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{{quote|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, etc. |
{{quote|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, etc. |
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Having undertaken, Lah-de-da-da |
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for the Glory of God, and advancements 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 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. |
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In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the 11th 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, 1620.<ref name="Constitution" />}} |
In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the 11th 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, 1620.<ref name="Constitution" />}} |
Revision as of 20:40, 20 November 2012
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/MayflowerCompactBasrelief.jpg/220px-MayflowerCompactBasrelief.jpg)
The Mayflower Compact was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony. It was written by the Separatists, also known as the "Saints", fleeing from religious persecution by King James of Great Britain. They traveled aboard the Mayflower in 1620 along with adventurers, tradesmen, and servants, most of whom were referred to as "Strangers".
The Mayflower Compact was signed aboard ship on November 11, 1620 by most adult men (but not by most crew and adult male servants). The Pilgrims used the Julian Calendar, also known as Old Style dates, which, at that time, was ten days behind the Gregorian Calendar. Signing the covenant were 41 of the ship's 101 passengers,[1][2] while the Mayflower was anchored in what is now Provincetown Harbor within the hook at the northern tip of Cape Cod.[3]
Reasons for the Compact
The Mayflower was originally bound for the Colony of Virginia, financed by the Company of Merchant Adventurers of London. Storms forced the landing to be at the hook of Cape Cod in what is now Massachusetts. This inspired the passengers to proclaim that since the settlement would not be made in the agreed upon Virginia territory, they "would use their own liberty; for none had power to command them...."[4] To prevent this, many of the other colonists chose to establish a government. The Mayflower Compact was based simultaneously upon a majoritarian model (even though the signers were not in the majority) and the settlers' allegiance to the king. It was in essence a social contract in which the settlers consented to follow the compact's rules and regulations for the sake of survival.[5]
In November 1620, the Mayflower landed at Plymouth, named after the major port city in Devon, England from which the Mayflower sailed. The settlers named their settlement "Plimoth" or "Plimouth", old English spellings of the name.
Text
Although the original document has been lost,[6] three versions exist from the 17th century: printed in Mourt's Relation (1622),[7][8] which was reprinted in Purchas his Pilgrimes (1625),[9] hand written by William Bradford in his journal Of Plimoth Plantation (1646),[10] and printed by Bradford's nephew Nathaniel Morton in New-Englands Memorial (1669).[6] The three versions differ slightly in wording and significantly in spelling, capitalization and punctuation.[8] William Bradford wrote the first part of Mourt's Relation, including its version of the compact, so he wrote two of the three versions. The wording of those two versions is indeed quite similar, unlike that of Morton. Bradford's hand written manuscript is kept in a vault at the State Library of Massachusetts.[11]
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, etc.
Having undertaken, Lah-de-da-da for the Glory of God, and advancements 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 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 hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the 11th 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, 1620.[12]
1622 | IN the name of God, Amen. We whose names are vnder-written, the loyall Subiects of our dread soveraigne |
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1646 | In ye name of God Amen· We whose names are vnderwriten, the loyall subjects of our dread soueraigne |
1669 | In the Name of God, Amen. We whose Names are under-written, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Soveraign |
1622 | Lord King IAMES, by the grace of God of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, &c. |
1646 | Lord King James by ye grace of God, of great Britaine, franc, & Ireland king, defender of ye faith, &c. |
1669 | Lord King James, by the grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defendor of the Faith, &c. |
1622 | Having vnder-taken for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian Faith, and honour of our King and Countrey, |
1646 | haueing vndertaken, for ye glorie of God, and aduancemente of ye Christian faith and honour of our king & countrie, |
1669 | Having undertaken for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our K[i]ng and Countrey, |
1622 | a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the Northerne parts of VIRGINIA, doe by these presents solemnly & mutually in the |
1646 | a voyage to plant ye first colonie in ye Northerne parts of Virginia· doe by these presents solemnly & mutualy in ye |
1669 | a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the Northern parts of Virginia; Do by these Presents solemnly and mutually, in the |
1622 | presence of God and one of another, covenant, and combine our selues together into a civill body politike, for our better |
