on; and the Lord's Supper was observed as a
token of Cristian fellowship, to which any were ad-
mitted who acknowledged in any sense that Jesus was
the Grist, the Son of the living God. the acriptures
were their only rule of faith; no creed or confession
was set up as a test of membership in their company or
of participation in their matings. file controlling
principles of the Mme that the utmost freedom
of speech was allowed to all participants (though women,
on Scriptural grounds, were not pennitted to talus part),
and that in the free fraterml discussion that followed
the lei-gas; unit-ml tolerance of divergent views was
practiced.

lhe dollegiants believed that divine truth is to be confirmed
by special signs. and miracles, as was the ease of the New hetment.
Galena emphasised this point as did ncckhoy. In addition to their
insistence on religious freedom the dollegiants had a concern for

 

9 m, pp. 564-5.

17

social Justice as well. he 'fOranJe-Lppel‘f home in Amterdam was
a Joint dollegiant-llennonite home for orphans, a continuity center,
and a house of mercy.

is stated above, Galenus Abraham de Ban beanie one of the
min advocates of dollcgianism in Amsterdam. than he became a
minister of the Hennonite church in that city the elders were
aupieione of him from the beginning and accused him of being a
locinian.“ hey questioned him on several occasions concerning
his advoucy of freedom in religious uatters, and he defended his
vial by referring to origiml Lnbaptin, which had for one of
its primary tenets the right of the individual to interpret the
Bible for himself and to obey his own conscience in matters of re-
ligious faith. blame regarded himself as salient of a prophet,
a herald of a new light in the spiritualiaing of the-times. ale
conflict, however, continued, and in 1664 resulted in the division
of the diureh, mentioned above. nose who remained with blame
were the Ismists, who centimed to uphold Gillegiant vdiws. lheir
adrersaries, numbering about 700, withdrew and set up meetings in
ahuildingwith the sign cfthe sun, andwere thus knownas the
Zonists. be 33'. mm the, marketed most of the lunonitu
in the lethclands. Everywhere the 'fbattle-cry'f of the progressives
was ”recliner speech, absolute tolerance, and} universal eristcn-
dcmeen It is with this philosophy and background that ncckhoy can

A

 

10 he prim: tenet of flocinianism was anti-trinitarianism, which
was the only doctrine it held consistently during the entire
history of the movement. Sec, Iilhur, 91,311., p. 4.

11 Wm 11. ‘sdited by Christian nose and christ-
_ian leff. (ll-entrant am lain, 1913), p. :7.

18
be observed as a refomer in mgland and coloniser in America,

enieavcring to establish the universal church along Collegiant
lines, and the ideal Qiristian conunonwealth of love, equality,
and freedom.

111. IE! RENEW

hactially all the information about Piochhoy as a Gilleg ant
concerns charges brought against him for advocating the practice
of polymer. he charge is repeated by Iambertus hidlco, the
collegiants' most bitter antagonist.12 nccrhoy's interest in the
implicetione of polygamy as practised in'eld rectum-it days :onn
further messiah among a coup of poets, who athered in the in
of one Jan lost (pronounced 'lseet").13 Here a group of "lovers

of the noble art of poetry” asssubled in meeting, similar to a
14

m. hey called their society the m on m 1. In

hie in," the 'fflwcet sect} Zoet eetehliehed an firt-echool for the
promotion of tirtue. '35 he participants included a Mennonite,
net. liztel, Hendrik Bruno, hrtholomeus Abba, larel Vsrloove,
and Jacob ltesndan. be last two mmed wrote poems for nockhcy's

coloninticn prospectus in 1662, which expressed a great deal of

 

12 Lambertus hidloo. mwmwm
~W (Amsterdam, 1701 .

13 Ilochhoy's connection with “IOIOIPOO‘BI was first discovered and
,studied by c. h. Hylkena, a Dutch Mennonite historian. Bee,
..sformsisnrs. manhole; mgr 912.11 is. Wise

WA “Wmmm- (M10138 Willis:
6: Icon, 1902 , pp. 100-6.

14 6mm rem. W We. 1'.

(Greningen: J. B. Walters, 1909b Do 463. i'he" refers to the
bay on which Amsterdam is situated. . .

15M.

19
16

sympathy toward Plookhoy and his reform program. All of these
posts, in fact, hoped to improve the morale of Amsterdam by fthe

abolition and reform of various customs, here as elsewhere all too
17
deeply rooted.'f ind filus they became known as the W.

zoet, the "head-poet,“ introduced 'maningful and soul-searching
318 7 .'

question”? to which the others wrote answers in verse. he

question whether 'fthe Bible or wrist ianity allows or forbids

19 .
Dome? came up for discussion more than once, and the affir-

mtive position was taken by lost, who it was hinted did not get
along too well with his wife. (in epitaph described him as "cry-
ing by the fire over the grumbling of his wife”):0 When the
question was phrased, "When a nan by marriage is bound to a woman,
may he sleep with his maid-servant without transgression”, '11 the

ensuing discussion reverted to a bitter exchange of words, lteendam

 

———rfi ‘w

16 Verloove was one of the youngest and perhaps the most religious
of the poets. His main work was a collection of stories from
the Bible which he set to rhythm and rhyme: W cm“,
9.1.1113: Jam in W on Wm alien (un-
largement of the Elly Hymns in 200 songs set to psalm melodies),
(Amsterdam, 1686). Hie poetic motto was "nu: speelt siJn rol"
(each plays his role). Btecndam has come to be known as the .'
"first poet of New Nethcland." He had spent some time in
the Dutch havince in America and was exceedingly interested
in its development. His poetic motto as "noch vaster" (still
firm). Steendam means literally ”stone dam," and the noch
vastcr was a play upon his own name. Sec,

IV. Edited by P. 6. lblhuysen and
1r. 1. H. Kossmann. (Leiden, 1911), col. 1380.

l? Ialff, 9mm. p. tea.

18 MWWW L col. “77-8-
19 relir, mt," p. 4.63. h ' ‘

so in 3.311, M
:1 .Tan Klaau. wwmmmm
.W. (Hoorn, 1675), p. 878.

20

leading in the attack against Zoet. Zoet attempted to clear him-
self by agreeing with Verloowe tint 'st who lives in indecency is
sinner in freedomflf88 and by stating that m mm W
m m. In‘a play on uocthcy's name, lost wrote a laurel
poem in which he stated: although lhave printed this question
on paper above, it is not. M noun aw my, stack; but it was
written with a Zeelander's pen with a lewd desire to serve the
world as if blind.'fas 2. this Bteendam answered: fYou have
pressed this question before quite differently, m it with
a fast hand from leuhels' m in defense of his quick-tempered
Fission, though by a bastard-hound» you say it was blindly
writtenflz‘ lost, incited to anger, wrote a defense of the
'fhonor and glory of the forefathere'f who had in. Old l’estament bye
paid homage to palm. his timetateendam answered by including
Iister 31ch with David Joris, Jan van leyden, Knipperdolling,
hechting, and Jan Hathys, among the perm-.1... of 1,0in and
imbued with the 'fspirit of error-..‘fz5

Such us the nature of the discussions of polygamy in the
fdweet neet'f and the relation of Iicckhey thereto. The fact that
' his writirge contain no hint that “he wished to incorporate the

practise of polyganw in his own colezw (the tendency was on the con-

 

8: mm. 23 mm. 24 my... 1». m.

25 m1“ p. 381. fhose listed with nockhoy as the patriarchs of
polyganw were fanatical Anabaptists who held loose social views
and brought the movement into ill repute. three of them had
been involved in the mnster uprising in Iestphalia in the
early history of Ambaptisn.

21
trary toward an ascetic way of life) indicates, as first states,
that flatly such ideas were only raised for discussion and later
seised upon by the enemies of the [0011081313] movementflf“

other ideas of Jan that an! the hrnasuane, however, are
found in nothoy's writings and are worthy of mention. On a
different level or thought tee the question which that introduced
onenother occasion: fIn what way can miristianitybest be brought
back again peacefully‘into a single sheeps foldt'fm Among the
nys suggested were the abolition of sectarianiah, which was be-
lieved to breed intolerance; elimination of all sacraments in the
church save baptism; the gmrantee of freedom of thought and speech
to everyone; and the avoidance with every means possible of all
evil influences. Accordizg to loot one had to ‘push himself slowly
through the narrow gate. f” 'fln the ideas and goals of the actors-.-
teurs,"f states Xalff,’ a... any good and beautiful things, not in
the lee-t their“ fight against nsrrow-mindedness and intolerance,“
and their concern for the independent development of the religious
inner-4113.289 'hsnriocflloy put his ideas into writing in hgland
in several letters to Gromell and in his schue for an ideal
eumity, the extent to which he was influenced by his Dutch back-

grand become more apprent.

 

st Horst, Mg p. 181. a? Kalff, w, p. 4.63.
so mg... p. 4.54. 29 9.11., p. 455.

hptsr 111
m In new DURING m 11mm

Dis outbreak of the ruritan Revolution in kgland (1642-1649)
promised to and once for all the absolute power or the king end
place in his stead a rule of Justice and liberty. But when the
In was over Oliver Cromwell, although little disposed to so much
power, emerged as a virtml military dictator. lb and his party
of Independents excluded from the House of comene the n-eehy-
terian members who would have restored the king and imposed their
religion on the people of hgland in the form of a state-church.
women soon discovered, however, that the remnant of the Ease
of comnone, known as the amp hrliament, was 'fhcrridly arbitrary:
and he soon had done with then. nae succeeding larlienent, equal?
ly incapable, surrendered its authoriw to d-omweli, who then
became Lord hotector. He governed as a benevolent despot from
1658 tones; The people who ind hoped for much better realised
that many of their major grievances had not been removed. Attanpte
were made to effect reform within the new regime. Among those
who hoped to institute political democracy were the Levellers,
notably John Lilburne and union welwyn. others, lime Gerrard
Iinstanley end the Diggers, labored for the improvement of the
social and economic‘position of the masses. Religion played a
large part in these reform movemts. L continued separation of
diurch and state and the abolition of the tithe were two denands

23
which were constantly made.
11ch arrived in Mgland in the last years of the Interrog-

m,and :ust a few months before the death of Oromll. His
first desire was to see fln'istendom established as a universal
state in the form reminith of the m in Holland. 'fhving
eeen: he later w-ote, “that Pcliq and heligion which (as cod is)
ought-to be universal was divided and severed into mew-Bests, my
spirit was much troubled; and looking round-about me, where to
make a beginning to rectify those evils, I found no better object
in Gristendom timn his late Highness the Lord actectcr; where-
upon I resolved for a while to leave our family and native Country,
fearing if i should not manifest to the Magistrates in mend
mt was upon ny spirit that they, having much to do with other
affairs, night through the subtilty of the Clergy, as in other
rations, easily be deceivedfl fiesficy was perturbed at the
domineering state-churches in 'fthese and other nation} and
called them the 'flittls Antichrist»: (rhe 'fgreat Antichriet'f
fie the rcpish church). He was espetially concerned because the
non-privileged Mistian groups, for their diverseness and dis-
unity, could do little to alleviate the situation. he scheme
which he devised 'ftaethsr with some other lovers cf'ths eomon
gccd‘f was to unite all Wistism sects in a sort of federation as
'fthe‘only way to abolish all lording over conecienceedf

‘ -

 

Immanmmmlemmumm. h. 1. the
ensuing quotations on this page new. i

 

 

24

town was assisted in his governnent by a council and a
parliament. he first overture made by Plockhoy concerning his
plan was to numbers of the council, through which he was granted
an appointment lith the lord hotector himself. 'fI was heard
several times with patienceflf'he wrote, 'fdoing nw‘endeavour to
preserve Buglarll free: that great dishonour which let}: befallen
ether lstionsdfz His principal ideas were embodied in two letters
to Oren-ell, the first dated June 24, 1658, and the second neces-
sarily following in short order since the noteeter died in Sep-
tenber of the same year. rho project camouto melt in the months
following the dictator's death. On January 24 of the followim
year 21ch submitted a letter to Erliament, re-stating his
purpose and enclosing the letters which he had previously submit-r
ted to, Cromwell. he wrote: f...being obstructed in my proceeding
through the unexpected death of his mghmss, I was put to some
stop, waiting for a better opportunity, and hearing. tint your
Honours were to assemble together upon the 27. of January, cw
spirit was revived, hoping that my design for the peace and wel-
are of these Nations by tint means, better than heretofore,
might be accomplisheddf8 But hrliament gave him no encourage-
ment. Wted in these first two attempts to gain support for
his ideas Hockhoy hoped to 'fawakon the public spirits in Englandfl
by publishing the letters topthe magistrates. he pamphlet m ‘
8 mm.

3 m, p. 2..

25
entitled. mmmmmmmmmmm.
and was printed early in the year, 1659. the name of the printer
was not indicated on the title page.

Oliver won-ell was succeeded by his son, Richard, who for
the few months he was Lord Protector attempted unsuccessfully to
forestall the growing interest in the restoration of the monar-
clw. lhe fourth letter which nockhoy wrote was addressed to
him, fto the end that he [Ricard] may as a true lbderator so
hold the balance in the Governnent that one Sect my not domi-
neer over the other.'f4 He told Biclnrd that he had come into
melded in love for the cannon good, and 'faftcr much longing
several times lad opportunity to speak with your hther about di-
vers matters, to whom also I delivered twa Letters, which he
promised to consider of, and was willing I should have liberty
further to declare nw mind and sense unto him. f5 his he said
had been prevented by Oliver's unexpected death; and he no
transferring the petitions, which his father had "not despised"
to nichrd, who should "order all things in such a way that the
lidlt of liberty kindled in menu may enlighten all Kingdoms and.
Bevermemts in the world. f6

A. second edition of the letters, including the one to Bi-

7
curd, was published about the 4th of larch, 1659. his edition

 

——__—.'.

em, p. 27. $1113., p. 38. em.

'I this date was assigned by the well-known contemporary book
collector, George Manson. Although his dates are not infal-
lible they represent a good approximation, probably within a

week of the date of publication. Bee, mumm-
mm. mewmm
mm.mmm. “WWI:
mm IMO-1661,11. p. 225.

To THFPLACI;
SET waiig: ‘1NT

NAT! ‘

dlik("LlL\i lllt‘v ! I (2“‘1‘V'V"j t(\;

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aHo one to hie Highncm‘.’(ch;v z I. Unfair):
0f lug/.0641, Si .t/Jml, 311d Hu’xzd, 6a.
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T11; mm \t‘ of ii‘ I ‘d'l’r \‘.i::‘ ~1\'.-r\'(‘~:' “out:

for hirflchc) isthofcd agaiiifl Antic11. ' 1:} for the T'1)C1.

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l 1 . t ‘
n11. Him pun;
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wife up a.“ uvivcrfu‘. M-igzflrate in (1.. ' .ficndomc {Em '. '
I’Viifl'ei J" "Jr of V‘CJPIC. .W? 'A}H[ [{g' i f\(\'(rr " \ “'54
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1/ It)/./:')‘ .1 [ix/fink z ' . ' , ind/rib: \. 421;." it
giver!) [lg/.1! um.) .2 . ; ’m 117w [mu/c.

..—-—-—-—-———-——»~

By Peter Carmina) . ., /\ /[ J 1mg: “I
H'Ulhnndpence, «’7 ~ Mkw-P‘tf 171.544 (c;7u‘(u

'

m-_&-_

1, () N120 ,\': Primed {UT UJHH'. ”if/i“. .1m'. .llg

I') L‘LI‘ 1(in at hi35h<~p1irthc [Lin.;Ix--5[..il'..“.
-iiri-e [Km/y Church-Yard. 1 W.

 

Figure 1
TITLE-EGE 0F Tm LATER EDITION 0F
PLOGKEDY'S, Egg WAY it; 1:11.“; PEACE

AND SETTLEEIENT LF TIESE NATIONS

27

In Printed by hniel lhite and gave notice of famthor treatise,
which is to be published, propounding a ray to no. the poor dis-
tressed people in these and other fitions happy. fa

meterin- who have dealt with the social conditions in
new during the seventeenth century agree tht the situation
of the poorer classes, more especially that of the industrial and
agricultural laborers, was invariably bad. fires-fourths of the
population (an estimted five million) lived by agriculture, and
most of these were peasants or day laborers with very low levels
of subsistence. hglish industry, in comparison to the continent,
leasd behind, and was also curacterised by class distinctions.
he most serious social problem was presented by the great mass
of paupers, without education, occupation, or security} Emcee
were the conditions which 110ch observed in hgland and with
which his new reform program was concerned.

he title of his new writing, comprising a scheme with great-
er immediate significance although miller in scope than the

tint. mimmmicmmmnmnmm
mmmmmhm.mmmnn-

WWMmanm
mm. Mmmmmmmmnm

 

figunmmmwmmm. ro 80.

9 A thorough study of the position of the poor msses in the early
history of hgland was rude by air Roderick Eden, mm
at. in. ML. or. at him of. the W 9.12.9511 in .

(London, 1797). Appendix 17111 of Vol. 3 contains a list of

writings of the period which sought in some manner or other

the relief of the poor. Iiockhoy's writing is listed.

28

ammuniberuhemllhenimhnimw.
It uas th initial plan for his ideal commonwealth, a semi-comnmn-
istic settlement comprising four classes of people and based on
equality and association.

he first edition of the writing was ”printed for G. c." ‘
and issued approximately lay 28, 1659.10 d. 0. were the initials
of Giles mlvert, agent for the Levellers. Line the previous
writing it was written in connection, with others fborn tor the
connon welfareflf his and a reference in the correspondence of
sen-1 Ertlib,~quoted below, indioetee that nockhoy was partici-
pant, perlrlps leader of, a group of closely-nit sympathiaers.
Readers who were interested in the association were to contact
nochoy tln'ough Giles alvert. is first states, this indicates
that nocmy md connections with the leftist-reformers curing
the red-item and, since the publication was not listed on the
stationere' legister, thet he and his friends 'ffcund it expedient
to proceed’covertly. ’11 A note at the end of the writing indi-
cated that the first"little demon-wealth“ was already in opera-
tion, ”settled in order as a Rusery about lemon,” and tint
similar proiects were envisioned for hristol and lreland, fwhere
we an have a great deal of land for little money and plentzzlra of

wood for building of Euses,‘8hips, and may other thingsJ

v— V— v V —

 

10 Mason’s 4-sta- 800. William-"WI:
mm 1640-1661, 11. pp. 235-6. _

11 Irvin first, "Pieter darneliss nockhoy: in Apostle of the dolls-
clean." WWW mu. (July 1949). P- 167-

”imam r. 1i.

 

  
 

.. _ ’
By Wan? roger er a fit. fumble, and
well-quail eoplc intooncHouflaoldogovermnt,
or little Common-wealth ,

thrcin ever one may keep his pr0¢
pri , and be im ycd in fame work or Other, as
“In: billbc ht, without being we“.

Beta the nor on! to rid thefetnd ether Nations from
8«He, :17, auddifgrdcrly perfons, hut alfo from all
{nth as have fought and found out many
Inventions, tolivc upon the la-
bour of Olhcfl.

h motels slfo tanned an [aviation to this Society , or Link
W “ Common-walth. .

 

 

1 "sin .1. Male“: h thTafiln-ul the par, tit We“ “on
“outta-often“: t the Midpoint” Bu, “Morph-0'.
livtuelh M benefit eyes the m .

I Ey PETER, 'GORNiLlS-SONJ'AN ZflRIK-ZBES'

_¥ ‘_‘-
‘

l

  

Lowbom

for therthor, a: are (old at the Block SW
otttthIWd'tnd of rash, t e 5 pr _.

  

  

 

Figure 2

29

 

   
  
  
    
  
  
     
   

 

AN
INVITATION

s 0??? T Y

’=‘ “fr 1.:
COMM ON-WEALTH.

SHEWING

The excellency of the true Chrithan
love, and the folly of all thofe who confidcr nor to
whet end the Lord of heaven and earth
hath created them.

 

M A 1'. n. so.
Who/own ”)4, do the will of m} Faber

whicbir in heaven , the/ante i: m} 3".

tber, and S :fler, and Mot/m.

A‘

Lennon,

Printed for the Author. {old It the mult-
aettthewmall. I ‘3 es WW

 

TITLE-EGE OF THE LATER EDITION 0F BLOCKIDY'S, A WAY PROEQUIIDED

AND THE TITLE-PAGE OF Tm "INVITATION" APENDED THERETO

30

A second edition of the writing was printed directly for the
author and listed the places noekhcy could be contacted on
different days of the week and at certain times of the «by:

If any Husbandinan, leann, Mimftmn, or Artist,
(being of an universal impartial spirit) have a desire
to speak with him who is instrumental in the promotion
of so good a work, my find him at these following places:

On lbndays at four of the clock in the afternoon, at
the hidgsfoot, the sign of the Bell.

On i‘ueadays at four of the clock in the afternoon, in
lpittlefields near Biehopagte-street, at the Red Lion.

On Iodnesdays at ten of the clock in the morning, in
Xingetreet at the sign of the Lntilope.

On the same day at four of the clock in the afternoon,
upon great flower-Hill at the Red (law.

On Ihuradays in the afternoon at he of the clock, at
Stanhop-street between new hrket and bury lane, at the
sign of the Ihite Eras.

On Pridays at two of the clock in the afternoon, at
west-hithtield at the George Inn-13

Beth editions contain an appendix, with eepei-ete pagimtion, entit-
101. ummmwmamhmm-
m, which set forth the 'fmllency of the true fliristian love,
and the folly of all those who consider not to whet end the lord
14
of heaven and earth hath created them'f It attempted to advance
moral and Christian reasons why Inch a-society should be created.
it the end of the writing was a letter by Iioehhoy's sympathiaers
em financial backers, which appealed to: runner-e:
firing not only considered the poverty, afflictions,

and straits of any well minded people, together with the

evil consequences that arise from the corrupt customs and

way! of meat «uployrnents, an! the general disorder pro-

ceeding from riches and poverty: butalso the way preponn—
ded by our friend, rotor Oornelisoen, to rectify all such

 

13 ammmmmmmm p. 14-
14 m, titlepage. ‘

31

am saw other inconveniences by bringing together a fit,
suitable, and well qmlified people into one Household-
Oovcrnment or little Osman-wealth, wherein every one
my keep his propriety and be employed in some work or
other as he shall be fit, without being oppressed, as
is more at large expressed in a Platform to tint purpose.
whereupon we are resolved, Judgiu it to be necessary,
and our duty to promote so good and pious a work, with
the assistance of othr merciful and ratidml men, to
lay such a foundation as may tend to the relief of the
oppressed, the preserving of such as are in danger of
falling into snares, and the increase of understanding
and mutual love, as also the exemplary ordering of such
acts as my be accomplished by prudential charity.

