[1] owing to a difference in the methods of reckoning time used by england and other nations between the years 1582 and 1752,--when all became practically alike,--it was common to make use of "double-dating." in so doing, the terms, "old style" and "new style" were used, and to make the dates of the former and the latter correspond, ten days are _added_ to all dates of the period between 1582 and 1700. december 11, 1620, old style, would be, in our present reckoning, december 21, 1620 ("forefathers' day").
For three fine days they sailed down the North Sea, through Dover Straits, into the English Channel, and the fourth morning found them anchored in Southampton port. Here they found the _Mayflower_ from London lying at anchor, with some of their own people--the Cushmans and Deacon Carver--and some forty other Pilgrim colonists, who were going with them. Among these our Leyden young people were no doubt very glad to find eight more boys and six girls of all ages, two of them being Henry Sampson and Humility Cooper, little cousins of their own Edward Tilley, who was to take them with him.
For ten days the two ships lay in this port. Trying days for the elders indeed they were. Mr. Weston, their former friend (who had arranged with the merchants to help them, but was now turned traitor), came to see them, was very harsh, and went away angry. The passengers and cargoes had to be divided anew between the ships, thirty persons going to the _Speedwell_ and ninety to the _Mayflower_. Then the pinnace sprung a leak and had to be reladen. To pay their "port charges" they were forced to sell most of their butter. And there were many sad and anxious hearts. But great times those ten days were for the larger boys and girls, who were allowed to go ashore on the West Quay (at which the ships lay), and for whom every day was full of new sights both aboard the vessels and ashore. "Governors" were chosen for the ships; a young cooper--John Alden--was found, to go over, do their work, and come back, if he wished, on the _Mayflower_; and all was at last ready. They said what they thought were their last farewells to England, and down the Solent, out by the lovely Isle of Wight, into the broad Channel, both ships sailed slowly, "outward bound."