John Robinson, Pastor of the Pilgrim Fathers. By Walter H.
Burgess. (Williams and Norgate. 12s. 6d. net.)—Mr. Burgess
has worked hard at this elaborate biography of the sturdy Nottinghamshire Nonconformist who led his little flock to Leyden and then encouraged some of them to sail to America.
Mr. Burgess has discovered some new details about Robinson's parents and his wife's kindred, and deals fully with his theo-
logical controversies. Robinson's father appears to have been a substantial yeoman of Sturton-le-Steeple. The precise year of Robinson's birth cannot, however, be determined, but was probably 1576. He died in 1625 at Leyden. He was unable
to accompany the Pilgrims or to follow them, but he gave them the soundest possible advice, both spiritual and secular :— " Your intended course of Civil Community will minister continual occasion of offence and will be as full for that fire except you diligently' quench it with brotherly forbearance. Let your wisdom and godliness appear, not only in choosing such persons as do entirely love and will diligently promote the common good, but also in yielding unto them all due honour and obedience in their lawful administrations."
We could wish that the biography was less interrupted by digressions on side-issues, but Mr. Burgess's enthusiasm for his subject is wholly commendable.
Previous page
