The Mayflower Compact (1620)





  On reaching the American shores, the adult males among the


  plymouth colonist gathered in a cabin in Mayflower. They agreed


  that they would govern themselves.  This government by compact, 


  which these Separtatists had previously used only to govern the


  churches, provided the basis for the government of the colony


  for the next seventy years.





  In 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, King,


  Defender of the Faith, Having undertaken for the Glory of God,


  and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour 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 Politick, 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 hereunto subscribed our names at Cape


  Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign


  Lord, King James of England, France and Ireland, the eighteenth,


  and of Scotland the fifty-fourth.  Anno Domini, 1620





    John Carver           William Mullins        John Billington


    Peter Brown           Digery Priest          Thomas English


    Thomas Tinker         John Turner            William Brewster


    John Howland          Samuel Fuller          Edward Tilly


    Edmund Margesson      Stephen Hopkins        Richard Clark


    John Craxton          John Alden             Edward Winslow


    John Allerton         Thomas Rogers          George Soule


    Gilbert Winslow       Richard Warren         John Goodman


    James Chilton         Miles Standish         Edward Liester


    Edward Fuller         Francis Cooke          Richard Bitteridge


    William Bradford      Richard Gardiner       Moses Fletcher


    Francis Eaton         Thomas Williams        William White


    John Ridgate          John Tilly             Isaac Allerton


    Edward Doten          Christopher Martin