Winthrop wrestled with the decisions but each time decided
that fleeing was the only available answer. Charles's men were
arresting Puritans in increasing numbers. The societal corruption
might contaminate the younger generations, ending any hope of salvation. Besides,
the Puritans could continue God's work and try to convert the American
Indians. His friends in the new venture wooed him by saying that
he would be one of the few leaders in the New World and would get
to help shape the new colony. One final trick by the company's founders
helped assure its success. Because of the confusion surrounding
the end of Parliament, they had been able to sneak the colony's
charter past the king without the common clause saying the new
company would be headquartered in London–allowing them to conduct
their business in the New World and giving them wider autonomy
from the crown. On August 26, Winthrop signed a contract with eleven
other Puritan leaders that stated they would be ready to leave for
New England the following spring. And on October 20, the Massachusetts
Bay Company unanimously selected Winthrop as governor of the new
colony from a slate of four candidates.
From this point, everything began happening quickly. When Margaret
Tyndal, Winthrop's wife, became pregnant, the family decided that
it would be best for her to remain behind in England for at least
a little while. Winthrop frantically organized the expedition,
gathering everything from ships to horses to provisions to colonists.
He tried to restrict the passengers to only the most god-fearing,
but he quickly realized the colony would need a wide range of skilled
workers. The trip was incredibly expensive for the average family.
Some paid in advance, others–mostly tradesmen–were to get land
in the new land, and some traveled as indentured servants who would
work off their fare at a rate of three shillings a day. Finally,
Winthrop needed to arrange some sort of industry for the new colony
so it could reward its shareholders back in England. He was able
to delay that decision by promising that profits would be distributed
at the end of seven years, although it became clear long before
then the new colony would never be profitable.
As winter ended Winthrop and a thousand fellow travelers
gathered in Southampton to travel to the New World.
