The Mayflower - November 11th

a shallop

Being thus arrived at Cape Cod the 11th of November, and necessity calling them to look out a place for habitation, (as well as the masters and mariners importunity) they having brought a large shallop with them out of England, stowed in quarters in the ship, they now got her out and set their carpenters to work to trim her up; but being much bruised and shattered in the ship with foul weather they saw she would be long in mending.  Whereupon a few of them tendered themselves to go by land and discover those nearest places, whilst the shallop was in mending; and rather because as they went into that harbor there seemed to be an opening some 2 or 3 leagues of which the master judged to be a river.  It was conceived there might be some danger in the attempt yet seeing them resolute, they were permitted to go, being 16 of them well armed, under the conduct of Captain [Miles] Standish, having such instructions given them as was thought meet.

I shall a little return back and begin with a combination [Mayflower Compact] made by them before they came ashore, being the first foundation of their government in this place; occasioned partly by the discontented and mutinous speeches that some of the strangers amongst them had let fall from them in the ship -- That when they came ashore they would use their own liberty; for none had power to command them, the patent they had being for Virginia, and not for New England, which belonged to another Government, with which the Virginia Company had nothing to do.  And partly that such an act by them done (this their condition considered) might be as firm as any patent, and in some respects more sure.

The form was as followeth:

Bradford's transcription
of the Mayflower Compact

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 & Ireland king, defender of the faith, etc., 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 here under 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 & Ireland the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth.  Ano. Dom 1620.

Signing the Mayflower Compact 1620
by Jean Ferris, 1899

Signers:
John Carver, William Bradford, Edward Winslow, William Brewster, Isaac Allerton, Miles Standish, John Alden, Samuel Fuller, Christopher Martin, William Mullins, William White, Richard Warren, John Howland, Stephen Hopkins, Edward Tilley, John Tilley, Francis Cooke, Thomas Rogers, Thomas Tinker, John Rigsdale, Edward Fuller, John Turner, Francis Eaton, James Chilton, John Crackstone, John Billington, Moses Fletcher, John Goodman, Degory Priest, Thomas Williams, Gilbert Winslow, Edmund Margeson, Peter Browne, Richard Britteridge, George Soule, Richard Clarke, Richard Gardiner, John Allerton, Thomas English,  Edward Doty and Edward Lester

After this they chose, or rather confirmed, Mr. John Carver (a man godly and well approved amongst them)their Governor for that year.