THE EFFECTS OF STANDISH'S EXPEDITION. 345 XXI. Mar. of God upon their guilty consciences, hath so terri- CHAP. fied and amazed them, as in like manner they forsook their houses, running to and fro like men distract- 1623. ed, living in swamps and other desert places, and so brought manifold diseases amongst themselves, whereof very many are dead; as Canacum, the sachim of Manomet, Aspinet, the sachim of Nauset, and Ianough, sachim of Mattachiest. This sachim in his life, in the midst of these distractions, said the God of the English was offended with them, and would destroy them in his anger; and certainly it is strange to hear how many of late have, and still daily die amongst them. Neither is there any likelihood it will easily cease; because through fear they set little or no corn, which is the staff of life, and without which they cannot long preserve health and strength. From one of these places a boat was sent with presents to the Governor, hoping thereby to work their peace; but the boat was cast away, and three of the persons drowned, not far from our Plantation. Only one escaped, who durst not come to us, but returned; so as none of them dare come amongst us. I fear I have been too tedious both in this and other things. Yet when I considered how necessary a thing it is that the truth and grounds of this action especially should be made known, and the several dispositions of that dissolved colony, whose reports undoubtedly will be as various, I could not but enlarge myself where I thought to be most brief. Neither durst I be too brief, lest I should eclipse and rob God of that honor, glory, and praise, which belongeth to him for preserving us from falling when we were at the pit's brim, and yet feared nor knew not that we were in danger. CHAPTER XXII. OF THE FIRST ALLOTMENT OF LANDS, AND THE DISTRESSED CHAP. THE month of April being now come, on all hands XXII. we began to prepare for corn. And because there was 1623. no corn left before this time, save that was preserved April. for seed, being also hopeless of relief by supply, we thought best to leave off all other works, and prosecute that as most necessary. And because there was no1 small hope of doing good, in that common course of labor that formerly we were in;2 for that the governors, that followed men to their labors, had nothing to give men for their necessities, and therefore could not so well exercise that command over them therein, as formerly they had done; especially considering that self-love wherewith every man, in a measure more or less, loveth and preferreth his own good before his neighbour's, and also the base disposition of some drones, that, as at other times, so now especially would be most burdenous to the rest; it was therefore thought best that every man should use the 1 The word no appears to be an 2 See note1 on page 84. error of the press. F. THE FIRST ALLOTMENT OF LAND. 347 XXII. best diligence he could for his own preservation, both CHAP. in respect of the time present, and to prepare his own corn for the year following; and bring in a competent 1623. April. portion for the maintenance of public officers, fishernen, &c., which could not be freed from their calling without greater inconveniences. This course was to continue till harvest, and then the governors to gather in the appointed portion, for the maintenance of themselves and such others as necessity constrained to exempt from this condition. Only if occasion served, upon any special service they might employ such as they thought most fit to execute the same, during this appointed time, and at the end thereof all men to be employed by them in such service as they thought most necessary for the general good. And because there is great difference in the ground, that therefore a set quantity should be set down for a person, and each man to have his fall by lot,' as being most just and equal, and against which no man could except. At a general meeting of the company, many courses were propounded, but this approved and followed, as being the most likely for the present and future good of the company; and therefore before this month began to prepare our ground against seed-time. In the midst of April we began to set, the weather being then seasonable, which much encouraged us, giving us good hopes of after plenty. The setting season is good till the latter end of May. But it pleased God, for our further chastisement, to send a great drought; insomuch as in six weeks after the This allotment was only for one year. In the spring of the next year, 1623-4," the people requesting the Governor to have some land for continuance, and not by yearly lot, as before, he gives every person CHAPTER XXII. OF THE FIRST ALLOTMENT OF LANDS, AND THE DISTRESSED CHAP. THE month of April being now come, on all hands XXII. we began to prepare for corn. And because there was 1623. no corn left before this time, save that was preserved April. for seed, being also hopeless of relief by supply, we thought best to leave off all other works, and prosecute that as most necessary. And because there was no1 small hope of doing good, in that common course of labor that formerly we were in; for that the governors, that followed men to their labors, had nothing to give men for their necessities, and therefore could not so well exercise that command over them therein, as formerly they had done; especially considering that self-love wherewith every man, in a measure more or less, loveth and preferreth his own good before his neighbour's, and also the base disposition of some drones, that, as at other times, so now especially would be most burdenous to the rest; it was therefore thought best that every man should use the 1 The word no appears to be an error of the press. F. 1 2 See note on page 84. THE FIRST ALLOTMENT OF LAND. 347 XXII. best diligence he could for his own preservation, both CHAP. in respect of the time present, and to prepare his own corn for the year following; and bring in a competent 1623. April. portion for the maintenance of public officers, fishermen, &c., which could not be freed from their calling without greater inconveniences. This course was to continue till harvest, and then the governors to gather in the appointed portion, for the maintenance of themselves and such others as necessity constrained to exempt from this condition. Only if occasion served, upon any special service they might employ such as they thought most fit to execute the same, during this appointed time, and at the end thereof all men to be employed by them in such service as they thought most necessary for the general good. And because there is great difference in the ground, that therefore a set quantity should be set down for a person, and each man to have his fall by lot,' as being most just and equal, and against which no man could except. At a general meeting of the company, many courses were propounded, but this approved and followed, as being the most likely for the present and future good of the company; and therefore before this month began to prepare our ground against seed-time. In the midst of April we began to set, the weather being then seasonable, which much encouraged us, giving us good hopes of after plenty. The setting season is good till the latter end of May. But it pleased God, for our further chastisement, to send a great drought; insomuch as in six weeks after the This allotment was only for one year. In the spring of the next year, 1623-4," the people requesting the Governor to have some land for continuance, and not by yearly lot, as before, he gives every person |