the product was necessarily thrown into the common stock.By the articles of agreement with the merchant adventurers in England, the personal services of the planters, and of their wives and children, were estimated at a stipulated rate, and to make common stock with property advanced, either by them or their adventurers. But this year it was judged advisable to change the system and create an individual interest, by allowing every family the product of its labor to its own particular use. Each family to have a certain parcel of land in proportion to its numbers, on the condition only of a certain portion of the corn set apart at the harvest for those who were engaged in public business and for the fishermen. This arrangement operated as a stimulus to individual industry, and a larger quantity of corn was planted this year than before. Among the passengers who arrived in the two ships, the Ann and the Little James, in July and August, were Timothy Hatherly, George Morton, and John Jenney, with the wives and children of some who had arrived before. By these, letters were received from their agent, Mr. Cushman, and from the adventurers. Mr. Cushman writes Some few of your old friends are come; they come dropping to you, and by degrees; I hope ere long you shall enjoy them all.' The adventurers write, 'Let it not be grievous to you, 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.'

These new comers were extremely affected with the miserable condition of those who had been almost three years in the country. An interview with old friends under such suffering circumstances was truly appalling. The best dish we could present them with,' says governor Bradford, is a lobster or piece of fish, without bread, or any thing else but a cup of fair spring water; and the long continuance of this diet, with our labors abroad, has somewhat abated the freshness of our complexions; but God gives us health.'

First Jury. It appears from the following ordinance, that this little band of exiles duly appreciated the privilege of trial by jury:

It is ordained, this 17th day of December, A. D. 1623, by this court, then held, that all criminal facts, and also all matters of trespass and debts between man and man, shall be tried by the verdict of twelve honest men, to be impannelled ay authority, in form of a jury upon their oaths.'-Colony Records.

Under August 14th of this year, Mr. Prince places the fourth marriage in the settlement, governor Bradford to Mrs. Alice Southworth. This is taken, it is said, from the governor's register. A more particular account will be given under the year 1657.

On the 10th of September, the Ann sailed for London, on company account, laden with clapboards, and all the beaver and other furs which had been collected at Plymouth. Mr. Edward Winslow went passenger in the Ann, 'to inform how things are,' says governor Bradford, and procure what we

want.

1624.-The colonists had hitherto appointed but one assistant to the governor; but the present year, by the request of Mr. Bradford, four others were added, and to the governor was given a double vote. Governor Bradford on this occasion strongly recommended a rotation in the office, alleging that if it were any honor or benefit, others beside himself should partake of it; if it were a burden, others should help to bear it. But he was, notwithstanding, re-elected, and repeatedly afterwards.

On the request of the people to the governor that they might have some land for permanent use, instead of the accustomed assignment by annual lot, he gave every person an acre for himself and his family, as near to the town as was convenient.* Edward Winslow, having been sent to England the last year, as an agent for the colony, on his return home brought three heifers and a bull, which were the first neat cattle brought to Plymouth. The settlers were destitute of milk the first four years. Mr. Winslow was absent but six months, and brought with him provisions and clothing.

When we consider the sequestered situation of our puritan fathers, and their privations and sufferings, it is scarcely credible that a spirit of enmity should subsist against them on the other side of the Atlantic. But such was the fact; a division among the adventurers took place, a party of them were dissatisfied with the affairs of the colonists; groundless calumnies were urged against them; and it was determined, if possible, to prevent Rev. Mr. Robinson and the remainder of his church from coming over, alleging that their narrow scheme of reli

*The particular location of these lots to each individual family respectively, may be found in Judge Davis's edition of the Memorial and also in Hon. Mr. Baylies' Historical Memoir, vol. i. page 257.

gious polity was unfriendly to a trading establishment. With Mr. Winslow, one John Lyford, a preacher, but a man of loose morals, was sent over by some of the adventurers. This man, on his first arrival, saluted the planters apparently with great reverence and humility, bowing and cringing in a very unbecoming manner, and even wept when blessing God that had brought him to see their faces.' The governor treated him with all respect, and admitted him into his councils with Elder Brewster, and others. He soon desired to be received into fellowship with their church, making a confession of his faith, and a humble acknowledgment of his former sinful courses, and blessed God for the opportunity of disburdening his conscience, &c. It was not long before he was observed in close intimacy with one John Oldham, a man of turbulent and restless spirit, and the mischievous effects of this association soon became manifest. They diffused a factious spirit among the more vicious part of the populace, who could be brought in opposition to the colonists, and in aid of their enemies in England. Lyford was observed to be much engaged in writing letters to go by the return ship to England, and was not very careful to conceal a knowledge of their contents from those whom they most concerned. It was even boasted openly, among the confidants of Lyford and Oldham, that their letters would effect a change of affairs at Plymouth. The governor, apprehensive that these letters would be productive of evil consequences, should they reach their destination in England, thought himself bound to intercept them. He went on board the vessel in the harbor, and, on representing to Capt. William Pierce, the commander, his suspicions, it was agreed that the letters should be unsealed, as the welfare of the colony was doubtless deeply involved in the issue. A scene of perfidy was now disclosed, making it evident that they were scheming a total subversion of the civil authority, and of the church government, that the affairs of the colony might devolve on themselves. Their letters were filled with base invective, and false accusations against both church and state in the new colony. The governor deemed it proper to take copies of these letters; but of some of the most palpably obnoxious, he retained the originals, and replaced them with copies. breaking the seals of private letters may always be justified, when for the purpose of detecting a treasonable correspondence, which may affect the ruin of a community. Amongst the Lyford letters was one to John Pemberton, a minister well known to be inimical to the colony, and in this letter were enclosed copies of a letter from a gentleman in England to Mr.

