Myles Standish

And of these in ye time of most distres, ther was but 6. or 7. sound persons, who, to their great comendations be it spoken, spared no pains, night nor day, but with abundance of toyle and hazard of their owne health, fetched them woode, made them fires, drest them meat, made their beads, washed their lothsome cloaths, cloathed & uncloathed them; in a word, did all ye homly & necessarie offices for them wch dainty & quesie stomacks cannot endure to hear named; and all this willingly & cherfully, without any grudging in ye least, shewing herein their true love unto their freinds & bretheren. A rare example & worthy to be remembred. Tow of these 7. were Mr. William Brewster, ther reverend Elder, & Myles Standish, ther Captein & military comander, unto whom my selfe, & many others, were much beholden in our low & sicke condition. And yet the Lord so upheld these persons, as in this generall calamity they were not at all infected either with sicknes, or lamnes. And what I have said of these, I may say of many others who dyed in this generall vissitation, & others yet living, that whilst they had health, yea, or any strength continuing, they were not wanting to any that had need of them. And I doute not but their recompence is with ye Lord.

And of these, in the time of worst distress, there were only six or seven healthy persons. To their great credit be it said, they spared no pains, night or day. With great toil and risk to their own health, they fetched wood for the sick, made them fires, cooked their food, made their beds, washed their loathsome clothes, and dressed and undressed them. In a word, they did all the humble and necessary tasks for them that dainty and queasy stomachs cannot bear to hear named. And they did all this willingly and cheerfully, without the least grudging, showing in this their true love for their friends and brothers. It was a rare example, and worthy to be remembered. Two of these seven were Mr. William Brewster, their reverend elder, and Myles Standish, their captain and military commander. I myself and many others were much indebted to them in our low and sick condition. And yet the Lord so upheld these persons that in this general calamity they were not at all infected with either sickness or lameness. And what I have said of these I may say of many others who died in this general visitation, and of others still living. While they had health, or indeed any strength left, they did not fail anyone who needed them. And I do not doubt that their reward is with the Lord.