In 1G77 he undertook with Fox and Barclay another journey to Holland and Germany, to make converts no less than to smooth the way of the persecuted. In the former countrj^ he preached with great acceptance; but in the latter empire, although the countess-palatine Eliz- abeth, granddaughter of James I, favored his intentions, he found less appreciation, perhaps because less under- stood or less needed, the Peace of Westphalia, ending the Thirty-years' War, having at least partially settled the principle of religious tolerance. On his return he was called upon to defend his cause before a committee of the Commons, Parliament inclining to severer measures against people who differed so much in their habits, and demanded liberty' of faith and conscience for all, even Roman Catholics. For the last ten years continually harassed, he now conceived a plan by which he might escape further trials and troubles, and realize his ideal of Christianity, viz., by founding a commonwealth after his own model in the transatlantic territories of Great Britain. By his transcendent abilities, his efforts, not to mention the sacrifices and personal sufferings in be- half of the sect, his honesty, his wealth and rank, over- sliadowing influence, and his beneficence, he had become, without seeking the position, their head and leader, and was consulted also in other not strictly religious mat- ters. Thus it came to pass that he was appealed to in difhcidties and disputes that had arisen between two Friends, Edward Byllinge and John Fenwick, so-called proprietors of lands in New Jersey. William Penn as referee carefully examined the matter, and made his award. Fenwick refused to comply. Finally, however, by Penn's good offices the dispute was adjusted. Byl- linge, who afterwards became embarrassed, wished to transfer his interest in the territory to his creditors, but in order to make the property more available entreated Penn to act as assignee. Penn became thereby (l(i75) instrumental in the settlement of New Jersey, with a constitution of equitable rights. In this way engaged in colonizing West New Jersey, and subsequently as a pur- chaser also of the eastern part of that ]irovince, he ac- <iuired a knowledge of the adjoining region. This prom- ised to be a place of refuge and security, where the dis- tressed Friends and others might enjoy civil and religious liberty. He applied to king Charles II, the friend and patron of his father, and, "after many waitings, watch- ings, solicitings, and disputes in coimcil," obtained the grant of a tract of land in payment of the governmental debt above mentioned. The patent bears the date of
PENN
896
PENN
March 4. 1G81, and comprised lands on the Delaware Kivcr, incliuling also settlements previously made by Sweden and Holland with 2000 inhabitants, to whom a roval proclamation was issued April 2, 1G81. The new province, against his own wish, for he wanted it called New Wales or Sylvania, was named by the king, as he ))leased to pretend, in memory of admiral Penn, Penn- svlvania. Penn himself says of this grant: " It is a clear and iust thing; and my God, that has given it me through many diihculties, will, I believe, bless and make it the seed of a nation. I sliall have a tender care to the gov- ernmeut that it will be well laid at tirst." He forth- with (July 11, 1681) jjublished an account of his acqui- sition, and invited purchasers at the rate of forty shillings a lunulred acres, subject to a (luit-rent of one shilling per annum forever. The next object of colonization was to establish an asylum for the (Quakers, who were still per- secuted, to form a people whose morals would correspond with the purity of the faith they professed, and to dem- onstrate that the use of arms was unnecessary for the protection of society. The propagation of his religious views, however, was a secondary consideration ; his form of government he was anxious to submit to the test of reality and experience in general. Soon after prelim- inarj' arrangements had been made, three ships, with numerous emigrants of his own persuasion from Eng- land and Wales, were despatched — the .1 mity and John and Sarah to sail from London, the Factor from Bristol. The expedition was under the control of colonel William Markhara, Penn's relative, as his deputy, joined with others as commissioners authorized to confer with the aborigines on the purchase of land (for he considered the royal patent invalid as to them), and to conclude a treaty of amity. He instructed his agents to bear them- selves with candor, justice, and humanity, and addressed to the Indians a letter of the same sentiments, sent pres- ents to the chiefs, and merchandise to pay for the land bargained for. In the following year (1682) Penn him- self, leaving his wife and children in England, crossed the ocean, to settle the affairs of the new colony. On Dec. li, 1682, he held a grand council with the sachems and their people, assembled in great numbers, trusting himself, with his European train, unarmed among the ■wild sons of the forest. The savages, at a sign from their head sachem, throwing bows and arrows to the ground, seated themselves in a semicircle around their chiefs. The locality chosen was then called Shackamaxon; it bears now the name of Kensington, a suburb of the present Philadelphia; a gigantic elm, with its wide- spreading branches, formed the main spot of their gath- ering (the tree was blown over in 1810, when it was, by its annual growth-rings, ascertained to have been two lunidred and eighty-three years old, consequently one hundred and fifty-five at the time). The place is now marked by a marble monument. We have no space here to detail the tenets of the principal party interested [see Fox ; l-'itiKNDS ; QuAKEKSj, but we cannot withhold an account of this transaction as a memorable manifestation of their Christianlike policy and practice, which, if fol- lowed consistently, would have saved millions of lives and treasure, and crowned Christian colonists with the renown of true uiissinnaries of the (iospel of Peace. Penn addressed them by interpreter substantially as follows: '• The (;reat Spirit who rules the heavens and the earth, the Father of all men, bore witness to the sincerity of his wishes to dwell witli them in peace and friendship, and to serve them with all liis power. Himself and fol- lowers bad met them unarmed, because their religion forliade the use of hostile weapons against their h-llow- creatures. Tliey came not to injure others — that was offensive to the (ireat Spirit; but to do good, in which he delighted. Having met in the broad way of truth and benevolence, tiiey ought to disdain deception, and to regulate tiieir conduct l)y candor, fraternity, and love." Unrolling the parchment, he explained the ar- ticles of the treaty and the terms of purchase. •• l!v these," he continued, '• they were protected in their law-