Much of the early emigration to America was effected by what was called the redemption system. Under this, one disposed to emigrate, but unable to raise the £6, entered into a contract in the following form, with a merchant adventurer, ship owner or ship master, and occasionally with a gentleman emigrant of means, under which the latter gave him his passage and supplies: THE FORME OF BINDING A SERVANT. [From _A Relation of Maryland_, &c., 1635.] This indenture made the ...... day of .............. in the ......... yeere of our Soveraigne Lord King Charles &c betweene .............. of the one party, and .............. on the other party, Witnesseth that the said .............. doth hereby covenant, promise and grant to and with the said .............. his Executors and Assignes, to serve him from the day of the date hereof, vntill his first and next arrivall in Maryland, and after for and during the tearme of ...... yeeres, in such service and employment as the said .............. or his assignes shall there employ him, according to the custome of the countrey in the like kind. In consideration whereof, the said .............. doth promise and grant, to and with the said .............. to pay for his passing and to find him with Meat, Drinke, Apparell and Lodging, with other necessaries during the said terme; and at the end of the said terme, to give him one Whole yeeres provision of Corne and fifty acres of Land, according to the order of the countrey. In witnesse whereof, the said .............. hath hereunto put his hand and seale the day and yeere above written. Sealed and delivered in the presence of The term of service, at first limited to five years (_Relation of Maryland_, 1635, p. 63), was subsequently reduced to four (Act of 1638, &c.), and so remained into the next {12} century (Act of April, 1715). Thus a woman in the _Sot Weed Factor_, after speaking of her life in England, says: Not then a slave for twice two year, My cloaths were fashionably new, Nor were my shifts of linnen Blue; But things are changed; now at the Hoe, I daily work and Barefoot go, In weeding Corn or feeding Swine, I spend my melancholy Time.