1646 | presence of God, and one of another, couenant & combine our selues togeather into a ciuill body politick; for our better |
1669 | presence of God and one another, Covenant and Combine our selves together into a Civil Body Politick, for our better |
1622 | ordering and preservation, and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by vertue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame |
1646 | ordering & preseruation & furtherance of ye ends aforesaid; and by vertue hearof, to enacte, constitute, and frame |
1669 | ordering and preservation, and furtherance of the ends aforesaid: and by virtue hereof do enact, constitute and frame |
1622 | such iust and equall Lawes, Ordinances, acts, constitutions, offices from time to time, as shall be thought most meet |
1646 | such just & equall lawes, ordinances, Acts, constitutions, & offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meete |
1669 | such just and equal Laws, O[r]dinances, Acts, Constitutions and Officers, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet |
1622 | and convenient for the generall good of the Colony: vnto which wee promise all due submission and obedience. |
1646 | & conuenient for ye generall good of ye colonie: vnto which we promise all due submission and obedience. |
1669 | and convenient for the general good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. |
1622 | In witnesse whereof we haue here·vnder suscribed our names. Cape Cod 11. of November, in the yeare of the raigne of our |
1646 | In witnes wherof we haue herevnder subscribed our names at Cap-Codd ye ·11· of Nouember, in ye year of ye raigne of our |
1669 | In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our Names at Cape Cod, the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our |
1622 | soveraigne Lord King IAMES, of England, France, and Ireland 18. and of Scotland 54. Anno Domino 1620.[6] |
1646 | soueraigne Lord king James, of England, france, & Ireland ye eighteenth and of Scotland ye fiftie fourth. Ano: Dom. ·1620·[13] |
1669 | Soveraign Lord King James, of England, France and Ireland the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty fourth, Anno Dom. 1620.[6] |
Note | All occurrences of long s, ſ or , have been replaced by modern s. |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/Mayflower_Compact_Bradford.jpg/220px-Mayflower_Compact_Bradford.jpg)
Mourt (1622) | Bradford (1646) | Morton (1669) |
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and honour | and honour | and the honour |
one of another | one of another | one another |
to enact | to enacte | do enact |
offices | and offices | and Officers |
here vnder | hereunder | hereunto |
Cape Cod 11. | at Cap-Codd ye ·11· | at Cape Cod the eleventh |
in the yeare of the raigne | in ye year of ye raigne | in the Reign |
18. | ye eighteenth | the eighteenth |
54. | ye fiftie fourth | the fifty fourth |
The 'dread sovereign' referred to in the document used the archaic definition of dread—meaning awe and reverence (for the King), not fear. Also, as noted above, the document was signed under the Old Style Julian calendar, since England did not adopt the Gregorian calendar until 1752. The Gregorian date would be November 21.
Signers
A list of 41 male passengers who signed the document was supplied by Bradford's nephew Nathaniel Morton in his 1669 New England's Memorial. Thomas Prince first numbered the names in his 1736 A Chronological History of New-England in the form of Annals.[1] Because the original document has been lost, Morton (1669) is our sole source for the signers. Although he probably had access to the original document, he could not have known simply by inspecting it the actual order that it was signed. Morton's arrangement of names is probably not the arrangement of names on the original document, and the names may not have been arranged in any orderly fashion. Prince's numbers are based solely on Morton (1669) as he himself stated. His numbers are unfortunate because he could not have known the order that the original document was signed.[6]
Morton's list of names was unnumbered and untitled in all editions although their order changed with successive editions. In his original 1669 edition, the columns were placed on two successive pages (15–16) forming six short columns, three columns of seven names each (headed Carver, Samuel Fuller, and Edward Tilley) on the first page and three columns of seven, seven, and six names each (headed Turner, Priest, and Clarke) on the next page.[6] In the second (1721) and third (1772) editions, the six short columns were joined into three long columns of 14, 14, and 13 names each on a single page (20). The first and fourth short columns were joined into the first long column (headed Carver with Turner halfway down), the second and fifth short columns were joined into the second long column (headed Samuel Fuller with Priest halfway down), and the third and sixth short columns were joined into the third long column (headed Edward Tilley with Clarke halfway down), changing their order. In the fifth (1826) and sixth (1855) editions, the names were also in three long columns of 14, 14, and 13 names each on one page (1826: 38, 1855: 26), but now they were placed in their original 1669 order. The first and second short columns formed the first long column (headed Carver with Samuel Fuller halfway down), the third and fourth short columns formed the second long column (headed Edward Tilley with Turner halfway down), and the fifth and sixth short columns formed the third long column (headed Priest with Clarke halfway down). Both long column orders appear in modern lists of unnumbered signers.
