Repository: UIHistories Project: Convocation - 1896 (Forefathers' Convocation) [PAGE 10]

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irjw inspiration to the brightest and broadest and most beneficent nev civilization In world history. Bradford says: "So the) left that goodly and plea ;in t city which had been their resting place near twelve rears: but then hnetv that then were Pilarlms." Thej were hardly on their way before thej began to be subjected to a system of robbery and treachery which was to continue through many years and to which they were to submit in patience until thev had main times paid the pound of flesh nominated in the bond, and until they were strong enough to put an end to the disreputable cupidity of their task masters, it was more than twenty-five years before the little Pilgrim Republic could say it owed no man anything. First they were forced to sell provisions to raise £60 to pay certain port charges before they could sail, and which did not properly devolve upon them. Setting

-ail. they were out four days when t he " Speed well " was reported to be leaking dangerously All bore up tor Dartmouth and ten days were spent in unloading and repairing her from stem to stern, when she was pronounced entirely sea-worthy. Starting again, they were three hundred miles upon their journey when the

captain of the "Speedwell" again reported her leaking

and insisted upon putting hack to the English Plymonth, and then, although no leak was found, refused to again undertake the journey. I le was resorting to treachery to avoid his agreement to carry them to America and remain with them a year. Time was

vital, however, and so it was arranged that the ••speedweir

-

should be abandoned and

return to

London.

Eighteen of her passengers returned with her, the remainder crowding info the ''Mayflower." Fully six weea after the departure from Leyden the !*Mayflower," with her precious freight., made her third and final start, and It was to be more than two, long, bitter

months before she was to sight the shores of the New World. While she is slowly making her way amid Sunshine

and lorm over the great deep, let us study her pas-