To a careful and candid student of all the facts, the proofs are
seemingly unmistakable, and the conclusion is unavoid able, that the MAY-
FLOWER Pilgrims were designedly brought to Cape Cod by Captain Jones, and
their landing in that latitude was effected, in pursuance of a conspiracy
entered into by him, not with the Dutch, but with certain of the nobility
of England; not with the purpose of keeping the planters out of Dutch
territory, but with the deliberate intent of stealing the colony from the
London Virginia Company, under whose auspices it had organized and set
sail, in the interest, and to the advantage, of its rival Company of the
"Northern Plantations."

It is noteworthy that Jones did not command the MAY-FLOWER for another
voyage, and never sailed afterward in the employ of Thomas Goffe, Esq.,
or (so far as appears) of any reputable shipowner. Weston was not such,
nor were the chiefs of the "Council for New England," in whose employ he
remained till his death.

The records of the Court of the "Council" show, that "as soon as it would
do," and when his absence would tend to lull suspicion as to the parts
played, Captain Jones's noble patrons took steps to secure for him due
recognition and compensation for his services, from the parties who were
to benefit directly, with themselves, by his knavery. The records read:

"July 17, 1622. A motion was made in the behaffe of Captaine Thomas
Jones, Captaine of the DISCOVERY, nowe employed in Virginia for trade and
fishinge [it proved, apparently, rather to be piracy], that he may be
admitted a freeman in this Companie in reward of the good service he hath
there [Virginia in general] performed. The Court liked well of the
motion and condiscended thereunto." The DISCOVERY left London at the
close of November, 1621. She arrived at Jamestown, Virginia, in April,