After hostilities with Spain ended, she was decommissioned in 1605, and renamed Speedwell, after the UK wildflower but also a play on words for its desired ability.

The ships lay at anchor in Southampton almost two weeks while Speedwell was being repaired and the group had to sell some of their belongings, food and stores, to cover costs and port fees.

[1] According to Bradford, Speedwell was sold at auction in London, and after being repaired made a number of successful voyages for her new owners.

Nathaniel Philbrick theorizes that the crew used a mast that was too big for the ship, and that the added stress caused holes to form in the hull.

[4] William Bradford wrote that the "overmasting" strained the ship's hull, but attributes the main cause of her leaking to actions on the part of the crew.

[3] Passenger Robert Cushman wrote from Dartmouth in August 1620 that the leaking was caused by a loose board approximately two feet long.

[6] Under the ownership of Captain John Thomas Chappell, the Speedwell sailed again on 28 May 1635 from Southampton, finally arriving in Virginia.

In 1837, Robert Walter Weir was commissioned by the United States Congress to paint an historical depiction of the Pilgrims.