Date—April 20, 1957.
Time—One minute to 5 p.m. Place—Plymouth, England.
Event—A smoky tug tows the Mayflower II—the structural reproduction of the original Pilgrim ship—out of Plymouth's splendid ,harbor, at the beginning of its Atlantic crossing to duplicate the famous voyage of 337 years ago.
Aboard—The 180-ton replica carries 32 passengers, including Commander Alan Villiers and his 27-man crew compared with the original 102 passengers plus the crew.
Before embarking for America, according to the Associated Press report, The lord mayor of Plymouth, Councillor William J. Oats, and Commander Alan Villiers exchanged compliments ceremonially, and then the Mayflower II received its divine blessing. The Rev. T. J. Foinette, who is the lord mayor's chaplain, prayed that they might negotiate successfully the sullen seas, which "divers godly Christians of our English nation" crossed in the seventeenth century to find religious liberty.
The radar- and radio-equipped Mayflower II carried running lights, fog signal, sextant, and five inflatable life rafts, in the interests of safety, and an old-fashioned ship's range replaced the open brick hearth in the forward hold of the original Pilgrim ship. Villiers and his crew, however, with the above exceptions, have sought few concessions to modern convenience. Like the travelers of another generation, they did rely on rain water for washing purposes. Peggy Reynolds, staff reporter of the Washington Post and Times Herald, wrote: "Mayflower II has limited electric power, just enough for the radio and running lights. Several flashlights are carried aboard to illuminate the sails should another ship approach, but for other purposes oil lamps and candles are used. The ship has no plumbing or heating. But instead of cold, gray shores, I957's voyage into history will probably wind up with warm bathwater and innerspring mattresses."
The Mayflower II is a gift of the people of Britain to the people of the United States. As a tribute to the English Pilgrim pioneers and as a gesture of goodwill, it is hoped that it will become a symbol like that of the Statue of Liberty—a token of the Old World's affection for the New.
The Mayflower II floats placidly off Brix-ham, England, following her bumpy ride out of drydock. The 180-ton wooden vessel is shown here before she set out to re-enact the historic journey of the Pilgrim Fathers. The square-rigged bark was constructed at Brixham.
History records a far different departure of the original Pilgrims. Bancroft tells the touching story of the Leyden group leaving the shores of Holland:
"And now, in July, 1620, the English at Leyden, trusting in God and in themselves, made ready for their departure. The ships which they had provided—the Speedwell, of sixty tons, the Mayflower, of one hundred and eighty tons—could hold but a minority of the congregation; and Robinson was therefore detained at Leyden, while Brewster, the governing elder, who was an able teacher, conducted 'such of the youngest and strongest as freely offered themselves.' A solemn fast was held. let us seek of God,' said they, 'a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.' Anticipating the sublime lessons of liberty that would grow out of their religious tenets, Robinson gave them a farewell," [message]. -GEORGE BANCROFT, History of the United States otAnierica, vol. I, p. 205, New York, 1898.
The Pilgrims' Farewell
" 'When the ship was ready to carry us away,' writes Edward Winslow, 'the brethren that stayed at Leyden, having again solemnly sought the Lord with us and for us, feasted us that were to go, at our pastor's house, being large; where we refreshed ourselves, after tears, with singing of psalms, making joyful melody in our hearts, as well as with the voice, there being many of the congregation very expert in music; and, indeed, it was the sweetest melody that ever mine ears heard. After this they accompanied us to Delft-Haven, where we went to embark, and then feasted us again; and, after prayer, performed by our pastor, when a flood of tears was poured out, they accompanied us to the ship, but were not able to speak one to another for the abundance of sorrow to part. But we only, going aboard, gave them a volley of small shot and three pieces of ordnance; and so, lifting up our hands to each other, and our hearts for each other to the Lord our God, we departed.' "— Ibid., pp. 205, 206.
John Robinson's Farewell Exhortation
"'BRETHREN,
" 'We are now quickly to part from one another, and whether I may ever live to see your faces on earth any more the God of heaven only knows; but whether the Lord has appointed that or no, I charge you. before God and his blessed angels, that you follow me no farther than you have seen me follow the Lord Jesus Christ.
