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 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, convenant 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 subscibed 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.
Actual Transcription: William Bradford's
"Of Plimoth Plantation."
In ye name of God,
Amen. We whose names are underwriten, the loyall subjects of our dread
soveraigne Lord King James by ye grace of God, of Great Britaine,
Franc, & Ireland king, defender of ye faith, &c.
Haveing undertaken, for ye glorie of God, and advancemente 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, covenant & combine our selves togeather into a civill body
politick; for our better ordering & preservation & furtherance 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 & convenient for ye
generall good of ye Colonie: unto which we promise all due
submission and obedience. In witnes wherof we have hereunder subscribed
our names at Cap-Codd ye .11. of November, in ye year of
the raigne of our soveraigne lord King James of England, France, & Ireland
ye eighteenth, and of Scotland ye fiftie fourth. Ano:
Dom .1620.
Note: Bradford never listed the names of the
signers. The list comes from Nathaniel Morton in New Englands
Memoriall, and although many have speculated, it is unknown what
source provided his accounting for the names and their sequence. According to
Bradford we only know that it was signed by all free adult males and some, not
all servants.
SIGNERS OF THE MAYFLOWER COMPACT
