William Bradford was chosen governor in his stead, and not having fully recovered from his recent severe illness, wherein he had been near the point of death, Isaac Allerton was chosen to be an assistant “unto him who, by renewed election every year, continued sundry years together.” It may be stated that Bradford was re-elected to the same office no less than 30 times, for a total term of 33 years—every year from 1622.[11] He was Governor of Plimoth Colony continuously from 1627-1656 inclusive excepting for five years when he “by importunity gat off.” On April 15th, the Mayflower left on her return voyage to England. During this month the first offence is recorded, that of John Billington who had defied the authority of Captain Standish. It seems however that the offence was more a matter of words or “opprobrious speeches” than of deeds. The First Marriage [Sidenote: May 22] The first marriage in the colony took place on the 22nd of May, that of Edward Winslow to Susanna White, widow of William White. This marriage was performed “according to the laudable custom of the Low Countries in which they had lived, was thought most requisite to be performed by the magistrate, as being a civil thing, upon which many questions about inheritances do depend, with other things most proper to their cognizance and most consonant to the scriptures (Ruth 4) and nowhere found in the gospel to be laid on the ministers as a part of their office.” The First Duel [Sidenote: June 28] What is recorded as the first duel fought in New England was between Edward Dotey and Edward Leister, servants of Mr. Hopkins. They fought with sword and dagger and both were wounded, one in hand and the other in the thigh. This was the second offence for which punishment was invoked by the entire company. It was ordered that their heads and feet be tied together and to so lie for twenty-four hours. Their sufferings being great however they were released by the governor “upon their promise of better carriage.” Winslow and Hopkins Visit Massasoit The months of July and August were featured by several events of interest. On July 12, Edward Winslow and Stephen Hopkins paid a visit to Massasoit taking with them clothing and other small gifts which the chieftain gladly accepted. They learned that the Wampanoags had been greatly reduced by the plague that had visited them prior to the coming of the colonists, “wherein thousands of them died, they not being able to bury one another; their skulls and bones were found in many places, lying still above aground, where their houses and dwellings had been, a very sad spectacle to behold.” It was learned also that the Narragansetts “lived but on the other side of that great bay and were a strong people and many in number, living compact together and had not been at all touched by this wasting plague.”