And hereunto we do earnestly invite all Persons that
have a willitg mind to do good according to,_thcir abili-
ties, some by their Wisdom and Counsel, others by money

and credit, or by both, as they shall be able and free,
that so a stock may be raised for the carrying on of
this good and beneficial work.

50 which end we have subscribed our names, and the
sums of money which we are willing to give. Eping
that all such as are for so general a work will upon
due consideration likewise subscribe for such a sum
of money as they are willing to give towards the
accomplishment of the Premises, and meet together to
confer and order the said sinus of monies into the hands
of some trusty Persons, for the use and benefit of the
Society only,and wandhat also shall be found conducing
to the perfecting of this work, till the Society can
subsist of itself in order, which we believe may soon
be from the credible informtion of divers persons, re-
lating that many hundreds in transylvania, Hungary, and
the hltsgrave country, fmm a shall beginning have
attained, not only to a very comfortable life among
themselves, but also ability of doing much good to others,
not of their Society.

Dubscribed towards the raising of a stock, as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is I. '- " """"1°0e lo
I. B. — ——— - v _ 400. 1.
O. O. — . 7— -_ 10. 1.
I. W. . — a — — —— 30. l.
R. 8. -w —— -— — — 10. l.
P; O. ——= == 10. l.
1,1- 1). _ —=- to. 1.15

Unlike. the first this project was not presented to the govern-

ment, but was to be inaugurated by individual grants from qualified

 

—'———v w T

15 33“., pp. 13-4.

32

persms who would then act as 'ffathers'f of the enterprise. The
undertaking seemingly did not prosper after the Restoration of
Mlss II in mgland, although it led received some support.
Among others active support came from flannel hrtlib, who soli-
cited for Plecthoy in several letters. hrtlib was a utopian,
extremely interested in the relief of the poor and other social

problems. His most important work was gm of, m

m We of m. m m 83.1.1125. mutant. in
gm (Iondon, 1641). His belief in science was the basis

of his views-on social reform. In his ideal state there were
five executive councils: for husbandry, fishing, trade by sea,
trade by land, and new plantations. no goal of life at hearia
was 'fto achieve the highest possible productive capacity in
agriculture by scientific farmingflf16 He seems to have borrowed
heavily from h'ancis Bacon. l’or ...... of the unemloyed he
devised an elaborate machinery concerning the exchange of labor.
His relation to noel-hey doubtless came about by their counon
interest in the relief of poverty in accordance with floristian
precepts and the stimulation of agriculture and industry. John
Deal, scientist and fellow of the Royal Society, described hrtlib
es 'fthe sealous solicitor of Garistian peace peace amongst all
unions. mmmnmm th- tru-
hearted lover of our native country, ti); seculous advancer of in-

genious arts an! profitable sciencesflf hrtlib states in a letter

M

w V—r

15 Iilhelm son-m:I mmmmmm mm
W London: Iceman. Green and co.. 194.0 ,,_p. 14s.

17 3.. dedicationto Hun-nib of John Deal's, W m
aflianfanellhsm- (london. 1557 Italics moi-toe.

e

33

to Dr. John Iorthington, Vice-Glancellor of (hmbridge University,
dated July 20, 1669, that he had forwarded nockhoy's, Am
m, to Deal, who had previously written: '71 do extremely
indulge the design of beginning the Buildings of eniotion so-
cieties in small lbdels. And in this point our Reforms may
learn new parts of wisdom from our sorest adversaries. 2 IL
mm: 'lis strange to me, that the Model of Cristian
society, and-that curious offer or the right‘hand of alristian
love hath taken no deeper footing in mgland. ”.18 And in still
more enthusiastic terms in another letter, heal had written: '30
tint all the religious houses of the Glristian world were reformed
into true societies, or that our hglish monasteries could be thus
restored: But it seems we men are prompt and skilful enough to
pull down, and then leave .it to God to plant, build, and reform,
whilst we talk big of reforming laws and mating whole nations
churches and of erecting the Kingdom of wrist all over the world.
I would I could see a good beginning (Ia means of a Mistisn
society)‘ with a little, as upon that ......oo, 1 should not be
unwilling tint :00 acres or mins on land were devoted to the
foundation of the first such college)?” In the same letter to

Icrthington admit included a dominion“ a similar model of a

 

~—v—~——v Yv-l-

13 Jem- Oroulor. editor. no. man an 1'

Warmlm
, 1. (lhnchesterq The metham Society, 1847), p. 157.
s work is Vol. XIII of the series under the title, m

. a Lineman White m alanine manila: of
m m-m- ,
” Hartlib's note. I

19 ...... (no-slay. m, p. 158.

34
continuity of the Moravian Brethren who were located in Ihngary

and Iran-ylvania. (firtlib was a personl friend and apostle of
nonunion, leader of-the lei-avian Brethren). rho description

came from the pen of Oomenius' son-in-lawiand contains an interest-
in: comparison of the lbravian Brethren with the Mennonites, des—
cribed in Ghapter 11:

hey Moravian Brethren are an honest, simple-hearted
people, humble, godly, laborious, well trained up, and
lovers of discipline, agreeilg for the most part in sub-
stantialibus of y” Doctrine with the Reformed Churches,
save only in the Infant Baptism. Yet they shew them-
selves more careful in this point, then those people 'ch
are called the llennonists in t Low countries, who
permit their children to live w Illout baptism as long as
they list. But these men leave it to their childrens
pleasure no longer, but when they are of ten or 12 years
of age, and have learned their catechism, and can make
a confession of yr faith openly before the congregation,
they do their utmost by informtion d: perswasions to me
them desirous to be Joined as members of Christ to the
rest of the corgregatienfio

i'he letter appended to mothers, A fly hopounded (see above)
. . 21
ends mention of this religious, commistic group. The descrip-

tion which Hartlib quotes is similar in many respects to nockhoy's
scheme, and. is perinps its prototype. It is likely, at any rate,
tint l’lockhoy was acquainted with the details of this religious
society,” whose influence on him is apparent from part of the des-
cription which follows:

fliers be so new families (suppose loo, zoo, or more)
woh Join together 8: be of all kind of trade (useful and.
comfortable for nnn's life, for no guns, swords, or other
war-like weapons are made amongst them). mess being
received into the mgistrates' protection, 6: having pri-
vileges and permission to build, out of the. solution stock,
a certain court as it were, or a little commonwealth,
with 3, 8, or more yards, according as the number of

 

20 .1119». p. 157. 21 Erst thinks the reference in the letter
.applied to the Moravian Anabaptists, or Hutterites, who were also
living in oomnunistic societies in Koravia. In view of Oomenius'
agnostion, however, this seems unlikely. See Horst, 93,311., p.
l . ‘

35

inlnbitants d: artificers doth increase, with so new
dwellings a: public conveniences for horses, cattle,
and the like. As for their co-habitation, every family
hath a convenient telling-place, a every trade to-
gether, tailers, shoemksrs, do" and each a separate
yard. 'm'ieir labour is common, all work for all, for
what every one gaineth, it is given to the common
stock. is for their government, they have a preacher
or two, according as need requires, wth an Oecononlus,
whom they choose by cannon consent, a 3, 4, or more
elders or overseers. may have for their religious a
pious exercises, public meetings on the Lord's day, as
well as every day for public prayers in the morning &
evening; all things being performed in good order and
decenq. i'he men sit asunder from the women, and so
children likewise, of both sexes, apart. They have
schools for boys separate also from those of the girls.
And the training up of their children, as soon as they
begin to have the use of their tongue, till they come
to their full age, is committed of the boys to grave
men, of the girls to godly women. l'he parents have no
trouble with them at all. The steward ani elders pro-
vide all things. niey have their own bakers, brewers,
to. , every one hcth his office in w°h he serves himself
do others. here is a demon kitchen for them all. file
Oeconomus, preacher, and elders eat together, the rest
in like manner, save that men have their on tables,
and women also their own. And every one knoweth his
own place. be discipline is either private corregtion
according to the fault, or public excommnication. 3

Just when 210ch returned to the letherlands is not known.
A reference as late as October 15, 1660, four and one-half months
after the Restoration of the second hrles to the English throne,
reveals that he was thinking in terms of settlement near Gologns.
Bartlib writes in a letter to Worthington of tut date: "1 am
told that count de Worth (whose territories are not far from
.Oollcn [Cologne] hath published a letter of Invitations to all
laticns of wht Religion soever, offering cheapness of lands and
protection, d tint a thousand of the fransylvanian society or
Brotherhood,“are cone thither already. hter carnelian, of

 

82 James @ossley, 93,311., pp. 168-5.

36

23
hiricksea, is likewise going thither with many others} It

is easy to understand why 210ch would have wished to leave
nnglhnd at this time. ihe‘neetoretion doubtless put an end to
the few leftist reform movements still existing after almost
twenty years of Puritan rule. lhether he reached Germany is not
noun. in the latter part of 1661 he was back in Holland pro-
moting the colony on the Delaware in iner ice. '

he above references established Plockhoy's connection with

nartiib and other noted personalities or the rcriten period.
schenr enggeete that Plockhoy may have known villion Walwyn as
well. “his hglish style is, indeed,'f writes dchenk, 'fquite close
to hlwyn's, and it is not impossible‘that he was helped by Hal--
wyn or a an of a similar outlook; it is unlikely that his cemnd
of English would have been sufficiently great to enable him to
write these pamphlets without aid from a native Englishmndfz‘ A1-
thongh there is little way to substantiate a connection, it‘eeene
highly probable that the initials fw.v.'f among the seven financial
contributors to Elechhoy's projectisse‘above) belonged to William
veleyn. Ialwyn one the-Levellers in 1549 and was henceforth sn-
gcged in hehind-the-ecene‘rerorn activities. Little is known
about him during the following decade. debut-knows that in 1,659,

the same year Plockhoy wrote his pamphlets, him was a member
of a comittee which was to discuss Jams Ihrrington's proposition

85 .
for a 'fOoumonwealth or Democracieflf there is much that is simi-

 

33 M's I" 211'
24 tilhelm Schenk, 93.31., p. 144.

35, Me, pa 4:3.

37

la: in the ideas of lalwyn and Plockhoy. The former set forth

his ideas concerning man and society in his major work, Q; m
91 193, (London, 1643). In the preface he answered the question,
'rould you We all things comment". by referring to the comnism
of the early Apostles: "And you may remember the multitude of
believers had all things cemean26 He envisioned the ideal socie-
ty as a small voluntary association of Christians with “universal

27
assent thereunto from all and every one of the hapleff which

ideas were inherent in nockhoy's plans. ‘ I

In addition to Walwyn it in possible rloohhoy was familiar
with the communistic utopia of Gerrard Winstanley, leader of the
Digger movemmit of the same period. In his unam-
nggg, 'instanley wrote that in his comnity, |fillers shall be no
trying and selling or the earth, nor of the traits thereof....If
they want a horse to ride, they may go into the fields in scanner
or to the common stables in winter, and receive ‘cne from the
keepers, and when the Journey is performed, bring him back....is
every one works to advance the cannon stock, so every one shall
have free use of any comedity in the storehouse for his pleasure
and comfortable livelihood, without buying or selling or restraint
from anybody. f” Vinstanley anticipated 210ch by his advocacy
of a. eomnity with private family life one furniture, but he went

further in his devotion to the cannon ownership of property.

 

“w

26. Iilliam lalwyn , mm 91.1911.- (London, 1643), pref.

an Falwyn, Lilburne, hints and Overton, LW 21. than
Manilanialaikzallau. (Londone 1549)»

at Geri-era win-tanley, In. a 9; W. (London, 1654).

 

 

. . e
’ .
._, 'e.
n
, e
i -

I .

- s
. V t _ .
, . .
. e
. . a.
’ a
e. i _ ‘ t ,

e: . .

. .. e

. n
. ‘ v.
. . .
r v
s
, ‘
~ ‘
- - ,

r- '

. \ ‘ e

s
s _ . - ‘

 

38

Like Schsnk, George habody Gooch believes that Mglish in-
fluence upon Plockhoy was evident. 'fl'hough these renarhable ‘
pamphlets euanated iron a RitchimnflhGoooh writes, "they were
written in neglish and with a full inner-ledge of mlish affairs.
And from the fact tint such speculation was unknown in the Low
Countries at this time, ‘it is hardly fanciful to attribute thu
to hglish influence. '3” Beech errs somewhat in his assertion of
the non-existence of radical social ideas in the Netherlands. is
was seen in the last chapter the influence of neckhoy's Dutch
background was not minor. fhis suggests an interesting notion tint
there was much in coma in the socio-religicus movements in Bol-
land and 33819.34 and that radical ideas reciprocated between the
two countries. lbs collegiant principles as well as those of the
lamist lhimonites and W are easily discernible in
l’lookhoy's letters, which outline his religious program. But it
in probahly correct to say with Coach tint they are insufficient
to explain his interest in economic and social betterment. as
fact tint. his interest in the poor came after he had been in England
for awhile further indicates tint he was influenced by his contact
with the leftist reform movements in England.

It is evident also, as shill be pointed out in Glapter III,
that hecthoy knew the works of such men as Sir Bhutan More and
villism Shakespeare. He writes himself, however, that his greatest
stimlation came from the Scriptures. Will nan ever reach the
place, he asks, when he will festeem one only sentence of the holy

a

 

:9 Gears. 2. cooeh. mmnwwmnm '
WW» (midget University been, 1898), p. 310

39
Scriptures more than the highest accuteness of all the World's
hilesopluf'f it is somewht ironic to note his answer to the
question in‘the paraphrase of William Shakespeare, one of the
great world philosophers. "Vs shill be able to do it,'f he con-
eludes, 'fif we did well weigh that the World's turn is but a
short Qumedy, and that we are but Actors who appear no more than

30
once upon the 8tage.'f

 

mammmwm p. 6.

Gapter 1'
warm I]! m minimum) in 1.113316

m rule of the Dutch in America of the territory called How
Katha-land dates from 1621, with the organintion of the Dutch
lest India company, to less, when the anglish invaded the ire-
vince andwon control. the first colonists in the novince were
under author ity or nitroons, who were stockholders in the Com-
paw. he mJority of these settlers were day laborers or inden-
tured servants. the new mmmemptu by the
company in 1640, however, provided for similar, more liberal
grants to free individuals. the population of New lather land grew
between 1640 and 1660 although never sufficiently to guarantee a
great prosperity. the hitch were primrily traders, not farmers;
and the agricultural development of the cololw lagged behind that
of the English colonies which surrounded it. the Oompaw's mer-
cenary poliq was the chief criticism of individuals at home and
abroad who were sincerely interested in the development and wel-
fare ef the Dutch celolw in America. we of the most vocal among
the reformers was Jacob lteendam, noted in mapter II as friend
of 110ch and poet-member of Jan zest's, 'fflwest nest.'f atesndam
wrote his yacht. m Winn (Olmplaint of new imstsrdam)
after havim lived some time in the hevince and observed first
heat the conditions there. he complaint was followed by the 2 .191
m W (rrsisc or new nether-lens) in which stcenosn
portrayed the excellent qualities of new Netherland, 'fthe purity

41

of the air, the fertility of the soil, production of the attle,
[end the] abundance of game and fish....'f1 His real object was to
encourage the emigration of a class of people interested in hus-
bandry as well as comes.

The part of the bovince whieh was least profitable to the
notch Iest Indie company wee the region of the south (Delaware)
31rd, relieved from New Lnetcdam far enough to rake communication
difficult. In April, 1657, the Company signed tie region over to
the Burgomsters of Amsterdam; and the capitol of thiseouthern
area was henceforth known as In Amstel. In an attempt to popc-
late this region the Burgomstcs promised prospective farms
'fin free, fast and durable property‘f as m “fl-organs [2.1 screeJ,
teth of plenghleui and of meadow, es thq could properly improve,
with freedal from tenths for twenty years. ‘3

necrhoy was one of the“ few who sought to derive advantage
from this belated attempt to people the hitch colony. It is
imedistely apparent after repeated failures in Mend tint his
Isl as e reformer was m a bit deterred. Holland was at tint
tine no less in need of social rerorn then noglend, inspite of the
upitalistic advances of the 'fGolden AgeJ fit is only too true,'f
writes nerke, fthet the neeeee of the townepeopie received e ...,

shell share in the marvelous profit realised by the economic expan-

 

V

1 Ellis L. Baesly, mu, nth W (New tort: Oolumbia
University tress, 1945), pp. 386-7. .

2. Clarence I. fiifs, “land'Tenure in New nether-land," m a,

salaried. Elihu helm in. mm 929.12. mm in. hie.
My. (New Even: file University hose, 1931), p. 61.

4:2

sien of the country. ...In the busiest center of Iblland's indus-
try, twenty thousand people--not necessarily unemployed—Ind to
be kept from starvation by charity, and it was truly said that in
“strum contagious diseases which took the lives of thousands
of poor people, never afflicted 'burgonasters, aristocrats,
ministers of the Grinch, or town‘officials. "fa It was again
the poor nasses with whom l’lookhoy was concerned.

he hec from the beginning of hie negotiations with the inter-
dam hargouasters twenty-four Hennonites (families) who wished to
participate in his project and who formed the basis for the
negotiations. The identity of these Mennonites has never been
established but it is likely they came from the lemist Mennonites
of Galenue Abraham de man's church in Amsterdan, who would have
been most inclined to subscribe to the intellectual freedom and
the liberal philosophy of the proposed settlement} After making
several overtures to the Burgomasters (see below), this group
petitioned the city of Ametereem for e tract of land on the south
liver and 200 guildsrs in loan to each family. The Amsterdam
council record followss.

Resolution of the Common Gouncil cf the City of Amster-
dam, 30th Apri1,1662.
he Bureomsters have also reported tint about 25
Mennonist families Ind declared their inclination to

remove to and reside in tin city 's colony in New Nether-
land, if this city would resolve -to assist each family

 

3 Bernard Home. Wflmmm (Nov rem Roy
robiiehere, 1945), p. 173. .

t Hennonite's ind already taken part in the settlement of law
Netherland- 309. WMQIEEMKM
W compiled by E. 2. (Jamie. (Albany, 1901-1916)
I, pp. 320, 335-6, 348, 887-8, 396, 486-7, 505, 5154:, 555,
667; n, p. 1053.

43

to that end with 200 guilders for each, in addition

to the passage money, on conditions that such families

would Jointly and severally bind themselves to repay

the same. lhich being considered it is resolved to

lend each family 100 g1. on such conditions, the pas-

eege money therein 1ncluded.5 ‘

nockhoy nade some additional requests after the Resolution
was passed, and on June 6, 1662, completed a contract with the
Burgomastcrs. It stated 'fi'hat he, Pieter Garneliss nockhoy,‘
undertaioss to present to us, as soon as possible, the names of
twenty-five persons, who will agree to depart by the first ship
or ships to the aforesaid colorw of this city, to reside there
an to work at farming, fishing, handicrafts, etc., and to be as
diligent as possible not only to live comfortably themselves, but
also tht provision nay thereby be made for others to corned: The
contract granted each member or much land ee he could use at the
'fmrekil'f or another part of the colorw, the right to enact their
own lewsqwith right of appeal to the higher magistrates, exemp-
tion from tense for twenty years, and a loan of 100 guilders to
each family as previously granted.

It took 110ch almost a year to get underway. The factors
responsible for the delay were several. In the first place the
group was still engaged in the construction of an adequate frame-
work of government, the privilege of which was granted them by
the contract. Flockhoy's ideas for the administration and govern-

ment of his colony hadprcviously been submitted to the Burgo-

 

wfi

5mmwm 1.1. p. 176-

6 M, pp. 176-7. The origiml contract was also reprinted as

part of nockhoy's, £01123 flap; m1. lbr its full text,
see Appendix B. , .

meters by an individual who signed his name, ”ELLMJ fhe
latter was seemingly an attorney or notary who served as an .
agmt for nockhoy in the negotiations with the Burgonasters.
rhe program was outlined in seven letters submitted through
'HJ. 5.1!." to the ngistrates between November 22,1661, and ray
25, 1662. file fourth of these letters was the most significant,
containing 117 articles of association, which were "open for correc-
tione'f? ‘

he first letter was written November 23, 1661, and was pre-
sented to the Burgomastsrs on December 13. It was submitted by
'fHJ.Z.M.'f with 'fproper homge‘as agent for his clients, consisting
of several decent-minded families who desire to remove to New
lsthsrland undc the auspices of this laudable city and Goverment
of Amsterdam, and with the an. sire Directors or the vest India
company under app-m1 e: the states eenerei or the United nether-
lamb?a he agent wanted it blown that he was servant to his
flatter- and hincipalsfl and wished to remain anonymous. 'fIt any
please your Honors,'f he continued, fto grant a charter to these
people, with so many families as thiay mve already or will further-
more enlist, to transport them to the South River in law Hetherland,
and there to select according to their choice a suitable piece of

 

7 mmmmmm- p. 68.

6 M” p. 43. Sets of initials like "E3.” or “LA." are fre-
quently used in addressing the Burgomasters and high officials.
"A” stands for mu, "I“ for W, "H' for m, and "it”
for mighty. When they ate used double, they refer to more than
one person, such as the LL. htrons.

