Page:Economic History of Virginia Vol 1.djvu/241

Rh was the relation which they bore to the community, were allowed, in addition to a month, one day in each week from the first of May until harvest, thus giving them much time to look after their private crops. These men were employed in Charles Hundred. To them alone seems to have been extended the promise of an absolute freedom, to take effect in 1617. It is a significant fact that they were moved to petition Gates for their release at the suggestion of Dale, whose name is associated in the history of Virginia with so much severity, but who was really only harsh to the indolent and worthless.

Dale was not content with establishing a system of tenancy; he put in force a rule assuring every man with a family who arrived in the Colony a house of four rooms or more, which he was permitted to occupy without payment of rent. In the vicinity of this house, twelve acres of ground carefully fenced in were consigned to him on condition that he confined his husbandry to the cultivation of wheat, maize, roots, and herbs, it being the policy of Dale to produce chiefly what could be used as food. Provisions in quantity sufficient to furnish him and his family with an ample supply for twelve months were delivered to the new comer, but after this interval he was expected to earn his own support unaided and the support of those who were dependent upon him. Tools were also presented to him, and, for the more comfortable subsistence of his family, poultry, swine, several goats, and even a cow were given to him. The authorities could