| The Compact was signed on
November 11, 1620, on board the Mayflower while it was at anchor in
Provincetown Harbor. The Compact was drawn up after the London and Leyden
contingents started factionalizing, and there were worries of a possible
mutiny by some of the passengers. In reality, the Mayflower Compact was
superseded in authority by the 1621 Pierce Patent, which not only gave the
Pilgrims the right to self-government at Plymouth, but also had the
advantage of being authorized by the King of England. The original Mayflower
Compact never has been found and is assumed destroyed. In ye name of
God Amen· We whose names are vnderwriten, the loyall subjects of our dread
soueraigne Lord King James by ye grace of God, of great
Britaine, franc, & Ireland king, defender of ye faith, &c
Haueing vndertaken, for ye
glorie of God, and aduancemente of ye christian
^faith and honour of our king & countrie, a voyage to plant
ye first colonie in ye Northerne parts of Virginia·
doe by these presents solemnly & mutualy in ye presence of God,
and one of another, couenant, & combine our selues togeather into a ciuill
body politick; for ye our better ordering, &
preseruation & fur= therance of ye ends aforesaid; and by
vertue hearof, to enacte, constitute, and frame shuch just & equall lawes,
ordinances, Acts, constitutions, & offices, from time to time, as shall be
thought most meete & conuenient for ye generall good of ye
colonie: vnto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In
witnes wherof we haue herevnder subscribed our names at Cap= Codd ye
·11· of Nouember, in ye year of ye raigne of our
soueraigne Lord king James of England, france, & Ireland ye
eighteenth and of Scotland ye fiftie fourth. Ano:
Dom ·1620·
Having undertaken, for the glory of God,
and advancement of the Christian faith and honor of our King and
Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of
Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence
of God, and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together
into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation
and furtherance of the ends aforesaid: and by virtue hereof to
enact, constitute and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances,
acts, constitutions and offices, from time to time, as shall be
thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony:
unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.
In witness whereof we have hereunder
subscribed our names at Cape Cod the 11 of November, in the year of
the reign of our sovereign Lord, King James of England, France and
Ireland the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, Ano Dom,
1620. n the
Name of God. Amen. We whose names are underwritten, the loyal
subjects of our dread sovereign Lord, King James, by the Grace of
God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Kind Defender of the
Faith, etc.
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