45

land near the Borekil [Glosst also called Sinkenesse or Slammed]
or wherever else they might deem more favorable. f9 One of the
prinnry purposes of the project, in addition to reviving the
colonial Province, was 'falso the relief of many aggrieved and
languishing families. '10 An aspect of Plockhoy's philosopltw,
descending from the conegiente and included in his previous
plan for a universal church without clergyman, was included in
this first letter to the Amsterdam magistrates. 'fconcerning the
divine worship,'f it was stated, ‘fthese people wish to save the
costs of a minister, and for the‘maintenance of good order, peace,
and least offense to the different humors of the peeple, to
substitute the Holy Scriptures, to be read on Sundays and holi-
days by individuals in rotation, it being the purest minister,
and to aim psalms. ’11

the second letter, dated December 20, 1661, brought up he
legal points in question. he first was the matter of govern-
ment, which they desired to be in all points in harmony with the
interests of tin society and still with the laws of the country.
the second question was the matter of freedom from tenths, which
was desired for a period of thirty years. In relation to the
first, distinction use made between civil and criminal laws; and
it was to be known that the society wished Jurisdiction in civil

cases only, and that criminal uses would be left to the Juris-

 

9 1113., p. 43. Swanendael meant literally, 'fvalley of swans.'f
16M -
11 m-

a

 

I. 1J1; ,1 d .
.elt. .0. . o'l 71*. .I ..bueefl'alirgj‘.

 

46

diction of the high magistrates. "hbout everything which is con-

fined to the civil, thy muld draft a my}; concise aggeggnt,
12
with the apparel of the LL. Sire Burgomasters of this cityflf

In reprd to the question of tenths, reasons were given wlw a“
period of thirty years exempt ion should be granted.

Nc sensible people who can look further than the length
of their noses have tried or will try to move to I!!!
Amstel under existing conditions. hr those over there
who have thus far seemed to be of some ability have
mostly been attracted by ambit ion for power, or expected
profit, but since neither living conditions or trade
turned out to be very favorable those people Eve,
along with others, been undeceived, and New Amstel,
which for so many years was supposed to develop into a
city, could in number of people, not speaking of the
poverty there, not compare with even the least country-
side in Holland....donsidering this my ibsters instruct
ms to petition the Add. Sire Burgonnsters that they
increase, rather than reduce, she requested number of
years of freedom from tenths.1

rho hatter of tenths, states marches Rife, was of considerable
importance to prospective emigrantsf‘ It had proved to be a
burdensome charge, and 'fhad the reluctant acceptance of the popu-
lace. '15 Probably Ploclrhoy was aware of those turd-hips, permps
through his frienl {Janet steenden, and ineietes upon an ixununity
in this resptct. I

the third letter, dated December 3, 1661, sought to furthu'
clarify the matter of civil and criminal Jurisdiction. 'ffliq do
not in the least desire criminal Jurisdiction, but on the contrary

they free thmselves from the same and clearly reject it as too

 

12 M" p. 4-5. Italics inserted. 13 m" p. 46.
14 Clarence Rife, “1., p. 62. 15 Min p. 65.

 

 

lee ‘teye. lii'lllql‘.

 

 

47

16
difficult a task for them.'f It was requested, however, that

firing the first five years they would be given the privilege of
disposing of all civil matters themselves. After that time the
Sheriff of In Lutel would have the right of inspection, to
cite witnesses, etc. 5 should lave no right, though, to begin
legal proceedings against anyone without notifying the principal
public servants of the society beforehand, or to execute domici-
liary search or arrest without previous consent of the principal
servants. Matters of dispute beheen the society and sheriff
should be submitted to the LL. Eatrons and highest Directors.
concerning the matter of taxation, thirty-years exculption was still
requested for reasons previously stated. In closing, it was
asserted:

My Masters and Clients wish it known that this and all
previ one and forthcoming statements, written or oral,
concerning the proposed settlement, are tentative outlines,
intending the best for the society, with no intent to
Judge, mch less criticise any existing form of government,
since they wish not to be Judged or considered so mive
in the ways of the world that they would not know how
different conditions, natures of people, as well as
differences between large and small societies, require diff-
erent methods of governmmt."

The fourth letter, dated Jamary 10, 1662, contained the 117
articles of association, mentioned above. Equality was the firt
and foremost basis of the commealth. prular government was
to be inaugurated, the powerstherein separated into branches
suggesting the executive, Judicial, and legislative functions.

New laws were to be enacted by maJority vote and there was to be

~—

lémmhsrlmmmmo p- 47.
1.7 Dildo.»- 48-

 

 

 

nihil- . IT
- , . rat). ”Irv!!! will

 

 

48

a single executive, elected by the people, who should approve
all new 1m. Military servants were to be included in the so-
ciety for protection, although Hennonites, who believed in non-
resistance, were to be exempt from military service by paying a
tax. Hemonitee also was to be exempt from voting on defense
mttcs and fortification, and from orders from officers in this
relation or concerning military service. the lhnnonites were
further to have two representatives among the principal public
servants. The people were to disembark upon arrival overseas
'fas straight hstavians and promoters of the common good, putting
their shoulders to the wheel.'fl8

the fifth letter, dated {arch 3, contained rsvisions and
amendments to the articles in the fourth. he Commissioners
seen to have raised some objections to minor items and details
of Judicial Jurisdicticn. he letter was an answer to certain
mrginal notes nade by or in the m of the m. airs comm-
toners on the 'sun lurther Benonstrance' which ... handed in
before.'f19 P i ‘

ls; letharland was originally managed by a board of nine-
teen directors ef the Dutch [est India Gompaw (the Nineteen),
who was represutatives from five clnmbers located in different
prts of the Netherlands. fhc delegates from the city of LII-ter-
dam held preferred positions, and after 1645 assumed exclusive

management of the colozw. m Amsterdam camber, with twenty di-

 

18 an... 1:.” 66.
19 m, p. 66.

rectors, organised itself into committees,ene of which was the
Gounittee for New latherlam. 1211s comittee had charge of all
utters relating to the colony. Its members were referred to
as the comissionsrs for New Netherlsnd. If a group of settlers
desired to migrate to the cclozw the nutter might be presented
to the slumber, but would normlly be referred to the commission-
ers to deal with. When the mmpany sold the region of the South
river to the city of Amstrdam, the transaction complicated-
natters of Jurisdiction. the government of Amsterdam consisted
of the council (vroedschap), having as members, and the burge-
masters, who were elected by the council. Some of the council
mentors were also directors in the chamber, and the latter were,
at any rate, chosen from nominees by the burgomasters. Thus,
Es! Amstel remained subordimted to New Amsterdam in Judicial
matters. In applying for a charter nockhoy had to deal with
three bodies--the comissioners, the councillors, and the barge-
nasters. The first five letters were, in fact, addressed to all
three: 'fTo the Honourable airs Oomissioners and Directors, cho-
sen by the A.L.A81rs Burgonasters, under authority of the LA.
council of this City of Amsterdam. 'sz In general the commission-
ers would have to approve any framework'of government for a
settlemt in the colony, the council would lave to authorise a
loan of money, and the burgomasters would complete the contract.
The last two letters, dated May 5 and May 25 respectively,
were addressed directly to the burgonasters. l'he first begins by

 

w a

20 mg.“ pp. 43, 45, 4:7, 50, and 62.

 

50

making mention of the foregoing addresses, both written and oral.
It reveals tlnt on April 22, tin prospective emigrants were ad-
vised to apply to the burgomasters for a charter ”with assurance
that our proposals and requests have been well considered by
their 1.1.".21 It reiterates Plockhoy's desire for free exercise
of all Inndicrafts, trades, and commerce, freedom from tenths,
an! liberty of religion. In short, 'fthe suppliants persist
umveri ugly in all their requests, presentations, deductions,
and debates as previously submitted and under correctionfl In
ccnclnsim it asked for a speedy decision fin order to despatch
one hundred sale persons still this sunrner, who during the
winter might begin burning off the forest, preparing the soil,
cutting the timber for building, and providing for the ones, in-
cluding the women and children, that would follow next spring.'f
i'he final letter refers to negotiations with the burgomasters,
chiefh with Ocrmlis de Grasf, baron of South Polsbroek, which
were soon to lead to an agreement. On June 6, 1662, the contract
between Plockhoy ani the burgomasters was completed. In October
the letters were published as part of an air-page work entitled,
mm m m mun” (Brief Account of Du
Bethe-lands Situation, Advantages, htural Qualities, and hauliar
Suitability for Oolonintion; together with some Begiests, Repre-
sentations, Deductione, etc. , presented for that purpose by some
interested persons at different times about the end of the year.
1661 to the Burgonnsters of this city and their Deputies, etc.).

 

21 mg, 65. The ensuiig quotations on this page are 195,313,

 

51

 

KURT VEKHAEL
y‘”&15 W.

41.1%

NEDERIANTS

Gclcgcmhcit, Dcu hdcn, Namcflijchoorrechu-n, cnby
zondcrc bcqmcm cmicidt ter bevolkmgh: Mitsgsdcrs amigo
Reg se/lcn Vertoogm, Deduflmz ,.en{ ten dlen cmdcn door
ccnigc anfhcbbcrs ten vcrfchcidc tijdcn omtrcnt 't lactfi
van 'tJacr 1661. geprefcntccrtacndc A. A. Hot-red Bun-
e sausssr as EN dezchtcdc, ofdcrzclvcr E. E. Hec-
lcn Gecommittccrdc , em.

w W “but N Voot-Rcdcn ten Rom [about . “M
m N Wettfcboswicgh sec dc Bock-vetkoopcn . m
W W Q l‘atflr- of MSW.

 

 

 

Figure 3
TITLE-PAGE OF THE

KDRT VERMEL VAN I‘TIEUW IIEDERLANTQ

s.

In addition to the matter of government another factor de-
layed the project. The original Iondon plan was designed for
more thn twmty-five normal, and 210ch desired to enlist
at least 100 before anbarking. Mewcre several allusions in
the letters to the magistrates to the hope of establishing a
colon which would grow to be a city or province. their
thoughts, in spite of the stall progress already made, have
chnged from a weak household or neighborhood which they first
had in mind to the idea of founding a laudable province of city
or state.'f22 This called forth the prospectus, entitled, m
h m m (Brief and Concise Pinata the need for which
was suggested in the second letter above, and the specific pur-
pose of which was the enlistment of prospective settlers who
were in sympathy with tin ideas underlying the project. The
Irospectus was a sixteen-page quarto pamphlet including (1) a
cow of the contract between Flockhoy and the burgomasters, (2)
a sonnet by the hitch post, Karel Verloove, upon the maxim, I
'fUnicn We Strength” (5) nockhoyis scheme for the establish—
heht of an ideal comnojuealth, nmmr in most respects to his
Incision plan, (4) a poem by the hitch poet, Jacob Steendam, en-

 

“ we P. 56-

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mmnmmwmwm
mmwmummmmmnm
mummnlmmmmmmmmm-
mwmm. mediums:
mmmmmmmm 221m
mmmmmmwmmm
MMummmm- (Amsterdam. 1662).

 

 

 

   
 
  
   
 
    
   
    
    

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wen arb'cpdf‘vntma en mocpc-
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dengcnb {ondcr code: he: gunlti gcfa van dc
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Z 0-1/4"!ch Pct/51ml,

2111051ch ”ng: Amht‘fl-bylm, (s Motif":
1!”;ch "OI/hi es aunts/Eben".

Monotone op b: booz-rctbtcn ban hm 1cm;
tarpon: (slow as balm) monotone: mum.

t'Samcn gcflclt

 
 

Dar Pieter Camille. Pb:

en. our ecu/elves es seine
“f

Jar-Iss1.
Smicst. Anne 1662:

       
   
 

Figure 4

TITLE-BXGE OF PLOCKHJY'S

mmgpgpnam

53

54

titled "Sparring Verses," iniicating the intention of spurring
on friaids of the uniertaking, and (5) a final statement that
those desiring to Join the society should be prepred to depart
by the middle of September. Rom the latter statement it is
evident tin prospectus was publicised and circulated between the
9th of June, 1662 (the completion of the contract) and the
middle of September of the same year (the tentative date of

departure).
Plocidioy's essay begins as follows:

Since individuals we go with their particular fami-
lies in some uninhabited or wild country often die or
have little success or become ill for their inability,
poverty, or isolation, we (as lovers of the common
interest to advance our own and neighbor's welfare)
intend to establish-«with the protectionof the High
and Mighty States General of the United Netherlands
an! especially with tlat of the Honorable Magistrates
of the City of Amsterdam-ma company or society at
the South River in New Netherland, consisting of a
peaceful, harmonious, and selected people who will help
one another in farming, fishing, and handicrafts, in 32
attempt to improve the lot of many who are oppressed.

Yerloove's poem appealed to unity and concord as the supreme
goal for the I‘Iettlanent.25 Steendam's poem paints an exaggerated
picture of New Hetherland. Ha indicates the dream of establish-
ing, in time, a commune: great size: "Communities the
groundwork are of every state; they first thexlnmlet, village,
and the city make; from whence proceeds the commonwealth; whose
numbers great become, an interest in the common welfare take. ’26

Many of the eleven stanms ought to quell objections which had

24 Ina-m
25 See Appendix 6.

26 an m 31am. unmann- 300 Appendix D.

 

55

been advanced against the project. "Some persons seem to have
had a religious fear of living in a state so democratic as the
one planned by nockhoy. Steendam assured these conservative
folks that God would not 111th his blessings from this New
World community mgr-rely because it was to be governed by neither

kings nor dunest Following is the concluding statement of

the pamphlet: ‘

Those who wish to Join our compaxw should be ready
to begin the voyage not later than the middle of
September of this year, 1662, and may inquire about
the departure in Amsterdam in the Brouerstraet, in
th "Orclnrd of New Netherland" [Boomgaort] from 3-9
a.m. and on the Sea hm [zoo-slack in the “Golden
Boat” [Gilt Boot] from 5—1 p.m., bu they met an-
nounce themselves as soon as possible at the afore-
said placee (so as to lose no time) as tint we, knowing
the number of persons, may obtain provisions for one
year am also with the necessary tools and other
things to use over there.

If someone muld like in send along with us some
goods or merchandise to be sold over there, he will
receive half of the profit besides his capital.

If someone who resides here would like to be a
partner for himself, his descendants or heirs, in
our comon plantation to be established in the time
of 4 or 5 years, and in the cattle and other profits
forthcoming for the community, he may make Bimeelf
known in order to nabs a contract with us.2

The number of people that finally agreed to migrate is
29
not certain, but the number must have been far short of neck—
hoy's dreams. The group, at any rate, sailed in the ship,Ԥ_t_.

M, shortly after the 5th of my, 1663. (It is possible an

 

——7

27 3111- 1~ belly. 2mm: of. he! W (New York:
Golumbia University bees, 1945), p. 291. -v

28 £911 an the: entrant; (no pagination).

29 Francis Vincent states the mnnber was'thirty-five men. See,

a 3.1.1293: of. the. mile of. mm. (Philadelphia: John Oomp-
bell, 1870), p. 393. The source for this is not given.

56

advance group embarked in the previous Fall as planned). A part

of the invoice of goods of the St. Jacob follows:

on 2!. k1. ML 21
Invoice of goods shipped in the ship, "St. Jacob,"

skipper, later Lucas van der Goes, destined to go to;
Sew Lmstel on the South River of New Netherland....

I O O O 0 O O O O O O O O O 0 O O C Q 0 O O O Q 0 0

later Gernelissen Plockhooy takes along for himself

and his family-«all kinds of necessaries and shall

arti else for his own use, as for agricultural purposes

and clothing, etc. , also 2 half bags of hops, guns for

his people.... 0

The 31. my, arrived at New Amstel on July 28th, 1663,
laving left "Al souls with their baggage and farm utensils at
the Herekiljsl commonly called Ssaanendael (valley of swans).
Since Pleckhoy was to have settled at the Horekil, his people
were undoubtedly the forty-one 'fsculs'f.

A. year later, on August 27, 1664, the notch were forced
to surrender lsw lstherland to the mglish naval forces. The
fort at Ilsw Amstel resisted, and during the following month
Sir Robert, Mr preceded to reduce and destroy the forts all
settlunents along the Delaware. 'fUnder him the only blood was
shed which accompanied-the change “from Dutch to English author-
ity.'fg A later account of the mmpaign contained the statement
tht‘darr ‘fdestroyed the Quoting society of 310ch to a naile.'f”

One scant piece of informtion remins concerning the brief“

 

30 mmmmmmh 111. pp. 428-9-
81 m, pp. 435-7.
33 Albert E. McKinley, "The Transition from hitch to English Rule

in 3" 1011!."me IL (April 1901)
p. 718. -

”EIMWW. 11. Po 343-

57

existence of the settlement. One of its members had written to
the city of Amsterdam stating that the Indians at the Horekil
'fhsd declared they never sold the hitch aw land to inhabit.'f34
it seems apparent tInt Plockhoy encountered nothing but difficulty
and heartache at the very outset. Mr's procedure was entirely
at odds with the Duke of York's instructions tht the people
were to be treated with Wty and gentlenessflf55 Ed mn-
heen less destructive it ‘is probable the settlement at Manon-
dael would have left a greater imprint in the colonial history
of America, for the English government proceeded to pursue a
liberal policy in relation to the conquered Dutch peoples. As
it is, there remins no record or the rate or the menbers or the
colony, save Ileckhoy himself. ”Estory throws no light on the
subject, and of contemporary documents there are none. '336 Some
believe they were sold as slaves in the southern colonies.”
Perleps they returned to Elland. It is most liloely they became

lost in the shuffle and confusion of the clange in administration.

 

“M‘s P' 3‘6

35 not... in Miss M. Andrei". mmmnmm
W, 111. (New Even: Yale University hose, 1935). P. 98.

36 Samuel W- Emmet". W mWMn-n
(Eliladelphia, 1883). p. 50.

37 this is corroborated by Stuyvesant 's statement concerning the
hglish invasion of the Delaware: "At New Amstel on the South
River, notwithstanding they offered no resistance, but demanded
good treatment, which however thq did not obtain, they were
invaded, stript here, plundered, and many of then sold as
slaves in Virginia.” 300. .11 19.21 92.123421. W. no
pp. 230-1. fossibly the English navy still sought retaliation
for the measure of figlieh traders at Amboim in the hitch
met Indies in 1628.

58

If we knew the names of am of them, which we do not, we could
doubtless find traces of their continued existence in the neigh-
borhood of the Delaware, as we have of 210ch himself.
nockhoy seemingly claimed a plot of ground in the new
Mich tern of Lewes (now Lewes, Dela-are), near the original

cite of his settlement, and built a temporary cabin for himself
88
am his wife. later he petitioned for 1091 ownership of the

let. lhe court acted on January 9th, 1682:

Upon the peticon of anelis nockhoy the Court
Chant unto him the towns Iott that he live upon in
Lewis and the Lott next AdJoyning to that; on Don-
dition that he build a dwelling house on Echo of the said
Lotte according to the demencons that the Governor shall
order, within one years after this Wt; or Else to
pay five pounds to the use of ghe public]: for mche
Lott; and Lose his Lotte also. 9

0n n. can of lay, nockhoy declared allegiance to anglers and
became s. citisen thereof:

ibis day John Kiphaven, Alexander lbulston, El-
manias Iiltbanck, cornelis Yahoofe, Glrmlis John-
son, beach Henry, 0ornelis nockhoy, AnthonyHamen
(firemen?) Alias Heverle, haveing publiquely in opin
Gets-t salmonly promised and declared in the presence
of God Alleaigance to the King of England, his heires
sill successors; and fidelity to William lam, hop-
rietary and Governor of the provience of Eonsylvania
c {territories thereunto belonging and to his heires
8: successors; After which the Governor declared all
of them to be Eterellised and as free men of this
Government as aw hellish men."o

 

38 the Federal Writers' Reject, m, (Now York: Viking Ereee,
1938), p. 196, contains the statement: "Oormlis nockhoy later
swore allegiance to the hglish, and in§1680 a lot was granted
to him in this town where 'he already be a house. "' The
latter clause is seeminglye direct quotation from'an original
source, which the writer has been unable to locate.

39 6- E 3- Earner. 01-. grammars-mm. m.
(Misdelphia, 1909), p. 87. hglish documents of the period
used the Old Style mlendsr, while t1- Intch employed the New.

40 me, p. 97. Punctuation mine. neqnent allusions to the

59

he years later Ploukhoy and his wife appeared in Germntown,
where they becane public charges. Perinps,’ having grown old and
blind, he was unable to fulfil his obligtions in Lewes, and lost
his land. is an only resort he turned to his fellow Mennonites,
who led Just recently established the Germantown settlement, for
assistance. ms petition was not in vein. The Geruntown Court
records show that he was treated sympathetically:

.- ,

ma Mon ..m m at. cm. lira math. £2515.
to the blind man, Garnelis Plockhoy, is granted

the citisenship free of charge; and is granted per-
mission to reside at the end of the village on the
street from Peter clever 's corner upon a let one

red broad and twelve rods long whereon shall be built
a house with a garden which shall be his as long as
he and his wife are living, but upon their death the
property with all improvements shall return to the
commnity. It is further decreed that Jen Doeden and
Iilliem Bittenlmysen shall take a free-will offering
for him and shall have clarge of the building of the
house.

0 O O O C O O O O C O O O C O O O O O O O O l O O O

m Mien. mm a: a: the let. him-
At the end of the Session, the business brought

up by Mcr Clever was discussed, which concerned Wm.
Btreyper, who gave an acre of his land to Cornelis
nockhoy for as long as he and his wife are living.
hoes shall be planted around the house; and after
they have died or have moved, the property shall he
evaluated 1y an impartial comittee, its worth deter-
mined, and so 1d. Elf slnll go to the community, and
half to In. atreyper; and the latter shall have the
right to reclaim the land. ‘1

 

individlnls li sted with no ckhoy are found in, M m
mnmkmmmhannut mammal.
1§46-1§72,.(Vlilmington, Delaware, 1899 . .Verhoofe was a
public surveyor and clerk at the Horekil. Kipshaven was a
Justice (see halos). The hire of York had deeded the‘

"ferrit ories" of the Delanre River to William Run as far
south as mp6 Henlopen, which included the region of the
firrekil. .

41 321.. W m The.crigina1, in old Germ script, is
preserved in the archives of the Historical Society of Iennsyl-

vania.

' 60
the last known reference to Plockhoy is dated January 14,
1700, in the will .of on John Kipehaven. Kipehaven had taken
the oath of allegiance to the English crown along with nockhoy
end otha's (see above), and had been a Justice at the 'f'horekil'f
between 1674 and 1685. the reference, which indicatee‘that he i‘
new nockhcy as a frieni, follows:

gm. 1 give and bequeath unto Garnelius Pluckhoy
the blind man Twenty Shillings.42 .,

After perinpe eighty years of life Pieter Gornelis nockmy
died among his own people. His death ln‘phyrloal blindness one
:90?th is an lronloal culmination of a life devoted to the
relief of the poor and the weak. The rule of his life, as he
wrote, was the command of Grist: “if any among you would be
cutest, let him be servant of all.'f“ What mst impress all
who read his writings is hie sincerity. ‘fbr which snd,'f he
wrote, 'fthst we nay transmit t1: world unto our postm' ity in a
better condition tlnn we first round it, 1 have contributed this

44
little. "

‘13 Edwin Jaqnott 301100. immune: mg.- (mu-
dolphin: Lippinoott 0)., 1901), p. 134. .

