The Mayflower and Her Log, entire by Azel Ames - A complete eBook in pages (21 / 43)

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The Mayflower and Her Log, entire by Azel Ames
Book, page 21 / 43

(e) That he had been sent there for some other purpose than to bring the
SPEEDWELL to Southampton. Duly considering all the facts together, there
can be no doubt that only one "pilott" was sent from England; that he was
expected to return when the work was done for which he went (apparently
the refitting of the SPEEDWELL); that he was ordered to remain for a new
duty, and that the man who performed that duty and brought the ship to
Southampton (who, we know was Master Reynolds) must have been the
"pilott", sent over.

We are told too, by Bradford,

      [Bradford's Historie, as already cited; Arber, The Story of the
      Pilgrim Fathers, p. 341. John Brown, in his Pilgrim Fathers of New
      England, p. 198, says: "She [the SPEEDWELL] was to remain with the
      colony for a year." Evidently a mistake, arising from the length of
      time for which her crew were shipped. The pinnace herself was
      intended, as we have seen, for the permanent use of they colonists,
      and was to remain indefinitely.]

that the crew of the SPEEDWELL "were hired for a year," and we know, in a
general way, that most of them went with her to London when she abandoned
the voyage. This there is ample evidence Coppin did not do, going as he
did to New England as "second mate" or "pilott" of the MAY-FLOWER, which
there is no reason to doubt he was when she left London. Neither is
there anywhere any suggestion that there was at Southampton any change in
the second mate of the larger ship, as there must have been to make good
the suggestion of Dr. Dexter.

Where the SPEEDWELL lay while being "refitted" has not been ascertained,
though presumably at Delfshaven, whence she sailed, though possibly at
one of the neighboring larger ports, where her new masts and cordage
could be "set up" to best advantage.

We know that Reynolds--"pilott" and "Master" went from London to
superintend the "making-ready" for sea. Nothing is known, however, of
his antecedents, and nothing of his history after he left the service of
the Pilgrims in disgrace, except that he appears to have come again to
New England some years later, in command of a vessel, in the service of
the reckless adventurer Weston (a traitor to the Pilgrims), through whom,

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