11 Days of Thanksgiving, Day 5

Did you know that the Pilgrims made at least 5 attempts to leave England because of the religious persecution they were facing? As long as they had breath, they weren't giving up.

Their first attempt was when they hired a ship captain to take them to Holland. They left in the middle of the night so as not to be captured. After travelling a long way, they finally saw a light in the water that was the ship they hired to take them to freedom. Turned out this ship captain double crossed them and told the authorities. The ship captain was paid by England for turning them in. He also got to keep the monies the Pilgrims, also known as Puritans, paid him. They were then thrown into prison.

The second attempt to leave also happened at night with a different hired ship captain. They separated to avoid suspicion with the men getting in the ship first. As they were approaching the women and children so they could board, soldiers were spotted on the horizon. This captain didn't want to get caught so he took off with the men, leaving the women and children behind. As the ship went out of the harbor towards the North Sea, a huge storm came and took them away. After 14 days, the ship and men arrived in Holland but the women and children were put in prison again in England. 

The third attempt was a year later when the men were able to go back to England, be rejoined with their families, and bring them to Holland. After a few years in Holland, the Pilgrims went back to England. It was there they decided to take two ships to the new world, known as America.

Their fourth attempt was with the Mayflower and the Speedwell. They left England in the summer but the Speedwell starting taking on water and both ships had to turn around and go back to the harbor.

After deciding who would go and who would stay behind in England, the Mayflower left the harbor with the Pilgrims and other passengers. This was the Puritans fifth and final attempt to reach a land where they would not be persecuted for their faith.

And you thought your family trips were stressful!

The fifth stanza is a nod to the steadfastness and unwavering faith of the Pilgrims.

Fifth verse including the first, "On the fifth day of Thanksgiving, we recount gratefully five trip attempts, four peace pipes, three days feasting, two Indians, and a Mayflower on the sea."

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