“AMW- p. 1.
«marinara» mmnmweaomi .r.zs.

mapter V

mommr'a REIGN SCHEh-ES AND IDEAS

Io OONCERNING m AND SOCIETY

Fleckhoy was not a utopian in the strict sense of the word.
He did not wish to build impossible castles in the air, but
wanted to apply his schemes to the real life problems which
prompted them. 'f'l‘is no Utopiafl writes his poet friend, Steen-
m, "it rests caprinciples which, for true liberty, prescribes
you settled rulesflf1 Plockhoy was primarily a reformer. B
wished to abolish two offences against man in the society in
which he lived: disunity and intolerance in religion, and social
injustice. The basis for his reform ideas in these two areas
were the same: love, tolerance, and comunion as embodied in the
teachings of Christ. Hie remedy for the evils in religion was
the eventual establishment of a universal, undenoninational
Ghristenlom. he first step in th realiztion of this goal was
the separation of church and state, and consequently the aboli—
ticn of the tithe and set confessicnn of faith. ‘1'!» second step
was to erect in every eennmnity a general meeting house for all
Christians where the Bible would be the supreme rule and mutual
diecmsion the order of worship. Since men are the creations of

a single God, they should behave as brothers tomrd each other.

 

1 M an East. 93319.n- (no pagination).

62

his concept of the universality of men is central in the reform
of social problem as well, although Plockhoy gives up the notion
of bringing at once all men together in communion. Now he states:
Iflif we be insufferable to the World, aer they be incorrigible or
unhetterable as to us, than let us reduce our friendship and so-
ciety to a few in number, and maintain it in such places as are
separate from otlnr mal, where we my with less impediment or
hindrance, love one another and mind the Wonders of God, eating
the bread we shall earn with our own hands, leaving nothing to

tb body but what its nakedness, hunger, thirst, and weariness
mlls for. .32 The clange in the unit of reform was partially the
result of the failure to mks any progress in effecting the.
’fgenaral christian meeting-placeflf fibre particularly it was
because 210ch had become greatly concerned with social as well
as religious injustice in tin world. He gave up working through
the government and began laboring directly with the poor classes
inpsociety. men as he was petitioning the hrliamerrt of the Pro-
tectorate for reform in religion he vac becoming aware of the so-
cial injustice around him. His letter to hrliament of January 24,
1559, sale with the injunction: 'fGive ear‘to the poor, for the cry
of them is exceeding great in these mticns. '38 In the first para-
graph of g m W he writes of having become aware of the

great inequality and disorder amang nan in the mrld, 'fthat not only

0.

 

zummmwm pp- 9-10.
ammmmmmmumm p- 6.

63
evil governors or rules, covetous merchants and tradesmen,
lazy, idle, an! negligent teachers, and others, have brought
all under slavery and thraldom; but also a great number of the
common handicraftsmen or laborers, by emeavoring to decline,
escape, or cast off the heavy burden, fill all things with lies
and deceipt, to tin oppressing of the honest and good people,
4
whose consciences cannot bear such practicesflf His goal was
”to set up as in former times righteousness, love, ard brotherly
f 5
sociablenessfif He would bring the socially downtrodden people
into communion with himself and each other to better their lot
in a cooperative nanner, living apart from the larger society,
but remaining economically a part of it. It is interesting to
note that social problem of non-members would still be a concern
of the society:
The principal public servants should appoint some

comissiouers from the colonists who will be charged,

at the expense of the society, with the care of all

needy widows, orphans, the sick, the old; in short,

all impotent men, women and children, especially

within the society, without forgetting however to be-

stow kindness upon all others who are not yet members,

am this not in a stingy way, but very liberally, yea,

brotherly, in order that the unfortunate will be saved

from becoming degraded, t will become instead worth-

while members of society.

he fundamaltal ideas in his scheme for a little commonwealth
were equality and association. Although these are not mutually

exclusive ideas, they shall be considered separately. Association

 

«tantrums. r- 1-
sham.
6 MMMMW- r- 61.

64

is a divim state, to be patterned after the Apostolic mode of
living. Man is essentially a social being, desiring communion
with others; but he reaches the most perfect and blessed state
when God by the dispensation of his secret counsel brings him
into fellowship with others, and when he would not exchange this
union or fellowship for all the riches in the world. But the
more divim this state of friendship, the loss is it seen on
earth. God is the only bond by which men in divine association
are tied together without bring unloosed and upon which they
resolve to withstand all assaults whatsoever. Nothing comes
nearer the divine nature tlnn love, which among true frienis
creates such an agreement that no secret, no Joy, no profit, nor
any cross or affliction is uniivided, but whatsoever betides
either of them is not otherwise than if it wu'e tin change of

one alone, so that death itself can scarce separate souls so
totally united. Christ, by his doctrine and example, instituted
a society of mutual love among all members. no required all
gifts and means of subsistence in the world to be common, so

tint all wristmdom ought to be merely a certain great fraternity,
comprising such ss have denied the world and their own lusts, who
conspire together in Ghrist, the sole head ani spring of love,
doing well to. one another, and distribute their goods to those
wln stand in need. 'thi tint we had this perfection and were
answerable to the end of our creation: certainly there would not
be such going to law, such intrenching and encroaching upon the
bounds of lands, such hiding and close losing up of money, nor

65

7
would there be such scraping together of superfluous Estatesflf

If, therefore, God Joins mme together who endeavor after a life
more regular than their former, each Inving one to whom he may
comimte his secrete, a friendly reprover of his errors, a
reclaims? of him from the world's allurements, a comforter in
advu'sity, a moderator of Joy in prosperity, and in all respects
a sharer in that which God hath liba‘ally given, and last of all
one rudy for all cases and conditions that may happen, these
are the happiest of all person that ever were upon the earth.
Nothixg is more acceptable and lovely in the universe than her-
mony and concord which has its origin from God. furs, riches,
and estates'f hinder the divine association among men. They are
a burden, causing men to 1111 their houses with furniture which
is not useful, a Iftrouble to get them, a perplexiw to keep them,
and s grief to part with them. 'fe Their clothes are so dainty
and serious tint thq cannot sit down anywhere without fear of
spoiling their apparel. If they have no one to behold their
splendor, all is in vain; but if they have spectators, they fear
sons will lurch, all othrs filch away from them their belong-
ings. "than we never be able to attain this, to choose rather
to lay up our estates in the hungry bellies of the poor than in a
few bags? 'e shall be able to do all this if we forget not that

our God is the most faithful of all debtors and the most sure of
7 awnmwm. p- 2.
8 £3». P. 4-

66

all securities. To how happy an hour are we born if we do enter
upon this commnion or fellowship}?
nockhoy's notion of equality‘was in reality a protest
against artificial meclanisms of status in society, such as ti-
tles of honor. "The world hath her delight in different degrees
of dignities, states, titles, and offices, exalting themselves
one above another; but Christ on the contrary will that every
one shall perform his office as a member of one and the same
body, in which no one exalteth himself or accounteth himself
worthier than another.'flo His suspicion of teachers and
preachers, as will be seen in the section to follow, concerned
their demand, by virtue of their position, for pro-eminence and
dominance. In contradiction to the comnand of christ who said
that if any among you would be geatest, let him be servant of
all, in the world they are accompted the greatest who have the
most servants, and not they that do the most service to others.
If people are to be measured according to the design of nature
an the rule of Christ, they should not be accounted worthier
than another merely because of their name. "The name of the
tongue, is that any more worthy name than a; name of the finger?
The name of the eye, is tint more excellent than the name of
the breast? He certainly; that whereby the members are diffa'mt
dam m lift in; u. not with u. the name of Lord and Gentle—
man puffeth up, and what else 1. it but a mere name, tin vanity

—;

9 4111.. p. 6.
10 43911.. p. 3.

67

whcecf who sees it not? Yet we delight in such trifles, and give
way to than so far, that we will rather hear a lie from a notor-

icns parasite or flattsrsr, if he be but on our side, than to
11

hear the truth from an honest man, if he cross our interest.'f

In the ideal society which he envisioned none were to b.
chosen for leadership on the basis of riches or wealth, but ra-
ther for his wisdom. Plockhoy was more emphatic about this in
his plan for mlonisation in America than in Mland. 'vaeryons
who wishes to enter the society," he wrote, 'fmust seriously and
earnestly promise that he will never try to strive for any spe-

cial power, nor will allcw anyone else to make the least efforts
12
in that directiom'f There is evidence of suspicion on the part

of some that he sought to abolish all differmces between men in
a forced system of comnunism. ms defense of the project serves
to clarify his notion of equality:

Although the first article of Letter “D" poses
equality as the basis of our society, we hope that
nobody will be so naive, much less malevolent, as to
think, inspite of our clear distinction, that we are
attempting to renovs all differences between persons.
This is so far from the truth that we on the contrary
believe that to be as impossible as that our fingers
would be the same length; for every human being,
because of his mtuial characteristics and special
qualities, comprising a universe in himself, will
always remain different from others; wlnrefore they
could correctly be consida'ed the greatest fools in
tin world who try to bring my people unier one rule
or strict way of life without considering what every
man in particular requires for his well-being. This
is wlw in the enactment of all laws for the society

‘

11 we 1’- 4°
12 MMMMW n new

I

 

 

68

the cannon welfare should be kept in mind without
restricting anyone's personal ani natural liberty.

But to suppress the individual by force, as is usually
practised in the world, is accordirg to our opinion
merely deferring the larger evil and raking it break
out more violently. We want it understood then,
concerning our important. foundation of equality: name-
ly, that in order to establish a stable Christian
civilian society, republic, or commonwealth, an equal-
ity (between more and loss intelligent, more and less
wealthy, male and fenele, ruler and ruled) met be
contrived by reasoning and experience. Furthermore

be it known that we fight against all violations of
the true foundations of freedom, amongst which we
consider: all domineering over manbers of the society,
or exercise of force, moreover all complacent obod-“
ience, such as in the Rom (htholgs way of imposing
upon us, freedom loving Dutchmen.1

Plockhoy believed that by the benevolence and patience of God
it was man's opportunity, once he had tasted of the bitterness of
the world's pleasure, to rid himself of his troubles by treading
a path that was not crooked or rugged, but straight and smooth,
approaching the truest anl highest pitch of all perfection, by
participating in a society 'fwhsreof we have roads mention, which
suffereth no pride, riot, exacess, uncleanness, unjusti co, or any
evils which have been portrayed in their native colors; from
Which society no man that professeth the name of Christ, and pre-
ctiseth his doctrine, is excluded, of '11:: sect, party, or by

what name soever he is called or mud?

a.

II. CONCERNING TEOHERS AND PBEACHERS

310ch led the highest respect for learning which is stim-
hted‘by an earnest desire to know the wonders and secrets of God's
1?? me. p. 29.
14 memwm. p. 12.

69
univer so. But he had a great contempt for a certain class of
learmd and religi cue men who claimed to mve discovered great
truths but was void ofthe knowledge of the principles of
hidden love and forbearance. ms ideas concerning teachers
sill. poachers are revealed indirectly in his reform schemes.
Religion bigotry, which he hoped to abolish by his fir st scbme,
is nurtured by preachers of a certain faith who attempt to force
their doctrines on others. They persuade people so that the
people my the more willingly drudge for them, leading them to
believe they take care of their souls as if they could love the
soul which they canmt see, and have no compassion on the body
which they see. Educational bigotry is taught by flaw, idle,
and negligmt teachers'fl5 who belong to one school ‘of thought and
fail to remgnise goodin other schools. Who teachers, beic
Bpiritusl captains, would rather (as to m; generality} for their
on profit have Iars than Peace in Christendom; and therefore
tiny, mving trade an incurable rent, do set people one against
another, which hates it appear that by mture the people are not
at so great a distance as they now appear to be. '316 The world
1- in sugar of filling under the dominion. of on.“ particular sect
or school whose ministers or teachers are 'finfecting tbir forms,
not only in the public nesting places and houses of the poor or
hospitals, but also the universities which have by the subtilty

of them in all countries almost lost the name 'universal' by being

 

15 AMW- p- 1-
16M! P. 12-

70
l?

misapplied to self-ends and interested? In order to reform
these corrupticns the nagitratee should expel from the colleges
all more humane forms of rel igion, so that teachers cease to
nabs a trade and merclnandiss of the things of God. Ii'he common
people, not perceiving by reason of the great respect which they
have for the teachers and preachers that some of them seek only
to make thanselves great, have occasiomlly attempted to hold
forth tin authority of the Scriptures according to their own sense;
and when the tsaclnrs have introduced mttere contrary to their
reason, an! the people have refused to receive them for truth,
they lave been constrained from so much as to geek or whisper
aminst it. ,All true lovers of the common good will labor not
only to take out of the world factions, but also all hunans in-
vutions or innovations in religion. Theyw ill put no trust or
affiancs in any besides Jesm Christ, nor yet receive anything as
truth, but tint which they themselves can apprehend to be good
and agreeable to his doctrine. Jesus, the only perfect teacher,
who has been too long trod under foot by sectarians, ought to be
set above all.

lorldly knowledge is not so great a thing as it is eomonly
«me... for as lunch as urdsr the title and disguise of being
learned the very shame of being found ignorant leads, with many
subtle inventions and mlicious subterfuges, to the hiding of the
extent of ons's knowledge from the eyes of the cannon people. If

man but brings himself to the touch or the world through travel,

‘

v

17 mmnrmmmmnmm p- 4-

71

having a free and pure mind, he shall be able to obtain knowledge

for himself, excluding the eloquence and prudence of the world,

mncluding that nothing is to be compared with Christ. is

princes are not born to rear up stately pallaces, the learned are

mt born for the writing of nany unprofitable ani frivolous books.

‘

How I would tint they that stand and admire at the fine
wits of our age, anl the sublime learning of our times,
did but consider with me, whetha' these things which
daily please our eyes with their novelty, be indeed
such for which we nay Juetly rejoice; or whether on the
contrary it were not nmch better (since they are the
cause of so many griefs and troubles in man's life)
that we were advised by our learned men to put them
away far from us? For what greater fruit of wisdom,

or wrat greater glory of the new revived learnirg could
there possibly be than to bring humane matters to such
a posture that we may attribute our well-being and
felicity in this life to them under God, that by the
wholesome instruct ion thereof, that which is super-
fluous might be thrown away, an! that which is unpro-
fitable might be cut off, and that we might truly be
distizguished from the barbarous and savage peOplss,
not by Books, nor by Titles of Ibnor, nor by Universi-
ties, but by such morality as Christian Philosophy

doth prescribe. Let there come forth from the studies
and libraries of our wise men into the light; not a
continuation of prosecution of old old errors, or an
heaping up of new to the old, but on the contrary, a
Rule or Direction for a new and reformed life in wrist.
This will danonstrate that we are professors of the
best Religion and are imitators of the best life. In
the maritime let them mt take it 111 that we do not
cake any great account of these Sciences that are void
of Grist, that u do not moire to know the; and if
we lave drunk in any mob, yet we desire to unlearn
them, and with singleness of heart to become as children
who are altogether unequainted with voluptuousness. In
this School of Christ 's we hope that neither Divine
Hyster ies, nor secrets of mture, nor the contemplation
of rare matters, shall be wanting to us, since he former-
ly hath trade it evident by tb example of his Apostles
and holy mm, how posa'ful he is in teaching, an). then
especially he open his unexhaustible treasures when
humanismsdom ceaeeth and the skill of the world meltsth

away.

18 mmnmwm pp. 10-1.

'72

In his comnity Plockhoymade no place for the clergyman.
In this relation he wrote: '3...it needs to be said that we intend
to found a society of people with different convictions, and find
it immediately necessary to desist admission to all ministers
without exception....For with the accepting of ministers of one
denomination many different convictions could not approve, and to
admit a minister for each sect would, besides beixg impossible
for a shall, struggling society, be a ruinous pest of all pace
and concord. Without concord a well organised society can nei-
ther be founded nor improved, much less in any possible way be
lasting. It is further difficult for us to understand the pe-
culiar benefit which in any way could be derived fmm a minister
for such a sociew. Is are well equipped with the best and least
costly of ministers, the Holy Scriptures. '39

But it u an expression of his respect for knowledge that he
nude progressive provisions for schools in his society. he
meters of arts and sciences comprise one of the four classes of
citisens in the society. We consider it very necessary for the
special benefit that therebe founded abundant or sufficient
schools in the language of the society, for older people as well
as for the young, where everything will be taught and determimd
in th most clear and certain way, by indubitabls reasing, derived
from certain infallible principles. li'he experience to be gained

from histories, etc. , would be not less valuable for olde- people

 

w

19 mum elmmmm p. 28.

73
tlnn for the young. learning of nathenat ice and the dependent
sciences would be of especial utility in our sociew. It is to
he wished that medical science would be put on a much nore
solid foundation in order to be more safely practised on women
and children, and even by women. ".20

The schoolhouse in Plockhcyls colony was to be located in
the muntry‘. Rich and poor would be taught alike, and those
witrnut the society desiring to send their childrai there were
invited to do so. Girls as well as boys were to attend school
three hours daily, and for another three hours learn some trade
or vocation. School was to be held six days a week, except
aunday. The children were not to be taught ary humne forms of
religion, hit only tl'n writings of the saints, and natural arts,
sciences, and languages, tlnt their understandings, before they
have the use of reason, be not spoiled. On the contrary it is to
be imprinted in than that they ought not in spiritual matters to
believe any but those that Inve the spirit of God, doing miracles
as the prophets and apostles, for the faith ought not to depend
upon men's words, but upon the power of the wonderful works of God.
So doingjthere will be no foundation for sects, factions, or
schisms laid in their hearts. "Our children without doubt, will
be of differing opinions, and yet no reason, when theyfido not
hinder the common welfare, to exclude than from the Society. It
ought to he considered tint nnst differences (dwelling together)

. 21
by time, and liberty of‘ speaking, will cease to be.'f

A.

 

20 M09 P0 29-
21.4.th r- 12-

74
III. CONCERNING GOVERNORS AND GOWT

Floclmoy describes his philosophy of government and espe-
cially his conception of the ideal governor in his letters to
Oliver Gromell and the Commonwealth hrliament. And the 1.523.
17313393; contains his own provisions in outline for the ideal
government for a snail comonwealth. _

He bases his notions of government upon the Bible. The
power to defend the good against the evil, he argued, is ordained
of God, according to Banana 13.

The power to punish evil doors is ordained of God in

all lands, without respect of religion; and whosoever

opposeth that power, opposeth the ordinances of God;

not that all officers (though they rule 111) are of

God, or are his ministers, but those only who gaminister

their office rightly, according to God's will.

Warmers, in conformance to the cormnnd of Christ to give to
(hesar the things that are Gsesar'e, fwe are to pay taxes and
tributes to the magistrates, being in‘subJect under all human
ordinances which are not contrary to the will of Goddfzs Hock-
hey, diverging from Mennonite tenets, approved the use of the
'fsword'f in government 'ffor the protection of the good,'f and
especially for the abolition of arbitrariness in the form of a
state-church system or other forum of compulsion in religion,
speech, or thought. But he hoped that after the abusers had lost
their power, "the sword may return into its right place for which

, 84
God has ordained it.'f

 

ammnmmmmumwu - p- 24.
“dream. p. 9.
unanimimmmmmnmeem n. p.18.

'75
From this point Plockhoy begins to define the obligations
md limits of good governmt.
If the power (to defend the good against the evil)
in all Countries be ordained of God, mpg, then
reason requires that all sorts cf people of what lhtions
soever, being in one Country together, should be pro-
tected as well as if any of them severally was in his
own: which cannot be except there be a good publish-
minded and godly Magistrate, that will suffer all sorts
of people in any one Country, as God suffers the same
in all Countries of the world; which I expect first in
, and so from thence to breat forth (as a light)
to all other Countries and mtions, as having long
nough walked (3% in the night) by the glimpse of par-
timilar ling. .
flockhoy spoke continuously of a 'funivm‘sal nagistrate in Christ-
aeaomdf God had destined thland, not for a psi-nouns, but for
a general work. If his scheme was put into operation, he saw
the possibility of people of many rations moving to England,
where the government would keep its lands out of religion and
would be interested solely in protecting the people. 'fAll
mandamus-sting the report of this noble heedom‘will be-
gin to trouble, yea, even their silenced children whose mouths
have been mauled by compulsive restraint, will begin to speak;
am so in time of need, seeing your free Government, may come
26
to shroud themselves under your wings.’
Government should mediate between parties and factions all
conflicting opinions in the maintenance of peace and harmony. If
a person wishes to be a member of a particular congregation, he

has that liberty, the same as others, and my honour the same

 

25 me. p. 5.
86 3111., p. 15.

76
with his presence, with his tongue, with his pen, and with his
money: mmwmwnwnmw- Gover-
nors should be armed with a "divine foresightfulness and circum-
specticnflf l'hq are chosen by all the people and should stand
imcvable‘in the center, as moderators, between all sects. Ihey
are in regard to their office as treasurers who are entrusted
with a sum of money to employ, not for their own or anyone 's
private advantage, but for the benefit of all who have entrusted
the sun to them. If it were the magistrates' work to set up a
national religion acmrding to their own will, then the arid
mun. be in danger of having as many religions as there be
several ways of government in the world; and the magistrates,
changing their opinion, the whole national religion must also as
often be changed. It is better and belongs especially to the
office of magistrate, not to follow the traditions of men, but
to disannul such as are destructive and without mcy or are
contrary to the law of nature and the revealed will of God. It
is also the magistrates' duty to diligently consider what properly
belongs to his office before he makes use of his sword. It
belongs only to God and Grist to have dominion over consciences,
and to the magistrates to prevent any from exercising lordship over
he consciences of others. In so doing they would be true nain-
tainers and defenders of liberty, when they use not their power
saint those who asset their own views, but against those who
would camel others to be of their Opinions. lbr this, that is to

deal equally in matte's of religionwith all subjects, is not only

77

good and pious, but it is also the foundation of good government.
If tiny would rennin without usurping their office, magistrates
would not make laws in setters of religion, but only against
evil deeds to Irotect the good, to the cal that their subjects,
from whom they receive taxes and impositions, may be protected
in peace, of what religion soever they are. They should not
mingle policy and religion, which were ordained for several ends,
the one to defend the good men against the evil, and the other

to make the evil good.

