The usual allowance for servants is (besides their charge of passage defrayed) at their expiration, a year's provision of corn. double apparel, tools necessary, and land according to the custom of the country, which is an old delusion, for there is no land customarily due to the servant, but to the maser, and therefore that servant is unwise that will not dash out that custom in his covenant and make that due of land absolutely his own, which although at the present, not of so great consequences; yet in few years will be of much worth. . . . When ye go aboard, expect the ship somewhat troubled and in a hurlyburly, until ye clear the lands end; and that the ship is rummaged, and things put to rights, which many times discourages the passengers, and makes them wish the voyage unattempted: but this is but for a short season, and washes off when at sea, where the time is pleasantly passed away, though not with such choice plenty as the shore affords. But when ye arrive and are settled, ye will find a strange alteration, an abused country giving the lie to your own approbations to those that have calumniated it. ... The labour servants are put to, is not so hard nor of such continuance as husbandmen [herders], nor handicraftmen are kept at in England, I said little or nothing is done in winter time, none ever work before sun rising nor after sun set, in the summer they rest, sleep or exercise themselves give hours in the heat of the day, Saturdays afternoon is always their own, the old holidays are observed and the Sabbath spent in good exercises. The women are not (as is reported) put into the ground to work, but occupy such domestic employments and housewifery as in England, that is dressing victuals, right up the house, milking, employed about dairies, washing, sewing, &c. and both men and women have times of recreations, as much or more than in any part of the world besides, yet some wenches that are nastily, beastly and not fit to be so employed are put into the ground, for reason tells us, they must not at charge be transported then maintained for nothing, but those that prove so awkward are rather burdensome than servants desirable or useful. . . .
Those servants that will be industrious may in their time of service gain a competent estate before their freedoms, which is usually done by many, and they gain esteem and assistance that appear so industrious: There is no master almost but will allow his servant a parcel of clear ground to cut some tobacco in for himself, which he may husband at those many idle times he hath allowed him and not prejudice, but rejoice his master to see it, which in time of shipping he may lay out for commodities, and in summer sell them again with advantage and get a pig or two, which anybody almost will give him, and his master suffer him to keep them with his own, which will be no charge to his master, and with one years increase of them may purchase a cow calf or two, and by that time he is for himself; he may have cattle, hogs and tobacco of his own, and come to live gallantly; but this must be gained (as I have said) by industry and affability, not by sloth nor churlish behavior.