Bradford informs us—­as already noted—­that, just before the departure from Southampton, having “ordered and distributed their company for either ship, as they conceived for the best,” they “chose a Governor and two or three assistants for each ship, to order the people by the way, and see to the disposing of the provisions, and such like affairs.  All which was not only with the liking of the Masters of the ships, but according to their desires.”  We have seen that under this arrangement —­the wisdom and necessity of which are obvious—­Martin was made “Governor” on the “biger ship” and Cushman his “assistante.”  Although we find no mention of the fact, it is rendered certain by the record which Bradford makes of the action of the Pilgrim company on December 11, 1620, at Cape Cod,—­when they “confirmed” Deacon John Carver as “Governor,”—­that he was and had been such, over the colonist passengers for the voyage (the ecclesiastical authority only remaining to Elder Brewster), Martin holding certainly no higher than the second place, made vacant by Cushman’s departure.

Thus, hardly had the Pilgrims shaken the dust of their persecuting mother-country from their feet before they set up, by popular voice (above religious authority, and even that vested by maritime law in their ships’ officers), a government of themselves, by themselves, and for themselves.  It was a significant step, and the early revision they made of their choice of “governors” certifies their purpose to have only rulers who could command their confidence and respect.  Dr. Young says:  “We know the age of but few of the Pilgrims,” which has hitherto been true; yet by careful examination of reliable data, now available, we are able to deter mine very closely the ages of a considerable number, and approximately the years of most of the others, at the time of the exodus.  No analysis, so far as known, has hitherto been made of the vocations (trades, etc.) represented by the may-Flower company.  They were, as befitted those bent on founding a colony, of considerable variety, though it should be understood that the vocations given were, so far as ascertained, the callings the individuals who represented them had followed before taking ship.  Several are known to have been engaged in other pursuits at some time, either before their residence in Holland, or during their earlier years there.  Bradford tells us that most of the Leyden congregation (or that portion of it which came from England, in or about 1608) were agricultural people.  These were chiefly obliged to acquire handicrafts or other occupations.  A few, e.g.  Allerton, Brewster, Bradford, Carver, Cooke, and Winslow, had possessed some means, while others had been bred to pursuits for which there was no demand in the Low Countries.  Standish, bred to arms, apparently followed his profession nearly to the time of departure, and resumed it in the colony, adding thereto the calling which, in all times and