THE COMING OF THE PILGRIMS 15

rangement 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 prop-
ertie, 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 comf orte. For the yong-men that
were most able and fitte for labour and service did re-
pine 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 disrespect unto
them. And for mens wives to be commanded to doe
servise for other men, as dresing their meate, washing
their cloaths, etc., they deemd it a kind of slaverie,
neither could many husbands well brooke it.

During the two years that followed, so evident
was the failure of the joint undertaking that