The sailing of the Mayflower in 1620 is a celebrated foundation myth of the United States and a global symbol of the flight from oppression to freedom. It is a migrant story with a powerful resonance for the events of our time as we approach the 400th anniversary. For the first time it will be celebrated on both sides of the Atlantic. This book aims to unravel the Mayflower legends with intriguing stories from the actual historic narrative. Jacobean London was the great city

Published on the quatercentenary of the Mayflower’s journey, this book offers a unique perspective by placing the story in a British context and providing a fresh analysis of why the journey took place. It explores the economic as well as the religious reasons for the journey to strip away the romantic, orthodox view of the Mayflower and offer an illuminating insight into how the journey became a reality. The voyage of the Mayflower has almost always been seen as part of Amer