Prince numbered the names in their original 1669 Morton order (the same as the 1826/55 Morton order) on successive pages (85–86), two columns of eight names each on one page (headed 1 Carver and 9 Martin) and two columns of 13 and 12 names each on the next page (headed 17 Cooke and 30 Williams). The third (1852) edition placed these numbered names in two columns (the first column headed 1 Carver with 8 Samuel Fuller and 15 Edward Tilley below, and the second column headed 22 Turner with 29 Priest and 36 Clarke below) on a single page (172). He added titles (Mr. or Capt.) to eleven names given those titles by William Bradford in the list of passengers at the end of his manuscript.[1][10] He attributed the lack of Mr. Bradford to Bradford's modesty. Prince's numbered order of signers is now used to identify ancestors in genealogical charts.[6]
The following list of signers is organized into the six short columns of Morton (1669) with the numbers and titles of Prince. The names are given their modern spelling according to Morison (1966).[14]
Template:Multi-column numbered list Template:Multi-column numbered list
See also
- Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1638)
- Instrument of Government (1653)
- List of Mayflower passengers
- List of Mayflower passengers who died in the winter of 1620 - 1621
References
- ^ a b c Thomas Prince, A chronological history of New England in the form of annals (1736) Chronology 73, 84–86. Internet Archive.
- ^ Bradford listed 104 passengers, including William Button, a servant of Samuel Fuller, who died 5 days before landfall, Oceanus Hopkins, born at sea, Perigrine White, born two weeks after landfall, and two seaman hired for one year, William Trevor and one Ely. If the two seaman and Perigrine White are ignored (William Button's death is offset by Oceanus Hopkins' birth), the "101 who sail'd from Plimouth in England, and just as many arriv'd in Cape Cod Harbour" listed by Prince are left.
- ^ Young, Alexander (1841). Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers of the Colony of Plymouth from 1602 to 1625. pp. 117–124.
- ^ Bradford, William (1898). "Book 2, Anno 1620". In Hildebrandt, Ted (ed.). Bradford's History "Of Plimoth Plantation" (PDF). Boston: Wright & Potter. Retrieved 2006-06-01.
- ^ Young 1841, p. 120.
- ^ a b c d e f g George Ernest Bowman, The Mayflower Compact and its signers (Boston: Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1920). Photocopies of the 1622, 1646 and 1669 versions of the document.
- ^ William Bradford, Edward Winslow (printer G. Mourt [George Morton], Relation or Iournall of the beginning and proceedings of the English Plantation setled at Plimoth in New England, Early English Books Online, p.4
- ^ a b Henry Martyn Dexter, [G. Mourt = George Morton], Mourt's Relation or Journal of the Plantation at Plymouth, 1865, pp.6–7, a reprint using original typeface, paragraphs, punctuation, spelling and embelishments, but not pagination.
- ^ Samuel Purchas, Hakluytus Posthumus or Purchas His Pilgrimes, Vol. XIX (Glasgow:James Maclehose, 1906) 313–314. Reprint of 1625 edition except that letters i, j, u, and v are used according to modern custom, contracted letters extended, printers' errors corrected, and repaginated from original four volumes to twenty volumes (I.xxvi).
- ^ a b William Bradford, Bradford's History "Of Plimoth Plantation" from the original manuscript (Boston: 1901) page 110 (photocopy of manuscript page follows). Passengers listed on pages 530–540. No annotations. Official printing by the Commenwealth of Massachusetts. This printing of compact is identical to the 1856 version by the Massachusetts Historical Society. Spelling and contractions follow manuscript except for modern u/v usage. Capitalization and punctuation differ from manuscript. A faithful transcription is at Mayflower Compact (1620).
- ^ History of Plimoth Plantation: manuscript, 1630–1650. State Library of Massachusetts Catalog
- ^ The Mayflower Compact — U. S. Constitution Online
- ^ Mayflower Compact (1620) transcription of William Bradford's manuscript version by Caleb Johnson
- ^ Samuel Eliot Morison, Of Plymouth Plantation 1620–1647 by William Bradford (New York: Alfed A. Knopf, 1966) 441–3.
External links
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