To aid him, Robinson and Brewster drew up a confession of faith which, as it contains an admission of the right of the state to control religion, seems strangely at variance with the doctrines of the Separatists.

But the king was not easily persuaded, and he promised only that "he would connive at them and not molest them, provided they carried themselves peaceably."[13] Sandys passed through the London Company two "particular patents" in their behalf, one taken out in the name of John Wincop and the other in that of John Pierce, two of their associates in England; under the latter, granted in February, 1620, the Pilgrims prepared to leave Holland.[14] Capital to the amount of L7000 was furnished by seventy merchant adventurers in London, and it was agreed with them that for several years everything was to be held in joint stock, the shares of which were to be valued at L10 each and to be paid for in money or by personal service.[15] As they had not resources for all to go, the major part of the congregation, with Robinson, stayed behind, promising to follow later.
The emigrants under Carver, Bradford, and Brewster started out from Delft-Haven in July, 1620, in the leaky ship the _Speedwell_.

At Southampton, in England, they met the _Mayflower_ with friends from London, and soon after both ships made an attempt to start to sea.
They had not sailed any distance before the _Speedwell_ let in so much water that it was necessary to put in at Dartmouth for repairs.

Again they set sail, and this time they had left old England one hundred leagues behind when the captain reported the _Speedwell_ in danger of foundering.

There was nothing to do but to bear up again and return to England, where they put in at Plymouth.