The Mayflower Compact

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"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 England, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, e&. 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 Sovereign Lord, King James of England, France and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini, 1620."

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 and prospered.

• John Alden
• Isaac Allerton
• John Allerton
• John Billington
• William Bradford
• William Brewster
• Richard Britteridge
• Peter Brown
• John Carver
• James Chilton
• Richard Clarke
• Francis Cooke
• John Craxton
• Edward Doten

• Francis Eaton
• Thomas English
• Moses Fletcher
• Edward Fuller
• Samuel Fuller
• Richard Gardiner
• John Goodman
• Stephen Hopkins
• John Howland
• Edward Leister
• Edmund Margeson
• Christopher Martin
• William Mullins
• Digery Priest

• John Ridgdale
• Thomas Rogers
• George Soule
• Miles Standish
• Edward Tilly
• John Tilly
• Thomas Tinker
• John Turner
• Richard Warren
• William White
• Thomas Williams
• Edward Winslow
• Gilbert Winslow