" 'If God reveal anything to you, by any other instrument of his, be as ready to receive it as ever you were to receive any truth by my ministry: for I am verily persuaded the Lord has more truth yet to break forth out of his holy Word. For my part, I cannot sufficiently bewail the condition of the Reformed churches, who are come to a period in religion, and will go at present no farther than the instruments of their reformation. The Lutherans cannot be drawn to go beyond what Luther saw; whatever part of his will our God has revealed to Calvin, they will rather die than embrace it; and the Calvinists. you see, stick fast where they were left by that great man of God, who yet saw not all things.
" 'This is a misery much to be lamented, for though they were burning and shining lights in their times, yet they penetrated not into the whole counsel of God, but were they now living, would be as willing to embrace farther light as that which they first received. I beseech you remember, it is an article of your church-covenant. that you be ready to receive whatever truth shall be made known to you from the written Word of God. Remember that, and every other article of your sacred covenant. But I must here withal exhort you to take heed what you receive as truth—examine it. consider it. and compare it with other Scriptures of truth, before you receive it: for it is not possible the Christian world should come so lately out of such thick antichristian darkness, and that perfection of knowledge should break forth at once.' "—DANIEL NEAL, M.A., History of the Puritans (Harper and Brothers, New York, 1848, 2 vol. ed.), vol. 1, pp. 269, 270.
Anchored to the Word of God
Martyn has this striking comment on John Robinson's historic farewell message to the Pilgrim exiles:
"Robinson was wiser. He was no friend of stagnant Christianity; but in all his voyaging after truth he clung to his Bible anchorage. Inside of that he saw ample room for the completest development. . .
"Robinson favored the most radical Christian progress, but he based his idea upon the Bible, and knew how to guard his notion of development from misconception and abuse. The evangelical believers of our day owe the famous Leyden exile a lasting debt of gratitude for the clear distinction which he has drawn between the progressive 'liberty of the sons of God; and the earth-born whims which materialism baptizes with the name of 'progress.' "Was. CARLOS MARTYN, The Pilgrim Fathers of New England (American Tract Society, New York, 1867), pp. 71, 72.
A Tribute to Holland
"Holland was the anvil upon which religious and civil liberty was beaten out in Europe at a time when the clang was scarcely heard anywhere else. We can never forget our historical debt to that country and to those people. Puritan, Independent, Hugenot, whoever he may be, forced to flee for conscience's sake, will not forget that in the Netherlands there was found in his time of need the asylum where conscience, property and person might be secure."—Ambassador THOMAS F. BAYARD in Bradford, History of Plymouth Plantation, p. lxvii.
Human Freedom at Stake
"The English separatists and non-conformists became the sole protectors of the system which gave to England its distinguishing glory. 'The stern and exasperated Puritans,' writes Hallam, 'were the depositaries of the sacred fire of liberty.' So absolute was the authority of the crown,' said Hume, 'that the precious spark of liberty had been kindled and was preserved by the Puritans alone; and it was to this sect that the English owe the whole freedom of their constitution.' The lines of the contending parties were sharply drawn. Immediate success was obtained by the established authority; but the contest was to be transmitted to another continent. The interests of human freedom were at issue on the contest."—GEORGE BANCROFT, History of The United States of America, p. 198.
Bound for the New World
"In August the Mayflower and the Speedwell left Southampton for America. But as they were twice compelled to put back by the dismay of the captain of the Speedwell, at Ply mouth 'they agreed to dismiss her, and those who were willing returned to London, though this was very grievous and discouraging.' Having thus winnowed their numbers, the little band, not of resolute men only, but wives, some far gone in pregnancy, children, infants, a floating village of one hundred and two souls, went on board the single ship, which was hired only to convey them across the Atlantic; and, on the sixth day of September, 1620, thirteen years after the first colonization of Virginia, they set sail for a new world."—GEORGE BANCROFT, History of the United States of America, p. 206.
Notes:
The Mayflower Compact
(From the original manuscript in Old English as recorded by Governor Bradford, historian of the colony.)