There remains only that the hhgistrates (for an ex-
culple to their Subjects) do mill all humans comranding
and constraining laws in spiritual matters, M so Ill

. murmur: 1' ___hathaoin_..__dlante . max

at 1' nmwnMMmeMoh
will best take effect when the dominion of the Teachers

is, though the power of the Governors, come to an end;
an! their hape of domineering over others out off. m
we 1'3 mumnme Mm.
ought on the contrary to Made; a}; hrdship over
We tint complaining and murmuring my cone to
an end, arri that the righteous may rejoice.” (Flockhoy's
italics)

Piockhoy warned tie magistrates of the words of Solomon "where
he speaks to the kings and rulers of the earth that a sharp Judg-
mat shall come upon them that are in high places; for mercy will
soon pardon the meanest, but mighty mm, not standing in the
council of God, shall be mightily tormentedeg8 His seconi
letta.‘ to Gromell concluded 1th a prayer: .

O Lord of all lords and nagistrates, teach them that
rule as gods in the world to consider that they are but

men in Tm eyes; that they any handle their subjects after

such a manner as they wish to be handled by Thee in Judgment}?9

 

27 19“., pp. 25—5. 29 lug” p. 2. 29 m1” 1). 27.

78
For his own little commomvealth Plockhoy desired democratic
self-governmmt (see below). Pblicy was to be determined by all
the members. Laws were to be instituted by common consent an!
amenable always to discussion and amendment.

Our rules and laws being few, are to be only for
necessity, not to take away anyom's liberty, leaving
than always open to the trial of all rational men, that
so self-seeking (to be more or above others in nature
or spiritual matters) may be discovered and excluded.

Government for his settlement in America became somewhat more ela-
borate, although still limited in scope:

Concerning government: in order not to be destroyed
or smothered by imposing military disciplinarians be-
fore really laving begun..., and also in order to attain
a divine progress and growth for the common benefit and
satisfaction of every settler, they have not been able
to contrive anything better...than a civil government
with equal voting power, subordinated to the Highest
Magistrates, or your LA. , and consequently limited,
as set forth in their last and "Still Rather Ramon—
strance," egg in the three previous writings, now unier

correction.
Plouhoy's articles of government will be outlinelmore in detail

in a section to follow.
IVs FOR THE ESTABLISHIVENT OF A. UNIVERSAL CHRISTENDOM

The purpose of Plockhoy's first reform project in England was
'ftc raise up an universal Magistrate in Christendom that will
suffer all sorts of people, of what Religion soever they are in

any one Country as God, the great Magistrate, suffers the same in

 

30 _A_ Way W. This paragraph was not in the edition "printed
for the author,'f but was in the 'fGiles culvert? edit ions.

31 m Egrhael van Nigm Eederlants.’ p. 66.

79
32

all Countries of the world.'f Thus he believed that inasmuch as
God's Kingdom was universal, i.e., it was applicable to all men,
the church and all mistian activities on earth should be tem-
pered by a simlemss of p'ccedure and purpose. It wasn't nece-
ssary tint men accept a common interpretation of the Scriptures.
0n the contrary a difference of opinion was to be expected; and
for that very reason a state-church, which would impose one
interpretation and one creed, sinuld be abolished. It was impera-
tive, however, that men attempt to resolve their differences of
Opinion, not by force or compulsion, but by a free exchange of
ideas, fthat the weakness or ignorance of some say be remedied
by the hnowledge of others)?” If differences could not be re-
solved in this manner, tolerance of the divergent opinion was
necessary. ”lie met allow that liberty of speaking to others
which we desire ourselves, without tying anyone to our opinion
...without stumbling at any differences which do not hinder love
and piety.'fu Flockhoy's idea of tolerance is the significant
part of hi; plan. It does not imply an acquiescience to ignorance
nor surrender to force. It is simply to insure peaceful relations
between nun in their search for truth. ncckhoy is alter nately
filled with hope and fear, hope for the good influence his ideas
would lave and fear that the servants of the state will be pre-

maturely ensnared by the agents of state-churchism.

 

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rem” p. 22. "
Mamma- p- 12.

 

 

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I have with much cheerfulness beheld the great
freedom which this Nation (since the putting down
the authority of Bishops) doth enjoy, which I hope
by degrees will more prevail in the world to the ta-
king away of all force upon Consciences that men my
be led and governed by reason, as men and not as
beasts by compulsive power. It is most necessary
that tin Emmple of wrist (to reconcile all into
one) should be followed: for those that force the
Conscience, being not able to bring all under them
by worldly power, do commonly manifest their own in-
clination to be void of Christian love and forebear-
ance by gathering into Sects and Schisms so tlat
besides the great Antichrist, there erg nary little
Antichrists that enieavour to rise up. 5

By the appellation "Antichrist? Piockhoy alludes to the Bomish
starch, and by 'flittle Lntichrists" reference is nade to the
contemporary Protestant state churches, particularly tin Lutheran
and mvinist. 'fKings and Princes, who being separated from
rope-y, have moo themselves unworthy of the blessing of strict

by giving honor to the bare name of Luther, Galvin, and others,
35 -
instead of giving it to Garistflj

Plockhoy‘s religious program was both negative and positive.
It is negative in flat Gromell was to avoid the evils of the
state-church system of government. nockhoy writes:

Let some course be tahsn that all persons may buy
their estates free from Tithes, that thereby henceforth
none in all your Dominions may be forced to pay Tithes
to tin Ministers, .for that hath been and is still the
chief cause of persecution and discontent in these and
otter Eaticns. Buffer by no means (you having respect
to the Honor of airist) that any Confession of hith be
set upon the Throne as equal with the holy Scripture;
for Confeseicns are only to distinguish one Sect from
another.37

 

sommnammmmnennnmnnm. pp. 6-7.
as my... p. 20. "
37 311., pp. 2-3.

81
on tin positive side, he wrote: "Even though Christendom is
divided into divers Beets, a general way of Grouch-meeting
should. be imtituted for the tearing of God's word read unal-
tered and unsophisticated, leaving freedom for all Seats, as
well the one as the other, to assert their own apprehensions
and understandings upon the Lessons of their meta Gin-int,
without being tied to one anotha's opinions.'f$8 Me was to be
in every eommity one general christian assembling place where
all would come together for spiritual meditation and an exclange
of views concerning Biblical doctrine. This essenbling place
was to be arranged ”in such a form tint all people may see one
another round-aboutby the help of seats, rising by steps, hav-
ing before them convenient leaning-places to read and write upon;
also one desk aloft on one side or end to hear the holy Scrip-
tures read at a set time, giving freedom after the reading to
all people orderly to confer together concerning the Doctrine
and Instruction of their Lord an Easter wrist. ’39 his pro-
gram was not to replace individual church activities, for 'feven
as the Jews, being divided into several Secte (as W,
m, m and m, to.) met togetherdn one Eemple,
so we would not deny aw particular Gangregat ions ef their
freedcu of peaceable meeting among themselves about the Ordi-
mnces of Jesus Qirist (as the orders or synagogues of the Jews

were not at all infringed) nor bereave the ministers or teachers

 

59 M. P- 8.
39 Me, Ppe 12-13e

82

of their benefit which they do receive of their own people for
their maintenance, for they, having a fit opportunity, may the
better bring in their sense with others into this general
crunch-meeting; that so the truth getting enlargement, the bad
(tint annot eniure the light) may be discovered and made
40
known." In elaboration of his program Plockhoy described
the place or the magistrate in the meeting—place. It muld be
necessary 'fthat the Authority of the magistrate interpose in
this gmeral assenbly or meeting-place tint everyom may speak
in their order, may after due warning be ejected till tiny are
better disposed without oppressing them by imprisonment or
41
othcwiseflf mus it is observed that although the government
was not to dictate the religious faith a man subscribes to, it
had a function in the new arrangement. has result of the plan
was envisioned as follows:
Hence when understandings might be so free and

uninterrupted, there would not only arise a clearing

of the unlerstanding and reforming of the lives of

people; but also a yielding, submissive, condescend-

ing love: for the wisest ard expertest men daily

coming thus together to teach and to be taught, it

would incline the hearts is those that should behold

the: one towards anothc'. \

It ms to be hoped tint if G‘omell initiated this sort of a
program, other nations of the world, especially those with a
state-chuch system, would follow suit. It is to be an example
to 'fEllad, Denmark, awedm, France, and other Kingdoms, who
seeing there is no force nor constraint used, will easily be

43
brought to a firm bond of Unity.'f Even those tint elanier

..

 

“Megpe 130 41M, p. 22.

43 “13?, pe 14s 43 M, De 20s

83

Oronwell for having no religion may perceive that he does only
maintain the Christian religion ”taking away that shameful
reproach that the Magistrates and Ministers in England have
brought down the King and Bishops rather to succeed in their
places than to bring the people to peace and happiness)?“

noahoy's manner of meeting in common assemblies inwhich
the reading or the Scriptures received a central emphasis was
characteristic of the Gollegiants, as was seen in Oinpter II.
It was, in fact, from such We, that the unvenent received

its nan.
~V. FOB rm mmsussmr OF rm IDEAL comm!

fhs totality of techniques which a group _of people employs
' in adapting themselves to tin enviroment is known as their
technology.“5 technologies vary according to the special comb-
inations of principles utilised. The relative complexity of a
technology is meanred by the degree of specialination, or
division of labor, and by the efficiency with which the people
mes surplus and intract in concert.

21111191 91 m 210ch sought to 'fbring together a fit,
suitable, and well qualified people into one household goverment
or little commonwealth, wherein everyone may keep his property
and be employed 1:6 some work or other as he shall be fit without

being oppressedflf The four general classes of maubers of the

 

‘4 M00 9- 5-

46 Eliot Dismore (napple and Oarleton stovens Goon, Hingiplgl at.
Ma. (New Iorr: Henry am and co., 194;), p. 243.

45 .4. lat mu- title-pass.

84

community were (1) husbandmen, (2) handicraftsmen, (5) mriners,
and (4:) meters of arts and sciences. The society would not
probably begin immediately with all four classes. 30 that it
would. realise an early profit, the first members should be un-
married persons and craftsmm whose products have an immediate
and constant demand, such as weaver s, tailors, and shoemakers.
There muld be an mrly need for tradesmen to sell the pochcts,
although the craftsmen might act as tradesmen in turn selling
their own products. Thai could be enlisted members from the other
occupations. After trade commenced there mold be a greater need
for staples, and 'fhere now will be use for sheep and kine,not only

.. 47
for their milk and flesh, but also for thir wool and skins, doc}:

This development in the evolution of the society would create a ‘
need for husbandmen ’ffor the breeding up of cattle, poultry, do”
and especially for tilling the ground for corn, flax, hemp, &c.,
&c., also gardiners having skill in gardening, for roots, plants,
at! orclnrds, for fruit, flours, and herbs, as well medicinal (for
our physicians) as others. f“ This statement denotes the growth
of complexity in the wholeAscheme and the interrelation of the
working classes. Ehe husbandnnn not only provides a source of
food but also staples for the craftsmen and medicines for the phy-
sicians. ’ For the building of the huge houses the society would
need bricklayer s, carpenters, and smiths, who after completion or

the houses would build ships 'fnot only wherein to fetch and carry

-d

 

e7 mg, p. 4.
ca mflm

85
goods to and from the city, but also to catch fish for the
society. 949 The work of tin carpmters subsequently creates
a need for mariners, with whom the society has all things in
common while they are in "Flanders, Elland, fiance and other
places'fso as well as when they are at home. The first of the
masters of arts and sciences would begin by keeping books, unk-
ing schedules, serving as navigators, and the like. later they
would serve their more important function as teachers of "Latin,
Greek, Hebrew and other languages, as also physics, music, one -
other useiul things referring all to a good and spiritual end.251

Plockhoy listed the types of craftsmen the community would
need,rseventy-two in the first edition of A MW, an!
seventy-seven in the second. These lists, however, were not to
be considered complete. To illustrate the degree of specializa-
tion among the occupations he distinguished between mrpenters and
ship-carpenters, brickmakers and bricklayers, browns and distillers,
glassnaker s, looking-glassware”, and spectacle-makes, printers
and bookbindere, pinmakers and needlemakers. In each class of
workers there would be a need for foreman, to be chosen by lot from
smug the experienced. They were to work the same number of hours
as the others. No one was t) have superiority in status, only in
role, and then for a limited period of time. Home: were to be

employed in 'fhousewifa'yflf Children, girls and boys alike, were

‘

 

4? hie-nu.-
50 Email
61 Malt.

 

86

to be in school for three hours daily and for another three
hours learn several trades. Besides the basic sciences, boys
were to learn ciphering and keeping books of accompts, and

girls were to receive instruction in housewifery. Children were
further to wait upon their elders at the dining table.

W M W In general the essence of the
schene was to pool all skill and experience in a cooperative
enterprise for mutual benefit and happiness. Although it was
communistic in the fields of consumption and production, it was
primarily a socialistic system in that it was Joint-etc ckism
based, on trade with and profit from tin greater mciety. Iro-
perty was 321 to be conmunal, in accordance with the fi'enth
enhancements which states explicity that none ought to covet
another's goods.

The community was to be started by investments of money,
land, and stock by interested individuals who would then act as
"fathers? of the society. Wintever anyone Ind contributed to the
compaxw in tin way of land, money, or movable goods was put to
his credit, hit. was to receive no interest. There are remrmble
pmvisions in was of death or withdrawal from the society. If a
member decides to leave, he may lave his property returned with a
third of the accrued profit. If a young man or woman leaves the
society to become narried he shall receive some of the accumulated
profit of the household. 11' there happens to be no profit, the
timbre will give him gifts. If the society is“ dissolved, all

creditors are first to be satisfied and the reminirg land and

87

money divided "among the poor only who have brought nothing to

the society, ercept there be poor kindred of those that (out of
love) have given to the stock, inch shall have an equal propor-
tion’with the others. ’52 The writing continues to describe the
techniques in detail, .including such matters as hours of labor,
buildings, personal quarters for families, storehouses, manage-
sent, trade, fimnce, schools, and religious activities. It
deliberately aimed at the combination of agriculture and industry,
with more upmsis, perhaps, on the latte.

Concerning producticn, six hours a day shall be the rule for
all members of the society, either three hours in the morning and
three in the afternoon, or (which nany might prefer, especially
in the hot sinner) six hours in the morning, Sundays always excepted
in this as in other cases. he hours of work would ordinarily be
from 9 s.m. until noon and from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. The rest of
the time is to be used "for the refreshiig of their bodies and
p'cfitable exercises of the m:lnd.‘f£53 Non-manbers who work for the
society for wages, but are not qualified for membership. are to
work twelve hours daily, from 6 am. until noon, and from 2 p.m.
until 8 p.m.

The location of the society is neither urban nor rural, but
a combination of both. With the accumulated stock two large
houses are to be built, 'fone in (or about the) city, ELI.- a ware-

house for merchants or tradesmel, another in the country near a

 

52 M09 P- 30
55 Mrs P0 20

88

river for the husbandmen, handicraftsmetn, schoolmsters, and
mariners}54 The urban dwelling is to be prinnrily a sales
building, which might best be described as a sort or department
store. It is to be large enough to accommodate twenty to thirty
families and places for shops and professional services. It is-
to be "the foundation of the whole work, not only by reason of
the profit that comes by trading, but also because the landi-
crafts, belonging thereto, depend thereon. ".55 The department
store will not suffer from competition and “will be profitable
and expand for three reasons: increasing sales due to low prices,
low overhead, and good corals on the part of the workers. The
morale will be high because the profit is used for the cannon
good. Furthermore, the nargin of profit will be greater because
of production on a large scale. The chief men in the city will
be tradesmm; but with the tradesnen there will also be some
physicians, harbors, and apothscaries. The barbers and physi-
cians, will serve the rich for money and the poor gratis, some
going abroad to visit patients, and other: staying at home to
serve the people that cone to them. It is to be hoped that this
mtan will increase the volume of trade, for it will advertise
that ‘ws sell all things at a reasonable rate without deceiving
any. '2“ T1! city house should also have some women and children

Wm keep everything in order and ready-undo, and to act as sales

 

5‘ Iblge’ p. as
55 Lea-sis.-
56 an." 9. 4.

89
clerks.

IJ.'he country house is to be the center of production and the
common residence of the association. It is to be situated along a
river with a quay to accamnndate the ships. Aroum the house a
most and drawbridge will protect from thieves and robbers. The
drawbridge is to be situated in such a way that "fish may come
out of the river into our water and not go out again. ’57 In the
house itself tlnre are to be private and public rooms; 'fa chamber
and closet for every man and his wife, a great hall to lay every-
thirg in order, a place to dress victuals, another to eat to-
gether, a third for the children, also cellars to keep meat and
drink in, a place for the sick, one for the physicians and chir-
urgeons, furniture and medicines, one other for all kinds of
useful (as well as spiritual) books, maps, and other instruments
belonging to liberal arts and sciences, several places for scho-
lars, a place for strangers, &c. , who intending to stay any
long time, shall do some ark, or pay for their lodging and
diet.'f58 In tin actual domestic arrangements Jo int management
' would‘be advantageous in every respect. "as women in our society, ,_
whm all things are done orderly, shall have no more business to
trouble their leads with than one wonan in her own private fam—
i.ly.'f59 Besides lightening the work, it will be very profitable

to employ collective housekeeping. If a hundred mmilies live

57 £2.19.“ P° 5'
53 1523.51.10

59 M09 P0 7-

90

togethr twenty-five women can do the work which otherwise a
hundred would have to do; the other seventy-five could do pm-
dnctive work, which many of them would prefer. And even in
other respects economy could be effected. Instead of a hundred
fires, perhaps four or five "great fires'f only would be re-
quired, one in the kitchen, one in tle children's room, etc.
Everyone shall set together 'fsitting at the table in order (as
Joseph's brethren) the womenoner against the men, young men
next their Fitters, and maids next their mothers, the young
people waiting by turns at the table, that so no one may be
respected above the other, neither will it be needful (being
assured of one snothas love) to use the ceremonies of putting
off the hat, or common drinking to one another, yet not to
hinder any nan from showing his hearty love to a stranger or
otha'wissflfeo

Ploahoy combines good business principles and practices
with his social concerns. Every six or twelve months an inven-
tory is to be taken and *fwlat is overplus above necessity"- will
be given to where of the society "so that everyone nay lave
filerwitInl to give in tin poor or to please his friend. f6]. A
manner of features are designed to attract the bourgeois‘elements
of society. Tb children of rich people not in the society are
invited to come to the household schools. The training of the

children of the rich people will be a point of contact and attract

 

50 mm-
61 311., p. 6.

91
the parents "to buy wares of us.’f In the city department store
sane person will necessarily need to decorate and trim garments
in the styles of the day. hover customers desiring such
elaborate clothing wi 11 bring the 'funnecessary trimings’f to
the store as they will mt be for sale there. Manners of the
society will wear no trimmings on their clothing so that in
time fvain—gloriow men? may be convinced of their folly. In
the society apparel is to ‘fbe fitted for the body and convenient
for the work without beingotied to fashion, color, or stuff,
only the unnecessary trimmings to be forborn, that God's crea-
tures, which he hath made, be not misused}:62 If anyone wears
finer clothing it shall be a aim to the poor that "he hath
ability above others to relieve thanflés This ascetic doctrine
should in no way, however, repel customers. If, for instmce,

a purchaser desired to have articles of clothing trimmed orna-
mmtally, they ought not to offend him by pointim out that
finay is sinful. Plockhoy adds humorously that it is certainly
a great pity tint Adam ate of the tree of knowledge, but we
should never be able to cure men of their love of finery except
by example. For this reason the refusal to make finery would be
impolitic, tint if the young people brought up in the associa-
tion should suddenly have to seek mrk, they would have much less
clance of finding it if they did not know low to make finery.

The government of the society is to be democratic:

 

63 Mrs P. 8'
63 locali-

92

A can about 40 years of age shall be chosen chief
governor of the whole society, everyone giving his
voice for him, tint he Judgeth to 'be fit....lIone is
to rule lorger than one [unless reelected least he
domineer in his office, and others, seek ng his fa-
vor, play the hypocrites....This nan having governed
one year, a new choice shall be made, with liberty
to choose him again tint last governed, as well as
anybody else, by this means In that bath a mind to
(but inns in the gwernment will have an inducement
to rule well.

Hero none is to be chosen for his riches or wealth,
as we see come to pass in the world (to the ruin of
almmt of all commonwealths), but for his wisdom.
lien and women having the oversight of meat, drink,
and other things, shall govern by turns, and in some
case some would rather keep to their ordimry work,
they shall he passed by, and others put in their
stead.6

Three of the men ”uppermost in the government'f will lnve the keys
to the cash box or treasury, which will be locked with three
locks. Thus all three men must be present when the chat is
opened. 'fA times-fold cord doth not. easily break, saith Bolo—
mon. ’65 ._

format will not suffer from the oppression of employers by
performing heavy labor and receiving low wages, but instead ’fthe
@in of the tradesmen will redound to the benefit and refreshment
of the workmen. :6 Thee will be no need for insurance for all
liabilities will be assured by the society. iradesnen will not
need to worry about risks and losses ”for the loss tint is In!-

67
fared lieth upon none in particular} There is no need to make

 

WV—W v—v

54 M” p. 5'.
.5 mm.
66 inn-en
57 M” p. e.

93
provisicns for old age 'ffor the aged will be better looked after
then the young, the sick ties the healthful, and the children

68

after the death of their parents than before.'f If any fall
sick he will not only have good services from a physician but will
be “freed from all worldly incimbrances'f pertainirg to the well-
being of his family. Widows will be cared for along with their
children. "Those among us that desire to narry will not so
easily (having seen on anothers conversation) be (bceived, as

69 ,
tiny are now in the world.'f Young people need not get harried
prematurely, as was but too frequently done, simply in order to
avoid slavish dependence on the parents. They might choose their
partners for their life with deliteration and with full liberty,
as they need not narry menbers. Thus, the society will be con-
ducive to good family life.

