Reply #11: No surprise that Rush omits a few things from the account.

[mcscajun]

A few quotes from Bradford's journals (which I have edited some of the antique spellings for easier reading):

(Criticism) 5. All men are not of one condition. (Answer) A. If by condition you mean wealth, you are mistaken; if you mean by condition, qualities, then I say he that is not content his neighbor shall have as good a house, fare, means, etc. as him self, is not of good quality.

Not entirely apropos his article, but I thought it a telling point nonetheless.

Squanto continued with them, and was their interpreter, and was a special instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectation. He directed them how to set their corn, where to take fish, and to procure other commodities, and was also their pilot to bring them to unknown places for their profit, and never left them till he died. Afterwards they (as many as were able) began to plant their corn, in which service Squanto stood them in great stead, showing them both ye manner how to set it, and after how to dress & tend it. Also he told them except they got fish & set with it (fish placed with the corn seed as fertilizer) (in these old grounds) it would come to nothing....and he showed them...where to get other provisions necessary for them; all which they found true by trial & experience. Some English seed they sew, as wheat & peas, but it came not to good, either by ye badness of ye seed, or lateness of ye season, or both, or some other defect.

Wouldn't have starved without the "Indians", eh?

Shortly after William Bradford was chosen Governor...May 12. was ye first marriage in this place, which, according to ye laudable custom of ye Low-Countries, in which they had lived, was thought most requisite to be performed by the magistrate, as being a civil thing, upon which many questions about inheritances do depend, with other things most proper to their cognizance, and most consonant to ye scriptures, Ruth* and no where found in ye gospel to be laid on ye ministers as a part of their office. "This decree or law about marriage was published by ye States of ye Low-Countries Ano: 1590. That those of any religion, after lawful and open publication, coming before ye magistrates, in ye Town or Stat-house, were to be orderly (by them) married one to another." Petets Hist. fol: 1029. And this practice hath continued among, not only them, but hath been followed by all ye famous churches of Christ in these parts to this time, -- Ano: 1646.

Civil marriages a 'laudable custom'. No further comment required. :D
Now, as to the matter of corn and land, he left out something extremely significant in the telling of his "real story":

All this while no supply (ship) was heard of, neither knew they when they might expect any. So they began to think how they might raise as much corn as they could, and obtain a better crop then they had done, that they might not still thus languish in misery. At length, after much debate of things, the Governor (with ye advise of ye chiefest among them) gave way that they should set corn every man for his own particular, and in that regard trust to them selves; in all other things to go on in ye general way as before. And so assigned to every family a parcel of land, according to the proportion of their number for that end, only for present use (but made no devision for inheritance), and ranged all boys & youth under some family. This had very good success; for it made all hands very industrious, so as much more corn was planted then other wise would have been by any means ye Governor or any other could use, and saved him a great deal of trouble, and gave far better content. The women now went willingly into ye field, and took their little ones with them to set corn, which before would allege weakness, and inability; whom to have compelled would have been thought great tyranny and oppression.

No inheritance but the use only of the land. All other things to be held/done in common as before.

*reference unclear; perhaps http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Ruth ?