Our Arrival at Cowes

It was on the twenty-ninth day of October, as I have already set down, that we were at liberty to leave Tillbury Hope, and then were the ships steered for the Isle of Wight; for what reason I did not understand until we had arrived at Cowes.

From the time I first came on board the Ark  I had been looking around, hoping to see the priests, for it was in my mind that they would be of much aid in describing that which was spread before us, and prove better companions for a lad than the high-spirited gentlemen who made up our company. Greatly was I surprised at failing to find them, for John had said, without any question of doubt, that they would sail with us.

It was when we arrived at Cowes that I understood why my search had been in vain, for here Father White, Father Altham, and Brother Gervase came on board, which explained why we had put in at this place.

Then was it made plain to me concerning the stopping of our ships by Edward Watkins. As you know, the established religion in England is Protestant, and we who are Catholics are under a certain disfavor with those gentlemen who frequent the court; therefore was it possible for Lord Baltimore's enemies to make head against him. Also, perhaps, it was to learn if the reverend fathers were with us that we were called back, and thus would Lord Baltimore be charged with counting on building up a Catholic colony, when, as an Englishman, he should favor the Protestants. This, likewise, was the reason why the priests boarded the vessels at Cowes, instead of when we lay in the Thames.

Lord Baltimore himself came to see us at Cowes, and because of his visit, during which much business was transacted, such as receiving his commands for the establishing of the province, we did not leave port until the morning of Friday, November twenty-second.