for Charandry

William Bradford

from Of Plymouth Plantation, Book II

[The Mayflower Compact 1620]

I SHALL a litle returne backe and begine with a. combination I made by them before they

came ashore, being the first foundation of their govermente 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 a shore they would use their owne libertie; for none

had power to command them, the patente they had being for Virginia, and not for New-england,

which belonged to an other Goverment, with which the Virginia Company had nothing to doe.

And partly that shuch an acte by them done (this their condition considered) might be as firme as

any patent, and in some respects more sure.130.

The forme was as followeth.131.

In the narre of God, Amen. We whose names are under-writen, the loyall subjects of our dread

soveraigne Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britaine, Frane, and Ireland king,

defender of the faith, cte., haveing undertaken, for the glorie of God, and advancemente of the

Christian faith, and honour of our king and countrie, a voyage to plant the first colonie in the

Northerne parts of Virginia, doe by these presents solemnly and mutualy in the presente of God,

and one of another, covenant and combine our selves togeather into a civill body politick, for our

better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by vertue hearof to

enacte, constitute, and frame such just and equall lawes, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and

offices, from time ta time, as shall be thought most meete and convenient for the generall good of

the Colonie, unto which we promise all due submission and obediente. In witnes wherof we have

hereunder subscribed our narres at Cap-Codd the 11. of November, in the year of the raigne of

our soveraigne lord, King James, of England, France, and Ireland the eighteenth, and of

Scotland the fiftie fourth.132.

An: Dom. 1620.

After this they chose, or rather confirmed,z Mr. John Carver (a man godly and well approved

amongst them) their Governour for that year. And after they had provided a place for their goods,

or combne store, (which were long in unlading for want of boats, foulnes of winter weather, and

sicknes of diverce,) and begune some small cottages for their habitation, as time would admitte,

they mette and consulted of lawes and orders, both for their civill and military Govermente, as

the necessitie of their condition did require, still adding therunto as urgent occasion in severall

times, and as cases did require.133.

In these hard and difficulte beginings they found some discontents and murmurings arise

amongst some, and mutinous speeches and carriags in other; but they were soone quelled and

overcome by the wisdome, patience, and just and equall carrage of things by the Govr and better

part, which clave faithfully togeather in the maine.

[Compact with the Indians 1621]

All this while the Indians carne skulking about them, and would sometimes show them selves

aloofe of, but when any aproached near them, they would rune away. And once they stoale away

their tools wher they had been at worke, and were gone to diner. But about the 16. of March a

certaine Indian carne bouldly amongst them, and spoke to them in broken English, which they

could well understand, but marvelled at it. At length they understood by discourse with him, that

he was not of these parts, but belonged to the eastrene parts, wher some English-ships carne to

fhish, with whom he was aquainted, and could name sundrie of them by their names, amongst

whom he had gott his language. He became proftable to them in aquainting them with many

things concerning the state of the cuntry in the east-parts wher he lived, which was afterwards

profitable unto them; as also of the people hear, of their names, number, and strength; of their

situation and distance from this place, and who was cheefe amongst them. His name was

Samaset;he tould them also of another Indian whos name was Squanto,a native of this place, who

had been in England and could speake better English then him selfe. Being, after some time of

entertainmente and gifts, dismist, a while after he carne againe, and 5. more with him, and they

brought againe all the tooles that were stolen away before, and made way for the coming of their

great Sachem, called Massasoyt ; who, about 4. or 5. days after, carne with the cheefe of his

freinds and other attendance, with the aforesaid Squanto. With whom, after frendly

entertainment, and some gifts given him, they made a peace with him (which hath now continued

this 24. years)in these terms.136.

1. That neither he nor any of his, should injurie or doe hurte to any of their peopl.137.

2. That if any of his did any hurte to any of theirs, he should send the offender, that they might

punish him.138.

3. That if any thing were taken away from any of theirs, he should cause it to be restored; and

they should doe the like to his.139.

4. If any did unjustly warr against him, they would aide him; if any did warr against them, he

should aide them.140.

5. He should send to his neighbours confederats, to certifie them of this, that they might not

wrong them, but might be likewise comprised in the conditions of peace.141.

6. That when ther mea carne to them, they should leave their bows and arrows behind

them.142.

]First Thanksgiving 1621] They begane now to gather in the small harvest they had, and to fitte up their houses and

dwellings against winter, being all well recovered in health and strenght, and had all things in

good plenty; for as some were thus imployed in affairs abroad, others were excersised in fishing,

aboute codd, and bass, and other fish, of which they tooke good store, of which every family had

their portion. All the sommer ther was no wante. And now begane to come in store of foule, as

winter aproached, of which this place did abound when they came first (but afterward decreased

by degrees). And besids water foule, ther was great store of wild Turkies, of which they tooke

many, besids venison, etc. Besids they had aboute a peck a meale a weeke to a person, or now

since harvest, Indean coree tb that proportion. Which made many afterwards write so largly of

their plenty hear to their freinds in England, which were not fained, but true reports.162.

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