True facts about the Mayflower Pilgrims. This history starts in Holland where the Pilgrims were living, having left England. In 1609, Holland had signed a truce with its former war adversary, Spain. The truce was negotiated to last twelve years. English troops which had been stationed in Holland during that time to protect them from the Spanish were withdrawn. Among these troops was most likely a 25 year old soldier by the name of Myles Standish, who would make acquaintance with the...