THE MORALE OF THE COLONY.
“Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,
Is the immediate jewel of their souls.”
SHAKSPEARE, _Othello_.
On the return of the settlers from the shore where they had said
good-by to the “Fortune,” it was arranged that the new-comers should
for the present, in the absence of other accommodations, be received
into the families already provided with cabins.[298] Unhappily, the
“Fortune” had brought out no store; indeed, she was obliged to rely
on the colonists for provisions for her larder on the home voyage.
The emigrants whom she landed were absolutely destitute, having “not
so much as biscuit-cake or any other victuals set aside for present
want. Neither had they any bedding, nor pot nor pan to dress meat in,
nor over-many clothes.”[299]
Though the plantation rejoiced at this increase of strength, yet they
would have been better pleased had many of the emigrants come better
provided and in fitter condition to winter in the wilderness.[300]
With the provident promptness which is so omnipresent a trait in
their character, the Pilgrims at once “took an exact account of all
their provisions in store, and proportioning these to the number
of persons, found that, owing to the arrival of so many unexpected
and necessitous guests, they would not hold out above six months, or
till the spring, on half-allowance; and they could not well give less
this winter-time, till fish came in again. But all were presently
put on half-allowance, which began to be hard, but it was borne
patiently.”[301]
Indeed, the Pilgrims bore this hardship with something better than
mere patience. “I take notice of it as a great favor of God,” wrote
one of the sufferers, “that he has not only preserved my life, but
given me _contentedness_ in our straits; insomuch that I do not
remember ever to have wished in my heart that I had never come into
this country, or that I might be again in my father’s house.”[302] It
was said of Brewster, that “with the most submissive patience he bore
the novel and trying hardships to which his old age was subjected,
lived abstemiously, and after having been in his youth the companion
of ministers of state, the representative of his sovereign, familiar
with the magnificence of courts, and the possessor of a fortune
sufficient not only for the comforts, but the elegances of life,
this humble, devoted Puritan labored steadily with his own hands
in the ‘histie stibble-fields’ of the unkempt wilderness for daily
subsistence; while on the Sabbath, as elder of the church, and in the
absence of an ordained minister, he broke the bread of life for the
Pilgrim flock. Now, destitute of meat, of fish, and of bread, over
his simple meal of clams he would return thanks to the Lord that he
could suck of the abundance of the sea and of treasures hid in the
sand.”[303]
An eminent historian bids us beware of the error of supposing that
the community planted at Plymouth was of a strictly homogeneous
character. “The devoted men who, at Leyden, had debated the
question of emigration, did not constitute the whole company even
of the ‘Mayflower.’ They had been joined in England by several
strangers who, like themselves, had come under engagement to the
Merchant-adventurers of London. That partnership had business
objects, and was by no means solely swayed by religious sympathy with
the Leyden Pilgrims.”[304]
Of the twenty men of the “Mayflower’s” company who survived the
first winter, several are unfavorably known, as Billington, the
foul-mouthed contemner of Standish’s authority, and Dotey and Lister,
the lackey duelists of Hopkins’ quiet household.[305]
So of the reinforcement by the “Fortune.” Some were old and devout
friends of the colonists, as Simonson and De la Noye, members of
the Leyden church; John Winslow, Edward’s brother; Thomas Prince,
afterwards governor; Cushman’s son, and a son of Brewster.[306]
Others were turbulent and restless rovers, impatient of control,
careless in religion, and burning for adventure; in Bradford’s
phrase, “lusty young men, and many of them wild enough, who little
considered whither or about what they went.”[307] Happily for the
peace of the little commonwealth and for posterity, “the advantage
of numbers and the authority of superior character determined
that events should proceed at Plymouth according to the policy
of Bradford, Brewster, and their godly friends. Still internal
tendencies to disturbance are not to be left out of view in a
consideration of the embarrassments with which the forefathers had to
contend.”[308]
Under Bradford’s government, the laws were few and mild, but firm;
and neither the lazy nor the godless received countenance, though
tender consciences were never pinched. Take this incident as an
illustration: “On the day called Christmas day, the governor called
the settlers out to work, as was usual; but the most part of the
new-comers excused themselves, and said it went against their
consciences to work on Christmas. So the governor told them if they
made it a matter of conscience, he would spare them till they were
better informed. On this, he led away the rest, and left them;
but when the laborers came home from work at noon, they found the
scrupulous new-comers in the street at play openly; some pitching the
bar, some at foot-ball, and others at kindred sports. Immediately the
governor went to them, and took away their implements, and told them
that it was against his conscience that they should play while others
worked. If they made the keeping of Christmas matter of devotion, let
them keep their houses; but there should be no gaming or revelling in
the streets; since which time nothing hath been attempted that way,
at least openly.”[309]
In this and kindred ways, the commonwealth was controlled and moulded
into higher courses. Practical consistency was gained, and the
elements out of which homogeneity might grow were planted at every
hearthstone.
“In companions
That did converse and spend their time together,
Whose souls did bear an equal yoke of love
There needs should be a like proportion
Of lineaments, of manners, and of spirit.”