both the seducers and the seduced, and to returne these latter into their former places.

Thomas H. Wynne and W. S. Gilman (Eds.), Colonial Records of Virginia (Richmond, 1874), 9-32 passim.

3.

The Mayflower Compact (1620)

By THE PLYMOUTH VOYAGERS

Drawn by men on board the ship Mayflower a few days before landing at Plymouth. The Mayflower was a ship of 180 tons burden, hired to take the Pilgrims from Southampton, England, to the New World in 1620. Some had sailed from Delft Haven in the Speedwell, which started with the Mayflower, but put back after several days. The Mayflower arrived at Plymouth, December 11, or 21, new style (anniversary celebrated December 22).

IN the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereigne Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland king, defender of the faith, etc., having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honour of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northerne parts of Virginia, doe, by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant

Yng name of god Amen. We whose names are underwriten, the loyal subjects of our dread foueraigne Lord Hing tames by I grace of god, of great Britaine, franc, cyreland kingdefondor of & farth, or

Haueing undertaken, for y glorie of god, and aduancements of j christian, and honour of our king & countrid, a voyage to plant first Colonie my Northernd parts of Virginia. Dod by these prefents solemnly & mutualy my presence of god, and one of another, Covenant & Combine our felues togeather into a Ciuill body politick; for y bolor ordering, preferuation & fur= therance of ends aforfaid; and by vertue heer of to enacte, Constitute, and frame shuch just & equall Lawes, ordinances, Acts, constitutions, & offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meeke & conuenient for generall good of Colonie: Into which we promiso all due submission and obedience yn witnes

The Mayflower Compact

and combine ourselves together into a civill body politick, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enacte, constitute, and frame such just and equall laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meete and convenient for the generall good of the Colonie, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cap-Codd the 11. of November, in the year of the raigne of our sovereigne lord, King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fiftie-fourth. Anno Dom. 1620.

4.

Need of a Navy (1620)

By CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH

John Smith was the strongest and ablest man in the original Virginia colony of 1607.

To get mony to build this Nauy, he saith, who would not spare the 100 peny of his Rents, and the 500 peny of his goods; each seruant that taketh 40. s. wages, 4. d.; and euery forreiner of 7 yeares of age 4. d. for 7 yeares: not any of these but they will spend 3 times so much in pride, wantonnesse or some superfluitie. And

do any men loue the securitie of their estates, that of themselues would not be humble suters to his Maiestie to do this of free will as a voluntary beneuolence, or but the one halfe of this (or some such other course as I haue propounded to diuers of the Companies) free fro any constraint, taxe, lottery or imposition, so it may be as honestly and truly employed as it is proiected, the poorest mechanick in this kingdom would gaine by it: you might build ships of any proportion and numbers you please, fiue times cheaper then you can do here, and haue good merchandize for their fraught in this vnknowne land, to the aduancement of Gods glorie, his Church and Gospel and the strengthening and reliefe of a great part of Christendome, without hurt to any, to the terror of pyrats, the amazemẽt of enemies, the assistance of friends, the securing of Merchants, and so much increase of nauigation to make Englands trade and shipping as much as any nation in the world, besides a hundred other benefits, to the generall good of all good subjects, & would cause thousands yet vnborn blesse the time and all them that first put it in practise.

Now lest it should be obscured as it hath bin to priuate ends, or so weekly vndertake by our ouerweening incredulitie, that strangers may possess it, whilest we contend for New Englāds good, but not Englands good; I present this to

your Highnes and to all the Lords in England, hoping by your gracious good liking and approbation to moue all the worthy Companies of this noble Citie, and all the Cities and Countries in the whole Land to consider of it, since I can fine them wood and halfe victuall, with the aforesaid aduantages, with what facilitie they may build and maintaine this little Nauie Royall, both with honour, profit and content, & inhabite as good a country as any in the world, within that parallel, which with my life & what I haue I wil endeuour to effect, if God please, and you permit. But no man will go from hence, to haue lesse freedome there then here; nor aduenture all they haue, to prepare the way for them that know it not: and it is too well knowne there hath bin so many vndertakers of Patents and such sharing of them, as hath bred no lesse discouragement then wonder, to heare such great promises and so little performances. In the interim, you see the Dutch and French already frequent it: and God forbid them in Virginia or any of his Maiesties subiects should not haue as free libertie as they.

To conclude, were it not for Mr. Pierce and a few priuate Aduenturers with him, what haue we there for all these inducements?

As for them who pride or couetousnes lulleth asleep in a cradle of slothfull carelesnes, would they but consider how all the great Monarchies