In his plan for the community, as in tint for a universal
Christendam, Plockhoy advocates tin elimination of all denomina-
tional differences in religious activities.

For in spiritual things, . acknowledge none but

Christ for head and taster; who of old hath appointed in

his church prOphets, evangelists, pastors, and teaches,

these loving through the spirit of God (which led them

into all truth) brought forth (and left behinl them)

the writings of the How Testament, we own for ambassadors,

and their words (without any interpretations of men) for

our rule and plus-net, keeping in renenhrance when we

meet togetha', tint we must allow tint liberty of speak-

ing to oths's which we gesire ourselves without tyizg

anyone to our opinions. 0

A meeting place with seats in amphitheater form, like in his pro-

 

531214;.» 10°
59m... 11.
70.315999 12-

94

vious plan for column religious assembling places in every
commity, is to be a part of the structure of the society.

As stated in Chapter IV Plockhoy's plan for a settlement
in New lietherland followed his London plan in essence and out-
line. Some of the differences were necessitated by the new
location. The settlement in the New World could not rely as
much on trade with the outside world. Agriculture was to be-
cane the predominant interest, to ensure almost complete self-
sufficienq. land and. livestoct: was to be owned in common for
s. period of time only, after which they were to be divided
among the members, thereby providing a greater personal initia-
tive to work hard at the beginning. A greater opportunity was
given to adventurers who wished not to emigrate but to invest in
the enterprise. Goverment a: tin society became more impor-
tant inasmuch as the cmtral government was more remote and Ind
less Jurisdiction over them. Since the Dutch West India Company
was a slave-trading corporation an). nockhoy's ideas of equality
conflicted with the slave principle, an innovation forbidding
slavery in the society was made. The New World further necessi-
tated a greater preparation for self-defense than heretofore,
especially because of the threat of the Indians. Part of the
members of the society should be on guard at all times in readi-
ness to defend the colozw. Since the Mennonites, who formd part
of the membership, were nonresistaut in principle, they were to
be mt from protective service by paying a tax:

those who have conscientious objections agaimt the

use of arms will be emempt from protective service by
paying an annual tax to that part of the society which

95
protects it, and whose task it is not only to appoint

officers, but also (besides the daily exercises and 71
drills) to pmvide amenities and other necessities.
Provision was made for persons remaining at home but who
wished to participate in the profits of the colony to invest a
sum of money, for which they were to receive 'fa stare in the
cattle that is bred, and all other profits which will result 2
from the common labor during the mentioned [first five] years. '37
Since the masters do not wish to laws slavery in the settle-
rent, everyone will lave to mark lard in order that the society
my show good progress; but if anybody, because of inattertiveness
or injustice, tlanmeseing the common laws or rules, rakes himself
inacceptable, he will, after being talked to in a friendly way
and being warned several times by the supervisors and others, be
expelled from the society by a two-thirds majority of the votes.
E will receive his share in the profits which was realized
during his time, after his share in the loan from the Amsterdam
Burgouasters is subtracted. Members may sell their shares in the
common land as well as the undivided cattle and all that belongs
to the community, or if they wish, to retain their shares in the
common interest and provide someone to work in their stead, if
tin latter is acceptable to the society. If anyone desires to leave
before the borrowed money is repaid to the magistrates and return
to fialland, he shall always be free to do so, and he and his family

shall be transported at the expense of the society, provided he

 

71 mm klagr m. (no pagination)
72 lids-9.1L “

95
leaves to the society his share of the undivided land, cattle,
and everything else which belongs to the community, taking with
him only his personal property, so that the renaining mmhers
will not be hindered in the repaying or the borrowed funds to
tin magistrates of the city of Amsterdam. If anyone desires to
move or travel elsewhere on his own expense, to leave the so-
ciety permanently, he shall be free to do so provided he has
repaid his part of the borrowed money and disposed of his share
in the column land. Or if he wishes to remain a participant,
he may provide a substitute for himself. When this is done,
everyone is free to live wherever he wishes.

is e. malification for the exercise of political rights each

member of the community was to take the oath (or affirmation in
the case of the non-swearing Mennonites) of allegiance and regis-
ter his name, age, residence, children, occupation, and religious
persuasion. Although it was declared tint the society was t) be
composed of per sons of different creeds, they were to be Christ-

ians. fill eccentric persons such as obstinate papists which
are strongly attached to the Ronan chair, parasitic Jews, Anglican
headstrong Quakers and Puritans, and rash and stupid believers in
the millenium, besides all obstizate present-day pretenders to
revelation, will lave t) be carefully averted from this Christian
civi lien moiety?” The laws and regulations were to be concurred

in by at least two-thirds of the members, who should vote by

ballot. The same number of votes was to be required for the

 

78 £113. Vghael E9. £1911 Nggerlagtg. p. 52.

97

changing or annulling of such laws; and to avoid all clance of
rashness, no such alteration could be proposed nor new laws
offered unless previcnsly submitted to the officers of the
association and such as had been already in authority. Before
any emctment could be legally in force it was, moreover, to be
approved by the representatives of fine city of Amterdam. To
constitute a meeting for the election of town officers, one
hunired members were required to be present. huh of these we
to write on a ballot the name of the person he considered best
qualified for office. The names of the ten having the highest
mimbw of lites was to be then sent to the Burgomasters of
Amterdam to select five from the list who were to continue in
power for one year. But if it sinuld happen that more than ten
had a majority of the votes those who had the least were to draw
lots to decide who so name were to be forwarded. In like manner
those who were akin by blood were to draw lots to determine which
should be dropped, since by the Dutch law no turo relatives could sit
on the same bench. Should the colony increase an additional town
officer was to be allowed for way twenty families. After the
first election this nomination was to be held a year in advance,
to allcw tine for the names to be sent to and returned from Elland,
in season for the officers elect to enter on the performance of
their dutiem lb magistrate was to be reeligible until after an
interval of one year from the expiration of his term of service.

The oldest member see in preside over the court at first, after

98

which the longest in office. The elected mgistrates were to

be clothed with the general superintendence of file affairs of
the colony, and the settlers were, for five years after their
arrival, to labor and live in common. They would work in groups
of ten men each under supervisioll of a skilled foreman, working
six hours daily on an assigned section of land. The remainirg
time shall be left to each individual for his private affairs
and welfare, for which plrpose each perem might lave a separate
piece of land for a vineyard, garden, or playground. After the
term of five years the land and stock were to be divided, and
each was to receive his proportionate stars to provide for the
support of his family. Should he afterwards, however, prove
dissolute or idle, and fail to maintain those depeirlent upon him,
he was to become subject to expulsion by a vote of two-thirds of
his fellow members, and the court was to assume the care of his
wife and ohildr en. In criminal prosecutions carrying with them
capital punishment the proceedings were to be assumed by the
hitch government in New Motherland; but in cases of a less grave
character and civil suits below a certain amount, as well as all
differences 'fbetween men and women, parents and children, servants
and masters, ‘man and maid servantsflvn were to be summarily dis-
posed of by the. town magistrates. llhoeverrefused to abide by
the decision was to be fined in the first instance. In case of
continued contumacy he was to be deprived of his vote; and for

a third offense, expelled. In civil actions beyond a fixed

 

74 2311-. Do 59-

99
amount on appeal was to be allowed to a court of revision on
payment of a certain mm. This court was to be composed of
the mgistrates to had already been in office, of double the
number of those actually on the bench. In case these could not
be obtained, then it should comprise 27 persons taken from the
general body of settlers, who were to decide the question at
issue by a majority of votes. ‘ It sas a close approach to a Jury,
and decision was to be final. The laws regulating succession,
narriage, the rights of property and personal liberty, were to
be thus in force in Holland, especially in the city of Anter-
dsm; but for the performance of their duties the magistrates were
not be receive compensation, 'fnot even a stiver.'f If they did
not act for the sake of honor, they were to do so for the love of
their fellowmen. Provision was made for the encouragemnt of
marriage among the ”younger portions of the society, for the
comfort of the sick, and support of orphans and paupers.

ncckhoy's proposals for the establishment of his little

comowealth reveal remarkable economic insight and business
acumen. Be senses the close relationship between religious and
economic factors in undertaking such an experiment. As a native
of Iblland, coming from a predominantly city culture, he discerned
the organic connection between agriculture and irriustry supple-
mented by commerce. For the social well—being of man his combina-
tion of urban and rural living is althost ideal. E avoided ex-
treme isolation, ctherwcrldliness, and asceticism which character-
ised so many socialistic experiments of his time. The diatribes

against organised religion in his writings are easily understood

100

as part of his Collegiant background. His society has a dual
purpose: an economic one and a religious one. The poor are to
be helped and a Christian fellowship across denominational lines
is to be created. 'fms ideas must be considered as flickerings

75
of the modern lights of cooperation and socialism".

Ԥ

 

75 Irvin Ibrst, "Pieter Garneliss Plockhoy: An Apostle of the

collegiantl." Mennonite WMHIII (July 1949).
p. 178. ,.

Chapter VI

CIRCULATION OF res IDEAS

Between 1700 and the middle of the 20th century Plcckhoy'e
ideas for the reform of society had received little attention.
But the writings which he left behind seemingly had wide cir-
culation during the closing decades of the 17th century. Both
writings went through several editions, the second probably more.
than the firet. Their influence are found in the publications
of he individmls-wcne in Ragland and one in Holland.

In 1695 John Bellers, from whom Robert 0... admittedly ob-
tsined many or his ideas and who was acclaimed by nu m: as

1
“a veritable phenomenon in the history of political scenery,” .

publified his most important work, W for, Ms M
9.1 m .91. all useful m a w ELLE £91.11 In:
males. mmmmm 2993.. and eased shaman
mm In it he sugested tin capitalistic organisation by

 

private undertaken of groups of five hundred laborers each into
cooperative units, which should engage in large-scale enterprise,
develop production by cheapening fo od, eliminate waste, and so
make a ten per cent or more profit to the holders of shares. 7m
merit: wrote Robert Owen, 'fdue fer the discovery calculated to

effectmore substantial and‘peruanmt benefit to mankind than ever

 

w—v—v v v

1 Quoted in, Erhard Bernstein, m; an m: W

mwmmmmm Lonchm
George Allen & 0min Ltd., 1930), p. 266. --

102

yet contemplated by the human mind belongs exclusively to John
Bellersfifa But as a later writer has suggested, 'waen post-dated
the origination of collectivismflfa Most of Bellers' ideas were
mnifeet in essentially the same‘form a generation earlier in
I'lcckhoy'e, _A_ Ea; managed. Lite neckhoy, Bellers aimed at
the establishmnt of a working association with Joint house-
keeping and coordination of tin varials branches of production
and employment, and wherein the members would keep their own
poperty. He called his prospective moiety, not a workhouse,
which sounded too much like a 'fBridewell'f or a community, which
sumssted commlnism, but a college, which indi ated voluntary
membership. It was a combinst ion of industry and agriculture.
Hare place was given to imestments in the college for profit by
rich non-members, but no surplus was to be declared until the
requir emalts of the workers have been taken care of. Like Flock—
hoy, Bellers undo a place for teachers and minus in his society.
The similarities in the two writings were smgested by no less an
emith wish historian tlnn George habody Gooeh, who writes:
'fThe resemblance of Bellers' plan to the scheme of Pete carnelius
is too striking to be accidentalflf‘ A

H. I’. 6. Quest, Dutch socialist writer of the 19th century,

 

a Robert cum. museum (London, 1317). p. 14..
s we. hated: coach. mmnmw

Ml
an m. (mmbrIdge: University Press, 1898),
p. 360. .

4%, P. 359°

103
us greatly interested in the relation between Bellers and

Homeboy, especially since nockhoy was a Dutchmn. Quack pur-
sued an extensive investigation in his own country to discover
any possible influence Ploclchoy might lave had there. It led

to the discovery of tl'nipuhlication of 1688 of one Abraham
5

Van Akkeren. entitled. malaise int. ma undies. 19.939193: - . -
(Establishing a profitable society of brotherly communnion, re-

gulated by the rules and word of God in the Bible, comprising
people of professions and sciences, tradesmen and handicraftsmen,
fishermen, farmers, anl other honest people, who in semen labor
with love, desire to do their work, to prevent the evils that -
people so commonly foster). Ufmis little boor,'f writes Quack, 'fwas
from the beginning to who“. translation of the abolish writing
of machining6 In his critial commutary also: states that the
plagiarised translation was an unfortunate one. his scheme 1nd

 

SWMmeuWW.
mmmalmmnmm.mmhrsmmmm
WMWmeW.
mimmrufldsn.lamw.m_ensam:amamm.
MMMMWMWM.&1
WflWMMmmzaslmm
mum. slsasn ammonium (in-teem.
Cornelis Blankaert, 1688.

s H. 1’. G. Quack, Men M. (Amsterdam: Van Harmon a:
icon, 1892), p. 340. The first paragraph, translated verbatim

from the title page of flockhoy's, LEW, follows:
'lsn wsg veer-gestalt, om de eren, in dose on andere Nation
gelukkigte naken, dccr het to-samen-brengen van bequaam Vols,
in sen buys-houdings vouvernement, wear in een yder behoud
siJn vryheyt, en te werk-gestelt warden in sccdanigen arbeyt
aIs sy bequaam sijn, sender ymand to forseeren, siJnde niet
alleen sen weg om de eristenden te bevryden van het grcot
ydel-quaad der menschen, near col: van alie sulke, walks
hebben gesocht, en wt-gevonden. De practijke, cat sy leeven
op den slaffsen-arbeyd van een ander.'f

104

been revised in the form of 72 articles, and nockhoy's original
ideas often provokingly altered.

Were they only errors of style and form'. But Van
Akbren has also attempted to improve the original
project and has deluded the characteristic ideas of
Plockhcw. Not only does he change the working hours
of the numbers of the society from six to ten hours
(see Article 4), rearrange the routine of the two
houses, city and country...» that the inhabitants
move from one to the other from time to time (See Ar-
ticle 24.), and stipulate tint half the income should
be distributed. among the members and the other half
should go to the oonmnmity (see Article 72)-bvut he
institutes a modification that alters the whole pro-
Ject. The thing we appreciated so much in 110ch
was tint he severed all relations of his society with
the interests of a particular religious sect. Sec-
tarian religion during the 17th century was so
clnracter istic of schemes of collective households and
institutions. But Van Ami-en does his utmost to
restore the sectarian idea. The society become at
once a narrow brotherhood.... In short, nockhcw's
social p has once more theold tasteof sectarian
religion.

Intcest in Piockhoy has been generated in more recent times,
particularly among socialist writers and politicians. Notable
among the” are H. 1’. G. Quack, socialist historian in the Nether-

8 ,
lands, John Downie, staunch advocate of cooperatives in Great

9 .
Britain, and Eduard Bernstein, the father of Bevisionist Socialism
in Germ. Bernstein sees in Plockhcw an eaer advocate of nnny

of his own concepts. Be especially admires him for his realistic

 

7M. pp- 340-1-

8 Quest's nest extemive study is a several volume work entitled,
19, figgialigten, Per , a My (Antes-dam, Van Kampen
t Zoon, .1899). he has written numerous other works, two of

vhich ueanam Muhammad.

9 A member of the OoOperstive Union Limited (Holyoahe Rinse, thu-
over Street, Manchester), Downie writes for its official organ,
the W 31151.12; this periodical was first publist
his commentary on nockhoy, entitled, ”Ester Cornelius Plockboy:

Pioneer of the First Qioperative wmonwealth, 1659: as Life
and Work."

Q

105

approach, for his contempt for an orthodox religion, and for his
attainpt to avoid the evils of a comunistic society. After
having been for more than twalty years a champion of so called
forthodox'f Harrism, Bermtein came to the conclusion that many
of Marx's‘views no larger corresponded to the facts of modern
social phenomem, and must be replaced by others more in con-
scnance with modern society. Bernstein emphasized the great
importance of cooperative associations, and urged the Socialist
party in Germny to free itself from revolutionary phraseology
an! illusory hopes of the immediate downfall of bourgeoise
society, and to work hand in hand with all the democratic ele-
ments that fight for social reform.

Other than pirely historical interest in nodehoy in America
was stimulated in the early part of tin century though the en-
deavours of the late William Elliot (h'iffis, minister and writer. 10
On one of his several trips to the Netherlands Griffis, in the
name of the Nethrlallls Society of Philadelphia, placed a bronse
memorial tablet honoring 310ch in the town hall of zierikzee.

He lad the burgomaster and chief men of the city come together on
the 19th of September, 1913, and the tablet was unveiled. Before
leaving America he had appropriately invited Rev. John I. Bayley,
minister of the Germantown, Pennsylvania, Mennonite ehnreh, am! his

 

10 Although not a thorough scholar tiffis was a prolific writer.
Two works on tin history of the hitch in Amrioa are, m
m p; m Netherlam (New York, 1909) and 1h; m 91 331
W in an. hating .QL ....aAmm (New York. 1921). For
his essay on Plockhoy see, 121s; M W l

awn 1 W (Harm. 1911). Vol. 11.

 

 

 

ONE =‘IN C::: "ST
TO'I‘HE 6.1.1.11: . 11‘ 6011.110: :3.“ 1 --I§.‘iNllR 0F
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A'RIONEER OI“ L1:1.I%1,11-.’J1} ‘ (J \‘-.111' ' LE1"? if? IIF‘AMEIflCA
NURDIQMJ'1111......1..";;:-.&3

MANENHU '11:] 1 ‘.\j: "..11"j _ 1‘.
WMWRUUJII. 2']§.‘\)\'}l I I :1" , PlumA
111511.113 '1::1..-1.1 1111:1311
(D’llml 1.1: 11.33:.

(W
11",”

106

 

Figure 6
BRONZE MOI-"(ML TABLE PLACED IN Tm TOWN HALL OF ZIBRIKZB BY
WILLIAM ELLIOT GRIFFIS IN THE mm: 03' THE MEIERLANDS

SOCIETY or mmmrm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

107

congregation, to the memorial exercises. 'fl believe your congre-
gation}? he wrote," fins the first to make public protest in America
againstgslamy, but Pluckhoy was the first individual to do so.

He was a liennuuite, and we honor his memory on September 19 at

11
Zisriksee, his birthplacefl

An interesting sideliéht concerning the personality of 31”“
us that most of the historical tablets which he placed in various
parts of the world were financed by himself but always in the name
of some historical agency or society. {the Hethalands Society of
Philadelphia today has no record of having ever been responsible
for the I’lockhoy memorial tablet. Its present Secretary writes:

W membership in the mm Society of 31118-
delphia dates from January 23, 1918, and for the last
twenty-two years I have been Secretary and firsasurer
of it. I. believe you are misinformed about our So-
ciety ever having hung a memorial tablet in honor of
Mr. Plockhoy, anywhere, on any occasia. Iiiliam E.
Griffis us an Associate limbm- of our Society for
my years, until he died mny years ago. I knew him
and remember him. He was very historically inclined
and was alnys interested in some historical event,
person, or paper with reference to it or him, memorial
statues of someone, or otherwise. Maw of the things
tlat he did we on his om initiative, and individtal
effort, Iithout having a sponsor. I doubt not that he
did what you say aul was present at tin dedication of
the nockhoy Memorial hblet, in the Town fill of ‘
Zieriknee, Holland. hem what 1 remanber of Mr. Griffis
it would be Just lib him to doeractly as you have
iniiceted. 12

In an address entitled, 'fAmericsn Gratitude in Bronseflf

delivered in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel at the annual banquet of

m fi

 

11 Bee newspaper article, "Hmors abroad for pioneer buried here,"
me, September 26, 1913. A hitch I
“upper article which concerns Plockhcw and the memorial
exercises in Zieriksee is, "'l'eee vermaarde Zierikseehrs in

Iieuw Nsderlandfl film W $2124.91- November 5, 1927.

12 Personal letter from m. E. 3. J. Sickel, Secretary of the Nether-

.lands Society of Buladelphia, 723 Gomcial trust Building,
Philadelphia 2, h.

108

the Holland Society of New York, Griffis reported on his trip
to Elland:

Mwe went to tin little tan called Zieriksee. How
sorry I am for Americans who go to tin figue and to Rotterdam
andwho think they lave seen the Netherlands! It is the
same with some Englishmen who visit the United States.
lith all due regard to new York, I do not think New York
is typin of the whole United States; and one proof of
this assertion is that nearly all the people living on
Manhattan Island were not born here. You cannot know a
country by simply visiting its large cities. In th
United States you met go to the county air to see who
sndwlnt tin average American is andwhat he thinks; he
does not take hisopinions from the mwepapers; he thinks
for himself. And so, it is a good thing when in the
Kethalands to so into the little towns like Zierikzee,

a town that has a written history of a thousand years.

In the beautiful Town Ell—am. I wish we had nnny of
then like it in America-4n had the .Burgonaster and chief
men or the city to come together at nine o’clock in the
evening (because the tablet had arrived late through
mistake) and there, in the best room, the council $11,
on the nineteenth at September was unveiled the tablet to
Pieter Cornelis Plockhoy.

, Every lady in this room, to say nothing about tin men,
ought to be interested to know who 210ch was. His
descendants to-day are among the most cultivated people
in the Netherlands." nockhoy had the vision of s nobler
civili nation, and he tried to get Olivm‘ Well to
1'1an a certain scheme of his, which meant .the settle-
ment of Delaware. 1 have nothing against him because he
had no use for wlnt we call to-day “capitalists“ of s.
certain kind. It was the city of Amsterdam that firmlly
stood fimneialsponsor for the enterprise.

In Plockhoy's settlement of twenty-five families, in-
stead of twenty-five women ova- kitchen fires, he had
five women to do the cooking and the preparation or the
food; five women to attend to the bed linen and bedrooms;
and the young mothers to take care of their little babies.
All labor in this industrial colow was tint of treem,
fer nockhoy's world had no slaves or unpaid toil. his
rest. of their time, after shortening wisely the hours of
manual toil, was devoted to spiritual and intellectual

 

v—vvv

. The Mennonites of the Estherlands as a whole might lave been
referred to, although tlnre is still living today at Ministerpark
14-9., Hilversum, the Netherlands, an indivichzal by name of
Pieter. corneliss Plokhooy, who claims to have descended from
the reforma'.

