Part 19 (1/2)

[Cushman in his letter to Edward Southworth, written at Dartmouth, August 17, says that Martin, the ”governour” of the pa.s.sengers in the MAY-FLOWER, ”will not suffer them the pa.s.sengers to go, ash.o.r.e lest they should run away.” This probably applied especially to such as had become disaffected by the delays and disasters, the apprenticed (”bound”) servants, etc. Of course no responsible colonist would be thus restrained for the reason alleged.]

MONDAY, Aug. 14/24 Lying at anchor, Dartmouth harbor.

SPEEDWELL at Quay taking out lading for thorough overhauling.

TUESDAY, Aug. 15/25 Lying at anchor, Dartmouth harbor.

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 16/26 Lying at anchor, Dartmouth harbor.

SPEEDWELL being thoroughly overhauled for leaks. p.r.o.nounced ”as open and leaky as a sieve.” Much dissatisfaction between the pa.s.sengers, and discontent with the s.h.i.+p's ”governour” Master Martin, between whom and Mr. Cushman, the ”a.s.sistant,” there is constant disagreement.

[Cushman portrays the contemptible character and manner of Martin very sharply, and could not have wished to punish him worse for his meannesses than he has, by thus holding him up to the scorn of the world, for all time. He says, 'inter alia': ”If I speak to him, he flies in my face and saith no complaints shall be heard or received but by himself, and saith: 'They are froward, and waspish, discontented people, and I do ill to hear them.'”]

THURSDAY, Aug. 17/27 Lying at anchor, Dartmouth harbor. Consort being searched and mended. Sailors offended at Master Martin because of meddling.

[Cushman's letter, Dartmouth, August 17. He says: ”The sailors also are so offended at his ignorant boldness in meddling and controling in things he knows not what belongs to, as that some threaten to mischief him . . . . But at best this cometh of it, that he makes himself a scorn and laughing stock unto them.”]

FRIDAY, Aug. 18/28 Lying at anchor, Dartmouth harbor. Consort still repairing. Judged by workmen that mended her sufficient for the voyage.

SAt.u.r.dAY, Aug. 19/29 Lying at anchor, Dartmouth harbor.

SPEEDWELL relading.

SUNDAY, Aug. 20/30 Lying at anchor, Dartmouth harbor.

MONDAY, Aug. 21/31 Lying at anchor, Dartmouth harbor. Consort relading.

TUESDAY, Aug. 22/Sept. 1 Lying at anchor, Dartmouth harbor. Both s.h.i.+ps ready for sea.

[Bradford, Historie, Deane's ed. p. 68. He says: ”Some leaks were found and mended and now it was conceived by the workmen and all, that she was sufficient, and they might proceed without either fear or danger.” Bradford shows (op. cit. p. 69) note that they must have left Dartmouth ”about the 21st” of August. Captain John Smith gives that date, though somewhat confusedly. Arber (the Story of the Pilgrim Fathers, p. 343 says: ”They actually left on 23 August.”

Goodwin (Pilgrim Republic, p. 55) says : ”Ten days were spent in discharging and re-stowing the SPEEDWELL and repairing her from stem to stern,” etc.)]

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 23/Sept. 2 Weighed anchor, as did consort. Laid course W.S.W. s.h.i.+ps in company. Wind fair.

THURSDAY, Aug. 24/Sept. 3 Comes in with wind fair. General course W.S.W. Consort in company.

FRIDAY, Aug. 25/Sept. 4 Comes in with wind fair. Course W.S.W.

SPEEDWELL in company.

SAt.u.r.dAY, Aug. 26/Sept. 5 Observations showed s.h.i.+p above 100 leagues W.S.W. of Land's End. SPEEDWELL signalled and hove to. Reported leaking dangerously.

On consultation between Masters and carpenters of both s.h.i.+ps, it was concluded to put back into Plymouth--Bore up for Plymouth. Consort in company.

SUNDAY, Aug. 27/Sept. 6 s.h.i.+p on course for Plymouth. SPEEDWELL in company.

MONDAY, Aug. 28/Sept. 7 Made Plymouth harbor, and came to anchor in the Cat.w.a.ter, followed by consort.

TUESDAY, Aug. 29/Sept. 8 At anchor in roadstead. At conference of officers of s.h.i.+p and consort and the chief of the Planters, it was decided to send the SPEEDWELL back to London with some 18 or 20 of her pa.s.sengers, transferring a dozen or more, with part of her lading, to the MAY-FLOWER.

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 30/Sept. 9 At anchor in Plymouth roadstead off the Barbican. Transferring pa.s.sengers and lading from consort, lying near by.

Weather fine.

[Goodwin notes (Pilgrim Republic, p. 57) that ”it was fortunate for the overloaded MAY-FLOWER that she had fine weather while lying at anchor there, . . . for the port of Plymouth was then only a shallow, open bay, with no protection. In southwesterly gales its waters rose into enormous waves, with such depressions between that s.h.i.+ps while anch.o.r.ed sometimes struck the bottom of the harbor and were dashed in pieces.”]

THURSDAY, Aug. 31/Sept. 10 At anchor in Plymouth roadstead.