William
Brewster died
APRIL 18, 1644.
His
position as a
leader of the
Pilgrim church
in England led
to his capture
and
imprisonment.
Fleeing
to Holland,
Brewster later
sailed with the
Pilgrims to
America, signed
the Mayflower
Compact and was
elected an
elder.
Governor
William Bradford
wrote of William
Brewster:
"(In
England) on the
Lord's day they
generally met at
his house, which
was a
manor...and he
entertained them
with great
kindness...providing
for them at
heavy expense to
himself.
He
was the leader
of those who
were captured in
Lincolnshire,
suffering the
greatest loss,
and was one of
the seven who
were kept
longest in
prison and
afterwards bound
over to the
assizes.
After
he came to
Holland he
suffered much
hardship, having
spent most of
his means...
Towards
the latter part
of those twelve
years spent in
Holland, his
circumstances
improved...for
through his
knowledge of
Latin he was
able to teach
many foreign
students
English."
Bradford
continued to say
of William
Brewster:
"He
labored in the
fields as long
as he was able;
yet when the
church had no
other minister
he taught twice
every Sabbath,
and that both
powerfully and
profitably, to
the great
edification and
comfort of his
hearers, many
being brought to
God by his
ministry."