"I shall a litle returne backe and begine with a combination made by them before they came ashore, being ye first foundation of their goyermente in this place; occasioned partly by ye discontented k mutinous speeches that some of the strangers amongst them had let fall from them in ye ship—That when they came a shore they would use their owne libertie; for none had power to comand them, the patente they had being for Virginia, and not for New-englancl, which belonged to another Government, with which ye Virginia Company had nothing to doe. And partly that shuch an [541 acte by them done (this their condition considered) might be as firme as any patent, and in some respects more sure.
The forme was as followeth.
" 'In ye name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwriten, the loyall subjects of our dread soveraigne Lord, King James, by ye grace of God, of Great Britaine, Franc, & Ireland king, defender of ye faith, Scc., haveing undertaken, for ye glorie of God, and advancemente of ye Christian faith, and honour of our king Sc countrie, a voyage to plant ye first colonie in ye Northerne parts of Virginia, doe by these presents solemnly Sc mutualy in ye presence of God, and one of another, covenant gc combine our selves togeather into a civill body politick, for our better ordering & preservation & furtherance of ye ends aforesaid; and by vertue hearof to enacte, constitute, and frame such just Sc. equall lawes, ordinances, acts, constitutions, & offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meete Sc convenient for ye generall good of ye Colonie, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cap-Codd ye 11. of November, in ye year of ye raigne of our soveraigne lord, King James, of England, France, & Ireland ye eighteenth, and of Scotland ye fiftie fourth. An°: Dom. 1620.'
"After this, they chose, or rather confirmed, Mr. John Carver (a man godly & well approved amongst them) their Governour for that year. And after they had provided a place for their goods, or comone store, (which were long in unlading for what of boats, foulnes of winter weather, and sicknes of diverce,) and begune some small cottages for their habitation, as time would admitte, they mette and consulted of lawes & orders, both for their civill & military Governmente, as ye necessitie of their condition did require, still adding therunto as urgent occasion in severall times, and as cases did require.
"In these hard 8c difficulte beginings they found some discontents & murmurings arise amongst some, and mutinous speeches Sz car-nags in other; but they were soone quelled 8c overcome by ye wisdome, patience, and just & equall carrage of things by ye Govr and better part, wch cave faithfully togeather in ye maine. But that which was most sadd & lamentable was, that in 2. or 3. moneths time halfe of their company dyed, espetialy in Jan: & February being ye depth of winter, and wanting houses & other comforts; being infected with ye scurvie & [55] other diseases, which this long vioage 8c their inacomodate condition had brought upon them; so as ther dyed some times 2. or 3. of a day, in ye foresiad time; that of 100. Sc odd persons, scarce 50. remained. And of these in ye time of most distres, ther was but 6. or 7. sound persons, who, to their great comendations be it spoken, spared no pains, night nor day, but with abundance of toyle and hazard of their owne health, fetched them woode, made them fires, drest them meat, made their beads, washed their lothsoine cloaths, clothed & uncloathed them; in a word, did all ye homly Sc necessarie offices for them wch dainty Sc quesie stomacks cannot endure to hear named; and all this willingly Sc cherfully, without any grudging in ye least, shewing herein their true love unto their freinds Sc bretheren. A rare example Sc worthy to be remembered. Tow of these 7. were Mr. William Brewster, ther reverend Elder, Sc Myles Standish, ther Captein Sc military comander, unto whom myself e, Sc many others, were much beholden in our low Sc sicke condition. And yet the Lord so upheld these persons, as in this generall calamity they were not at all infected either with sicknes, or lamnes. And what I have said of these, I may say of many others who dyed in this generall vissitation, Sc others yet living, that whilst they had health, yea, or any strength continuing, they were not wanting to any that had need of them. And I doute not but their recompense is with ye Lord."—BRADFORD, History of Plimoth Plantation. (From the Original Manuscript, with a report of the proceedings incident to the return of the manuscript to Massachusetts. Printed under the direction of the secretary of the Commonwealth, by order of the General Court. Boston: Wright Sc Potter Printing Co., State Printers, 1898), pp. 109-112.
