"I say, Cursed be he who having put his hand to the plough turneth back." "And Master Allerton?" "I will abide the decision of the rest." "And Master Winslow?" "I and mine remain here." "And thou, Captain Standish?" "Our trumpeter has not been taught to sound the retreat." "And Bradford?" "I fain would stay here." "And thou, Doctor?" "I' faith I see better hope of practice here than in the old countries. I'll stay." "And I have come here to live and to die," said Carver in conclusion. "So you see good Master Jones, that while kindly grateful for your offer and your heartiness, we cannot accept the first, but will requite the last with equal good will." "Ay, I want your good will, and perhaps you'll give me a prayer or two just for luck, dominie?" "Surely we will pray for thee, Master Jones," replied Brewster with fine reticence of tone. "But before we say more, brethren," resumed the governor, "we must not forget that, as the master hath said, this question concerns every man, woman, and child in the colony; and while we would not send unprotected women or children upon a long voyage with such a crew as man the Mayflower,"-- "Nay, they're not psalm singers," muttered Jones half exultant half ashamed, --"every man in the company has a right to decide for himself and those belonging to him," calmly concluded the governor, "and I will ask our captain, as equal in authority to myself, to bid the attendance of every man over twenty years old in the company, here at once." "It shall be done, Governor," replied Standish rising, and ten minutes later a dozen or so more of men comprising all that were left alive of the Pilgrim Fathers crowded into the Common house and stood attentive while Carver briefly but distinctly conveyed to them Master Jones's offer. "Ye understand, brethren," said he in conclusion, "that any one of you, or all of you are free to accept this offer without reproach. We seven men, to whom the message first was conveyed, have for ourselves refused it, but our will is not binding upon you or any of you. Master Hopkins, Master Warren, Cooke, Soule, Eaton, Howland, Alden, Gilbert Winslow, Browne, Dotey, and Lister, Billington, Goodman, Gardner, I call upon each of you to answer in turn, will you and those belonging to you return to England in the Mayflower, or will you abide here and trust in God to sustain us in the undertaking we have entered upon in His name. Master Warren and Master Hopkins will you declare your wishes?" "I have no desire but to stay, and I have writ to my wife to come to me and bring our five daughters," said Warren without hesitation, and Hopkins gruffly added his sentence,-- "I am no idle maid with a yea-say and a nay-say. I am here with all belonging to me, and here I abide."