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From Rod Whiting's B.B.C.Breakfast Show From Monday August 20th until Friday 24th 2007, BBC Radio Lincolnshire's Rod Whiting retraced the route of the Separatists , who hailed from around Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, as they made their first escape attempt to Holland from Boston. Along the way he met up with lots of interesting folk - many like Sue, Roger and Russell Hocking who are tirelessly trying to reclaim these people, more commonly known as The Pilgrim Fathers, for what they really are - local heroes! |
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Mary Brewster's Diary © Sue Allan 2007 Monday We are
leaving our home land I can hardly believe it?
How can it be that we are being forced to leave behind everything
we know, to go on the run like a pack of fugitive criminals? Yet what have
we done that is so wrong? All that my husband and the others have ever
asked for is a little tolerance from the Church. My
eldest, Jonathan, is nearly thirteen years old and almost a man. He
understands the gravity of our plight, bless him. But I had to watch him,
standing by the Manor gate saying one last good bye to his dearest
friend... I tell thee, it near broke my heart and his too My
husband, William tells me that Tuesday The
children remain in good humour. Those old enough walk the entire distance
while the youngest take turns riding upon our few carts or being carried
by their mothers. It is like a great adventure to them – a new game to
be enjoyed. The babies are
restless though with their routines broken. And we nursing mothers have
the devil’s own job trying to suckle our little ones on the move. Last night we slept in the out buildings of a good Puritan family and were able to have a hot meal. I hope that tonight we might do likewise. For today the sky has been bright and clear which can only mean one thing at this time of year – a cold frosty night in prospect. Wednesday Last night we were forced to sleep out in the open. We mothers huddled up close with our little ones tucked under our skirts and covered ourselves over with canvas and bracken and whatever else we could find for warmth. We lit no fire, for the searchers would have seen it like a beacon in the wilderness so instead we went to sleep with chill hands and feet and with only a cold meal to comfort our sorry bellies. Today I am stiff and I ache all over. It is easier for the younger men and women in our party, but I am nearly forty years of age and already suffer from the bone ache on the best of days. How I miss my feather bed! Praise the Lord, but
with just an hour or so until darkness came, Will Thursday
Will Bradford says
that we are to make our way to a deserted stretch of fenland to the
seaward side of Friday. The shadowy outline of
the ship suddenly came looming up out from the darkness of the landscape.
With naught but one lantern lit at her fore to guide us to her. Some of
the women amongst us began to cry with joy and relief as they were helped
aboard by the mariners. Not I though. Instead I was suddenly filled with a
rush of deep foreboding.
The captain had taken
a small fortune from us to speed us on to safety but instead, once he had
us in his grasp, he delivered us to
our enemies like lambs to the slaughter. His crew stripped us of
everything we had of value then turned us over to the authorities at © Sue Allan 2007
Sue and Russell Hocking of Pilgrim Tours UK
Sue warned Rod not to shout out
'Hello Sailor' wearing that get up in
Boston! |
Roger is not impressed by Rodder's attempt to
make
a
shadow rabbit but too
polite to say so on air.
One of these is Butch at Metheringham .
T Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It's Super
Rodders!
A happy group at Woodhall Spa
as the sun shone briefly.
More
Highlights From Rod Whiting
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