The Speedwell was the English passenger ship which was supposed to carry the Leiden congregation (later known as pilgrims) to the New World in 1620 CE accompanied by the cargo ship Mayflower. The Speedwell was 43 years old at the time and, under the name Swiftsure, had participated in the 1588 CE sea battle against the Spanish Armada. By 1620 CE, the ship had been decommissioned, renamed the Speedwell, and was being used for short trade missions out of the Delfthaven port of the Netherlands when it was purchased by one Captain Blossom, a friend or member of the Leiden congregation, to take them to North America.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original article at https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1637/the-loss-of-the-speedwell--foundation-of-democracy/.
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