The year - 1620
There was a ship in the harbor, an old one by the looks of it. Big too. It boasted three masts and three levels. It was an ugly thing. The ugliest ship Mercy Proctor had ever seen in all of her sixteen summers. She watched it as it lolled in the water and wondered as to it's duty. The other ships in the harbor sparkled and shined with new coats of paint and white masts with nary a rend flapping in the breeze. The newly arrived one was an ugly duckling in a sea of swans. It moaned and groaned as an old man with arthritic bones as it rolled with the sea. The other ships were covered with seamen as ants, swabbing decks and mending sails. But something about this old haggard sea vessel, solitary and alone upon the waters beckoned to Mercy. As if calling her by name, promising adventure and great importance to history and a whisper of something else too......freedom.
Her mum would surely have her hide if she did not hurry home with the days gathering of fabrics, linen, muslin and vegetable dyes for dying the garments a dull chestnut, indigo and gray, as well as a variety of other muted colors, and for the wealthier customers only ebony black would do. Her mum, Rose Proctor was a seamstress, well regarded in the community of Puritans with whom Mercy's family worshiped at least twice a week, not including the gatherings in homes to study the Bible and pray. The Puritan community was a close knit one and privacy was a luxury a Puritan did not comprehend. Rose Proctor's excellence with needle and thread and her delicate stitchery brought more business than she could handle crafting the Puritan's specialized garments. Ellison Proctor, Mercy's stern yet loving father and husband to Rose had created quite a reputation as an accomplished wood worker and was employed for his expertise in crafting bureaus, wardrobes, trunks and chests to house the hand crafted wares of Rose sold to the local women of the community.
As Mercy approached her home she saw her mum standing at the window watching for her return, a scold upon her lips Mercy was sure. The door opened and before Rose could open her mouth in rebuke Mercy placed a kiss upon her mums rigid mouth. "Sorry mummy! I got caught up in watching that new ship in the harbor. You know? The old rickety one?" Mercy missed the catch in Rose's breath, the rapidity of her breathing and the tremor in her hands as she took the basket of good from Mercy's out stretched arms.
Roses pursed lips trembled every so slightly and softened as she smiled at her child. "Well tis good you decided to stop ogling and get home with me fabrics. Otherwise the ladies of the congregation will do without their Ruffs, doublets, waistcoats and aprons for this winter. Rose put on a gruff countenance but Mercy new better. She came up behind her mum and wrapped her arms around her thick waist, squeezed and said "I love you mummy!" Rose replied, "I love you too sweet Mercy. So there's a new ship in the harbor you say?" Mercy plucked a dumpling out of a pot simmering on the fire and popped it into her mouth. "Yes! It's huge and hardly looks fit for sailing. I wonder why it's here?" This time Mercy did not miss the creasing of Rose's brow nor the glisten in her eye as she muttered almost as to herself. "Yes, tis a wonder if it is fit to sail."
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