The

Brewster, and of another from Mr. Winslow to Rev. Mr. Robinson. These two copies were taken from the original sealed letters by Lyford, when on board the ship while laying at Gravesend bound to America.

Governor Bradford remained silent respecting the information which he had obtained, but kept a strict watch over the conduct of the culprits, that their adherents and their designs might be more clearly discovered. Oldham soon became obstreperous, refusing to comply with his military duty, when, according to rule, called on to watch. He even insulted the captain and attacked him with a knife, and ranted furiously against all who attempted to quiet him. He was imprisoned, and a slight punishment being inflicted, he made confession and was released. Soon after this, Lyford, with his accomplices, proceeded to extremity, in defiance of the ruling authority, and without consulting the governor, church, or elder, set up a public meeting apart on the Lord's day, and attempted to administer the sacrament. In this crisis of affairs, the governor summoned a court of the whole company, and preferred his charges against Lyford and Oldham. With audacious face they denied the charges, and required proof. On this extraordinary occasion, governor Bradford expatiated on the principal objects and views of their migration here, the toils and sufferings to which they had been subjected, that they might enjoy the ordinances of God in freedom and quietness. In adverting to the case of Lyford, he reminded him that he had not participated in those sufferings, nor in the expense, but was sent over, and, with his large family, received kindly and supported at much expense; and now to plot against them and seek their ruin, was most unjust and perfidious. Lyford still denied the charge, and pretended not to understand the language addressed to him. The governor could no longer withhold the overwhelming truth. The letters from his own hand were now produced, and where is the man with sufficient effrontery not to be utterly confounded? Oldham began to be furious, and to rage bitterly that their letters had been intercepted. He endeavored to excite a mutiny among the people, exhorting them to show their courage, that now was the time to side with him in open rebellion, and he would stand by them. But he gained not a man; all were confounded and even the seditiously disposed were quelled through fear. The governor now proceeded to reprove Lyford for his base hypocrisy and treachery; in abusing his friends, in breaking the seals of private letters and taking copies; and at this time he caused Lyford's letters to be read to the whole company. He was

next reminded of his confession when admitted to churchfellowship, and his saying at that time that he did not hold himself a minister till he could have a new calling for that purpose, and yet, now he had drawn a party aside, and, without acquainting the governor or the church, was about to administer the sacrament, by virtue of his former calling. He only replied, that many persons had complained to him of abuses, but the persons he named denied his assertions. At length the miscreant, with eyes streaming with tears, confessed, 'that he feared he was a reprobate, and that his sins were so great that God would not pardon them; he was "unsavory salt," and that he had so wronged them that he could never make them amends;' confessing all he had written against them was false and naught, both for motive and manner.'

Both of these men were convicted, and the court sentenced them to be expelled from the plantation. Oldham was to depart immediately, though his wife and family had liberty to tarry all winter, or till he could remove them comfortably. Lyford had liberty to tarry six months, and the governor intended to remit his punishment, if his repentance proved sincere. He acknowledged that his sentence was just, far less than he deserved, and afterwards confessed his sin before the church with tears in abundance. He acknowledged that he had slanderously abused the people, expecting that a majority would side with him, and that he should gain his point; and he now blessed God that his designs were frustrated. He confessed himself to be actuated by pride, vain glory and self-love; that his eyes and his ears were shut against all good; and that if God should make him a vagabond on the earth, as was Cain, it would be just. Such was the apparent sincerity of these professions of sorrow and repentance, that many tender hearted persons' had pity and compassion on him, and he was again permitted to teach, and some were willing to fall on their knees to have his sentence remitted.

Can it be credited, that in less than three months after his conviction, and before the term of his probation had expired, notwithstanding all his tearful confessions before God and the church, he should be found guilty of a new offence? He actually wrote another slanderous letter to his abettors in England, but the person to whom it was entrusted delivered it to the governor. John Oldham departed from Plymouth to Nantasket, and Lyford accepted of an invitation to be the minister of Cape Ann. At the annual election in March, 1625, Oldham returned to Plymouth, in violation of his sentence the last year, which prohibited his return without the consent of