This year they sent M^r. Allerton into England, and gave him order to make a composition with y^e adventurers, upon as good termes as he could (unto which some way had ben made y^e year before by Captaine Standish); but yet injoyned him not to conclud absolutly till they knew y^e termes, and had well considered of them; but to drive it to as good an issew as he could, and referr y^e conclusion to them. Also they gave him a co[=m]ission under their hands & seals to take up some money, provided it exeeded not such a su[=m]e specified, for which they engaged them selves, and gave him order how to lay out y^e same for y^e use of y^e plantation. And finding they ra[=n]e a great hazard to goe so long viages in a smale open boat, espetialy y^e winter season, they begane to thinke how they might gett a small pinass; as for y^e reason afforesaid, so also because others had raised y^e prise with y^e Indeans above y^e halfe of what they had formerly given, so as in such a boat they could not [143[CC]] carry a quantity sufficient to answer their ends. They had no ship-carpenter amongst them, neither knew how to get one at presente; but they having an ingenious man that was a house carpenter, who also had wrought with y^e ship carpenter (that was dead) when he built their boats, at their request he put forth him selfe to make a triall that way of his skill; and tooke one of y^e bigest of ther shalops and sawed her in y^e midle, and so lenthened her some 5. or 6. foote, and strengthened her with timbers, and so builte her up, and laid a deck on her; and so made her a conveniente and wholsome vessell, very fitt & comfortable for their use, which did them servise 7. years after; and they gott her finished, and fitted with sayles & anchors, y^e insuing year. And thus passed y^e affairs of this year. _Anno Dom: 1627._ At y^e usuall season of y^e coming of ships M^r. Allerton returned, and brought some usfull goods with him, according to y^e order given him. For upon his commission he tooke up 200^li. which he now gott at 30. per cent. The which goods they gott safly home, and well conditioned, which was much to the comfort & contente of y^e plantation. He declared unto them, allso, how, with much adoe and no small trouble, he had made a composition with y^e adventurers, by the help of sundrie of their faithfull freinds ther, who had allso tooke much pains ther about. The agreement or bargen he had brought a draught of, with a list of ther names ther too annexed, drawne by the best counsell of law they could get, to make it firme. The heads wherof I shall here inserte.