109
culture....in A.D. 1914, in this very hotel and in all
large hotels and apartment houses, what is to-day the
LBJ. of practice, such as central lighting, heating,
and cooking was the idea of nodshoy, over two hundred
years ago. Then there was not a paved or lighted street
in Northern narope. Furthermore, nockhoy's was the
first voice raised in Amerim against slavery. Surely,

we ought to rememba' his name, and so, in this town it
Zier iksee where he was born, we put up this tablet:l

fi fi

18 mummwmnmm lfilio. pp. 227-8.

‘-' e
Chapter VII.

RETROSPECT AND CONCLUS ION

Plockhoy's ultimte goal was religious reformation, the
establishmenton earth of what he believed to be the 'fform and
doctrine at Christ." This is the central theme of m. writings,
particularly in his~letters to the Gromells. But it is not
this theme which gives his tracts significance. i'hey merit at-
tention rather because of the social, economic, and political
ideas which 210ch set down in his attempt to point the way
towards the establishment of the kind of society on earth which
he believed to be in harmony with tin teachings of Christ.

These ideas reveal (1) that Plockhoy was possessed with an
insight into the nature and prospects of group activity, (2) that
he believed in the fundamntal principles underlying democratic
rule, (3) that he possessed a considerable understanding, not
only of human motivation, but of the political and economic pro—
cesses, (4) that his progam of action was designed to meet the
needs or his time in a realistic fashion, (5) that he was con-
vinced that the Qirietian ideal of brotherhood was a workable
principle, (6) that within limits “one world'f must be achieved.
These are the‘understandings which‘both linkhim to and set him
apart from his seventeaith century contanporaries, and give him
some claim to the distinction of having one of the first-class
minds of his period.

In Holland Plockhoy lived in environments in which Anabaptist

elements predominated. In many ways his ideas were related to the

lll
doctrine and philosophy of the less radical Anabaptists descended
from the Swiss Brethren and closely associated with Menno Simons
and his followers. Like the Mennonites Plockhoy sought to restore
Christendom to the form of Apostolic times. Rb pleaded sdth men
to give up tmir worldly ways and live as the Apostles. They
should be in the world, but not of the world. E even advocated
tint it were better that they separate themselves from society and
live in conmunion with others of like mind, rather than continue
to follow their sinful ways. In the new environment the members
would live simply, wear simple and practical clothes. The Bible
would be their rule, and each one mould be responsible to himself
in matters of interpretation and to God for his shortcomings. In
all of these ways Plockhoy believed as the Mennonites. But in a
few respects he differs, and the dis imilarities become more
apparent and real then the similarities. Plockhoy was ultra-
antisectarian, sanctioned the use of force in government, and
minimind the importance of baptism as a Christian rite. The
Mennonites were a sect, were nonresistant and would have no
resort to force, and practised the rite of adult baptism. 210ch
was one of the many liberals in the church, like Galenus Abrahams
de man. As such he was a typical product of the crisis of the
Mennonite Church of the Netherlands in the 17th century. Hem
the Mennonites in the village of Zieriksee in Zeeland, he
probably first learned to oppose sectarian division. He later
sinred views with the lammiste, who minimized the importance of

creeds or strict rules'of discipline. Out of the conflict which

112
divided the Iammists from the Zonists in the Mennonite (March
of Amsterdam. came a flickering of hope on the part of some
Lemmists for a universal Christendom. This notion too finds
its way into Flockhoy's plans.

Of even greater signifimnce is nodshoy's affiliation with
the hitch Gollegiants. fliree Gilleaant notions are dominant in
his tracts. First was the idea that an absolute tolerance for
diverse opinions and views must be maintained, rather than
insistence upon uniformity in matters of belief and practice.
Second was the belief in freedom of thought, interpretation, and
expression in all aspects of life rather than bondage to creeds or
confessions of faith. And third was the substitution of reason
for complacent acceptance of traditional viewpoints or of those
in authority. On the basis of these notions Plockhoy defined
the universal Christendom which he wanted Gromell to inaugurate.
It was mt to be state supported. It was anti-chlvinist. It
had no professional clergy, little organisation. The mllggia
were the prototypes of the common meeting—places he wished to
set up in each comnity. Also from the Oollegiants Plockhoy
derived the belief that divine truth Imist be confirmed by signs
and miracles.

In addition to the Mennonites and the Oollegiants, the flamm-
atom seem to have had an influence on Flockhoy. Radical social
ideas were considered in the 'fmeet Rest,’f but in the attempt to
restore Christianity 'fonce more to a single sheeps fold,'f as Zoet

wrote. There was over lapping of thought between these three

113
hitch groups. Indeed there were liennonites among the R f rmateurs,
many among the Collegiants, and the latter were eventually totally
absorbed in Mennonite congregations.

In England Plockhoy was associated with several ruritan pam-
phleteers. Similarities of his ideas to those presented by various
Puritans of the Left suggests that he should be classified also
with this segment of Puritanism. While his first scheme was
influenced by conditions in Elland, was religious in nature, and
expressed Dutch thought, his. second was propogated by conditiom
in England, was socio-economic in nature, and expressed ideas de-
rived through contact uth English reformers. Through Ertlib
Plockhoy received encouragement and probably an understanding of
the communal arrangement of the households of the Moravian Breth-
ren. He got from then, perhaps, the not ion of common labor with
limited private property.1 Goxmmmal living was advocated, as was
seen, by the Leveller, William Walwyn, and the Digger, Gerrard

Winstanley. hut certain disimilarities which set Plockhoy apart

 

1 concerning the working errhngement of the conunlnity, nockhoy
seems to have borrowed heavily from the Utopia of Sir Thomas
More. A disdain for desire and wealth, simple attire, meals
taken in salmon with women on one side of the hill and men
on the other, political power vested in a single band, the
importance of an educational system, a six hour work day, the
devotion of liesure time to the development of the mind an!
to healthful recreation, few laws, and the belief in a single
supreme Being that made and governs the world, were concepts
in Utopia. In regard to religion the people of Utopia are
not required to accept a uniform faith. Hence all religious
views are tolerated which are not manifestly anti-social.
Public worship is so arranged that each an participate
readily in accordance with his own feelirgs, and yet expres-
sive of a common brotherhood. All of these notiom are

who died in a flea We.

114
from the Levellers, the Diggers, and others make it necessary
to attach important qualifications to these classifications.

Plockhoy was not a philosopher who attempted to construct a
system of ideas. E was rather a man possessed with a zeal for
reform, whose writings reflect the intense desire of the reformer
to see his projects realized in his own lifetime. Plockhoy's
letters to Oliver and Richard Ch'onmell are persuasive. logical
argummt is augmented with appeals to the motives be suspected
most leaders of having. But his logic was not faulty. He was
able to support his conclusions in a systematic fashion. And
throughout his letters there are revealed certain insights into
the nature of human beings and the society in which he lived,
which understandings set him apart from many of the 17th century
proPagandi sts.

Plockhoy's ideas are only significant in their historical
context. It would not only be un-histor ical but quite unprofitable
to remove them from the 17th century scene and examine them in
imlation. Whit developments in the realm of ideas were occuring
during the period in which he wrote? To what extent was his thought
representative of that of his contemporaries?

The 17th century was a period of change. Behind it were the
centuries of medievalism and the beginning of the Rennaissance.
Ahead of it was the intellectual revolution known as the Rilighten-
ment. Many of the developments which started in the 16th century
or before reached their zeniths in the 18th century. lb a large

extent events of the 17th century mark the transition of ideas or

115
practices from an earlier to a later period. In the events of
the 17th century may be detected the change from a moral to a
scalar outlook in politics and other fields of human interest.
The Puritans were products of sscularizing tendencies insofar
as the Reformtion was a result of rati omlism and other secular-
ixing forces. They contributed to this trend by their inner
disunity and lack of agreement, for they made impossible the com-
pulsion of beliefs that a single, unified church of believers
could have exerted upon society, and they thereby freed indivi-
duals and groups to call into question with only slight risk the
sstablislnd traditions of the time. There is also apparent in
the 17th century a change from an agrarian to an industrial
civilisation. This change was attended by the rise of the middle
class to dominance and the decline of aristocratic power. The
17th century reaped the harvest of 16th century geographical dis-
covery, an age which had opened for the mind vast vistas of ex-
ploitation and discovery. People became accustomed to novelty and
diversity; they became aware of the possibility of changing in-
stitutions in order to attain certain objectives. The rise of
science saw the displacement of the Ptolemaic by the Copernican
system, and with it a weakming of the theology which had sponsored
the Ptolemaic theory. A new faith began to grow, a faith in
science. Samuel Ihrtlib, one of the Interregnum writers and friend
of Plcckhoy, is an example of a pamphleteer unier the influence of
the new faith in science.

The latter part of the seventeenth century and the eighteenth

century saw the flowering of many of these trends. The monolithic

116
alliance of church and state was shattered. Democratic philo-
sophy gained wide acceptance and with it same the establishment
of republican institutions. The pace of industrialism accelerated
from the middle of the 18th century on. Humanistic philosophies
were formulated by the Lockes in England and by the Voltaires in
France. One has only to compare the ideas of Plockhoy and other
writers in written wand to 18th century doctrines to set that
they were in some measure harbingers of the age of Mightenment
to come.

Scholars of Puritanism have differentiated the parties of the
Left from the Presbyterians, the Independents, and the Erastians.
Among the Puritans of the Left are included the Levellers and the
Fifth Monarchy hen. While these latter two groups were radically
different in many respects, one notable difference being that the
Levellers were democratic in outlook while the Fifth Monarchy Men
were not, they have a more-cr-lsss common origin (descended from
the Anabapt ists and Separatiete) and they shared e belief in the
total separation of church and stats. It is on this particular
issue that the wide divergence between the Levellers and the Fifth
lionarcby Men on the one hand, and the Presyyterians and Independ-
ents on the other is noticeable. The Presbyterians stood for the
establishment of Presbyterianism and the suppression of all other
doctrines. The Independents are found in the center, in that they
would accept the formal establishment of Presbyterianism, provided
other faiths and churches were tolerated. The Erastians were

secularists and willing to settle for any arrangement which would

117

not be tyrannical or threaten the peace of the ration.

Politically the Presbyterians, Independents, and Puritans of
the Left were right, center, and. left in that order. The Hesby-
terians led the attack on absolutism, but they were also opposed
to the establishment of the people ’s sovereignty. . Supported by
aristocrats and wealthy merclnnts the Presbyterians wished only to
vest the ult irate political authority in parliament. They were
riglt ist in their intention to preserve the sanctity of property.
The Independents differed from the Presbyterians in their desire
to provide security, not only against the king, but aginst Par-
liament as well. Throughout the struggles airing the Puritan
Revolution the Independents were often allied with the Levellers;
but it was an alliance of expediency more tlnn an alliance of
parties agreed on fundamental issues. The Levellers alone
extolled the virtues of democracy. On the matter of the status
of private property the Levellers were probably closer to the
Independents and the Presbyterians than they were to such ele-
ments as Winstanley's. Diggers, who espoused the cause of economic
Justice. A

Exceptions to every generalisation about the character of
Puritanism as a whole are easily found. To set forth the prin-
ciples that Puritans of all kinds accepted is a difficult if not
impossible task. One can only suggest similarities in attitude
and outlook. It is possible, for sample, to assert that all the
Puritan elements were determined to erect a community in accor-

dance with their interpretation of God's will, but it is not

118
possible to find any unanimity on the fundamental teachings of
the Gospel that they would have applied in the reform of their
society. It is possible to claim that there existed among all
Puritan groups a zeal for reform, but it would be unrealistic
to argue tmt their proposals were uniform in kind or in inten-
sity. There is evidence which will indicate a general tendency
on the part of all Puritans to distinguish between what were
requirements of a worldly moiety on the one hand, and what were
requirements of a Christian society on the other, but there is
no evidence to indicate any agreement on the specific obligations
of the individual who wished to conform to the Biblical teachings.
By-and—largs the Puritans were individualistic; but a wide differ-
ence is apparent between the Presbyterian, instructed to accept
the teachings of Galvin, and the Anabaptist, for whom religion
was mostly an affair between each individual and his God.

Our task of isolating commonly accepted points of view, in
order that we might have a basis upon which to compare the ideas
of Plockhoy with those of his contemporaries, is less difficult
when we direct our attention to those groups who were not Pree-
bytsrians, Independents, or Erastians. Here a marked similarity
begins to be distinguishable. Most of the Puritans of the Left
stood for religious toleration. Most of thm agreed that a.
separation of church and state was not only desirable, but in-
dispelsabls to a peaceful society. Most of the Puritans of the
Left derived their dogma from the flew Testament,and they combined
it with appeals to the law of nature as a reliable basis upon

which to founi a well-ordered society.

119

Plockhoy probably felt quite at home with many of the
Puritans he met. Nest of his ideas and proposals must have
feund.an interested.and sympathetic audience in men like Whlwyn
the Leveller, for they lived in the same climate of opinion. If
there was disagreement it hardly could lave existed over goals
to be achieved. Any variance between.Plockhoy and his English
Puritan friends must in.all probability have centsred.around.the
means to be used, rather than the ends to be gained. Or perhaps
the differences were only in degree—-the extent to which it was
desirable to depart from established institutions and practices.
Wherein must they have been in agreement? In what respects do
his writings indicate differences with the Raritans of the Left?

Upon the major issue of the sepration of church and state
Plockhoy was definitely aligned with those who advocated the
desirability and.necessity of’separation. Again and again Plockhoy
pleads, “Assist not with the sword or money of the Gbmmonwealth
any sect ~or person in particular.’ What is wrong with the estab-
lishment by government of a state‘church? Plockhoy answers this
question, and in.doing so reveals one of his underlying‘bsliefs.
fIf it were the magistrate's work to set up a national ministry,
then we should be in danger to have as many religions as there be
several ways of government in.ths world, and the magistrates
changing their Opinion, the‘whole national ministry must also as
often be changed.f Plockhoy espoused the cause of a universal
church. In fact, it may be said.that this is his principal ob-

Jective. But he does not believe that the universal church can

120
be established through compulsion. It will be achieved only when
the magistrates will cease to hinder the truth from manifesting ‘
itself by its own power. Thue P‘lockhoy advocates the separation
of church and state as the first condition necessary to the
establishment of a universal church of believers. In his second
letter to cronwell he advocates not only separationof church
and state but the corollary doctrine of free worship. While a
universal church was the end Plockhoy hoped would be achieved,
he proposed that tha‘e should be freedom for all sects. The
arguments he used were three in number. In the first place 'fit
belongs only to God aui erist to lave dominion over consciencesflf
Second, liberty is a goal in itself. He implies this when he "
urges the magistrates to prevent “any from exercising Lordship
over the consciences of others}? because in doing so 'fthey would
be true maintainers and defenders of liberty.'f Third,‘Plockhoy
argues that ‘fto deal equally in matters of religion towards sub-
Jects is notionly good and pious, but is also the foundation of
good governmentflf Beligiom freedom contributes to good govern—
ment in that it eliminates the causes of strife which destroy the
stability of society and cause the governors to fear that one or
another faction will undermine the government.

Like Walwyn, Overton, and other Puritans of the Left Plockhoy
often-refers to the law of nature as the preper guide‘for hwnan
conduct. In charging Gronwell with his duties and responsibilities
he admonished him not to follow the traditions of men, but to

examine and repeal the laws which are contrary to the law of nature.

121
Most of the Puritans were inclined to test dogma with logical
thought. Nor did the alritans distinguish between the law of
nature and. the revealed will of God. They were in complete
conformance. The revealed Word provided the fundamental as-
sumptions, the law of nature the logical arguments from those
assumptions. With some groups, like the Levellers, the law of
nature was the foundation of their political creed. Piockhoy
appeals to reason throughout his writings, and notwithstanding
his nnny references to Scripture, he depends primarily upon the
'freasonsbleness" of his ideas.

One of theimportant contributions of Plockhoy, the Level-
lers, and other Puritan elements to the history of social and
political thought was their recognition of the limitations inher—
rent in the use of force. Force does not contribute to progress
and stability, but is rather a hindrance to it. In direct contrast
to the Presbyterians Plockhoy argued that it was folly in press
a belief upon a man "before he can apprehend it with his own
understanding}. A men canmt be expected to hold a belief with
sincerity and conviction unless he understands and accords with
the logic of it. Force excludes the power of the idea itself, and
makes ineffective a concept that otherwise might play a positive
role. Force tends to defeat the attainment of truth, for truth
manifests itself only where an atmosphere of freedom permits free
reign to less logical ideas. Plockhoy would have partially agreed
with Justice Oliver Wendel Holmes Jr. that truth lies in the power

of antidea to get itself accepted on the open market. Plockhoy

122
believed that freedom of speech and worship were necessary not
only to the attainment of truth, but in order that men might
become disposed to treat their fellow men with generosity and
sympathy. What he was arguing was that as men learn to unler-
stand each ot her's motives, fears, and aspirations they will
come to be tola'ant and charitable. Perhaps Plockhoy's faith
of liberty was naive; but if so, then the efforts of modern
organizations working towards international peace and harmony
are also naive, for the assumption which underlies most of these
efforts is the same one which nocklny made. This insight alone
gives Plockhoy some claim to recognition.

Plockhoy's writings reveal definite humanitarian impulses.
Where he lacks the sophistication of an Overton he posses a
genuine concern for human welfare. The hard attitude which is so
often attributed to the New England Puritan is not characteristic
of Plockhoy. At the end of his first letter to Gromell is
appended the Biblical quotation, "Give ear to the poor, for the
cry of them is exceeding great in'these Natio ns.'f Much of wlnt
Piockhoy had to say was simply an elaboration of‘this theme.

Plockhoy’s conception of the proper role of the state quite
definitely associates him with the Puritans of the Left. Those
elemmts thought the state to be the highest political eXpression
of a society. Government, as the agency of the state, was
created to keep the peace and establish public order. But this
was as far as government was entitled to go. Its function were to
be largely negative, the restraining of individuals and groups in

society who in the absence of restraint would impose their will

123
upon other individuals and groups. In other words, it was govern-
ment 's responsibility to establish and maintain a condition of
liberty.

Plockhoy in m my attempts to co rstruct a theory of the
state. He simply sets forth the role of the magistrate, asserting
that it was the function of magistrates to act as moderators. He
nowhere gives any indi mtion that he believes that government
should provide for the general welfare in more material ways. He
looks rather to the formation of cooperative societies for the

relief of the poor and distressed. His preposals in this matter

are found in his writing, A lay W 1122.ng 11g 29.93. in
lines all 9am; .49.th Esmer-

One of the practices of Plockhoy's time was compulsory
tithing. He strongly urged Cromwell to abolish the laws compelling
men to tithe, for he thought such laws entirely contrary to reason.
He objected to compulsory tithing for many reasons. In the first
place, he was by reason of his Collegiant beliefs opposed to a
professional ministry. It was his conviction that most ministers
sought after riches rather than truth. What is more, he believed
tint true interpretation! of the gospel could only be achieved
through the medium of discussion groups which he called assemblies.
No one was particularly qualified to give an authoritative inter-
pretation of the meaning of God's word. In the second place, he
thought compulsory tithing to be inimical to stable government in
that it gave power to church officials which could in many cases

be used against the magistrates themselves. Whether or not

124
Plockhoy, in presenting this argument, was simply using a debator's
technique is open to question; but the history of the times indi-
cated only too well the sense of this argument. In the third place,
Plockhoy believed that tithes were an intolerable burden upon the
poor and slnuld be eliminated for that reason if for no other. His
was a social mission-—the relief of the distressed. The logical
place to begin was by abolishing the compulsory payment of tithes.
This particular cause which he promoted in his letters to the
Cromwells ties in with his philosophy of government. The magistrates
were mt to aid any religious group except by maintaining the right
of all to exist free from restraint and persecution. It is often
suggested tlat men like Plockhoy only advocated such anegativs
role for government because they held no real hope of over control-
ling government in the interest of their own religious group, and
that their theoretical Justifications for a government of that kind
did not reveal a true interest in liberty for its own sake. This
may be true to some extent, but the question is relatively unim—
portant to the political theorist and historian. What is important
is tiat, irrespective of their true motives, their promotion of
the cause of limited government and freedom helped establish the
groundwork upon which democratic systems could be founded.

Tlat there is no merit in maintaining methods simply because
they have become traditioml is also a theme commonly found among
Puritan writings. The Puritans were reformers who heped to gain
acceptance for their doctrines. Where the institutions and
techniques of the time reinforced the established church and the

power of the monarchy it was necessary for them to challenge not

125
only the church and monarch, but also the myths and customs by
which these were sustained. In Plockhoy's writings are to be
found admonitiom to tie magistracy not to follow tradition,
but rather to substitute institutions and methods in conformance
to what he believed was the law of mture and the revealed will
of God.

Plockhoy's writing, 5M Prgpgunded, is chiefly interesting
for its description of the cooperative societies he proposed to
establish. The work cannot be called a utOpia, notwithstandirg
the fact tlat he painted a picture of an ideal situation, for his
societies were designed to exist in the world of his time. The
society would sell its manufactured articles in the markets, com—
peting with othe‘s on their own ground. While he proposed that
the buildirgs, land, ships, and tools be owned in common, he
made allowances for private property. Not only were the members
permitted to have money and own property, they were also entitled
to leave the membership when they chose to do so, taking with them
what they lave contributed plus a fair share of any profits the
society lad earned.

Plodchoy's interest in the welfare of the poor did not sirgle
him out from 511 other Puritans or the Left. Winstanley and his
Diggers are well-known for their efforts to remedy the economic
ills of trat time. Some interesting comparisons of the ideas of
Winstanley and those of Plockhoy can be made. Both appealed to
the law of nature, and interpreted that law to entitle all mankind

to some means of subsistence. Both affirmed tint private property

126
was one of the main causes of want, abuse, and. corruption, though
Winstanley more strongly declaimed against it than did Plockhoy.
Both would have left family and personal effects untouched in the
societies they proposed to create. Both would have regulated
their societies through democratic means, though flockhoy was
more specific in his ideas about the kind of democratic insti tu-
tions and procedures he would have established. Both were violently
anti—clergy, attributing to the clergy of the time the perpetuation
of tyranny and injustice. But here the similarities in their
respective ideas end. Where Winstanley looked upon land as the
basis of a sound economic system, Plockhoy looked towards industry.
Where Winstanley would lave changed the whole society of the time,
Plodrhoy would have made adjustments to the conditions which pre-
vai led, and proposed rather that an attempt be made to establish
decent living through techniques of adaptation. One would have
launched a direct assault against the political and economic
environment, and in a way did so; the otha' would have used the
prevailing system to the advantage of himself and his followers.

