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THE MAYFLOWER COMPACT:
"In the name of God, Amen.
We, whose names are underwritten, the
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
There followed the signatures
of 41 of the 102 passengers, 37 of whom were members of the "Separatists"
who were fleeing religious persecution in Europe. This compact established
the first basis in the new world for written laws. Half the colony failed
to survive the first winter, but the remainder lived on
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