The Mayflower and Her Log Part 18

That a considerable "stock of trading goods" was included in the MAY-FLOWER'S lading is mentioned by at least one writer, and that this was a fact is confirmed by the records of the colonists' dealings with the Indians, and the enumeration of not a few of the goods which could have had, for the most part, no other use or value. They consisted largely of knives, bracelets (bead and metal), rings, scissors, copper-chains, beads, "blue and red trading cloth," cheap (gla.s.s) jewels ("for the ears," etc.), small mirrors, clothing (e. g. "red-cotton horseman's coats--laced," jerkins, blankets, etc.), shoes, "strong waters," pipes, tobacco, tools and hard ware (hatchets, nails, hoes, fish-hooks, etc.), rugs, twine, nets, etc., etc. A fragment of one of the heavy hoes of the ancient pattern--"found on the site of the Pilgrim trading house at Manomet"--is owned by the Pilgrim Society, and speaks volumes of the labor performed by the Pilgrims, before they had ploughs and draught-cattle, in the raising of their wonderful crops of corn. Such was the MAY-FLOWER'S burden, animate and inanimate, whe --the last pa.s.senger and the last piece of freight transferred from the SPEEDWELL--her anchor "hove short," she swung with the tide in Plymouth roadstead, ready to depart at last for "the Virginia plantations."

CHAPTER IX

THE JOURNAL OF THE SHIP MAY-FLOWER

Thomas Jones, Master, from London, England, towards "Hudson's River" in Virginia

[The voyage of the MAY-FLOWER began at London, as her consort's did at Delfshaven, and though, as incident to the tatter's brief career, we have been obliged to take note of some of the happenings to the larger ship and her company (at Southampton, etc.), out of due course and time, they have been recited only because of their insuperable relation to the consort and her company, and not as part of the MAY-FLOWER'S own proper record]

SAt.u.r.dAY, July 15/25, 1620 Gravesend. Finished lading. Got pa.s.sengers aboard and got under way for Southampton. Dropped down the Thames to Gravesend with the tide.

[Vessels leaving the port of London always, in that day, "dropped down with the tide," tug-boats being unknown, and sail-headway against the tide being difficult in the narrow river.]

Masters Cushman and Martin, agents of the chartering--party, came aboard at London.

SUNDAY, July 16/26 Gravesend. Channel pilot aboard. Favoring wind.

MONDAY, July 17/27 In Channel. Course D.W. by W. Favoring wind.

TUESDAY, July 18/28 In Channel. Southampton Water.

WEDNESDAY, July 19/29 Southampton Water. Arrived at Southampton and came to anchor.

[Both ships undoubtedly lay at anchor a day or two, before hauling in to the quay. The MAY-FLOWER undoubtedly lay at anchor until after the SPEEDWELL arrived, to save expense]

THURSDAY, July 20/30 Lying at Southampton off north end of "West Quay."

FRIDAY, July 21/31 Lying at Southampton. Masters Carver, Cushman, and Martin, three of the agents here. Outfitting ship, taking in lading, and getting ready for sea.

SAt.u.r.dAY, July 22/Aug 1 Lying off Quay, Southampton.

SUNDAY, July 23/Aug 2 Lying off Quay, Southampton.

MONDAY, July 24/Aug 3 Lying off Quay, Southampton.

TUESDAY, July 25/Aug 4 Lying off Quay, Southampton. Waiting for consort to arrive from Holland.

WEDNESDAY, July 26/Aug 5 Lying off Quay, Southampton. Pinnace SPEEDWELL, 60 tons, Reynolds, Master, from Delfshaven, July 22, consort to this ship, arrived in harbor, having on board some 70 pa.s.sengers and lading for Virginia. She came to anchor off north end "West Quay."

THURSDAY, July 27/Aug. 6 Lying at Quay, Southampton, SPEEDWELL warped to berth at Quay near the ship, to transfer lading.

[Some of the cargo of the SPEEDWELL is understood to have been here transferred to the larger ship; doubtless the cheese, "Hollands,"

and other provisions, ordered, as noted, by Cushman]

FRIDAY, July 28/Aug. 7 Lying at Quay, Southampton, Much parleying and discontent among the pa.s.sengers.

[Bradford gives an account of the bickering and recrimination at Southampton, when all parties had arrived. Pastor Robinson had rather too strenuously given instructions, which it now began to be seen were not altogether wise. Cushman was very much censured, and there was evidently some acrimony. See Cushman's Dartmouth letter of August 17 to Edward Southworth, Bradford's Historie, Ma.s.s. ed.

p. 86.]

SAt.u.r.dAY, July 29/Aug. 8 Lying at Quay, Southampton. Some of the pa.s.sengers transferred from SPEEDWELL and some to her. Master Christopher Martin chosen by pa.s.sengers their "Governour" for the voyage to order them by the way, see to the disposing of their pro visions, etc.

Master Robert Cushman chosen "a.s.sistant."

The ship ready for sea this day, but obliged to lie here on account of leakiness of consort, which is forced to retrim. Ship has now 90 pa.s.sengers and consort 30.

