esirable members--some were sent out by the English
merchants and others came out of their own accord--who played stool-ball
on Sunday, committed theft, or set the community by the ears, as did one
notorious offender named Lyford. But their number was not great, for
most of them remained but a short time, and then went to Virginia or
elsewhere, or were shipped back to England by the Pilgrims as
incorrigibles. The life of the people was predominantly agricultural,
with fishing, salt-making, and trading with the Indians as allied
interests. The partners in England sent overseas cattle, stock, and
laborers, and, as their profits depended on the success of the
settlement, did what they could to encourage its development. The
position of the Pilgrims was that of sharers and partners with the
merchants, from whom they received directions but not commands.

But under the agreement of 1620 with their partners in London, which
remained in force for seven years, the Plymouth people could neither
divide their land nor dispose of the products of their labor, and so
burdensome became this arrangement that in 1623 temporary assignments
of land were made which in 1624 became permanent. As Bradford said, and
his comment is full of wisdom:

The experience that was had in this commone course and
condition, tried sundrie years, and that amongst godly and
sober men, may well evince the vanitie of that conceite of
Platos and other ancients, applauded by some of later times;
that the taking away of propertie, and bringing in
communitie into a comone wealth, would make them happy and
florishing; as if they were wiser then God. For this
comunitie (so farr as it was) was found to breed much
confusion and discontent, and retard much imployment that
would have been to their benefite and comforte. For the
yong-men that were most able and fitte for labour and
service did repine that they should spend their time and
streingth to worke for other mens wives and children, with
out any recompence. The strong, or man of parts, had no more
in devission of victails and cloaths, than he that was weake
and not able to doe a quarter the other could; this was
thought injuestice. The aged and graver men to be ranked and
equalised in labours, and victails, cloaths, etc., with the
meaner and yonger sorte, thought it some indignitie and
disres