Vexed Bermoothes

It seems fitting, at the close of Bermuda’s 400th anniversary, to recount a little history.  (It’s a pity so little was shared during the year).

At the time of the wreck of the Sea Venture in 1609, a schism arose among those stranded on Bermuda.  One group, under the authoritarian Lt Governor Sir Thomas Gates, wished to build new ships to continue to the American Jamestown colony.  Another smaller group were religious noncomformists who wished to stay on the Rock, and attempted a mutiny.

Among other names those nonconformists were called Brownists.  I kid you not.

One of the mutineers, named Stephen Hopkins, said “it was no breach of honesty, conscience, or religion to decline from the obedience of the Governour or refuse to goe any further led by his authority except it so pleased themselves”.  He survived, and returned to England to later sail to the New World on the Mayflower with the Pilgrims.

Another of the mutineers, a fellow called Henry Paine, is coyly noted in the official record as rebutting “and therefore let the Governour kisse, etc”.  He was shot.

One can only assume that in the official record, his comment that “the Governor can kiss my ass” was cleaned up a touch in anticipation of Dr. Brown’s desire in 2009 to have PATI extend the whole way back to the Sea Venture.

Bermuda celebrates the Deliverance and the Patience – but the truth is that these ships carried to remaining colonists to Jamestown to starvation and death.

The Bermuda mutiny is said to have been the inspiration for Shakespeare’s The Tempest.  It also shows that it’s hell for a Governor to get any respect around here.

Happy new year everyone.

Update:  Apparently John Barritt and I have the same Christmas reading list.