SUNDAY, July 30/Aug. 9 Lying at Southampton.

MONDAY, July 31/Aug. 10 Lying at Southampton. Letters received for pa.s.sengers from Holland. One from the Leyden Pastor [Robinson] read out to the company that came from that place.

TUESDAY, Aug. 1/Aug. 11 Lying at anchor at Southampton. SPEEDWELL retrimmed a second time to overcome leakiness.

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 2/Aug. 12 Lying at anchor at Southampton. Master Weston, princ.i.p.al agent of the Merchants setting out the voyage, came up from Lon don to see the ships dispatched, but, on the refusal of the Planters to sign certain papers, took offence and returned to London in displeasure, bidding them "stand on their own legs," etc.

[The two "conditions" which Weston had changed in the proposed agreement between the Adventurers and Planters, the Leyden leaders refused to agree to. Bradford, op cit. p. 61. He says: "But they refused to sign, and answered him that he knew right well that these were not according to the first Agreement." Dr. Griffis has made one of those little slips common to all writers--though perfectly conversant with the facts--in stating as he does (The Pilgrims in their Three Homes, etc. p. 158), with reference to the new "conditions" which some blamed Cushman for a.s.senting to, as "more fit for thieves and slaves than for honest men," that, "nevertheless they consented to them;" while on p. 169 he says "The SPEEDWELL people [i.e. the Leyden leaders would not agree with the new conditions, without the consent of those left behind in Leyden."

The fact is that the Pilgrims did not a.s.sent to the new conditions, unwarrantably imposed by Weston, though of small consequence in any view of the case, until Cushman came over to New Plymouth in the FORTUNE, in 1621, and by dint of his sermon on the "Sin and Danger of Self-Love," and his persuasion, induced them (they being also advised thereto by Robinson) to sign them. All business up to this time had been done between the Adventurers and the Pilgrims, apparently, without any agreement in writing. It was probably felt, both by Robinson and the Plymouth leaders, that it was the least reparation they could make Cushman for their cruel and unjust treatment of him, realizing at length that, through all vicissitudes, he had proven their just, sagacious, faithful, and efficient friend. There does not appear to be any conclusive evidence that any articles of agreement between the Adventurers and colonists were signed before the MAY-FLOWER Sailed.]

THURSDAY, Aug. 3/Aug. 13 Lying at anchor at Southampton. After Master Weston's departure, the Planters had a meeting and resolved to sell some of such stores as they could best spare, to clear port charges, etc., and to write a general letter to the Adventurers explaining the case, which they did. Landed some three score firkins of b.u.t.ter, sold as determined.

FRIDAY, Aug. 4/Aug. 14 Lying at anchor at Southampton. Consort nearly ready for sea. Heard that the King's warrant had issued to Sir James Coventry, under date of July 23, to prepare a Patent for the Council for the Affairs of New England to supersede the Plymouth Virginia Company, Sir Ferdinando Gorges and Sir Robert Rich the Earl of Warwick among the Patentees.

SAt.u.r.dAY, Aug. 5/Aug. 15 Weighed anchor, as did consort, and in company dropped down Southampton Water.

Took departure from Cowes, Isle of Wight, and laid course down the Solent to Channel.

Winds baffling. General course S.W. by S.

SUNDAY, Aug. 6/Aug. 16 Head winds. Beating out Channel.

SPEEDWELL In Company. Pa.s.sed Bill of Portland.

MONDAY, Aug. 7/Aug. 17 Wind contrary. Beating out Channel.

SPEEDWELL In company.

TUESDAY, Aug. 8/Aug. 18 Wind still contrary. Beating out Channel.

SPEEDWELL in company.

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 9/Aug. 19 Wind ahead. Beating down Channel. Consort in company.

THURSDAY, Aug. 10/20 Wind fair. All sail set. SPEEDWELL in company. Signalled by consort, which hove to. Found to be leaking badly. On consultation of Masters and chief of pa.s.sengers of both ships, it was concluded that both should put into Dartmouth, being nearest port. Laid course for Dartmouth with wind ahead.

THURSDAY, Aug. 11/21 Wind ahead. Bearing up to Dartmouth.

SAt.u.r.dAY, Aug. 12/22 Made port at Dartmouth. SPEEDWELL in company, and came to anchor in harbor.

[Bradford, op. cit. Deane's ed. p. 68, note. Russell (Pilgrim Memorials, p. 15) says: "The ships put back into Dartmouth, August 13/23." Goodwin (op. cit. p. 55) says: "The port was reached about August 23." Captain John Smith strangely omits the return of the ships to Dartmouth, and confuses dates, as he says "But the next day after leaving Southampton the lesser ship sprung a leak that forced their return to Plymouth," etc. Smith, New England's Trials, 2d ed. 1622. Cushman's letter, written the 17th, says they had then lain there "four days," which would mean, if four full days, the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th.]

SUNDAY, Aug. 13/23 Lying at anchor with SPEEDWELL leaking badly in Dartmouth harbor. No pa.s.sengers, except leaders, allowed ash.o.r.e.