1623. scarcity. Meanwhile the distress from scarcity of food had continued at Plymouth. When the settlers had planted in the third spring, "all their victuals were spent, and they were only to rest on God's providence, Continued at night not many times knowing where to have a bit of anything the next day. ... Yet they bore these wants with great patience and alacrity of spirit. Some time, two or three months together, they neither had bread nor any kind of corn. They were divided into several companies, six or seven to a gang or company, and so went out with a net they had bought, to take bass and such like fish, by course, every company knowing their turn. ..... Neither did they return till they had caught something, though it were five or six days before, for they knew there was nothing at home, and to go home empty would be a great discouragement to the rest. Yea, they strove who should do best. If the boat stayed long or got little, then all went to seeking of shell-fish, which at low water they digged out of the sands. Also in the summer they got now and then a deer; for one or two of the fittest was appointed to range the woods for that end, and what was got that way was divided amongst them."1 When a second party of recruits joined them, "the best dish they could present them with was a lobster, or a piece of fish, without bread, or anything else but a cup of fair spring water."2 This new reinforcement came in the Ann and the Little ment of the plantation at Plymouth, in the parts of New England, said differences, after the full hearing and debating thereof before us, were finally concluded upon by the offer of the said John Pierce and mutual adoption of the said Treasurer and Company then present, in behalf of themselves and the rest of the said Company, that the said associates with their undertakers and servants now settled or to be settled in Plymouth aforesaid should remain and continue tenants unto the Council es- August. Arrival of the Ann and the James, the latter of which vessels, of forty-four tons' burden, was “built to stay in the country." The earlier settlers, with those who had now arrived, were afterwards distinguished from later emigrants Little James. by the titles of old-comers and forefathers. "Some few of your old friends," wrote Cushman at this time, "are come; they come dropping to you, and by degrees I hope erelong you shall enjoy them all." And a commercial partnership had a glimpse of the immortal renown to which its humble agents were destined: "Let it not be grievous to you," wrote the Adventurers, "that you have been instruments to break the ice for others who come after with less. difficulty; the honor shall be yours to the world's end; we bear you always in our breasts, and our hearty affection is towards you all, as are the hearts of hundreds more which never saw your faces, who doubtless pray for your safety as their own, that the same God which hath so marvellously preserved you from seas, foes, and famine, will still preserve you from all future dangers, and make you honorable among men, and glorious in bliss at the last day."1 New description of settlers. A few of the passengers in the two vessels now arrived had come at their own charge, and free to seek their own employments, "yet to be subject to the general government." The rest, about sixty in number, were "for the general," that is, under contract with the Adventurers. The settlement was not to be immediately relieved from its mixed character; some of the recently arrived were "very useful persons, and became good members to the body; and some were the 1 Bradford, 145, 146. Among the persons who came at this time were Cuthbertson, a member of the Leyden church, the wives of Fuller and Cooke, and two daughters of Brewster. There were at least twelve females. One of them became the wife of Bradford, and another the wife of Standish. Alice Southworth, Bradford's second wife, is said to have been his first love. Both being widowed, a correspondence took place, in the sequel of which she came out from England, and married him at Plymouth. wives and children of such as were here already; and some were so bad as they were fain to be at charge to send them home again the next year." The arrival of persons who came "on their particular," as it was called, introduced into the society a new element, which before long "caused some difficulty and disturbance." The colonists received them on an agreement consisting of four articles, namely:-1. "That they, on their parts, be subject to all such laws and orders as are already made, or hereafter shall be, for the public good"; 2. "That they be freed and exempt from the general employments of the company, except common defence, and such other employments as tend to the perpetual good of the colony"; 3. That, for every male above sixteen years old, they should make an annual contribution of a bushel of Indian corn, or its value, towards the maintenance of the Governor and other public officers; 4. That, till the expiration of the partnership between the Colony and the Adventurers, they should abstain from traffic with the natives for furs and other commodities.1 third year. Another year was now drawing to a close, and the first terrible hardships of the enterprise were over. "By this time harvest was come, and instead of fam- Plentiful harine, now God gave them plenty, and the face of vest of the things was changed to the rejoicing of the hearts of many; and the effect of their particular planting was well seen, for all had, one way and other, pretty well to bring the year about, and some of the abler sort and more industrious had to spare, and sell to others, so as any`general want or famine hath not been amongst them since to this day." 2 Thus it was that the Governor, looking back to this autumn from later times, recorded the altered pros 1 Bradford, 143, 147, 148. Cushman alluded in his letter to the mixed character of the party (Ibid., 143), and specified persons, who, he said, “ came without my consent, but the importu- pect. This year was the first in which a stimulus of individual interest had quickened the activity of toil. To each family, in place of the partnership labor hitherto maintained, had been assigned in the spring the cultivation and profit of a separate parcel of land, the single persons being each attached to some family, and a provision being added, that each cultivator should at harvest "bring in a competent portion for the maintenance of public officers, fishermen, &c." The plan "had very good success, for it made all hands very industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been; and it gave far better content. The women now went willingly into the field and took their little ones with them to set corn, whom to have compelled would have been thought great tyranny and oppression.' July. "1 A drought had followed the planting season, and continued with severity till the middle of summer. "The most courageous were now discouraged." It was resolved to set apart a day " to humble themselves together before the Lord by fasting and prayer." The religious services lasted "some eight or nine hours." When they began, "the heavens were as clear and the drought as like to continue as ever." Before they closed, the sky was overcast. The rain began to fall, as the thankful worshippers withdrew, and for fourteen days there fell "such soft, sweet, and moderate showers as it was hard to say whether their withered corn or drooping affections were most quickened or revived."2 In the autumn, by the carelessness of "some of the seamen that were roystering in a house," or, as was suspected, by the design of some mischievous person among those recently arrived, a fire broke out "right against their storehouse, in which were their common store and all their provisions, Nov. 5. the which if it had been lost, the plantation 1 Bradford, 134–136, 151. Wins- 2 Winslow, Good Newes, 49, 50. low, Good Newes, 47. had been overthrown." But by great exertions it was saved; and no want was felt during the winter, though three or four houses had been consumed, and all the goods and provisions in them, to the value of five hundred pounds.1 In the preservation of the magazine, as well as in the seasonable showers, was confidently recognized the intervention of a special providence. Bradford, who had been chosen Governor at the beginning of each year, and who would have declined a fourth election, was prevailed on to accept the charge, 1624. with a council of five Assistants, instead of one March. as heretofore. He had correctly estimated the favorable operation of the division of labor introduced the preceding year; and the plan was now extended so as to allot to each householder an acre of land near of land. the town, to be held in severalty till the expiration of the seven years' partnership with the Adventurers. The quantity of land thus distributed was small, to the end “that they might be kept close together, both for more safety and defence." 2 Allotments Winslow Winslow, who had gone in the Ann to England to make a personal report to the Adventurers and procure supplies, returned in the Charity after an absence Arrival of of eight months. "He brought three heifers from Engand a bull, the first beginning of any cattle of land. that kind in the land, with some clothing and other necessaries." He also brought a carpenter to build "two ketches, a lighter, and some six or seven shallops," who died soon, but not till he had rendered himself very useful; a "salt-man," who proved "an ignorant, foolish, selfwilled fellow," and only made trouble and waste; and "a preacher, though none of the most eminent and rare," to whose transportation Cushman wrote that he and Winslow consented only "to give content to some in London." With Winslow came a sad "report of a strong faction 2 Ibid., 167, 168. 1 Bradford, 151, 152. |