Boston ... But No Fenway

Our last visit to Pilgrim sites in England took two days to accomplish: Yesterday the Guild Hall was closed! Boston, beautiful now (left) is a painful part of the Pilgrims' story:
In 1607, they knew they could not stay in England... but they were not allowed to leave. They WALKED for 65 miles, carrying everything they could (knowing everything they were leaving... including property... was now lost) to the thriving port city of Boston, and four miles beyond. (The intended point of departure is pictured... a beautiful undeveloped spot still.) They had arranged for a ship to carry them to Amsterdam.
They were betrayed, as they would be several more times: The captain of the ship had alerted the authorities, and they showed up to arrest the Pilgrims before the ship even left from the shore. The captain and the "authorities" helped themselves to their money and possessions before the Pilgrims were carted off to jail in Boston, in the Guildhall there (pictured right).
Separatist sympathy ran high in Boston, so the magistrate let most of them go ... keeping only Brewster, Bradford and Robinson in the cell (pictured left). After a month, he released them as well, ordering them to turn themselves in to the authorities in Gainsborough. Right.
In 1608 they devised an escape from Illingham to the north... this time successful for the men, but not for the women. The authorities arrived before the women and children could be boarded, but the Dutch captain said, "I'm out of here!" -- and left with the men. Imagine their horror at seeing their families arrested on shore! Worse: They headed into the teeth of what was evidently a hurricane in the North Sea. After an ardent prayer service, the storm abated and they arrived safely in Amsterdam.
Women and children were considered of no consequence, so they were released and made their way to Holland in dribs and drabs over the next year. Unreal.
Tomorrow we leave Bolham Manor (pictured right) and fly to Amsterdam to pick up the story there. Pam and Butch have been wonderful hosts here!
FYI: Boston, MA, was originally called Shawmut. It was renamed because the first minister to serve there, the Rev. Robert Cotton, was from Boston, England. Now you know.