In a sense, Winstanley had the makings of a revolutionary, while
flockhoy possessed the temperament of a reformer. The revolution-
ary appeals through symbols; the reformer persuades by argument.
The differences are in the degree of (marge demanded and the
techniques by which such clange is to be accomplished.

Modern political scientists will find interesting Plockhoy's
proposal to set up gena'al assemblies, because his justification

for such assemblies is precisely the theory which underlies the

127
discm sion group method found in democratic states. One of the
assumption underlying democratic government is that in the long
run conclusions arrived at through the means of free and open
discussion are more likely to be valid than those which become
public policy in societies where tolerance of discussion does not
exist. The right to discuss issues openly permits a diversity of
ideas. Where such a diversity exists ideas may be considered for
their me'it. The criterion of the authority behind the idea
yields the criterion of the logic of the idea. Plockhoy defends
freedom of discussion on these grounds, and in doing so implies
the desirability of a democratic system of government.

Tlat flockhoy was a republican is beyond question.2 In the
articles which he drew up for the government of his Delaware colony
we note the following provisions:

(1) The princiml basis or foundation for this society will
be an equality for which purpose every man over 2.4 years of age
who wishes to enter the society must seriously and earnestly
promise that he will never strive for any special power, nor will
allow anyone else to make the least efforts in that direction, but
resists this with all possible means.

(2) All rules will be instituted by a majority of two-thirds
of the entire society.. ..the votes being case on ballots.

(3) Everyone of the voting colonists, according to his best

knowledge, will nominate or choose as head of the colony the one

 

2 Republican is defined as one who advocates representative govern—'
ment.

128
whom he considers tle most prominent in means, intelligence, and
knowl edge.

(4) When the number of colonists increases by twenty men, a
public servant shall be elected in order to increase the number of
public servants.

'(5) The piblic presiding servant shall be open to criticism
on all his actions concerning the public interest as well as to
law suits up to one year and six weeks after the eXpiration of his
term of service.

That Plockhoy was a democrat is equally clear. Be affirmed
the values of liberty, equality, and fraternity. Be includes in
his colonial articles provisions to insure the responsibility of
the gova'nors to tie governed. He provides that all laws shall be
passed, not in the interest of a few, but in the interest of the
whole people. And more revealing is his unierstanding of the
mture of liberty and the benefits which accrue to society in which
liberty is a reality.

Unlike many of his Puritan contemporaries Plockhoy promoted the
brotherhood of man. He unierstood brotherhood to mean generosity,
kindness, symmathy, and a willingness to work for the relief of
human suffering. But he was not free from prejudice. Excluded
from his mlony were Roman (htholics, "parasitic Jews, headstrong
Quakers,and Anglican Puritans, and rash and stupid believers in
the millsniumff He failed to see that his prejudices contradicted
his belief in the brotherhood of man. At least so the record
indicates. Had he also combated these animosities his name might now

be well known to the students of history. While we cannot forgive him

129
these hates, we can understand their origin. Plockhoy was strug-
gling against the domination of organized churches, and particue-
larly the rule of the clergy. He dissented against all organi zed
religion; and while he believed in the power of truth to manifest
itself whm'e freedom exists, he was unable to make himself rely
on this principle alone. It is ironical that a man should have
presented such rational arguments for the elimination of force
in matters of opinion, and then find, himself unable to eliminate
force when the opportunity was his.

But social reformers like Plockhoy had their effect. They
helped to make the world aware of the vast gulf which separated

the values men believe in and the practices they engage in.

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APPENDIX A

AUTmRSHIP OF THE KURT VERHAEL

"The most remarkable of allthe contemporary Dutch books
appeared...anonymously in 1662.71 It was the MMM
33.19.! Nederlantg.... The piblicati on was a collection, with two
distinct parts and two authors. The first part comprises the
preface, the description of New Netherland (Pages 1 to 27) and
the postscript (pages 68 to 84). The [second part, comprising the
Re no ten, Vertg‘gen, g5; Deductien submitted to the Amsterdam
magistrates, and with which this study is concerned, covers pages
28 to 67. A careful comparison of the ideas, style, dates, and
places mentioned in the addresses, with the writings which bear
Plockhoy's name, leads to the inevitable conclusion that the
addresses came indirectly from Plockhoy and his associates, and
apply to his New Netherland colony. This is not the first time
this conclusion has beal made. J. Romeyn Brodhead, who discovered
the publication in Ibllandwhenhe was collecting in European
archives materials relating to New York's early history, and E. B.
o'oellnghen, were the first to ascribe the direction relation bet-

. 2
ween these addresses and Plockhoy. These scholars were acquainted

 

1 Barthold Fernow, "New Netherland or the Dutch in North America:
Critical Essay on the Sources of Information," Narratives gpg'
Critigl History QLAHBI‘ ice, IV. edited by Justin Winsor.
(Boston: Houghton, liii‘flin and_Co., 1994), pp. 422—3.

2 John Romeyn Brodhead, History 9.: t_h_e_ State E; New Ygrk. (New York:
.Ihrper and Brothers, 1874, pp. 698-9; E. B. O'Callaghan, Histgry
fimNetherland II. (New York: D. Applaon and 00., 1845),
pp. 956-9. .

 

155
with most of the Ditch publications on colonization and with all
of the various attempts at settlement.

Frederik Muller, well-known book-collector and -dealder in
Amsterdam in the last century, writes concerning the @rt Earhagli
This book is written, as appears by No. 1111,’by a
Mennonite, a certain H.V. 2.3.1., in behalf of some persons
(probably Mennonites) inploring his assistance. It is
one of the agrgest of all books on how Eetherland. I
found only 3 copies in the course of 20 years and. sold

my last at 200 flor... .The writer developed his liberal
and economical ideas still further in N . 1111.

No. 1111 mentioned by Muller was the 1123; MW...
(Free Political Aphorisms... ).4 It was written by the same H.V.Z.I-l.
as the Kort Verhael, which according to the author 'fhad been merely
a first essay on the means of restoring to Holland the old force,
energy, and preponderance. 75 It was printed by P. A. keep, the
'fordinary printer of Mennonite books."‘6 It was reprinted in the
same year by J. Venckel in Amsterdam. ' The Emit Verhael was also
repr inted in 1665 under a new title: Zeekere 113g Vgorslag7en_p_p_

Versoeken.. . (certain Free Propositions and Requests. .. ).

 

3 Frederik Muller, Qatal us g_f_ Books, Taps, Plates 9}; America.
(Amsterdam, 1872), p. 125.

4 Vrije 2911311152 Stellipgen an. cgnsideratien van Staat... trgigendg

to]; gen ware verbeeteripgh van Staat 9n Kerk. He: eerst deel.
(Amsterdam, 1665). (Free Political Aphorisms and Considerations

of State serving for a true amelioration of State and Church.
The first volume).

5 See Erederik Miller, omcit” p. 127.

6 Jada-9.3.1:.-

7 Zeekere Vrye Vooigsrlagen pg Versoeken, tot bevordering van een
vestandi e, v09; 119' llandt hogghnutte Vrye VolgL-Uitzetting i3
Nieuw-llederlandt. Alsmeede een by—ggvgeght beknopt verhael van
Niemv-I‘Iederlaptg geleggntheit, nz. Eteerste deel. (Amsterdam,
1665). (Certain fies Propositions and Requests, in favour of a
Perpetual and to Holland very useml emigration to New Netherland.
With an account of the situation etc. of New Fatherland. First Volume).

136

The only historian to dispute Brodhead and O'Oallaghan's conclu-
sion regarding authorship of the addresses to the magistrates in the
3.2.11.3. Verhael was G. M. Asher, who gives five reasons for believing
that the latter and Plockhoy's we; mm applied to
different schemes.8 Asher, whose study was admittedly very cursory,
was erroneous in all respects of his arguments. 'fPerhaps," he
admits at the beginning of his discussion, "1 maybe deceived in
many of 115' first deductionsflf9 {

(1) Asher argued that the Plockhoy company was to consist of
only 25 families, that of the £933; Verhael of not less than 100. On
the contrary, the Maggie; Ontwerp also described a settlement
of a desired minimum 100 men (see gloss in the contract below), and
thus tends to substantiate, rather than reduce, the probability of
a common authorship.

(2.) 'fThe name of Gornelis Plockhoy," Asher continued, "is not
mentiomd in the £911 Zghael, and tin important Requesten and Ver-
tooghen, ccntaining the fundamental Articles of the Kort Varhael
Company, are all signed 3.7.2.1L'f As stated above, H.V.Z.M. was an
agent for Plockhoy and his associates and, as he explained in the
first address to the magistrates, wished to remain anonymous. Th
does not speak of the Plockhoy group, except as his 'f‘r-Iasters,
Principals, and clients.” —

(3) The Plockhoy plan, stated Asher, was based on communistic

principles; the Egrt Verhael "speaks nowhere of such an intention}

 

O G. M. Asher, A Bibliggg aphical and Historical _I*_l_ssay 9_1_i_the mtg;

Book; and Pamphlet; Relating tg_ New Motherland, (Amsterdam, 1868),
Pp. 207-80

9 Ibgo. P. 150

137

This argument is ill-founded. The former was based on the same
ideas of community organisation as the £1113 Verhael. (See Articles
50-63).10

(4) "The election of a chief," Asher argued,"_is one of the
express articles of the Plockhoy-manifesto; the entirely opposite
principle, that no member is to have a constitutional pre-eminence,
is enounced in the M Verhaelflf Plockhoy's appeal for equality
was manifest in both writings, as was the provision for a chief.
Asher obviously overlooked the latter provision in the £931 Verhael,
which is very eXplicit in Article 15: "Earthermore, everyone of the
voting menbers will, according to his best knowledge, elect as head

of the colony the one whom he considers the most prominent in

ability and intelligence. The voting will be done on ballots rolled

up. _
(5) Asher's final argument was that 'fthe conditions granted to
Plockhoy on the 9th of June, 1662, ccntaining the engagement of the
city of Amsterdam to grant free passage to the emigrants, and a
hundred guilders besides to each family, are nowhere mentioned in
the Kort VerhaelJf The addresses, Asher failed to remember, were
written and submitted before the contract was drawn up; and refer-
ence to a non—existent contract could, therefore, not have been made.
Many similarities in the 17m writings substantiate a common
origin. Both exclude sectarian ministers and substitute Scripture

reading am psalm singing. Both strive for equality as the basis

 

10 39331 Verhael van Nieuw liederlant , pp. 55-57.

138
for the colony, and grant the right of appeal to the higher magis-
trates. They exclude certain classes of incompatible persons, and
expel members who pmve to be incompatible, after personal counsel-

ing and upon a two-thirds vote. Both declare the gova'nor inel ig-
ible for reelection until one year has elapsed, and warn the
gova'nor that he should not be a dictator. Both contain the provi-
sion for conscient ions believers in nonresistance to pay a tax in
lieu of military service. The writings contain identical provisions
whereby non-members may become members, the arrazgement of working
in common for the first five years, a six-hour work day working
unier the supervision of foreman, and of individuals making good
use of their leisure time, perhaps by working a piece of land apart
from that which belongs to the community. Both stress modest and
practical attire. Perinps the mast remarkable similarity in the
two writings is the concern for the care of the aged, sick, widows,
and orphans.

The ates on the writings conform to a progression of everms
leading up to completion of the contract and issuance of the m
9; Q3; Optwerp, which sought to enlarge the membership prior to
embarla tion. The addresses in the £931 Verhae; dated from November
22, 1661, to May 25, 1662. The contract was dated June 6, 1662,
and the middle of September was He tentative date for the departure
of the first contingent of settlers. The m Verhae]I was finally
published in October, 1662; and about May 5, 1663, the emigrants
embarked for Amer ice. The place of settlement in flew Esther land is

the same in both writings, mmely, the Bor ekil, which was the west

139
bank of the mouth of the Delaware. When speaking of the I-brekil,
both writings mntain the gloss, "Also called Swaanendael." It is
difficllt to conceive tint two couplet ely independent pro Jects
could be submitted to the magistrates of Amsterdam, both pertaining
to colonimtion of the same location and time. Both writings,
furtlsrmore, contain the same general organisation and philosophy,
includiig the same dnique adnizture of commercial efficiency and
enterprise with idealism and social concern. Not only are the
ideas of both p‘onects the same but they were quite foreign to the
culture of 17th century lblland. (As to style, mam expressions--
such as names and titles, the terms "socieiyfl "decisiors by a
two-thirds majority]? 'fprofit by thewmmimmity,‘f--are semen to both
writings. f“ h

One of the most significant argument for a common origin is the
notice in the second letter of the £933; Verhael to a brief and
concise agreement (kort en beknopt onderlingh accoort) to be drafted
in which was to be defined the non-political aspects of the project,

am the subsequent appearance of Plockhoy's Qrt pp Klaer Qgtwerp.

APEIIDIX B
*

mlITRACT BETWEEII PLOCKHOY AND THE ALSTERDAM BURGOLIASTERS

Burgomasters and Magistrates of the City of Amsterdam:

Because we are at all times disposed to advance this City's
Colony in New Netherland, there fore have us, with the knowledge
and consent of the 36 Councillors concluded to that end the
following agreement with Pieter Cornelisz. Plockhoy of Zieriksee:

That he, Pieter Cormliss. Plockhoy, undertakes to present
to us, as soon as possible, the names of 24 men, who, with him,
will make a Society of 25 persons, who will agree to depart by
the first ship or ships to the aforesaid colony of this City,
to reside there and to work at farming, fishing, handicraft,
etc. , and to be as diligent as possible not only to live comfort—
ably themselves, but also that provision may theeby be made for
others to mme.

The aforesaid Society of 25 male persons (more or less as
they may increast or decrease) shell, for the common welfare ani
for each iniividnally, take up as much land, provided it belongs
to nobody else, at the Harekil (Gloss: also called Swanen-dafl
or another part of the Colony, as they are willing and able to
cultivate and pasture. These lands, divided and undivided, shall
be the propaty of the aforesaid Society and Colonists to use in
whichever way seems best.

The aforesaid Colonists shall erect such rules and laws as
they think proper for the peace, harmony, and welfare of the
Society, with the provision tint each person who feels an injus-
tice can appeal to the higher Magistrates here or there.

The aforesaid Society, and each member iniividnally, shall
be exempt from all tithes 3111 taxes, however they may be named,
for twenty years.

To the aforesaid 25 persons shall be paid in loan one hundred
guilders to provide the made of each individually and also to
cover the cost of transportation (the wives and children being
transported at the espouse of this city according to the minted
conditions). [Glossz These conditions--the 25 peop1e and 2,500
guilders on loan to buy tools and other equipment-«re only a
beginning to enable the Colony to get started. We hope that the

 

*
This translation was made from the prospectus. For a translation
of the contract as it was recorded in the Qrggt Llengrigg Regi spar

No. 5, fol. 78, see MM gglgnial Ecuments, II, pp. 176-7.

141

Hmorable Burgomasters and the 36 Councillors will exteml their
loan for the continuation of their colony in New Netherland; that
is, to 100 men, 4,000 rijksdaalders, which will enable us to
embark with at least 100 capable men or families (and to be
better protected aginst the savages).]

The aforesaid 2.5 Colonists shall bind themselves as a group
to repay the aforesaid 2,500 guilders to this City, according
to Articles 21 and 22 of the Coniit ions recently printed concern-
ing this City's colony.

If one of the 25 aforesaid persons should decide to leave the
Society and return to this country, he shall be free to do 3),
provided he takes only his own personal. property and leaves to
the Society the undivided land, cattle, and other common property,
so the other Colonists can effect the aforesaid repayment. The
transportation costs of such an individual shall be paid by the
Society from the common treasury as a compensation to him for his
labor.

And if any person should decide to move elsewhere at his own
expense and retain or sell his share in the common stock, he shall
be free to do so, provided he has someone to replace him, or he
sells to someone whom the Society will approve and who will par-
ticipate and help in the comn activities.

The aforesaid Society and each member thereof shall further
abide in all matters by the aforesaid printed laws, the inter-
pretation of which remains the prerogative of the Burgomasters
of this City.

In testimony whereof, we—-the Burgomasters and Magistrates
aforesaid-“affix the seal of this City to these presents, the 9th
of June, 1662.

Signed, Wig-bolt Slicher

Registered in the @993 Memorial, Volume 5, of the City of Amsterdam.

APPEEIDIX C

SORET BY KAREL VERLOOVE

50m
To the Supporters of the Mutual QDmPany
or Settlement in
39.! Netherland
upon the maxim

1:1:er taxes smmzers"

While harmony, for the common welfare, is
Indispensible and good, one must carefully watch
That mutual love, with heart and soul and strength,

Remains firm, so that the evil plague

0f discord, strife, and envy does not triumph.
If you will be vigilant for this cause, you shall become
A mighty people, yea the greatest of all time,

And New Nether land will flourish in unity.

Your intentions should spur you to such concord.
Envision the symbol which once enlightened

A people whose power was eXpressed by arrows.
Remember the valiant lion of the Netherlands.

The arrows have given rise to cities and states.

Unity makes strength, and breeds rest and peace.

Each plays his role.

Karel Verlo ove

"‘ This was the motto of the States General of the United
Netherlands. The translation was ends with no regard for
the meter or for the rim of the original.

APPENDIX D

'fSPURRING VERSES" BY JACOB SCREEN

To the lovers of the colony and brotherhood to be established
on the South River of New Netherland, by :Peter Cornel ison Piockhoy
of Zier ikzee, with his associates; and the favorable privileges,
for that purpose, granted by the Noble brds Burgomasters of the
City of Amsterdam, the 9th of June, 1662.

You poor, who know not how your living to obtain;
You affluent, who seek in mind to be content;
Choose you New Netherland (which no one shall disdain),
Before your time and strength here fruitlessly are spent.
There have you other ends, your labor to incite; ’
Your work, will gen‘rous soils, with usury, requite.

New Netherlands the flow'r, the noblest of all lands;
With richest blessings crowned, where milk and honey flow;
By the most High of All, with doubly lib'ral hands
mdowed; yea, filled up full, with what may thrive and grow.
The air, the earth, tln see, each pregmnt with its gift,
The needy, without trouble, fmm distress to lift.

The birds obscure the sky, so numerous in their flight;
The animals roam wild, and flatten down the ground;
The fish swarm in the waters, and exclude the light;
The oysters there, than which none better can be found,
Are piled up, heap on heap, till islands they attain;
And vegetation clothes the forest, mead, and plain.

You have a portion there which costs not pains nor gold;
But if you labor give, then shall you also share
(With trust in Him who you from want does there uphold)
A rich reward, in time, for all your toil and care,
In cattle, grain, and fruit, and every other thing;
Whereby you always have great cause as praise to sing.

What see you in your houses, towns, and Fatherland?
Is God not over all? the heavens over wide?
His blessings deck the earth, like bursting veins expand
In floods of treasures o'er, wherever you abide;
Which neither are to monarchies nor duke-dome bound,
They are as well in one, as other country found.

 

=8 Translated by Henry 0. Murphy, Anthglgy QL New Netherland. (New
York: The Bradford Club, 1865), pp. 68-75.

 

144

But there, a living view does always meet your eye,
Of Eden, and the promised land of Jacob's seed;
Who would not, then, in such a formed community
Desire to be a freeman; and the rights decreed
To each and every one, by Amstel's burgher lords,
T'enjoy? and treat with honor what their rule awards?

Communities the groundwork are of every state;
Thw first the hamlet, village and the city make.
From whence proceeds the commonwealth; whose members, great
Become, an int east in the common welfare take.
'Tis no Utopia; it rests on principles,
Which, for true liberty, prescribes you settled rules.

You will not aliens, in those far lands, appear;
As formerly, in Egypt, e'en was Israel.
Nor have you slavery nor tyranny to fear,
Since Joseph's eyes do see, and on the compass fall.
The civic Fathers who on th' I perform their labors;
Are your protectors; and your countrymen are neighbors.

New Netherland's South River,--seconi Amazon,
For you a pleasure garden on its banks concedes.
Choose you the Swannendael, where Osset had his throne,“I
Or any other spot your evocation needs.
You have the choice of all; and you 'rs left free to choose;
Keep the condit 1018 well, and you have naught to lose.

Discard the base report, unworthy of your ear;
'Tis forged by ignorance and hate and Jealous spite,
By those who are its authors, to bedim this fair
Bright morning sun before the laughing noonday light.
in accident may hinder, but not change the plan,
Whose gloss, take that away, you then may fairly scan.

'Was but an accident, which gives them stuff to slight
Tint land, which, as I know, no proper rival Ins;
In order from your purpose they may you affright,
Who there desire to live, before you thither pass.
'Tis groundless, ev'ry one may easily perceive.
Who how neglects the chance, great treasures does he leave.

Jacob Steendam,
noch vaster.

 

a. The 'fo was the bay on which Amsterdam was situated.
H The-stol‘y of Ossett and the 'fbase reports" spoken of in the last
two stanzas comprises a tragic story. Ossett was camander of one

of the first Dutch colonies in New Netherland under the patmonship

of David DeVries, who led retumed to Halland. When DeVries re-
turned to his colony he fo tad his houses burned and the ground

strewn with the skulls and bones of his settlers. He befriended an
Indian, who told him the story of the massacre. One of his men had
erected a pillar, to which he affixed a tin piece having the emblem

or arms of the United Netherlands. An Indian chief took a fancy

 

to the glittering sheet and made away with it. Osset convinced
the Iniian tribe that they led insulted the great Dutch nation;
and to make amends tie Indians killed the chief. The kinsmen
of the dead chief desired revenge. At a time when the
colonists were least suspecting attack, the kinsmen descended
on the village and murdered thirty-four white men. Thus the
first settlement in the "valley of swans" came to an end.

145

 

 

 

 

 

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