with the estimate made by Goodwin, who says:  “Only eighty or ninety could go in this party from Leyden,” and again:  “Not more than eighty of the may-Flower company were from Leyden.  Allowing for [i.e. leaving out] the younger children and servants, it is evident that not half the company can have been from Robinson’s congregation.”  As the total number of passengers on the Mayflower was one hundred and two when she took her final departure from England, it is clear that Goodwin’s estimate is substantially correct, and that the number representing the Leyden church as given above, viz., forty-two, is very close to the fact.

“When they came to the place” [Delfshaven], says Bradford, “they found the ship and all things ready; and such of their friends as could not come with them [from Leyden] followed after them; and sundry also came from Amsterdam (about fifty miles) to see them shipped, and to take their leave of them.”

Saturday, July 22/Aug. 1, 1620, the Pilgrim company took their farewells, and Winslow records:  “We only going aboard, the ship lying to the key [quay] and ready to sail; the wind being fair, we gave them [their friends] a volley of small shot [musketry] 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.”

Goodwin says of the parting:  “The hull was wrapped in smoke, through which was seen at the stern the white flag of England doubly bisected by the great red cross of St. George, a token that the emigrants had at last resumed their dearly-loved nationality.  Far above them at the main was seen the Union Jack of new device.”

And so after more than eleven years of banishment for conscience’ sake from their native shores, this little band of English exiles, as true to their mother-land—­despite persecutions—­as to their God, raised the flag of England, above their own little vessel, and under its folds set sail to plant themselves for a larger life in a New World.

And thus opens the “Log” of the Speedwell, and the “Westward-Ho” of the Pilgrim Fathers.

The SPEEDWELL’S log

Sunday, July 23/Aug. 2. 
                              On the German Ocean.  Wind fair.  General
                              course D.W., toward Southampton. sails
                              set, running free.

Monday, July 24/Aug. 3. 
                              Fair.  Wind moderate.  Dover Straits
                              English Channel.  In sight Dover Cliffs.

Tuesday, July 25/Aug. 5
                              Hugging English shore.  Enters Southampton
                              Water.

Wednesday, July 26/Aug. 5. 
                              Came to anchor in Port of Southampton near
                              ship Mayflower of Yarmouth, from London (to
                              which this pinnace is consort), off the
                              north of the West Quay.’